Category: Northern Reports

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Uba Sani, has distributed N20 million grant to 700 traders across Kaduna State to enable them pay 10% mortgage down payment and rent on their shops.

The Managing Director, Kaduna Market Development and Management Company, Tamar Nandul, who disclosed this on Friday at the commissioning of two shopping centers by Sen. Uba Sani at the Sheikh Gumi Central Market Kaduna, said the traders were drawn from various markets across the state such as Sheikh Gumi Central Market, Chechenya Market, Kabala Market, Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari and Dan Magaji markets, as well as Ungwan Rimi, Kawo, Kasuwan Bacci and Kwoi markets.

She said, “In September 2022, traders across Kaduna State endorsed his candidacy for Governor of Kaduna State and inaugurated a support group towards the campaign effort. At the event, we called on the senator to provide support to traders who are finding it difficult to purchase their shops and at that same event, Senator Uba Sani pledged the sum of N20 million (N20,000,000) as support to traders across the state. We are pleased to confirm that he has fulfilled that pledge to our traders.

“Because of his generosity, over 700 traders have been empowered. In Sheikh Gumi Market, 197 traders are getting support to make their mortgage down payments, in Kasuwan Magani, 80 traders have been supported to pay their rent for a year, 25 petty traders in Checheniya Market have been empowered, 10 women in Kabala Market, 185 traders across Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari and Dan Magaji have been empowered. Of course traders in Ungwan Rimi, Kawo, Kasuwan Bacci and Kwoi are not left behind. The impact of this grant is immediate and transformational…”

“This administration of Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, of which Senator Uba Sani is a core team member, is focused on the development of people, regardless of their political party.

She shot down arguments that the gifts were for political reasons or that Governor el-Rufai’s Market Redevelopment Programme was a scam, stating that “you can all attest to the transformation going in markets across Kaduna State. We are aware that some of them have peddled the fake news that we demolished 40,000 shops and we challenge them to show their proof.”

She also stated that the government is building over 20 markets across the state, with some already in use, adding that “it is only in 9 markets that there was demolition. In 8 of these markets apart from Kasuwan Bacci, we provided temporary markets for traders to continue their business while construction is ongoing.”

GOVERNOR Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday visited Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge Local Government in the central part of Borno State, where he supervised the distribution of redesigned naira notes to over 12,000 residents.

The governor’s intervention was to enable residents buy food. The residents have been cut off by flooding, which destroyed farmlands during the rains and forced residents to only source food stuff from border villages between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Rann can only be reached by road through the border areas in Cameroon.

This is due to flooded roads caused by a dam discharge in Central Africa, which trapped Nigerians in Rann, preventing them from travelling to other parts of Borno and denying them access to their farms which were also flooded.

Zulum flew from Maiduguri to Rann on board a helicopter to coordinate the distribution of the redesigned naira notes to vulnerable men and women, most of whom have no source of livelihood.

“Unfortunately this community has been cut off from the rest of Nigeria for the last seven months. They do not have access to any of the facilities because of the heavy rainfall coupled with the lack of access roads. We are here in Rann to provide some relief materials to about 12,000 households living here,” Zulum explained.

Before Zulum’s visit on Thursday, residents had lamented that traders were no longer accepting the old naira notes being phased out.

…Inspects Hospital, Secretariat

Governor Zulum also inspected ongoing public projects which included the Rann General Hospital now fully completed.

Zulum also visited a new council secretariat site at over 70% completion stage and a central mosque at 70% completion stage.

The Transitional Council Chairman of Kala-Balge, Zannah Jabu conducted the governor around the projects.

Governor Zulum travelled in company of the APC’s candidate for Borno Central Senatorial seat, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan; House of Reps candidate for Marte, Monguno and Nganzai, Engr. Bukar Talba; the Majority Leader of the Borno State House of Assembly, Dige Mohammed; Commissioner for Local Government, Sugun Mai Mele and some top government officials.

THE Kaduna Polytechnic is to begin courses in Railway Engineering, as President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned N456 million newly constructed Department of Railway Engineering and other projects funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Other projects commissioned at the institution by President Buhari who was represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, Senator Aliyu Wamako: were classrooms for Chemical Engineering Departments and High Purity Oxygen for the Treatment of Covid-19 Patients.

Commissioning the projects, President Buhari’s representative said, “Education plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of nations, and therefore, the commissioning of these projects today would in no small measure further enhance teaching and learning and improvement of academic standards.

“I wish to reiterate that education forms an integral part of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s agenda, hence the Federal Government would continue to provide necessary support towards making our educational institutions globally competitive for economic and technological development of the country.”

The president, who also commissioned N685 million worth projects at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), N604 million worth projects at Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and a N491 million worth project at Kaduna State University, expressed delight at the excellent execution of the projects.

“I am delighted to note that the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Kaduna Polytechnic, the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna and other public tertiary educational institutions in Kaduna State have not been exempted from these intervention efforts of TETFund”.

SEVEN people have been confirmed dead in a lone crash that occurred at Gwachipe Bridge in Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The crash, which occurred at about 6.10 am, involved a white Toyota Hiace with registration number MUS 216 YA heading from Kastina to Lagos.

The Niger State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, said 22 people were in the crashed vehicle and 15 of them sustained severe injuries while seven of them – two female and five male died.

He stated that the crash was caused by a burst tyre and loss of control by the driver.

Tsukwam said that the corpses were taken to the Suleja General Hospital while the injured passengers were taken to the FMC Gawu Babangida.

The Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) has commenced the training of 40 women in Savings and Loans in Mubi North and Mubi South local government areas of Adamawa State.

Supported by UN women in partnership with Iwuese Multipurpose Cooperative Society (IMCS), the programme is promoting early recovery for displaced women and girls to ensure financial stability for them.

Speaking during the establishment of Village Savings and Loans Associations in Mubi North and Mubi South LGAs, Executive Director of IMCS, Ms. Ritdimwa Doofan Orga said the aim was to equip the beneficiaries with dependable money saving skills.

Ritdimwa Doofan said the Village  Savings and Loan training which will give the beneficiaries money saving knowledge that would change their lives.

Read Also: Unicef, AUN to expand ‘Feed & Read’ program in Adamawa

“The Village Savings and Loans Association is going to give you a special identity in your various communities. It will also give you a special status and a prominent role in problem solving and decision-making in your communities,” she told the beneficiaries, assuring them that the training would equip them to become wealth creators.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Abigail Ibrahim and Rifkatu Danladi  pledged to use the knowledge gained during the training to transform their lives.

“We have been doing local contributions, but most times we have issues with people who usually don’t like repaying loans. But with the training we have received, we will fare better this time,” Riftaku said.

Our correspondent reports that Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) are groups which provide poor people in remote, rural areas with a safe place to store small amounts and build up a fund from which small, flexible loans can be taken by members.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State consistently reiterates the dedication of his administration to delivering education that is both high-quality and relevant to the 21st century.

“Our huge investment in the education sector continues despite dwindling revenues and competing priorities for governments worldwide. We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of the state,” he emphasised at the Phase 2 KwaraLEARN Teachers’ Induction Training Graduation Ceremony in Ilorin.

His Excellency’s actions speak louder than his words when it comes to providing quality education. Since taking office in 2019, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has shown his commitment through the renovations and construction of new school buildings across the State’s 16 Local Government Areas and hiring of 4,701 additional teachers to strengthen the State’s education workforce. Additionally, under His Excellency’s leadership, education in the state has been digitised with great success.

Kwara State emphasis on enhancing the quality of education and the wellbeing of both teachers and pupils would be highly praised by UNESCO, the United Nations’s education agency, which frequently advocates for investing in education. By focusing on the development of both pupils and teachers, describing the latter as the bedrock of the State and the former as the future of the State, Kwara State aligns with the theme of this year’s International Day of Education, “Investing in People, Prioritising Education”. January 24th was designated as the International Day of Education by the UN in 2018 to recognize the significance of education for growth and peace.

The International Day of Education is a reminder that despite the progress being made in terms of global growth, there are still societies that do not prioritise education. This day serves as a call to action, emphasising the importance of inclusive and equitable quality education for all in order to achieve gender equality and break the cycle of poverty.

The AbdulRazaq government’s focus on human capital development through strategic interventions, such as the KwaraLEARN programme, has been a comforting solution to the problem of children and youths being out of school. The government’s efforts have been praised globally. As part of this effort, thousands of government teachers and school leaders have been retrained in digital and scientific teaching methods and are now providing this education to public primary schools in ten Local Government Areas in the state

Mallam AbdulRazaq has explained the significant investment made in primary education as a way to improve the learning outcomes of pupils. He believes that providing a solid foundation in primary education is crucial for children’s development.

KwaraLEARN, which is supported by NewGlobe as its technical partner, ensures that every teacher receives instructional guidance that is based on the latest pedagogical research. This technology allows for world-class lessons to be delivered by all teachers and also enables real-time monitoring from every classroom in every school, which is designed to maximise learning.

Stakeholders like KWSUBEB understand the importance of providing high-quality lessons and are able to monitor not only pupils’ progress, but also other key metrics. Prof. Adaramaja stated, “We have provided tablets to primary school teachers so they can access the same curriculum and lesson materials.”

“This technology allows us to decrease absenteeism, truancy, and absenteeism among teachers. By using remote monitoring, we can monitor who is teaching what and the quality of teaching across primary schools.”

KwaraLEARN has trained primary school head-teachers and teachers in the use of digital technology, such as tablets and updated curricula. This programme has been implemented in 870 public primary schools in Kwara State and has improved the interaction between teachers and pupils through the use of eLearning.

In addition to incorporating technology, Kwara places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of its teachers. During the closing ceremony of the Phase 2 Teachers’ Induction Training, His Excellency reemphasised his administrations’ commitment to the wellbeing of teachers. “I assured teachers of improved welfare packages beyond paying their salaries. We appreciated the best teachers recently. We are working on a housing scheme, which will come in place very soon by the grace of God. We will also come up with a scheme under which teachers will have access to car loans,” His Excellency stated.

The Chairman of the National Union of Teachers, Kwara State Wing, Comrade Oyewo Bashiru Ayinde, has praised the support provided to his members. “KwaraLEARN has transformed the way teaching and learning is approached, making it more focused on the needs of the pupils. The technology also allows the teachers to continuously learn and improve as they have access to guidance and support. Overall, it has been a positive experience,” he said.

When teachers are provided with proper resources and training, the pupils are the primary recipients of the benefits. A study conducted by 2019 Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Michael Kremer in Kenya discovered that the methodologies used in KwaraLEARN led to significantly improved learning outcomes in numeracy and literacy compared to traditional teaching methods, with pupils learning twice as much in numeracy and three times as much in literacy. This study is considered one of the most rigorously conducted interventions in Africa and Emerging Markets.

At various forums, parents have praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s KwaraLEARN programme, noting improvements in their children. One parent during the First Week of School Visits, Mrs. Munirat Jimoh, stated, “I am pleased with the progress my kids are making through KwaraLEARN. I did not anticipate them performing so well in the exams, my son in Primary 5 came second, while the one is Primary 3 came first.” At the Bishop Smith LGEA School B, Hajia Madinat Sanni, a parent, also recognized the academic advancements of her wards. “My child is performing so well. I regularly check in with his teacher and I’m pleased with his progress.”

As this year’s International World Education Day highlights, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq understands the value of investing in the education sector. He recognizes the transformative power of quality education and is working to provide pupils with a more promising future through the KwaraLEARN programme, which not only improves their education but also provides their teachers with the skills necessary for a successful 21st-century education system.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has urged traditional, religious and community leaders to champion the campaign against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in their communities.

Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the Chairman, NDLEA made the call in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

The NDLEA boss visited Igumale, Ado Local Government Area of Benue  to perform the ground-breaking of the agency’s area command office in the community.

The foundation laying and the commissioning of a 20-kilometre road was facilitated by the member, representing Ado-Ogbadigbo-Okpokwu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Ottah Agbo.

Marwa urged Igumale traditional ruler, Chief Joseph Ikor to see the siting of an NDLEA office in his domain as a call to mobilise his people.

This, he said, was to reject substance abuse and support ongoing efforts to eliminate access to illicit drugs wreaking havocs in families and communities.

”Both developments are signs of the importance of this community and local government to Nigeria’s welfare,” he said.

Marwa said that the command was also a testament that the Igumale community was not left out of the dividends of democracy by its leaders.

He commended Agbo, also the Chairman, House Committee on Narcotic Drugs for his passion and commitment to efforts to make Nigeria a drug-free country.

He said the lawmaker was about making history with his sponsorship of a bill to make political office seekers take the Dug Integrity Test, from councillorship to the highest office in the country.

“At the same time, he has also been one of the key drivers of the amendment of the NDLEA Act which we hope will be passed before the end of the ninth National Assembly. Even as he worked on the national stage, he also remains an embodiment of the saying that “charity begins at home, “he said.

Marwa admonished the community and appealed to the good people of the constituency to do their best to ensure they keep the communities clean of illicit drugs.

The Borno chapter of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of destroying its campaign billboards in Maiduguri.

Its state Chairman, Mohammmed Mustapha, in a statement in Maiduguri, said: “The campaign billboards of our presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and that of the Borno Central Senatorial candidate, Attom Magira Tom, were violently attacked and destroyed in strategic locations. This attack on our campaign structures was coming barely two weeks after similar destruction was carried out on the same number of billboards. As law-abiding members of a party whose principles have resonated with the electorates, we did not call for counter-violence.

“Instead, we urge our teaming supporters to remain calm and law-abiding while the leadership of NNPP reported the matter to concerned security agencies,” Mustapha said.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take disciplinary measure against the APC in line with the Electoral Act.

But the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Ali Dalori, denied the allegation, saying that the party was deeply rooted in the state and had never considered the NNPP as a threat.

“What are we going to achieve by destroying NNPP billboards in the town? To me, NNPP is just looking for attention,” Dalori said.

By Onimisi Alao, Yola

The United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) said it will expand the special education programme of America University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola which targets out-of-school children.

Its Country Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, who made the commitment during a visit to the university, said Unicef would be providing additional resources to expand the programme to include more beneficiaries.

Our correspondent reports that 100 pupils, mostly street children not in any formal school, or almajiri, are currently being taught basic literacy through the Feed & Read program of the AUN in which the pupils eat free meals each day as they receive lessons.

Mundiate, who said a country which does not educate its citizens faces a dangerous future, stressed that the Feed & Read programme would be extended to include more pupils.

“We have 50 girls and 50 boys currently on the programme. The whole idea is to expand, to see about bringing in more children into this intensive foundational literacy program,” she said.

She said the program is an exemplary one, telling the AUN management, “It’s great that you are running the Feed & Read programme considering the damage that can result from letting children remain out of school. You compromise your future if you don’t keep young ones in school. We must face the future today by giving children access to education.”

President (VC) of AUN, Prof Yusuf Attahir, said the programme is part of the social responsibility commitment of the university.

He thanked the Unicef for its commitment towards providing technical assistance and funding for the program.

OVER dinner, the Founder and Senior Partner of Gbenga Biobaku and Co, a law firm has recounted the 20 years of interesting journey of the firm, which, according to him started at a small office on Keffi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Biobaku said  the two decades were a major milestone for the partners and their officials..

The celebration had many exciting activities, which climaxed on January 19, with a special anniversary dinner at The Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi Lagos.

The dinner provided a convivial atmosphere and platform to celebrate the firm’s staff members, partners and especially clients, who have sustained it in business .

As part of the activities marking the anniversary, the law firm  last month, had a charity visit to Bethesda Primary and Secondary schools. It also had a thanksgiving service and a beach party for GBC officials  and GBC alumni.

GBC, as the law firm is  called, has other partners which include; Okey Nwanya, Ijeoma Abalogu, Ayoade Oluwasanmi, and Wale Tejuoso.

 Biobaku noted that it has been an interesting journey for the law firm that started 20 years ago at a small place on Keffi Street, Ikoyi, Lagos and that 20 years is a major milestone for the law firm.

He also appreciated the firm’s long-standing clients such as Equinor, Baker Hughes, Parker Drilling and Bolamark Engineering.

“20 years of any business is a major milestone and we think that this is a good time to celebrate with our clients, and friends and also to reenergise ourselves for the future as well.

“We thought it would be good to bring together most of the people that have been part of our journey in the last 20 years and some of our close friends and associates,” the senior partner said.

Tracing the journey from the firm’s days of little beginning, Biobaku said: “We started a little over 20 years ago at a small office in Strachan Street. The office was actually provided to us by a good friend of mine who is also with us.

“The firm has grown over the years to become a medium-sized commercial law firm in Nigeria. We moved to a much bigger office in Keffi Street within one year of starting up, and after a few years we moved to a much bigger space which is our current location in Lekki.”

Ijeoma Abalogu, a partner of the law firm, expressed her excitement over the sustained growth and giant strides achieved by the firm over the 20 years in business.

She hailed the commitment and professionalism of the partners, especially the senior partner in steering the firm to greatness.

The dinner  witnessed an insightful presentation by Prof Chris Ogbechie, Dean of the Lagos Business School, who was also the guest speaker.

The professor during his speech presentation titled:“Navigating the Uncertain Business Terrain of 2023” reviewed the economy, business and corporate world in a practical way that exposed the challenges and also ways to navigate the uncertain business terrain of 2023.

For Mutiu Sunmonu, chairman of the event, it was truly a big milestone considering that many businesses have gone down because of the economic realities and challenges of doing business in Nigeria.

He praised Biobaku and his team and urged them to sustain their commitment and professionalism in order to ensure GBC lives to see even beyond another 20 years anniversary.