The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Yakowa, Azazi die in helicopter crash

    Yakowa, Azazi die in helicopter crash

    Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi died in an helicopter crash today (Saturday)  in Nembe , area of Bayelsa  State,

    Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi, a retired military general who served as chief security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, were among passengers in the ill-fated helicopter.

    They were returning from the burial  of the late father of a special adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on research and documentation, Mr Oronto Douglas.

    Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) it was learnt indicated that the agency had activated a search for a crashed helicopter.

    Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi were among many political figures who reportedly attended the burial of   Douglas’s father.

    The crash comes on the heels of another helicopter crash on October 25, 2012 that has left Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State severely injured.

    Mr. Suntai was moved to a hospital in Germany where he receiving treatment.

    Aviation authorities are yet to speak on the latest crash.

  • Okonjo: Crack squad of detectives storm Asaba

    Okonjo: Crack squad of detectives storm Asaba

    A detachment of special detectives from the Police Headquarters, Abuja arrived Asaba, Delta state capital as the manhunt for the abductors of Prof. Kamene Okonjo, mother of the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala intensifies

    Efforts to locate the whereabouts of the 82-year old grandmother appear to have stalled, but the State Police Commissioner, Ikechukwu Aduba is upbeat that a breakthrough is in the offing.

    Aduba who confirmed the arrival of the detectives said the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar deployed the team to complement what officers of the state command were already doing to rescue the abducted wife of the traditional ruler of Ugwashi- Ukwu.

    He however did not give further details on the deployment of the special detectives but expressed confidence that with the reinforcement; the hoodlums would soon be ‘smoked-out’ of their hide-out.

    “The IG is concerned and worried about what is happening and he has sent the special squad from Abuja to assist us. We have special squad across the federation but the person involved is of global significance and the IG wants to get the results as fast as possible, that is all.”

    He reiterated the command’s earlier position that the “police has never and will never encourage the payment of ransom,” insisting that he was unaware if the kidnappers have contacted the royal family to negotiate payment.

    Aduba urged the public to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful information that could lead to whereabouts of Mrs. Okonjo.

    Prof. Okonjo, 82 was kidnapped by ten gunmen last Sunday afternoon at the palace of her husband and the Obi of Ugwashi-Ukwu in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

     

  • NOA flags off campus campaign

    NOA flags off campus campaign

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged off the Do the right thing, a campus-focus and student re-orientation for students of University of Calabar with a lecture titled Nigeria Tertiary Institution of Learning, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Implication for National Transformation.

    Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. James Epoke lauded the agency for the programme adding that doing the right thing to transform Nigeria as the slogan of the body says begins with an individual and building a nation full of hope.

    He advised the students to love their country and always ask what they can do for their country and not what their country can do for them. He advised them to shun all social vices that can jeopardize their study.

    Prof. Epoke charged the government to provide the amenities that can enhance learning in the tertiary institutions to enable them function efficiently and effectively and to enable them be patriotic.

    In his welcome address, Mike Omeri, Director General, NOA commended the large turnout of students and staffs at the programme and urged them to emulate the steadfastness and tenacity of the legal luminary whose contributions had impacted positively on the society.

    Presenting her Keynote address on Nigeria Tertiary Institution of learning, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow; Implications for National Transformation, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili said that Nigeria institutions have demonstrated its belief that once there is strong research and development system, the nation’s economy will also be strong because of its conviction that research and innovation are key drivers for economic growth.

    “For the economy to grow, a nation must invest in research and innovation at the tertiary institutions” Ezekwesili stated

    Prof. Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan of the department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Kaduna state in his presentation on “The Imperative of industrial harmony and Academic Excellence in a Productive Educational System” said that the challenge facing the Nigerian educational sector include incessant industrial dispute, brain drain, poor financing of quality education, cultism, corrupt practices and abuse of trust.

    He noted that academic excellence cannot be achieved without improving funding and quality of education in the country adding that promoting visionary and disciplined leadership in the educational system is the key to conducive environment for learning devoid of corrupt practices and indiscipline.

    Prof Ladan charged the federal government to increase annual budget allocation to education from 8.4% ( 2012) or 8.7% (2013) to at least the UNESCO minimum benchmark of 26% or Africa best practice on investment in education ( Ghana’s 31% in 2012, better utilization of funds, tracking and monitoring of the use of the resources for education by multi stakeholders forum and lastly reduce the monthly or annual take home pay of all political officer holders to the 0.5million  package of a professor as a way of showing their patriotism and commitment to academic excellence and industrial harmony for the betterment of all.

    Other Keynote speakers include Prof. Femi Odekunle, Professor of Criminology and Anti Corruption crusader, who spoke on the Dimensions and Implication of Moral Decadence in Nigeria tertiary institution of learning, Ene Ede, Principal, Equity Advocate Abuja,  the role of tertiary institution of learning as a veritable resources  base for nation transformation, Comrade Jude Imagwe, Senior Special Assistant to the President Youth and students matters who spoke on the challenges of value reorientation in Nigeria tertiary education system and Emeka Eluem Izeze, the Managing Director and  Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspaper.

    The event featured a drama presentation and cultural dances by the university performing company.

     

     

     

     

  • WAEC to stop schools from registering external candidates

    WAEC to stop schools from registering external candidates

     

    The West African Examination Council on Tuesday said it would soon stop the registration of external students by schools.

    The coordinator of WAEC in Plateau, Mr. Basil Inyang, made the announcement at a stakeholder’s forum on “Eradication of Examination Malpractice’’, organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jos on Tuesday.

    The coordinator also said that once a student failed the examination, the said student would not be availed the opportunity to register in the succeeding year.

    “We shall soon cancel the registration of external candidates by secondary schools.

    “This is because most students look for miracle centres to register for the examination, constituting the bulk of examination malpractices.

    “If a student fails the examination in the first sitting and wants to sit for the second time, the students must go back to their former school and register again,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the coordinator as saying at the forum.

    Inyang said that there were a lot of reforms that WAEC was undertaking at the moment in its quest to curb examination malpractices.

    He challenged teachers to impact on students, the virtue of effective knowledge, as most of them looked up to their teachers as role models.

     

  • 8 year-old wins Airtel’s NGT N10m star prize

    8 year-old wins Airtel’s NGT N10m star prize

    Dancing sensation Amarachi Uyanne has won the N10 million grand prize of the Nigeria’s Got Talent Season One reality show sponsored by  Airtel Nigeria.

    She won through a public voting process  managed by Forbes Limited.

    Amarachi, who was unveiled at the weekend at the grand finale of the reality show in Lagos, beat top contender, Violinist Godwin Ogechukwu and eight other finalists to get the winner-takes-it-all prize.

    The eight years-old primary five pupil from Igbodo in Delta State is now the youngest non-inheritor millionaire in Nigeria having broken the previous record set by Solomon Ebuka Nwanke Ubani who became a millionaire at age 20.

    Amarachi emerged from a cast of ten finalists, reduced to six, then four and finally three based on votes cast by viewers. Voting ended on Friday, December 7, 2012.

    Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Rajan Swaroop  assisted by the CEO of Rapid Blue Format and Optima Media Group, Mr. Rotimi Pedro presented the winning cheque of N10million to Amarachi, with her mother in tow.

    Rajan Swaroop said at the event that Airtel Nigeria is committed to creating platforms that would help to discover and nurture talented Nigerians to stardom just as he expressed satisfaction over the organisation of the NGT.

    An elated Amarachi after receiving her cheque, said she would use part of the money to support orphans and to pursue her ambition of becoming a medical doctor.

    “I am happy that I won. At first I was afraid and thought I would lose, but thank God I won in the end. I want to help orphans with the money, and also for the education of my two siblings as well as mine,” Amarachi said.

     

  • Okonjo-Iweala’s mother kidnapped

    Okonjo-Iweala’s mother kidnapped

    Mother of the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala was on Sunday abducted at the Ogwashi-Uku palace in Delta State.

    The 82 years old  octogenarian,  Professor Kanene  Okonjo who is the queen mother of Ogwashi-Uku  was abducted at about 1:47pm by a gang of armed men who seized her at  the palace gate and took her away to an unknown destination.
    The police have however  arrested a man who allegedly left the palace compound few minutes before she was kidnapped.
    The man was said to have informed the housemaid that he was in the palace to take the queen mother to somewhere in the town.
    It was gathered that the kidnappers numbering about 10 were lurking around the palace until the Minister’s mother and her maid came down to serve workers at the gate  drinks.
    Eye witness account said as soon as the woman came down from the main  building  towards the gate, the kidnappers also moved in from the gate, grabbed  and pushed her into a waiting Golf Volkswagen car.
    “The abductors when they walked into the compound were heavily armed.
    They were about ten. They bailed up the men fixing the interlocking tiles and asked them to lay face down. Immediately they saw her (the King’s wife who was coming towards the gate with her maid to serve the workers drinks, they bundled her into a waiting vehicle the Golf car while another car was parked outside”.
    One of them, bracing all odds, reportedly went upstairs to collect the woman’s handbag. The eyewitness said another maid who sighted the kidnapper upstairs hid herself in the Kitchen.
    On coming down from the upstairs, the kidnapper informed his gang members that there was no one else in the house before  they zoomed off.
    At the palace of Prof. Chukwuka  Okonjo yesterday, the atmosphere was  gloomy as many sympathizers and well wishers, including members of the  community’s vigilante group gathered discussing the development.

    When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Charles Muka confirmed the report

  • FUTO graduate emerges CAMPUSLIFE 2012 Reporter-of-the-year

    FUTO graduate emerges CAMPUSLIFE 2012 Reporter-of-the-year

    A corps member, Gerald Nwokocha, has emerged  the 2012 Reporter-of-the-Year in the 4th CAMPUSLIFE writers awards sponsored by  Coca –Cola/Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC).

    The event, held on Friday, November 31 in Lagos attracted the who-is-who in the academic and media profession.

    Nwokocha’s entry on the killing of a Batch C Corps member, Stephen Enyinnaya Nwosu, titled: “Outrage over the death of Corps member mistaken for Boko Haram member”, was commended for its depth and accuracy.

    Nwokocha, a corps member in Abuja, is a graduate of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, also won the Best Political Reporter of the year.

    An elated Nwokocha dedicated his award to the late founding editor of the CAMPUSLIFE, Mrs Ngozi Agbo, whom, according to him commended his works before her death.

    Other winners at the award were: Ngozi Emmanuel and Emeka Attah, joint winners of the Culture category; Uche Anichebe, Investigative Reporting category; Habeeb Whyte, Personality Profile Category; Gilbert Alasa, Commentary and Opinion Writing category; Chisom Ojukwu, Sports Category; and Esther Mark, Entertainment category.

  • No plan to hike fuel price, says Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that there is no plan to hike the fuel price next year.

    He gave this assurance during the presidential chat held on Sunday evening in Abuja.

    “It is not true that there is any plan to increase the price of fuel. We have already made provision for subsidy in the 2013 budget. I was misunderstood when I spoke on the matter during a courtesy visit by a group to my office,” Jonathan said

    The President  also stated stated that there is no on-going dialogue with the Boko Haram group contrary to reports, noting that the leaders of the fundamentalist group  remain faceless.

    “The members of the group wear mask and they are faceless,” the President stated, adding that that ensuring security remains a major challenge of his administration.

     

  • Giving new life to children amputees

    Giving new life to children amputees

    Six days after the birth of her first child and daughter, Irede, Crystal and husband Zubby were told that their daughter was missing a tibia and patella in her right leg; and the only option for a normal life was amputation and prosthesis. 

    Crystal Chigbu, mother of three year old Beulah Irede Chigbu spoke with Yetunde Oladeinde about the initial trauma and how it inspired her to care for children in this category
    Crystal, a mother of 5 (2 Biological and 3 adopted) over the last three years, has grown from a confused first-time mom to a pillar for her daughter; challenging her to believe in herself, engage in all activities her peers engage in and live her life to the fullest.
    “About three years ago, I went into labour and had my child. Along the line, we found that she had a funny thing with her leg and we were referred to the National Orthopedic hospital, Enugu where it was detected that she had congenital absence of her tibia and patella.”
    The made a number of medical consultations and they were given a lot of options like fusion of the tibia. “But we wanted to seek a better option or a second opinion. It is not easy to amputate your child’s leg. We even travelled abroad but everything pointed towards amputation. At a point, we just had to take a decision that was best for the child. She was in school and was the only one crawling in her class at the age of two”, she recollects sadly.

    Beulah’s leg was amputated last year and she is doing very well now. “I believe that the worst kind of disability is in the mind and it is important to be positive at all times. So I am driven to share with all kids with limb loss, their families and care-givers ways to manage limb loss with the right outlook”.

    At the moment Chigbu who is the Baby Channel Manager at Procter and Gamble Nigeria Limited, is
    Passionate about a new ‘baby’ called The Irede Foundation (TIF). The foundation provides prosthesis and other helpful aide to indigent children between 0-18 years. Our focus is on children who are living with limb loss, either congenital or acquired”.
    The aim is to encourage children living with limb loss to live a life of fulfillment. “Our desire is for their families to rise to the challenge with an attitude and behavior that says to both the child and the family, “I can’t” is not an option, “but that with unwavering hope and faith We can and We will rise to the occasion that is life and give full expression to our potentials.”

    Ask Chigbu what she hopes to achieve with the organisation and she replies “Over the first year of launch, our goal is to Sponsor the provision of 18 prosthesis to indigent families with limb loss cases. We also plan to capture 50 families in our support group. In addition, we will carry out limb loss and social stigma trainings for 2 primary schools and 2 secondary schools in Lagos. These falls into our program framework categorized as empower, educate and encourage.
    So what are the challenges the organization have been facing? “The first is getting the right kind and quality of prosthetic limbs for our ‘children’ at an affordable cost. One other challenge is fully establishing the support group structure; so that parents can plug in at any time. In addition, I would say that Project funding is also a problem as we are yet to have corporate sponsorships.”
    But in spite of all these, happily she goes on to talk about some of the achievements recorded so far. “In the space of the four months in which the foundation has existed, we have been able to provide Prosthesis for Kelechi, a 2 year old bilateral amputee that lost both legs after a brief illness. With her prosthesis and she now stands and walks. This for us is huge because we see our hope for children living with limb loss come to life”.
    Chigbu adds that: “With encouragement from our support system, one of the families has been able to put their child in school. This was a concern they didn’t know how to address. TIF is currently providing counseling for the Adepitan family currently at LUTH with a 9 year old daughter amputated due to bone cancer. We plan to move to the stage of acquiring prosthesis in 3months.”

    Ask Chigbu about her projection for the next ten years and she replies this way. “Our goal is to provide 250 prosthetic limbs over the next 5 years. We also want to expand our activities to other African countries”.
    Her major source of inspiration, she says has been God and her daughter Beulah. “Seeing her play and jump around daily fills me with so much joy and opens up my eyes to see more possibilities for other children with limb loss given the proper dose of love, encouragement and support”.

    If Chigbu has to advise other parents having this problem, what would she tell them? “I would advise them on a lot of things but the most important, would be that It’s not the end of the world. Limb loss is not Mind loss; and all kids with limb loss can still be who they were born to be. As parents, we need to rise out of the pain and confusion and be there for our children so they can shine and live to their fullest potential. Finally, I’d advise them not to be limited in their thinking…..everything is possible!”
    What is Chigbu’s greatest influence in life? “God is the major influence in my life. He is my creator, my Maker who consistently guides my path and over time I have learnt to depend on him for direction, strength and courage to go on. My mother is also a strong influence in my life.’
    She adds that: “She strongly believes that ‘If you go for anything in life, you will get it, and she fully demonstrates this everyday of her life. Due to her support and constant words of encouragement, I have grown to develop this undefeatable spirit and it has helped me surmount every challenge that I have come across in life”.

  • Olusola Saraki is dead

    Olusola Saraki is dead

    The strongman of Kwara politics and Senate leader in the second republic, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki is dead.

    He reportedly died on Wednesday morning in Lagos.

    The Warizi of Ilorin was 79 years old.

    His son, Senator Bukola Saraki, former Kwara State governor left Abuja for Lagos this morning when he was contacted.

    Kwara State Commissioner for Information, Tunji Morounfoye, confirmed the death of Dr. Saraki on Wednesday morning.

    Meanwhile, the state government has declared a three-day mourning following the death of the elder statesman on Wednesday.

    The late Saraki was born on May 17, 1933 in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    His mother was from Iseyin in Oyo State and his father was an indigene of Ilorin.

    He was educated at Eko Boys High School in Mushin, Lagos.

    He also attended the University of London, and St George’s Hospital Medical School, London.

    He worked as a medical officer at the General Hospital, Lagos and the Creek Hospital, Lagos.

    The Second Republic Senate Leader first entered politics when he contested the 1964 parliamentary election for Ilorin as an independent candidate, but lost to another candidate from the area.

    After the election, he returned to his medical practice in Lagos, only returning to party-politics during the Second Republic.

    In 1977, Saraki was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1979 constitution.

    In 1979 he was elected a Senator of the Second Republic, and became Senate Leader.

    In 1983 Saraki was re-elected into the Senate on the defunct National Party of Nigeria’s platform.

    In 1998, the medical doctor-turned- politician became a National Leader and member of the Board of Trustees of the All People’s Party, contributing to the party’ success in Kwara and Kogi States.

    He played a pivotal role in the emergence of Mohammed Lawal as Governor of Kwara State during the period.

    In 2001 he was head of a team from the Arewa Consultative Forum, a Northern cultural and political group, sent to meet and discuss common goals with Northern state governors and other leaders.