Adamawa

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Pro-motion (NOTAP) is to promote the teaching of science and technology in primary and secondary schools.

NOTAP Director General, Umar Bindir, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State.

Umar said NOTAP would ensure this through the introduction of story boards that would show pupils and students how some products were made.

“For instance Maggi cube is made from soya beans. So we asked Nestle to give us a story board that shows the stages in picture of how soya beans was transformed to Maggi cube,’’ Umar said.

He explained that such practical approach and change in teaching methodology would help in reforming the education sector for positive results.

Bauchi

Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has dismissed a media report that his government had set aside N3 billion for the creation of new chiefdoms.

Fielding questions with newsmen in Damaturu, Yuguda said the report was baseless and described it as a deliberate negative report to ridicule his administration.

Yuguda was in Damaturu to pay a condolence visit to Gov Ibrahim Geidam, who lost his wife last week.

He said that the reason for the creation of the chiefdoms was to accord special rights and privileges to people who demanded for them, to ensure peaceful co-existence among the diverse cultural and religious groups in the state.

Yuguda noted that the state had experienced political and religious crises within the last two years, making it imperative to find ways to ensure lasting peace and harmony.

Borno

Alhaji Baba Garbai, the Borno Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, says the state government is to establish a skills acquisition centre for farmers in Damboa.

Garbai, who announced this on Sunday while inspecting projects in Damboa Local Government Area, stated that farmers would be trained in modern farming technology at the centre.

He said that the state government was determined to give agriculture top priority so as to boost food security.

The commissioner advised parents and guardians to enroll their wards in schools in order to enable them contribute to national development.

He also urged the caretaker chairman of the local government, Alhaji Abu Hong, to embark on the provision of social amenities and execution of developmental projects.

FCT

Defence Minister, BelloMohammed in Abuja has restated Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that members of the Armed Forces were properly settled after years of meritorious service to the nation.

Mohammed stated this at the end of an entrepreneurship training organised for senior military officers by the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC) in collaboration with EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation.

Represented by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, the minister said the current agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan had placed emphasis on transformation.

Mohammed said the training was meant to assist the officers to attain self development when they disengage from service.

Kaduna

The 1986 Old Students Association of Alhudahuda College, Zaria, has donated books worth more than N250,000 to the institution.

Alhaji Shehu Yunusa, the Secretary-General of the association, told newsmen at its silver jubilee meeting in Zaria that the gesture was to encourage students of the institution to embrace the reading culture and maintain the good reputation of the college.

He said that in addition to the donation, the association also planned to renovate the college Mosque to make it an ideal place of worship.

“We are here to show appreciation to the college that brought us to limelight, because whatever we become in life, the institution is central to it.

Katsina

The Police Command in Katsina State says it has arrested eight alleged car snatchers in Katsina metropolis in its renewed effort to fight crime in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Katsina.

Mohammed said that the suspects were nabbed at different times in the metropolis and gave their names as Bello Abdulkadir, Salisu Sirajo, Santanu Abubakar, Bashir Kabir alias Sanfolo, Ismaila Usman, Tasi’u Abdullahi and Musa Bala.

The commissioner said that the suspects had confessed to stealing cars in Katsina and its environs for sometime, adding that the command had been on their trail.

He said that the suspects also claimed to have taken some stolen cars to Kano for sale, adding that they were helping the police to track the receivers of the stolen cars.

Kwara

The Kwara government says it will continue to partner with the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) in a bid to boost the economy of the state.

The State Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Alhaji Saka Onimago, disclosed this in Ilorin on Saturday while launching the prospectus for the fifth Kwara Trade Fair.

Onimago reiterated the state government’s commitment to take the state to the next level of development, saying that government has concluded arrangement to employ another set of 2,000 youths.

He said the development could only be achieved through the co-operation of the private sector of the economy.

Onimago thanked the KWACCIMA for acting as a catalyst in driving the economic development of the state through the organisation of annual trade fairs.

Lagos

Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, former Head of the Civil Service, has charged Nigerians to encourage creative work by Nigerians such as Prof Cyril Onwumechili to enhance national development.

Afolabi made the call in Lagos during the presentation of Onwumechili’s autobiography entitled, “Coming a Long Way”, which he reviewed.

He noted that Onwumechili, who became a professor at the age of 30 after studying to the doctorate level through

scholarships from his early days at Kings College, Lagos, was propelled by hard work and support from his uncle.

Afolabi observed that the professor became a vice chancellor of the University of Ife (now OAU) in 1978, the only known non-Yoruba VC of the institution.

Dr Alex Ekwueme, a former Vice-President, who was chairman of the occasion, said the work of the erudite professor was worth reading.

He described Onwumechili as a bright and productive scholar who had impacted on lives and the scientific landscape of Nigeria.

Ondo

The Ondo State Government says it spent about N3 billion on community development projects within the last 30 months.

Mr Clement Faboyede, the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperative Services, said this in an interview with newsmen in Akure.

Faboyede said the initiatives were primarily to take development to the grassroots, adding that more than 200 “quick-win” projects had been completed in the 18 local government areas of the state.

He also said the state government recently approved N400 million for more projects to be executed in some communities

The commissioner said no fewer than 30 projects had been earmarked in some local government areas, including Akure and Ose areas.

Sokoto

Illela Local Government Council of Sokoto State plans to spend not less than N100 million on various developmental projects, its Chairman, Alhaji Garba Sabon-Gari, has disclosed.

Sabon-Gari told newsmen in Illela on Saturday that the projects would cover rural roads and water supply, health, education, power supply and economic empowerment.

“The estimates have been forwarded to the Ministry of Local Government for its final approval and nothing less than N100 million will be approved finally by the ministry.

“ These projects are aimed at further improving the living standard of the people and to fulfil our various campaign promises.’’

Taraba

Taraba is partnering with the North-East Zonal Office of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) to train fish farmers on the production of fingerlings.

Mr. Anthony Jellason, the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo on Sunday.

Jellason said that the state government had provided the agency with access road to its new office along Kona Road, to enable it to effectively discharge its duties.

He noted that the state was blessed with abundant of fish resources through its rivers and natural ponds scattered across the 16 local governments.

“When given the training, it would not only equip the farmers with the technical knowhow- in fish production, but also improve their occupation, boost their economy and provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to young school leavers.”

Zamfara

A female Zamfara pilgrim to this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia (names withheld) has died, according to an official of the state’s 2011 Hajj Committee, Alhaji Jabiru Riko.

Riko disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gusau recently.

He said that the middle-aged woman died in the holy land after a brief illness, adding that she had been buried in Saudi Arabia, according to Islamic rites.

The committee member said the transportation of the state’s pilgrims had been completed on Thursday, adding that all 5,500 pilgrims were transported in 11 flights from the Sokoto International airport.