Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The board of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, last Thursday approved the establishment of an outreach centre in Mbatyerev, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue.
The Chairman of the board, Sen. Emmanuel Nwaka, said during a press briefing in Makurdi at the end of its facility tour that the approval was to meet up with the medical needs of the rural dwellers of the state.
He said that the board had also discovered that the FMC was the major source of health care service delivery in Benue.
According to him, “the Federal Government, through the FMC, is meeting up its responsibility of bringing quality medical services closer to the rural dwellers’’.
The board chairman explained that the exact amount needed for the entire project was not yet known as the work was done in accordance with funds released by the Federal Government.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board last Wednesday inaugurated a 132-member committee to facilitate training of prospective pilgrims in the state.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), had allocated more than 3,000 seats to the state for the 2013 Hajj exercise.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Sani Alhassan, who inaugurated the committee, said the gesture was to ensure proper training of prospective pilgrims on the basic tenets of Hajj exercise.
Alhassan said the committee was made up of males and females selected from the 27 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the state government has adopted proactive measures to improve the well being of the pilgrims and ensure a hitch-free Hajj.
In a remark, Alhaji Falalu Gantsa, chairman of the board, urged the facilitators to ensure proper training of the prospective pilgrims in accordance with the guidelines set by the board.
Malam Muhammad Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of members of the committee, pledged to be fair and just in the discharge of their duties.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government says it will spend N1.3 billion to dualise Nagogo Township Road and upgrade Barhin Housing Estate Road in Katsina metropolis.
The Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Maikudi, made this known when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting in Katsina last Thursday.
Maikudi said that the dualisation of Nagogo Road would gulp over N1billion, while the upgrading of Barhin Housing Estate Road would gulp N300 million.
He said that work on the three kilometres Nagogo road was awarded to Borini Prono Nig. Ltd. with a completion of period of 15 months.
The commissioner said that the 11.5km Barhin Road was awarded to CDC Nig. Ltd. with a completion period of six months and reiterated the commitment of government to the development of the state.
Kogi
The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, has called on Nigerian women to champion the cause of peace in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in the country.
The first lady made the call in Lokoja last Thursday while addressing delegates to the 15th regular meeting of the National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development.
She called for more women participation in addressing the remote causes of the widespread violence now pervading some parts of the country.
Mrs Jonathan called on women to rise up with the firm resolution of providing an environment where peace could reign and women rights freely-expressed.
She said that, although women had achieved appreciable progress in the country, they should still work towards the attainment of the 35 per cent affirmative action across board.
Kwara
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Poverty Alleviation, Hajia Sarat Adebayo has urged women to strive to be role models and shun begging for alms.
Adebayo who made the appeal last Thursday in an interview in Ilorin, said that women should shun begging on the streets and government offices since the state government was committed to their welfare.
Adebayo urged them to be productive and to engage in entrepreneurial activities instead of begging.
“There is no gain in begging. It is unchristian and unislamic for women to go about begging instead of engaging in productive activities.”Women should uphold their dignity inwardly and outwardly by striving to be role models at all times,” she advised.
Adebayo also urged them to look inward on how they could add value to the people around them.
Lagos
The Lagos State Scholarship Board says the state government has approved N160.1 million for the payment of bursaries to its indigenes in tertiary institutions.
The Secretary to the Board, Mrs Yetunde Jegede, said on Thursday in Lagos that the amount covered the 2011/2012 academic session.
Jegede said that out of the total sum, N63.4million was for the state indigenes in Lagos State University (LASU) adding that for now the board would immediately pay LASU students and others thereafter.
According to her, the indigenes are expected to bring their scholarship award letters, school identity cards and two passport photographs.
“They are also to provide a progress report for the respective year duly stamped and signed by their school authorities,” she said.
Jegede said that the board would soon begin the documentation of the state indigenes for the 2012/2013 academic session.
Nasarawa
The 2012 Batch ‘B’ corps members posted to Nasarawa State concluded their service year last Thursday without the usual passing out parade and fun-fare.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Mr Stephen Alabi, said the ceremony was shelved because of the security challenges facing the state.
According to him, certificates are being presented quietly to the outgoing corps members simultaneously across all the zonal headquarters in the state.
Alabi said a total of 2,871 corps members successfully completed the service year and would be given Certificates of National Service.
In his remark, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Angama Weibey, congratulated the corps members for their meritorious service.
He assured them that the state government would always provide an enabling environment for those, who would want to start their post-service life in the state.
Ondo
Rector, Sacred Heart Catholic Minor Seminary, Akure, Rev.fr Valentine Omolakin, has urged government at all levels to return schools belonging to missionaries.
Omolakin who made this known at a press conference in Akure on Thursday ahead of its Sacred Heart Feast, scheduled for June 7, said it would help to achieve the purpose for which the schools were created.
The cleric noted that Gov. Olusegun Mimiko had promised to set-up a panel to look into the issue of returning schools to the missionaries.
Mimiko, he said, made the promise when the Papal Nuncio, Augustin Kasuja, visited the country in August 2012.He noted that there was a difference between a Catholic School and a Minor Seminary.
“The return of schools to the missionaries is long overdue in Ondo State and it should not be politicised,” he said.
Oyo
Retired Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, former governor of Western Region and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Ibadan, has called on residents of Oyo State to support government in its transformation efforts.
Adebayo made the call when he led members of the council on a visit to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi in Ibadan on Thursday.
Adebayo said Ajimobi had given the education sector a boost, adding that the university had benefited from the educational initiatives of the state government.
Responding, Ajimobi said the state government attached much importance to education because of its belief that no nation could develop without quality education for its youths.
Zamfara
Two persons have been confirmed dead while 20 others were injured following a rainstorm which destroyed over 300 houses on Tuesday in Gusau.
Executive Secretary of Zamfara Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Atiku Maradun, said this in an interview on Thursday in Gusau.
Maradun, who spoke on behalf of Alhaji Musa Kwatarkwashi, Special Adviser on the state governor on Emergency Management, said that the adviser had already visited the affected areas namely Abarma, Janyau Fulani, Gidan Dutse, Gada Biyu and Unguwar Danfodio.
According to him, two girls, aged 11 and 15 were killed in the incident, adding that the residents also lost foodstuffs and animals.
He said that the Agency was compiling a report on the disaster for submission to the state and federal governments for immediate assistance and appealed to the victims to plant trees around their homes to minimise the effect of such disaster.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
-
Politics3 days ago
2027: NIGERIANS FAULT INEC ON DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP REGISTER DIRECTIVE
-
Environment3 days agoLAWMA Director Says Sweeping Reforms Have Improved Waste Collection
-
Politics3 days ago
LP Crisis: Ex-NWC Member Dumps Dumps Abure Faction
-
Politics3 days agoUmahi Dismisses Allegations On Social Media, Insists On Projects Delivery
-
Sports3 days agoAbia Not Sure To Secure continental Ticket
-
Sports3 days ago
La Liga: Yamal Records First Career Hat-trick
-
Politics3 days ago
NATASHA ELECTRIC VEHICLES INITIATIVE IN KOGI CENTRAL
-
Politics3 days ago
IT’S A LIE, G-5 GOVS DIDN’T WIN ELECTION FOR TINUBU – SOWUNMI