Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

April 25, 2012

Adamawa

An Adamawa-based NGO, Mana Foundation for Grassroots Development, says it donated sporting facilities to youth centres in Adamawa to enhance sports development in the state

The Director of the foundation, Miss Amina Gadzama, said in Yola on Saturday that it donated volleyball, table tennis and scrabble facilities to youth centres in the 21 local government areas.

Gadzama said that the donation would ensure development of the games.

She said that the gesture was to encourage the youth to develop their sports talents and to enable them make a living through sports.

Gadzama said the foundation had also concluded arrangements to organise inter-school football competition for girls in junior and senior schools in the state.

“A football competition will be organised for girls schools, the competition will be conducted at local government and state levels. ’’

Gombe

Farmers in Gombe State are hopeful that 2012 farming season will yield good results in the agricultural sector.

Some of the farmers, said the weather signs had indicated that the season would bring a lot of blessings.

One of the farmers, Alhaji Mohammed Bula, said that from all indications, this year’s farming season would be a successful one.

“Like our forefathers told us that if there is a serious hammattan and too much heat in the year, we are going be blessed with a good farming season and we have observed it this year,” he said.

He said that he had been farming for over 20 years, adding that every year he realised about 300 to 500 bags of Sorghum or Millet.

Bula urged the State Government to ensure early supply of fertiliser to farmers at subsidised rate.

Malam Adamu Babawuro, also a farmer, predicted that Gombe would be among the states that would produce large quantities of grains, which the country would benefit from.

Babawuro expressed the belief that the loans given to farmers by the government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry would help in ensuring success during the farming season.

Another farmer, Musa Ajiya, advised the government to accept farm produce as repayment of the loan given to the farmers.

Kano

The new President of the Kano State Chapel of National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), Hajiya Amina Usman, has pledged to wage war on the rampant cases of rape in Kano State through advocacy.

Usman made the pledge in Kano on Saturday while being sworn-in as President of the chapel.

She said that her administration would ensure massive support of NAWOJ members, adding that she would operate an open-door policy.

“We hope to follow the foot steps of our predecessors who worked tirelessly to see that NAWOJ awakened from its long slumber,” she stated.

Usman said that NAWOJ would collaborate with the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the training and re-training of its members.

“We are willing to assist and organise social gatherings and offer assistance to children at the orphanage homes in the state so they can feel the impact of our organisation,” she said.

Kogi

The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, on Saturday in Lokoja reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing an improved working environment for its civil servants.

Awoniyi spoke after being decorated with the state’s new identity card by the Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Moses Atakpa.

The Deputy Governor who solicited the continued support of workers said an improved working environment would help the state in the attainment of its transformation agenda.

“Only a virile and well co-ordinated civil service will help in implementing government policies for the attainment of set-goals,’’ he said.

Awoniyi pointed out that the state government would provide every facility and working tool needed for effective service delivery by the civil servants.

“This is because government is committed to securing an improvement in the well-being of the citizenry,’’ he said.

The Deputy Governor commended the state’s civil servants for living up to their official responsibilities since the inception of the present administration in the state.

Kwara

A Nigerian-born American Preacher and President for the World Revival Mission, Pastor Sam Aweda, says that only righteousness will bring the nation back to the path of sanity and prosperity.

Aweda, who spoke with newsmen said “we have found ourselves a highly religious nation in crises of moral laxity.”

The clergyman, who came into the country to organise a one-day conference tagged: “A Day of Commitment to Godliness and Nation”, said he would reach out to many stakeholders during the religious endeavour.

The event is slated for Ilorin, the Kwara capital, on May 5.

Aweda said: “If we remove poverty in the land, those things which people list as problems, for which they sleep nights in places of worship, will disappear.’’

“Poverty is the root cause of many illnesses that afflict many people. How will someone not be sick, when he cannot get balanced diet to eat?.

Lagos

A Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, has advised youths to be more committed to sports.

Oladunjoye said in Lagos that the Lagos State Government was planning to engage the youths through sports.

“Sports is to encourage young players, and give them a sense of belonging; in essence, making them responsible citizens,” he said.

Oladunjoye said the Lagos State Government would scout for up-and-coming sports talents at the 18th National Sports Festival (NSF), scheduled for November 27 to December 9 in Lagos.

He said such talents would be groomed to become professionals in their chosen sports and thus make a living through sports.

“We want to take advantage as the host state to engage Lagos youths and athletes to take whatever sports they participate in, to the next level,” Oladunjoye said.

Ogun

The police last Sunday foiled a robbery attempt at a branch of Guarantee Trust Bank in Kuto, Abeokuta, a statement said.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the attempted robbery took place at 5 a.m.

It said the robbery suspects had stormed the bank, carrying different equipment, such as hammers, a gas cylinder, chisel and others, for the operation.

Adejobi said the suspects engaged the State Anti Robbery team in a gun duel, adding that the team, supported by the Quick Response Squad, forced the robbers to flee.

He said that the suspects left with bullet wounds and were forced to abandon their tools.

“‘The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered immediate investigation combing of the vicinity and investigation into the attack.

Sokoto

Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) begind a 16-day tour of the 23 local governments of the state to assess development at the grassroots.

A statement signed by its chairman, Labaran Dundaye and secretary, Bashir Mani, said in Sokoto on Sunday that the tour was sequel to the approval granted by Governor Aliyu Wamakko .

According to the statement, the monitoring tour is aimed at assessing the achievements of the state and the local governments in the last five years.

“It is also aimed at boosting the rural coverage by the working journalists in the state, as well as enhancing the entrenchment of democracy,’’ it added.

The six chapels of the NUJ in the state, as well as the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Veteran Journalists, would all be represented on the tour.

Taraba

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has charged the State Tourism Development Board to live up to expectations of marketing the tourism potential of the state.

He warned that failure to do this would compel government to withdraw its sponsorship of the annual Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival.

Suntai gave the charge last Saturday at Ibi in Ibi Local Government Area of the state at a ceremony to mark the 2012 Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival

He observed that a situation where people were invited for a jamboree using government resources to enjoy themselves and go away without any revenue accruing to government was no longer to be encouraged by his administration.

He complained that “four years after the board came into being we are yet to see if tourism in Taraba State can be turned into a revenue generating venture. “

He noted that this had remained a great challenge for members of the board.

“In the next two years if you cannot change your ways of handling the tourism issue in the state I will quietly withdraw from this unprofitable venture because Nwonyo Fishing Festival would have to be transformed to a revenue generating festival,” Suntai said.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Board, Prof. Sa’ad Abubakar, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, said that progress was being made in the tourism sector in the state.

He said that the board had been working relentlessly to involve the private sector in the tourism sector of the state.

Abubakar noted that the level of involvement of MTN, Zain and Zenith Bank among others in this year’s edition of the festival was a major breakthrough.

Nation

UNIZIK Honours Business Mogul, Ezekwe, For Philanthropism

Published

2 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

2 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

5 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.