Nation

THE STATES

Published

8 years ago

October 4, 2017

Adamawa
The Commanast of Royal Jordnian Air Force (RIAF), Maj.-Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity last Tuesday said he was impressed with Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to contain the Boko Haram insurgents in North East.
He gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Yola where he accompanied the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar to inspect facilities at Yola Base of NAF which also housed the headquarters of the Air Component of “Operation Lafiya Dole”.
The RJAF chief said “NAF has what it takes both in manpower and facility to check the activities of insurgents.
“I am very happy to be here. What I saw here today actually impressed me and I am delighted”.

Borno
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) says it have trained 7,169 teachers in Borno State to instigate the shortages of teachers caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
The Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on Communication and Media Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau made this known as a statement last Saturday in Maiduguri.
Gusau said that the figure was disclosed when the Director of the USAID’s Educaiton Crisis Response Project (ECR), Mr Ayo Oladini, paid a courtesy visit to the governor in Maiduguri.
He said that the training was provided sequel to the advocacy by Shettima to encourage support toward rebuilding and rehabilitation of the education sector ravaged by the insurgency.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested three suspected armed robbers who had been terrorising the residents of Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesman, SP. Abdu Jinjiri who paraded the suspects before newsmen in Dutse last Wednesday said the suspects were arrested along Kazaure-Daura road.
Jinjiri said that they were apprehended after they had blocked the road and robbed motorists of their money and other valuables.
He explained that the suspects hailed from Kusada, Kankiya and Malumfashi Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
“On September 22, our officers in Kazaure Local Government area received a distress call that there were some armed robbers who blocked the Kazaure-Daura road and were robbing motorists”, he said.

Kaduna
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar says discipline is the bedrock of a fighting force without which there can be no cohesion and team spirit.
Abubakar made this assertion at the graduation of Young Officers Course 10 held at the Military Training Centre in Kaduna.
Represented by AVM Muhammad Abdul-Wahab, NAF Secretary, Abubakar charged the 25 young officers to uphold high standard of discipline and loyalty that the service was known for.
“To whom much is given, much more is expected. You have been equipped both in character and skills for the duties ahead of you.
“You must, therefore, justify the resources that have been invested in you by doing your duties diligently and professionally at all times”, he said.

Kano
The Kano State Police Command says it has nabbed 10 suspected armed robbers who have been terrorising Kano residents.
The command’s spokesman, DSP. Magaji Majiya made this known in a statement in Kano last Wednesday.
Majiya said the suspects were arrested in different parts of the metropolis by the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) within the last one month.
He said two of the suspects were arrested on August 19 for conspiring with two others now at large to rape a female resident of Hotoro Quarters and robbed the victim of some items.
Majiya listed the areas where the suspects were arrested to include Hotoro Quarters, Dorayi Babba, Emir’s Palace Road around central prison and Rijiyar Zaki, among other.

Kogi
The organised labour in Kogi State has appealed to the Federal Government to direct relevant humanitarian agencies to send relief materials to the state to assuage the plight of the state government workers on strike.
Olakunle Faniyi, Kolawole James and Isah Abubakar, all Secretaries of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) respectively made the appeal in a statement.
They made the statement available to journalists in Lokoja.
They said the appeal became necessary because the situation of workers in the state had become worse, compared to the condition of Internally Displaced Persons (idps) in various camps.

Lagos
Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for Saturday’s Eti-Osa Constituency I bye-election in Lagos State, Mr Arobiewe Abogun has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Abogun told newsmen at the conclusion of voting in his Igbo-Efon Community that the election was ‘reasonably peaceful’.
He said that although he heard of some disturbances in some areas, such cases were isolated.
Abogun said that an election should not be a do-or -die affair, promising to accept the outcome of the election.
“In my domain here, the conduct of the exercise was peaceful and credible, and it is fair. I commend INEC and everybody for that”, Abegun said.

Nasarawa
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Beautiful Gate Handicap Centre has donated tricycles to 45 persons living with disabilities in Nasarawa State.
The founder of the organisaiton, Mr. Reim Rise presented the tricycles to the beneficiaries last Friday in Obi, Obi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Rise said the gesture was part of the organisation’s contributions toward the alleviation of the suffering of the physically challenged in the state.
He said that the tricycles would assist the beneficiaries to move from one place to another.

Niger
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command last Friday said it had deployed 2,500 security personnel to provide security during the nation’s 57th Independence celebrations in the state.
The commandant of the corps, Mr Philip Ayuba disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Ayuba said that already plain cloth security personnel had been deployed to Minna, Suleja, Kontagora and Bida to beef up security ahead of the celebrations.
He said that the command was collaborating with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the festivities.

Oyo
Justice Joyce Abumaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan has dismissed the application asking the court to decline jurisdiction filed by one Festus Adeyemi in the N8 billion CBN currency scam suit.
Citing various aspects of the law, Abdumaleek said that the court had been fully empowered by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the EFCC Act and the Nigerian constitution to entertain cases like this.
“ It is not an abuse of court process for the EFCC to go ahead with this case and this court has jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
“The application asking this court to decline jurisdiction is hereby dismissed,” the judge ruled.
Abdulmaleek adjourned the case till October 25 for further trial.
our correspondent reports that Adeyemi, the fifth accused person, had through his counsel, Mr Babatunde Akinola, asked the court to decline jurisdiction on the matter.

Plateua
The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung has called for radical reform in the Nigerian criminal justice system.
Dalung made the call last Saturday in Jos when he celebrated his 54th birthday with inmates of the Prison Command in Jos.
The minister said the call became necessary to strengthen criminal justice and ensure justice to all accused.
“There is need for radical reforms in our criminal justice delivery system.
“You cannot keep somebody in prison for years without trial and at the end of the day, do justice to the person.
“There is urgent need for speedy dispensation of cases in our courts, for justice to be done,” he said.
Dalung, a former prison officer, advised prison inmates to be of good behaviour when they eventually gain their freedom.

Taraba
The Chairman, Presidential Committee on North East Initiative (PCNI), Retired Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, has urged the people of Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State to eschew violence and build peace to foster development.
Danjuma made the call at a Peace Building Town Hall meeting organised by Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in partnership with UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) in collaboration with PCNI in Gembu, Taraba State.
The PCNI chairman cautioned that the resuscitation of the Mambilla Hydro-Power project by President Muhammadu Buhari would be stalled if the people failed to build peace.
Represented by Brig.-Gen Habila Vintenaba, the Chairman, Security sub-committee of PCNI, Danjuma appealed to the various ethnic groups on the plateau to give peace a chance to enable government to execute the hydro power project for economic development of the country.

Nation

UNIZIK Honours Business Mogul, Ezekwe, For Philanthropism

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

6 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.