Nation
THE STATES
Abuja
Mr Mohammed Adoke, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), has charged leaders and Muslims to seek Qur’anic knowledge.
He said that Qur’anic knowledge was necessary to enable the beneficiaries to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The AGF gave the advice on Saturday in Abuja at the 8th Executive Walimatul-Quran graduation and merit award presentation of Al-Habibiyah Academy.
Adoke told reporters at the graduation ceremony that seeking Qur’anic knowledge would guide positively the conduct of leaders in nation building.
Adamawa
Two infants, their mothers and seven other people have been confirmed dead in a ghastly motor accident on the Numan –Gombe road.
The Adamawa Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Habu Dauda, disclosed this to newsmen in Yola on Friday.
He said the accident occurred on Thursday at about 2 P.M. at Kwanan Bashokini in Lamurde local government area of the state.
He said the cause of the accident, which involved four commercial buses and one Opel car traveling from Yola to Gombe, was still being investigated.
Dauda said nine people, including the two infants and their mothers, died on the spot while the remaining two gave up on the way to hospital.
He disclosed that 27 wounded persons, 11 women and 16 men, were receiving treatment at the Numan General Hospital.
Bauchi
UNICEF has called on stakeholders to tackle the menace of child labour worldwide.
It is estimated that 150 million children, aged between five and 14 years, find themselves in the unfortunate position.
UNICEF said this in a statement in Bauchi on Friday ahead of Saturday’s 11th World Day against Child Labour.
It said child labour, is caused by poverty, compromised children’s education and safety.
“We know that progress against MDGs in education, poverty, gender and HIV and AIDS are being systematically undermined that no single policy will unilaterally end child labour.
“Evidence has shown that an effective, coherent response to child labour requires a mix of decent work employment measures and child sensitive social protection systems.
Kaduna
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, is to regularise its haphazard academic calendar, the new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, said.
Mustapha made the pledge while addressing the University Senate at its 427th regular meeting, held at the Senate Chambers in Zaria on Friday.
He expressed concern over the manner in which the calendar was being run in the institution, saying: “we shall work assiduously to regularise it.”
Mustapha appealed to the university community to put all hands on deck to take the institution to greater heights.
While describing his appointment as an act of God, he said his mission was to serve the university faithfully and to the best of his ability.
Kebbi
Some farmers in Kebbi have expressed anxiety over the delay in the sale of fertilisers for the current cropping season.
Only two weeks ago the state executive council approved the release of N3.3 billion for the purchase of 33,000 metric tonnes of the commodity for the 2010 farming season.
Mohammed Gula,a resident of Kalgo Local Government Area said the delay in the sale of fertiliser, seedlings and chemicals had forced some farmers to seek for the commodity in neighbouring states.
“The rainfall has commenced in earnest and the more we delay in the application of fertilisers we stand the chance of recording low harvest and the only option now is to purchase from elsewhere,” he said.
Kano
The Kano State Police Command has arrested four suspected armed robbers,who have been terrorising people within and outside the state.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), SP Baba Azare, gave the names of the hoodlums as Lawal Yahaya and Sani Umar,all of Kurnar Asabe quarters, Kano.
The rest,the release said,were John Sunday from Kaduna State, and Sani Yakubu of Sallare quarters,Kano.
He said that the suspects were arrested in Maiduguri, Borno, by detectives from the Kano State Command on June 9.
Investigation reveals that they masterminded and participated in a series of armed robberies in the recent past in the state,” the statement added.
It said some GSM handsets and a locally-made pistol were recovered from the robbers.
Katsina
Six persons sustained injuries while many buildings were destroyed during a heavy rainfall accompanied by windstorm in Funtua local government area of Katsina State.
Four pupils of Focus Nursery and Primary School sustained injuries while two others were injured at Sa’a Clinics where a roof was blown off.
Areas mostly affected are Tudun Wada, Unguwar Dandaji, Makera and Unguwar Dahiru.
Some victims, Malam Muhammadu Maibindiga, Malam Jailani Zakariya, Malam Rabi’u Hassan and Yahaya Haruna described the incident as “ the will of Allah.’’
They commended the efforts made by the council and the law enforcement agencies to mitigate their suffering and appealed for state government’s intervention.
They also prayed for God’s protection against a recurrence.
Kwara
The Kwara Government has awarded N30 million contract for the construction of a new cemetery and three other projects.
The projects include 16 units of boys’ quarters at the Judges’ Quarters being constructed in Ilorin, the fencing and painting of the office of the state’s Surveyor-General and the revision of the state’s local government maps.
The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr Adebayo Ishola, disclosed this in Ilorin on Friday.
He stressed that the need to provide a befitting and secured resting place for departed souls informed the construction of the new cemetery.
Lagos
No fewer than 150 residents of Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area in Lagos State, have benefited from an empowerment programme initiated by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Sarah Sosan.
Items such as grinding machines, sewing machines and crates of soft drinks were given to the beneficiaries.
Sosan told the beneficiaries in Lagos on Friday, that the gesture was a demonstration of government’s commitment to its economic empowerment programme.
She said the programme, the sixth in the series, was designed to reduce unemployment and bring the dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
“The essence of our empowerment programme is to touch the lives of the people, especially those at the grassroots.
Niger
No fewer than six persons were killed in an auto crash at Farin Doki Village on the Minna-Suleja road on Thursday night.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Minna, Mr Emmanuel Abe, said in a statement that the incident occured when a luxury bus and a Toyota Corolla car collided head on.
The statement said that six of the victims, including a woman died instantly at the scene of the accident while one person sustained injuries.
It attributed the accident to bad weather and dangerous driving, calling on the public to check the Minna General Hospital mortuary for identification and collection of the corpses.
Osun
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) International School, Ile-Ife, has donated N150,000 to an NGO for the care of the mentally ill.
The Principal of the school, Mrs Ronke Adeniyi, presented the money on behalf of the school to the Foundation for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill (CAREMI) on Friday in Ile-Ife.
Prof. Rogers Makanjuola, former OAU Vice Chancellor, established the foundation 10 years ago to assist patients with mental problems.
She appealed to corporate bodies, institutions and the rich to always extend hands of fellowship to the poor and physically-challenged members of society.
Sokoto
Alhaji Abdullahi Wali, the Sokoto State Head of the Civil Service, has warned that the government will soon wield the big stick to curb truancy among civil servants.
Wali issued the warning in Sokoto, on Friday, in an interview with newsmen after paying unscheduled visit to some Ministries, Departments and Parastatal Agencies (MDAs).
He said: “The recalcitrant behaviours of some civil servants are unbecoming and it will no longer be tolerated by the state government.”
“We have to make sure that the workers abide by the rules and regulations of the civil service. The service is being governed by these laws.”
Yobe
The Yobe Chapter of the Water and Sanitation Media Network (WATSANMN), has called on the state government to provide latrine facilities in schools to meet the UNICEF approved ratio of 50 pupils to one latrine.
A communiqué issued at the end of a training workshop for media practitioners, organised by the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme in Damaturu regretted that there were inadequate latrines in schools.
“There is need for Yobe Government to encourage the establishment of public toilets at motor parks, markets and strategic places,’’ the communique said.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor
The Nile University of Nigeria has successfully hosted the maiden National Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA) Nigeria Chapter, drawing scholars, policymakers, and media professionals to examine emerging global communication trends and Africa’s positioning within them.
The two-day conference, themed, “Global Communication Shifts and Implications for Africa,” took place from March 24 to 25, 2026, at Nile University of Nigeria in Abuja. The event marked the first national gathering of the ICA Nigeria Chapter since its inauguration in March 2023, making it a historic milestone for communication scholarship on the continent.
Delivering a welcome address on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of Nile University, Prof. Dilli Dogo, the Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr. Jacob Suemo, described the conference as a “clarion call to reimagine Africa’s place in the global communication landscape,” emphasising the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
The conference convened leading international scholars, including ICA President, Prof Thomas Hanitzsch and REACH Committee Chair, Prof Noshir Contractor, alongside other notable academics such as Prof Srivi Ramasubramanian, Dominique Brossard, and Prof. Raka Shome. Representatives from ICA chapters in India, Indonesia, and Kenya also participated, reinforcing the global outlook of the gathering.
Participants engaged in keynote sessions, panel discussions, and paper presentations addressing critical themes such as artificial intelligence, climate change communication, media systems, governance, and digital transformation. These discussions reflected the broader aim of the conference to interrogate how global communication shifts affect African societies, institutions, and development pathways.
A key highlight of the conference was a strategic panel session titled, “Is Africa Ready for ICA26?” which assessed the continent’s readiness for deeper global engagement ahead of the ICA International Conference scheduled for June 2026.
The event featured over 50 research presentations from scholars across Nigerian institutions, showcasing diverse perspectives on communication research and practice. It also attracted major stakeholders in government and media, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the News Agency of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Press Council. Discussions underscored the importance of strategic communication in national development and Africa-driven narratives in global discourse.
A major outcome of the conference was the leadership transition within the ICA Nigeria Chapter. Professor Desmond Okocha emerged as the new Chair, succeeding the founding Chair, Dr. Ekaete George. The transition was described as a step toward consolidating the association’s growth and expanding its influence across Nigeria’s academic and media landscape.
Organised in collaboration with academic institutions including Bingham University, University of Cross River State, Nasarawa State University, and the University of Calabar, the conference also featured participation from the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) as a partner and sponsor.
The ICA Nigeria Chapter noted that the conference provided a vital platform for intellectual exchange, collaboration, and policy dialogue, positioning Nigeria as a key player in global communication research and practice.
The second edition of the ICA Nigeria National Conference is scheduled for March 2027, building on the success of the inaugural event.
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