Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

November 15, 2010

Bauchi

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bauchi State, Sen. Iliya Audu, says the commission requires more than 4,074 Direct Data Capturing Machines (DDCMs) for the forthcoming voter registration.

Audu stated this in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi, saying each of the polling units in the state would be allocated a machine for the exercise.

There are 4,074 polling units, 212 registration areas and 2,130,557 registered voters in the state.

The REC said that when the voter registration was conducted last in 2008, there was only one machine which led to omission of names, adding that the forthcoming exercise would be comprehensive.

He said that INEC was compiling names of corps members serving in the state to be engaged for the registration.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has appealed to the Presidency to accord it preferential treatment when considering where to site the proposed federal university meant for the South West Zone.

The Assembly’s plea followed the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council at its last meeting to establish six federal universities in each of the six geo political zones of the country.

The Ekiti House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Tunji Odeyemi, in a statement issued on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, said: “Ekiti State is the most qualified to host a federal university in the zone.”

The statement signed on behalf of Odeyemi by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Rotimi Ajisola described Ekiti State as the academic basket of the nation and reservoir of intellectuals for most tertiary institutions in the country, but added that the state had long been marginalised in the area of federal presence.

FCT

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on the media and the private sector to collaborate with it in managing disasters.

A statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Yushau Shuaib, said the Director General of the Agency, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, made the call at the end of a consultative meeting of the executive held in Ibadan at the weekend.

The meeting, chaired by Sani-Sidi, noted the need for the private sector to participate fully in stakeholders’ meetings as well as the involvement of the media as major stakeholders instead of attending the meetings as reporters.

The statement said participants at the meeting urged NEMA to speed up the process for the establishment of National Council on Disaster Management.

It said the council would attract representations from stakeholders to provide policy guidelines for efficient and effective decision-making on disaster-related issues.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government will soon set up a committee to work out modalities for improved internal revenue generation, Governor Patrick Yakowa has said.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after inspecting projects in Zone III, Kaduna Southern Senatorial District, Yakowa said the committee would evolve ways of generating more funds to complement the revenue from the Federation Account.

He said the state government had done a lot in terms of projects implementation but noted that it required more money to undertake additional projects.

According to him, allocations from the Federation Account to the various states and local governments have dropped substantially, making it difficult for them to execute their projects.

Kano

As the Eid-el Kabir begins tomorrow, many Muslims in Kano have thronged to rural markets in search of cheaper rams, an investigation by The Tide reveals.

The rising cost of rams in Kano made it necessary for low income earners to go to rural markets where the cost of livestock is less.

Yesterday at Wudil, Gaya and Kachako markets, many customers said they came from Kano and Gusau to buy rams which they said were cheaper.

A civil servant, Malam Kabir Abubakar, said he travelled to Wudil ram and sheep market from Kano to buy his sallah ram as “the prices in Kano are prohibitive”.

“Only the super rich can afford a ram in cities because the ones I saw were from N50,000 and above,” he said.

Katsina

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Katsina State has warned parents against allowing their under-age children to drive during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The Sector Commander, Mr Habu Dauda gave the warning in Katsina over the weekend at a joint meeting of the commission’s officials, traditional rulers and other security agencies.

The sector commander, who was represented by the Public Relations Officer, Mr Muntari Fago, warned that any under-age child caught driving or riding motorcycle during the sallah period and beyond would be arrested and the vehicle impounded.

He said the warning was necessary in view of the rampant accidents usually recorded in the state capital and other major towns during festivities.

Kebbi

Medical practitioners should encourage people to exercise themselves physically to avoid hypertension, a consultant neurologist at the Usmanu dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Dr Salihu Balarabe, has advised.

Balarabe gave the advice in Birnin Kebbi during an interactive session on the topic “Hypertension, a killer disease”, organised by the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

He said regular physical exercise and medical check-up were remedies for hypertension, noting that a survey on the disease conducted by the WHO indicated that one billion people were diagnosed to be hypertensive globally.

The NMA Chairman, Dr Aliyu Illo, said the session was designed to sensitise the public to the dangers posed by hypertension and how to avoid it.

Kogi

As Muslims rush to buy food items in preparation for Eid el-Kabir, the prices of rams, chickens and catfish have increased in Lokoja.

Conversely in Onitsha, Anambra, traders are complaining that low patronage had forced down the prices of the animals.

A market survey conducted by our correspondent at the Felele Market in Lokoja on Friday, showed that a big ram sold for between N50,000 and N70,000 as against N55,000 and N60,000 last year.

A medium ram which sold for between N25,000 and N35,000 last year, is now being sold for between N40, 000 and N48,000.

Similarly, a small ram which sold for N11,000 last year, is now being sold for between N15,000 and N20,000.

Mallam Abubakar Sani, the Chairman of ram and goat sellers association in the market, attributed the hike in price to “greedy motorists’’ who he accused of arbitrarily increasing transportations cost whenever there were festivities.

Lagos

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Wole Diya, has attributed the delay in the passage of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Bill by the House to inadequate lobbying by the sponsors.

Diya told newsmen in Lagos on Saturday that Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a key sponsor of the private bill, had been unable to lobby the lawmakers well enough to pass the bill.

“It is not good enough to present a private bill before the House and expect it to sail through with ease.

“You have to lobby all the members, particularly the opposition.

“I am in strong support of the FoI Bill but what can I do alone in the House that has hundreds of members?” said Diya, who represents the Lagos East Constituency.

He urged Dabiri-Erewa to intensify effort in lobbying members of the House to accept and pass the bill.

Nasarawa

Pastor Jeremiah Kalejaiye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has attributed Nigeria’s low level of development to the lack of fear of God in political actors and government officials.

He said this on Friday in his sermon at the 9th annual Holy Ghost Service organised by the RCCG.

In the sermon entitled “King of Kings”, Kalejaiye declared that if government officials had the fear of God in them, the country would attain greater heights.

Quoting Psalm 111, verse 10, the pastor stressed that the fear of God was the beginning of wisdom, adding that anyone who did not fear God would always be deficient in wisdom.

“In our society today, it is unfortunate to note that the fear of man has replaced the fear of God and this is the beginning of the problems we have in Nigeria today.

Niger

The high cost of animals, especially rams, may prevent some Muslims from Bida and its environs in Niger from performing the sacrifice for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Our correspondent in the area who visited some animal markets yesterday reports that the price of rams was exorbitant and many Muslims might not have the means to buy them.

An average ram which cost N10,000 last year now costs about N18,000, an increase of N8,000 or 80 per cent against last year’s price. A female goat, which was sold at about N6,000 last year now costs N10,000 this year, while a male goat that cost N8,000 last year costs between N13,000 and N15,000 this year.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Support For Ogoni Youths …Organises Workshop For Undergraduates

Published

1 day ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

In pursuit of its strategic human capacity development initiatives, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has restated its commitment to supporting Ogoni youths to maximally benefit from its projects and programmes that align with their visions and aspirations.

The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication during the second edition of the international career enhancement and employability workshop organised by the Project for undergraduates and fresh graduates of Ogoni ethnic nationality in Port Harcourt, assured the participants of its commitment to continually initiate programmes that support their visions and aspirations.

He noted that the workshop reaffirms the Project’s commitment to inclusiveness and continuous skills development, as strategic pillars in its efforts to restore and improve livelihoods in Ogoniland.

He said the workshop was aimed at equipping the Ogoni youths with relevant career skills and empower them with employability tools, to ensure that HYPREP’s gains extend beyond remediation into long-term transformations, stressing that the Project is committed to supporting their dreams.

”HYPREP is committed to supporting your dreams through targeted initiatives, such as this workshop and we will explore ways to empower you with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.
I want to emphasise that this workshop is not just about enhancing your career prospects; it is also about building a community of young people and equipping you to make a positive impact in your communities. As you benefit from HYPREP’s interventions (and the experiences of the facilitator), I challenge you to take the message of peace and constructive engagement to your communities and live accordingly,” he said.

Zabbey further assured that HYPREP would continue to stand with Ogoni youths by supporting their aspirations through targeted workshops and broader livelihood initiatives that prioritise their development, noting that the Project believes in them and remains committed to creating platforms where their potential can be nurtured and realised.

The Project Coordinator enjoined them to continue to contribute to the success of HYPREP.

The second edition of the career enhancement and employability workshop had Dr Akanimo Odon and Dr Chioma Okonkwo as facilitators, while the participants were drawn from the four Ogoni local government areas.

Among other modules, participants at the two-day workshop were provided with tips on ways to explore opportunities in seemingly challenging situations, discover themselves, convert hobbies and interests into passion and profits through three career e-routes and understand the power of networks and partnerships.

Participants were also given useful nuggets, career resources of time and skills, and career resources of funding, especially how to access foreign scholarships and funding.

At the closing, HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, urged the participants to earnestly pursue their passions and commit to their dreams.

Meanwhile, the participants expressed gratitude to HYPREP for organising the workshop, which they described as impactful and transformative.

HYPREP has continued to be intentional in its efforts to prioritise human capacity development in Ogoni through such workshops and trainings. This year, the Project will be rolling out trainings in high demand skill areas like mechatronics, underwater welding, commercial diving, full-stack development and GIS, targeting the youths as major beneficiaries and giving them a fair head start and comparative advantage in a highly competitive environment.

Nation

NIPR Practitioners Urge To Go Beyond Traditional Media Relations To Strategic Leadership Functions

Published

1 day ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Public Relations practitioners across Nigeria have been charged to go beyond the perceived roles of media relations and protocol services to strategic leadership functions that is crucial to shaping and transforming the nation.

In his message at this year’s (2025) World Public Relations Day, with the Theme: ” Building Bridges, Navigating Polarisation” In Port Harcourt, The National President of the Nigeria Institution of Public Relations Dr. Ike Neliaku expressed delight to address members and guests on this special day, pointing out that the day offers a an opportunity to reflect on the journey over six decades since Public Relations formally birthed in Nigeria.

He maintained that this year’s world Public Relations day gives opportunity to members to reflect on the actions and inactions towards the development of the profession and to boldly develop new frontiers for a greater institution.

The NIPR president explained that the values of Public Relations particularly in areas of fostering relationship, strengthening leadership and advancing good governance remain a key -through effective and goal- oriented communication.

Earlier, The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, (RSU) Prof. Isaac zep-Obipi being represented by the Deputy VC admin Prof. Victor Akujuru throw challenge to NIPR members to rebranding and portray the state in good light, standing that RSU remains a state owned institution that have not witness any strike in the passed fifteen years.

Also in his speech, the state chairman NIPR Rivers Chapter Rev. Francis Asuk described world Public Relations day as a day set aside to pay attention to the works of public relations globally indeed that relationship is important that the world is crying about in rebuilding relationship due to the collapsed of the value systems at family, society and world level of human existence.

” At the highest level of human existence relationship has become imperative for all practitioners to come together and build bridges to navigates those Polarisation” he said.

In a related development,the keynote speaker Rev (Fr.) Prof. Walter C.Ihejirika, said the media has a lot to do especially on its role of enlightenment to the public about the role and function as a key element in the development of a better society.

Prof. Ihejirika who is the Dean faculty of Communication and Media Studies , University of Port Harcourt, stressed that when media practitioners navigate on the area of strategic communications with a goal, then the public will be better informed and know that they have a responsibility for the large society, “because if the large society is not good, the organization cannot function effectively.”

Nation

Alumni, Others Launch Campus Care Initiative In Port Harcourt

Published

1 day ago

July 18, 2025

The Tide

The Madonna University Alumni Association Rivers State Chapter in partnership with Rotary Club of Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt Downtown and Nigerian Immigration Service have launched Campus Care Initiative at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Rumuola Port Harcourt.

Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in the inaugural edition of the Campus Care Initiative, at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic the Chairman of Madonna University Alumni Association Rivers State Chapter (MUAARIV) Dr Iheanyichukwu Wopara said that the program is aim to empowered the youth of Nigerians and also to give them the right direction in life.

He said that Campus Care Initiative is a testament to the association commitment to giving back to the society and empowering the next generation of leaders.

According to him the program is designed it demands across all sectors, physical health, mental health, sexual health and even the environment adding that the fucos of the Association is to give back to the society the best way they can.

” We have been carrying out different humanitarian activities and outreach which includes medical outreach and the girl child campaign.

” We gave academic support to three students and also three international passports, free medical outreach, pad to girl child/ condoms for the boy child and there is also introduction to ICTC training that will commence soon in the campus.

” What inform us to empowered the youth we understand that when you get the youth you have getting the society.

“We came together and says let empowered the youth in our little way knowing that government can not do anything.

” Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic was a divine choice for the program because we have a lot of University including the Madonna University to carry out the program” Dr Wopara said.

He thank the Rector of the institution Dr Moses S. Neebee, management and students of the school saying that the were expecting like 200 students but over 600 students were in attendance.

” So for us we have achieved our aim for the program and we are happy.

” First the institution management and of course our sponsor Hon Goodluck Ndala that gave us some good support for the program ” he said.

Meanwhile the Rector of institution Dr Moses S. Neebee expressed joy for the program thanking Madonna University Alumni Association and partners for bringing the program to their institution.

Dr Neebee who was represented by the Duputy Rector Academic Dr Alapuye G. Eleki said that one thing about Alumni Association is to encourage the young ones, coming behind to impact positive value in them.

” So if we have a lot of Alumni like the Madonna University I think it is good because is going to help the society and beyond.

” The program is quite encouraging taking of health, education scholarship and all that involve we are happy for it” Dr Moses said.

Also speaking the Student Union Government President Comd Henry Chijioke expressed happiness for the program saying that the lecture in course of the program as impacted a lot on the students.

“The scholarship and the international passport is a very big boost to the students.

” I appreciate Madonna Alumni and partners for dimming it fit to organize the program in our institution” Comd Chijioke said.

Earlier one of the scholarships beneficiary Taabere James of Science Laboratory Technology ND 11 said he feel very honored for the scholarship adding that he was thinking how to clear some of his fees in the school but with the support of Madonna University Alumni Association and partners he is going to clear his outstanding fees.

Key highlights of the initiative include

Scholarship award, free international Passports, medical outreach, girl child support – sanitary pad were distributed to female students while male students received condoms.

Kiadum Edookor