Nigeria (Commonwealth Union) _ Nigerian President Bola Tinubu rang the closing bell at Nasdaq headquarters in New York in September 2023. Initially, his office claimed he was the first African leader to have this honour. However, this assertion was found to be false, leading to a subsequent apology from his office for the inaccurate claim.
The Nigerian presidency released a press statement characterizing the event as a “historic moment” and claimed that Tinubu was the “first African leader” to receive this honour. This assertion was subsequently reported by numerous national newspapers and television stations, leading to widespread dissemination of the claim on social media.
A report on Nasdaq’s website contradicted the initial claim by revealing that former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete had also rung the closing bell in September 2011, alongside other global health leaders. This revelation exposed the inaccuracy of the statement that President Tinubu was the first African leader to have such an honour.
In addition, it was highlighted that President Tinubu was not the first Nigerian to ring the Nasdaq bell. In 2010, Nigerian-born pharmacists Dr. Isa Odidi and Amina rang the opening bell at Nasdaq. Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2013, and Florence Otedola, also known as DJ Cuppy, rang the opening bell at the NYSE in 2019. These instances underscore the participation of Nigerians in prestigious financial events in the United States.
In light of the discrepancies, the Nigerian presidency issued a subsequent statement acknowledging the mistake and expressing regret for disseminating inaccurate information. This correction reflects a commitment to rectifying the earlier error and maintaining transparency in official communications.
