Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Federal Government said it approved N100 million
in 2011 for the establishment of Entrepreneurship Centres in both federal and state universities in the country.
Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), made this known on Wednesday in Bauchi, while declaring open a two-day workshop on “Entrepreneurship for lecturers in higher institutions in the North East Zone’’.
Bogoro, represented by a TETFUND coordinator, Murtala Mustapha said that the centre would produce the needed platform for lecturers, students and members of the public to articulate appropriate strategies for entrepreneurship skills for national development.
He said that TETFUND Board of Trustee, in line with the policy had approved a five-year vision from 2014 to 2019 to deepen its focus on economic content, quality and excellence.
Borno
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) said that
it planned to make provisions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to cast their votes in the 2015 general polls.
The Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Tukur Sa’ad, said this during a visit to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai in Maiduguri.
Sa’ad, however, said that the commission was yet to work out modalities for the IDPs to vote.
He said that the INEC had slated Nov. 28 for the commencement of distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Borno.
Sa’ad explained that the exercise would hold in 12 out of the 27 local government areas of the state due to the current security challenges.
“The issuance of PVCs to registered voters will take place in only 12 LGAs considered to be relatively safe in Borno.
“The exercise will last for six days,” he said.
FCT
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development,
Hajia Zainab Maina, has called on the leadership of political parties to create enabling environment to enhance engagement of women in politics.
Maina, who was represented by the Director of Women and Gender Affairs in the ministry, Mrs Iran Ajufo, made the call when she led women groups in a meeting with chairmen of political parties in Abuja recently.
Maina said that the ministry recognised the role of political parties in determining the political participation of Nigerian women in politics and decision making.
“The National Gender Policy, which has been passed by the Federal Executive Council, has established the benchmark of 35 per cent women representation in public office in Nigeria.
“Poor performance in the basic human development indices in Nigeria reflect the low level of women participation.
He said that in an effort to promote their participation in politics, many of the parties offered free nomination forms to women interested in contesting in the 2015 general elections.
Jigawa
The Government Secondary School in Aujara, Jigawa
State, emerged winner of the quiz competition organised by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) for six select secondary schools in the state.
Announcing the result in Dutse, the Head of the North-West zone of the commission, Malam Adamu Sambo, said GSS Aujara scored the highest points of 35.
Sambo said that Dutse Model International School got 32.5 points to place second, while Salem Group of Schools scored 30 points to clinch the third position.
He said that the competition was organised for secondary school students to enable them acquire knowledge on capital market.
“Capital market is an arm of the financial system that strengthens the economy, and no economy can develop globally without it,” he said.
Kogi
The Nigerian Press Council (NPC) has urged journalists
to always follow the ethics of their profession while carrying out their duties.
This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Acting Executive Secretary of the council, Mr Nnamdi Njemanze, at the end of a training workshop for journalists in Lokoja.
The communiqué urged journalists to exercise restraint in their choice of language in order not to overheat the polity and undermine efforts to achieve a peaceful electoral process.
It advised journalists to exercise professionalism in news gathering and not to compromise the tenets of truth, accuracy, balance, fairness and objectivity in their reportage.
Kwara
An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court has remanded Jimoh
Oniwuridi, 30, at the Federal Prison, Oke-kura, Ilorin, for defrauding a man under the pretext of helping him out of his childlessness.
The accused, who resides at Oniwuridi Compound, Pakata area, Ilorin, was arraigned on a charge of Advance Fee Fraud, Contrary to Section 3(1) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of the federation, 2004.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Zaccheus Folorunsho, told the court that on October 28 the accused went to the house of Tajudeen Onibon and convinced him that he could solve his wife’s barrenness.
Folorunsho said that the accused fraudulently collected an initial N200, 000 from the complainant and also collected N320, 000 for some sacrifice he claimed he would perform.
He said that investigation also revealed that the accused deceived the victim to dispose of his car at the sum of N140, 000 and his Jincheng motorcycle for N30, 000, and he collected all the money.
Lagos
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that a 38-year-old scavenger, Ismail Ali, charged with drug trafficking be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos.
The accused, a resident of Abutu Alaba Rago in Ojo, Lagos, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He pleaded guilty to the one-count charge preferred against him.
The trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, consequently ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prisons and adjourned the case to December 4 for a review of the facts of the case and sentencing of the accused.
According to the charge, the accused is said to have committed the offence on June 3.
Ogun
The Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association of Nigeria
(ROSOWA), Ogun chapter, yesterday donated food items to accident victims at the Ogun State Hospital in Ijebu-Ode.
Our correspondent reports that the items include tins of milk, beverages, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, disinfectants and tissue-papers.
Mrs Adekunbi Adetunji, the leader of the delegation and wife of the Ogun sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said the gesture was to commemorate the UN World Day of Remembrance of Road Accident Victims.
According to her, it is also part of the association’s contribution towards alleviating the plight of the victims.
She urged the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously and join the campaign for the prevention of road accidents in the country.
Plateau
Auntie Mary Secondary School, Langtang, in Jos
emerged Plateau State champions in the ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) national quiz competition, aimed at exposing students to the capital market.
Our correspondent reports that the school clinched 40 points from the seven-round quiz to beat its closest rival, St. Louis Secondary School, Jos, who garnered 35 points.
The duo had tied at 35 points at the end of the seven rounds and had to be separated by a fresh round of questions.
Newsmen reports that Nakam Secondary School, Panyam, came third with 25 points, while Pankshin and Barkin-Ladi Government Secondary Schools, with 17 and 10 points, clinched the fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
Government Model Secondary School, Doemark, however, came last with five points.
Yobe
The military, Police and State Security Services in Yobe
State have stressed the need to install Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to monitor movements in schools.
Malam Wakil Kaku, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) state Director, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
“The military, Police and State Security Services authorities noted that all schools must be provided with wall fence and installation of close circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to monitor movements and objects in and around the schools.
“The security authorities also emphasised on the need to provide designated entry and exit points to check unauthorised movements around the schools,’’ he said.
A Youth Leader, Mosunmola Umoru (left), presenting an award to Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the 2014 International Youth Day celebration in Abuja recently
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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