Adamawa

The Federal Government is to tackle poverty in the North East and North West geopolitical zones through agriculture by releasing a new variety of high-breed sorghum that will increase the yield of farmers in the regions.

Dr Adewumi Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, made this known on Friday, while speaking with journalists in Yola. He said that the high-breed sorghum variety, which would be released next year, would increase sorghum yield per hectare for farmers in the regions from 0.5 tonne to 2.5 tonnes, reflecting a 500 per cent increase.

The minister stressed the sorghum cultivation’s transformation project would generate more earnings for farmers in the regions, while enabling the government to utilise the surplus soghum yield for beverages’ production and its school feeding programme, among others.

FCT

More than three million Naira was realised at the launch of three books on wealth creation written by renowned personal finance coach and motivational speaker, Tayo Ayinla. The books are Building Lasting Wealth, Wealth Capsules and The Pathway to Wealth. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Dr Jerry Agada, a former Minister of Education and  Chairman of the occasion, described the publications as a creative work. The former minister who is the current President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), said the books would impact on the lives of Nigerians in the area of personal finance. Agada also said the books were a collection of non-fiction literature which drew inspiration from biblical references to guide readers on personal finance.

The guest speaker at the launch, Mr Ayo Arowolo who is a motivational speaker/journalist, urged Nigerians to determine what their potentials were and strive to maximise them.

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Gombe

Children totalling 840,850  in Gombe State would benefit  in the next round of polio immunisation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Usman Bello, has said.

Bello said at the flag-off of National Immunisation Days in Gombe last Friday, that the ministry had concluded preparations for the successful execution of the exercise.

He stated that special focus would be placed on nomadic Fulanis by the more than 3,136 health and technical personnel that would conduct the immunisation. The Permanent Secretary who was represented by a director in the ministry, Alhaji Salisu Waziri, appealed to parents and all stakeholders to support government in the fight to eradicate wild polio virus in the country. He said the support of traditional and religious leaders since 2009 had helped in curtailing the problem of rejection of polio vaccines by some households.

Bello however, noted that there were still areas with high cases of rejection, but he assured that government and other stakeholders would ensure total coverage in this exercise.

Jigawa

Alhaji Sabo Guri, the Managing Director of Jigawa State Broadcasting Corporation, has described Jigawa as the most peaceful state in the country. Guri made the observation in Dutse on Friday when the executive members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) came to congratulate him on his appointment as the head of the broadcasting outfit. He urged CAN to support the state government in its efforts to promote peace and understanding among the diverse religious groups in the state.

He also implored the association to sensitise their members to the need to promote peace in the society, noting that peace was one of the central tenets of Islam and Christianity, the two major religions in the country.Guri reiterated the need to always work for peace, saying that no society could develop in an atmosphere of chaos and disharmony.

Kaduna

Dr Abubakar Nuhu-Danburan, the Kano State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, has described unity schools as symbols of national unity.

Nuhu-Danburan said this while receiving an award during a reception organised by the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) ‘Class of 1978 form 1’ held at the college in Zaria on Sunday.

He observed that unity schools played host to different classes of people from different parts of the country with aim of knowledge seeking.

He recalled with nostalgia the good old days and called on the old boys to maintain the close relationship with a view to taking the country to greater heights.

In his speech, the guest speaker and former principal of the college, Alhaji Isiyaku Nuhu, lauded the efforts of the old boys in keeping themselves together.

Katsina

The district head of Malumfashi in Katsina State, retired Justice Mamman Nasir, has enjoined immunisation workers to report parents who reject administration of polio vaccine on their children.

Speaking while launching the 5th round of National Immunisation Campaign in his palace on Saturday, Nasir, former Court of Appeal president, insisted that safeguarding children’s health is the collective responsibility of parents and leaders.

He likened rejection of immunisation vaccines to subjecting of public health to preventable dangers.

He called on parent to submit their children for vaccination during national immunisation campaigns and routine vaccination at the various health care centres in the area.

Malam MusaNaduna, WHO facilitator for Immunisation against poliomyelitis and other child-killer diseases in Malumfashi, said that 105, 677 children were targeted for immunisation in the area.

Naduna said no case of polio had been reported in Katsina State since 2010, and urged parents to sustain the feat by submitting their eligible children for vaccination.

Kano

Malam Habibu Yaro, an elder in Na’ibawa area of Kano Municipality  has called on the people to consider environmental and personal hygiene as part of their religious belief.

He decried the situation where people had to be sanctioned before participating in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Yaro, who said all Muslims must be mindful of the fact that cleanliness is part of their religion, advised heads of households to make their people to comply with the directive on the monthly exercise.

Lagos

Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,said in Lagos on Saturday that a joint anti-piracy patrol of Benin Republic’s waters would start immediately.

Akpobolokemi told newsmen that the Federal Government gave directive for the patrol about a month ago.

“What is happening in Benin Republic is also affecting us economic-wise. When attacks in Benin Republic became so severe, the president of the country met our president and asked us to assist,’’ the director-general said.

He disclosed that the patrol would start immediately with some patrol boats, adding that the Navy was also involved in the exercise.

Ondo

Mr Oludare Fadayomi, the Supervisor of the Skills Acquisition Centre at Igbekebo, Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State, has called on the council administration to create more awareness on the importance of the centre.

Fadayomi told newsmen  in Ese-Odo that the centre was crucial to the nation’s industrial growth.

“ I believe that supporting the skills acquisition centre in Ese-Odo Local Government Area will usher in an era of industrial revolution that will make Ese-Odo a council to emulate,’’ he said. Fadayomi stressed the need for the council to create more awareness by mobilising indigenes of the local government area to make good use of the centre.

He commended the council for its human capital development programmes, adding that it was one of the few councils that had a permanent structure for its skills acquisition programme. “Because we have a befitting and modern structure for this programme; I want to seek the support of Ese-Odo Local Government to encourage all young school leavers to take advantage of the programme.

Osun

The Osun House of Assembly has urged the state Ministry of Youth and Sports to strive to generate funds from sporting activities in the state. Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Mr Ajibola Olanrewaju, made the call on Friday at Osogbo, when meeting with the officials of the ministry. Olanrewaju said youths should be physically and mentally developed for them to be better leaders tomorrow, noting that their talents and interest in sports will enhance the state’s progress.

The legislator said the House committee would work together with the ministry in promoting sports and development among the youths from primary schools to tertiary institutions.