Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Bauchi State Agency for the Control of AIDS, has paid the dowry of 152 couples living with HIV/AIDS who were married from 2008 to date.
Malam Usman Zico, Chairman of the state chapter of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria said this in Bauchi. He spoke at the inauguration of the second phase of the HIV/AIDS Programme Development Project (HPDP-2).
Zico said that the agency paid between N20, 000 and N30, 000 as dowry for each couple who got married during the period.
He said that the effort was not in vain as the marriages had, according to him, “produced an impressive number of babies that tested negative to the HIV virus”.
The chairman urged the agency to continue the good work and called on other organisations to emulate the gesture.
Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has ordered queries to be issued to workers of Ilejemeje Local Government Council who were absent during his unscheduled visit to the council.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, said the state’s Local Government Service Commission had been directed to issue the queries.
The statement said the governor gave the directive when he discovered that only 42 of the entire staff of the council were at work when he visited the secretariat.
Also absent during the governor’s visit were the Director of Administration, the Treasurer as well as majority of the staff.
Kano
The Kano State Chapter of the NLC, is to declare its stand soon on the alleged plan by the state government to stop payment of ‘Ram Bonus’ to civil servants.
The Chairman of the NLC in the state, Mr Isa Danguguwa, made the disclosure in an interview in Kano on Thursday.
A law was enacted by the state’s House of Assembly during the immediate-past administration to pay workers 50 per cent of their basic salaries every year before Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. The bonus is to enable workers to buy rams for the festival.
The state government recently sent a bill to the state’s assembly, seeking an amendment of the law to make it optional for the government to pay the bonus.
He said the NLC was yet to be communicated officially on the issue and “as soon as we do, we shall take the appropriate step ’’.
Kebbi
The World Bank-assisted Community and Social Development Project in Kebbi has spent N573.7 million to execute 260 projects in rural communities, the General Manager, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, said.
Abubakar told the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Habibu Aminu, in Birnin Kebbi that the communities contributed 10 per cent of the cost of each project.
He said that the programme was introduced in 2009 to address development issues in the areas of education, electricity supply, health, water, environment and sanitation.
Abubakar explained that 103 of the projects had been completed while 90 others were in various stages of execution.
Kwara
Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed of Kwara says his administration will partner with the World Bank to tackle unemployment in the state.
Ahmed said this in Ilorin while declaring open a meeting with a World Bank group, Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO).
The governor was represented by his deputy, Mr Peter Kisira.
Ahmed said 2,730 youths had been placed in the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES) for one year and would be offered permanent employment.
He also said that his administration had designed numerous programmes to tackle unemployment in the state.
Kogi
The Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, has urged members of the House to shun corrupt practice and guard against being lured into taking bribes during their oversight functions.
Bello made the call in Lokoja at the plenary when the House resumed from a four-week recess to commence the second legislative session of the Fifth Assembly.
The speaker said: “I urge you to learn from the recent happenings in our political environment and guard against any conduct that could portray the House in bad light.’’
Bello enjoined them to discharge their assignments with all sense of commitment and responsibility.
Niger
The Niger Government has appointed a 40-man committee to plan the fund raising for the construction of a church and a mosque in the Three Arms Zone in Minna.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Hamidu Kuta, made the disclosure to newsmen after the state executive council’s meeting.
He said that designs for the two places of worship had been completed and that the appeal fund, which the government would support would ensure the prompt completion of projects.
Kuta said that government had also planned to assist Muslims to break their fast during the 2012 Ramadan.
Ondo
A chieftain of the Labour Party in Ondo State, Chief Yemi Adetoyinbo, has advised youths in the state to shun violence during the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Adetoyinbo said in Akure that youths in the state must reject any call to cause trouble during the election.
“As future leaders of the state and the country, youths have a stake in the Nigeria project.
“ They must not allow any politician in whatever garb to lure them into violence,” he said.
Plateau
The General Manager, Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), Mr Mathias Hata, said that the 1974 Jos master-plan as been reviewed.
Hata said in Jos that the review, completed last month, would prepare the city to fit into the current wave of infrastructural developmental strides.
According to him, reviewing the plan became imperative to enable the JMDB to meet its statutory mandate.
He said that the master-plan would be reviewed regularly “to meet up with the development and growth of the city’’.
Sokoto
The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ado Muhammad, has said that the agency has procured vaccines worth N6 billion to ensure effective immunisation of children nationwide.
Muhammad told newsmen in Sokoto that the vaccines would be distributed to the 36 states and the FCT for routing immunisation.
According to him, the Federal Government has made adequate provision for the immunisation of over six million children nationwide, annually.
“So the recent reports in some media that there was a vaccine stock out was untrue, unfounded and baseless,’’ he stressed.
He said that over two million vaccines were distributed across the country for the fifth round of the National Immunisation Plus-Days which commenced on Wednesday.
Taraba
Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, president of the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has described the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as the apex of the print media.
Abdullahi said this in Jalingo when the national executives of the institute paid a courtesy call on the Jalingo station of NAN.
“I wish to state without mincing words that NAN is the apex of the print media. Most media organisations in the country depend largely on news and news materials from you (NAN).
“No print media has the strength and capacity of covering events in the country and beyond like NAN. If NAN is down, majority of Nigerian media organisations will be down,’’ he said.
Zamfara
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara last Wednesday warned the new local council chairmen in the state against truancy.
The governor gave the warning in Gusau at the inauguration of the 13 local government chairmen elected on June 23.
Yari advised the new chairmen to brace up for the challenges of making life better for their people, adding that the victory of the ANPP in the elections showed that the people had confidence in the political leadership of the state.
He said that the government would continue to support the autonomy of the local government councils through prompt release of their statutory allocations.
The governor, however, said that the state government would closely monitor the utilisation of the funds and would deal with any council official found guilty of financial impropriety.
The Arewa /Northern Community in Rivers state has appointed Alhaji Shuaibu Wada Madawakin Tilda as the Acting Dan Buran Rivers State.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Cabinet Council.
The appointment follows the dethronement of the former occupant,
Alhaji Musa Saeedu.
A statement from the Palace of the Sarkin Arewa/Northern Community (Sarkin Hausawan) in Rivers State and signed by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Hussaini Isah said the dethronement is with immediate effect.
The statement further disclosed that the decision follows an allegation of acts of insubordination and conduct considered contrary to the values, discipline, and traditions of the Northern community perpetuated by the Fmr Dan Buran.
The statement advised the public to discontinue to recognising and addressing Alhaji Musa Saeedu as the Dan Buran of the State, adding that he no longer holds the title and remained suspended.
Responding via telephone interview, Alhaji Musa Saeedu said he will not make any comment regarding the matter.
The Alliance Française of Port Harcourt opened its doors to more than sixty French language teachers from Port Harcourt and across Rivers State at the weekend for an afternoon dedicated to celebration, creativity, and community spirit.
The event which was Supported by the Embassy of France in Nigeria, forms part of the global celebrations marking the Journée Internationale du Professeur de Français (French Teachers Day) a day officially set aside to observe worldwide every 20 November.
The Tide Entertainment reports that every year, French teachers around the globe are honoured for the passion and dedication they bring into their classrooms.In 2025, the theme chosen “Chanter, jouer, enseigner: la francophonie en musique” (Sing, Play, Teach: Francophonie in Music) invited the entire community to explore the joy of teaching through song, performance, and artistic expression.
A Day that brings teachers together for the French teaching community in Port Harcourt, this celebration is much more than a ceremony, it is a rare moment to step away from the classroom and reconnect with the simple joy of sharing, learning, and creating together.
The Alliance Française transformed the occasion into a space buzzing with music and entertainment. Teachers from primary schools, secondary schools, universities, and adult learning centers gathered to exchange ideas, reconnected with colleagues, and discover each other’s talents in an atmosphere filled with warmth and friendship.
Honouring Creativity with the theme “Our Teachers Have Talent!”This year, the Embassy of France launched a national contest titled “Nos profs ont du talent!” (“Our Teachers Have Talent !”), participants were invited to either interpret or create a Francophone song.For a month, from 13 October to 13 November 2025, teachers from across the country submitted their performances online, filling the digital space with francophone music.While winners of this nationwide competition were announced.
According to the the Director, Mrs Marina Lacal, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, excitement and anticipation were added to the celebrations, saying that in Port Harcourt, the festivities went even further. Port Harcourt experienced a Unique Celebration that went beyond the online competition, Alliance Française Port Harcourt created something special, an event where teachers met physically, shared moment of joy, and present their musical talents live.On stage, teachers sang the songs they love and those they have created, showcasing the creativity that animates their classrooms every day.
She explained that that off stage, they( participants )shared stories, network with colleagues, laughed together, and celebrated their unique contribution to the promotion of the French language in Rivers State.This gathering is also a moment of recognition. Every day, French teachers open doors for thousands of learners, children discovering their first French words, teenagers preparing for exams, university students shaping their future careers, and adults embracing new opportunities.
“Today, the spotlight shines on them. More Than an Event, A Tribute to Their Dedication The 2025 celebration in Port Harcourt was a heartfelt tribute to the teachers who make French come alive, those who inspire, guide, and encourage learners with unwavering commitment,” Mrs. Lacal said
The Director explained that It recognises their resilience, their creativity, and their essential role in building bridges between cultures.By offering them a moment of relaxation, fun, artistic expression, and professional networking, Alliance Française Port Harcourt reaffirms its mission to support educators, strengthen the teaching community, and celebrate the vibrant energy of the Francophonie in Nigeria.
Climax of the exciting event was the presentation of prizes to winners of the competition.
The Chairman Advisory Committee on Entertainment and Performing Arts, Khana Local Government Area, Hon. Lexy M. Mueka has expressed gratitude to the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area Dr. Thomas Bariere for his support and vision in promoting entertainment as a tool for peacebuilding and youth engagement.
Hon Mueka made this known to the Tide Entertainment during a recently concluded concert tagged “OGONI ARISE CONCERT” held at the No. 6 Field, Old Port Harcourt Township.
According to him, the concert was not just an event but a movement aimed at reawakening the cultural consciousness of the Ogoni people and inspiring the younger generation to use their talents positively.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the event, organized by Triple 3 Entertainment under the auspices of the office of the Chairman Advisory committee on Entertainment and Performing Arts to the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, was a vibrant celebration of peace, unity, and cultural renaissance among the Ogoni people.
“Conceptualized as a platform to promote social harmony, empower young creatives, and showcase the rich artistic heritage of Ogoniland, the Ogoni Arise Concert succeeded in bringing together community leaders, entertainers, and the general public in a rare show of solidarity. The event featured electrifying performances by indigenous and regional artistes, dance troupes, comedians, and cultural ambassadors, all united under one message — Ogoni is rising again,” Hon. Mueka said.
“The Ogoni Arise Concert was designed to remind us of who we are — a people of strength, creativity, and unity. We wanted to show that entertainment can be a bridge for peace, a voice for our youth, and a celebration of our identity,” he added.
The event also featured a special Award Presentation Ceremony recognizing distinguished Ogoni sons and daughters who have made remarkable contributions in areas such as leadership, humanitarian service, creative excellence, and cultural promotion. The awards added a touch of prestige and purpose, reinforcing the concert’s theme of celebrating excellence while inspiring future generations.
Security at the event venue was top-notch, turnout of attendance impressive, and the atmosphere electric throughout the night.
Meanwhile, guests and participants had described the event as “historic, well-organized, and truly uplifting.”
