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THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has commended the state university in Mubi for excelling in academic activities.
Nyako made the commendation recently in Yola while receiving a letter of award and trophies won by the university in an academic programme coordinated by Oxford University, London.
He observed that since its inception, the university had made the state proud in academic performance, based on the accreditation of its courses by the National Universities Commission.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Alkassim Abba, said the award was won by the university after the assessment of its staff qualities, accreditation, exchange programme and regular implementation of courses and subjects.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency, last Tuesday said it had enrolled 46,877 adults during the 2012/2013 academic session.
The Chairman, Board of Directors of the agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, told newsmen in Bauchi that the agency had initially targeted 38,390 learners across the state.
He said the agency had in collaboration with development partners opened 1,878 learning centres with 800 facilitators and 228 scheme organizers and that “from 2012 to 2013, the enrolment figures in the centres rose from 38,390 to 46,877 learners”.
The chairman said the Agency would work towards gradual reduction of illiteracy rate by 10 per cent every year through the development of a three-year strategic plan and appealed to all stakeholders to support the agency to achieve its goals.
Gombe
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Gombe State chapter, Rev. Abare Kalla, recently predicted lasting peace and understanding among Nigerians in 2014.
Kala said in Gombe that from what he witnessed during the Christmas and Sallah festivities, peace had come to stay in the country.
The cleric said that meaningful development could only take place in a peaceful society characterised by tolerance, adding “we should learn how to tolerate each other, irrespective of religious and ethnic backgrounds.”
He urged Christians and Muslims to usher in the New Year with prayers so that insecurity would become a thing of the past.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government recently said it had approved contracts worth N1.3 billion for the construction of feeder roads and electrification projects across the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim,who announced this while addressing newsmen after the State’s Executive Council meeting in Dutse, said that N1.1 billion was earmarked for the construction of feeder roads in six villages while N249.5 million would be used to electrify 10 towns and villages.
He said that the roads included those of Gumel-Garungambo; Kiyakoto-Shurgarum; Shafa-Gidansani; Malamadori, Saturiyakwatche and Lanaki, adding that villages like Sarawiya, Shakoato, Gurinrima, Ariki, Kembo, Majigini, Banaga, Ungwa-kaya, Giwa and Deruru would be electrified in the project.
He said the step was taken to develop the rural areas and boost socio-economic activities, to improve the lives of the rural dwellers.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said it had arrested and tried 94 motorists for various traffic offences during the yuletide.
The Sector Commander, Mr Olu Olagunju, who made this known in an interview, Tuesday in Kaduna said the motorists were arrested in Kaduna, Birnin Gwari, Zaria, Saminaka, Tafa and Kafanchan from December 19 to December 30.
He said that 66 out of the 94 were convicted by the command’s two mobile courts while others were discharged, adding that five other motorists were apprehended for being in possession of hard drugs.
“We laid more emphasis on drunk driving, but recently we realised that there are drugs that are in common use that will not be detected under alcohol. “So we are partnering with the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to check motorists under the influence of alcohol or drug, “ he said.
Kebbi
The Local Government Service Commission in Kebbi State, said it would introduce compulsory computer training for local government officials to improve their performance.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Usman Bello, made the disclosure Monday, while presenting 200 computer sets to Birnin Kebbi local government council staff in Birnin Kebbi.
Bello said that “the target of the commission is to make the staff computer literate by 2020’’ noting that 200 directors and secretaries had been trained during the first phase of the programme.
The chairman said that the computers being presented to the council staff would be jointly paid for by staff and the commission, adding that “the commission will pay 50 per cent of the cost of the computers, while the beneficiaries will pay the balance.’’
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, commended the commission for the training.
Kogi
The Chairman of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Mr Mohammed Ali, said those defecting from PDP to APC should not mistake the current silence of the electorate for acceptance.
Ali, said at a news briefing in Lokoja last Monday, stressed that the people would definitely react at the appropriate time and Ali described the defection as unfortunate.
On the state of local governments in the state, Ali said the 23 councils were operating under difficult situation, said the unresolved problem of ghost workers and huge monthly wage bills were responsible for the development which makes it impossible for the councils to implement people-oriented programmes.
The chairman contended that the way out was for the councils to widen their revenue base and remove all the ghost workers from their pay rolls without further delay.
Kwara
A House of Representatives member, Dr Ali Ahmad, has urged the Federal Government to increase the number of Supreme Court judges to fast track the dispensation of justice.
Ahmad, in an interview recently in Ilorin, said the few judges in the court were being overworked and stressed that it was time for the Supreme Court to stop entertaining some cases from the Court of Appeal, as was done in the U.S.
“The Supreme Court should look at it and if there is nothing remarkable about the appeal, if the issue has been settled, it should just refer the case back to Court of Appeal and that means the Supreme Court has affirmed it. “But we have this thing that says appeal is subscribe; we really need to look at that and do something about it,” Ahmad, who chairs the House Committee on Judiciary, said.
He disclosed that the National Assembly had provided in the constitutional amendments, that, interlocutory appeals should not stop prosecution of criminal cases, stating that the provision was meant to reduce cases at the apex court.
Lagos
Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, recently called for the establishment of state police in Nigeria to maintain law and order alongside the Nigeria police.
Olukoju, who made the call during an interview in Lagos said.
“Let us have a federal police, not just Nigerian police at the centre where anybody can use against anybody. “Let us have it as it is done in America, police at different strata, local government police, state police and then federal police, all working together.
Reacting to the centenary celebration of the country being planned for January, 2014. The vice-chancellor advised that Nigeria should emulate the United States of America, where the local and state police exist side-by-side with the federal police.
“We have a declining quality in leadership; we have a decline in terms of civic responsibility and in terms of societal awareness. “The control for central power is what is killing Nigeria and this is because there is much money at the centre that people want to siphon,” he said.
Ogun
An Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, recently remanded four men; Isiaka Ayorinde, Ayodele Olarewaju, Qudus Adesola and Bunmi Thomas in prison for alleged armed robbery.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Rosemary Brown, had told the court that the accused and others at large, committed the offences on December 6 at about 1.35 a.m.
Brown said the accused persons and the others at large, attacked the complainant, Mr Oladimeji Balogun at Oladimeji Street, Ajibanwo in Ota.
She said the accused dispossessed the complainant of a Samsung cell phone valued at N12,000, a wrist watch valued at N3,500 and jewelleries valued at N17,000, totalling N35,000.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government, recently, said the government would establish three FM radio stations as part of efforts to improve public enlightenment and information dissemination in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, who made the disclosure while defending the ministry’s budget proposal before the state’s House of Assembly, said the state government decided to establish the stations after considering the importance of public enlightenment and information dissemination in the state.
He added that the stations would be established in Gummi, Talata-Mafara and Kaura-Namoda, noting that the state government hoped to complete the projects before 2015.
He urged the people of the state to support the state government in its effort to ensure effective leadership.
L-R: Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Leke Pitan, Carrying a set of twins deliverd by Mrs Adediji as first babies of the Year 2014 at the Island Hospital in Lagos last Wednesday. With them is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adesina.
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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