Bornu

Participants at a workshop on Sunday in Maidiuguri, called on media owners to expose journalists to training on conflict reporting.

A communique issued at the end of a workshop in Maiduguri on Reporting Conflict, also called on media owners to provide capacity building and exposure particularly in the area of conflict and violence reporting.

They also called on journalists to strive hard to ensure that they discharge their duties in professional manner.

The participants called on regulatory agencies, like the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to be more proactive to ensure adherence to best practices.

They called for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information Bill by the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly should expedite action in the review of the NPC and the enhancement of Journalism Practice Bills.

“We also call on employers to ensure that only professionals are employed in media related agencies and departments,” the participants said.

They urged the NUJ to be more proactive in the defence and protection of its members.

“Journalists should be in the vanguard for the promotion of peace.

“Women should be encouraged to develop more interest in the practice of journalism,” the participants added.

They also advised journalists to give more prominence to issues related to women and children in their stories.

They commended the Justice Development and Peace Commission Ibadan, the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation Abuja for organising the event.

Ekiti

Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti on Sunday donated N1.5 million to some farmers who engaged in FADAMA farming at the Hausa settlement along Ado-IjesaIsu road, Ado-Ekiti.

The 30 farmers received the sum of N50,000 each.

Oni, who was impressed by their farming methods, said the donation was aimed to help them boost their business.

“The state government has approved the disbursement of the sum of N50,000 each to all the 30 farmers in this settlement.

“The amount is to be disbursed immediately by the commissioner of Agriculture.

“Please do not use it for frivolities but make sure it is used to boost your financial base,” the governor charged them.

He assured them of adequate government support and protection at all times.

“If anybody is disturbing your farming activities make sure you inform the government on time for us to take appropriate actions”, Oni stated.

The desire of government, Oni said, was to ensure that the settlement served as a centre where fresh farm produce could be bought all year round.

Responding, the Leader of the farmers, Malam Ahmed Adamu, who said that they have been farming in the area for the past 17 years, promised proper utilisation of the money.

Adamu while commending the governor for the gesture, assured that the farmers would always cooperate with the state government in all its policies and programmes.

Jigawa

The Federal Government is to begin discussions with its development partners in the Education sector, for financial assistance.

Education Minister Ruqayyatu Rufai told  newsmen in Dutse on Sunday that this became necessary because the government could not depend solely on what was budgeted for the sector alone.

The issue of funding for the education sector, she said was a major challenge confronting the sector.

Rufai, however, said that the problem would be addressed through collaboration and partnership.

She also said that the ministry would embark on the recruitment of more qualified teachers and training of some others within the next few months.

“A good teacher can teach even under a tree and student will comprehend. But if we provide infrastructure and instructional materials alone without training, we have not changed anything.

“In this regards, improvement of technical education would also receive government’s attention to address problem of unemployment,” she said.

Kaduna

The Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, has set up a contact committee in Zaria axis to sanitise the profession.

The Tide’s source reports that the committee was set up to promote ethical conduct among members as well as protect and promote the interest and welfare of members.

The committee has Alhaji Aminu Ishaq-Abbas of Nigeria Television Authority as chairman while Bello Habib of Leadership Newspapers is Secretary.

Other members are Mohammed Lawal of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Abubakar Danyaro of KSMC.

Speaking at a meeting in Zaria, the state’s NUJ Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, said the committee would liaise with the state council.

“The committee will remain the eyes of the state council to bridge the communication gap,” he said.

While appealing to members to be just and transparent, he advised journalists to be diligent, disciplined and humble in discharging their responsibilities.

In his acceptance speech, Ishaq-Abbass promised to carry the members along by seeking their advice.

Katsina

The Katsina state command of the National  Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has prosecuted 63 persons, including a married woman, for various drug-related offences in five months.

The NDLEA commander in Katsina, Alhaji Ahmadu Garba disclosed this in an interview with  newsmen in Katsina on Sunday.

He said that the 63 persons have since been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court Katsina.

Garba said that among those convicted by the court, was a married woman, Abu Sale, who was arrested in possession of Indian hemp in Katsina metropolis and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

He disclosed that the command had during the period, arrested 154 suspects including the convicts for possession of various illicit drugs.

According to him, the command had seized a total of 63.1 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs such as Indian hemp and other psychotropic substances from the suspects.

He also said under the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) activities, a total of 124 clients were counseled and rehabilitated, while aggressive campaigns against drug abuse were conducted during the period.

Kebbi

The Emir of Yauri in Kebbi, Prof. Muhammad Zayyanu, has called on Governor Saidu Dakingari to provide amenities in Yauri Emirate.

Zayyanu, who led a delegation of title holders and top government functionaries from the area on a visit to the governor on Friday in Birnin Kebbi, said his domain lacked roads and a comprehensive water supply system.

He called for an immediate rehabilitation of the only dam in considering the relevance of water to human beings and animals.

The Emir lamented that in spite of the passage of the River Niger through his domain, water had not been adequately provided for the people.

Zayyanu prayed for the repose of the soul of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was father-In-law to the governor, who also lost a senior brother recently.

The governor assured the people of the emirate that amenities would be provided, stressing that he would personally monitor and ensure that the area got the amenities on time.

He commended the role played by traditional rulers in the protection of lives and property in the state.

According to him, the role played by the emirate in ensuring security in the area is worthy of emulation.

Lagos

The Aholu of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry, Sejiro James, said on Friday that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria was responsible for the involvement of youths of the area in smuggling.

James, who was speaking on his third anniversary, told newsmen that there was the need for the Federal Government to empower youths, especially in Badagry and other border areas.

“We are not known to be smugglers in my kingdom, but unemployment has forced my people into the business.

“But if the government gives our people job opportunities and a sense of belonging, they will not go into this vice and they would be contributing more meaningfully to the national project,” he said.

James called on banks, corporate bodies and licensed agents within the kingdom to employ indigenes as part of their social responsibility.

The monarch pledged the support and corporation of his people to the Federal Government.

Osun

The Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) has awarded scholarships to 26 students of the institution.

Alhaji Ahmed Popoola, National President of the association said this at a public lecture and presentation of scholarships at the University of  Ile-Ife on Sunday.

The association released N1.4 million to the beneficiaries.

The award is under the UNIFEMGA Scholarship and Indigent Endowment Fund instituted in 2009.

Popoola said 10 of the awards were based purely on merit while 16 others were for those in need of financial support.

He said that the association had given 35 scholarships awards in the last two years as well as paid the tuition fees of five students in the 2008/09 academic session.

According to him, this brings the total sum spent by the association to date to over N1. 8 million.

According to him, the objective of the association is to raise the fund to at least N20 million.

Alhaji Femi Abass, a veteran journalist, who delivered a lecture on “Nigeria at 50: Confronting the Realities”, called on Muslims to embrace western education to complement Islamic knowledge.

He urged governments in the country to place emphasis on education to boost mass literacy and the economy.