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THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State last Monday commissioned Women Education and Empowerment Initiative Multi-purpose centre in Yola.
Speaking at the occasion, Nyako said the state government would continue to fight poverty through women empowerment progrmmes.
He commended the effort of his wife, Hajia Zainab Nyako, for her focus in establishing the centre, stating that the development would go a long way in empowering women in the state.
In her remarks, Hajia Zainab Nyako, said about N50 million was spent in building the centre.
She said the centre had trained more than 7,000 women in the state on various skills, adding that the centre, which could accommodate 800 people, would also serve as a source of revenue generation.
According to her, the construction of the centre was achieved through the collective activities of philanthropists, donor organisations and other well-meaning individuals.
Benue
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Jibril Okutepa, has suggested that the powers of the National Industrial Court (NIC) be reduced to allow efficiency in the discharge of its duties.
Okutepa, who stated this at the inauguration of the NIC on Monday in Makurdi, said the jurisdiction of the court was too wide at the moment.
He said that section 254 (C) of the 1999 constitution, which vested the powers of exclusive jurisdiction on labour matters on the court, should be reviewed to enable it perform more efficiently.
He regretted that the lawyers, who disregarded court orders and denigrated Judges in the media, were never punished in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Okutepa said the indiscipline in the bar was encouraged by the bench and called on Judges to enforce discipline against erring lawyers to restore sanity in the judiciary.
In his remarks, the President of the Court, Justice A.B Adejumo, said the court was a specialised one, whose duties could not be shelved owing to its peculiar nature.
He assured that cases before it would be dispensed expeditiously for the purpose of stabilising the polity.
Borno
The wife of Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, last Monday flagged off a training programme for 40 unemployed youths in Maiduguri to fight youth restiveness and poverty.
Shettima said that the beneficiaries would be trained in three trade skills, including tailoring, knitting and computer operation.
She explained that the programme was facilitated by her organisation known as Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya Children (SWOT) Foundation, adding that the major objective was to eradicate poverty by empowering youths in various trades.
Shettima said that the training was packaged in partnership with the agency for mass literacy to ensure maximum result.
She said that the foundation had procured equipment for distribution to the trainees at the end of their training, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously because of its importance for their future.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government last Monday in Dutse said no fewer than 100 less-privileged people living with HIV/AIDS would be empowered in 2013.
The Executive Secretary, State Agency for the Control of AIDS (JISACA), Dr Bashir Ahmed, made this known during a meeting with the state chapter of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN).
Ahmed explained that JISACA would collaborate with the state Ministry of Economic Development to empower the people.
According to him, the empowerment programme for those with the disease will keep them busy and provide them with job to carter for their daily needs.
“Apart from this effort, every month we give N20, 000 each to nine HIV/AIDS Facility-Based Support Groups in the state as a standing order to enable them to carry out their activities effectively,” he added.
The state Chairman of NEPWHAN, Alhaji Ahmed Sarki-Nopa, thanked the State Government for the support, and pledged to continue to embark on more awareness campaign against the spread of the disease in the state.
Kaduna
A husband, Mohammed Gardi of Hayin Danmani, Kaduna on Monday forfeited a N15, 000 dowry to get divorce from his wife.
Gardi’s wife, Yasira Isa had gone to the Shari’a Court II, Kaduna on Jan. 26 asking it to dissolve the marriage. She told the court that she was ready to return the dowry paid by the husband, as she was no longer in love with him.
The presiding officer, Khadi Ibrahim Inuwa had told the woman that her prayers would be granted if she return back the dowry. The pronouncement by the judge prompted Gardi of Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna to decline the offer.
He said he would forfeit the dowry in recognition of the “two children we had’’, and said prayed the court to restrict her from visiting his house so as not to create any problem with other members of his family, especially his aged mother and wife.
Inuwa granted the request and barred Isa from the house but directed that the children be allowed to visit their mother once a month and to attend any event by her family “to enable them get fully acquainted with their mother’s relatives”.
Kebbi
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has suspended its plan to embark on indefinite strike in Kebbi, over delay in the payment of salary to primary school teachers.
The state Chairman of the union, Malam Aliyu Dallami, said on Monday in Birnin Kebbi that the strike was suspended pending the outcome of an exercise being conducted by local government councils.
He urged teachers to be patient and cooperate fully to ensure success of the exercise, adding that officials of the union would be involved in the exercise to ensure that none of its members was victimised.
Dallami advised teachers whose names were not included in the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage to participate in the exercise, and said the union was expecting the state government to inform the union what it was doing to rectify the anomalies.
He expressed concern over the decision of the local government chairmen to reduce the number of teachers on their pay roll.
Kogi
The General Manager, Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA), Mr James Odiba, says the agency spent N445.8 million on the execution of community projects in the past four years.
Odiba who made the disclosure in an interview in Lokoja.said the money was spent on 232 micro projects in various communities.
He said 126 of the projects were completed last year, adding that 44 projects were ongoing while 62 would be flagged off soon.
The projects, according to him, centre on Education, Rural Electrification, Environment and Natural Resources, Gender and Vulnerable groups, Health, Socio-economic, Transport and Water.
Kwara
The Federal Government will commence the dredging of Asa River in Ilorin, the Kwara capital, within the next three weeks.
Mr Tunji Morounfoye, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, who disclosed this in an interview in Ilorin said the contractor for the project has already been mobilised to begin the work.
Morounfoye assured the people of the state that the contractor would execute the job on time in line with specifications. He said the project, when completed, would further enhance the economic activities of the state.
The commissioner stated that the” expansion of the Asa River will put an end to annual flood being experienced in some parts of the state capital”.
The commissioner praised the effort of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, for ensuring the award of the contract, and reiterated the determination of the state government to continue providing amenities that will make life more meaningful for the people.
Ogun
No fewer than six persons, including three children, were confirmed dead in a lone accident near Sagamu interchange in Ogun on Monday.
The Sagamu Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr Lanrewaju Ogundele, told newsmen that the Toyota Hiace bus marked Sokoto GWD 20 XA was heading to Lagos from Sokoto.
He said the visibility of the driver was impaired by the early morning foggy weather, forcing him to run into a stationary empty container parked off the road.
“Nineteen persons were involved but six died while others are in very critical conditions as we speak and receiving treatments at Idera Hospital in Sagamu.
“The corpses of the three children as well as that of the two male and one female adult had been deposited at Fakoya Hospital Mortuary in Sagamu, he said.
“It is very important for drivers to be very careful when they drive in a foggy weather condition, especially when visibility is impaired.
Ondo
The Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday in Akure passed a budget of N152.5 bilion for 2013 fiscal year, increasing the initial sum of N151 billion presented by Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, by N1.5 billion.
The House Majority Leader, Mr Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, moved the motion for the passage of the bill, lauding the effort of the committee, headed by Chief Fidelis Akinwolemiwa.
Akinwolemiwa had also appealed to the government to adhere to the provisions of the budget in line with the needs identified.
The Speaker of the House, Mr Samuel Adesina, called on the executive to implement the budget to the fullest.
The committee chairman also advised the government to take steps necessary to ensure that the anticipated internally generated revenue target of N12 billion was exceeded.
Akinwolemiwa explained that the committee approved the additional N1.5 billion, having discovered the need for the added sum.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has inaugurated a special ambulance service scheme for emergency cases.
Flagging off the “Osun Special Ambulance Service Scheme (OSASSA)” scheme in Osogbo, Monday, Aregbesola said the ambulances would provide first aid at the scene of accidents before taking victims to hospital.
He said the programme with 31 ambulances would promote quality health care delivery service and reduce deaths in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, said the scheme was part of the six integral action plans enunciated by Aregbesola in which the health sector was crucial.
Ilori said many victims die from preventive deaths at the scene of accidents due to multiple reasons such as distance, traffic jams and poor public cooperation, adding that ambulance service would totally eradicate these.
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has signed the state’s 2013 appropriation bill of N115.8 billion. The State House of Assembly passed the bill last week.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Sokoto, the governor urged workers in the state to work with the fear of God.
“With the assenting of the 2013 appropriation bill, respective MDAs are now responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the 2013 budget. “I must categorically state without mincing words that we, on our part, have discharged our responsibility. “As such, the onus lies with all the public functionaries in their respective duty posts to ensure that the overall interest of the good people of Sokoto state is protected,’’ he said.
Alhaji Lawalli Zayyana, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, said that the Assembly was modestly blessed with working tools and logistics to carry out its activities.
“Only a month back, about N220 million was expended on the procurement of committees’ vehicles to further strengthen oversight activities. “Happily enough, about N1 billion has been voted in the 2013 budget for the comprehensive rehabilitation and repairs of the assembly complex,’’ Zayyana said.
Zamfara
Zamfara State Primary Education Board on Monday began a two-week training for supervisors of English Language in primary schools toward reducing the rate of failure in the subject among pupils.
A member of the board, Alhaji Mahe Rini, said at the opening of the conference that the training was aimed at enhancing the participants’ proficiency in teaching the subject.
Rini said pupils in both private and public schools lacked enough understanding of the subject and as such the participants were selected from both segments of the school system.
He gave an assurance that the board would work toward removing all bottlenecks to the improvement of standards in the subject.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Director of Primary Education in the board, Alhaji Na-Allah Gummi, urged the participants to work hard to achieve the objectives of the training.
The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.
The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.
Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.
The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.
The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.
However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.
The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.
Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.
Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.
The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.
Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.
In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.
Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.
He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.
His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.
He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.
Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.
As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.
The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.
Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.
”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.
While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.
He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.
Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.
The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.
Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.
With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.
The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.
NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.
In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.
It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.
The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.
NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.
In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.
“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:
” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.
“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.
NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.
NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.
According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.
“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.
” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.
NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.
Kiadum Edookor
