Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

March 17, 2014

Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has warned
people against playing politics with the lingering crisis between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the state.
Suswam said this at Ayilamo, Logo Local Government area, while addressing displaced people in the area.
“Stop making politics on the ongoing attacks and killings of innocent people in the state.
“We are a peace-loving people historically and we will always ensure that peace and unity prevail and our brothers living among us,” he said.

FCT

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission
(NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, has said the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) would facilitate sharing of research findings amongst universities.
Okojie, who said this at an inaugural meeting of NgREN Board, added that the project was significant to the Nigerian University System (NUS).
He noted that NgREN was conceived after many initiatives to address connectivity needs of the NUS, yielded little or no result.
“There is a need to address the dearth of basic net-working infrastructure, especially broadband connectivity which is hindering the deployment of ICT solutions in the universities, ‘’ he said.

Jigawa

The Federal University in Dutse is considering the pos
sibility of introducing Mass Communication Study due to high demand for the course in Jigawa State.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Jibrila Amin, stated this while addressing newsmen to mark its third Founders Day in Dutse.
“We have started reaching out to some professors of mass communication in other universities to come and assess the facilities and what it takes’’, he said.
He said that the institution would also commence post-graduate courses in economics, English and communication studies.

Kaduna
Residents of Kaduna metropolis have lamented the in
adequate provision of refuse clearance and evacuation equipment by the state government.
Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, the residents said the indiscriminate dumping of refuse within the metropolis was gradually turning into an eyesore.
Abdulkareem Hassan, who lives in Tudun Wada area of the state said, “I pay local refuse collectors to clear my dustbins whenever it is due for collection.

Kwara
An Ilorin Area Court has dissolved the three -year -old
marriage between Munirat Ahmed and Dauda Ahmed on ground of “lousiness”.
Munirat, who resides at Edun area, Ilorin told the court that her husband was lousy and could not keep secrets.
She prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to Dauda, adding that, she cannot continue with a man that will reveal all their marital plans to outsiders.
The petitioner told the court that her husband sought advice from friends to run his family affairs.
“My husband does not care who his enemy is, he will continue to explain his family problems in the public,” she said.

Kebbi
The Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammad
Bashar, has advised youths to shun tribal and religious bigotry in order to promote peaceful coexistence in the country.
He made the call in Birnin Kebbi, when he received members of the Kebbi State Youth Alliance, who paid him a visit. He also urged the youths to promote their heritage and cultural values, and respect their leaders and elders.
Bashar said “God in his infinite mercy brought us to live together and we need to be kind to one another”.

Lagos

A 38-year-old driver, Stephen Igwe, was has been
charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing his employer’s N4.5million jeep.
Igwe, who resides at No. 40, Olushi St., Lagos Island, was charged with stealing.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Ejima Oteke, told the court that the accused committed the offence at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Oteke said the accused, who was sent on an errand, absconded with a black Nissan Murano jeep with registration number JC667-SMK belonging to his employer, Rear-Adm. Joseph Oladeinde.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission
(NASIEC), has reassured the electorate in the state of its determination to conduct free, fair and credible local government election slated for March 22.
The NASIEC Chairman in the state, Dr Abdullahi Modibbo, gave the assurance in Lafia at a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state.
“The commission is determined to conduct credible local government election that will be emulated by other states in the country.
“Elections in Nigeria had been characterised by all kinds of sentiments thereby leading to the breakdown of law and order,” he said.

Osun

A 29-year-old man, Micheal Kolade, was last Thursday
brought before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud and theft of N1.3million.
The prosecutor, Insp. Wilson Mereti, told the court that the accused, his accomplices, Gbolagale Adebiyi and one Daniel, now at large, committed the offence between February 11 and February 20 at Ibromu Quarters in Ile-Ife.
Mereti said the accused and his accomplices conspired and committed felony and theft when they fraudulently obtained a bus from one Ogunlowo Olatunde under the pretext of buying it.
He said the accused and his accomplices deceived their victim with a false bank deposit alert, reflecting that they had paid N1.37million into his bank account for the bus.
He said the appearance of the fake alert on Olatunde’s phone deceived him into giving the bus and its documents to the accused thinking they had struck a genuine deal.

Ondo

Ondo State Government has promised to give special
package and welfare to teachers posted to difficult and remote areas.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr Jide Adejuyigbe, stated this recently in Akure at a stakeholders’ meeting on monitoring and supervision of public secondary schools.
The meeting was organised by state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
“We are looking at a special package for teachers posted to remote areas; we are also considering some incentives to ensure their staying there,’’ the commissioner said.
Adejuyigbe rejected the notion that there was an acute shortage of teachers in the state public schools.

Ogun

The member representing Imeko Afon Constituency
in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Salmon Adeleke, has commended the state government for beefing up security in the state.
Adeleke gave the commendation in Abeokuta in an interview with newsmen.
He said the donation of a patrol van to the police in Imeko Afon was an indication of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun’s commitment to safety of lives and properties.
The lawmaker, however, appealed to the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, to intensify patrol of the area.

Yobe

The, Yobe State Government has said that the closure of
Federal Government Colleges in the three north-eastern states would help the students and their parents overcome fear arising from armed attacks.
Our correspondent reports that the Federal Government ordered the closure of unity colleges in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in February following attacks on the colleges by gunmen.
Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Ahmed Goniri, stated the government’s position in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
Goniri, who is also chairman, Federal Government College (FGC), Buni-Yadi Relief Committee, said: “Parents and students are still in a state of phobia and fear; the temporary closure will give them the opportunity to overcome fear.”

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at a retreat of Nigerian Governors’ Forum in Lagos, last Friday

Nation

HYPREP Inducts 100 Ogoni Youths For Creative Arts Training

Published

2 weeks ago

May 2, 2025

The Tide

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.

Nation

Nasarawa Varsity Student Commits Suicide

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

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.

Nation

Ogun, Nike Art Gallery Set To Transform Olumo Rock

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2025

The Tide

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.