Nation
THE STATES
Bornu
Participants at a workshop on Sunday in Maidiuguri, called on media owners to expose journalists to training on conflict reporting.
A communique issued at the end of a workshop in Maiduguri on Reporting Conflict, also called on media owners to provide capacity building and exposure particularly in the area of conflict and violence reporting.
They also called on journalists to strive hard to ensure that they discharge their duties in professional manner.
The participants called on regulatory agencies, like the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to be more proactive to ensure adherence to best practices.
They called for the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information Bill by the National Assembly.
“The National Assembly should expedite action in the review of the NPC and the enhancement of Journalism Practice Bills.
“We also call on employers to ensure that only professionals are employed in media related agencies and departments,” the participants said.
They urged the NUJ to be more proactive in the defence and protection of its members.
“Journalists should be in the vanguard for the promotion of peace.
“Women should be encouraged to develop more interest in the practice of journalism,” the participants added.
They also advised journalists to give more prominence to issues related to women and children in their stories.
They commended the Justice Development and Peace Commission Ibadan, the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation Abuja for organising the event.
Ekiti
Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti on Sunday donated N1.5 million to some farmers who engaged in FADAMA farming at the Hausa settlement along Ado-IjesaIsu road, Ado-Ekiti.
The 30 farmers received the sum of N50,000 each.
Oni, who was impressed by their farming methods, said the donation was aimed to help them boost their business.
“The state government has approved the disbursement of the sum of N50,000 each to all the 30 farmers in this settlement.
“The amount is to be disbursed immediately by the commissioner of Agriculture.
“Please do not use it for frivolities but make sure it is used to boost your financial base,” the governor charged them.
He assured them of adequate government support and protection at all times.
“If anybody is disturbing your farming activities make sure you inform the government on time for us to take appropriate actions”, Oni stated.
The desire of government, Oni said, was to ensure that the settlement served as a centre where fresh farm produce could be bought all year round.
Responding, the Leader of the farmers, Malam Ahmed Adamu, who said that they have been farming in the area for the past 17 years, promised proper utilisation of the money.
Adamu while commending the governor for the gesture, assured that the farmers would always cooperate with the state government in all its policies and programmes.
Jigawa
The Federal Government is to begin discussions with its development partners in the Education sector, for financial assistance.
Education Minister Ruqayyatu Rufai told newsmen in Dutse on Sunday that this became necessary because the government could not depend solely on what was budgeted for the sector alone.
The issue of funding for the education sector, she said was a major challenge confronting the sector.
Rufai, however, said that the problem would be addressed through collaboration and partnership.
She also said that the ministry would embark on the recruitment of more qualified teachers and training of some others within the next few months.
“A good teacher can teach even under a tree and student will comprehend. But if we provide infrastructure and instructional materials alone without training, we have not changed anything.
“In this regards, improvement of technical education would also receive government’s attention to address problem of unemployment,” she said.
Kaduna
The Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, has set up a contact committee in Zaria axis to sanitise the profession.
The Tide’s source reports that the committee was set up to promote ethical conduct among members as well as protect and promote the interest and welfare of members.
The committee has Alhaji Aminu Ishaq-Abbas of Nigeria Television Authority as chairman while Bello Habib of Leadership Newspapers is Secretary.
Other members are Mohammed Lawal of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Abubakar Danyaro of KSMC.
Speaking at a meeting in Zaria, the state’s NUJ Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, said the committee would liaise with the state council.
“The committee will remain the eyes of the state council to bridge the communication gap,” he said.
While appealing to members to be just and transparent, he advised journalists to be diligent, disciplined and humble in discharging their responsibilities.
In his acceptance speech, Ishaq-Abbass promised to carry the members along by seeking their advice.
Katsina
The Katsina state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has prosecuted 63 persons, including a married woman, for various drug-related offences in five months.
The NDLEA commander in Katsina, Alhaji Ahmadu Garba disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Katsina on Sunday.
He said that the 63 persons have since been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court Katsina.
Garba said that among those convicted by the court, was a married woman, Abu Sale, who was arrested in possession of Indian hemp in Katsina metropolis and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
He disclosed that the command had during the period, arrested 154 suspects including the convicts for possession of various illicit drugs.
According to him, the command had seized a total of 63.1 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs such as Indian hemp and other psychotropic substances from the suspects.
He also said under the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) activities, a total of 124 clients were counseled and rehabilitated, while aggressive campaigns against drug abuse were conducted during the period.
Kebbi
The Emir of Yauri in Kebbi, Prof. Muhammad Zayyanu, has called on Governor Saidu Dakingari to provide amenities in Yauri Emirate.
Zayyanu, who led a delegation of title holders and top government functionaries from the area on a visit to the governor on Friday in Birnin Kebbi, said his domain lacked roads and a comprehensive water supply system.
He called for an immediate rehabilitation of the only dam in considering the relevance of water to human beings and animals.
The Emir lamented that in spite of the passage of the River Niger through his domain, water had not been adequately provided for the people.
Zayyanu prayed for the repose of the soul of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was father-In-law to the governor, who also lost a senior brother recently.
The governor assured the people of the emirate that amenities would be provided, stressing that he would personally monitor and ensure that the area got the amenities on time.
He commended the role played by traditional rulers in the protection of lives and property in the state.
According to him, the role played by the emirate in ensuring security in the area is worthy of emulation.
Lagos
The Aholu of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry, Sejiro James, said on Friday that the rate of unemployment in Nigeria was responsible for the involvement of youths of the area in smuggling.
James, who was speaking on his third anniversary, told newsmen that there was the need for the Federal Government to empower youths, especially in Badagry and other border areas.
“We are not known to be smugglers in my kingdom, but unemployment has forced my people into the business.
“But if the government gives our people job opportunities and a sense of belonging, they will not go into this vice and they would be contributing more meaningfully to the national project,” he said.
James called on banks, corporate bodies and licensed agents within the kingdom to employ indigenes as part of their social responsibility.
The monarch pledged the support and corporation of his people to the Federal Government.
Osun
The Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) has awarded scholarships to 26 students of the institution.
Alhaji Ahmed Popoola, National President of the association said this at a public lecture and presentation of scholarships at the University of Ile-Ife on Sunday.
The association released N1.4 million to the beneficiaries.
The award is under the UNIFEMGA Scholarship and Indigent Endowment Fund instituted in 2009.
Popoola said 10 of the awards were based purely on merit while 16 others were for those in need of financial support.
He said that the association had given 35 scholarships awards in the last two years as well as paid the tuition fees of five students in the 2008/09 academic session.
According to him, this brings the total sum spent by the association to date to over N1. 8 million.
According to him, the objective of the association is to raise the fund to at least N20 million.
Alhaji Femi Abass, a veteran journalist, who delivered a lecture on “Nigeria at 50: Confronting the Realities”, called on Muslims to embrace western education to complement Islamic knowledge.
He urged governments in the country to place emphasis on education to boost mass literacy and the economy.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,