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Benue
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office in Benue State will train 2,691 youths on digital marketing skills, according to Mrs. Magdalene Dura, a Special Adviser to the Governor.
Dura, adviser on Development Cooperation, SDGs and NEPAD, told newsmen on Friday in Makurdi that the training would commence on April 4.
She said that the digital marketing skills would enable the youths acquire more skills in ICT and food technology, to enhance the processing of food items for exportation.
The official said that the training was in partnership with Google Nigeria, through its vendor, Mind the Gap, on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis.

Borno
The police in Borno State last Sunday confirmed that three suspected male suicide bombers were killed in separate foiled attacks in Muna and Dusuman village at the outside of Maiduguri.
The spokesman of the state police command  Mr Victor Isuku disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri.
Isuku said that the first incident happened around Muna garage near the entrance of the city when two suspected male bombers were killed.
“Today, at about 0438 hour, two male suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) strapped to their bodies near Alhaji Bukar Gujari Filling station in Muna Garage area at the entrance of Maiduguri.
“All the bombers died instantly without killing anybody”, Isuku said.

FCT
The Federal Government on Tuesday urged Nigerian youths to key into various vocational skills acquisition programmes as a way of unlocking their potentials and reducing unemployment in the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, made the call in a statement signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.
Ngige said this in Kano while addressing the graduands of the Ganduje Auto-Mechanic Training and Empowerment Scheme, Kano Zonal staff and management of parastatal under the ministry and the Industrial Training Funds.
“Training of the youths in vocational trade is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s cardinal objective on youth entrepreneurship and job creation.

Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State , said N417 million has been spent on digitization of the state television station (KTTV).
Masari announced this during the formal launching of digitisation of the state owned television station in Katsina.
“The government is ready to pump millions of Naira to make KTTV meet up the international television standard,’’ he said.
“We are ready to invest to make all our state media stations to provide 24 hours service as its being done by international media houses.
“We are ready to provide standard equipment as well as cameras that will make the state television station a centre of excellence,’’ he said.d.

Kogi
The Kogi State Government last Sunday confirmed a case of Lassa Fever in Angwan Kura Community, in the old market area of  Lokoja, the state capital.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, disclosed this in a statement.
He said a patient (male) who is a resident of Angwan Kura, Lokoja, reported at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja, with signs and symptoms suggestive of haemorrhagic fever.
Audu said: “this is to inform the general public that there has been a confirmed case of Lassa fever in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last Friday said its men had arrested two travellers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with cocaine and heroin.
Spokes person of the NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju,  said in a statement in Lagos that one of the suspected drug traffickers hid cocaine in his boxer shorts and his luggage, while the other ingested heroin.
Ofoyeju said that one of them claimed to be an importer of jewellery, while the other said he was an auto parts dealer.
The NDLEA spokesperson said that cocaine, weighing 750 grammes, was found with the jewellery importer, while the auto parts dealer ingested 94 wraps of heroin, weighing 1.595kg.

Nasarawa
Rev. Dave Denji, of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC), Glory Land, Lafia, Nasarawa State has challenged members of the media to stand for the truth and be committed to integrity, honesty and fairness.
He made the call during a thanksgiving and special prayer service for journalists and other media workers across the state.
Denji who, spoke on the topic “Tell the Truth” and quoted Proverbs 23.23 urged journalists to fight for the truth and take the issue of truth seriously.
“I urge journalists and media workers to always tell the truth no matter the situation they found themselves.

Ondo
The Ondo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to constructing more roads  in  rural areas.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, made the pledge while inspecting the construction of  Sabomi-Idi-Itala – Irele link road in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state on Sunday.
Ajayi said the administration of  Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu had started fulfilling its campaign promises   barely one month in office.
The deputy governor said  the administration  understood the pains   residents of the area  had been going through in transporting their farm produce to markets.

Osun
Fifty-four students of the  Osun State University emerged with first class honours in the 2016/2017 academic session.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Labode  Popoola, made this known at a news conference on Saturday at the university’s main campus, Osogbo.
Popoola said that the first class students and 1, 182 others would be awarded first degrees at the university’s convocation on April 6.
The vice chancellor said that 512 students made second class (upper division), 539, second class (lower division) and 129, third class.

Oyo
The  wife of the governor of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has urged women not to relent in praying for the peace and stability of Nigeria.
The governor’s wife said this on Sunday during the quarterly prayer rally organised by the Women Intercessory Network (WIN) held at the Government House Arcade, Ibadan.
Ajimobi said the current  economic recession in the country was a passing phase and expressed optimism that there would soon be a turnaround of the economy for the better.
She lauded the efforts of the present administration in its women oriented programmes and policies in the state.
Ajimobi, who reiterated the importance of prayers and fasting said that WIN, had served as a platform for shaping the state through consistent and strategic prayers.

Sokoto
A Coalition of Sokoto State Youths Associations (COYASS) has urged Nigerians to vote out corrupt politicians in 2019.
The Coordinator-General of the coalition, Mr AbdulRahman Umar, made the call while addressing newsmen in Sokoto State on Saturday.
“Nigerians have a myriad of choices in 2019. These include using the ballot papers to vote out any corrupt politician and this will help in consolidating the current gains of the anti corruption fight.
“ President Muhammadu Buhari is totally committed to taming the menace and a number of glaring achievements had so far been achieved in this direction.
“While hailing the president for achieving this feat, the coalition is cautioning against complacency.”
Umar welcomed the whistle blower’s policy introduced by the Federal Government.
He noted that the policy was already yielding fruits and advised that it should be strengthened with a view to making it more efficient.

Zamfara
Rep. Lawali Hassan, representing Anka/Talata-Mafara Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, has donated drugs worth N 1.8 million to the victims of meningitis outbreak in his constituency.
The state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Sulaiman Gummi, had recently announced the outbreak of meningitis in all the 14 local government areas of the state.
No fewer than 80 people have lost their lives, while 500 patients are receiving treatment in health facilities across the state since the outbreak of meningitis.
The lawmaker, who presented the items through his foundation, “Dan’iya Foundation”, said that it was aimed at complementing both the State and Federal Governments’ efforts in tackling the menace.
Also, the foundation coordinator, Alhaji Yahayya Aliyu-SFawa, while presenting the drugs on behalf of the lawmaker, said that it was part of the donor’s contribution to tackle the outbreak.

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Monarch Hails Fubara Over Road Project

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Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.

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1,680 Children Abducted In Nigeria -UNICEF

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As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has  put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.

John Bibor

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Fubara Has Rekindled Rivers Hope-Former Envoy

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As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.

The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.

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