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Gov. Abiola Ajimobi (left) of Oyo State  Congratulating Acting Chief Judge of Oyo State, Mr Mukhtair Abimbola,  during his swearing-in  in Ibadan recently. Photo: NAN

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi (left) of Oyo State Congratulating Acting Chief Judge of Oyo State, Mr Mukhtair Abimbola, during his swearing-in in Ibadan recently. Photo: NAN

Bauchi

The Bauchi State chapter of the Buhari Cam
paign Organisation has pledged to buy nomination form for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Coordinator of the Nigerian Solution Network Group, Dr Danjuma Dabo,  made the disclosure in Bauchi during a solidarity rally in support of Buhari.
Dabo said whether Buhari was willing to contest in the 2015 polls or not, the organisation would source for fund to foot both the campaign bills and purchase the nomination form for him.
The coordinator of the group, who said that the N27 million fee for the purchase of nomination form was too high, added that it was above Buhari’s financial capability.

Borno

The Borno State Government has appealed to
West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) to release the results of its candidates who sat for the 2014 examinations.
The Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Education, Alhaji Mohammed Kauji, made the appeal in Maiduguri while briefing newsmen recently.
Kauji said that the state had cleared all the outstanding registration fees for the candidates who sat for the examinations in the state.
He expressed dismay over the inability of the candidates to access their results since it was released.
“I want to plead with both WAEC and NECO to release the result of Borno candidates who sat for the 2014 examinations.

FCT

The wife of the Primate of All Nigeria (Anglican
Communion),  Mrs Nkasiobi Okoh,  has said that women of the church will participate fully in the 2015 general elections.
Okoh, who is also the President of the Mothers’ Union/Women’s Guild, the women’s organisations of the church said this  in Abuja in an interview at the end of a two-day conference of the Abuja Diocese during which the maiden edition of the women’s magazine was launched.
She said that the women had been duly sensitised on the importance of participating in the elections and that they were poised to take active part in the exercise.
She said that the women had also been admonished to also ensure that all members of their families who were of age, exercised their franchise.

Gombe

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State
has expressed satisfaction with his performance in the last three and a half years of administering the state.
Dankwambo stated this in an interview with newsmen shortly after his return from Hajj.
He said that his administration had delivered a lot of democracy dividends in the state as it was testified by people in the state.
According to him, at the time of his electioneering campaign in 2011, he did not promise anything to the people of the state.
He said, however, having reviewed his performances so far; he was satisfied with his achievements.

Kabbi

The Kebbi State Government has approved the
release of N144 million for the revival of the state-owned Neem Tree processing and transformer manufacturing companies. Governor Saidu Dakingari stated this when he received a delegation of the state’s elders’ consultative forum, led by Justice Usman Mohammed, in Birnin Kebbi State. Earlier, Mohammed said the body called for the revival of the ailing industries to provide employment, attract investors, generate revenue, and promote industrial development of the state.
He said findings by the forum showed that N90 million was required to revive the transformer manufacturing company while Neem Tree processing industry needed N54 million.

Kwara

An economist, Mr Adekunle Oyinloye, has urged gov
ernment to give more attention to the welfare of teachers to improve learning. Oyinloye told newsmen in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, that adequate incentives would spur the teachers to give their best to improve students’ performance. Oyinloye, also the Managing Director, The Infrastructure Bank, Abuja, said such incentive became necessary so as to give the teachers a sense of belonging to do more. The banker described the teaching profession in the yesteryears as one of the respected within the public service, especially at the grassroots, saying that the contrary was the case nowadays. The issue of improving the capacity of Nigerian teachers to me has become a kind of misnomer priority to both the government and communities.

Niger

Senator Zainab Kure (PDP-Niger South) and other as
pirants have picked expression of forms to contest various positions in the 2015 general election.
Mr Tanko Beji, the state PDP Deputy Chairman, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Beji said that those interested to run for the polls under the party have purchased their forms, adding “many aspirants are still coming forward.”
“It is a general law that those aspiring for a position either at federal or state level must purchase a form and must meet the requirement for such position ahead the slated date for the election.
“Let this also be a notice to those with ambition to run for any seat either at federal or state level to come and purchase their forms because time is not on their side.
“As you can see, quite a number of people are here to collect their forms, and more are still coming,” he said.
Ogun

The Ogun State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board has
commenced screening of candidates for the  2014 Holy Pilgrimage to Israel, Greece and Rome.
The screening took place at the board’s secretariat in Oke-Mosan in Abeokuta.
The Chairman of the board, Bishop Julius Ogunseye, said at the venue of the screeming that the exercise was to ensure a hitch- free  pilgrimage.
He explained that the board needed to ascertain the health status of the intending pilgrims so as to prevent any medical  challenge.

Sokoto

GovernorAliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, has said
that more than 1,500 students were sponsored by his administration to undergo various training in universities abroad.
Wamakko made the disclosure in Sokoto at the end of the annual national leadership training course of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).
He said his administration had trained more than 20,000 unemployed youths in various vocational skills between 2007 and 2014.
The governor, who was represented by Alhaji Harande Mahe, the Special Adviser to Wamakko on Security Matters, said the students would be part of the human capital for repositioning of the state.
He added that “the more than 20,000 youths were trained in various forms of vocational skills to make them productive to themselves and to the society.

Taraba

Taraba State Acting Governor Garba Umar said that
he never declared ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai missing.
Umar offered the clarification in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kefas Sule, and issued to newsmen in Jalingo.
The statement explained that Umar simply told journalists that he was yet to set his eyes on Suntai since he returned from the medical trip abroad.
“The attention of the acting governor has been drawn to the screaming news headlines purporting that he has declared Suntai missing.
“Umar hereby places on record that at no time did he declare his boss missing, he simply said he was yet to see him since he returned from medical trip to London,” the statement read in part.

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Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture

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Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.

She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.

Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love  has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.

The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.

Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.

 

He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.

Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.

He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.

According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.

Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.

Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them

 

John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah

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We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout

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Rivers State Governor , Sir Siminialayi Fubara says the industrialization of the state remains a key drive of his administration.
Speaking through Director General of the Rivers  State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside at the Shell Gas Limited and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) Investors Forum held in Port Harcourt, Fubara stressed that public /private partnership is key to revive production in the state.
“We are ready to partner Shell Gas Limited to revive manufacturing in Rivers State at Ahoada Industrial Park, and the new Port City project, including the proposed Bonny Industrial Park which will grow industries along the Bonny corridor” he declared.
Part of the scheme, he further stated is to collaborate with Shell Gas Limited and the private sector to transform Rivers State into a major manufacturing hub in the South of Nigeria.
Commending Shell and MAN for leading the frontline, Sir. Fubara said,” the time to act is now  and thank God Shell is taking the lead to prioritize gas.”
The governor opined that the gas sector provides huge investment opportunities to drive the state economy as the world is gradually shifting towards gas and other environment friendly energy, while urging stakeholders to evolve an actionable gas policy for the state.
Earlier in his remarks, Shell Gas Limited Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi said it is high time the state utilized its huge gas resource.
“Today gas offers investors opportunities and raises the value chain as it boosts production for industry users,” Amos-Ejesi said.
The Shell Gas Distribution executive said the company seeks to support manufacturing by adopting a user friendly approach that allows manufacturers to grow profitably with affordable cheaper energy.
He explained that natural gas provides huge potentials and aligns with federal government  policy of gas utilization.
Chairman of MAN Rivers and Bayelsa Branch, Elder Vincent Okugu described gas as the backbone of manufacturing.
He said the forum has become timely and key to address the pressing energy provision to boost production in the sector, as he lamented the high costs borne by manufacturers in sourcing energy alternatives.
In her remarks, Chairperson of  the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Chinyere Ngozi Nwoga commended Shell for the forum which she described as a bridge to reduce gap of energy provision for manufacturers.
Ngozi Nwoga said the transition to natural gas has become imperative, stressing that pipeline gas offers cheaper and smooth energy provision for industries.
Former MAN chairperson for Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs Emilia Akpan was of the view that the quest to provide cheap energy should be driven with technical manpower, as she emphasized  need for Rivers State to recreate its economy.
By Kevin Nengia
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SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs

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First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.
The facility provides loans ranging from N500,000 to N5 million under a general category, and N5 million to N10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.
Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB),  Yemisi Edun,  said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.

Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.

 

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