Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa Vocational Technical Training Centre (VTTC), Mubi, has trained 140 motor mechanics in the last six months, as part of effort to provide employment to the youth.
Some 300 youths are currently undergoing a three-year intensive auto-mechanic and electrical training programmes at the centre.
The Senior Technical Instructor, Sama’ila Yerima, told newsmen in Mubi yesterday that the graduates were exposed to modern technical skills to enhance their operations.
Yerima said the graduates were selected from among the semi-skilled road-side mechanics in Mubi-North and South Local Government Areas of the state.
“The trainees received training on various aspects of auto-mechanic.
“The programme is designed to impart relevant knowledge and skills as well as to promote specialisation among road-side mechanics,” he said
Yerima explained that the training was provided free to the beneficiaries.
“More than 300 students are currently undergoing Ordinary National Diploma (OND) technical courses at the centre.
“All the workshops and laboratories have met the standard set by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE),” he said.
Yerima, stated that the centre was also paying N5,000 as monthly allowance to each of the 300 students.
According to him, the measure is to encourage more youths to enrol into its programme.
He urged state governments in the North-East zone to take advantage of the programme and enrol their youths into the centre.
FCT
Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) Chieftain Muhammadu Buhari (CPC) has promised Nigerians better leadership if voted into government as the country‘s president in 2011.
Buhari made the promise in Abuja while collecting the party‘s expression of interest and presidential nomination forms.
In a statement signed by Mr Dennis Aghanya, the National Publicity Secretary Buhari said that he would offer desired leadership if he emerged winner at both the party’s primaries and the general elections.
He thanked Nigerians for their solidarity and support, which, he said, he had enjoyed over the years and assured the party members that victory was “definitely theirs’’.
He stressed the need for them to protect their votes to ensure that their dream of enthroning good leadership in the country was transformed into reality.
He charged the party‘s members to come together to ensure victory at all levels in the general elections.
Sen. Rufai Hanga, the party‘s National Chairman, however, assured Buhari of the party’s preparedness “ to go into the 2011 general elections with all eyes wide open’’.
Kaduna
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has challenged stakeholders in the education industry in the northern part of the country to intensify efforts toward educational development in the area.
The governor gave the challenge at the 18th Annual General Meeting of Zazzau Emirate Development Association (ZEDA), held at Kongo Conference Hotel, Zaria .
He said: “The problem of education in this part of the country has for long been fundamental and requires the attention of well-meaning individuals and organisations such as ZEDA.
“This will complement government’s efforts at moving the sector forward.
“We have to adopt to changing situations of the time, particularly with regard to information communication transformation technology.
“We must realise that we live in a rapidly changing world and change is a weapon of advancement.
“We cannot compete favourably and be part of a better tomorrow if we insist only on using yesterday’s methods as we are living in an age of transformation.”
In his speech, the Cairman, ZEDA Central Working Committee, Dr Alimi Bello said the association was established to complement government’s efforts in educational development.
He noted that the association solely depended on donations from individuals for all its programmes.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has called on politicians to avoid politics of violence, bitterness and rancour in their campaign.
Shema made the call at the weekend in Katsina at the inauguration of 52 campaign vehicles donated by his political associates to facilitate the governor’s second term bid in the 2011 election.
He told hundreds of PDP members to shun violence and concentrate on issues that would bring about positive changes in the state.
“I don’t believe in politics of bitterness or defamation of character, therefore nobody amongst you should insult anybody in the name of politics.
“For the past three and a half years, I have never insulted anybody because I believe that God gives power to whom He had chosen,’’ Shema said.
Shema commended the donors of the buses and motorcycles and reiterated his determination to continue with the developmental projects in the state.
Earlier, Hajiya Mairo Yar’Adua, the elder sister of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, declared the support of the Yar’Adua family to the candidature of Gov. Shema.
Kebbi
The Arewa Gabas Development Area Council in Kebbi State has spent N43.6 million on the provision of amenities and youth empowerment.
The Sole Administrator, Alhaji Abubakar Noma, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi at the weekend that boreholes and cement wells were provided to communities.
According to him, abattoirs were also provided in Yeldu and Jar-Kukah while a mosque was rehabilitated and cemetery fenced
He said four vulcanising machines, 22 tonnes of cement, 30 Zinc roofing sheets, 175 mats, 500 kettles and five generators were provided as empowerment to the unemployed.
“The provision of such equipment is to enable people to be self-employed as well as to cushion the hardship they faced ” he explained.
Lagos
Mr Chibikem Okpara, a Lagos-based lawyer, yesterday called for the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a vital component of the justice delivery system.
Okpara, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said that ADR had helped in resolving many disputes outside the courtroom.
He said that the idea for ADR arose following the delays and frustration faced by many people in courts, adding that it was used to solve the problem of succession when the immediate past Sultan of Sokoto, died in a place crash.
“However, ADR should not be seen as an alternative in the sense that it complements litigation,’’ Okpara said.
He explained that in ADR, “an expert on the issue under dispute is appointed by the parties to adjudicate over the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned’’.
Ondo
The Ondo State Government has called on unemployed youths to align with one of the numerous skills acquisition programmes in the state.
The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Alhaji Yekini Olanipekun, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Okitipupa in Ondo State.
Olanipekun described as unfortunate a situation where youths now preferred riding commercial motorcycles (Okada) to acquiring skills from any of the centres provided by the state government.
“Youths are no longer going to the skill acquisition centres that we have in all the 18 local government areas of the state.
“We have observed that they instead prefer riding Okada to going to study and acquire skills that will be useful to them and others,” he said.
Olanipekun said that the state government in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency recently held a session aimed at sensitising the youths on windows of opportunities for wealth creation.
He said that the government was planning to empower those youths, who took their training seriously before the end of December.
“What we are going to do before the end of the year is that those that have attended these skill acquisition centres will be empowered.
“We are going to give them sewing machines, welding machines and so on; they should go and learn something from these skill acquisition centers,” the commissioner said.
Olanipekun said that the government was working out modalities to create jobs for youths with requisite skills, adding, “this explains the essence of the skills acquisition centres”.
Plateau
Former Sports Minister Damishi Sango, who is seeking to unseat Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau in 2011, says he will support the incumbent if he picks the PDP ticket.
“We are more interested in the democratic process; if Jang defeats the eight of us who are challenging him in a free and fair process, we shall support him,’’ Sango told newsmen in a telephone interview.
Jang’s eight rivals are working together and have collectively promised to eventually agree on one person to wrestle the ticket from the retired airforce officer.
The aspirants, known as the G-8, featured in each others’ declarations and would normally tell their supporters that their game plan for picking the ticket was up their sleeves.
Sango, who spoke in Jos on Sunday, declared that the eight aspirants, which also include Deputy Governor Paulen Tallen and business magnet Chris Giwa, were politicians who “know what we are doing’’.
He said that they could agree on who to step down for “a day before the convention and quickly communicate same to their supporters’’.
Sango, however ruled out the possibility of a committee to adopt a consensus candidate as recently done by the Northern Political Leaders’ Front that threw up Atiku Abubakar, who floored three others, including former Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
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
The Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, in partnership with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, has reaffirmed support for efforts to expand gas distribution infrastructure in Rivers State as part of initiatives aimed at improving access to affordable, cleaner and more reliable energy for industries across the South-South region.
The commitment was highlighted during the SNG–MAN Business Forum held in Port Harcourt, where stakeholders from the industrial and public sectors examined the role of natural gas in driving industrialisation, boosting local production and strengthening energy security.
Speaking at the forum on behalf of the Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Gas Limited, the company’s Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos Ejesi, described natural gas as a critical component of Nigeria’s energy mix and a key driver of sustainable industrial growth.
According to him, Nigeria’s gas development agenda has reached a stage where policy direction must be matched with practical implementation capable of addressing the energy challenges confronting manufacturers.
He noted that pipeline gas offers industries a cleaner, more dependable and cost-effective energy alternative capable of supporting uninterrupted operations, reducing emissions and improving production efficiency.
“Gas is the backbone of manufacturing, and we are encouraged by the growing recognition among stakeholders of the need for cleaner and more reliable energy solutions,” he said.
Ejesi stressed the need for sustained collaboration among energy providers, government institutions and industrial stakeholders to maximise the country’s gas resources for economic development.
He added that improved gas infrastructure would strengthen manufacturing value chains, enhance productivity and promote more competitive industrial operations across Rivers State and the wider South-South region.
Participants at the forum also emphasised the importance of expanding energy infrastructure as a pathway to unlocking industrial capacity, reducing operating costs and promoting sustainable industrial development.
Representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Director-General of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with private sector investors to revitalise industrial activities in the state.
He identified key projects targeted under the initiative to include the revival of the Ahoada Industrial Park, the New Port City project and the proposed Bonny Industrial Park, all aimed at stimulating economic growth and expanding industrial opportunities along the Bonny corridor.
According to the governor, the long-term vision is to position Rivers State as a leading manufacturing hub in Southern Nigeria through strategic public-private partnerships.
Governor Fubara also commended Shell Nigeria Gas and MAN for sustaining engagements geared towards improving industrial energy access, noting that gas infrastructure development remains central to the state’s economic recovery plans.
He further observed that the gas sector presents enormous opportunities for economic growth, especially as global energy systems continue to shift towards cleaner energy sources.
The governor called on stakeholders to work collectively towards developing a practical and sustainable gas framework capable of supporting the state’s industrial and energy development objectives.
Chairman of MAN, Rivers and Bayelsa Branch, Elder Vincent Okuku, described gas as indispensable to industrial operations, noting that many manufacturers continue to struggle with the high cost of alternative energy sources.
Similarly, President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Chinyere Ngozi Nwoga, said the transition to natural gas had become increasingly necessary for businesses seeking stable and cost-efficient operations.
“Pipeline natural gas provides a more cost-effective and reliable source of energy for industries,” she stated.
Also speaking, former Chairman of MAN in Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs. Emilia Akpan, stressed the need to align energy infrastructure development with investment in human capacity.
She maintained that rebuilding the state’s economy would require not only reliable energy supply but also the development of technical skills needed to support long-term industrial growth.
By Kevin Nengia
The City Boy Movement in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers state has commended Senator Allwell Onyesoh on his victory in the APC primary election for Rivers East Senatorial District.
Chairman of the group in Etche, Dr. Fortune Uchenna Obi, spoke to journalists in Okehi Ward after participating in Monday’s direct primary. He described Onyesoh’s emergence as the party’s candidate for the 2027 senatorial election as a reflection of the people’s will.
Dr. Obi said the senator has performed well during his first term and deserves re-election. He also thanked FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, leader of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, for supporting Onyesoh’s candidacy. According to him, Wike’s backing was instrumental to the senator’s nomination, clearance, and victory at the primary.
He further praised voters in Etche and across Rivers East for turning out in large numbers at ward centers and urged them to sustain the support to ensure Onyesoh’s success in the January 2027 general election.