Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

October 12, 2016

Adamawa

The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has opened new operation offices in Adamawa, Edo and Kano states in its efforts to bring disaster management closer to communities and reduce response time, its Director General, Muhammad Sani Sidi, announced.
Sidi made the announcement in a statement issued by Mr Sani Datti, the Media and Public Relations Officer of the agency in Yola.
He stated that “as the agency saddled with responsibility of coordinating disaster management and related matters, NEMA is making efforts to build stakeholders’ capacity and appropriate mechanism to address various facets of disaster risk reduction.”
He explained that the mechanisms being put in place to reduce disaster risks were prevention, mitigation, preparedness, quick response and recovery.

FCT

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe
Kachikwu, has urged parastatal agencies under the ministry to develop a roadmap for self funding of their activities within the next three to four years.
A statement by Head of Press, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Kalu Otisi in Abuja yesterday, stated that Kachikwu gave the charge while inspecting PTDF’s upgraded projects in PTI Effurum Delta-State.
“ According to the statement, facilities inspected by the minister included an ultra-modern laboratory complex, a one- stop laboratory for research and training in diverse areas of onshore and offshore operations.
Other projects are facilities for exploration, drilling and production provided by PTDF, a demonstration training land rig with flow station rehabilitated and made functional by PTDF and the latest drilling simulators, welding and mechanical workshops.
Kachikwu, accompanied by some senior officials of the ministry including the new Executive Secretary of PTDF, Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, commended the Fund for the rigorous implementation of its capacity building programmes.

Ibadan

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office has arraigned in a Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti an illegal polytechnic operator.
The alleged illegal operator, Johnson Babatola was arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo on a 7-count charge bordering on Advance fee fraud and operation of illegal Polytechnic.
Babatola, a former Principal Manager of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti branch pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC said that the suspect was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education in Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal Polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State.
The board said that the accused had allegedly extorted gullible students, who were not aware of the status of the institution.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Board of Internal Revenue has ad
vised vehicles owners in the state whose number plates had faded and no longer identifiable, to replace them.
The Coordinator of Road Taxes of the board, Alhaji Salisu Sani, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Dutse yesterday.
Sani said that vehicles with such faded number plates could be used to commit crimes since the information on them was no longer visible.
“We want to urge such vehicle owners to, as quickly as possible, replace the faded numbers.
“This is because such numbers are no longer identifiable, and as such, some criminals can hide under that and commit certain crimes.
“And the replacement can also help the board to generate more revenue for our dear state,” Sani said.
Kaduna

The Provost, College of Agriculture and Animal Sci
ence, Mondo, Dr Balarabe Jahun, says diversification to agriculture by government is the right direction to pull Nigeria out of economic rot.
Jahun told newsmen in Kaduna that, if Nigeria can produce over 50 per cent of its agricultural needs, it would reduce the country’s challenges and ensure stability.
According to him, self sufficiency in food production and export of the excess will boost the economy, increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product and create employment.
The provost said that Nigeria has the capacity to produce all it required and export the surplus.

Kano

The authorities of Bayero University, Kano, have con
firmed the release of its lecturer, Mr Saminu Aliyu-Kiri, who was kidnapped in Kaduna State on Thursday night.
The Director, Public Affairs of the university, Malam Ahmed Shehu, confirmed the release of the abducted lecturer in an interview with newsmen in Kano.
Shehu said the lecturer, who regained his freedom on October 7, had since been reunited with his family in Kano.
“As I am talking to you now, the lecturer has regained his freedom since Friday, October 7, and reunited with his family,” he said.
Shehu, who, did not state whether ramson was paid before the release, said it was by the miracle of God that the lecturer regained his freedom.

Kebbi
The Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy yesterday
began training of 500 youths on skill acquisition, digital media and enterprise in Kebbi.
Our correspondent reports that the academy is carrying out the exercise in Birnin Kebbi in collaboration with the Gazzalle Academy Vocational Centre.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc., Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said at the commencement of the training that the five-day programme was part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Okonkwo, represented by an official of the bank, Malam Abdulrahman Ibrahim, said that the initiative would produce a new breed of Nigerian entrepreneurs.

Lagos
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has
ordered the immediate demolition of all shanties around the creeks and on the waterways.
Ambode gave the order when he visited the Ilubirin LagosHomes project during an inspection tour of some parts of the state.
He asked all illegal occupants of the shanties to leave within seven days and stressed that the safety of citizens was paramount, hence the government’s zero tolerance for kidnapping and other crimes.
Ambode assured residents that government would review the laws on kidnapping and promised prompt and quick rescue of the students and teachers of Igbonla Model College, Epe, kidnapped on Thursday in their school.
Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Judiciary yesterday constituted
five appeal panels to review 127 judgments delivered by lower courts in the state.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Dikko, announced this at the inauguration of 2016 Second Call-Over Special Appeal Session at the State High Court in Keffi.
“The 127 cases to be reviewed include; 81 civil cases and 46 criminal cases,” Dikko said.
He added that out of the 127 cases, 102 were old cases, while 39 were new.

Niger
Niger State government said it will discontinue the
payment of West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO), fees for its students in Secondary Schools in the state.
Governor Sani Bello of Niger, disclosed this yesterday when he visited Justice Legbo Kutigi Secondary School to inspect the ongoing renovation of the school in Lavun local government areas of the state.
Bello said that government can not continue to pay N800 million every year for students that only 5 per cent of them are able to pass with four credits.
Ogun

The Ogun State government has urged residents liv
ing in areas severely affected by flood to relocate in order to guide against loss of lives and property.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, made the plea in a statement yesterday in Abeokuta.
According to him, some of the affected areas include: Kara, Isheri, Denro, Akute, Wawa and Warewa, all in Ifo and Obafemi Owode Local Government Areas of the state.

Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, has called
on the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Zari’a-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto highway.
The governor made the call in Sokoto when he received the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who paid him a courtesy visit.
He said that the call became necessary in view of the importance of the highway which links almost all the states in the North-west geopolitical zone.
He thanked the Federal Government for the on-going rehabilitation of Sokoto-Jega-Kontagora road.

Yobe

The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajia Khadija
Ibrahim, donated 5,136 (50kg) bags of rice to Yobe Government as intervention to Internally Displaced Personss in Gujba Local Government Area and it environs to improve standard of living.
Ibrahim handed over the commodity in Gujba area of Yobe.
She said the the aim of the intervention was to alleviate the plight of the people affected by the activities of insurgents in the Northeast.

Nation

UNIZIK Honours Business Mogul, Ezekwe, For Philanthropism

Published

3 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has conferred the Award of Digital Academic Promoter on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Arrowconn Group, High Chief (Dr.) Emeka Ezekwe, for his philanthropic gestures.

Chief Ezekwe received the philanthropist award during a landmark technical workshop organised by the Department of Business Education, Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, recently.

Making the presentation, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ugochukwu Stanley Anyaehie, said the award was in recognition of Ezekwe’s philanthropic contributions, academic support, and dedication to human capital development, hailing his commitment to bridging industry and academia.

Ezekwe who is also the Chairman of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Professional Services and Consultancy Trade Group, delivered a keynote address at the event with a theme: “Technicalities and Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business and Education.”

In his address, Ezekwe described the current AI surge as a civilizational shift rather than a mere technological upgrade.

He compared AI’s rapid trajectory to past innovations like electricity, computers, the Internet, and mobile phones, which he said, progressed from luxuries to necessities.

“AI is reshaping value creation, knowledge sharing, and decision-making at unprecedented speed. It has moved from experimentation to execution, powering business forecasting, academic research, digital learning, and strategic decisions,” he said.

The business mogul, however, warned that in business, delays lead to losses, while in education, irrelevance spells failure.

“AI is no longer optional, it is a necessity,” he declared.

Ezekwe highlighted the critical AI skill gap, driven by curriculum lags, limited training, and fear of the unknown, but stressed the bigger danger which is exclusion.

“Those who master AI will shape markets, education, and policy; those who lag will be shaped by others,” he said.

The Arrowconn Group boss also outlined AI’s practical advantages for businesses —including data-driven strategies, smarter investments, scalable customer insights, and competitive edges for SMEs.

In education, he clarified that AI empowers rather than replaces teachers, enabling personalized learning, efficient lesson planning, assessment support, and accelerated research.

He advocated a shift from rote memorization to critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, while preserving human strengths in engagement, judgment, and collaboration.

Ezekwe urged ethical AI development, warning that “technology without values is dangerous,” and called on institutions like UNIZIK to update curricula, train educators, promote interdisciplinary work, forge industry partnerships, and produce graduates who are solution providers in an AI-driven world.

The workshop also marked the unveiling of the maiden edition of the UNIZIK Journal of Business Education and Entrepreneurship, reinforcing the department’s push for scholarly innovation in AI applications.

Nation

Don Calls For National Forensic Data Bank To Combat Rising Crime

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

UPWA Hosts Colourful Inter-House Sports Fiesta

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

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.