Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Students of Technical College, Mubi in Adamawa, have commended the member representing Mubi North constituency in the House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Jarengol, for rehabilitating and equipping the school library.
A representative of the students who is also the head boy, Abbas Suleiman, said the rehabilitation and equipping of the library with books and furniture was a big relief to the staff and students.
Suleiman said that Jarengol, a former student of the school, had proved to be a good old boy and should be emulated by others.
The head boy appealed to his fellow students to be committed to their studies so that one day they too could contribute their quota to the development of the school.
The principal of the school, Mr Reuben Manvi, also said that the school authorities and students would ever remain grateful to Jarengol for his good work.
“He is a worthy ambassador of this school and I will like to appeal to other old boys of this famous school to emulate him by complementing government efforts in catering for the growing needs of the school.’’
Bauchi
Hajiya Talatu Barwa, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Childs Development, said the ministry had established a centre for orphans and vulnerable children.
Barwa who stated this at this year’s Children’s Day celebration in Bauchi. She said the centre would ensure that the children were protected and provided with essential services.
Barwa said plans were on to stamp out child labor through collaborative work with the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity and the International Labor Organisation.
She urged the children to reciprocate government’s gesture by being responsible and avoiding deviant behaviour.
Gov. Isa Yuguda, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Sager Sale, said the government had put in place several projects and programmes for the development of children in the state.
Borno
A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya pupils (SWOT) on Sunday presented materials to Tsangaya schools in Maiduguri.
The SWOT Executive Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, said that the materials were donated to uplift the living condition of the Almajiri pupils in the state.
The items were presented at a ceremony marking the maiden Almajiri Day in Maiduguri.
Bello explained that the NGO had made similar presentations to the vulnerable and less privileged groups in the society.
“You will recall that the wife of the governor requested for 100 tricycles for distribution to teachers of Tsangaya schools under the poverty alleviation programme. “She also provide electricity generating sets to some Tsangaya schools for evening classes as well as provided sowing machines and others items to widows to alleviate their sufferings,’’ Bello said.
He said that the provision of first aid boxes in the items distributed was to safe the lives of many Almajiri pupils, who often fell sick at the school.
Ekiti
The Teachers Development Needs Assessment (TDNA) in Ekiti will not lead to retrenchment of teachers but enhance their capacity.
Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti made the clarification, while speaking at the 2012 Children’s Day celebration on Sunday in Ado Ekiti.
Fayemi explained that TDNA was designed to revamp the education sector in the state and better the lot of teachers’ as well as that of the students.
“It is pertinent to say that while many have misconstrued government’s intention, we are convinced that it will better the lots of both the teachers and the students,” he said.
He vowed that his administration would ensure that the state returned to its leading position in the education sector as the fountain of knowledge.
Fayemi said the State Government had commenced the process of creating conducive environment for productive teaching and learning
Gombe
The Gombe State Government is to organise townhall meetings to generate feedback from the people on government policies and programmes to ensure provision of quality service.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Rev. Habu Dawaki said in Gombe on Sunday that the newly established Directorate of Orientation and Ethics, would coordinate the programme.
“We will soon start town hall meetings in various communities in the state; local governments and ward levels. “These town hall meetings will be a means where we will publicise government activities and programmes. ‘It will also be an avenue where we will receive feedbacks as to how people think so that from there, government will know what it ought to do in so many areas,” he said.
Dawaki said the government had constructed 51 roads, provided fertiliser, expanded the Gombe Greater Water Scheme, electrified 55 communities and installed solar traffic lights across the state, among some of its achievements.
He said Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo had approved the estabilshment of a state Ethics and Moral Committee that would champion attitudinal changes in people.
Kaduna
Alhaji Rilwanu Shehu, Chairman, Interim Management Committee, Soba Local Government Area in Kaduna State, said the council procured 100 trucks of fertilisers at N100 million for this year’s farming season.
He told our correspondent in Soba headquarters of the council on Sunday that farmers in the area would enjoy 50 per cent subsidy.
“We are going to sell the fertilisers to our farmers at half the price; this is part of government’s efforts to assist the farmers. “Our aim is to encourage mass agricultural production in the area to reduce the level of poverty amongst the people.’’
Shehu gave the assurance that the fertilisers would be distributed judiciously to all categories of farmers with emphasis on peasant farmers.
The chairman appealed to the farmers to be patient as sales of the commodity would commence soon.
Shehu lauded Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State for embarking on developmental projects in the area.
“We are grateful to the state government for constructing a road that links Soba with Ikara, where you can now spend 15 minutes instead of two hours. “The road has been upgraded and standard bridges were constructed, now you can move comfortably on this road.’’
According to him, work is also ongoing on Gujungu-Turawa-Dinya road.
The Standard Bearers (SB) Islamic Organisation has raised concerns over the growing rate of binge drinking among Nigerian youths, attributing the trend largely to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol.
The group’s position follows the recent move by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres.
In a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Nurudeen AbdulRaheem, and National Secretary, Malam Qaasim Adegbuyi, the organisation declared its full support for NAFDAC’s decision, describing it as a timely and necessary public health intervention.
AbdulRaheem noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as ?100, has made excessive drinking more accessible, particularly to young people and minors. According to him, the affordability and small packaging of such products have worsened binge drinking, youth addiction and community insecurity.
He explained that binge drinking involves consuming multiple alcoholic drinks within a short period, typically within two hours, a practice that can lead to severe physical and mental health complications as well as legal and social problems.
The SB National Coordinator cited global health data indicating that alcohol is responsible for more than three million deaths annually worldwide and remains a major contributor to road accidents, violence, liver disease and mental health disorders.
While acknowledging concerns from industry stakeholders over the economic implications of the ban, AbdulRaheem maintained that public health considerations must take precedence.
“Public health and the protection of young lives must come first,” he stated, adding that Islamic ethical values, like many societal norms, emphasise the protection of life, intellect and family stability.
The organisation urged NAFDAC and the Federal Government to remain resolute in implementing the policy while also providing transition support for businesses that may be affected by the ban.
According to the group, the enforcement of the ban represents a significant step toward promoting a safer and healthier society.
By Favour James
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully concluded its Seafarers Training Programme for 100 Ogoni youths, positioning them for opportunities in the competitive global maritime industry.
The beneficiaries, who underwent four months of intensive training at Charkin Maritime Academy, Port Harcourt, received their certificates during a close-out ceremony held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The event was attended by top management staff of HYPREP, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning of Charkin Maritime Academy, the Head of the Seafaring Department, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, and other dignitaries.
Addressing the graduates, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the ceremony as a celebration of hard work, dedication, and the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the young beneficiaries.
He said the graduation symbolises vision, resilience, and hope — hope translated into skills, certificates, and tangible opportunities for a better future for Ogoni youths.
According to him, the passing-out ceremony marks an important milestone in HYPREP’s mandate to restore livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Ogoniland. He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the skills and certifications acquired.
“These skills and achievements should not end here but serve as a springboard for self-reliance, dignity of labour, and long-term economic empowerment for the good of Ogoniland and Nigeria,” he stated.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the seafaring programme is significant not only to the beneficiaries but also to HYPREP’s broader livelihood restoration strategy and the Federal Government’s blue economy agenda.
He explained that by equipping the youths with globally relevant maritime skills, HYPREP is opening alternative income opportunities while discouraging oil theft, artisanal refining, re-pollution, and other environmentally harmful practices. He added that the initiative aligns with the directives of the 2016 HYPREP Establishment Gazette and reinforces the Project’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Commending Charkin Maritime Academy as a dependable training partner, Zabbey described the institution as one of the foremost maritime training centres in the country.
“This partnership has delivered high-quality results today, and we intend to expand it as we intensify efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for the Ogoni people,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Ogoni youths as drivers of unity, peace, and progress, noting their resilience and commitment to peace in the area. He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to supporting the aspirations of youths and women in Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator likened knowledge and certificates to fuel in a vehicle, stressing that they are meant to propel the graduates toward greater heights.
“We hear your voices calling for restoration, and today, environmental and livelihood restoration are gradually unfolding before your eyes, bringing renewed hope. We continue to lay brick upon brick, building pillars of Ogoni development, as evidenced by the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), which is 93 per cent completed,” he added.
He emphasised that HYPREP’s approach integrates all projects and interventions toward achieving environmental sustainability and long-term development in Ogoniland.
Also speaking, the HYPREP Project Support Lead and Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr. Ehioze Igbinomwahia, said the graduates had gained not only technical maritime skills but also discipline, resilience, and confidence to compete globally.
He described their graduation as the beginning of a new journey and noted that the UNEP Report emphasised that environmental restoration must be complemented by sustainable livelihoods, capacity building, and youth empowerment.
“Without empowering people, restoration cannot be complete. Programmes such as this maritime training represent practical steps toward creating employment pathways, dignity, and long-term community stability,” he said.
Engr. Igbinomwahia added that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited remains committed to supporting environmental recovery, human capacity development, and sustainable economic opportunities in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.
Highlighting the importance of discipline and safety, he urged the graduates to be ambassadors of professionalism and integrity.
“The sea you are about to enter is vast and sometimes challenging, but it is also full of opportunity. Let discipline guide your actions, let safety remain your constant companion, and let your character speak for you wherever you go,” he advised.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Training and Strategic Planning at Charkin Maritime Academy, Captain Joseph Awodeha, who represented the Chairman, Dr. Charles Wami, emphasised discipline and safety as critical to career success in the maritime sector.
The Head of the Seafaring Department, Captain Jonathan Hammond, urged the graduates to remain humble and disciplined, noting that such virtues are essential for career growth.
In his remarks, the Principal Consultant of DCL Consulting Firm, Barrister Dornu Baridan, commended the beneficiaries for successfully scaling through the
rigorous selection process and completing their training as seafarers.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers, Port Harcourt Branch, Rivers State, has elected 14 member executives to lead the organization for the 2025/2026 year. Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, is the 23rd chairman.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Engr. Ishmael A. Branch Secretariat, 3 Benard Carr Street (Waterworks Yard), Port Harcourt, attracted members of the engineering profession from within and outside the state.
Other elected executives include:
Engr. Samuel H. Kwelle, MNSE – Vice Chairman
Engr. Dr. Promise Jumbo, FNSE – General Secretary
Engr. Priye P. K. Lawson, MNSE – Assistant Secretary
Engr. Patrick O. Udegbunam, MNSE – Treasurer.
Others are Engr. Hilda D. Batubo, MNSE – Financial Secretary
Engr. Bowei M. Dauseighe, MNSE – Technical Secretary
Engr. Charles O. Okwakpam, MNSE – Assistant Technical Secretary
Engr. Agnes Komolafe, MNSE – Membership Secretary
Engr. Dike N. Livingstone, MNSE – Publicity Secretary
Also elected are Engr. Ayebaye Daniel Wanatoi, MNSE – Welfare Secretary
Engr. Oribiokpomari I. Comfort, MNSE – Internal Auditor
Engr. Dr. Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke, FNSE – Immediate Past Chairman
Engr Dr Hachimenum Amadi, FNSE (Ex-Officio)
In his a goodwill message, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, urged the new executive to maintain high ethical standards and move the association forward.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Engr. Belema Fubara Ekine, FNSE, promised an inclusive administration and teamwork, focusing on collaboration with stakeholders. He had begun building partnerships with Rivers State University and the University of Port Harcourt.
The highlight was the inauguration lecture, “Engineering Solution for Security, Energy Access and Sustainable Development,” delivered by Engr. Victor Bandele, Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater Assets, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited.
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