News

Tributes Flood Gani’s Home

Published

16 years ago

September 11, 2009

A valedictory court session was held by lawyers in honour of the foremost human rights crusader, Chief Gani Fawehinmi Wednesday at Igbosere Magistrate’s court, where he started his law practice.

By Tuesday, the remains of the fallen legal icon whose final journey began on Monday, laid at his chambers at Ajao Estate, Anthony Lagos while over 1000 prominent Nigerians had signed the condolence register at his 9A, Ademola Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos residence.

The final journey for Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who died Saturday afternoon in Lagos, began Monday, even as a flood of tributes continue to trail his demise.

Gani, as he was popularly called, died at the age of 71 after a protracted battle with lung cancer and will be buried in his country home in Ondo State on September 15th 2009.

Traffic was brought to a standstill Monday afternoon at the Ikeja GRA area as his remains left a private morgue at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for his Ikeja home where the lying in state began.

A multitude of Nigerians joined the convoy of family members and mourners as the ambulance that conveyed Gani’s remains departed at about 11.52am for his Ikeja residence.

Present at the lying in state Monday afternoon were Mr. Banire, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Okei-Odumakin, President of Campaign for Democracy (CD) and other human rights activists.

Meanwhile Civil Society organizations have commenced a meeting in Lagos to plan for their effective participation in the burial of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi who was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The National co-ordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) Otunba Gani Adams told The Tide, that OPC and other civil society organizations in the country would play a big role in the burial activities of the late human rights activist.

He also called for the immortalization of Gani with a solid structure or monument that will become a tourist attraction for all Nigerians.

Last Sunday, a prominent religious leader and serving Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare said nobody can wear Gani’s shoes.

Preaching a sermon in his church in Lagos, Bakare said Gani laid down his life for the nation. “His shoes remain for him, nobody can step into them, because they are uniquely his”, said Bakare who once worked at Gani’s chambers as a young lawyer.

He condoled the family of the late human rights lawyer and urged the congregation to pray for the repose of his soul.

In a tribute, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu praised Gani for his “extra ordinary patriotism while Mrs. Farida Waziri, current EFCC boss described him as “a principled, dogged and unrelenting crusader fully committed to any course he believed”.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described Gani as “an icon in his own right and a social critic who had the courage of his conviction”, while former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said Gani was a defender of the rule of law and the common man.

Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda also paid tribute to Gani as one who devoted the better part of life fighting for improved standards, good governance and rule of law.

Others who have already paid tribute to the fallen Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) included Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Speaker House of Representatives, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State and Olisa Agbakoba, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.