Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court has remanded one Iboi
Sunday, 25, in prison custody for allegedly raping and strangling a 13-year-old girl to death.
Chief Magistrate Olanike Adegoke gave the order pending the outcome of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She adjourned the case to December13 for further hearing.
Prosecutor Sunday Onwuchekwa had told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 29, 2013 at Oshodi farm, Eyio -Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
FCT
Parents Consultative Association of Nigerian Universi
ties (PCANU) has commiserated with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the death of its former President, Prof. Festus Iyayi.
The group conveyed its message in a statement signed by its President, Mr Donald Sobara, and issued in Abuja recently.
Sobara described the late Iyayi as a renowned academic and a respected human rights activist, who had been part of ASUU’s negotiating team with the Federal Government to end the struggle.
“We must put aside everything and mourn this great man of honour and integrity.
Gombe
President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare open
the second North-East Economic Summit scheduled for December 3 in Gombe, Gombe State.
Chairman of the Publicity Committee of the summit, Alhaji Bashir Bello-Akko, made this known when he interacted with newsmen in Gombe State.
Bello-Akko said preparations were in progress to ensure a successful summit.
According to him, two pre-summit conferences were held recently in Abuja to discuss issues that would be deliberated upon in the summit.
Kaduna
A total of 53 Cadets of the Nigeria Defence Academy
have joined the Special Elite Force after successfully completing a six-week basic airborne course at the Nigeria School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State.
The Commandant of the School, Maj.Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the training was designed to “produce physically fit and skilled elite troops capable of being launched into battle field from an aircraft”.
Represented by Col Sani Audu, the commandant said the paratroopers had displayed high discipline and professionalism during the course.
Kano
The Joint Security Taskforce (JTF) has said it had killed
two suspected Boko Haram members at Gayawa in Ungoggo Local Government Area of Kano State.
This is contained in a statement signed by spokesman of the JTF, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, and made available to newsmen in Kano State.
The statement stated that the suspects lost their lives during an early morning operation at Gayawa general area.
“A further cordon and search operation was conducted this morning at about 6.30 at Gayawa general area”, the statement said.
Kebbi
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council
(RMRDC), says it would upgrade its intervention programmes in agriculture and mining to boost industrial development in Kebbi State.
The acting Director-General of the council, Dr Hassan Ibrahim said this in Birnin Kebbi at the opening of a capacity building workshop with the theme“Harnessing Fruit Juice Processing and Packaging in Kebbi state.”
Represented by Mr Usain Wele, the director general said the RMRDC had in the past assisted stakeholders in the state to promote their trades.
Kogi
The Kogi State House of Assembly has resolved to con
stitute a delegation to go to Benin and commiserate with the family of the late Prof. Festus Iyayi.
The resolution came after the assembly adopted a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Alhaji Yakubu Yunusa, at plenary.
Yunusa had in the motion called for the constitution of a powerful delegation from the assembly to go to Benin and commiserate with the family of the late Iyayi.
“The late professor, who was a former President of ASUU and author, was a leader who devoted and sacrificed his all for the country.
Kwara
An Ilorin Magistrate Court has remanded the tradi
tional ruler of Tewu Village, in Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara State, Sinapatiagi Sule, for alleged inhuman treatment.
The monarch was arraigned on a four-count charge with his seven chiefs for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt, and trial by ordeal.
The chiefs are Musa Lafia, Gunu Adamu, Muhammed Akpo, Usman Sabi, Sule Taku, Gunu Ibrahim and Amuda Tabe.
Prosecutor Adekunle Iwaleye told the court that the monarch invited the seven complainants to his palace for allegedly belonging to witches and wizards.
Niger
The Niger State Government has signed a N1.2 billion
Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Soject Nigeria Limited for the upgrading of Brigi-Lapai gwari road in the state.
Alhaji Mu’azu Bawa, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, who signed on behalf of the state government, said that the project was designed to ease traffic congestion in the area.
He said the initial design of the road project was surface-dressing as feeder road to cater for the villages within the area.
Bawa, however, said that the state government changed the design to make it a by-pass to accommodate more traffic.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has pre
sented a budget proposal of N210.21 billion for 2014 to the State House of Assembly.
Christened “Budget of Consolidation’’, Amosum said the 2014 was slightly lower than the 2013 figure of N211.86 billion and geared toward the actualisation of the administration’s mission to rebuild the state.
He said N117.51billion was earmarked for capital expenditure, while N92.70 billion would be for recurrent expenditure.
The governor said the expected revenue was N154.38 billion, while the capital receipt was N55.83 billion.
Ondo
A trader, Remi Lanre, has appeared before an Akure
Magistrate Court for allegedly assaulting a police officer.
The Prosecutor, ASP. Pelumi Adejuwon, alleged that the accused committed the offence on November 18, at about 1 p.m. at Ilotin, off Ijoka road in Akure.
“She unlawfully assaulted one Cpl Cecilia Adebisi, attached to Oda Divisional Police Headquarters, Akure.
“The accused rough-handled the police officer by damaging her uniform, crest and wrist watch,” he said.
Oyo
A university teacher has called for the creation of more
employment opportunities for women to improve the health status of mothers and their children.
Dr Adetola Adeoti, lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan, made the call at the National Policy Seminar on Health, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Ibadan last Tuesday.
In her paper: “Child Health and Maternal Health Status and Demand for Health Care Services in Nigeria’’, she said “educated and employed mothers will not only be healthy but also have healthy children.’’
She said Nigeria experienced significant increase in economic growth in the last decade yet the health indicators were very poor particularly in the rural areas where poverty remained high.
Taraba
The Director, Public Complaints Commission in
Taraba State, Alhaji Sa’ad Mohammed, has said that the disparities existing in salaries of civil servants in the country were unfair.
Mohammed said this in Jalingo in an interactive session with the State-Based Federal Civil Servants in Taraba State.
“I cannot understand why people who graduated from the same school, department and at the same grade level, are receiving different salaries, simply because they are not working in the same organisations.
“Some earn even three times what their mates are earning elsewhere. Are there public establishments that are not important.”
He, however, said that the disparities had recently been bridged to some extent by the present administration, but stressed that the gap was still wide.
Chairman, Gombe State Sports Commission, Mr Faruk Yarma (left), briefing Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (right), during an inspection tour of sports facilities in Gombe last Wednesday. With them is the Principal Permanent Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Sani Joro (middle).
Photo: NAN
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
