Nation
THE STATES
Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie (middle), addressing members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (Nans), protesting over sacked Vice Chancellors, at the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja yesterday
Bauchi
Bauchi State Police command has arrested a suspected
female child kidnapper, while trying to escape with the victim.
The spokesman of the command, DSP Haruna Mohammed, said the suspect, Maryam Mohammed, 22, of Gabi in Soro town was arrested on May 6 by the police detectives attached to Soro Division.
Mohammed said that the suspect allegedly kidnapped an eight-year-old girl, Azizah Shitu of Soro town, who had been declared missing since May 4.
He said that the suspect was arrested at Kamfanin Kutare on Bauchi – Maiduguri Road, while trying to board a car with the victim to an unknown destination.
Borno
The Shehu of Dikwa, Borno State, Alhaji Muhammad
Masta II, has appealed to the Victims Support Fund (VSF) to assist in rebuilding his palace in Dikwa.
Masta made the call at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Borno Government and the VSF on the rebuilding of some public structures in Dikwa.
He said the rebuilding of the palace would enable him return home after staying in Maiduguri for three years.
“I want to remind the VSF that my palace also needs urgent attention. ‘My subjects came to my abode in Maiduguri last week urging me to request for the rebuilding of the palace as soon as we arrive here for the ceremony.”
FCT
The Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has
expressed support for the amendment of the Civil Aviation Acts in order to enhance performance in the nation’s aviation industry.
Sirika disclosed this while receiving reports from the Ministerial Committee on the Review and Amendment of Civil Aviation Acts and the Committee on the Assessment of Aviation Security in Abuja.
He said that the existing Civil Aviation Acts in Nigeria was first enacted in 1964 and first reviewed in 2006, adding that the amendment was done in a rush which made it inefficient.
The minister added that for the aviation industry in Nigeria to achieve the needed change, efficient laws must be in place.
Kano
Kano State Government said it would construct six
feeder roads in the three senatorial districts of the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.
Garba said two feeder roads would be constructed in each of the senatorial districts to facilitate movement of people and to boost economic activities in the rural areas.
The commissioner said the council had also approved N8 million for the conduct of second round of training for traditional birth attendants in the state.
“The council has approved N12 million for the implementation of May and October round of Immunisation Plus Days.
Katsina
A Non Governmental Organisation, Emeka Offor Foun
dation, has donated 60,000 books worth N1.5 billion to tertiary institutions in Katsina State.
Presenting the books to Governor Aminu Masari in Katsina, the chairman of the foundation, Chief Emeka Offor, said the gesture would enhance growth of education in the state.
“We are here to support Katsina State with these books having seen its giant strides in the education sector.
“We expect the state Ministry of Education to coordinate and supervise the distribution of the books to the targeted institutions in the state”.
Earlier, a board member of the Foundation, Mr Howard Letters, said the foundation had donated books, reading materials and computers worth 22 million Dollars to some African countries.
Kebbi
The National Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders As
sociation, Alhaji Kiruwa Zuru, has declared support for Federal Government’s efforts to find a permanent solution to the recurring clashes between farmers and herdsmen.
Zuru made the declaration in an interactive session with Journalists in Birnin Kebbi.
He was responding to the recent violence that occurred in some parts of the country that affected peaceful co-existence among communities.
He said the recent Presidential directive for security agencies to deal with perpetrators of the violence was a positive development and laudable.
Zuru asserted that it was alien for the Fulani herdsmen to be carrying weapons in the country and called for the prosecution of those carrying arms.
Lagos
The United State Under Secretary of State for Civilian Se
curity, Democracy and Human Rights, Ms Sarah Sewall, has urged Africans to realise that genital cutting was harmful to girls and women’s health.
Sewall, who made the appeal in a teleconference with journalists from across Africa, said it was time for Africans to shun such practice and “move into modern world.’’
According to her, about 95 per cent of African girls and women have been subjected to some form of cuttings and genital mutilations.
“We believe that girls and women have to be able to live their lives as beings, just like boys and men in our communities.
“That means that, they need to have their health and physical integrity”.
Niger
Endwell Model Science School, Minna has inaugurated a
vocational centre and home economics laboratory to boost early development of children.
The Chairperson, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Hajiya Dije Bala, Endwell Scheme Board of Trustees while inaugurating the centre and laboratory, said the centre would help in empowering the students.
She said that Endwell Model Science School, Minna “is the school built by the Niger chapter of NUT.
“The idea behind the establishment of this vocational centre and home economics laboratory is to equip the children for future development.’’
Bala said that it was better to equip the children with vocational skills and home economics study to ensure their early development.
Ogun
Former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo
Anisulowo, has lauded Ogun and Federal Governments for providing platform for inter agencies collaboration in the security sector.
Anisulowo made the commendation when she received a delegation from the State House of Assembly in her residence at Ilaro.
She said such collaboration among various security outfits led to her release from captivity.
She said her release was a divine grace arising from inter-agency collaboration which included the Local Vigilante Service in Yewa North.
Ondo
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said that
the ministry embarked on Vitamin A food bio-fortification to reduce death rate and boost nutrition in the country.
Adewole, who was represented by the Director of Nutrition, Dr Chris Isukpunwu, disclosed this at the launching of 2016 planting season for bio-fortified vitamin A cassava and maize.
Our correspondent reports the programme was organised by Harvestplus Nigeria, at the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure.
HarvestPlus is an international organisation leading a global effort to improve nutrition by developing and disseminating staple food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals.
The theme of the programme is ‘Scaling Up Bio fortification Investment in Nigeria.’
Adewole noted that vitamin A was one of the five major nutrients of the body, adding that many children under the age of five die due to measles, which is caused by lack of vitamin A.
Plateau
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Pla
teau State has trained 25 youths on digging of concrete wells to boost water supply to curb perennial water scarcity in the state.
The Plateau NDE Coordinator, Mr Stephen Ndaks, while briefing newsmen in Jos, said that the trainees were the first to be trained in Concrete Well and Water Catchment Training Scheme (CWWCTS) by NDE.
“The scheme involves digging and excavation of the earth crust, casting of concrete to case the well and to prevent collapse of the well.
“The scheme creates employment by training youths in the techniques of digging and casing of the well with concrete.
“The scheme in addition, is to provide sustainable job creation by facilitating the provision of portable water in our communities or households,” he said.
The coordinator explained that the trainees were taught both theory and practical aspects of digging a concrete well.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State command of the National Drugs Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested a female youth corps member currently serving in Zamfara State with 9 kilogrammes of Indian hemp.
The Commandant of the agency in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto.
Idris said the suspect was serving in Gumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and was arrested along Sokoto-Gusau road in Sokoto State.
He said that the suspect had confessed to being initiated into the business by a fellow corps member.
He said the suspect had boarded a luxury bus from Onitsha in Anambra State to Sokoto, from where she would board another bus to Gumi in Zamfara State, when she was arrested at a check point in Sokoto.
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.
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
