The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IBBU

  • Police arrest IBBU student over alleged cybercrimes against Bago

    Police arrest IBBU student over alleged cybercrimes against Bago

    The Niger Police Command has arrested Abubakar Isah Mokwa, a 29-year-old postgraduate student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University of Agriculture and Mechanic (IBBUL) in Lapai, on allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and other cybercrime-related offenses, following a formal complaint reportedly instigated by Governor Umaru Bago. 

    The arrest, which took place at Mokwa’s residence in Lapai around 11:00 pm. on Thursday has sparked widespread controversy, with critics alleging it is a targeted move to suppress dissent.

    Mokwa, a known social media critic of Bago’s administration and popularly referred to as “Sen Isah Mokwa,” was detained by operatives from the Lapai Divisional Police Headquarters and subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the command headquarters in Minna for further investigation, according to SP Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer for Niger State Command. 

    Abiodun confirmed the arrest in a statement on October 24, stating that Mokwa remains in custody pending further developments, which will be communicated to the public in due course. 

    According to sources close to the case, including a lawyer representing Mokwa’s family, the Niger State government, under Bago’s directive, had ordered police to file charges of terrorism and cybercrime against Mokwa, specifically citing his use of the satirical nickname “Governor Amunike” to criticize the governor. 

    The moniker, a reference to former footballer Emmanuel Amunike, is often used to mock politicians perceived as making unfulfilled promises. 

    Mokwa is expected to face formal charges of cyberbullying next week, though he remains in detention as of Saturday, October 25, 2025. 

    The complaint, lodged by representatives of the State Government, stems from Mokwa’s social media posts, including a Facebook entry six days before his arrest, where he listed grievances against Bago’s administration. 

    These included ongoing banditry in Zones B and C, unpaid pensions, inadequate aid for flood victims in Mokwa, unfulfilled scholarship promises, high fees (N360,000 per session) at a new state university, underfunding of IBBUL with “zero infrastructure,” and the abandonment of the IBB Teaching Hospital after its relocation to Minna.  

    While acknowledging some progress on road and bridge projects, Mokwa criticised their slow pace and incomplete status.

    Hours before his arrest, Mokwa expressed concerns for his safety, alleging that two officers from the Lapai division had visited his student lodge earlier that evening and inquired about his whereabouts from his roommate, identified as Dula. 

    In a statement with reporters, he declared: “There has been a suspicious move by two Lapai division police officers this evening at my lodge. If before tomorrow anything happens, Dula knows the policemen who came. Tell the world I only stand for the truth and nothing but the truth, and I will never back down on that.” 

    Mokwa’s supporters, family, and human rights advocates have condemned the arrest as an attack on free speech, situating it within a broader pattern of alleged government crackdowns on dissent in Niger State. 

    Farouk Mokwa, identifying himself as the suspect’s brother, posted on X that the detention lacked evidence and accused the Lapai Divisional Police Officer of acting on orders without due process, “When individuals that choose not to be swayed by the ineptitudes of the government are being picked and bundled like criminals, what hope is left for the future of opposition?” he wrote, rallying support under the hashtag #FreeSenIsahMokwa. 

    A family lawyer confirmed the arrest, noting the case is bailable but expressing concern over Mokwa’s continued detention.

    As of Saturday morning, Niger State government officials had not responded to requests for comment on the allegations or the arrest. 

    Police authorities reiterated that the investigation is ongoing, with no formal charges filed as of the latest updates.  

    Mokwa’s supporters continue to mobilise online under #FreeSenIsahMokwa, warning that the case signals a troubling clampdown on democratic freedoms in Niger State.

  • IBBU, RMRDC complete mapping of raw materials in three states 

    IBBU, RMRDC complete mapping of raw materials in three states 

    The Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University ( IBBU ), Lapai, has completed mapping and characterization of industrial mineral deposits in Nasarawa, Kwara and Niger states.

    This is contained in a press statement signed by the Vice Chancellor of IBBU, Prof. Muhammad Maiturare, made available on Thursday in Minna.

    Maiturare said the university was commissioned to undertaken the project by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council ( RMRDC ).

    He said that the full report of the project had been submitted to the Director General of RMRDC, Dr Hussaini Ibrahim.

    The vice chancellor commended the council for supporting the project through a research grant to the university, stressing that the gesture was in line with current focus on developing solid minerals to diversify the economy.

    He said, the study mapped and geochemically characterized five strategic industrial minerals, namely, Clay, Marble, Barite, Talc and Feldspar.

    ” The results showed that cosmetic, jewellery, cement, battery, paint, ceramics, pharmaceutical and building materials industries could be developed and sustained in these areas using the mapped industrial minerals.”

    Maiturare noted that sustained mining of solid minerals would generate employment, reduce poverty, create wealth and empower women and youth in the country.

    The Director General of RMRDC, Dr Hussaini Ibrahim, said when he received the report that the council would be commissioned to undertake similar study in the remaining states of North Central zone.

    NAN

  • IBBU regains accreditation for Accounting, other

    The Accounting and Public Administration programmes of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State have been given full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    Both programmes lost accreditation during the 2010 and 2013 exercises.

    However, the results of the accreditation by officials of NUC in January, showed that full accreditation status of the two programmes had been restored.

    This feat was achieved through a deliberate effort by the Management to boost the programmes with required calibre of faculty and modern learning facilities.

    With the accreditation restored, the university can admit students into the two programmes for 2016/2017 academic session.

    In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Sunday Gana, the University Management thanked the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, the lawmakers and other Stakeholders for contributing immensely to the huge success achieved by the institution.

  • Leap for IBBU-TETFund coal project

    Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai in Niger State has carried out field mapping and evaluation on identified coal deposits in four states under its Clean Coal project.

    The research, which won a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grant, was inaugurated last October.

    The research team has since visited coal deposits in Kudu and Makera, Niger State; Okaba and Omelehu, Kogi State;  Owukpa, Benue State; and Lafia-Obi in Nasarawa State.

    The team found the largest deposits in Okaba followed by Owukpa. Both deposits and that of Lafia-Obi were identified as fields that could be mined.

    The Kudu, Makera and Omelehu deposits were found deeply underground and only accessible by drilling for about 30 metres in Kudu and 50 metres in Omelehu.

    The Team Co-ordinator, Prof Nuhu Obaje, said coal samples collected from the sites are being subjected to pre-defusinisation analyses to determine their energy efficiency and efficiency pathways.

    Obaje said the analyses are being done in IBBU’s Geology Laboratory as well as the  Federal Institute for Geosciences (BGR), in Hannover, Germany; Getamme Laboratory, Port Harcourt, Rivers State’ and the Energy Research Centre, Umar Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina.

    He said the team plans to hold the first progress report seminar in the third week of next month. An Associate Professor from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Halidu Hamza, is also on the project.

     

  • IBB University staff threatens to down tool

    IBB University staff threatens to down tool

    Niger State government have till Wednesday to effect payment of April salary of the staff of the state owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai or the workforce goes on industrial action.

    The ultimatum was given by all the labour unions in the institution.

    This was disclosed by the branch chairmen of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Comrade Shehu Mohammed Lawal, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mahmood Musa Mahmood, Non-Acadrmic Staff Union (NASU), Mustapha Abdulkadir and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Babakatcha Ndanusa in Minna, the state capital.

    ASUU chairman who spoke on behalf of the unions said over years the staff strength of the university had been increased without a corresponding increament in the financial allocation which made it impossible for the university to pay salaries now.

    He argued that the N70 million monthly subvention to the University was grossly inadequate to meet the present staff monthly wage bill of N120 million.

    “The four unions wish to bring to the notice of the government and people of Niger state the gross underfunding that has continuously plague IBB University, Lapai which has resulted to its inability to pay salaries. As it is now, salary for the month of April, 2015 has not yet been paid while there other outstanding areas since August, 2014.

    “Therefore, based on the foregoing, we are giving the state government from now to Wednesday to pay our salary or we will remain with no option than to down tools.

    ” The Union wish to forcefully put on record that payment of staff salary is the sole responsibility of the proprietor of the University,” the unions maintained.

  • Hostels’ renovation excites IBB varsity students

    To improve the well-being of students, the management of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State has started  renovating hostels.

    The work started under former Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo whose five-year term ended last December.

    The incumbent, Prof Nasiru Maiturare, on assumption, pledged to continue the renovation, hailing his predecessor for laying a good foundation.

    The VC said his administration was ready to partner with landlords in the institution’s host community to find lasting solution to accommodation challenges in off-campus location. He said he would plead with the landlords to lower rent for students willing to stay in Lapai community.

    Maiturare said: “We are going to partner all relevant associations in our host community so as to ensure that there is a drastic reduction in off campus rent fee. This will go a long way in solving the accommodation problem facing students in Lapai.”

    Students, who returned to campus to see their hostels being upgraded, could not hide their excitement. Some of them spoke with CAMPUSLIFE.

    Adebayo Obamoh, a 300-Level student, said Prof Kolo did the right thing before leaving office. “This is a signal of good leadership; at least, new students can enjoy the facilities. I contemplated about getting accommodation off-campus as I returned to school, because the condition of the school hostels. But, when I got here and saw the massive renovation work, I changed my mind.”

    Muhammad Abdulkadir, an English student, said the renovation would make students to be comfortable and attract development to the campus, hailing the VC for the project.

    A fresher, who pleaded for anonymity, said the hostels were in deplorable state when she came for her clearance before resumption. This, she said, informed her decision to stay off campus when the school resumed. “But, my decision was rather fast and I think I am not going to be comfortable in my off-campus residence. I did not know the renovation would be immediate,” she said.

     

  • IBBU, American agency train mental health facilitators

    Concerned by the increasing rate of depression and suicide attempts among youths, the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University  (IBBU), Lapai, in collaboration with an American-based National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), has commenced the training of mental health facilitators.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo on Monday said insecurity and other socio-economic challenges in the country have heightened the number of depression casualties, hence the need to train mental health facilitators in the country.

    He stated that the training of mental health facilitators which was the first of its kind in West Africa would attempt to solve mental problems through counseling.

    Kolo lamented the dearth of experts in the country explaining for the high rate of people who indulged in suicide activities.

    The case, Kolo stressed, has been worsened by lack of specialists in Mental Health as well as training facilitator that will handle depressions associated with various occurrences being witnessed daily in the country.

    Kolo hinted that two universities and IBBU were chosen from Nigeria for the training of the facilitators but others have not shown sufficient interest, hence the choice of IBBU by the American base agency.

    He said participants were drawn among professionals, including counsellors, disaster and risk managers from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),

    The guest speaker Dr.  Charles Igwuegbulam, said statistics have shown that there are 150 million people with one form of mental health problems across the world with most of them from developing nations.

  • IBBU to start PG programmes September

    IBBU to start PG programmes September

    Post Graduate programmes will commence at the Niger State-owned  Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai in 2014/2015 academic session, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, has said.

    Kolo said this at the first convocation of the university where 1,732 students graduated – eight of them with first class honours.

    He said the university was prepared for the visit and the inspection of facilities by the Resource inspection team of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    Kolo said the post graduate courses at masters and doctoral levels would be offered in Counselling Psychology, English, Adult Education, Biochemistry, Geography and Political Science including post Graduate Diploma in Maritime Studies.

    “For this purpose, the Post-Graduate School board has been put in place. By the grace of God, we expect to start our Post-Graduate Programmes by the coming 2014/2015 academic session in September this year,” he said.

    Giving a breakdown of results, the Vice Chancellor said 324 students graduated with second class upper while 902 graduated with second class lower. He added that 472 others made Third Class while 22 students got pass degree.

    Speaking of the university’s growth, Kolo said from having only four professors and 28 lecturers at inception in 2006, the university now has 20 professors, 20 associate professors, 42 senior lecturers and 140 lecturers in its employ.

    He added that the university has 680 technical and support staff facilitating quality of teaching and learning at the institution.

  • Don bags award

    Don bags award

    The Dean, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, IBBU, Lapai, Prof Nuhu Obaje has bagged an award for his work on the sedimentary geology of Nigeria, including expounding results on the Bida basin hydrocarbon prospects.

    The award of excellence sponsored by the National Petroleum Investments and Management Services (NAPIMS) was presented during the 50th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) held in Benin.

    Obaje headed a nine-man technical research team appointed by the Niger State government to ascertain the viability of commercial deposits and drillable sites of petroleum and other related hydrocarbons in Bida Basin and has been an icon in the field of geology in Nigeria.

    The award was instituted by NAPIMS to honour the pioneer Head, Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Prof Richard Reyment for his study of virtually all the sedimentary basins of Nigeria and production of the first coherent synthesis of their biostratigraphy.

  • Plans for maiden convocation

    Plans for maiden convocation

    The IBBU, Lapai Management has released a proposed programme of events for the maiden convocation of the university scheduled to hold between May 22 and 25.

    The five-day event would feature a golf tournament at the Etsu Golf course, Lapai; press briefing; novelty football match between male and female workers on May 22.  It would continue with an alumni re-union meeting; inauguration of twin lecture theatre; induction of education graduates by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Juma’at prayer services and Convocation Lecture entitled: Nigeria in One Hundred Years: Educational Development Milestones, Challenges and Prospects; and a dinner on May 23.

    May 24 would feature the investiture of the Chancellor and the convocation, while the ceremonies would be concluded on May 25 with a Christian Inter-Denominational Thanksgiving at the Wing B of the twin lecture theatre complex on the main campus.