Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

February 27, 2015

Borno

The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji
Zannah Mustapha, has, reiterated the state government’s commitment to empower persons with disabilities so as to keep them away from begging.
Mustapha said this during the distribution of food items to 300 persons with disabilities, organised by Hajiya Nana Shettima SWOT Foundation in Maiduguri.
The Foundation was the pet project of the Borno governor’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima.
The deputy governor commended Shettima for the various support she had given to widows, orphans and Tsangaya (Islamic education) pupils in the state.
He said that the state government was determined to ensure that all grievances and problems were carefully looked into to enable the targeted persons to have a sense of belonging.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government has warned prop
erty developers in the state to always get necessary government approval before erecting any structure.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Olufunke Falodun, gave the warning at a news conference in Ado Ekiti.
She warned people against indiscriminate erection of structures on water ways, roads and government land.
Falodun said the development had not only distorted development plan but also created avoidable environmental problems, including natural and man-made disasters in parts of the state.
She advised developers to obtain necessary documents and approvals for their properties, adding that the state government would soon embark on verification of building plans.

FCT
The Police have arraigned Sulaiman Daniel, 18,
of Kunchi Kawo, Abuja, in a Grade 1 Area Court, Kado, Abuja for misappropriation of fund.
The prosecutor, Insp. Simon Ibrahim, told the court that Joyce Ekulaman, canteen proprietor, of Utako, Abuja, reported the matter at Utako Police Station, Abuja, on February 11.
He said the accused converted N15,000 paid into his account meant for his employee to his personal use.
“The accused, who served food at the canteen, also stole N40,000 belonging to the employee’’, the prosecutor added.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 309 of the Penal Code.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted him bail in the sum of N20,000 and a surety in like sum.

Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State
recently swore in chairmen, caretaker committees of the 11 local government areas, six new permanent secretaries and six new special advisers.
Speaking at the ceremony in Gombe, the governor said the appointment of the chairmen became necessary, following the expiration of their tenure after two years in office.
Our Correspondent reports that all the chairmen whose tenure expired were sworn in as chairmen caretaker committees of their respective councils.
“You could not have failed to notice that the set of people being sworn in today as local government caretaker committee chairmen require no introduction.
Kano

The Presidential candidate of All Progressives
Congress (APC), Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has condemned the latest bombings in Yobe and Kano states.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Malam Garba Shehu, the candidate expressed regrets over the attacks.
He noted that the attack came on the eve of the first anniversary of the Buni Yadi attack, where dozens of innocent students of Federal Government College in the community were murdered in their sleep.
He regretted the frequency with which terrorists were destroying the lives of innocent Nigerians.
“Although we commend the efforts and sacrifices of our counter-terrorism forces, there is the need for greater vigilance and new strategies,’’ Buhari said.

Kaduna
Malam Nuhu Bature, the traditional ruler of the
Bajju people in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State, has cautioned politicians against unguarded utterances that might lead to crisis in the state.
The Agwam Bajju made the call in his palace at Zangon Kataf when Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State paid him a courtesy visit as part of his campaign tour of the area.
Bature, who spoke on behalf of two other traditional rulers, the Emirs of Ikulu and that of Kamanta, said peace was the bedrock of any development.
He said those seeking to lead the people should at all times demonstrate responsible attitude to issues affecting their communities.
The traditional chief, therefore, appealed to politicians to “watch the kind of statements they make in the media, so as to ensure peace and harmony in the society.’’
Kogi

The kidnappers of the 87-year-old American
woman missionary , Rev. Phyllis Sortor, have reduced their ransom for her release from N60 million to N30 million, an aide of hers said.
The aide, Mr Jacob Ahiaba, told newsmen at Emi Woro community in Ajaokuta Local Government Area last Wednesday that Sortor informed an aide by telephone on Tuesday that her abductors wanted N60 million ransom.
Ahiaba said Sortor made another call later to say that the kidnappers had reduced their demand to N30 million and asked that efforts be made to get the money to secure her release as soon as possible.
Lagos

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State,
Mr Godwin Eke, said last Wednesday that remedial work was being carried out on Wharf Road in Apapa to reduce the rate of accident.
Eke told newsmen in Lagos that the road was being rehabilitated as part of ongoing emergency repair of roads in Apapa.
“We received reports that trucks have been falling there. We now decided to do something remedial, something temporary to reduce the rate of accident there.
“That is part of our plan for the permanent works on Apapa-Tin Can Road.
“It is included in our quantities; there is no contravention; it is part of the emergency repairs that we are carrying out”.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government has directed
commercial banks to recognise only Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), as collateral security for their credit facilities henceforth.
The Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Mr Sonny Agassi, gave this directive during interactive session with the executives of the commercial banks in Lafia on Wednesday.
The commissioner cautioned the banks against granting loans or other facilities to their clients on the strength of Rights of Occupancy (R of O) and other land documents.
He said the C of O was the only registered land document recognised by the laws of the land to serve as collateral security for facilities from the banks.
According to him, accepting R of O instead of C of O will have dire consequences on their businesses after the changes being introduced by the present administration.
Oyo

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo
State branch, has urged politicians to make the fear of God their priority in their political activities.
The state Chairman of the association, Ayo Olabisi, made the plea on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
The cleric called on politicians to observe the rules guiding the electoral processes while exhibiting the fear of God.
“We need to let our politicians know that coming into office is not a do or die affair. It is whatever God says that will come to manifestation,” he said.

Swearing-in of six Permanent Secretaries in Gombe Plc, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State (right), congratulating a newly appointed Permaent Secretary, Mr Renos Kabiny, during the swearing-in of the Permanent Secretaries and six Speical Advisers in Gombe State, recently.

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.