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NGO Harps On Poverty Eradication Among Girls

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A Non-Governmental Organisation, Mother of Good Counsel Initiative (MOGCI) has stated its resolve to emancipate and eradicate poverty from the lives of abandoned street girls.
Speaking during an award night of the NGO last weekend, the chairman of the occasion, Dr Patrick Ohia, who is the Chief Medical Director of Morning Star Hospitals commended the organisation for its commitment in motivating the grassroots women and girls with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
Ohia, who was represented by the Business Development Manager of the hospital, Bassey Progress, said that the leadership and managerial skills impacted to the girls would empower them with the knowledge and courage to break free from the chains of limitations the hostile environment kept them in the past.
She noted the need for the awardees to support the NGO for the good works done on the 60 street girls, adding “educating girls and giving them the tools to shape their own future has an incredible multiplier effect on the economic growth of the state and nation.
In her speech, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Justice, Barr. Florence Fiberesima, who was the mother of the day noted that the move by the organisation is in the right direction, adding that, “bringing the girls together and making them understand that they are potentially great would attract a reward from men and God. Each girl represents a family and society at large”.
In her contribution, the face of MOGCI, Mrs Rosemary Ibanibo, called on the girls not to allow the present situation define their future, stressing the need for the girls to put more effort in what ever training they are receiving.
She stated her support for the good dream and vision of the NGO, stating that the adoption and support of the girls shows her feelings towards the betterment of the future mothers whose skills and entrepreneurial prowess would affect the society.
The visioner, lady Doris Onyeneke, an Estate Surveyor by profession said that the vision was given to her by the Holy Spirit who has helped her to actualise the dream of pulling girls from the streets and making something great out of them.
Lady Onyeneke noted that the girls have started making money for themselves through the skill they have acquired from the organisation, adding that the first batch would soon graduate as tremendous changes have been made in their lives.
The highlights of the programme include award to the supporters of the girls, cultural dance by the girls and birthday celebrate for the Executive Director of MOGCI, Lady Doris Onyeneke.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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