Nation
THE STATES
FCT
Prof. Justus Sokefun of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has called on law students at the University to study hard so as not to become “charge and bail lawyers”.
Sokefun made the appeal at the inauguration of the Moot Court/Clinical Legal Education of the University in Abuja.
Sokefun who is the Dean, School of Law and Chairman of the occasion, represented the Vice Chancellor of the University.
“The issue here is not about the university you graduate from but what you make of your effort. Be successful lawyers and go beyond “charge and bail’’.
“Make reference to text books as recommended by the course material.”
Sokefun said it was purely professional and organised by the universities to develop law students in advocacy skills and prepare them for the future.
According to him, the Moot Court builds a lawyer’s confidence wherever he finds himself.
The President of the law students Abuja Centre, Emeka Kalu, also told newsmen that only a serious lawyer would be successful in the profession due to its challenges.
He advised his colleagues to be more serious in their studies, adding “this is the only way we can show the world that we are capable”.
Kaduna
Members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly last Saturday sympathised with the victims of the bomb explosion in Kaduna during the Easter celebrations.
The lawmakers visited the victims at various hospitals and donated money to settle their medical expenses.
The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Dr Dogara Mato, led the delegation.
During the visit, various cash donations were given to the victims.
The places visited were Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital, 44 Nigerian Army Referral Hospital and St. Gerard Hospital, Kaduna.
At the 44 Army hospital, the Director, Brig-Gen. Napolion Amarie, expressed gratitude to the members for the donations to the victims.
At Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, the members were conducted round by the Matron in-Charge, Mrs Hassana Garba, while at St. Gerard Hospital, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday John conducted them round the institution.
Kano
The Almajiri Foundation of Nigeria has applauded the Federal Government for initiating the Almajiri Model School scheme.
The national chairman of the association, Yusuf Hassan, described the programme as “a noble idea which the foundation and all Northerners had been yearning for. ’’
According to him, the scheme was in line with the cardinal principles and objectives of the Almajiri Foundation of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation.
Hassan, who decried the untold hardship being experienced by young Almajiri, said that they were not adequately taken care of in the society.
He said: “they roam about dangerously between fast moving vehicles in tattered clothes begging for food and money. “
He expressed optimism that the programme if sustained would completely rehabilitate the Almajiri by educating them in both religious and secular education, so that they could contribute to national development.
The chairman urged all state governments to ensure the construction of such Almajiri schools in each local government area of their respective states.
Hassan also implored the private sector and wealthy individuals to contribute their quota to the success of the scheme.
President Goodluck Jonathan had on April 10 inaugurated one of the schools at Gagi in Sokoto State.
Lagos
Residents of Akanni Crescent, Jakande Estate, Okokomaiko, Lagos, are seeking the assistance of the state government to solve the problem posed by a 20-year old swamp in the area.
The residents lamented the increasing flow of the swamp into their homes during the rainy season.
Mr Wale Odukoya, a resident of the area, said the situation was becoming worse, especially as the rainy season had set in.
Odukoya said that the swamp had existed in the area for about 20 years without efforts to checkmate its menace.
Mr Gbenga Olutobi, another resident, said that several appeals had been made to government to assist the inhabitants of the area but to no avail.
Olutobi said that “whenever it rains, the volume of the swamp increases and flows into our homes, damaging our property.”
Mrs Edith Omogiate, another resident, said the break of each rainy season raised anxieties among the people due to the problem encountered during the period.
Niger
President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to make education accessible to all youths as part of the government’s policy on human capital development.
Jonathan made the pledge at the convocation of the Federal University of Technology Minna, last Saturday.
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai, said human development was part of the reasons for establishing federal universities in the federation.
He reiterated government’s commitment to provide quality education to the people.
“Let me point out that our administration is committed to improving education to ensure appropriate human capital development in Nigeria.“
Jonathan urged the universities to establish entrepreneurship training courses for their students, to equip them with the skills and make them become job creators rather than seekers after graduation.
He urged youths to maintain their resilience and determination in spite of daunting challenges.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Audu, said the management had instituted a scholarship scheme for students who excelled, to sustain the record in subsequent examinations.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State last Saturday installed Kehinde Olugbenle as the new monarch (Olu of Ilaro) for Ilaro in Yewa South Local Government area of the state.
Ilaro, a major town in the West Senatorial District, had been without a monarch since Feb. 20, 2008.
The administration of Amosun had upon assumption of office, initiated the process of selecting a successor to late monarch, Samuel Adekanbi.
Amsoun said that the installation was a great accomplishment for both his administration and the people of the district.
“It is my pleasure to present to Kehinde Olugbenle, the instrument of appointment and staff of office as the new Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewa land.
“This installation is a testimony to the divine word of God that whatever He proposes shall surely be accomplished.
“For this reason, the government and the entire people of Ogun rejoice with the good people of Ilaro and the entire Yewa land, even as we express gratitude to God who made this event a reality.“
Osun
The Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in Osun, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, has warned the residents to keep every part of the state clean to avoid flooding as the rainy season begins.
Oyawoye gave the warning in response to concerns expressed by some residents over the predictions by weather forecasters that with the onset of stormy rainy season, some parts of the state might experience flooding.
A statement issued in Osogbo on Saturday by Mr Babatunde Kolawole, the ministry’s Coordinating Director, quoted the commissioner as urging the people “to be environment friendly.’’
Oyawoye also warned the residents not to dump refuse into waterways as this could block the drains and cause flooding.
She said the 2012 weather forecast by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency revealed that the downpour would be experienced between April and November.
Plateau
Military regimes’ intolerance of freedom of speech killed the Plateau government-owned Nigeria Standard newspapers, the media outfit’s General Manager, Mr Jonathan Ishaku, has said.
“Military regimes do not tolerate freedom of speech; unfortunately, that is the fulcrum on which the media operates.
“The regimes operate by suppressing public or dissenting opinions and would insist that public-owned media houses concur.
Ishaku, a two-time editor, managing director, and now general manager of the paper, said the paper used to publish daily and printed more than 40,000 copies on a daily average.
The paper was at its peak between the 1970s and the 1980s.
“I have been around and have seen the best and worst times of the Nigeria Standard. In those days, we hardly had unsold copies and that was a great feat considering the literacy level then.
“But currently, we struggle to publish twice or thrice a week and print less than 5,000 copies; we try to make our presence felt only in Plateau and Abuja.’’
The veteran journalist said the Nigeria Standard was established in 1972 to protect the views of the minority since they did not have any voice at the time.
“The papers on the stable discharged that mandate for some time and were indeed very famous; its editorials were greatly respected and read on the 7 o’clock Network News. The paper was also read in Lagos in the morning of publication date.
“Unfortunately, autocratic regimes came and had great links with some feudal establishments that felt their interests were being threatened with the focus on the rights of the minorities.
Sokoto
The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, plans to establish its Faculty of Engineering in 2014, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, has said.
The construction of the faculty’s infrastructure had so far gulped more than N200 million between 2007 and the present date.
“This includes funding from the Federal Government for the project as well as internally generated revenue.’’
He said that the faculty would start with programmes in three fields of civil, electrical and chemical engineering.
“The structures at the faculty have reached about 70 per cent completion. Engineering is capital intensive there is also the challenge of getting the required manpower as well as the requisite equipment,’’ Shehu said.
He said that the management of the university would soon meet with the contractor handling the project to sort out all the grey areas to ensure timely completion.
“We have to do everything humanly possible to consolidate our gains and always consider our limited resources and work within them the challenge in respect of engineering is staff recruitment as they are hard to come by. Even older universities do not have enough manpower in this regard,’’ the vice chancellor said.
He said that the institution would send requests to its catchment states to “get their best graduates in engineering.
“We will recruit them and send them for higher training at all levels, both within and outside Nigeria”, he said.
With significant achievements recorded across thematic areas of the Ogoni cleanup programme being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Project Coordinator of the Project, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that all these are enabling pathways to the development of Ogoniland.
This is coming on the heels of milestone achievements in the following areas and their impact on Ogoni communities. They are mangrove restoration which is 94 percent complete; shoreline remediation which stands at 67.1 percent; and the phase 2 land remediation progressing to 36.55 percent.
Moreso, HYPREP has constructed 14 water facilities, providing potable water to 40 communities. With the commissioning of the water schemes in Bane and Gwara communities, the number of communities with access to clean and safe drinking water will be 45. The process of operationalising the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) which is at 92 percent complete, is ongoing. The same for the Ogoni Power Project which is progressing with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakaara substations ongoing
Similarly, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital are at 76.8 percent and 98.7 percent respectively.
This is alongside other public health interventions and the Human BioMonitoring Survey also in progress.
Under the livelihood
programme, over 7,000 direct jobs have been created for Ogoni women and youths, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up kits, workshops, education grants, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This quarter, training will commence in other demand-driven skill areas, such as cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, commercial diving, and underwater welding.
Zabbey had reeled out these achievements, during the third quarter interactive session between the Project Coordination Office engagement with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt on Friday, in line with HYPREP’s strategic stakeholders policy to provide an interface opportunity to abreast Ogoni youths on the Project’s activities, while garnering their feedback.
Zabbey noted that, “This
quarterly engagement was,therefore, designed as an inclusive strategy to ensure that youth voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and progress updates are provided transparently. Also, it reflects our firm belief that a project of this magnitude must be people-centred, accountable, and participatory”.
” I am delighted to inform you that the Project remains on course to achieve its mandate as outlined in the UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment and the official gazette establishing HYPREP. HYPREP is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the cleanup projects and activities”, he said.
He stressed that HYPREP’s achievements are pathways to a better Ogoniland, assuring that the Project’s goals are aimed at benefiting all categories of Ogoni youths, whether in business, farming, advocacy, education, entrepreneurship or community development.
”This Project belongs to all of you, and its success depends mainly on your participation, unity and constructive engagement. And with your support, we are confident that all challenges will be addressed in the overall public interest,” Zabbey said.
The Project Coordinator urged Ogoni youths to continue to support the Project by promoting peace, discouraging misinformation, and collaborating with project teams working in the communities, and address challenges through dialogue, rather than confrontation.
Prof Dinebari Badey, a Professor of Development Sociology in the University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address, linking the nexus between HYPREP and youths in the development of Ogoniland through unity of purpose while Engr Solomon Akere, gave a talk on Ogoni youths in business.
Participants raised questions concerning the maintenance of the water projects, remediation efforts, and compensation for the Right of Way (RoW), among others.
In attendance were management staff of HYPREP who provided responses to the interventions.
Members of the Association of Community Health practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN),Rivers state Chapter have marked the 2025 Community Health week with a call for the state government to employ more community health practitioners to mann the various health centres across the 23 local government areas of the state .
The theme of one week event “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of community health practitioners in reducing maternal and under _five mortality in line with sustainable development goals”attracted community health practitioners across the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event held at the conference hall of the state primary healthcare office in port Harcourt, the state chairman of the Association,Dr Justina Onuwa appeal to the state governor,Sir Siminalayi Fubara to approve the employment of more community health practitioners in other to effectively mann the primary health centres in the state.
Onuwa stated that the call become imperative following the decline in community health practitioners in the civil service and the need to ensure that the people in rural communities have more access to primary healthcare services in their localities.
The state chairman of ACHPN averred members of the association were not captured in the employment scheme during last employment of medical health workers by the state government.”our people need to be employed like other health care service providers”
She appeal to the state government to provide vehicles and office secretariat for its association and as well ensure that their members are promoted as at when due.
Also speaking,the state Health Educator,Dr Babbo Diana who represented the commissioner for health and Executive secretary RSPHCMB while congratulating them on their celebrations called them to partner with the state government to build more efficient healthcare services in the state.
She urge them to be passionate with their work, stressing that all hands must be on deck and everyone must play their roles in other to ensure the success of government primary healthcare services in the state.
In his good will message,the representative of the state Director of Health planning Research and statistics, Dietician Buduzhi Gift Oguzor described members of the association as foot soldiers of health services care providers in the state.
He called on them to be more dedicated in their responsibilities especially in the areas of infrastructure development, noting that the state of infrastructure under their custody are in a detoriating conditions despite the huge of resources released to them by the state government.
Earlier in her lecture on the theme “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of the community practitioners in reducing the under _five mortality in line with the sustainable development goals”prof Alice Nte urge them to review their association curriculum in other to upgrade their profile and become more relevant and attend to the optimum value in the profession.
She opined that the WHO according to the Nigerian Demography survey didn’t included members of the association as stillbirth attendant, adding that they should restrategise and look into their curriculum and see where it can be updated.
The climax of the week long celebrations ended with road work,free medical care services and church thanks service.
Akujobi Amadi
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Bldr. Daniel Abimbola Kolade, FNIOB, has called on Nigerian builders to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for addressing the nation’s housing deficit.
Speaking at the inaugural council meeting of the Institute held at its National Secretariat in Abuja in his speech themed, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Key Driver to Housing Delivery,” the NIOB President said the Institute is poised to lead transformative change in the nation’s housing delivery system.
Bldr. Kolade described the meeting as a strategic platform for redefining NIOB’s policy direction for the next two years, stressing that the housing challenge presents both a national problem and a professional opportunity.
“We, as custodians of building production management, must reposition ourselves not only as technical experts but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and national solution providers,” he stated.
He emphasized that innovation must now be embedded in the professional DNA of builders, urging practitioners to embrace sustainable technologies, research-based construction methods, and digital project management tools.
According to him, the Institute will promote innovation through research collaborations, innovation labs, and pilot projects that showcase emerging construction techniques.
On entrepreneurship, Bldr. Kolade noted that competence alone was no longer sufficient, and that builders must evolve into enterprise creators capable of driving employment and economic growth through construction-based ventures.
He further outlined the Institute’s five key policy pillars for the next two years, to include innovation
and research; entrepreneurial
development; professional regulation and ethics; advocacy
and policy influence;
capacity building and youth empowerment.
The NIOB President also paid tribute to past leaders of the Institute for laying the foundation upon which the current administration will build, saying leadership must go beyond preservation to purposeful expansion.
“If we can harness innovation, embrace entrepreneurship, and strengthen our professional unity, we will not only close the housing gap — we will redefine the standards of housing delivery in Africa,” he affirmed.
He called on builders nationwide to view themselves as not only craftsmen but nation builders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs committed to delivering sustainable housing and national development.
The NIOB President earlier led the National Council members to a site visit to the NIOB construction site at Idu, Abuja.