Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has stresseed an urgent need for cultural rejuvenation in the country.
The governor stated this in Yola while declaring open a one-day sensitisation workshop on Role of Media in Promoting Culture for journalists.
The workshop is organised by the National Museum in Yola in collaboration with the Fombina Palace Museum in Adamawa.
Nyako said the cultural rejuvenation had become necessary to “enable us integrate our cultural values as a nation”.
“We must find ways and means of integrating our cultural values of peace, tolerance, hard work, good neighborliness, respect for constituted authority and elders into our youths, who are the future leaders,” he said.
The governor, who was represented at the forum by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Ahmadu Batuwa said, “Culture is our identity and any society that loses its identity had lost its essential value that guarantees its existence.”
Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government said that it committed N66 million on the renovation of six secondary health facilities in the state in the second quarter of this year.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Olusola Fasuba, disclosed this to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti after an inspection tour of some health facilities in the state.
Fasuba said that the hospitals wer located in Ikole-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Ijero-Ekiti, Aiyede-Ekiti, Ise-Ekiti and Aramoko-Ekiti.
He said that the state government also expended the sum of N72 million on settlement of the medical bills of indigent patients in the last 18 months.
The commissioner also said that a laboratory block and a new accident and emergency block were constructed at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, during the period under review.
He said that N54 million was approved for the renovation of structures in the health facilities, adding that a separate sum of N6.7 million was approved for the provision of facilities at the Central Sterile Supply Department of the Ministry of Health.
FCT
The Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative, an NGO, has
called on stakeholders to invest in educating children with disabilities by incorporating them into development programmes.
The National Coordinator of the NGO, Ms Patience Ogolo, made the call at the annual national conference of the association in Abuja .
She said there was the need for such children to be educated, so as to reduce the culture of dependency.
Ogolo also said that parents of children with disability needed to be informed on the importance of education, as this was the only way they would be part of the development process in the country.
“Over 19 million people in the country live with one kind of disabilities or another; there is the need to integrate them into all spheres of the society.
Jigawa
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Jigawa has decried the rate of accident in the state.
The state Sector Commander, Aminu Umar, made the remark at a one-day sensitisation workshop on road safety.
He said that it had adopted effective measures to enforce traffic rules and regulation on the road users in the area.
The theme of the workshop, “Advocacy as a tool for improve road safety activities’’, he said was designed to equip corps marshal and to educate motorist on traffic rules.
According to him, the commission has intensified its public enlightenment campaign to reduce carnage on the road.
He said the commission would continue to support its personnel as well as special marshal to enable them discharge their duties diligently.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Special Service, Ibrahim Alhaji, pledged the State Government’s support toward curtailing road accidents.
Kaduna
Malam Habibu Ahmad of Kabala Costain, Kaduna, has sued his mother-in-law, Gambo Alhassan, at a Kaduna Sharia Court for allegedly hiding his wife.
Ahmad told the court that his wife left home on Sallah day to deliver Sallah food to their families but did not return.
“Before I left for Eid-el-Fitr prayers, my wife, Asma’u, was cooking and on my return, she had finished. She told me that she would stay with her relations till evening before returning.
“After waiting for long, I called her mobile phone and it was switched off. I called the people she visited and I was told that she did not stay long there.”
He further alleged that Asma’u had never spent six months in his house without moving to unknown destination, adding:“She always returned to me after plea dings through phone calls.”
Katsina
Flood has again ravaged the Mani Local Government Headquarters and its environs in Katsina State, claiming two lives and destroying more than 100 houses.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent on Tuesday in Mani town, that the flood affected Randawa, Galawa, Tabalawa, Gidan Gewayau villages and part of Mani town, the council headquarters.
According to the eyewitnesses, one person died in Galawa village, while another death was recorded in Mani during the ravaging flood.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the state Rehabilitation and Emergency Relief Agency (RERA), Alhaji Hassan Rawayau, has visited the affected areas to sympathise with the victims.
Rawayau, on behalf of the state government, condoled with the families of those who lost their lives.
He assured the victims that the agency would assess the damage, with a view to recommending possible assistance from the state government.
Kogi
A former President, National Association of Kogi State Students, Mr Dare Michael, has hailed Governor Idris Wada’s administration for ensuring better welfare for students.
Michael made this known in a telephone interview with The Tide in Lokoja.
He commended the State Government for the prompt release of funds for the students’ convention which was held on August 25, 2012 in Lokoja.
He said that Wada had been of immense support to the association since his assumption of office.
“Wada has always given us better welfare and an atmosphere for learning,” he said.
Michael said that the convention could not have achieved the desired success without the assistance of the government.
He urged students to accept the outcome of the convention in good faith and support the newly-elected President, Mr Abdullahi Oshihana.
Lagos
A psychologist, Dr Oyesoji Aremu, on Tuesday said victims of rape might experience long-lasting severe emotional shock and distress.
Aremu told The Tide that such a girl-child could become physically and psychologically disillusioned and traumatised.
“Rape of a girl-child is the forceful carnal knowledge of a person who is physiologically and emotionally immature for sexual relationship,” he said.
The psychologist said; “The consequences of it are very grievous on the girl-child, and socially, the victim becomes stigmatised.
“This may have a lasting effect on her social wellness and on her inability to socialise.
“She may grow to either abhor sex and its associated gratification or she may become obsessed with sex by developing low sexual efficacy and low self-worth of herself.”
He said that the consequence of the victim blacking out sex, might affect her marriage in the future.
Nasarawa
The Executive Director of the Nasarawa State Adult and Informal Education AgencyMr William Ebuga, has said the agency is to intensify its efforts to curb Illiteracy in the state.
Ebuga made the staement in an interview with our correspondent in Lafia.
He said the objective of the campaign was to educate school drop-outs and people who had no opportunity to go to school, noting that the the agency had mapped out strategies to achieve the goal.
The executive director said: “majority of the people in the state do not know how to read and write, this situation will affect the state now and in the future.
“There is need for constant efforts to fight illiteracy in the state and looking at statistics, more than half of the population of of the state are illiterate.”
Ondo
The Commissioner for Education in Niger, Mrs Susan Gana, has called for concerted efforts to revamp the standard of education in the state.
Gana made the call in Minna at a one-week retreat for principals and vice principals of public secondary schools in the state, with the theme:“Effective Management of Public Secondary Schools in Niger State’’.
She said the development of individuals and the society at large, depended largely on the quality of education available.
“It is our collective responsibility to redeem the education system from the present state and move it forward.
“Quality of education has taken a downward trend for quite some time; from the primary to tertiary institution levels the educational standard has fallen to an extent that it no longer contribute meaningfully to individual and national development.
Sokoto
The Vice-chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Sokoto State chap
ter, Mr Abubakar Malami, has called on the state government to rehabilitate Kalmalo and Lugu dams.
Malami our correspondent in Sokoto that the rehabilitation of the dams would enhance irrigation farming in the state.
He said many farmers in Goronyo area had benefitted tremendously from the rehabilitation of Goronyo Dam and were planting rice, onion, garlic and maize, among other crops.
He also asked the state government to provide modern implements for farmers in the rural areas to ensure massive food production in the state.
The union leader said the state was blessed with abundant irrigable land capable of producing different crops but that the lack of modern farming equipment was hindering the potential.
Zamfara
Zamfara State Government says it would no longer give “special treatment to persons considered highly placed or connected in government’’ during Hajj operations.
This announcement was made in Gusau by the acting Governor , Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala at the balloting of flight schedules to the 14 local councils for this year’s Hajj.
The acting governor, who was represented on the occasion which took place at the Pilgrims Welfare Agency office by the Leader of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Tsafe, said the administration would continue to treat all citizens as equals “with justice and fairness.”
Eight states across Nigeria have converged in Port Harcourt for the 2026 edition of the President’s Inter-Senior Secondary Schools Debate Championship, hosted by Rivers State Government.
The three_days championship, themed “27th Democracy & 3rd Year Anniversary of President Ahmed Tinubu Inter-Senior Schools Debate Championship,” opened on Monday at Government Girls Secondary School, Rumueme, Port Harcourt.
The participating states are Ebonyi, Abia, Delta, Sokoto, Yobe, Kwara, Enugu, and host state Rivers. Each state is represented by its top debaters selected through state-level contests.
Declaring the event open, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, said the championship goes beyond winning trophies. He described it as a national investment in the next generation of leaders.
“This platform is for nurturing young minds,” Nwagor said. “It builds critical thinking, research skills, confidence, effective communication, and the ability to engage constructively with views different from one’s own. These are the very qualities upon which responsible leadership and nation-building are founded.”
The Commissioner commended the organizers, participating schools, teachers, and coordinators for their commitment to promoting intellectual excellence among Nigerian youths.
He urged the students to compete with confidence, discipline, and respect. “Debate is not merely about winning an argument,” he noted. “It is about listening carefully, reasoning with clarity, presenting your evidence with honesty, and having the grace to learn from others. Let the quality of your ideas and the strength of your character define your participation here.”
Nwagor assured the participants that Rivers State is proud to play its part in raising a generation that will bring bold and innovative solutions to the country’s challenges. He wished all teams a rewarding, memorable, and successful championship.
Earlier in his welcome address, the National Coordinator of the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, PSDN, Elder Dare Oritu, called the event a “gathering of minds” drawn from different parts of the country.
According to Oritu, debate is about three things. “It is about _unity_. It brings us together from different schools and backgrounds to learn from one another. It is about _broadening the mind_. It teaches you to think deeply, to listen well, to ask ‘why,’ and to defend your ideas with facts and respect. It is about _preparing you for leadership_. The problem-solvers and decision-makers of tomorrow are in this hall today.”
He reminded the students that debate is not a contest of aggression. “Debate is _not a fight_. We challenge ideas, not people. It is _not about who is better_. And it is _not do-or-die_. We win with grace, and we learn with humility,” Oritu said.
The PSDN National Coordinator encouraged all participants to compete with integrity, speak with clarity, and leave wiser than they came. He wished them the very best throughout the competition.
Highlights of the opening ceremony included the official draw for debate matches, administered by PSDN officials. The pairings will determine which states face each other in the preliminary rounds as the battle for the 2026 national title begins.
Amadi Akujobi
The National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), Port Harcourt, has graduated 61 students from its six-month Cybersecurity training programme. The institute also inducted 48 new students for the new academic session during a brief ceremony held at its Port Harcourt centre on Monday.
Centre Manager of NIIT Port Harcourt, Mr. Precious Ogulu Tom, said the institute is always excited to induct students into cybersecurity because it is one of its flagship courses with strong international recognition. He noted that the centre’s performance has earned it high ratings from ICSS, adding that in the past academic year, more than 20 students passed ICSS certification exams.
According to him, beyond the NIIT certificate, which is globally recognized, students also proceed to ICSS and complete their courses without difficulty. He credited the faculty for maintaining standards and said NIIT remains the leading ICT training institute in Port Harcourt and Rivers State.
Tom said NIIT has a presence in all major cities in Nigeria and its headquarters in India, with training covering all areas of ICT. He added that every year the institute produces at least one first-class graduate in Software Engineering from partner universities such as Middlesex University and the University of Sunderland. He described the institute’s approach as practical and hands-on.
On fees, he addressed comments about cost online, saying quality training requires investment. “Does anything good come easy? Nothing good comes easy,” he stated. He explained that students receive industry-standard books and globally recognized certificates, and invited parents and prospective students to register with NIIT for value-driven training.
Also speaking, Principal Instructor for Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking, Mr. Nyekwere TamunoTonye, said the cohort began in February with high expectations and completed the programme in six months. He said one notable achievement was that the class remained largely intact despite challenges, including system breakdowns and family issues. “At the end of this six months, we never lost anybody. That is the greatest. So, we give God the glory,” he said.
Nyekwere said students were exposed to multiple domains in cybersecurity and received strong practical training. He told the graduands that their real learning starts now and urged them not to relent. “This is no longer the time you go back to play,” he added.
He emphasized that the institute equipped them not only with technical and practical skills but also with character and a mindset for continuous learning. He noted that no institution, including Harvard or Yale, can teach everything, but good schools set the path, which NIIT has done.
He charged them to deploy their skills positively. “I don’t want to see any of you being arrested by the EFCC tomorrow. I don’t want to see any of you being arrested by the police. I don’t want to see any of you being arrested,” he said.
Senior IT Counselor and Head of Sales and Marketing, Mrs. Igbigbari Vincent-Eretoru, congratulated the graduands for completing the programme and defending their presentations according to NIIT academic standards. She said certificates are awarded in character and learning, and urged them to be good ambassadors of NIIT Port Harcourt by applying what they learned.
Responding on behalf of the graduates, Class Section Head Tamunotonyesia Epelle said many came in with questions and uncertainty about specializations but left with clarity, confidence, and technical competence gained through practical assignments, teamwork, and the instructor’s push to avoid mediocrity.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3
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