The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Birnin Kebbi

  • Expert identifies poverty as barrier to girl-child education in Nigeria

    An Educationist and Development Consultant for the United Nations Children’s Fund, Dr. Dayo Ogundimu, has identified poverty, early child marriage and others as some factors affecting girl-child education in Nigeria and other African countries.

    Dr. Ogundimu, who is also the Principal Consultant, ComForch Development Communications, said these factors posed a serious challenge to girl-child education.

    He stated this during a two-day media dialogue on Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) organised by the United Nations Children Funds in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state.

    Ogundimu said: “In Nigeria and other developing countries, poverty is a critical barrier to the girl-child education.”

    According to him, CTP contributes to poverty reduction in the family and the community.

    He said the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme being implemented by UNICEF in some states in the north would help protect educational investment in the girl-child and help alleviate future poverty.

    “Cash Transfers are cash grants made to school age children (especially the girl-child) to enable them enroll, stay in school and complete their education.

    “Also, cash grants help the beneficiaries to pay for things that are essential for their schooling – books, writing materials, fees, etc.

    “On a global scale, cash transfers contribute to poverty reduction in the family and the community.

    “The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) provides financial support to families for specific purpose, e.g. to ensure proper school participation by school-age children (especially the girl-child).

    Read Also: When schooling fuels poverty

    “CCTs protect educational investment in the girl-child today in order to alleviate future poverty,” he added.

    The State Project Coordinator, Educate -A-Child/UNICEF, Kebbi state, Isah Usman, said that the CTP would address some of the underlying causes of inequalities in education outcomes, such as poverty, social exclusion and malnutrition.

    “Cash Transfer Programme addresses some of the underlying causes of inequalities in Education outcomes, such as poverty, social exclusion and malnutrition. A regular source of income allows extremely poor households to eat better food more regularly, leading to improved nutritional status. Improved nutrition in young children will in turn benefit their health, and is important for children’s cognitive development and ability to benefit meaningfully from school.

    “To change the situation and contribute to a greater reduction of the number of children out of school, UNICEF proposes the expansion of the Girls Education Project Phase 3 (GEP3), funded by the UK Department of International Development, in partnership with EAC.

    “The proposed interventions under the partnership with EAC are in line with UNICEF’s vision and mission of the realisation of children’s rights including their right to education and with EAC’s mission, vision and goals, focusing on out-of-school children and quality education for them,” he said.

    Also, the State Project Coordinator, Educate -A-Child/UNICEF, Kebbi state, Isah Usman said the goal of the EAC/CTP project is to expand access to basic education to 501, 749 children out of the 10. 2 million that are out-of-school in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states by 2020.

    He said 41, 391 children had so far benefitted from the intervention programme by UNICEF in Kebbi state.

  • Fire razes six shops in Kebbi central market

    Fire razes six shops in Kebbi central market

    Fire has razed six shops at the side wings of Birnin Kebbi central market on Friday night.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fire gutted shops where agro chemicals and agricultural materials are being sold in the market.

    A security guard, Malam Aminu Shehu, however told NAN that the real cause of the fire outbreak was yet to be ascertained.

    Shehu confirmed that the intervention of the men of state fire service helped to prevent the fire from extending to more blocks in the market.

    ”Around 10 a.m yesterday day night I saw smoke and fire coming out from the shops and used my touch light to check the source of the fire and smoke. I discovered it was our shops where I am securing and I quickly called for help, but I don’t know the cause of the fire,” Shehu said.

    READ ALSO: Gunmen kill housewife, 3-yr-old daughter in Kebbi

    The sales representative of Saro Agro Science Nig Ltd, Mallam Muhammad Lawal, also told NAN that the company has lost millions of naira to the inferno.

    Lawal said: ”Presently I can’t say the amount of property we lost; we are going to cross check our record and know the products we lost. We lost different categories of agro chemical products and agricultural materials, and their prices vary from each other.

    Mr Ajala Olusoji, another salesman, said they were checking to see what they could salvage from the debris of the fire.

    ”This is wonderful experience i had in my life, shops burn down without knowing the source of the fire; the company has lost millions of naira, we can’t mention the amount of money we lost now because some products are more than N4000 per bottle and we lost many category of cartons of products,” he said.

    The Police and fire service are yet to comment on the incident.

    NAN

  • FG expresses concerns over increasing out-of-school children

    The Federal Government on Monday expressed concerns over the increasing rate of out-of-school children in the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said it is even more worrisome that girls in the north accounted for a higher percentage of the 13.5 million out-of-school children in the country.

    He attributed this development to poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy and illiteracy.

    He stated this during a two-day media dialogue on Cash Transfer Programme organised by the United Nations Children Funds in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in Birnin Kebbi, on Monday.

    The minister, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Advocate and Gender Desk Officer, CRIB, Uche Chuta, said that the government had introduced various development policies, including the school feeding programme to boost enrollment.

    The minister said: “Girl-child education is a major issue of concern in most developing countries of the world today, particularly in Sub-Sahara Africa, where a large number of young girls do not attend school.

    “It is however more worrisome that Nigeria is counted to be among the West African countries that have the highest number of girls that are out-of school and that more than 75 percent of the 13.5 million children out-of-school are girls.

    Read Also: CBN mobilises school children to embrace saving culture

    “Barriers to girls’ education in Nigeria, particularly in the northern parts, have been identified to include a wide range of causes. They include poverty, early marriage, illiteracy and teenage pregnancy, all of which have grave consequences for both the girl child and the society at large.

    “The Federal Government is in the forefront of enhancing massive school enrollment attendance and completion by school -aged children through various child development policies including the National School Feeding Programme.”

    Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Educate -A-Child/UNICEF, Kebbi state, Isah Usman said the goal of the EAC/CTP project is to expand access to basic education to 501, 749 children out of the 13.5 million that are out-of-school in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states by 2020.

    He said 41, 391 children had so far benefited from the intervention programme by UNICEF in Kebbi state.

    According to him, Kebbi and Zamfara states are considered as educationally disadvantaged states in the country, thus the various interventions by UNICEF.

    “To change this ugly situation, UNICEF has contributed to the expansion of girl education through its Girls Education Project (GEP -Phase 3) 1, 2 and 3 projects.

    “This is done through reduction in the poverty level by expanding the education level of the girl child as many parents cannot afford the education of their children.

    “The overall goal of EAC is to expand access to quality basic education for 501,749 out-of-school children by 2020 in Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara state.

    “The cash transfer intervention under the EAC aims to reach 41, 391 child beneficiaries and their female caregivers in four years, 31, 044 in Kebbi state and 10, 347 in Zamfara state.

    “Cash Transfer Programme addresses some of the underlying causes of inequalities in education outcomes, such as poverty, social exclusion and malnutrition.”

  • Court adjourns Kebbi APC primaries hearing to April 5

    The Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi has again adjourned to April 5 a case challenging the validity of Sen. Bala Na’Allah’s candidacy for Kebbi South Senatorial District.

    Alhaji Sule Sami has challenged Na’Allah’s validity to contest for a second term at the All Progressives Congress primary election conducted in October 2018.

    Justice Bassey Onu adjourned the matter upon oral application made by the first and third respondents, Sanusi Samaila and Ifeoluwa Adeyemo and which the second respondent, Mr Afraimu Jingi, collaborated with the submission seeking for adjournment of the matter to one week.

    Read Also: Bagudu wins in 10 Kebbi councils

    Responding to the submission, Onu adjourned the hearing to enable both respondents file their replies on the amendment of the writ of summon.

    He also ordered that all the replies be filed before the court on or before the adjourned date.

    “You all know that this matter must be heard and determined within 180 days from the date of filing the case and this matter was filed on Nov. 1, 2018 and has less than a month to expire now.

    “Justice must be served within the stipulated time,” Onu said.

    The counsel to the plaintiff, Usman Hajji, expressed confidence on the court to determine the matter within the stipulated time.

    NAN

  • Election: Bagudu sweeps results announced in Birnin Kebbi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has began announcing the results of Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections in polling units in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi capital.

    The Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress, Gov. Atiku Bagudu has so far won in polling centres announced by INEC returning officers.

    Bagudu scored 572 against Sen. Isa Galaudu Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, who got 7 votes at Iyan Gwandu polling unit 012, Marafa ward.

    In the State House of Assembly election, APC got 574 while PDP got 15, according to INEC Presiding Officer,Ogundeji Johnson, who announced the result.

    In Nasarawa 2 polling unit 002, Gov. Bagudu of APC got 526 votes while Galaudi of PDP got 98.

    In the state assembly, APC got 402 while PDP scored 203.

    Read also: El-Rufai wins polling unit

    The Presiding Officer at the unit,Victory Omatsola, announced that invalid votes were 11 for the governorship and 10 for the state house of assembly.

    In another polling unit 008 at GRA Kindi Zauro, Nasarawa ward in Birnin Kebbi, Bagudu scored 354 while Galaudi, scored 87 while in the state assembly, APC got 303 and PDP 104 votes.

    The Presiding Officer, Fagbenro Hafizo, announced the result in the unit.

    In Garkar Mai-Alelu polling unit 006, where the governor cast his vote, the APC received 745 votes against 23 garnered by the PDO in the governorship election while APC got 734 to PDP’s 23 votes in the assembly contest.

    The Presiding Officer, Mubarak Muhammad, announced that invalid votes at the unit for governorship and state assembly were 11 each and a total 1,575 votes cast.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other polling units are still collating their results.(NAN)

  • Turnout of voters impressive in Kebbi

    Accreditations and voting commenced simultaneously in most polling centres across the state as the Presidential and National Assembly elections got underway with an impressive turnout.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Burning kebbi on Saturday that personnel of the Nigeria Police,  Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) were sighted at polling units and strategic locations.

    Many residents complied with the restriction order on vehicular movement in spite of the massive turn out for the exercise.

    While officials of INEC arrived on time with the necessary voting materials at many polling units, they met large number of voters on the queue.

    At Marafa ward 004, Baiti Liman Poling Unit, in Birnin Kebbi metropolis, voters were on the queue but voting was yet to commence as at the time of this report.

    Read Also: Kebbi: Bagudu signs 2019 N151bn budget

    The officials of INEC arrived at 7.30 a.m at Magawata polling unit, in Marafa ward, Birnin Kebbi while accreditation and voting were yet to commence at 8:30 a.m.

    At 9:00 am, accreditation was yet to commence at Mai-Alelu poling unit in Nasarawa ward 2, where Gov. Atiku Bagudu is expected to cast his vote.

    Prospective voters were seen in groups discussing about the delay in the commencement of accreditation/voting in the unit.

    When interviewed, a cross section of voters in Dangaladima 003, Dangaladima ward; Shehu Zalaka 004, Gorabu and Zoramawa wards,  expressed displeasure for the delay in the accreditation/voting.

    NAN

  • INEC commence distribution electoral materials in Kebbi

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kebbi State has confirmed that it has received all the sensitive materials meant for presidential and national assembly elections and would kicks off its distribution today Wednesday across 21 Local Government Areas in kebbi state.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Ahmad Mahmud who confirmed this while briefing newsmen after inspection of the delivered materials at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Birnin-Kebbi, he notes that all the needed Card Readers have been configured.

    According to him, “I can confirm to you that we have received all the sensitive materials meant for Kebbi and all the Card Readers have been configured. Also, later today (Wednesday) we shall start distribution of all the sensitive materials across 21 local government areas in the state”, he said.

    Mahmud also discloses that 1,806,231 registered voters are expected to cast their votes in the national and state elections in the state stressed that 77,932 Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) were still unclaimed by eligible voters in the state.

    According to him, “the total registered voters in the state are 1,806,231 and we have 77,932 unclaimed PVCs in the state. The voting exercise will also take place in 2,398 polling units with 1,345 voting points in 225 wards.

    “We have over 16,000 adhoc staff, including collating officers, Returning Officers and other electoral officers that would supervise the elections. Let me all assured you that as of today, there is no flash point in kebbi state”. He added.

  • Primary election: Court adjourns Sen. Na’Allah’s case

    The Federal High Court Birnin Kebbi, has adjourned Sen. Bala Na’Allah’s case challenging the validity of All Progressives Congress (APC’s) primary election conducted in October 2018 to Feb.20.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the validity of Na’Allah ‘s primary election that brought his candidacy to contest for Kebbi South Senatorial District for second term was challenged before the court by Alhaji Sule Sami through his counsel, Aliyu Usman.

    The presiding judge, Justice Basse Onu, adjourned the matter in line with the prayers submitted by the counsel to the plaintiff and defendant.

    In an interview after the sitting, the plaintiff counsel, Usman, said the case was on pre-election matter challenging the validity and constitutionality of the primary election that brought Na’Allah as the APC senatorial candidate.

    “The matter was filed earlier at the Federal High Court 4, Abuja Division.”

    Read Also: Boycott directive stalls Onnoghen’s case in Industrial Court

    The judge then transferred the case to Birnin Kebbi Federal High Court, after considering a new law directing that all pre-election matters must be concluded from the date of filing the case within 180 days.

    “Now there are so many applications challenging the jurisdictions and competency of the case as well as amendment processes and substitution of the counsel,” the counsel said.

    Also, the defence counsel, Mr Afraimu Jingi, said the pre-election matter had time limit by the alteration of the constitution.

    He said the case was filed by the plaintiff on Nov. 1, 2018.

    He said the case had only 180 days within which it would be heard and determined by the court.

    “As at this time, we have not started the hearing of the matter.

    ” They prayed that the primary election be set aside and the claimant should be declared as the winner of the primary,” Jingi said.

    He added that a preliminary objection had been filed, stating that the case was not brought within time.

    “But we are watching to see what will be the fate of the case by the court,” he said.

  • Gov. Bagudu approves N400m for indigenous students in tertiary institutions

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has approved over N400 million for the payment of 2017/2018 registration fees for indigenous students of the state in various tertiary institutions across the country.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, made this known on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi.

    Dakingari said that about N111 million would be spent for students in Federal University, Birnin Kebbi for the 2017/2018 session.

    He added that N149 million would also be used for the payment of fees for students in Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, for the  2017/2018 academic year.

    Read Also: Igbinedion University student wins N100,000 in Spot Kick challenge

    Dakingari said that approval of N107 million was also given for the payment of registration fees for indigenes of the state in Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu for the same session.

    “While N2.7 million is for our students at the Federal College of Technical Education, Gusau; another N2.5 million will be paid as fees for students in Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State.

    “A similar gesture of N2.5 million has been offered to students of the state’s origin in College of Education, Minna, Niger State,’’ the governor’s spokesman added.

    He said that N25.7 million would be for those in College of Basic and Advanced Studies, Yauri and N7 million for students in Federal College of Education, Kontagora in Niger.

    According to him, the governor also approved N600, 694 for students in Federal College of Education Zaria, Kaduna State.

  • 10% of school age girls out of schools in Kebbi – NGO

    The High Level Women Advocates (HILWA),  a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Kebbi, says on Thursday that 10 per cent of schools age girls are still out of the schools in the state.

    The state Chairperson of HILWA, Hajiya Maimuna Bala, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that unless urgent interventions were made, most of these girls would be exposed to greater risks.

    “Ten percentages of primary aged girls are still out of school, many were not able to progress to secondary school and still need support to develop skill in literary and numeracy.

    “Most of these disadvantaged girls are in rural areas and needed humanitarian services while others with various disabilities lacked access to descent work.

    Read Also: ‘My agenda for Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza’

    “Education and skilled workers are in great demand but roughly a quarter neither of young people most of them female are currently employed nor in education or training,” she lamented.

    Bala added that the members of the NGO have been going from one village to another in the state to enroll girl- children into schools, adding that such children would be sponsored to complete tertiary institutions.

    The chairperson called on state government and well-to-do individuals to help the organization in its quest to ensure the enrolment of more girl-children into schools.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that members of the NGO include, retired civil servants, successful business women and technocrats from across the 21 local government areas of the state.