Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Rep. Aliyu Gebi, (Bauchi Federal Constituency) last Sat
urday called for devolution of powers from the federal level to the state and local government councils.
Gebi made the call in a paper entitled: “Hindrances to Transformation Agenda. The Way Forward”, he delivered at the Annual National Alumni Lecture of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
He said it would be difficult to deliver dividends of democracy with the current power structure in the country, adding that it would be difficult to realise the aims of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda if power structure remained unchanged.
Earlier, the National President of the alumni association, Malam Mohammed Wada, said the association would continue to uphold the aspirations of the founding fathers of the university.
Benue
The priest in charge of the Catholic Youth
Centre, Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Amue, last Sunday appealed to Nigerians to exhibit humility in public service.
Amue, who made the appeal at a sermon, said that humility was necessary as those in leadership positions were entrusted with such responsibility by the people.
He said humility would always enable political officer holders to act with fear of God and provide selfless service to the people.
The cleric urged politicians to consider political appointments as an opportunity to serve the people better.
According to him, leadership is about rendering service and that those occupying the positions of responsibility must see themselves as servants rather than masters of the people.
Borno
The Borno State Government said last Sunday that it
would partner with Pakistan to harness the full agricultural potential of the state.
Governor Kashim Shettima made the statement while receiving a Pakistani trade delegation, led by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Alhaji Dauda Danladi, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Shettima pointed out that the partnership would cover areas like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, sports and gum Arabic among others, and declared that government was also making effort to revive the state’s education system through strengthening of science education.
The governor said that the administration was also willing to partner with Pakistan in the area of training for science teachers and training of medical doctors.
Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State has arrested a 25-year-old woman for allegedly dumping her new born baby girl in a graveyard in Kazaure Local Government.
The NSCDC commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said last Saturday in Dutse that the suspect was arrested last Friday at Ilallah quarters in Kazaure town.
Gidado said the woman, who was a housemaid in the area, was arrested after the corps conducted a thorough investigation among divorcees, widows, housemaids and prostitutes living in the area.
He said a medical examination at the General Hospital at Hadejia revealed that the suspect was the biological mother of the baby.
Kaduna
Kaduna State chapter of the Jamaatu Izalatul Bidia
Waiqatusunnah (JIBW) last Saturday said youth empowerment was key to the eradication of moral decadence and violence among them.
Chairman of the group, Sheik Tukur Isa said this when he led other officials to pay a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area in Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
He said government at all levels should take the empowerment of young people as a cardinal point in their programmes, adding that self-reliant youths remained one of the keys to addressing lots of the social vices facing the country.
The cleric commended Jema’a local government council’s efforts at uniting the people of the area and pledged its support and prayers for unity among the people.
Kano
Kano State Government has urged residents of the state
to desist from erecting structures on waterways to avoid flooding.
The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, made the call while speaking to newsmen in Kano shortly after the monthly environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday.
Abbas said the flood which occurred in many parts of the state was man-made and could have been prevented if people did not block waterways.
According to him, “people erect structures on top of waterways and drains and when there is a down pour they experience flood because the passages are blocked. I want to commend the Governor Kwankwaso administration for its efforts to revert to Kano’s initial town plan. That is the only solution to the current situation as some structures have been moved away to free the waterways.”
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has approved the
appointment of four new permanent secretaries into the state civil service.
This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the state Civil Service Commission, Mr Felix Ogbodo.
The statement, a copy of which was made available to newsmen last Sunday in Lokoja, named new permanent secretaries as Messrs James Adedoyin, Usman Odawn, Ibrahim Joshua and Mrs Iyabode Agbore.
It said the appointments was with immediate effect.
Kwara
APC chairmanship candidate in the Irepodun Local Gov
ernment Area of Kwara State, Mr Abdulraheem Olawuyi, has called on religious leaders to assist government in reviving the nation’s education sector.
Olawuyi made the call last Sunday at the 2012/2013 Prize Giving Day ceremony of the Omu-Aran Summer School Programme in Omu-Aran.
Olawuyi who decried the not-too impressive fortune of the education sector in Nigeria, said the trend posed grave danger to the growth and economic development of the country.
According to him, any nation aspiring to develop either through research, scientific or medicinal needs to strive harder to ensure a high level educational development of its citizenry.
“Government at all levels in the country seems to be at a loss as the state of Nigeria’s education sector declines by day. It is declining at such an alarming rate, hence the need for divine intervention through prayers.
Niger
Activities of Prison Fellowship of Nigeria in the areas of
evangelism and care for inmates have brought about positive changes in the lives of inmates across the country.
Pastor Peter Okere, the chaplain of the fellowship, Suleja chapter, stated this last Saturday in Suleja, Niger State, at a one-day Prison Ministers’ Conference entitled “The Chosen One’’.
He said the fellowship’s decision to embark on prison outreach programmes was informed by its belief that prisoners deserved God’s love.
Okere urged the public to have compassion for prisoners, insisting that experience had shown that repentant prisoners had been useful in the spread of the gospel and prevention of crimes.
Ondo
A teenager, Oluwaseyi Adelegan, 14, was last Friday
murdered by unknown assailants at his father’s house in Akure.
The deceased is the son of Chief Solomon Adelegan, the National President, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services.
The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in Ondo State, Mr Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident. It is obvious the young boy was killed while trying to move out of his bedroom to the sitting room before he eventually gave up,’’ Ogodo said.
Ogodo, who said that no arrest had been made, said that the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
According to him, “the information surrounding the death of the young boy is still sketchy, but I assure you that police will get to the root of the crime”.
Taraba
A joint meeting of Taraba State chapters of the Muslim
Council and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) last Saturday advised politicians not to use religion to pursue their selfish agenda in the State.
In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Jalingo, CAN and the Muslim Council decried the manner politicians in the state were whipping up religious sentiments to achieve selfish political goals.
The communiqué was signed by the State Chairman of the Muslim Council, Alhaji Inuwa Mafindi and the state Vice Chairman of CAN, Rev. Ben Ubeh.
It observed that Taraba had been “unnecessarily thrown into a state of confusion by selfish politicians who did not mean well for it since the return of Gov. Danbaba Suntai on August 25.
The communiqué commended the State Government and the peoples efforts aimed at maintaining peace and for their tolerance of one another. It urged the people to remain calm to ensure that the prevailing peace was sustained.
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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