News

Nigeria Deploys 1,200 Troops To Mali

Published

13 years ago

March 1, 2013

Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, has said in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’voire, that Nigeria has completed the deployment of 1,200 troops to Mali.

Obada said this in an interview with the newsmen on the sideline of the on-going 42nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Yamoussoukro.

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived in Yamoussoukro last Wednesday morning to join other ECOWAS leaders for the meeting.

Obada, who was on the President’s entourage, said that she was pleased that the Nigerian government had successfully deployed the troops promised to AFISMA.

Nigeria’s participation in the peace keeping operation in Mali was part of the ECOWAS African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).

“I am very happy to let you know that Nigeria has completed deployment.

“Even s we speak today, the last batch of 138 men have gone to Mali and we have only 20 left who are protecting and guiding equipment on ground; and of course today, our Chally (Military Airplane) that is our C130 has already landed today in Bamako with the equipment of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“I also want to let you know that even the British Government has been very kind. They have provided us with transportation to also move our equipment to Mali. I think the aircraft will be on ground by 5 oc’clock in Mali.

“So, our Air Force troops are fully deployed, 300 of them, they were deployed to Niamey.

“So, you can see that we have fulfilled our international obligation to assist in the recovery of the sovereignty of Mali.’’

Our correspondent recalls that the Senate in January approved Jonathan’s request to increase the number of troops for the military expedition in Mali from 776 to 1,200.

The 1,200 contingent for the operation in Mali were drawn from the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Army.

Speaking in a separate interview, the Nigerian Ambassador to Mali, Alhaji Iliya Nuhu, said the Nigerian troops were already on ground and putting their logistic in order.

Nuhu said that the troops were at the moment consolidating before their deployment to the various areas of operations.

Speaking on the reported human right abuses in the war prone areas in Mali, Nuhu said that the ECOWAS and the UN were dispatching global human rights observers to monitor the situation.

He said the observers would play important role in assessing the human rights situation and would profer measures to be taken to address the abuses.

Nuhu also said that that there was no report of any Nigerian casualty in Mali and that the embassy had taken measures to protect the Nigerian population in Mali.

The ambassador ruled out the possibility of evacuating Nigerians in Mali, adding that the situation of threat to civilian population had wane since the French troop moved into Mali.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

23 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

23 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

23 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.