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Adamawa

No fewer than 23 Fadama User Groups in Adamawa need at least 35,300 fingerlings to boost their activities.

The Communication Officer of the State Fadama Office, Malam Dalhatu Girei, disclosed this to newsmen in Yola.

Girei said that three of the 20 groups had been supported with 6,000 fingerlings and other inputs.

He said that the office had finalised arrangements to assist the remaining 20 groups with fingerlings.

According to him, the 23 registered groups have been exposed to various enterprises in fishery related activities in the state.

Bauchi

Implementers of the National Fadama Programme in the country have been urged to re-enforce the use of communication to achieve its goals.

The Regional Head, National Food Reserve Agency (NAFRA), North-East Zone, Mr Daniel Kakwi, made the call in a paper presented in Bauchi at the National Communication Officers Review Meeting of the programme.

He stressed that the use of communication in achieving the objectives of the programme was necessary in view of the role of the media in mobilising the grassroots toward the success of the programme.

Kakwi commended the implementers for introducing community radio programme in their activities, saying that it would go a long way in enhancing the accomplishment of the objectives of fadama.

Ekiti

The new Chairman of the Ekiti State branch of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Julius Jegede, has warned members of the union against engaging in violence.

Jegede issued the warning in Ado-Ekiti last Wednesday during the inauguration of the new state executive of the union.

Jegede succeeds Chief Omolafe Aderiye, who resigned from office in November, last year, following a protracted intra-union crisis.

The chairman described members of the new executive as men of integrity, who should be seen as agents of peace and stability.

FCT

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Prof. Sheikh Abdallah, has canvassed for more funding to boost the agriculture sector.

Abdallah made the call while defending the ministry’s N63.5 billion budgetary proposal before the Senate Committee on Agriculture.

He said the Maputo Declaration had stated that 10 per cent of Gross Domestic Product be devoted to the sector, adding that the country needed more than that amount to realise the Vision 2020:20 objectives.

Jigawa

The Jigawa government said last Thursday that a total of 891,149 children were immunised in the state against measles in January.

The State Immunisation Officer, Alhaji Hassan Kwalam, made this known in an interview with newsmen  in Dutse.

Kwalam said that 900,000 children were vaccinated during the exercise out of the target of 1,150,016 children to be immunised against polio.

He noted that the rejection of immunisation had reduced drastically, saying that traditional rulers and religious leaders had been mobilising the people to accept vaccines for the good of their wards.

Kaduna

The National Population Commission (NPC) in Kaduna has urged people in the state to register births, deaths and still-births.

The state Director of the commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Riruwai, told newsmen in Kaduna that the registration would help in the planning and execution of projects.

“The registration would assist the government to prepare its plans in health, education and other sectors of the economy in the country,” he said.

Kano

The incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) has reduced in the North-West Zone of Nigeria due to increased awareness, according to Dr Yalwa Usman, Coordinator for Reproductive Health of the Post-Abortion Care Network(PAC –NET),

Speaking with, newsmen  Usman said that the rate of the infection had drastically reduced when compared to the early 80s and 90s, when it was high in the area, although she did not produce figures to back up her claim.

The states comprising the zone are Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa and Katsina.

“Remembering those years we spent at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano in the late 80s and the early 90s treating victims of the disease, I can say the situation has improved.

Katsina

Alhaji Sule Kuki, the Executive Chairman, Katsina State Universal Education Board, says a total of 8,000 primary school teachers are to benefit from the 2010 promotion exercise.

Kuki, who said this in an interview with newsmen  in Katsina, explained that the processing of the 2010 promotion had been completed.

He added that the list of deserving primary school teachers to be promoted would be released next month.

According to him, the promotion arrears for the deserving teachers are being processed to ensure that they are paid on time.

Lagos

Stakeholders in the aviation industry in Lagos have  urged airlines operating in the country to enforce the 100, 000 dollars insurance compensation for victims of air mishaps.

Speaking at a sensitisation seminar on aviation insurance for stakeholders, they noted that the compensation was stipulated in Chapter 111 of the schedule to Civil Aviation Act of 2006.

The stakeholders said the Montreal Convention of 1999, which specified a liability limit of 100,000 dollars, superseded the Warsaw Convention of 1929 which stipulated a compensation of 10, 000 dollars.

Ondo

The Ondo State Government has declared that its 2011 budget would focus more on completion of all on-going projects.

Addressing a news conference, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Akin Adaramola, said this was to consolidate on the gains already achieved by the state government.

He said the budget of N143.5 billion, made up of N58.190billion current and N85.190 billion capital expenditure, was packaged for the delivery of required services to the citizenry.

Oyo

A multimillion naira jatropha processing plant for producing bio-diesel is to be established by a private investor in Oyo State this year, according to The Tide’s source.

The State Chairman of Jatropha Productivity Stakeholders Association of Nigeria (JAPSAN), Mr Kayode Adebiyi, said this in Ibadan in an interview with the source.

He said the plant would be set up by Simrad Bio-energy Limited which was collaborating with jatropha farmers in the South -West region.

Plateau

The National Council for Women Society (NCWS) has advocated more roles for women in governance “because they were better managers of human and material resources’’.

The NCWS Chairperson in Plateau, Hajiya Ramatu Umar, made the call at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally in Jos last Thursday.

She said “women deserve a greater role in governance. We are ready for change and we believe that it is only the Jonathan/Sambo ticket that will make that possible.’’

Sokoto

Alhaji Arzika Tureta, Director-General of Wamakko/Shagari Campaign Committeesays, the body has perfected measures to win all elective positions in the April elections.

He told newsmen in Sokoto that the electorate would vote massively for all PDP candidates, including Governor Aliyu Wamakko in April.

Tureta said Wamakko’s administration had succeeded in formulating policies and programmes that had been improving the lots of the governed.

Tureta, who is the state Commissioner for Education, said “we never had it so good until the coming of Wamakko because people-oriented policies were implemented in our state”.

Taraba

The Federal Government has signed the contract for the construction of Mambilla Dam in Sardauna Local Government of Taraba.

President Goodluck Jonathan announced this in Jalingo at the launch of the PDP presidential campaign in Taraba.

He said the signing of the contract was in line with his administration’s desire to solve the country’s problem of water and power.

Zamfara

The Zurmi Local Government Council in Zamfara has suspended three village heads for alleged involvement in partisan politics.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the council, Alhaji Aliyu Magaji in Zurmi on Thursday.

The statement named the village heads as Alhaji Isah Dankane of Dutsi, Alhaji Magaji Mande, Maizuma and Alhaji Hashimu, Gidan-kayya.

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HYPREP Inducts 100 Ogoni Youths For Creative Arts Training

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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.

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Nasarawa Varsity Student Commits Suicide

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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.

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Ogun, Nike Art Gallery Set To Transform Olumo Rock

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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.

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