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Benue

The TY Danjuma Foundation (TYDF), has donated roofing
materials worth N5million to residents of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Presenting the materials, the Team Leader, Mr Gima Forje, said that it was in fulfilment of the foundation’s promise to the people after its assessment tour of the ravaged communities on May 25.
He said that during the tour, the foundation met with relevant stakeholders in the area, stressing that it was from there that they arrived on needs of the area.
‘’We carried out an assessment visit to the area, held discussions with members of the community, local government chairman and community leaders.
‘’The report of the assessment determined the type of intervention the foundation has provided,’’ he said.

Borno

The Borno State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil
Defense Corps (NSCDC) say it has arrested four butchers for allegedly selling the meat of dead animals to Maiduguri residents.
State Commandant of Corps, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, told newsmen that the suspects, who had confessed to committing the crime, were arrested at the Murtala Square area in the state capital.
“The culprits have been selling dead livestock to innocent unsuspecting people.
“They normally go around and pick dead animals from the outskirt of the town and sell same to the public.
“Some of these animals died from tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia or even brucellosis, which can pose dangerous health challenges when consumed.
“Even if you have the licence to operate in an abattoir, the veterinary doctors must ascertain that the animals are safe for human consumption”.

Ekiti
Two men, Ibrahim Mohammad and Usman Haruna  who
allegedly stole 16 cows, have been brought before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, Mohammad, 30 and Haruna, 26, are facing a charge of stealing to which they have pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 3 at about 2.00 a.m. at Ilafo Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area.
He alleged that the accused stole 16 cows valued at N1 million, property of Mr Yusuf Abdullahi.
The offence contravened Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti 2012.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Timilehin Omotosho, urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms with a promise that they would not jump bail.

FCT
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and
Financial Crimes,Sen. Chukwuka Utazi, has reiterated the committee’s resolve to support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its anti-graft war.
This is contained in a statement issued by Head of Media, EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement quoted Utazi as having given the assurance when members of the committee visited the acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu.
Utazi stated that one of the committee’s priorities was to ensure that the commission’s headquarters was completed and made conducive for officers to carry out their duties effectively.
“We understand that EFCC is short changed in the 2015 budget; we will ensure that the building is completed.
“We will get all you need to work better, contained in the 2016 approved budget,’’ it stated.

Kaduna
A haematologist, Dr Abdul-Aziz Hassan, says Nigeria
needs about 1.7 million units of donated blood per annum.
Hassan, the Head of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, made the assertion at a programme to commemorate the World Blood Donor Day in Zaria.
The consultant haematologist, who spoke to newsmen on the sidelines of the programme, said 100 million units of blood were donated across the world annually.
According to him, more than 60 per cent of this figure is, however, collected in the developed countries.
Kano
A 32-year-old man, Suleiman Umar, who allegedly impreg
nated his 13-year-old niece, has been remanded in prison on the order of a Kano Magistrates’ Court.
Umar, who lives at Yan Kifi Village in Kunchi Local Government Area of Kano, is being tried for impregnating his niece.
The Chief Magistrate, Maryam Sabo, said the accused should be kept behind bars until the next date of adjournment.
Earlier, Prosecutor Shuaibu Musa told the court that a man, Dauda Muhammad of the same address reported the case at Kunchi Police Station in Kano on April 18.
According to him, the accused about five months ago had carnal knowledge of the 13-year-old daughter of his older brother, Muhammad.

Lagos

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nige
ria (AMSLN) has urged government at all levels to provide adequate security for all categories of health workers.
The National President of the association, Alhaji Tosin Raheem, made the call at a “Day of Tributes and Prayer’’ for  the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria, late Mrs Olufunke Omotuyi,.
The event was organised by the Lagos State council of the association and LUTH chapter in honour of the late Omotuyi in Lagos.
According to him, law enforcement agencies must ensure safety of every individual in the country, especially the health workers.
Our correspondent reports that the late Omotuyi was killed by assailants at about 4 a.m on June 8, at her residence in Apo Quarters, Abuja.
Niger

Former Head of State, retired Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami
has urged the Federal Government to dialogue with militant groups in the Niger Delta.
Abdulsalami gave the advice when he received members of the Niger State House of Assembly who visited him on his 74th birthday in Minna.
“All we need to do is to sit down on a round table and discuss these problems.
“Even if you fight a war and win, you must sit down with the people you conquered. The insecurity we are going through now is uncalled for.
“For the Boko Haram, nobody knows what they want. The Avengers are now out, what are they avenging?’’, he asked.

Ogun
The Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM)
has advised parents and guardians of students in public secondary schools to desist from engaging their children and awards in part-time education.
TESCOM Chairman, Mrs Olabosipo Ogunsan, gave the advice during an unscheduled assessment tour of some secondary schools in the Remo Zone of the state.
Ogunsan said that if parents should encourage their children to engage in trade apprenticeship during school session, this would distract them from concentrating on their studies.

Osun

The Osun House of Assembly passed seven bills in the
last one year, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Bosun Oyinloye,has said.
Oyintiloye disclosed this in Osogbo on Thursday in an interview with newsmen.
He said the bills were expected to impact positively on the living conditions of the people and the state’s economy.
According to him, the bills are Public Procurement Bill, Land Use Charge Bill, and Primary Healthcare Development Board (Establishment) Bill and the Street Trading and Illegal Market (Prohibition) Bill.
Others are Micro-credit Agency Bill, Conservation Fund (repeal) Bill and the 2016 Appropriation Bill.
Oyintiloye noted that each of the bills was linked to revenue generation, blockage of revenue wastage and theft as well as sustaining transparency in governance.

Oyo

A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Mrs Christiana
Nwankwo, has recounted her experience in the hands of a land agent, Alexander Okoya, who allegedly defrauded her of N4.23 million.
Testifying before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of Ibadan High Court, Nwankwo told the court that Okoya sold 1.054 hectares located around University of Ibadan to her at N4 million and was paid N230,000 as commission.
She added that Okoya claimed to be a land and estate agent of repute, adding that the money was paid in two instalments.
“A group of my students and I wanted to use the land as a small laboratory.
“My lord, after I made all the payments, I demanded to see the land owner, but Okoya lied to me.
“He first said that the owner lives in Lagos and later said that he had been rushed to London due to his sickness.

Plateau

Prof. David Wonang of University of Jos has
recommended the use of organic manure to tackle “root-knot nematodes, a disease affecting roots of crops.
Wonang gave the recommendation at the 80th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Jos.
The lecture is titled: “Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne species) Farmers Silent/Unseen Enemies: Implications on food Security and Stability in Nigeria.’’
Wonang described root crop disease as a major cause of food shortage in developing countries.
“It has been generally difficult to quantify the amount of economic losses caused by root-knot nematodes, especially in developing countries where crops are rarely grown as mono crops.

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Accolades, Fanfare As Ogbakor Ikwerre President General Celebrates 80th Birthday

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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.

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Ensure That Ogoni Is Heard In The Right Way, HYPREP Urges Creative Arts Trainees

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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.

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NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

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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

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