Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The Tiv Traditional Council, has honoured five of its sons who distinguished themselves in various fields of human endeavours.
The recipients were Dr Terkula Suswam, the immediate elder brother to Governor Gabriel Suswam, Mr J.K.I. Ugela, Dr Terhemba Shija, Terlumiun Agbutu and Godwin
Ikereve.
Suswam bagged the chieftaincy title of “Zenge Iwange U Tiv”, while Ugela bagged the “Or Uwasen Tar U Tiv, Shija. Some of the other titles were “Orfan Sev U tiv”, which went to Agbotu, a former Local Government Council Chairman, while Ikereve, a retired Journalist received the title of “Kyamegh Ki Miagh Ki Abaver A Tiv”.
The Chairman of the event, Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi, commended the Tiv Traditional Council for the honour done to the people.
He said that the ceremony depicted the rich cultural values of the Tiv people and urged them to uphold the heritage.
Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Joseph Daudu, have blamed the insecurity and Nigeria’s under-development on the inefficiency of laws.
Both spoke in Ado Ekiti when the NBA president, Daudu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), paid a courtesy call on the governor.
Fayemi said that the insecurity had persisted because the laws had been rendered inactive, giving room for impunity to take over.
He said if the law was allowed to take its course, the country would not only be rid of social injustice but also give room for industrial development in an atmosphere of peace.
The NBA president, Daudu, had said that the failure to implement the law was responsible for the escalation of insecurity.
He described Fayemi’s election as a choice that would benefit the state, adding that Nigerians should make choices that would deepen the nation’s democracy.
FCT
A university lecturer, Dr Sheriff Ibrahim, last Saturday cautioned the Federal Government over U.S. declaration of some Nigerians as terrorists.
Ibrahim of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja said this in an interview in Gwagwalada, FCT in reaction to the declaration by the U.S. government.
He urged the Federal Government not to allow the U.S. to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs. “The Federal Government should not allow the U.S. to interfere because their presence will further engender instability.”
The don, however, stressed that the problem was not beyond the government and it should be proactive in addressing it.
Ibrahim advocated a round table with the sect members as it was done in most parts of the world in the interest of unity, peace and development.
Kaduna
Christians in Kaduna State last Sunday offered special prayers in churches for the restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.
The prayers followed June 17 attacks on three churches in Kaduna and Zaria. The churches offered special prayers for peace, stability and unity in the country and urged the faithful to cooperate with security agents to restore law and order in the state.
Pastor Edward Isah of the Covenant Church admonished Christians to “watch, pray and not to take law into their hands’’.
Isah urged members to continue to pray for peace in the state and for God to prevail over the attacks on churches.
Similarly, Bishop Idowu Fearon of the Kaduna Anglican Diocese tasked Christians and Muslims on the need to give peace a chance and live in harmony as ordained by God.
Kano
The Kano State Government has released N30 million for the purchase of computers and other equipment for its newly established Kano Informatics Institute.
The Coordinator of the institute, Hajiya Zainab Abdulkadir, made this known in an interview with in Kano on Saturday.
The coordinator said that the institute, which commenced academic activities in September 2011 with 200 students, now has a total of 410 students, selected from the 44 local government areas of the state.
Abdulkadir added that the management of the institute had signed an agreement with two U.S.-based computer institutes to provide the institute with lecturers.
She commended the 44 local government councils in the state for providing laptops to their students in the institute and urged the councils to ensure prompt payment of allowances to the students so as not to distract their studies.
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, has promised to partner with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) by empowering the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to respond quickly to emergency situations.
Wada made the promise in Lokoja on Friday when he received the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Sanni Sidi.
He added that the State Government planned to formulate policies and measures aimed at reducing natural and man-made disasters in the state.
Represented by his Deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, the governor said that disasters had become a source of worry to the state.
He said that disasters often left tales of woe in their trail when they occured by the displacement of persons, loss of property and sometimes, lives.
Lagos
The Federal Government, has been urged to introduce security courses in school curriculum.
The Executive Director of Changing the Face of a Nation Initiative (CFNI), Mr Olorunfemi Adedurin, made the call last Sunday in Lagos.
The CFNI is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which uses prayer to fight corruption and other spiritual enemies of Nigeria.
Adedurin said that if security courses were introduced in schools, it would go a long way in letting every one become security conscious.
He spoke against the background of the incessant bomb explosions by the Boko Haram sect in some parts of the country.
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, has said that an end to endemic corruption and deficit leadership would help to curb violence and religious extremism in the country.
He spoke at the opening of the 5th Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Festival (RATTAFEST) for the North Central zone in Minna, Friday.
He said the north was well known for its culture of peace and hospitality, which contributed positively to the economic prosperity of the region and the country at large.
The governor called on northern states to revitalise moribund industries or those that have gone out of operation.
He said the current security problem in the north called for proactive media support and partnership with government to achieve its objective of promoting peace, development, national unity and integration.
Plateau
The Plateau Police Command last Sunday warned members of the public against rumour mongering and vowed to “deal decisively” with persons or groups engaged in that.
The command in a statement on Sunday, warned “all rumour millers to desist for this wicked act capable of causing security disequilibrium in the troubled state”.
The statement signed by Emmanuel Abuh, the police spokesman, particularly described as ‘untrue”, the rumour that the police were restricting the movement of vehicles in Jos metropolis, and advised people to shun it.
“The rumour is clearly an attempt to divert the attention of the security agencies and there is no iota of truth in it,” the police said.
Sokoto
Religious leaders should go back to their Scriptures for solution to the current state of insecurity and other related problems in the country, Alhaji Lawalli Zayyana, said.
Zayyana, who is the Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly, gave the advice last Friday in Sokoto.
The speaker said there was no reason why our situation in Nigeria should be different that a neighbour would want to kill his neighbour.
Zayyana urged Nigerians to collectively reassess their positions, saying: “ we all have a common God who does not want us to kill.
He urged Nigerians to be patriotic and pious citizens and expose all the bad eggs, who were bent on sowing seeds of discord and disharmony amongst Nigerians.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
