The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hajia Zainab Maina

  • Ortom emerges Benue PDP guber candidate

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has emerged as the 2019 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ortom defeated other three contestants; John Tondo, Paul Orhii and Felix Atume at the primary election.

    The Chairman, PDP Electoral Panel for the state, Hajia Zainab Maina announced that Ortom scored 2,210 votes to emerge winner, while Tondo got 475 votes and Atume and Orhii polled 44 and 10 votes respectively.

    No invalid votes were recorded during the election.

    Read Also: Air Force Jets destroys Boko Haram meeting venue

    According to her, the election is free, fair, peaceful and conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

    In his acceptance speech, Ortom commended the delegates for re-electing him as the party candidate, adding that he would ensure unity among party members for the progress of PDP.

    He promised to carry all aspirants along for growth and development of the state for the future generations to benefit.

    Ortom promised to carry all stakeholders along in tackling insecurity in the state in order to ensure safety of lives and property.

    He also urged those who lost in the contest to support the party candidates so as to ensure victory in the 2019 general elections.

  • Insurgency: FG relocates 3,000 students from Unity schools in Northeast

    Following the persistent threat to lives in schools in the Northeast part of the country, the Federal Government has approved the transfer of 3,000 students from various Unity schools in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe state to other states.

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, who disclosed this on Thursday at the programme to mark the 2014 Universal day of the African Child, also  appealed to the Boko Haram sect to allow peace to reign in the country, saying  “there can’t be development without peace.”

    She urged Nigerian children not to be deterred but to continue to face their studies as government is doubling its efforts to ensure that school environment remain secured and safe.

    Hajia Maina said since children are the greatest asset of any nation and the foundation on which the future of the nations are built, the Federal Government will not rest on its oars until schools are safe in the country.

    “While government is putting on strategies through development of various policies and programmes to accelerate the change, the unfortunate and regrettable incidents where our innocent school children were either being abducted or massacred are highly regrettable,” she stated.

    Speaking on the theme of the 2014 celebration: “Children’s Education as an imperative for sustainable development,” the minister said the country needs educated ones to occupy significant positions in order to improve the society.

     

  • Minister, Customs to partner Ozolua’s foundation

    Minister, Customs to partner Ozolua’s foundation

    THE Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, has urged well-meaning Nigerians to prioritise their support for the disadvantaged in the society.

    She said credible platforms and non-governmental organisations (NGO) should be supported to ensure that such assistance got to the desired people.

    The minister spoke yesterday in Abuja at a media roundtable by Princess Modupe Ozolua’s Body Enhancement Foundation to highlight the activities of the organisation.

    Maina, who was represented by Mr. Nobis Eligius of Community Development Department, noted that the situation around the world had made it imperative for the rich in the society to give back to their communities and the needy.

    The minister said the foundation had created a credible platform to fulfill such obligations, adding that the ministry’s structure made available to the needy in the society.

    “The ministry is concerned about the level of poverty in our society and that is why we are partnering this foundation, to ensure that we reach the needy in the society,” she said.

    In his contribution, the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NIS), Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi, backed the call for the privileged to support initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of the less-privileged.

    According to Sani Suleiman, head Logistics, who represented Abdulahi, arrangements had been concluded by the comptroller-general for the provision of thousands of bags of rice to the foundation to aid its philanthropy.

    The CG noted that the foundation was providing a “credible and well-organised structure” to cater for the needs of the less-privileged.

    “That is why the CG has directed that we go up from the 600 bags of rice we gave last time to over a thousand bags from now,” he said.

    Mrs. Ozolua, in her remarks, said the foundation had concluded arrangement for its programme in Bayelsa State, where food items and other household materials would be provided for the less-privileged, women and the aged.

    “We are not restricted to any geo-political zone of the country. We have been to Edo and we are going to Bayelsa next.

    “This medium is just to inform Nigerians that we have not stopped our philanthropic activities. We are still giving to the needy and we will continue to that”, she said.

    She also enjoined other Nigerians to give to the needy.

  • Terrorists have taken away our joy, says minister

    Terrorists have taken away our joy, says minister

    •Ministry plans trauma centre for Chibok girls

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, admitted yesterday that terrorists have taken away the nation’s joy and made it impossible for the country to celebrate this year’s Children’s Day.

    Hajia Maina, who spoke yesterday in Abuja on the celebration, noted that the abduction of the Chibok girls had dragged the nation backwards.

    She said the ministry, in collaboration with its development partners, was working on a trauma management and counselling for the abducted girls and their parents, when they return.

    The minister urged parents not to be discouraged in their efforts to send their girls to school.

    Hajia Maina said: “Children’s Day celebration is usually a day full of fun and merriment for our dear children across the country. Unfortunately, the terrorists have taken away our joy with the kidnapping of our girls, who are supposed to be celebrating with us.

    “It is regrettable to note that at a time when our strategies for promoting the girl-child education and balance the gender gap in education are yielding significant results, the abduction of the Chibok girls drew us back.

    “This unfortunate incident should not deter us from our commitment to the girl-child education.”

     

  • Independence: Killings in north must stop – Nigerian children

    As Nigeria celebrates its 53rd independence anniversary, the National Children Parliament has called on the Federal Government to find a solution to cases of killing in the northern part of the country.

    The Children, who spoke on Tuesday Abuja at a special sitting of the Parliament to mark the nation’s independence anniversary lamented the high level of insecurity in the country and also suggested life imprisonment for perpetrators of rape in the country.

    The Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Thompson Idara, who led the sitting said it is necessary for the federal government to do something to halt the trend of rape as it have continue to lead to untimely death of Nigerian children following the crises that arise from the heinous act.

    “The federal government should rise up and address the various challenges facing the children so that they can live to see the future that they have laboured for.

    “The present administration should work and ensure that the persistent killing of youths should stop so as to safeguard their future,” he added.

    The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, who received a resolution from the Parliament to be forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan, said no one understands the problems faced by the children better than themselves.

    “I have listened with rapt attention to your deliberations and am making a commitment to forward your resolutions from this sitting to Mr. President for his consideration,” she assured.