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Meet Nigeria’s Nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo

Rufus Okoro Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909 – 1987) was a Nigerian nationalist, lawyer, statesman, and one of the country’s most influential political leaders. Born Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo on March 6, 1909, in Ikenné, present-day Ogun State, Nigeria. He studied law at the University of London and qualified as a barrister. Awolowo founded the Action Group (AG) political party in 1951. He served as the Premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1960, later emerged the Leader of the Opposition in Nigeria’s federal parliament. ALSO READ >>> Meet Nigeria’s First President, Nnamdi Azikiwe He served as the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Minister of Finance, during the Nigerian Civil War, 1967–1971. Awolowo introduced free primary education and free healthcare for children in the Western Region, which became a model in Nigeria. He advocated federalism as the best system for Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups. He was widely know...

Trump further announces 35% Tariffs on Goods from Canada

By Rufus Okoro

The President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, has stated he would further impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods starting on August 1, 2025 even as the two countries were days away from a self-imposed deadline to reach a new trade deal.

The announcement, which was released on July 11, 2025, came in form of a letter published on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, alongside additional threats of tariffs of 15% or 20% on most trade partners.

On his part, the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, said his government would continue to protect his country's workers and businesses as they head towards the new deadline.

Trump had sent more than 20 such letters to other US partners earlier this week. He also said he would soon announce new tariffs on the European Union (EU).

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It's noteworthy that a 25% tariff had already been imposed on some Canadian goods, with the nation also hit hard by Trump's global steel, aluminium and auto tariffs, although there is a current exemption in place for goods that comply with a North American free trade agreement.

It is unclear if the latest tariffs threat would also apply to goods covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

Trump had equally imposed a global 50% tariff on aluminium and steel imports, and a 25% tariff on all cars and trucks not built in the US.

He also recently announced a 50% tariff on copper imports, scheduled to take effect next month.

Canada sells about three-quarters of its goods to the US, and is an auto manufacturing hub and a major supplier of metals, making the US tariffs apparently a hard blow to the aforementioned sectors.