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THE STATES

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Adamawa

 

Adamawa State Government has spent over N223 million to pay 2009 NECO and WAEC examination fees for students from the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Mr Gabriel Adama,  disclosed this in Yola recently at a news conference.

He said: “I want to say that it was, however, a big  loss for us because over 90 per cent of the students  failed the examination.’’

Describing the situation as unacceptable, the commissioner

said that out of the 28,000 students who sat for the examination, only seven per cent of them got the required credits including  English and Mathematics.

 

Bauchi

 

A lecturer , Prof. Sulaiman Bogoro of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU) Bauchi, has said that auditing of public and private agencies was crucial for accountability and promotion of good governance.

Bogoro made the statement in a paper he presented on Tuesday at the Conference of the body of Federal and State Auditors-General in Bauchi.

He said accountability and transparency in leadership are necessary as without them, some leaders or heads of organisations engage in secrecy and corrupt manipulation of the system.

 

Ekiti

 

Hundreds of giant-sized posters of President Goodluck Jonathan for President in 2011 have flooded major streets in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Tide’s source reports that the posters carried the message “Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for 2011 Presidential election. Let us encourage him for peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, courtesy of Ekiti New Era Forum”.

The posters are posted on electricity poles, stationery vehicles and some buildings in the metropolis.

The posters, which had PDP logo and the picture of Jonathan are on major streets such as Fajuyi round about, Okesa, Governor’s office road, Iyin road, Okeyinmi, secretariat road among others.

 

FCT

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has  instituted more than 50 cases and got more than 100 convictions in the last two years.

Mrs Farida Waziri, the Chairman of EFCC, made the  statement in Abuja on Monday during an interaction with newsmen.

“ We can conveniently boast that we inherited about 10 profile cases when we took over about two years ago.

“We have not only instituted 50 high profile cases, we have secured over 100 convictions with a record of recovery that towers above 3.5 billion dollars and over 1,200 cases pending in court.”

 

Jigawa

 

The Jigawa government  has inaugurated a six-man committee to implement its sanitation policies and promote good hygiene, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jinjiri, the Commissioner for Community Development and Rural Infrastructure, said on Friday.

He told newsmen in Dutse that the committee was formed to utilise the 2009 Millennium Development Goals Conditional Grant Scheme for the implementation of sanitation and good hygiene policies.

He explained that the committee would carry out advocacy and sanitation visits to policy makers, political, religious and traditional rulers in order to gain support for sanitation and hygiene promotion at local governments and community levels.

Kaduna

 

The Christian Community, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has organised a memorial service in remembrance of the first indigenous Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the university.

A statement issued by the institution’s Information and Protocol Officer Bitrus Galmaka, stated that the duo were late Prof. Ishaya Audu and late Michael Angulu, the first indigenous vice chancellor and registrar respectively

It noted that the memorial service was “to honour these pioneers of the Christian community whose services and sacrifices contributed immensely to the foundation laying of ABU’’.

It indicated that 27 others, whose ages ranged from 70 and above, were also honoured for their meritorious sacrifices in the service of the institution.

 

Kano

 

Thousands of Qur’anic pupils, known as “Almajiris,” have moved out of Kano metropolis due to the commencement of the rainy season, Tide’s source  reports.

The pupils, majority of whom came from Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Bauchi and Kaduna states and parts of Kano states, left the commercial town to engage in farming in their respective communities.

Investigation by the source  in Kano shows that the almajiris have deserted most of the areas they were usually seen begging for alms, since the exodus began about two weeks ago.

Such places included restaurants, motor parks, mosques and markets, where only pockets of them could now be sighted loading goods, washing plates and begging.

 

Kwara

 

Dr. Hammed Ali, Kwara Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, has called for the construction of more prisons as a panacea for decongesting prisons in the country.

Ali made the call on Monday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller of Prisons in the state, Mr. Olatunde Olayiwola, in llorin.

Ali suggested that private organisations should be involved in the construction and management of prisons.

“If about 227 prison houses in Nigeria accommodate 50,000 inmates and out of these about 42 per cent are awaiting trial suspects, then we need more prison houses”, he said.

 

Lagos

 

The Dangote Group says local production of iron rods and steel would reduce the incidence of building collapse and other construction failures in the country.

Mr. Sankasu Balasubramania, Technical Director of the group, disclosed this to journalists who were on a facility tour of Dangote Steel Rolling Mills in Osogbo on Sunday.

He said that the increasing of building collapse and construction failures would be tackled through production of quality iron rods locally.

Balasubramania said that Dangote Steel Rolling Mill, which would commence production in October, this year, would produce over 350,000 tonnes of quality steel products annually.

Osun

 

Mrs. Omolola Oyinlola, wife of Osun Governor, has expressed concern over the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy among secondary school girls.

She expressed the concern during a sensitisation visit to St. Mary’s Grammar School, Iwo, Osun.

Oyinlola, who is the initiator of Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), called on stakeholders to join hands with her to stem the tide.

The Tide’s source reports that the visit is part of her awareness campaign on teenage pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, cancer and maternal/child mortality.

 

Oyo

 

The Association of Fish Farmers and Aqua-culturists of Nigeria (AFFAN) in Oyo State, has called on the Federal Governments to create special silos for maize and soya beans.

The Chairman, Mr Peter Farinto, told newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan that the two crops formed the major raw materials for the production of local fish feeds.

“If government could store the raw materials, an enabling environment would be created for the sustenance of the fish farming business which depended largely on fish feeds, to boost local production,” Farinto said.

 

Plateau

 

The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has cautioned against  illegal mining, saying the lead poisoning in Zamfara that reportedly killed 163 persons, was regrettable.

The MAN National President, Sani Shehu, told newsmen in Jos, that the incident, which occurred in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas of Zamfara was “purely a result of illegal mining”.

He said, “most minerals contain one level of impurity or the other.  Some of these impurities are radio-active in nature.  Some of them release poisonous gases that are not visible.

“That is why when you are operating a formalised form of mining, issues like safety, radioactivity and other poisonous gases will be discussed and addressed”, he cautioned.

 

Sokoto

 

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Prof. Musa Maitafsir, has said that the government plans to ban begging in the area.

Maitafsir said the plan will come into effect only after all the destitute persons have been brought under a scheme where they would be paid monthly stipend.

The commissioner disclosed that the government was currently spending over N45 milliioon on 7,000 destitute persons every month.

He told newsmen in Sokoto that each of the beneficiaries was being given N6,500 monthly.

“This gesture has been on for about two years and it will be sustained to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged persons.

“More of them will soon be brought under the scheme introduced by Governor  Aliyu Wamakko to reduce the menace of begging in the state”, Maitafsir said.

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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

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The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.
It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.
The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions:  M – Meeting the People  E – Educating the People  D – Discussing with the People  I – Involving the People  A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.
People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.
Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.
Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.
Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.
Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.
The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.
By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.
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RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

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Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

 

Amadi Akujobi

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