Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has presented relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa.
More than 5, 000 people were on Sunday displaced in 12 villages in the area following what community described in a statement as retaliatory attack by mercenary herdsmen.
Presenting the items in a ceremony in Lamurde, headquarters of the local government , on Saturday, the North East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar, sympathised with the victims over the unfortunate incident.
Kanar said the Federal Government intervention through NEMA had come with the necessary requirements that would ameliorate the sufferings of the victims in the camps and promised that the agency along with other stakeholders would make sure that adequate facilities, such as toilets and drinking water, were provided to ensure good hygiene in the camps.
Benue
No fewer than 30 PHCN wooden and concrete poles were destroyed by windstorm in Makurdi last Friday night.
The PHCN poles were destroyed by the windstorm that was preceded by rain, which only lasted 30 minutes.
Some of the worst hit areas were Gboko Road, Wurukum Roundabout, Ahmadu Bello Way in old GRA, North Bank and Highlevel Areas.
Both wooden and concrete poles were damaged by the storm, while some of the cars parked under trees were damaged as the trees fell on them. However, no roof was destroyed by the storm.
Borno
The Borno State Government said on Saturday that it has set aside N3. 9 billion for the renovation of eight secondary schools in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Malam Inwa Kubo, who made the disclosure in an interview in Maiduguri said that the rehabilitation had reached advanced stage in most of the schools.
He named the schools as Government College Maiduguri, Government Girls Secondary School Yarwa and Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Gajiganna. Others are GGSS Baga, Government Secondary School(GSS) Kumshe, GGSS Lassa and GGSS Miringa.
He said that the project also include the conversion of Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Marama in Hawul Local Government Area to a boarding school.
FCT
A health advocacy group, the Norsemen Club, says it will begin an awareness campaign in schools in Abuja to sensitise the students on tips for healthy living.
The President of the group in the FCT, Mr Shegun Fakehinde, announced the plan last Saturday during a “Walk for a Healthy Nigeria’’.
According to him, there is the need to carry awareness campaigns in school, where younger ones will also have knowledge on how to live healthy.
“Most of our dear ones have fallen victims of HIV and AIDS and other dangerous diseases because adequate knowledge and education on their prevention were in short supply.
“We will propagate this massage in all nooks and crannies in the FCT to ensure that most people do not only exist but live,’’ he said.
The Grand Patron of the group, Dr Samuel Gambo, said the group would continue to create awareness and unite the youth.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, said in Dutse on Sunday that government disbursed about N86 million to women groups in the state to improve members’ living standards.
She said that catering to the needs of vulnerable groups was one of the cardinal principles of Gov. Sule Lamido’s administration.
The commissioner explained that it was based on the governor’s principles that the government released the money.
Abdulwahab said since the inception of the administration in the past five years, the welfare of women and children had “tremendously improved”.
She announced that the government had established 335 safe motherhood initiatives from the 36 it inherited from the previous government.
Kaduna
Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has appointed a former Secretary to the State Government, Me Waje Yayock and 10 others as special advisers.
This is contained in a statement, signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Ruben Buhari, it named the others as follows Musa Kali, Simon Gwaza, B.D. Galadima, Ibrahim Doka, Ali Waziri, Abdulkadir Kapaka, Mohammed Kampa, Edward Masha, Hajia Zulai Bello and Bala Sani.
The governor also appointed Alhaji Maisukuni Jema’a as the Chairman of Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board with 29 others as members while the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero is the Chairman, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency.
Kano
The Chairman of Shanono Local Government Council of Kano State, Malam Sagir Abdullahi, has lauded the tireless efforts of traditional rulers in polio eradication in the state.
Abdullahi stated this last Saturday during the flag off ceremony of the polio immunisation for the month of May in Shanono Local Government Area of the state.
He said that if not for the full involvement of the traditional rulers, the resistance level for polio immunisation would still be high.
The chairman charged parents to ensure that all their children were immunised to guard against further spread of the virus in the area and to other parts of the country.
Kebbi
Delegates to the forthcoming Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) conference have been admonished to shun sentiments and elect people of proven integrity.
Mr Rotimi Obamuwagun, Deputy National President of the NUJ,who is also seeking re-election, gave the advice last Saturday in Birnin Kebbi while on campaign tour.
He said his role in the past three years had been guided by the spirit of cordial relationship and mutual respect, which enabled the incumbent NUJ President, Alhaji Mohammed Garba, to reposition the union.
“The support you gave us three years ago enabled us to restore dignity, respect and peace within the various state councils of the NUJ as such we plead for another chance to enable the present leadership improve on welfare and professional rating of members,” he said.
Lagos
The police in Lagos last Saturday arrested one Asiribo Baba, 40, for allegedly shooting a bricklayer who attempted to rape his daughter.
Insp. Femi Martins said that Baba shot Ifeanyi Arinze, 29, who was making blocks at a building site in Agbara, Lagos.
He said investigations revealed that Arinze climbed the fence of Baba’s residence in Agbara to pluck oranges in the compound when he saw Baba’s 14-year-old daughter, who was sleeping outside.
“After he plucked the oranges, he went to the girl, who slept on the mat, and touched her breast but the girl screamed.
“Arinze covered the girl’s mouth with his hand but her younger sister, who had been playing outside, came and called people,’’ he said.
He said Baba, who had been listening to the screaming of her daughter, came out with a gun, ran after Arinze and shot him in the leg when he was about to jump the fence.
Osun
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has inaugurated the 3rd Children’s Parliament in the state with a call on children to shun all forms of immoral behaviors.
Aregbesola was represented by Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Olusegun Adeyeni,at the ceremony in Osogbo last Friday.
He described the new lawmakers as “special children”, advising them to be focused and responsible in handling the affairs of the parliament and urged them to leave a legacy of service to not only the children but the entire residents of the state and the nation.
Earlier, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, said the “children are being exposed to parliamentary duties with a view to enabling them know more about law-making and to be involved directly in decision making in matters that really affect them.”
The commissioner urged the parliamentarians to be law-abiding and shun malpractice, thuggery and all forms of negative activities.
Deborah Popoola, was sworn-in as the Speaker, Abiola Agboola, Deputy Speaker, Islamiat Kolawole, House Leader, Bukola Adepoju, Chief Whip and Seyi Afolabi as the Mace bearer.
Oyo
The Oyo State Government has rewarded medalists and officials in its contingent to the 2011 Garden City Games with monetary gifts for their heroic performances.
Mr Dapo Lam-Adeshina, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, said the state had earlier promised to reward the athletes.
He described the occasion as a milestone, as it was the first that athletes were rewarded in the state, and expressed the hope that they would win more medals at the 2012 festival in Lagos.
Gold, silver and bronze medalists among the athletes went home with N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 each respectively, while Coaches with gold, silver and bronze medalists were rewarded with N300, 000, N200,000 and N100,000 each respectively. Also among those rewarded were the officials who went home with N250, 000 each.
Yakub Adesokan, who sets a two world record in Power Lifting, was also awarded a cheque of N250, 000.
Sokoto
Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has called on parents to ensure the immunisation of their children during the on-going polio vaccination in the state.
Speaking on the occasion of the start of 2012 Immunisation Plus Days at Rumbukawa Primary Health Centre in Sokoto North Local Government., Wamakko said government had already taken proactive measures to ensure that all under-five children were immunised.
He explained that government had partnered with the Sultanate Council, religious leaders and development associations to enhance the success of the exercise.
The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu said that a workable formula had been put in place to mobilise parents to participate in the exercise.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Malam Ibrahim Jibril, said that the involvement of eminent stakeholders would ensure full participation of children in the exercise.
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor