Category: Northern Reports

Eighty-two pupils of The KNOSK N100-A-Day Charity Secondary School in Kuje Community – a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory have displayed their innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Some of the innovations included security robots, solar panels built from razor blade and wired supermarket to have electricity as well as security alarm and fans.

During the presentations, co-founder of the school, Irene Bangwell said the school received support from Worley Foundation in Australia to train the pupils on STEM education.

According to her, part of the training is to expose the students to skills of the future when they leave school.

“They are now at that phase where they are to take ICT knowledge that they have acquired and plug it into solving problems in society,” she said.

Read Also: Centre seeks investments on STEM education

She added: “What we do every school term at the KNOSK is hackathon where we ask the children to take something from what they are learning and use it to solve problems in the society.

“This term, we try to focus on girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We got students from six groups led by girls to design solutions to problems in the Kuje locality using science and technology.

The KNOSK N100-A-Day Charity Secondary School is an education initiative of Youngstars Development Initiative (YDI) designed to ensure that children, especially girls from low-income families and poor households attend and complete secondary education.

Executive Director of YDI, Kingsley Bangwell said the goal is to provide students from low-income homes get access to education.

He said the organisation is considering expanding the school to other states in order to empower kids through education so that they don’t become security problems in future.

The Senator representing Plateau North, at the National Assembly, Istifanus Gyang has urged the Plateau State Government to hand over the relief materials recently donated to victims of Bassa and Yelwan Zangam communities by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs through National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The lawmaker also called on security agencies to tackle and arrest the spread of terror attacks and criminality following the news of another attack and killing of two persons at Durbi, Hon Bitrus Kaze’s Village at Shere District of Jos East Local Government Area.

The calls were contained in a statement issued by the Senator’s Special Assistant on Media and Protocol, Mr Musa Ibrahim Ashoms.

“Senator Gyang is placing a demand on the state government to distribute the relief materials that were released by NEMA under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs few weeks back to victims of previous attacks in Plateau North to serve the purpose for which the request was made,” it stated.

Read Also; More condemnations trail attack on Plateau community

Gyang made the call following renewed attacked on Ta’agbe Community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State where 10 people were reportedly killed, several others injured and 30 houses razed.

He condemned the attacks, even as he called on security operatives, particularly the Operation Safe Haven Commander to take necessary steps to secure law-abiding citizens and ensure that those behind the Ta’agbe attacks are apprehended and brought to justice.

He regretted that the terrorists have been emboldened to undertake repeated attacks, due to inability of the government to give clear and definite orders to the Operation Safe Haven to decisively engage the terrorists to end the cycle of attacks on peace-loving citizens and communities in the Plateau North Senatorial District.

The Senator said it is worrisome to be witnessing attacks in communities as terrorists invade and unleash terror from one local government area to another in Plateau North.

He advised security agencies to stop the bloody attacks in Jos East and its environs before it escalates.

He prayed for the repose of souls of those who were killed in the attacks.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr Slyvanus Namang, in a statement has sued for calm. It called on public-spirited individuals to support the government to end the incessant violence.

The Sani Bello Foundation has operated on 540 people suffering from fibroid, appendicitis, goitre, lumps, hernia, hydrocele, thyroid, gynaecological disorders and eye diseases.

The medical outreach which is in its 8th edition was done to commemorate the 79th birthday of the founder, Colonel Sani Bello (rtd).

In a chat with reporters in Kontagora, the Head of the medical team, Dr Toth Joseph Dogo said this year’s medical outreach, 460 general surgeries for fibroid, gynaecological disorders and other ailments were carried out, adding that there were 86 eye surgeries.

He said that eye treatments were given to 600 people while over 1,000 eyeglasses were distributed.

Dogo, who is the Chairman of Graceland Health care Development Foundation, said the partnership with Sani Bello Foundation has been able to provide succour to the less privileged people who would not have been able to afford these surgeries.

Read Also; Ganduje Foundation treats 380,000 eye problems

He said his team is made up of professionals who have dedicated their annual holiday to give their skills and expertise to help and bring succour to the less privileged.

“We are glad that this edition of the surgical festival has been successful. Every year, it is as if we are starting all over again because we get a large number of people turning up. This may be probably because of the high cost of these operations which may be too high for the masses to handle.”

The Director-General of the Sani Bello Foundation, Dr Zakari Ikani said the surgical festival for this edition lasted for a week because it was realised that there are a lot of people left when it was conducted for three days.

He said the surgical festival which is done twice a year is the heartbeat of the Founder who is determined to put smiles on the face of the masses.

Ikani said the foundation has been conducting the surgical festivals in the past five years during which over 16,000 people benefitted.

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Muhammed Mahmood Abubakar has inaugurated the first-in-Nigeria Ultra-modern Fully-Automated Seed Processing Line acquired by Value Seeds Company, in Kaduna State. He said Nigeria is on its way to meeting its food sufficiency goal.

Located on Zaria-Kano Highway, Value Seeds Limited, is a field and garden crops production and Distribution Company incorporated in 2009 and a leading agricultural value-chain solution provider, which aims to reach 10 million smallholder farmers with improved and quality seeds by 2035.

The Minister, who inaugurated the facility through the Director-General National Agricultural Seed Council, Dr. Philip Olusegun Ojo, who was represented by the Northwest Regional Director of the Council, Mr Ubandoma Hudu Mohammed, said access to improved seeds is crucial to addressing food insecurity.

He noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s goal of diversifying the economy into agriculture will receive a boost if all seed companies in the country follow the footsteps of Value Seeds, as seed is a key driver to agriculture.

The Minister said: “Our dream is to see an industry that will compete competitively with the global trend. We want to have seed companies with standard machine that will clean and remove all dust, stones and the mix from coloured and uncoloured seeds so that the farmers will get value for their money.

Read Also; NALDA distributes hybrid seeds, fertilisers to 200 FCT women, youth

“The potential in agriculture relies heavily on the seeds, because if you plant a very good seed, you are already sure of 50 per cent good harvest, the remaining 50 per cent relies on your agronomy practices. So, this is a welcome development and it is a milestone in the history of Nigeria seed industry.

“We are, therefore, calling on all the rest seed companies to follow the steps of Value Seeds. One of the key challenges that this machine is going to address is seed conditioning, which is very key.

“By law, you cannot sell seed until it is conditioned and part of this conditioning is that; let the farmers get value for their money. With it, farmers will no longer be shortchanged.

“Before now, when farmers buy 20kg of seed, they end up getting 18kg because the rest 2kg will be dust. So, this machine is going to address that. And it has the capacity to process 10 metric tons per hour.”

The President of Value Seeds Limited, Sir George Zangir said Value Seeds Limited as the first Nigerian seed company to acquire the sophisticated condition line in the country, had increased members of staff, employed more and better technology in seed production and warehousing but, its processing facility was overwhelmed as they had to work overnight and relentlessly to meet demands and deadlines.

• Prioritises girl-child education

• Zulum to support 10,000 irrigation farmers

The Borno State Government has empowered 600 survivors of Gender-based Violence (GBV) through training and skills acquisition programmes. This was with support from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and UNFPA.

Mrs Zuwaira Gambo, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, disclosed this in a chat with reporters in Maiduguri on Saturday.

Gambo said the GBV survivors were trained in Safe Space, a place prepared and run by KOICA and UNFPA for women and girls to interact freely.

She explained that UNFPA and KOICA also equipped the state’s Integrated Women Empowerment Centre that was provided the skills acquisition training for the GBV survivors.

The Commissioner said over 200 patients of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) had also benefited from free repair surgery in a collaborative programme by the state government, KOICA and UNFPA.

Read Also: ‘How bandits killed our husbands, made us widows’

She noted that “for victims of rape, we also collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and members of the state’s Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) to bring suspected rapists to justice. So far, we have secured over 50 convictions.

“It is based on progress recorded by this administration that the National Women Council, under the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, awarded Governor Babagana Zulum the He for She Champion Award,” Gambo said.

Also, Mrs Zuwaira Gambo said the state government placed high priority to the education of the girl-child.

Gambo told reporters in Maiduguri on Saturday that it was based on the priority attention that Governor Babagana Zulum directed that intake into the newly established mega schools should be 60 per cent for girls and 40 per cent for boys.

She said the government also encouraged girls that excel, particularly from poor families to further their education and that so far, more than 100 girls were sponsored to study medicine.

On the passage of the Child Rights and Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, Gambo said discussions and consultations had reached advanced stage for the passage of the two bills.

In another development, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said his administration was planning to support 10,000 irrigation farmers in 2022.

Zulum disclosed this while addressing some of the 1,750 farmers who benefited from the 2021 dry season farming inputs yesterday in Shani, Bayo and Hawul Local Government Area of the state.

“We want to do more than what we are doing now by identifying more potential sites for irrigation.”

Members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State yesterday vowed to leave the party with the former governor, Danjuma Goje, who is the senator representing Gombe Central in the National Assembly.

Goje has been having a running battle with the Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya that led to a clash on November 5 in which five lives were reportedly lost.

The APC Publicity Secretary Mr. Moses Kyari had, on Thursday last week, asked the former Governor to leave the party and allow the current governor, Yahaya take charge since it is his time.

Addressing reporters in Kwadon on why they resign from their posts as ward executive, the Chairman of APC in Kwadon/Liji/Kurba Ward, Mohammed Sanni Mohammed his resignation was in solidarity with Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje.

Mohammed, who spoke with reporters alongside the youth leader, Abubakar Ali Batari and PRO II, Babayo Maina, who equally tendered their resignation letter, said he was particularly sad about the way the former Governor and Senator is being treated in the party.

He said: “We know they are asking him to leave the party for them but I want to assure you that if Goje leaves this party, we will go with him because wherever he goes we will also go,” he said.

Similarly, the Chairman of Zambuk/Kwali Ward of the local council, Malam Adamu Beguwa, told reporters alongside other exco-members yesterday in Zambuk, that he resigned as chairman in protest to the incessant attacks on the person of Senator Goje.

Read Also; Gombe: APC’s gathering storm

“Senator Goje is a good person to us and we cannot stand by and watch him being harassed or intimidated by any person. It is an insult not only to his person as a former Governor but to all of us following him because an injury to him is an injury to us all,” he said.

Also, Bello Ahmadu Dabji and Maiwada Shuwari, the Deputy Youth Leader and ex-officio, respectively said they have resigned from their respective positions because the government has barred them from visiting Senator Goje’s house.

“Since the relationship between Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Goje turned sour, we were barred from visiting the Senator. Therefore, we resigned because we felt that we don’t have business being in politics if we will be prevented from associating with Goje,” Dabji said.

The Assistant Secretary and youth leader of Kuri/Lano/Lambam Ward, Dahiru Ibrahim and Ibrahim Idris Isa respectively, said their resignation was to allow them pitch tent with the Senator.

According to the duo, they remain members of the party, “but we are waiting for the next political moves of Senator Goje as we are with him no matter where he goes.”

The treasurer and ex-officio of Gwani/Shinga/Wade Ward, Hussaini Ibrahim and Lawwali Abdullahi, said they have vacated their respective offices, “in solidarity to the person that brought the APC to Gombe State.”

The Woman Leader in Lubo/Difa and Kinafa Ward, Mrs Abigail Jimmy, said in Lubo Town that she resigned her position to protest the maltreatment of Goje by the APC leadership in the state.

Similarly, Mohammed Ajuji, PRO II of Deba Ward said even though he remains a member of the party, he decided to resign in solidarity with Goje, because of his achievement in the Gombe Central Senatorial District.