The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jigawa

  • UNICEF to establish G4G in 100 Bauchi schools

    UNICEF to establish G4G in 100 Bauchi schools

    The United Nations For Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi office, says it will support the establish Girls for Girls (G4G) initiatives in 100 schools across the state.

    The Chief of Party of UNICEF, Bauchi office, Mr. Abdullahi Kaikai disclosed this on Friday while briefing newsmen to celebrate the 2017 Day for the African Child in Bauchi.

    He said that the establishment was in collaboration with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education aimed at empowering girls with knowledge, skills and confidence needed to enroll and remain in school.

    Kaikai said that UNICEF would also ensure that one million additional girls were enrolled into schools under the Girls Education Project, Phase 3 (GEP3).

    “The G4G will empower girls with information and knowledge to help build their capacity to stand up for themselves.

    “UNICEF is also working closely with the Bauchi state government under the GEP3 to ensure that one million girls are enrolled in school across the state.

    “It is well known that when you educate a girl, you educate a nation,” he said.

    He called on states such as Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau and Taraba to send all their children to school, especially the girls.

    Speaking on the child protection, Kaikai said “one of the ways the states will ensure protection for the child is by domesticating the Nigeria Child Rights Law,” he said.

    He said that out of the 12 states that were yet to domesticate the law, four – Bauchi, Adamawa, Jigawa and Gombe, all from the Bauchi Field office were yet to domesticate the law.

    Kaikai said that from January to June, UNICEF had committed 20 million dollars to the states under the Bauchi office in various women and children activities.

    He called on all states under the Bauchi office to make policies to enact laws that would protect the rights of the children.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2017 theme for the Day of the African Child is: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating Protection, Empowerment and Equal Opportunity.

  • Osinbajo seeks Reps’ approval for $1.5b external loan for 10 states

    Osinbajo seeks Reps’ approval for $1.5b external loan for 10 states

    The House of Representatives is set to consider the approval of $1.5b external loan for 10 states.

    The states are Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Ogun and Ondo.

    The loan request presented to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara by the Acting President was meant infrastructural development for the affected states.

    In the letters dated 25th May, 2017, he stated that the request was in tune with the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan earlier approved by the National Assembly.

    Osinbajo stated that the total loans being presented for special consideration and approval is US$1,492,400,000.00.

    While soliciting for the approval of the House, he added, “It will be highly appreciated if you could kindly give this request an expedited consideration and approval to enable the states meet up with all other effectiveness conditions for implementation of the projects in their respective states”.

    The breakdown showed that Kaduna is seeking $350m from World Bank; Ogun, $350m (World Bank); Ebonyi, $70m (AfDB); Abia, $100m (AfDB); Katsina, $110m (Islamic Development Bank), Jigawa, $32.4m (Islamic Development Bank); Ebonyi, $80m (Islamic Development Bank); and Kano, $200m.

    Enugu, Kano, Plateau and Ondo loan requests totaled $200m from French Development Agency.

  • ‘Crying’ Physically challenged girl gets 20 wheelchairs

    ‘Crying’ Physically challenged girl gets 20 wheelchairs

    Na’ima Hamza, the 14-year-old physically-challenged girl in Shuwarin, Kiyawa Local Government Area of Jigawa, has so far received 20 wheelchairs and three sewing machines as gifts from donors.

    The latest donors are two philanthropists, Mr Chidi Okereke and Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi, who donated eight wheelchairs and N20, 000 to her.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the girl drew public attention on May 20, when she wept profusely after failing to get a wheelchair donated by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    Zainab Shuaibu, who represented the donors, presented the items and the cash gift of N20, 000 to the girl on Thursday in Shuwarin.

    According to her, two of the wheelchairs were donated by Gebi, an Abuja based businessman.

    She said the two philanthropists after reading Na’ima’s emotional story, volunteered to assist her including helping to pay her school fees.

    Also speaking, the father of the girl, Malam Hamza Muhammad, thanked the donors for their show of love and solidarity.

    He said the family was overjoyed by the response and show of love to their daughter “who is now full of life.”

    Commenting, the District Head of Shuwarin, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, in whose palace the items were presented to the girl, commended the donors for the kind gesture.

    NYSC Coordinator in Jigawa, Mr Michael Amulo, who also witnessed the presentation, commended the donors for their support to the girl.

    Amulo recalled that the girl’s emotional response, widely reported in the media, prompted the D-G of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, CONTEC Global Foundation and some individuals to come to her aid.

    NAN also learnt that the girl had since received over 20 wheelchairs, three tricycles, three sewing machines, an expensive cell phone and two scholarship awards from individuals and a non-governmental organisation.

    NAN reports that the 14-year-old primary four pupil who had since resumed school, was earlier seen among her mates telling her life changing story.

    The girls said she was overwhelmed with the love shown to her by Nigerians, and promised to also donate some of the wheelchairs to other physically challenged persons like her.(NAN)

  • Jigawa spends N5bn on water provision in two years

    Jigawa spends N5bn on water provision in two years

    The Jigawa Government has spent over N5 billion on provision of potable water to citizens across the state in the last two years.

    Gov. Muhammad Badaru made this known while presenting his score-card to stakeholders at a town hall meeting to mark Democracy Day in Dutse on Monday.

    Badaru said out of the amount, N3.5 billion was spent on capital expenditure, while N236 million was spent to convert motorised water schemes to solar-powered ones, during the period under review.

    He added that government was planning to actualise the Dutse Greater Water Project, pointing out that a new design was also being developed, for the successful actualisation of the project.

    The governor said that his administration has planted over five million assorted seedlings in the past two years, to controlled desertification in the state.

    According to him, the 2016 desertification programme was hosted by the state, where eleven kilometres shelter belt was established in Malammadori, Babura and Garki Local Government Areas of the state in an effort to check desert encroachment.

    Badaru added that forty nine temporary forest guards were recruited to guard the forest reserves in the state.

    Also speaking, Dr Abba Zakar, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said the state government would build three General Hospitals in Guri, Garki and Buji Local Areas of the state in 2017.

    Zakar said that medical equipment worth h N800 million were procured and and distributed to health facilities across the state in 2017.

    He explained that through the ongoing screening of health personnel across the state, the ministry was able to save more than N54 million.

    The commissioner added that the money saved  would be used for the newly recruited 540 health workers.

    According to him, the state government had also evolved effective modalities that would ensure the completion of the School of Nursing project in Hadejia.

    Zakar added that the school would commence operation in October.

  • Another wheel-chair, scholarship for physically-challenged Jigawa girl

    Another wheel-chair, scholarship for physically-challenged Jigawa girl

    The management of CONTEC Global Foundation Nig. Ltd, Abuja, has pledged to grant scholarship to Miss Na’ima Hamza, the 14 year-old physically-challenged girl in Shiwarin town of Kiyawa Local Government area in Jigawa.

    It would be recalled that Hamza drew public attention on Saturday,when she wept profusely for not being considered among cripples to be presented wheel-chairs by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    Mr Tunde Ayansanwo, the Corporate Affairs Manager of the foundation, made the pledge in Shuwarin Friday while presenting a wheel-chair to Hamza in Shuwarin

    He expressed the willingness of the Foundation to assist the beneficiary to enable her further her education.

    “After reading Na’ima’s emotional story, we thought of doing something to support her life.
    “We felt we should either empower or grant her scholarship to go to school.
    “And so, we thought it will be better for her to go to school and we are ready to grant her scholarship,” Ayansanwo said.
    The manager added that a bank account would be opened for Hamza, through which the scholarship allowance would sent to her.
    Commenting, the District Head of Shuwarin,Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, in whose palace the wheel-chair was presented to the girl, commended the Foundation for the gesture.
    In her remark, Hamza, who was visibly highly elated, expressed her willingness to further her education, adding that she stopped going to school when she was in primary four.

    She therefore thanked the Foundation for coming to her aid.

    Also speaking, father of the beneficiary, Malam Hamza Muhammad, thanked the Foundation for pledging to sponsor the education of his daughter.

    It would be recalled that Hamza drew public attention on Saturday,when she wept profusely for not being considered among cripples to be presented wheel-chairs by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    Her emotional response, which was given wide publicity by the media, prompted the D-G of NYSC, Gen. Kazaure, and some individuals to come to her aid.

    So far, her reaction has attracted five wheelchairs, three sewing machines, an expensive cell phone and two scholarship awards, as assistance from individuals and a non-governmental organization. (NAN)

  • Jigawa emirate gives Zakkat to district heads

    Jigawa emirate gives Zakkat to district heads

    The Kazaure Emirate Council in Jigawa has distributed grains worth over N4.2 million and N630,785 cash as Zakkat (alms) to 13,785 less privileged people in the area.

    The emirate’s spokesman, Malam Gambo Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the items were distributed to deserving families in nine districts of the emirate.

    Garba said that the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini, gave the figure during the closing ceremony of Zakkat distribution in the area on Tuesday.

    He said the emir urged wealthy individuals to always support the vulnerable and the less privileged in the society to reduce poverty in the area.

    The spokesman also said the emir reminded the people that “giving Zakkat is one of the five pillars of Islam”.

    According to him, Hussain also reiterated the commitment of the emirate council towards the propagation of Islam in the area.

    Garba added the the emir commended the emirate’s Zakkat Collection and Distribution Committee and other individuals for their efforts towards the successful conduct of the exercise.

    Garba said that trophy and other gifts were also presented to district, village and ward heads that excelled in the collection of Zakkat in their domains. (NAN)

    The Zakkat was distributed in batches between January and May

  • Jigawa has N19b in fixed deposit

    Jigawa State Governor Muhammadu Abubakar has said the state has N19 billion in a fixed deposit account.

    The governor was speaking yesterday at Roni town, headquarters of Roni Local Government, when he opened the 49km Roni/Gad road.

    According to him, “wailers were making noise, accusing us of wickedness, saying we brought forward over N19 billion from last year into the 2017 budget.

    “In 20 months of our savings, the state accrued over N1.6 as interest from monies saved in a fix deposit.

    “They accused us of depositing money into a fixed deposit because they are unappy we didn’t put the money into banks that would help them embezzle.”

     

  • Environmentalist wants Jigawa to ban tree felling

    Environmentalist wants Jigawa to ban tree felling

    An environmentalist, Mr. Umar Ado, on Thursday urged the Jigawa Government to ban tree felling, to discourage deforestation in the state.

    Ado made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia, Jigawa.

    The environmentalist also called for the adoption of proactive measures to encourage the development of alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on firewood as a source of fuel.

    He said that the measure was imperative in view of the quantum of destruction of forest resources through tree felling.

    Ado condemned the indiscriminate felling of trees at Baturiya Forest by wood cutters, noting that the trend posed a serious threat to the environment.

    He listed the consequences of tree felling to include extinction of wildlife, desert encroachment, flood, soil erosion and climate imbalance.

    “It is necessary to enforce compliance with the ban on cutting of trees, to control depletion of forest resources and protect the environment.

    “The state and local governments should encourage tree planting and the protection of the forest resources in their respective areas.”

    Ado advised governments at all levels to initiate sound programmes to promote tree planting as a culture in the society.

    He suggested the introduction of bio-gas technologies and other environment-friendly energy sources, to reduce dependence on firewood among families in rural communities.

    The environmentalist lauded the state government for clearing the weeds on Hadejia River, adding that the gesture would enhance effective utilisation of the water resources.

  • Philanthropist donates additional wheel-chair, sewing machines, to ‘weeping girl’

    Philanthropist donates additional wheel-chair, sewing machines, to ‘weeping girl’

    Miss Naima Hamza, the 14 year-old physically-challenged girl in Jigawa, who wept on Saturday for not being among beneficiaries of wheel-chairs donated by the NYSC, now has two wheel-chairs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from the wheel-chair donated to her Monday by the NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure in response to her emotional reaction, a philanthropist in Hadejia, Jigawa, on Wednesday gave her another one.

    The philanthropist, who sent the items to her by proxy and pleaded to remain anonymous, also donated a cell phone and three sewing machines to the girl, a cripple, just as he pledged to sponsor her education.

    In addition, the donor directed his representatives, Mr Baba Sani and Mr Ali Sule, to rent a shop for the girl where she would conduct business.

    “The man said we should never mention his name because he did it because he wanted to impact positively on the life of the girl.

    “He said that a report on her emotional reaction made him to assist her.

    “He also directed that the girl be enrolled in school immediately, pledging to sponsor her education.

    “For these three sewing machines, as you can see one is handy which she can operate with her hands.

    “And for the other two sewing machines, he said two of Hamza’s relatives should use them to learn how to sew along with her.

    The philanthropists, who sent in three wheel-chairs, directed that the remaining two be given to other physically challenged persons in the area.

    Commenting, the District Head of Shuwarin,Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi, in whose palace the items were presented to the girl, commended the donor for the gesture.

    In her remark, Hamza, who was visibly highly elated, thanked the donor for coming to her aid, promising to use the items judiciously.

    Also speaking, father of the beneficiary, Malam Hamza Muhammad, thanked the philanthropist for pledging to sponsor the education of his daughter.

    Also her mother, Mrs Rakiya Hamza, said the sewing machines would empower the family economically.

    NYSC Coordinator in Jigawa, Mr Michael Amulo, who also witnessed the presentation of the items, commended the donor.

    It would be recalled that Hamza had wept, upon realizing that her name was not in the list of beneficiaries of wheel-chairs donated by NYSC to some physically-challenged persons at a ceremony in Shuwarin on Saturday.

    Her emotional response, which was given wide publicity by the media, prompted the D-G of NYSC, Gen. Kazaure, and some individuals to come to her aid. (NAN)

  • NYSC D-G donates wheel-chair to weeping Jigawa girl

    NYSC D-G donates wheel-chair to weeping Jigawa girl

    The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure  on Monday ‘wiped off ‘ the tears of the physically-challenged girl in Jigawa, who wept on Saturday for not being among beneficiaries of wheel-chairs donated by NYSC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following reports of Saturday’s emotional reactions of Miss Niimma Hamza, 14 year-old cripple, Kazaure directed that she too be provided with a wheel chair immediately.

    Presenting the wheel chair in Shuwarin town of Kiyawa Local Government Area on Monday, Coordinator of NYSC in the state, Mr Michael Omulo, confirmed that the gesture was sequel to the directive of the Director-General.

    The Coordinator explained that NYSC donated the wheel chairs under its outreach initiative aimed at impacting positively on the lives of people at the grassroots.

    In her remark, Hamza thanked Kazaure for extending the gesture to her, as well as the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for publicizing her emotion that attracted the attention of the Director –General and the public.

    It would be recalled that Hamza had wept, upon realizing that her name was not in the list of beneficiaries of wheel-chairs donated by NYSC to some physically-challenged persons at a ceremony in Shuwarin on Saturday.

    A report on her emotional reaction attracted the Director –General and other voluntary organisations, who had started coming to her aid.

    Those presented with wheel chairs on Saturday were Shamsu Imam from Hadejia Local Government Area, Yusuf Saidu from Kazaure Local Government Area and Mrs Rauda Abdullahi, a housewife, from Kiyawa Local Government Area.

    After Saturday’s presentation of the wheel-chairs however, Jigawa Coordinator of NYSC had consoled Hamza with a cash gift of N2,000, promising to consider her next time. (NAN)