Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

August 16, 2017

Borno
The United Nations last Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to support the Federal Government’s counter-terrorism efforts in the North-East region.
The UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr Peter Lundberg, said this at a press conference in Maiduguri.
Lundberg said the UN would continue to support Nigeria to address the major problems affecting education, health, malnutrition and security challenges occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency.
He said the raid conducted by the military on UN Humanitarian facility in Maiduguri would not affect its relations with Nigeria, adding that the issue had been amicably resolved.
“I am very pleased to inform you that our relationship of collaboration and trust is intact, and at this stage we are focused on the work ahead, to ensure that the millions of vulnerable people in the North-East are supported with life saving humanitarian aid”, he said.

FCT
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has commenced an indefinite nationwide strike due to the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill the 2009 agreement made with the union.
President of the union Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, disclosed this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Ogunyemi said the decision to embark on the industrial action was resolved at its emergency National Executive Council meeting held on August 12.
According to him, during the strike, “there shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of our branches till government meets the union’s demands”.
The industrial action actually took effect from August 13.

Gombe
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last Saturday said it had arrested three farmers in Kulani village, Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State for allegedly cultivating 160 Kilograms of Indian hemp.
The NDLEA Commandant in the state, Mr Aliyu Adole, told newsmen in Gombe.
Adole said many farmers were involved in the cultivation of the weed in the state and the agency had been on their trail.
He said the agency had been monitoring the suspects before their arrest, adding, “this morning my boys went to the bush and brought them with the exhibits.’’
The commandant said the agency would continue to comb villages in the state to apprehend those involved in the cultivation of Cannabis.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Agency for Nomadic Education says it would soon distribute school uniforms free to 8,000 nomadic pupils in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Alhaji Ali Manu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse last Sunday.
Manu said the items would be distributed to the pupils in 132 out of the 304 nomadic schools across the state.
He said the uniforms were provided by the state government to encourage children of herdsmen to go to school.
‘‘I assure you that very soon we will distribute these uniforms to the pupils in 132 nomadic schools across the state.
‘‘And they will be distributed to the pupils free,” the executive secretary said.

Kaduna
Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) say they are working hard to minimise the frequency of occurrence of conflicts in the North West, particularly in Southern Kaduna.
A survey conducted by newsmen indicated that various organisations had been meeting with key stakeholders, organising town hall meetings and bringing warring groups to agree to peace deals aimed at ending conflicts in some of the states in the zone.
They were also focusing on tracking hate speeches and encouraging residents to ignore divisive comments, especially in the social media.
In Kaduna State, where ethno-religious crises keep reccurring, some of the CSOs had been actively involved in peace-building and encouraging mutual respect among the diverse communities.

Kano
The Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, has charged corps members to be committed in the discharge of their duties at their places of primary assignment.
Kazaure, made the call during an inspection visit to the permanent orientation camp at Kusalla la in Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State.
The DG, who was represented by the Director, Human Resources Department, Mrs. Eze Makinde said it was only through commitment, dedication and selfless service that the corps members could excel and achieve the desired results.
“You should also consider your posting to Kano State as a will of God, and put in all efforts through conducting yourselves in such a way others can admire you”, he said.

Kogi
Officials of Ecological Fund Office, under the aegis of Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, last Monday arrived in Kogi State for an assessment of flood and erosion sites.
Mr Abdullazeez Umar, who spoke on behalf of the team at the office of the Deputy governor in Lokoja, said that they were in the state to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the flood and erosion sites.
He said that the exercise was approved by the Federal Executive Council, as part of efforts to tackle the ecological problems facing the country via the effective management, co-ordination, monitoring and implementation of programmes.
Speaking, the Deputy Governor, Mr Simon Achuba, welcomed the team on behalf of the state government and said that their visit to Kogi was timely.

Lagos
The new President of Rotary Club of Omole Golden District 9110, Nigeria, Rotarian Oshinibosi Abiodun, said last Sunday, that the club would provide 30 incubators and 10 phototherapy machines for Ifako/Ijaiye General Hospital.
Abiodun announced the plan during his installation as president for 2017/2018 at the Excellence Hotel, Omole, Ogba, Lagos
He promised that the club would continue to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged during his tenure.
The Rotarian said that the incubators planned for Ifako/Ijaiye General Hospital would help in saving lives.
Abiodun said a visit to the hospital showed that the seven incubators there were the ones the club donated some years back.

Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested two persons in connection with a mob action that led to the death of a soldier, Lance Cpl. Ayuba Ali, on Mondaym in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.
The Command’s Spokesman, DSP Kennedy Idirisu, confirmed the arrest to newsmen last Monday in Lafia.
Idirisu said that available information revealed the victim, allegedly hit a street hawker at Agwan Affi area of the town while riding on a motorbike.
According to him, the victim, who was in mufti, tried to pacify the hawker and an altercation ensued resulting in irate youth beating him to coma.

Niger
The police last Friday, arraigned two men, Ado Sani and Shafiu Umar in a Minna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing two members of the force.
The defendants are standing trial on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, abduction, armed robbery, causing hurt, mischief and murder.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Danladi, told the court that one Alhaji Bello of Tagina Kabata village reported a case of abduction of seven persons to the police on June 2.
Danladi alleged that on May 5, the accused who hail from Allawa village, conspired with 16 others now at large, and committed the act at the Tagina Kabata Central Mosque.
He alleged that the accused robbed one of the victims of N750, 000.
He said that a team of five police detectives had gone to Allawa village on investigation, but the accused attacked them, killing two and injuring three.

Ondo
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of Ondon State, last Monday called for more effective community policing as one of the ways to tackle criminal activities in rural areas.
Akeredolu gave the advice during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison, at the Police headquarters in Akure.
He thanked the command for the selfless discharge of its duties and urged them to discourage loitering by non-uniformed people around checkpoints.
The governor canvassed for more police commands in the state, saying that the three existing commands were not enough to tackle the noticeable increase in criminal activities.
He said that five area commands were needed for effective policing of the state.

Taraba
A total of 1,100 intending pilgrims from Taraba State will commence their journey to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj tomorrow, Executive Secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Alhaji Umaru Leme, has said.
Leme told newsmen in Jalingo last Monday that 177 of the pilgrims were sponsored by the state government and 37 by local councils.
According to him, the state governor, Mr Darius Ishaku has appointed the Lamido Gashaka, Alhaji Zubairu Sambo as leader of the state contingent for the pilgrimage.
He disclosed that the state government had released N310 million to the board to ensure successful hajj operation.
Leme said that 1,100 passports for the intending pilgrims had been processed and assured that all the pilgrims would be transported before the end of August.

Nation

UNIZIK Honours Business Mogul, Ezekwe, For Philanthropism

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has conferred the Award of Digital Academic Promoter on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Arrowconn Group, High Chief (Dr.) Emeka Ezekwe, for his philanthropic gestures.

Chief Ezekwe received the philanthropist award during a landmark technical workshop organised by the Department of Business Education, Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, recently.

Making the presentation, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ugochukwu Stanley Anyaehie, said the award was in recognition of Ezekwe’s philanthropic contributions, academic support, and dedication to human capital development, hailing his commitment to bridging industry and academia.

Ezekwe who is also the Chairman of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Professional Services and Consultancy Trade Group, delivered a keynote address at the event with a theme: “Technicalities and Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business and Education.”

In his address, Ezekwe described the current AI surge as a civilizational shift rather than a mere technological upgrade.

He compared AI’s rapid trajectory to past innovations like electricity, computers, the Internet, and mobile phones, which he said, progressed from luxuries to necessities.

“AI is reshaping value creation, knowledge sharing, and decision-making at unprecedented speed. It has moved from experimentation to execution, powering business forecasting, academic research, digital learning, and strategic decisions,” he said.

The business mogul, however, warned that in business, delays lead to losses, while in education, irrelevance spells failure.

“AI is no longer optional, it is a necessity,” he declared.

Ezekwe highlighted the critical AI skill gap, driven by curriculum lags, limited training, and fear of the unknown, but stressed the bigger danger which is exclusion.

“Those who master AI will shape markets, education, and policy; those who lag will be shaped by others,” he said.

The Arrowconn Group boss also outlined AI’s practical advantages for businesses —including data-driven strategies, smarter investments, scalable customer insights, and competitive edges for SMEs.

In education, he clarified that AI empowers rather than replaces teachers, enabling personalized learning, efficient lesson planning, assessment support, and accelerated research.

He advocated a shift from rote memorization to critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, while preserving human strengths in engagement, judgment, and collaboration.

Ezekwe urged ethical AI development, warning that “technology without values is dangerous,” and called on institutions like UNIZIK to update curricula, train educators, promote interdisciplinary work, forge industry partnerships, and produce graduates who are solution providers in an AI-driven world.

The workshop also marked the unveiling of the maiden edition of the UNIZIK Journal of Business Education and Entrepreneurship, reinforcing the department’s push for scholarly innovation in AI applications.

Nation

Don Calls For National Forensic Data Bank To Combat Rising Crime

Published

9 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Nation

UPWA Hosts Colourful Inter-House Sports Fiesta

Published

3 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

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.