Nation
THE STATES
Nasarawa
The National Association of Students of English and Literature Studies (NASELS), Nasarawa State University. Keffi (NSUK), has celebrated its 2009 week.
The events marking the week began with the end up of a five man electoral committee that was charged to conduct a free and fair election.
At the end of voting, the former vice president, Clement Takat, won the office of the president unopposed. All other positions also went unopposed.
The next day saw the swearing in of the new leaders, drama presentations, songs, recitation of poems, talk shows and comedy, among others.
At the main show, the class Rep of the 400- level class, Osita Okafor introduced Love Oni and Precious Ona who acted as comperes.
The NASELS choir kicked off the night by singing the national anthem as well the NSUK anthem.
NASELS outgoing president, Austine Okonjo who took over the stage, thanked everyone, especially the students for making his tenure a success.
Okonjo also apologised for any short coming of his administration.
The Head of Department, Associate Prof. Umelo Ojinmah, administered the oath of office to the new executive.
Ojimah urged them not to allow unionism take place of academics.
In his address, the new president, Mr. Takat, promised to focus on programmes that will bring unity among the diverse students in the department.
He also asked for the help and cooperation of the students to enable him actualize his manifesto.
However, there were many talk-shows on issues ranging from education to literature, fashion, education, sports etc.
Taraba
As part of effort to contribute to the United Nations (UNs) Campaign for a green world, intending Christian pilgrims from Taraba State have unanimously agreed to plant no fewer than 1,000 trees in Israel.
The state, according to the chairman, Christian Pilgrim Board, Rev. Innocent R. Solomon, will not only be the first in Nigeria but also the first in the African continent to achieve this.
This was made known Tuesday to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital, by the chairman before departing for the Holy Land with other pilgrims.
According to him, the state will be planting trees as a mark of honour, as well as to promote the UNs call to ensure a a green world.
“We are going to be planting about 1,000 trees to contribute to the United Nations’ (UNs) Campaign to bring about green world”, he said.
The state, which has a total of 335 intending pilgrims, yesterday left for Israel under the leadership of the chairman of Traditional Council the ANU-UKA of Wukari, Dr. Shekaru Y. Ansyu Masa Ibi Nuryo II.
Plateau
The newly-appointed Plateau State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Tunde Nurudeen, has disclosed that he would work with the state police command to ensure corps members posted to the state enjoy maximum security in the service of the fatherland.
Mr Nurudeen also warned those who are out to forment trouble to desist from such as any harm done to any corps member in the state would not be tolerated.
He made this call after taking over from his predecessor, Mr. Ezekiel Aiyedogbon, who has been posted to head the Public Relations Department in the NYSC Headquarters, Abuja.
According to him, the staff of the scheme are expected to perform their duties as assigned and do away with rumour mongering, as this is capable of derailing the ideals of the scheme.
While relating his experiences on the job, he noted that working under the NYSC has been worthwhile as there are many testimonies to attest to this.
In his Hand-over speech, the out-going coordinator, Aiyegbon who had spent only 59 days in Plateau, described the in-coming coordinator as a hardworking and dependable person and sought the support of every member of staff to make his tenure a success.
Responding on behalf of the staff, Mrs. Elizabeth Iyizoba pledged their support and promised to work in harmony to ensure the ideals of the scheme are achieved.
Ogun
Daredevil armed robbers killed three policemen in Ogere, Ogun State, during a bank raid yesterday.
Among those killed was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Simon Otene.
During the operation, a female police officer was also shot, but she did not die. She was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
The incident occurred only 10 days after the Police Area Command in Ijebu-ode, Omolodum Oladokun, was allegedly killed by rioting youths.
The rubbers were said to have attacked the bank, which share a fence with the police station.
The robbers, according to a source, had divided themselves into two groups, with one attacking the bank and the other the police station.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, confirmed the incident. Argungu who spoke on phone, said: “the detail of the situation is still sketchy, but we learn that he was killed when the robbers, who came in a bus, attacked the station; we are still investigating”.
A source in the town, however, said the bandits came to set free some armed robbers allegedly detained in the police station.
“They said some robbers were arrested around this place some days ago and detained in the station in Ogere. So, it was not the bank that they came for originally. Though it was difficult to know if they eventually raided the bank”, the source said.
Borno
To address the poor state of roads in Borno, the state government has procured 133 units of heavy duty and earth moving construction equipment.
Inspecting the equipment Wednesday at Ramat Square, Maiduguri the commissioner for Works and Transport Mustapha Alkai Gajibo disclosed that the equipment including bulldozers, pay loaders, rollers, excavators and forklifts cost N3.8 billion.
He added that they would be inaugurated Friday by the Minister of works, Housing and Urban Development Mohammed Lawan Hassan.
The equipment would be used by the Borno Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA)
Zamfara
The Zamfara State government has approved N1.9 billion for the purchase of equipment to run engineering-related courses at the state-owned Abdu-Gasau Polytechnic, Talata Matara.
Governor Mohamuda Shinkafi said in Gusau on Tuesday that the project was part of efforts to meet National Board for Technical Education’s conditions for the accreditation of engineering courses at the polytechnic.
Shinkafi who spoke when Mr Klaus-Dieter Hand, the director of Africa Affairs of PHYWE system, a German company, visited him, said the government was determined to set a sound technology base for rapid development of the state.
He stressed that no society would prosper without a sound technical education base that could prepare its citizens for the global challenges of the 21st century.
The governor added that the government would ensure that the equipment was supplied within the shortest possible time.
He gave an assurance that as soon as due process was completed, government would release part of the conrtact sum for the supply.
He said the state government has significantly improved structures in secondary schools and some tertiary institutions in the last two years.
Speaking during the visit, Hand said he was in the state to present a report by his firm to the government, which emanated from the recent visit of the state delegation to the firm in Germany for collaboration in technological development.
He promised the governor that the company would collaborate with the state in realising its technological development dreams.
Kano
The Kano State government has rehabilitated and upgraded facilities at the Aminu Kano Community School at a total cost of N1.1 billion.
This was in fulfillment of a pledge the state governor, Malam (Dr) Ibrahim Shekarau made during the 40th anniversary of the college last year.
The Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Musa Salihu, disclosed this while handing over the contract to the contractors at the college’s Conference Hall, Tuesday.
Salihu, said that the government has already committed 50 per cent of the total amount estimated at about N550 million, while the other portion of the contract will commence in earnest.
He gave the breakdown of the projects as follows: Administration Block at the cost of N92,693,206, Multipurpose Hall worth N120,004,083.55, College Library Block at N83,897,541.52, School’s Mosque at N20,339,321.42, Ablution Area at N4,856,266.22, Bedroom at N52,522,083.50.
Others are three Bedroom flats at N117,722,263.90, a Guest House at N7,462,731.22, Road and Parking Space to gulp N26,332,258.97, External Electrical works at N1,239,999.50 and External Mechanical Works that cost N17,338,244.10.
The Commissioner also gave a brief history of the college which was established in 1967.
Ekiti
Witnesses Tuesday admitted irregularities in some of the results tendered for some polling units in Orin-ora Ward of Ido-Osi council area of Ekiti State at the election petition tribunal hearing the government petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) and its governorship candidate, Dr Nayode Feyemi, against the outcome of the April 25 rerun election in the state. The witnesses, who were called by the first respond, Governor Segun Oni, told the tribunal that the election was free and fair in their polling units while being led in their evidence by counsel to the governor, Duro Adeyele (SAN), They, however, blamed the irregularities in the results tendered by the Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC) on its officials.
For instance, Davo Dada who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polling agent at unit 009 of the Ward, has tendered the result form EC8A for the unit and admitted that all the contents were correct as recorded by the presiding officer.
Under cross – examination by counsel to the petitioners, Anthony Adeniyi, he said the total valid scores recorded for both PDP and AC were 92 but on the result from ECZA, the presiding officer wrote 93 .
Besides, while the presiding officer wrote 93 as the total valid votes in one column, in another he simply wrote 1.
Also, of the 150 ballot papers issued for the unit, 93 was recorded as total number of used ballot papers and another 62 as unused ballot papers.
Dada, who was the respondent witness 40 (RW40), attributed the difference in his specimen signature, which was requested from him by Adeniyi and that of the one oath and the form EC8A, to the fact that he shortened his signature on the form EC8A
He, however affirmed that the election was free and fair in his unit, adding that AC polling agent signed the result and took away his own copy.
The second witness, Aina Oluwaseyi, who was PDP polling agent for unit 19, tendered the form EC8A containing the result for the unit. He told the tribunal that the election was conducted without any hitch.
Lagos
A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday dismissed a N200 billion suit instituted against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by four companies belonging to former Chief Executive of Inter-Continental Bank Plc and his wife.
The suit sought to enforce rights of the companies allegedly breached by the commission.
In dismissing the suit, Justice Morenike Obadina said the suit lacked merit.
She awarded N20,000 costs against the companies, Tropics Finance and Investment Company Limited, Tropics Properties Limited, Tropics Securities Limited and Tropics Holding Limited.
Justice Obadina said the EFCC Act empowers it to take the steps it took against the companies while investigating them over the alleged movement of over N15 billion from the bank to a Summit Limited account.
Summit Limited belongs to Akingbola and former bank chairman, Chief Raymond Obieri.
EFCC said the funds were later moved to the accounts of the four companies with the bank which they claimed were frozen by the commission.
Akingbola and his wife, Anthonia, are being investigated by the commission over alleged tax evasion and money laundering.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.