Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that participated as ad-hoc staff in the just concluded Adamawa governorship election have been commended for their good conduct.
The Adamawa Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Shittu Suleiman, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Yola.
Shittu said apart from returning safely to their places of primary assignment after participating in the exercise no corps member was caught wanting in his or her conduct during the exercise.
“This is a good development and we have to commend them for a job well done,’’ Shittu said.
The state coordinator said that the outstanding allowance of all those that participated was with his office and would be paid to them on Wednesday.
He lauded all stakeholders particularly security and the people of Adamawa for their active support and cooperation in ensuring the safety of all corps members and other ad-hoc staff that participated in the election which was generally peaceful.
Benue
A 36-year-old man, Christopher Emmanuel, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court charged with murder.
Emmanuel was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Iwoh, told the court that one Anthony Odoh reported the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Oblegi in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue.
He said that Odoh alleged that the accused conspired with a group of men and killed one Inalegwu Abah.
Iwoh said that the accused along with one Emmanuel Sunday, Micheal Okpe and others now at large, stabbed the deceased with a knife while they were drinking at John Brown Beer Parlour in Obu Branch, Otukpa.
He said that during Police investigation, the accused was arrested at Nsukka in Enugu while trying to escape to Port-Harcourt.
FCT
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, says 28 states of the federation have so far benefitted from the Federal Government’s Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE) scheme.
WOFEE is a micro-credit scheme aimed at strengthening women’s operational bases in the rural areas through the formation of women cooperatives.
Zainab, who was speaking at the ongoing Annual Microfinance Conference organised by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja on Tuesday, said the scheme was being implemented by the ministry in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).
She said the ministry in collaboration with the bank also initiated the establishment of “Business Development Fund foe Women” (BUDFOW), following the successful take off of the WOFEE programme.
“Following the successful take off of WOFEE, a gap was also observed regarding the need for a higher level of financial and technical assistance for women who will be graduating from the WOFEE programme to establish a small and medium scale businesses of their own.
Kaduna
Retired Maj.-Gen. Bala Usara has commended the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, Kaduna State, for graduating “sound and vibrant” young soldiers.
He gave the commendation during the school’s 2012 West African Social Activities, held in Zaria on Saturday.
Usara observed that the young soldiers were not only given professional training but also sound academic education helped them to score excellent grades in both WAEC and NECO.
He appealed to the commandant of the school, Col. Abdullahi Lawal-Faskari, not to relent in his efforts aimed at maintaining excellent standard.
Earlier, Lawal-Faskari said the school had stepped up efforts to molding the students to enable them cope with global technological challenges.
Kano
The Kura Local Government Council of Kano State has set up a 14-man committee to oversee the disbursement of scholarship funds to students of the local government in tertiary institutions.
Inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Kura, the council Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Halilu, said that setting up the committee was in line with the state government’s effort to enhance the students’ welfare.
Halilu said the council found it necessary to constitute the committee to ensure transparency and fairness in the payment of scholarship allowances to students from the area.
Kebbi
A stakeholders parley on security in Birnin Kebbi has recommended regular meetings between Christians and Muslims to promote cordial relationship among the faithful of the two major religions.
The meeting also urged security agencies in the state to enforce the laws guiding the conduct of Muslim and Christian preachers.
A statement by Alhaji Abubakar Mua’azu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday said the meeting, which was chaired by Gov. Saidu Dakingri, urged the public to be security conscious by reporting on criminal activities in their neighbourhood to security agencies.
The meeting urged the state and local governments to urgently facilitate the demarcation of grazing lands to prevent frequent clashes between farmers and cattle breeders.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government and the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) have approved the release of N500 million to assist Small Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Alhaji Saka Omimago, said this on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
According to him, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed has provided the sum of N250 million while NERFUND will provide the balance.
He explained that the fund would be disbursed in two phases of N250million each through 10 micro finance banks already identified by government.
Lagos
The Police in Lagos have paraded two suspected armed robbers, who allegedly robbed two bankers of $12, 800 (about N1.92m) on January 30.
Parading two of the three suspects, the Police spokesman, SP Jaiyeoba Joseph, said that the suspects were arrested a day after the incident.
Joseph, however, confirmed that $8, 320 dollars was recovered from the two suspects, while the third member of the gang was on the run.
Of the two suspects, Joseph said one was a 200 level law student of the University of Uyo, while the second, who allegedly masterminded the robbery, was a driver with the victims’ bank.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa Commissioner for Planning, Hajiya Maryam Buba, has re-affirmed the state government’s readiness to partner with civil society groups and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for the rapid development of the state.
She gave the assurance recently in Lafia when officials of the state chapter of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) paid her a courtesy visit.
Buba said the administration would continue to partner with unions, associations and NGOs to proffer solutions for the development of the state.
She said government would do everything humanly possible to facilitate good working relations between it and the various organisations.
Oyo
The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) is to establish 10 forestry villages in different parts of the country.
FRIN’s Executive Director, Prof. Solomon Badejo, made this known on Tuesday while speaking with newsmen on phone in Ibadan.
He said the villages would help create awareness about FRIN’s activities.
“We want to establish 10 adopted villages in different ecological zones of the country whereby we can demonstrate most of the technologies developed and perfected here at FRIN,’’ Badejo said.
Plateau
Eventolicks, a world class tour packaging in Spain, has indicated interest in exploring the abundant tourism opportunities in Nigeria.
Otunba Segun Runsewe, Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, told newsmen in Jos recently that the outfit was interested in “packaging tours to Nigeria for different categories of its clients’’.
Runsewe, who just returned from this year’s World Fair held in Madrid, Spain, quoted Mr Javier Arambarri, the company’s representative at the fair, as describing Nigeria’s tourism potential as “great and attractive’’.
The Madrid fair, which was attended by 72 countries, brought together countries and private industry practitioners from all over the world.
Sokoto
Former Sokoto Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, says he would execute projects worth over N2 billion for three Local Government Area (LGAs) that give PDP the highest number of votes at the governorship poll.
Wamakko, the PDP candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, made the offer at Binji on Tuesday while addressing PDP supporters during a campaign rally in the area .
The Independent Electoral Commission ( INEC) had fixed February 18 , 2012 for the gubernatorial poll in the state sequel to the judgment of the Supreme Court, which sacked five state governors, including Wamakko.
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.
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.
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