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Tag: Kaduna

  • Kaduna Int’l Polo Tournament

    Kaduna Int’l Polo Tournament

    • Emir of Katsina Cup, Imani Cup battles  hot up     

    The battle for top honours are raging in the cosmopolitan city of Kaduna as the ongoing 2023 international polo fiesta that produced two big winners in the opening week, head to a flourishing finale with the highly revered Emir of Katsina Cup and Imani Cup taking center stage this weekend.

    Jostle  in the 104-year-old international polo festival is getting more exciting as three proud champions carted home glittering laurels in the first stage of the fiesta that ended at the foremost Murtala Square on Sunday with Kangimi Resort and the Nigerian Army polo team winning the Georgian Cup and the EL-Amin Cup respectively.

    Regarded  as one of the most wanted polo crowns in the continent, the Georgian Trophy that has been contested for as the biggest prize of the tournament since 1918, pitch arch rivals, former champions playing in the colours of Kangimi Resort and 15th -time winner, Kaduna EL-Amin , in a battle royale that ultimately crowned Kangimi as the champions of the 2023 edition of the prestigious   polo festival.

    The battle for crowded EL-Amin Cup that attracted a record 22 ambitious teams dominated by beginners and rookies,  remained tight till the final day when the Army team, coached by Brigadier General Kapeh Kazir, edged out the hard fighting Aramis 5-41/2 in a closely-fought final to retain the title they won two years ago. 

    General Kapeh who congratulated the Army polo warriors for their fighting spirit, concentration and sportsmanship, saluted the Aramis Boys mounted by two Naval officers for navigating their way to the final, but he insisted that the Army team deserved their  victory.

     “All the finals today both in the Georgian Cup, the Beginners Games and the EL-Amin Cup were fantastic and I congratulate both the winners and the runners-up for their sportsmanship and discipline,” Kapeh, who doubles as the First Vice President of Kaduna Polo Club,  added.

    Read Also: Kaduna International Polo Tournament: El-Amin, Malcomines, Rubicon set for battle royale

    Meanwhile, the race for the medium-goal Emir of Katsina Cup title will not be an all-Kaduna affair, as other ambitious teams from Abuja, and Katsina have all lay big claims to title in what promises to be one of the most contested Emir’s Cup games in history of the vintage international polo fiesta.

    Kano Polo Club President, Mohammad Babangida who has vied for the Emir’s Cup and won on many occasions, said  the contest for the major prizes in the grand finale week promises to be the most competitive and the most exciting in years.

    He applauded  all the sponsors and partners of Kaduna Polo Club for their commitment in promoting the noble game of polo in the country, noting that the relationship between Kaduna polo and its benefactors over the decades, has had a positive impact in the society.

    Tournament Manager, Atiku Abubakar Saleh also confirmed that a number of individual awards and honours are lined up for all players participating the second stage of the glamorous festival that pride itself as the oldest polo tournament in the northern part of the country, rubbing shoulders with the Lagos international tournament that was inaugurated in 1904.

    The closing ceremony of the opening week of the Kaduna 2023 that was witnessed by a surging crowd that included first class Emirs, Governors, National Assembly members, members of the Diplomatic Corps, business tycoons and polo buffs from across the world, would expectedly end with pomp and ceremony .

  • Kaduna career fair to increase female participation in labour market’

    Kaduna career fair to increase female participation in labour market’

    Jobberman Nigeria has said it will host a job fair in Kaduna to boost female labour participation and lower unemployment rate in the Northeast.

    Chief Executive Officer, Jobberman Nigeria, Oreoluwa Boboye, said the event was necessary in the light of the findings of the company’s ‘2022 How Young People Survive without Jobs Report’, which showed that 26.4 per cent of youths in the Northeast had been unemployed for more than five years.

    Boboye said in a statement that the career fair is part of learning series Jobberman is organising nationwide as it continues its drive to upskill and retool youths to improve their competitiveness in the marketplace.

    He said the career fair will include a panel discussion on skills and qualities employers seek in a dynamic job market and a women segment focused on learning from successful women leaders on balancing career and personal growth.

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    “Jobberman Nigeria is organising the Kaduna Career Fair as part of the Young Nigeria Works programme implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, with support from the Kaduna State Government.

    According to the CEO, the event will take place on November 23 at Yar’Adua Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.

    Speakers at the fair will include Senior Special Assistant to the Kaduna State Governor, Naja’atu Garba Ahmed; Managing Consultant, TNV Consults Ltd, Faridah Hamzat; Chief Executive Officer, Greysoft Technologies Nigeria, Raphael Isah, among others.

    To participate, job seekers and organisations can register via www.jobberman.com/career-fair. 

    For partnership inquiries, please contact partnerships@jobberman.com or call +234 701 575 7585

  • Kaduna communities track $2.8m earmarked for 47 projects

    Kaduna communities track $2.8m earmarked for 47 projects

    Community members in Kaduna State have  tracked N9,397,800,000.00 (USD 2.8 million) earmarked for 47 projects across the state.

    The communities, through Connected Development’s Deepening Citizens’ Interest in Government Spending and Addressing Accompanying Corrupt Practices in Kaduna State (DeSPAAC) project began tracking most of the projects that were  abandoned since 2021.

    Leveraging on the FollowTheMoney Model, the DeSPAAC project promotes transparency and accountability in the management of public resources and to ensure that government spending directly translated into meaningful development in Kaduna State.

    Founder and Chief Executive Connected Development (CODE) Hamzat Lawal, who made this known said the project funded by MacArthur Foundation has been a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact a committed group of individuals can achieve in their communities.

    He added: “Since the project’s inception in 2021, we have made significant strides, tracking an impressive NGN 9,397,800,000.00 (USD 2.8 million) across 47 projects, directly reaching 30 communities with a total population of approximately 990,000 people from the three senatorial zones in Kaduna State. These numbers are more than just statistics; they represent lives touched, needs met, and a shared commitment to a better future.

    “During our journey, we encountered a common challenge-projects nominated by legislators often did not align with the actual needs of their constituents. In response, we developed the ‘constituency nomination and monitoring tool.’ This model has allowed constituents to actively participate in the project selection process, thus ensuring that the projects truly address their needs. It has also enabled legislators to exercise more effective oversight functions over the projects.

    “The impact of our collective efforts is best reflected in the tangible improvements experienced by communities. In Chikaji, Sabon Gari, Zaria, a community without a Primary Health Center (PHC) and forced to share one with a neighboring community, now has a fully functional PHC warth N50,000,000.00. Jn Sabon Gari, a classroom block valued at N12,500,000.00 now stands, providing much-needed educational infrastructure..

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    “Another significant transformation has taken place in Pala, Ikara local government area, where a previously under-equipped Primary Health Center now boasts access to over 80 medical equipment items. This includes hospital beds, mattresses, examination couches, syringes, needles, forceps jars, weighing scales, and diagnostic sets, greatly improving the community’s access to quality healthcare.

    “Our approach, the Constituency Nomination and Monitoring Tool, has empowered constituents to play a more active role in project selection and implementation. We have brought legislators and their constituents together, fostering collaboration, transparency, and accountability in the governance process.”

    He also said the DeSPAAC project is just the beginning. We must continue to build on these foundations, actively engaging citizens, legislators, and government representatives in a united effort to strengthen the ties that bind us. Now,”permit me to say that we all have a responsibility to ensure that the resources dedicated to various constituencies result in meaningful development, are equitably distributed, and efficiently managed.

    The Member representing Igabi Federal constituency in Kaduna state, Hon. Hussaini Jallo said as members representing the people in various constituencies, the 360 members of the House of Representatives are committed to the development of their constituencies in the areas of infrastructural developments, be it roads, electricity, education, health, water, security and so on.

  • Kaduna recruits 1000 dairy farmers

    Kaduna recruits 1000 dairy farmers

    Kaduna State has recruited 1000  diary farmers to boost its dairy output.

     Special Adviser on Investment and Promotion to the governor, Sabiu Sani, said the diary farmers would be settled at Damau Household Milk Farm.

     The farm, near Arla Foods Nigeria’s facilities, will be built by the government.

    He said the diary farmers would access top-notch facilities and access markets.

     The state officials hailed management of Arla Farm  for its investment in diary farm.

     Managing Director of Arla Foods Nigeria, Peder Pedersen, restated its commitment to sustainable dairy farming.

    Agriculture Commissioner, Murtala Dabo, said he was impressed with Arla Farm.

    He hoped with the take-off of Damau Farm, Kaduna will be a hub for milk production.

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     Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Patience Fakai, said the project would impact  the  economy.

     Managing Director of Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company, Tamar Nandul, noted the state was satisfied with the partnership.

    Nandul said the planned investment of an additional $20 million by the company for the construction of a milk processing plant on the farm is a great testament to the viability of the project.

     Arla Foods is a dairy cooperative with over 8400 farmer owners in seven Northern European countries.

     Owner of the Dano milk brand, Arla Foods commissioned the state-of-the-art dairy farm on May 25 – the first Arla-owned farm in the history of the company.

  • One die, several injured in Kaduna tanker explosion

    One die, several injured in Kaduna tanker explosion

    One person yesterday reportedly died, while several others sustained injuries when a tanker exploded at Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government of Kaduna State.

    The explosion occurred barely five days after a similar explosion left 20 persons, including personnel of the Fire Service and Kaduna Vigilance Service injured in the same local government.

    Confirming the incident, the Director of Kaduna State Fire Service, Mr. Paul Aboi, said the driver of the tanker lost control while trying to avoid a collision with a gulf car driving against traffic.

    Read Also: Bandits kill one, abduct 25 in Southern Kaduna

    He added: “We were there in response time. The situation was bad because one person died, while several others were hospitalised”.

    “It was an accident caused by a motorcyclist and a gulf car, who were driving against the traffic.

    “When the tanker driver sighted them, he tried to avoid a head-on collision and while meandering, he ran on the motorcyclist.”

  • Reps seek justice for female corps member killed in Kaduna

    Reps seek justice for female corps member killed in Kaduna

    The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure justice in a killing of a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Chalya Silas, in Kaduna state. 

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Beni Lar during plenary on Tuesday, October 31.

    The House recalled that on October 18, 2023, Silas, a National Youth Service Corps member deployed to Kaduna state was brutally murdered while jogging in Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area.

    It noted that Silas hailed from Tabat, in Langtang North Federal constituency, Plateau state.

    The House also noted that deceased who is a graduate of Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Jos, tragically died at the hands of her assailants while undertaking the mandatory service year. 

    The motion read in part: “The tragic incident is one of numerous murders of innocent girls and women nationwide, with perpetrators often unaccounted for or not brought to justice.

    “The House is worried that the safety and security of the girl child is no longer guaranteed, given the continued liberty and freedom enjoyed by these heinous assailants, who still roam the streets preying on their next victim. 

    “The prompt justice in this case would deter potential perpetrators, thereby ensuring a safer environment for Nigerian children and residents

    “Delaying justice in this case would be equivalent to denying justice to the victims’ families and loved ones, as well as the entire nation.” 

    The lawmakers observed a minute silence in honour of the deceased and tasked the Kaduna state Commissioner of Police to speedily identify the assailants.

    Read Also: Lokpobiri: Kaduna refinery ready by Q4 2023

    The Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, mandated the Committee on Police to investigate the matter.

    He also mandated the Committee on Youth Development to review the safety of corps members as they fulfil their one-year compulsory national service.  

    Addressing newsmen after plenary, Lar commended the house for the swift response to the plight of her constituent.

    She promised to also follow up on resolutions of the house to ensure speedy implementations by the police authorities. 

    Lar also said that there is a need to tighten parliamentary oversight functions on security agencies and to ensure improved effectiveness. 

  • Lokpobiri: Kaduna refinery ready by Q4 2023

    Lokpobiri: Kaduna refinery ready by Q4 2023

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, at the weekend revealed that the ongoing quick-fix project at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited, (KRPC), will be back on stream by the end of 2024.

    According to a press statement the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) issued on its tweeter handle, he disclosed this during an inspection tour of Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemicals while assessing the progress of work on the ongoing quick-fix project of the Refinery in Kaduna.

    Lokpobiri said he is confident that the refinery will be re-streamed by the end of 2024, considering the “significant level of progress” he has witnessed on the tour.

    The minister, who observed that he would continue to hold key players involved in the rehabilitation process of the nation’s refineries accountable, also pledged federal government support in ensuring the timely delivery of the project.

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    According to the minister, there is an urgent need to get the refinery back on stream for the nation’s economic prosperity and energy security, which are both paths to sustainable development.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, reassured the Minister that the fuel plant at the refinery will be delivered by the end of 2024.

    Kyari said that all hands are on deck to bring the refinery back on stream, stressing that the contractor has since mobilized to the site and the needed equipment for the quick-fix activities is already in place.

    He said: “We are very confident that we will get the appropriate financing to get to the end of it, and ultimately, we will start to deliver value to Nigerians again. We plan the quick fix for 60,000 barrels per day so that we can start making money from this plant and we can continue the other part of the refinery to bring it up to its full-fledged capacity. This will also tally with the completion of the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) on the pipeline so as to have a reliable pipeline delivery infrastructure.”

    The inspection tour, which was preceded by the 14th Refineries Rehabilitation Steering Committee Meeting, also had in attendance NNPC Limited’s Executive Vice President, Downstream, Adedapo Segun; Executive Vice President, Upstream, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; Managing Directors of the three refineries; and a host of other members of the Committee.

  • JUST IN: Fire fighters, vigilantes, others injured as fuel tanker explodes in Kaduna

    JUST IN: Fire fighters, vigilantes, others injured as fuel tanker explodes in Kaduna

    No fewer than 20 persons, including firefighters and personnel of Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS) were injured when a fuel tanker exploded in Kaduna.

    It was gathered that the explosion occurred when the tanker was offloading Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in one of the filling stations at Rigasa, Igabi Local Government Area part of Kaduna metropolis.

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    Confirming the incident on Friday, the Director of Kaduna State Fire Service, Paul Aboi, said five Federal firefighters, some personnel of Kaduna Vigilance Service and passers-by sustained various degrees of injuries.

    The Director said some injured people are receiving treatment at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna.

    Details Shortly…

  • Kaduna Int’l Polo blasts off with Georgian, El-Amin Cups

    Kaduna Int’l Polo blasts off with Georgian, El-Amin Cups

    The cosmopolitan city of Kaduna, the political seat of Northern Nigeria, is in its most vibrant mood as the  opening week of the 2023 Kaduna International Polo festival gets underway.

    Spread over two weeks for the first time in its 104 years history, loaded with entries of over forty teams as well as over twenty thousand polo buffs and an estimated ten million television viewers across the world, the event is a marketing haven for corporate sponsors.

    The much awaited Kaduna international polo carnival is set to gallops off 31st October and climax with fanfare on  12th November 12 with fourteen times Georgian Trophy winners, Kaduna El-Amin leading other teams eyeing the event’s top laurels.

    Kaduna polo which celebrated its centenary with pomp is one of the only two most prestigious polo events on the West Coast of Africa with the others being  the Lagos International showdown that traditionally comes up in February each year while Jos, Port Harcourt and Kano complete the four grand slams polo fiestas in the country.

    Meanwhile,  the 2023 edition campaigns for the highly revered Georgian Cup and other top Kaduna polo laurels, waxes an added allures as four of Nigeria’s biggest high-goal teams, Fifth Chukker, Rubicon, and Malcomines  are expected go for the jugglers with EL-Amin, the record setting champions.

    Read Also: Kaduna International Polo Tournament: El-Amin, Malcomines, Rubicon set for battle royale

    Made from the vintage Georgian Silver, the Georgian Trophy was donated to the Nigerian Polo Association in 1919 by the then British Bank for West Africa now First Bank Plc. and it has since been competed for annually by Nigerian high-goal teams for 104 years now.

    Moreover, the  glittering El-Amin Cup, the second major prize to be contested for in the opening week of the prestigious polo festival, packs a punch as about twenty ambitious low-goal teams loaded with vibrant newcomers and rookies invade Kaduna for the royal carnival.

    The highly revered Emir of Katsina Cup that stands alone as the second most wanted polo prize in Kaduna and the popular Imani Cup that debuted few years ago, will take centre stage as the grandiose 2023 Kaduna polo extravaganza enters its grand finale between  November 8 and  12.

    Other major prizes to be won include the Argentine Ambassador Cup, General Hassan Katsina Cup, Sardauna Cup, Kere Ahmed Cup, Shehu Kangiwa Cup, Musa Yar’Adua Cup,  Dangote  Cup, amongst others. According to the organizing committee of the festival that celebrated its centenary in 1919, players who distinguished themselves during the fiesta, would smile home with awards.

    Preparations for the fiesta dedicated to celebrating the Georgian prize, heightened last weekend where corporate giants, state governments and individual donors were expected to commit  millions at a fundraising Cheque Presentation Night for the hosting of the grand polo festival.

    Big corporate sponsors and institutional donors that traditionally back the annual polo festival include First Bank Nigeria Plc., the proud sponsors of the Georgian Cup.

    Others include Profile Group, Imani Group, DeeBee Farms, Fifth Chukkers, Amana Insurance and the President of Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, donor and sponsor of the glittering EL-Amin Cup, among others.

    Kaduna Polo President, Mohammad Babangida declared that Kaduna 2023 promises to be one of the most exciting in years, as the club is working around the clock to deliver on all fronts.

     He also confirmed that foreign professionals from Argentina, Europe and South Africa are expected to jostle for top honours alongside top Nigerian polo patrons and players.

    “The tournament committee has gone the extra mile to build in some value for money and time to our esteemed sponsors, special guests and thousands of polo buffs and tourists, who will be part of the grand festival,” added the First Vice President of Kaduna polo Club, General Kapeh Kazir.

    Tournament Manager, Atiku Abubakar Saleh confirmed that participating teams are expected from Lagos, Ibadan, Zaria, Katsina, Kano, Abuja, Keffi, Bauchi, Minna, Jos, Yola and Port Harcourt, alongside highly fortified  Kaduna based teams that are eyeing all the major prizes at stake..

    Billed for its traditional venue, the legendary Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna, the event reputed as the biggest sporting festival in the north after the Argungu Fishing festival, attracts tourists and lovers of the game of kings in their thousands.

  • PLANE distributes 170,976 textbooks to 694 schools in Kaduna

    PLANE distributes 170,976 textbooks to 694 schools in Kaduna

    The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme has begun the distribution of 170,976 textbooks to 694 public primary schools in six local government areas of Kaduna State.

    The exercise, which was in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and State Basic Education Board (SUBEB), was to improve the quality of learning outcomes in primary schools.

    Mr. Salim Sadiq, Technical Adviser, Teaching and Learning, PLANE Kaduna, explained during the exercise in Kaduna that the books comprised of literacy, mathematics, and teacher guide.

    He explained that the books published in Hausa language, in line with the national policy on education, comprised 13,512 each of primary 1 literacy and mathematics books.

    Others are 11,012 each of primary 2 mathematics and literacy books and 59,477 each of primary 3 literacy and mathematics books.

    Also to be distributed are 1,487 each of primary 3 literacy and mathematics teacher guides.

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    Sadiq added that the textbooks would be distributed to six implementing LGAs, namely Soba, Sabon Gari, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Jaba, and Sanga.

    He said that a total of 694 cartons of the books would be distributed to the schools: 100 cartons in Jaba, 44 in Kaduna North, and 36 in Kaduna North LGAs.

    “Also, 61 cartons will be distributed in Sabon Gari LGA, 190 in Sanga, and 263 cartons in Soba LGAs,” he said.

    The Commissioner of Education, Prof. Muhmmed Bello, who flagged the exercise, thanked PLANE for supporting the state to deliver teaching and learning in Hausa language, the predominant speaking language in the state.

    According to him, the measure will help to reduce learning poverty in the state, stressing that once a solid foundation is laid, learning will not be a difficult thing for our children.

    PLANE is Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office-supported programme to deliver inclusive and effective education system in Nigeria.

    The goal is to improve learning outcomes for students in pre-primary and primary schools.