The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International

  • Police Games targets more talents for international competitions

    Police Games targets more talents for international competitions

    As the 10th biennial Nigeria Police Games kick off in Port Harcourt today, one thing that is paramount to the organizers of the games is to discover as many talents as possible that would be representing the nation in international competitions.

    Speaking with the journalists in Port Harcourt, the Nigeria Police PRO, Frank Mbah noted that the Police would be picking men and women from this games who would represent Nigeria at the World Police games in August, keeping in mind also the next Commonwealth games and 2016 Olympics.

    “We are preparing our athletes for the World Police games coming up in Belfast, Northern Ireland in August this year. So from this competition, we will be picking men and women that will be representing the Nigeria Police Force there. “Beyond that, the Nigerian Police felt very bad that Nigeria went to the last Olympics and came back with nothing, and we want to fill that void, and also the coming commonwealth games,” he said..

    Mba also revealed that the Police games has also been upgraded more with new innovations and would have twenty-five competitive games and three non-scoring events.

    “We have increased the number of games we used to have before. We will also be experimenting what we call the mixed relay. It’s an innovation of the Nigerian Police where u have men and women in a single team running on track and competing together against each other.

    “Adequate arrangements has been made for the games. For us, the Police games is not just about sports; it’s about celebrating Africa, Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force. It’s also about empowering our officers and men.

    “Hence, what you are going to see in Port Harcourt is going to be a celebration of best of sports in Nigeria,” he said.

    Mba concluded by saying that the games would also give Nigeria strong Public Relations with neighbouring nations as Policemen are expected from the five countries of Benin, Ghana, Gambia, Burkina Faso and Guinea to the games.

     

  • IG assures medal winning athletes of international exposures

    IG assures medal winning athletes of international exposures

    Athletes who excel at the forthcoming police games in Port Harcourt will be groomed to represent the Nigeria Police Force at the 2013 Biennial World Police and Fire Games (WPFG).

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja and signed by CSP Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations officer.

    The statement said that athletes from 70 countries are expected to compete in 66 sporting events at the WPFG, a biennial athletic fiesta, billed for Aug. 1 to Aug. 10 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The events include athletics, volleyball, basketball, football, tennis and martial arts like Judo, Wrestling and Taekwondo. It said that the Nigeria Police contingent would feature in 28 of the events.

    The statement noted that police athletes were not strangers to international sporting events because some of them had represented the country in the Commonwealth Games, the All African Games and the Olympics in the past.

    It assured police athletes who had not enjoyed such international exposure before to look forward to the 2013 edition of the Games in Belfast.

    Meanwhile, the statement said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar had approved the invitation to police athletic teams from five West African countries to participate in the Port Harcourt games. They are Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Senegal and Gambia.

    The statement said the police authorities in Ghana and the Republic of Benin had confirmed that they would participate in the games while response from the other three countries is being awaited.

    It said that the invitation was not only aimed at strengthening personal and professional relationship among police outfits in the sub-region but “to positively impact on transnational crime fighting synergy among them”.

     

  • Senate: name Ilorin International Airport after Saraki

    Senate: name Ilorin International Airport after Saraki

    •Lawmakers extol late senator’s virtues

     

    THE Senate has eulogised the late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki. It paid tribute yesterday to the former Senate Leader, who senators agreed was a shining example.

    This followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba and Senator Simeon Ajibola (Kwara South), entitled: “Demise of Senator (Dr.) Olusola Saraki.”

    For about three hours, the lawmakers poured encomiums on the late senator, listing his attributes and contributions to the development of the country.

    Even those in the gallery said it was a honour well deserved.

    Senator Ndoma-Egba recalled that the late Saraki, the Waziri and Turaki of Ilorin, was born on May 17, 1933 in Lagos into the family of Alhaji Mukhtar Mustapha Saraki, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist from Agoro Compound, Agbaji in Ajikobi Ward of Ilorin.

    The Senate Leader said Dr. Saraki attended Eko Boys High School, Lagos, Reverend Lukas College, Lagos, before leaving for England where he qualified as a medical doctor, obtaining MCRs, LRCR and MBBS in 1962.

    According to him, the late Saraki was the first indigene of Ilorin to register as a doctor with the Nigerian Medical Council in 1963.

    Ndoma-Egba said in 1964, Saraki entered politics, contesting for and losing election into the House of Representatives to represent Asa Federal Constituency.

    He said Dr. Saraki was elected into the Constituent Assembly in 1977, which prepared the nation for democratic rule in 1979.

    Said he: “When political parties were formed, preparatory to the return to civil rule, Saraki became a foundation member of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which won the 1979 General Elections.

    “He was a National Vice- Chairman of the party and contested its primaries for the presidential election, but lost to Alhaji Shehu Shagari.”

    Senator Ndoma-Egba noted that the late Saraki was undeterred by his defeat at the primary election and worked for the success of the party. He was later persuaded to contest for the Ilorin-Asa Senatorial District seat, which he won.

    Senator Smart Adeyemi said the Federal Government should be urged to name the Ilorin International Airport after the late Saraki. The prayer was unanimously adopted.

    Senate President David Mark said the late Saraki touched the lives of many Nigerians.

    He said: “Saraki touched the lives of many people in this country.

    “It shows what will happen if you live a good life, live for the ordinary people.

    “Saraki has lived and died. He is gone, but there are lessons to be learnt from his life. I think that is important.

    “He was compassionate, he was kind, he was with his people, he was God-fearing and he was honest in his dealings with people.

    “All these are good virtues we need to emulate.

    “He lived his life as a detribalised Nigerian.”

     

     

  • We are economically frustrated, Ogoni people tell Amnesty International

    The people of Bodo in Ogoni, Rivers State, have urged Amnesty International to get justice for them.

    They said the spillage of oil in their community from facilities owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has destroyed the people’s means os survival.

    The people spoke at the community’s market square, where they gathered to welcome officials of Amnesty International and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) .

    Officials of the organisations visited oil spillage sites and lamented the level of damage, describing it as inhuman.

    Speaking on behalf of the community, the Chairman of Bodo Council of Chiefs and Elders, Mr. Mene Kogbara said the people of Bodo had no future because the water where they fish, their farmland and economic trees and activities had been pdestroyed by oil spillage.

    Kogbara said: “Bodo community has no hope, especially when the damage done by Shell has not constituted a discussion at any level of government, not to talk of considering the people for any form of humanitarian assistance.

    “We thank Amnesty International for visiting our community and inspecting oil spillage sites, which have attracted international concern and reactions.

    “We are giving you our total support in the cause of this struggle to force Shell to pay compensation to the community.

    “You have shown that Bodo is in your heart by personally coming to see the realities of the suffering of our people.

    Secretary-General, Amnesty International, Mr. Salil Shetty said: “We are here to give you all the necessary support and we have decided to fight for you.”

     

  • 2012 International Bar Association Conference in Dublin

    2012 International Bar Association Conference in Dublin

    CAPTIONS

    PIX 1: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left), former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Dele Adesina SAN (left), the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Felix Yusufu Pwol (2ndright),Vice-Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators ,Abuja Chapter,Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN (middle) and Mr Rickey M. Tarfa SAN (right) during the Nigerian Lawyers’Reception for the Lawyers attending the 2012 International Bar Association Conference in Dublin hosted by the Ambassador at his residence on Temple Road, Dublin on Tuesday 2nd October,2012.

    PIX 2: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN ( left) and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Wole Olanipekun SAN (right) during the Nigerian Lawyers’ Reception for the Lawyers attending the 2012 International Bar Association Conference in Dublin hosted by the Ambassador at his residence on Temple Road,Dublin on Tuesday 2ndOctober,2012.

    PIX 3: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN ( left) and the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Ambassador Felix Yusufu Pwol ( right) during the Nigerian Lawyers’ Reception for the Lawyers attending the 2012 International Bar Association Conference in Dublin hosted by the Ambassador at his residence on Temple Road,Dublin on Tuesday 2ndOctober,2012.