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Tag: Ibrahim Dankwambo

  • Gombe cultivate 10,000 hectares of cotton in 2018

    Gombe cultivate 10,000 hectares of cotton in 2018

    Gombe State Government says it is going to cultivate 10,000 hectares of cotton in 2018 farming season across the 11 Local Government Areas of the state.

    Malam Musa Umar, Chairman Gombe State Commodity Depot and Exchange Centre, disclosed this in an interview with our reporters,   in Gombe on Wednesday.

    He said that the Nigeria Incentive–Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending ( NIRSAL ) would finance the project.

    “NIRSAL has agreed to finance the project, we have even registered the farmers and the state government will be the off takers of the produce.

    `We want to source market for our farmers, give them good price of international standard.” he said.

    Umar said they were going to use 5,000 farmers and each farmer would cultivate two hectares of land.

    Read Also: Gombe: Tal community seek intervention on abandoned school project

    According to him, previously Gombe has the best quality cotton in the world, but the story has completely changed.

    “We already know Gombe used to be a cotton belt and in those days we were producing 119,000 metric tonnes of cotton.

    “The Gombe State commodity Depot and Exchange Centre will bring back the lost glory of the state.

    “The centre will also reposition and transform the economic sector of the state’’, he said.

    Our reporters, reports that the Commodity Depot Exchange Centre concept emanated from a paper presented by the 11 sector committee inaugurated by Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo during his first tenure in 2011.

    NAN

  • Pupils’ enrolment up in North East after Boko Haram disruption

    Pupils’ enrolment up in North East after Boko Haram disruption

    States in the North East sub-region have intensified efforts to encourage enrolment of pupils into primary schools following the return of peace to the area.

    A survey indicates that the states have evolved programmes to encourage enrolment in schools, in addition to the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government.

    Stakeholders in the area say the free feeding programme is playing key role in attracting pupils to remain in school.

    Alhaji Shettima Kullima, Chairman of Borno State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB ) said they had registered 247, 877 pupils in public schools for the 2018 academic year.

    He said that the figure comprised of 142,589 boys and 132, 288 girls enrolled in 623 primary schools spread across the state.

    He explained as a result of the insurgency experienced in the state about 1, 346 schools needed to be rehabilitated and equipped with class room furniture as well as instructional materials, to provide enabling environment for learning.

    Read also: Boko Haram completely defeated – Army

    Kullima said that the improved security situation had encouraged enrolment and retention in schools across the state.

    On school feeding programme, the chairman said the board had concluded arrangement for the commencement of the exercise in designated schools.

    Also commenting, Alhaji Bulama Abiso, the State Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ), said the union had initiated a feeding programme targeting 1,000 displaced pupils to encourage them remain in school.

    He said that the union was spending about N1 million monthly on the feeding exercise in some selected schools in the state capital.

    In Gombe, the state government said it had begun preparations for the implementation of the Home-Grown School Feeding programme across the state.

    “We have passed various stages of preparation and as soon as we conclude, we will start, probably before the year runs out,” said Mrs Maryam Mele, Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo on Social Investment

    She expressed optimism that the programme would boost enrolment of pupils in primary schools, as well as improve the nutritional status of the children.

    Hajiya Zulaihatu Madugu, Director School Services, SUBEB, said there were 1, 378 pre-primary and primary schools in the state.

    She said the number of Kindergarten enrolment was 5,186 across the state, made up of 2,693 males and 2,493 females, while enrolment in primary schools stood at 625, 904, out of which 432,567 were males  and 193,337 females.

    Prof. Yahaya Yero, Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Universal Education Board ( SUBEB ) said the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme of the Federal Government had increased enrolment of pupils in the state.

    Yero said  in Bauchi that the provision of meals under the programme had increased enrolment by 36 per cent in the 2016/2017 academic session

    He said that the programme had also assisted in retention of pupils and wiped out absenteeism in schools, “as confirmed to him by Education Secretaries from various Local Government Councils.

    “They said that lots of new faces that were previously enrolled but hardly attended classes have become regular pupils.

    “We are happy that the enrolment drive has impacted on our parents because we recorded 36 percent increase in enrolment of pupils in schools.’’

    The SUBEB chairman added that the board had 4,364 schools, with total pupils enrolment figure of 1,079,105, while number of teachers stood at 25, 827.

    Mr Mansur Manusoro, Special Assistant to the state governor on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Social Investment Programmes, said N1.5 billion had been spent on the implementation of the Home-Grown Schools Feeding Programme in the State.

    According to him, the programme is in its third phase in the state.

    “‎Over 2,000 schools across the state are benefitting from the programme, involving 5,005 cooks feeding 501, 399 children,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Jigawa Government has commenced the implementation of the school feeding programme on January 31, 2018.

    Deputy Governor of the state, Ibrahim Hassan, said at the flag-off of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme that it would enhance attendance and retention of pupils in primary schools.

    Investigation reveals that there are about 600,000 males to about 250,000 females in primary schools in the state.

    In Yobe, the Executive chairman of SUBEB, Alhaji Goni Ibrahim said there were 1,160 nursery and primary schools in the state, as well as 116 Junior Secondary schools.

    The chairman however said authentic enrolment figures were not available “because people displaced as a result of insurgency are still moving back to their communities.’’

    He however said the board, in collaboration with UNICEF, has engaged in massive sensitization to boost enrolment in primary schools.

    According to the chairman, the state is not captured in the current school feeding programme of the federal government, but expressed optimism that the state would be involved in the next phase.

    In Adamawa, Mr. Julius Kadala, Commissioner for Education said the state had a total primary school enrolment figure of 596, 000 pupils in 1,941 primary schools across the state with 24,000 registered teachers.

    He disclosed that the school feeding programme had not commenced in the state.

    NAN

  • 2019: Northern youths ask Atiku, Lamido to step down for Dankwambo

    2019: Northern youths ask Atiku, Lamido to step down for Dankwambo

    Northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youths Coalition have called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, to drop their presidential ambition.

    The coalition asked all the presidential aspirants in the PDP to throw their weight behind the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo.

    The Northern youths said Nigeria needs a young and vibrant leader like Dankwambo who has shown example of what good leadership should be in Gombe State.

    Speaking at a rally to drum support for Dankwambo in Kaduna, on Saturday, the Chairman of the coalition, Comrade Abdullahi Mohammed Jika, said “everybody in the country knows that we are not where we ought to be as a country. That is why we are here to call on Governor Dankwambo of Gombe State to come and contest and rescue our country from the myriad of challenges bedeviling us.

    “We have chosen Dankwambo because we have seen what he has done in Gombe State. He is a detribalised Nigerian. He has solutions to our economic and security challenges and he can move the country to the promised land.

    “Therefore, we are calling on other contenders within the party to put their ambition aside and support Dankwambo with their resources, contacts and everything within their possession, because PDP is one big family.”

     

     

  • Gov. Dankwambo calls on stakeholders to support NYSC scheme

    Gov. Dankwambo calls on stakeholders to support NYSC scheme

    Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has called on all stakeholders to support the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme to ensure the realisation of its objectives for national development.

    Dankwambo made the call at the swearing-in ceremony of 2017 batch ‘B’ stream one orientation course at temporary orientation camp, Amada in Akko Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

    He said the scheme has assisted greatly in moulding the nation into a united entity for rapid socio-economic development.

    According to him, the scheme has done so much toward eliminating ethnic bigotry, sectionalism and tribalism.

    He commended the effort of the Federal Government and the management of NYSC for sustaining the programme.

    Dankwambo assured the corps members posted to the state of their safety, welfare and wellbeing during their stay in the state.

    He urged them to participate fully in all the activities as a way of contributing to the development of state and the country at large.

    Mr David Markson, NYSC State Coordinator said they were able to register a total of 1, 514 corps members comprising 767 males and 747 females.

    He urged them to be of good behaviour and shun all forms of evil acts for a successful service year stressing any person caught would be punished in accordance to the provision of NYSC byelaw.

    He called on the corps members to uphold the core values of the NYSC by putting the nation first in all what they do.

    Alhaji Adamu Abubkar, Head of Service, Gombe State and the NYSC governing board chairman advised the crops members to take Skill Acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes serious irrespective of their academic discipline.

    He said that these would help them to be self-reliant during and after the service year.

    Abubakar appealed to camp officials to see the corps members as their brothers and sisters by giving them listening ears and accord them the necessary assistance when the need arises.

    NAN

  • PDP to work with any chairman elected at Dec. 9 convention

    PDP to work with any chairman elected at Dec. 9 convention

    The eight contenders for the National Chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP )have agreed to work with any of them elected at the party’s National Convention on Dec. 9.

    Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, made the disclosure at a news briefing in the early hours of Monday after a five and half hour closed door meeting in Enugu.

    Fayose said that the governors met to deliberate on the forthcoming national convention and discussed with the chairmanship aspirants.

    According to him, the forthcoming PDP convention will serve as template for future conventions in the country.“We put PDP first and PDP is first.

    We are leaving Enugu believing that we will take power at the centre in 2019.

    Fayose flanked by other PDP governors expressed the belief that the party would win the Nov. 18 governorship poll in Anambra.

    “We believe we will take over Anambra if the election is free, fair and credible.“Nigeria is of age to conduct election that is acceptable internationally,” he said.

    Governors at the meeting were, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia; Darius Ishaku, Taraba; Ibrahim Dankwambo, Gombe.

    Others were Emmanuel Udom, Akwa-Ibom; Ben Ayade,Cross River; ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa; Nyesom Wike, River, while Ebonyi was represented by the deputy governor.

    Eight chairmanship aspirants, South-west had six, while South-South had two.They are: Bode George, Jimi Agbaje, Taoheed Adedoja, Tunde Adeniran, Rasheed Ladoja, Gbenga Daniel, Raymond Dokpesi and Uche Secondus.

    Former governors at the meeting were Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom.

    The meeting was also attended by former External Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, Kema Chikwe, former Senate President Adolpus Wabara, and incumbent Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

    NAN

     

  • Sustain prevailing peace in Gombe – Dankwambo appeals

    Sustain prevailing peace in Gombe – Dankwambo appeals

    Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has appealed to traditional and religious leaders, and entire people of the state to sustain the prevailing peace being enjoyed in the state.

    Dankwambo spoke on Friday in Gombe, during a sallah reception at Government House, shortly after he returned from the Eid praying ground.

    “Peace is the prerequisite for the socio-economic development of our dear state and the country at large, hence the need to sustain it.

    “Shun act capable of disrupting our peaceful co-existence, I assure you government will not abandon its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property,” he said.

    He expressed his appreciation to the people for supporting his administration to implement viable policies and programmes aimed at improving the living standard of the people.

    “Let me reassure the good people of Gombe State that we will not rest on our oars in providing socio-economic infrastructure for the transformation of our dear state,” he said.

    The governor also urged the people to pray for safe return of Nigerians who were in Saudi Arabia on holy pilgrimage.

  • NEC approves rehabilitation of prisons by states

    NEC approves rehabilitation of prisons by states

    The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday resolved that state government with the financial capacity can rehabilitate prisons and provide necessary facilities towards reducing prison decongestion across the country.

    The decision was reached during the 78th session presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Council had expressed worries over the appalling conditions of structures and logistics in the nation’s prisons after a presentation by the Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Danbazzu and the Comptroller General of Prisons.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, said the governors were unanimous on the need to rehabilitate prisons in the country.

    He said: “The situation they painted was quite pathetic. I visited the prisons in my state for the first time recently and what l saw was terrible. So, it was agreed that governors should on their own develop initiatives to manage the prisons. For instance, some have transferred prisons from urban centres.

    “NEC agreed that governors should support the federal government on prison matters. States that have the capacity to build prisons should go ahead and do so, including the involvement of private sector participation.

    “The minister said 70 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial. Some of them can be converted to labour use. 10 per cent of them are condemned, meaning 20 per cent are true prisoners. Some of the prisoners should be engaged in agricultural programme.

    “Governors should do a number of things to decongest prisons. Chief judges of states should frequently visit prisons. Governors should either sign death sentences of those condemned or commit them because it is risky leaving them after their trial had been concluded. NEC resolved that there should be emergency situations on prisons.”

    Also speaking, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, gave an update on the Excess Crude Account (ECA) put at $2.3billion as well as Stabilization, Natural Resources Development and Ecological Funds.

    He said that Council also approved extension of budget support to states due to the economic recession.

    He said: “Council was briefed on budget support to states because of dwindling revenue and budget implementation. The programme was meant for a year but because of recession, acting president said the facility should continue pending when other claims of states and local governments would be settled.”

    The Budget Support Loan Facility is an initiative of the Buhari administration to help states boost their funding in the light of the dwindling Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations.

     

     

  • Dankwambo urges FG to increase allocations to states

    Gombe State Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on Wednesday said appealed to the Federal Government to increase the allocation to states.

    Dankwambo made the appeal in Okada near Benin, Edo, while delivering a lecture at the 18th  Founder’s Day celebration of the Igbinedion University, Okada.
    He said that the state as a tier of the he Federal system had been pivotal in the political and socio-economic developments of the nation, and that they were shouldering heavy financial burdens.
    According to him, states are constitutional over-burdened yet, they received inadequate revenue in terms of revenue distribution.

    The central government which was farther from the grassroots has always taken the lion share of federal allocation, he said.
    The governor who spoke on the theme: “The States in the Nigeria’s Federation” emphasised the need for increased revenue allocation to states in order to strengthen their capacity to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities.
    The governor said that local governments lacked the capacity the states have, but that could be addressed gradually and in synergy with state governments.
    He said the states should be more accountable for allocations received from the Federal Government and from their IGR.

    “I believe if there is prudent management of resources, states could really transform lives of people in their jurisdictions.
    “Their citizens will benefit and lead more meaningful lives, and this will certainly douse tensions and agitations,” he said.
    Dankwambo said that this would give the nation the space and peace to better address fundamental issues of unity, peace and progress that were vitally needed in an increasing volatile world.
    Earlier, Prof. Eghosa Oseghae, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution; said the institution had made progress in spite of challenges.

    It opened space for youths who were desirous of education that could not easily get it through public instruction, he said.
    He said that with the coming of private university, fewer burdens were placed on federal and state governments just as it had helped to absorb what the public universities could not accommodate.

    The Chancellor and founder of the institution, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, in his opening remarks said that it was a day of joy, as a dream he nurtured and birthed in 1999 had now attained 18 years.
    He attributed the success story of the university to God.

     

  • Gombe promises to implement N56, 000 minimum wage

    Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, has assured the state civil servants that his government would immediately implement the proposed N56, 000 national minimum wage, if the Federal Government approves it.

    Dankwambo gave the assurance at the commemoration of 2017 Workers’ Day in Gombe on Monday.

    The governor was represented by his deputy, Mr Charles Iliya, who is also acting Governor.

    ‘’As soon as the Federal Government approves the new minimum wage, our administration will implement it within the limit of our resources.’’

    He, however, called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerians to be resilient and support government efforts aimed at moving the country out of current economic recession.
    “Our administration accords top priority to the welfare of civil servants whose selfless service contributed immensely to the socio-economy development of our dear state.’’

    Earlier in his remarks, Mr Aliyu Kamara, the State Chairman, NLC, appealed to the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency approve the new minimum wage submitted by the Technical Committee.

    He said that approval of the new minimum wage became necessary, considering the current economic recession and the attendant high cost of goods and services in the country.
    Kamara also appealed to state government to consider all issues presented to it during the interactive session held between labour leaders and government.

    He noted that this year theme entitled, “Labour Relations in Economic Recession an Appraisal’’ could not have come at a better time, considering the numerous challenges facing Nigerian workers.

    Kamara, however, commended the state government for prompt payment of salaries and allowances of civil servants, employment and the release of N2 billion for the payment of gratuities to retirees.

    Also in his remarks, Dr Daniel Musa, the State’s Head of Service, called on the workers to continue supporting government to move the state forward.

    Musa assured the workers that with the authentic data of the civil servants, identification cards with pin number would soon be issued to civil servants.

    He expressed optimism that the effort would improve the service and detect lazy workers.

  • FUK Gombe employs seven first class graduates

    Federal University Kashere (FUK) Gombe State has offered employment to seven of its 309 graduates in the 2015/2016 academic session.

    The seven made first class.

    Prof. Alhassan Gani disclosed this during the second convocation ceremony in Kashere , Akko Local Government Area on Saturday.

    He said that among the seven offered jobs, was a female from the department of Mathematics, who was the best overall.

    Apart from first class graduates, 114 made second class upper, 144 second class lower, 43 third class. One person however made an ordinary pass.

    “In keeping with our tradition of giving automatic employment to our first class graduates, let me assure the 7 first class graduates of employment after completing their National Youth Service Corp (NYSC)”, he said.

    He said the 309 graduates came from three faculties. The Faculty of Agriculture which commenced a five year academic programme in 2013 will graduate its students this year.

    Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo congratulated the students and wished them well in their future careers.

    Dankwambo who was represented by his deputy now the ag. Gov. Mr Charles Iliya, called on the university management to introduce additional courses to give the teeming youth opportunities.

    Iliya gave the assurance that the state government would continue to support the university within the limits of its resources.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, the visitor was represented by the Director National University Commission (NUC), Dr Rukayyatu Abdulkarim.

    Buhari urged the graduands to apply the knowledge acquired for their future success.

    He commended the Gombe State for handing over the Agricultural Institute to the university