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The National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonna Onu, has described the late Prof. Chinua Achebe as a patriot with uncommon vision.
Onu said that Achebe was “a patriot with an uncommon vision, an intellectual pillar of universal appeal with a distinct literary prowess”.
He described Achebe as an administrator of profound convictions and above all, an illuminating pathfinder, whose works placed him on the mountain top.
The chairman said that Achebe remained tireless in his resolve of showing the way for others to follow and that in his writing, he showed extraordinary skill and ability.
“ As the widely acclaimed father of African literature, his contributions to knowledge will continue to influence the thoughts of many generations yet unborn.
Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has in-augurated a 14-member committee to study the problems of divorcees in the state.
Inaugurating the committee, Dankwambo decried the high rate of divorce in the state and said the committee’s objective was to facilitate marriages between the divorcees and interested suitors.
He said the high rate of divorce was undermining the family unit in the state.
According to him, government had constituted the committee of eminent persons to examine the whole gamut of the phenomenon and proffer workable solutions.
The governor said the terms of reference of the committee include reviewing the Kano State Zawarawa Committee’s report for a possible adoption by the Gombe government.
Kaduna
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and Senator Joshua Dariye last Saturday commiserated with the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, over the death of his elder brother, Alhaji Umar Idris.
Umar was Dangaladiman Zazzau and District Head of Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Tukur and Dariye prayed God Almighty to give the emir and the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.
While describing Umar as a dedicated, humble, kind and gentle traditional ruler, they advised the emir to accept what happened as the will of Allah.
The PDP National Vice-Chairman, Northwest Zone, Malam Ibrahim Kazaure and the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Mr Nuhu Bajoga, were on the delegation.
Kano
The Kano State Government plans to establish an education trust fund to help in sustaining the state’s education sector, Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso has said.
Kwankwaso who made this known during a visit to the North-West University’s temporary site at Ado Bayero House in Kano said the fund would guarantee the sustenance of both the State University of Technology at Wudil and the new North-West University.
The governor said the new institution might not stand on its feet without proper funding, adding that the state government had spent about six billion Naira in procuring facilities and infrastructure for the university.
He charged members of staff of the institution to be good examples to the students and guard them against social vices like cultism, drug abuse and inappropriate dressing, among others.
Katsina
The leader of Dutsen-reme women stone crushers in Bakori Local Government area of Katsina, Malama Binta Ibrahim, has solicited for increased government support for the development of their business.
Ibrahim who made the call in Bakori on Saturday said business had attracted public patronage, explaining that they started with 38 members but now had no fewer than 500 women.
She said more women were joining the stone crushing business because of the proceeds from it and other financial gains in the community.
While commending the wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajia Fatima Shema, over her support and visit to the site, Ibrahim called for construction of shades and toilets within the premises.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government last Sunday promised to provide immediate succour to victims of the recent rainstorm that ravaged some parts of the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Emergency and Relief Services, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, gave the assurance when he paid a sympathy visit to some Local Government Areas affected by the rainstorm.
One of the areas visited was Omuaran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area, where over 50 houses were affected. Abdullahi was conducted round some of the damaged buildings, including the private residence of the vice chairman of the council.
The special adviser was also at IIoffa in the Oke-Ero Local Government Area, where the traditional ruler of the area, Oba Samuel Ogunniyi, solicited government’s assistance to rebuild about 90 houses damaged by the rainstorm.
Lagos
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) last Sunday said that corruption was responsible for a lack of access to clean water by majority of Nigerians.
The Executive Director of the group, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said in an interview in Lagos, that corruption accounted for failure by governments at all levels to provide functional and potable water supply
Mumuni said that majority of Nigerians, especially children, had no access to clean water, in spite of the huge funds being expended yearly by government on water supply.
“Some of the monies being expended on the provision of pipe-borne water across the country are being obviously mismanaged.
“Some Nigerians are being forced to drink contaminated water which causes various diseases and endangers their lives,’’ he added. Mumuni told newsmen that SERAP had filed a suit against the Federal Government, seeking to know how much it had spent on the provision of safe water since the past five years.
Nasarawa
Governor of Nasarawa, State Tanko Al-makura, has commended the Alago ethnic group for their peace initiative.
Al-makura specifically lauded the Alago efforts in ensuring peaceful coexistence between them and other tribes in the state
“I enjoin other ethnic groups to emulate the right path taken by the Alago people towards ensuring lasting peace and mutual understanding amongst the different ethnic, cultural and religious groups in the state,” he said.
The governor made the commendation when a 23-member Alago Consultative Committee on Peace and Unity, constituted by the Alago Development Association, paid him a courtesy call in Lafia last Saturday.
Niger
The Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Promise Okpala, has expressed delight over the improvement recorded in the final examinations for secondary schools conducted by the council recently.
Okpala made the remarks when he received the Chairman/ Chief Executive of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, in his office in Minna, last Saturday. He said there had been significant improvements in candidates’ performances in the last three years and attributed the development to the Federal Government’s support and commitment to education.
Okpala said the planned partnership between NECO and DAAR Communications was part of measures aimed at improving the standard and quality of education in Nigeria, with a view to developing media content for broadcast.
Dokpesi said his organisation was seeking partnership with NECO towards developing media content for educational programmes to be aired on African Independent Television, and disclosed that his organisation in collaboration with Teacher-media international based in the UK signed an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education to develop content.
Ondo
A reporter with the NTA in Akure, Mrs Olubunmi Oke, who was abducted last Thursday had been released, the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the council, Mr Akinfolayan Owanikin,said that Oke was released late last Saturday and had reunited with her family.
“The NUJ wishes to thank all those who played one role or the other in securing her release from the den of kidnappers.
“We commend the spirited efforts made by the family and we pray that nothing of such will take place in the family and our union again.
“We also use this medium to call on government and security agencies to step up protection of Nigerians against criminals,” the council stated.
Taraba
The police in Taraba State said that 53 people have been charged to court over the recent Wukari crisis.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Jubril Adeniji, told newsmen in Jalingo, Saturday that 125 people were arrested by the command, but 72 were freed after investigations.
“We arrested 125 persons in connection with the crisis; 72 were freed after investigations and 53 were charged to court,’’ he said.
The commissioner, however, said normalcy had since been restored to the area, crisis broke out in Wukari in February where many lives and property were lost.
Adeniji warned that the police would not tolerate activities of miscreants in the state.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.