Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

December 20, 2010

Adamawa

Nigeria’s High Commissioner in South Africa Buba Marwa says aside the people’s yearnings, his credentials as a former Governor prompted his aspiration to govern Adamawa come 2011.

The retired Brig-General and one time military administrator in Borno and Lagos states is seeking the office of governor on the PDP ticket for next year’s general election.

Marwa told newsmen in Yola that he was a tested and trusted person with track record.

“I have been tested. People believe that Marwa has done it before and he will do it again in all aspects of governance at the state level,” Marwa said.

He said that in spite of his posting to South Africa, he was in constant touch with the people, contrary to beliefs in some quarters that he had been cut off from the people.

Marwa said he was fully in touch with home and could feel the yearnings and frustration of the people of Adamawa who asked him to come and run for governorship.

The aspirant promised free education and healthcare services to the people if elected governor in 2011.

Bauchi

The National Assembly has vowed to ensure the completion of all road projects executed up to 80 per cent, the House of Representatives Committee on works has said.

Rep Sani Abdullahi, the team leader of the committee, said this in an interview with newsmen at Headquarters of Shira Local Government Council of Bauchi State.

Abdullahi spoke after the inspection of the Yana-Shira-Azare 35 km road rehabilitation project.

He said that the National Assembly would vire funds from road projects whose execution were still in their early stages to attend to those about to be completed.

According to him, the measure is aimed at saving cost, time, as well as ensuring quality and legality of the various contracts.

Abdullahi observed that road construction was capital intensive and spanned beyond the country’s annual budget of four to five years.

“If you are building a contract of say N15 billion and you are financing it based on the annual budget which each ministry is tied to an envelop; you are only appropriating between N1.2 million or N1.5 million”, he said.

FCT

Mr Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information and Communications, has said that Nigerians abroad constitute a precious national resource.

The minister said this on Saturday in Abuja at a cocktail party organised by the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI) in Diaspora for Development.

Maku conceded that a major problem confronting Africa and Nigeria was that of good governance.

He said that there was a need to repair the structures of governance in the country.

He, however, said that Nigerians living abroad could never be comfortable anywhere in the world until they were able to participate in rebuilding the country.

“A nation is propelled by the values its leadership professes and not by its resources,’’ he said.

Maku described Nigerians living overseas as the country’s emissaries, urging them to return home and participate in nation-building activities.

Kaduna

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) says it disbursed more than N3 billion loan to facilitate mega agricultural projects within the last nine years.

In a brief on its activities made available to newsmen in Kaduna last Friday, the bank said the loan was distributed to 16 mega projects in 14 states.

The benefitting projects, the brief stated, included poultry feeds, vegetable oil processing, arable crops production, tea production, agro processing, natural rubber production, cassava production and processing and flour mill.

The bank said it had also disbursed more than N2 billion loan to facilitate micro-arable and pineapple production in 12 states of the federation within the period under review.

“BOA had collaborated with reputable agencies, NGOs, governments and international agencies to make the loan available to 75,073 beneficiaries,’’ the brief stated.

Kano

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) will soon begin a Masters Degree programme in Public Relations, Malam Sule Yau has said.

Yau, the chairman of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Kano State chapter, said in a lecture in Kano yesterday, that BUK would run the programme in conjunction with the Institute.

He said that the decision to introduce the programme was informed by the commitment of the institute and BUK to enhance the practice of public relations in the country.

“We hope that by the next academic session, the Mass Communication Department of the Bayero University, Kano, will in conjunction with our Institute, start Masters Degree programme in public relations,” he said.

He disclosed that the Mass Communication department had already dedicated a classroom, which he said the Institute would furnish for the successful take-off of the programme.

The chairman further stated that the Institute and the department had worked out a curriculum for the course.

Katsina

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it has trained and empowered 50 physically challenged persons in Katsina State in various skills under its ‘jobs-stimulus package in 2010.

The NDE coordinator in the state, Mr Yakubu Mani, who disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of the trainees on Saturday in Katsina, said that 25 youths and 10 vulnerable women were also trained and empowered on ICT and assorted trades.

Mani said that the trainees were part of the 4,790 jobs stimulus package launched by the directorate this year.

He said that apart from the training, the trainees would also collect resettlement items as loans, to enable them to start their respective business.

According to him, the physically challenged persons and women were trained in shoe, bag and pomade and bead making, while the 25 youths received training in ICT.

Lagos

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande, announced on Saturday that government had purchased 112 new Toyota Corolla cars for distribution to magistrates.

She made the announcement at a special end of year meeting with the magistrates.

“I can confirm that each and every one of you will soon have a brand new Toyota Corolla as your official car,” she said.

Akande said the magistracy occupied a prime position in the judiciary, and urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being loyal and committed in the discharge of their duties.

“There is need for you all as members of the Lower Bench to exhibit and maintain a high sense of discipline and responsibility in line with the ethics of our noble profession,” she added.

Nasarawa

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has embarked on the construction of three new sub-stations in Lafia, Nasarawa State, to boost power supply in the state.

The PHCN Business Manager Lafia, Malam Abdulganiyu Isa, disclosed this at the fourth quarter customer consultative meeting in Lafia on Saturday.

Isa also said that power supply to Nasarawa State would soon rise from 10-15 megawatts to 20 megawatts at the completion of a new 450 MVA direct line.

The line, he added, was being injected into the Katampe transmission station in Abuja which has its supply source asKainji.

Isa told the meeting that of the three new sub-stations, two injection sub-stations: 33/11KV at Shendam road and Mararaba-Akunza in Lafia were almost 90 per cent completed, adding that they would soon be in operation.

He said that approval was being awaited for the construction of a transmission sub-station in Akurba a suburb of Lafia, to tap from a 330 KVA transmission line from Jos to Makurdi.

Plateau

The police in Plateau State are set to arrest the CPC governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, following an order by a Jos Federal High Court.

The Court, on Wednesday, ordered the arrest of the aspirant for allegedly refusing to appear before it after several summons and adjournments.

Adamu is the owner of Solid Unit Nig. Ltd, a mining company, sued for trespass by another company, Geotess Nig. Ltd.

Justice Bilkisu Aliyu, who ordered the arrest, expressed shock that the accused had not bothered to appear before the court at the adjourned sitting on December 15.

“I hereby direct that he should be arrested on sight, detained and brought to court on January 11, 2011, the adjoined date for the hearing of the case,’’ he declared.

The court, however, took steps to implement the order by taking the arrest warrant to the Plateau Police Commissioner, Abdulraman Akano.

Zamfara

Alhaji Abdulkakdir Tsafe, a PDP aspirant for House of Representatives in Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency, has said that PDP will emerge stronger after its primary elections.

Tsafe told newsmen in Gusau that the current crisis over zoning and its “unprecedented number of contestants” were manifestations of popularity of the party.

“I am optimistic that such differences bordering on individual interests would be amicably resolved at the party level and the party will come out of its primaries stronger to face the 2011 elections,“ he said.

The aspirant said the corporate interest of the party to win the 2011 elections was more important than individual’s interest, as such, members should unite to ensure the success of the party.

Nation

UNIZIK Honours Business Mogul, Ezekwe, For Philanthropism

Published

15 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

16 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

4 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.