The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa

  • Foundation to train 4000 youths in Nasarawa

    A group, Al-Makura Collective Prosperity Foundation, in Nasarawa State, has pledged to train 4, 000 young men and women in various skills to become self-reliant.

    The Coordinator of the group,MrIdris Umar, gave the pledge while donating skills acquisition materials to some youths in Amba community of Kokona Local Government.

    He said that the foundation found it necessary to empower the youths as part of its contributions to national development.

    “There is high rate of unemployment, youth restiveness and poverty in the country today.

    “People should not continue to wait for white collar jobs; there is need for them to engage in one thing or the other for self reliance.

    “It is better for one to teach you how to catch fish than to give you fish to eat. That is why our foundation embarks on youth empowerment programmes in this area and the state at large.”

    He added: “We have trained youths in Bagaji, Keffi area of the state in different skills, such as dyeing, fashion design, welding and fabrication work.”

  • Nasarawa: Tertiary institutions union set to go on strike

    Academic and non-academic staff unions in three tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have threatened to go on strike over the government’s failure to meet their demands.

    Members of the unions in the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia; College of Education, Akwanga, and the College of Agriculture, Lafia, are threatening to embark on strike over issues bordering on staff welfare and administration.

    The workers had embarked on a strike that lasted for six months in 2013, but was suspended for five weeks following the intervention of the institutions’ governing councils.

    An official of the unions told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on condition of anonymity at the weekend in Abuja that the workers were waiting to collect their pay slips on Monday.

    He said the unions had met and decided to embark on the strike on Tuesday if their pay slips did not reflect their promotion arrears, which was part of their demands.

    “It is obvious that the government does not care about the education sector, especially in these three institutions.

    “We were in this struggle with the state university, but the government singled it out to address its challenges and remained adamant on our plight.

    “I assure you if our expectations are not met by Monday, we are definitely going on strike,’’ he added.

     

  • Nasarawa, Benue to deploy air surveillance

    The governments of Benue and Nasarawa states have resolved to adopt air surveillance strategy to curb the incessant attacks along their boundary communities.

    Governor Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) announced this yesterday when he visited Giza, in Keana Local Government Area, which was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday.

    Al-Makura described the mayhem in the boundary communities as alarming, adding the perpetrators were criminals, who took advantage of the long boundary stretch between the two states to perpetrate their criminal activities.

    He said the two states would address the situation, and promised they would ensure that lasting peace was returned to the communities.

    The governor said government would continue to guarantee the life and property of its citizens.

    The governor said the recurrence of violent attacks could no longer be handled by the states alone, adding Nasarawa and Benue governments had sought the intervention of the Federal Government.

    “In no distant time there will be more security presence in the area as part of intervention from the Federal Government,” he said.

    Al-Makura, while condoling with the people of Giza, assured that adequate security had been put in place to forestall further attacks.

    He said a detachment of mobile policemen would be stationed in the town, until normalcy was restored.

    The governor called on the people to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement of unknown persons to security operatives.

    The Sangarin Giza, Alhaji Umar Elegu said the attackers stormed the village about 6 a.m. and shot sporadically.

    Elegu said three villagers were killed, while several houses and farm produce were set ablaze.

    He called for more security presence in the area to avert a recurrence.

    The governor donated relief materials, including food items, to the villagers, many of who had deserted their homes.

  • SUBEB trains teachers in Nasarawa

    Over 1,500 primary school teachers in Nasarawa State are being trained in classroom management.

    The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) distributed seven motorcycles to nomadic school coordinators and supervisors of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) for effective monitoring and supervision.

    Board Chairman Abdulkarim Abdullahi said the distribution would boost teachers’ morale.

    Abdullahi, who was represented by the Secretary, Yakubu Ahmed Ubangari, said: “Coordinators and supervisors are to ensure that they use the motorcycles to inspect primary schools in their locality.

    “I want to thank the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja and the Nasarawa State government for their efforts to ensure that the standard of education improves in the country.”

     

  • Nasarawa trains 1,400 youths

    Nasarawa State government has said it will train 1,400 youths.

    It said N400 million has been set aside for the training across the 13 local government areas.

    Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment, Murtala would reduce unemployment and encourage self employment and reliability.

    The youths, he said, would be trained as sanitary inspectors, traffic marshals and community watchers.

    Adogi said 4,500 youths would be trained to help reduce youth restiveness.

    “I emphasise that the areas of focus under this scheme requires physical strength and agility so, expectant or nursing mothers would not be accepted,” he said.

  • Students pray as Nasarawa varsity resumes

    Students pray as Nasarawa varsity resumes

    Last year, students of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) spent only three months in school, no thanks to the internal crisis and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. On resumption last week, the students gathered to pray for a smooth academic year. KAMALUDEEN ABUBAKAR (200-Level Geography) writes.

    Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) was re-opened last week after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) called off its five-month industrial action.

    The institution did not enjoy a smooth session last year. It was shut for over four months, following a violent protest that led to the death of two students. A few weeks after the campus was re-opened, ASUU declared an indefinite strike to demand implementation of the agreement it reached with the Federal Government in 2009.

    The school resumed last week, but students are not excited about the resumption. They returned to the campus, praying against another strike because of their experience last year. They said 2013 was a bad academic year for them.

    During the strike, burglars and petty thieves invaded their hostels, carting away their property, including mattresses, television sets, rugs, fans and electronic gadgets. When the school resumed, many students returned to meet their rooms empty.

    Also, the school’s inability to admit students into the departments of Psychology, Sociology, Economics and Political Science left some prospective students stunned. The development was caused by the months of closure, which made the campus to open for just three months.

    The 2012/2013 session has yet to be completed because of the disruption.

    A 100-Level student said: “I thank God we are back in school. I am happy for this, but I cannot forget my strike experience. To me, the whole of 2013 was wasted because the campus was only opened for three months. A year like last year is not what a sane man should pray for.”

    For Usman Yarwa, a 300-Level Economics student, 2013 was a year for Nigeria’s education. “For us in Nasarawa State University, the strike is not what we would like to experience again. By October, the school ought to have graduated its students and begin another session. But, we are yet to be complete the first semester of the 2012/ 2013 session. It was a year that is not worth remembering; I don’t pray for a repeat,” he said.

    Gift Okafor, 200-Level Public Administration, has mixed feelings. She said the year was both bad and blessed. “It was bad because I am suppose to be in 300-Level, but the strike would not allow that. I can say it was a blessed year because I am alive.

    “While the students are yet to settle down for lectures, the management has released a timetable for for the first semester exam, which is scheduled to begin on January 27. This development has increased activities on campus as students moving up and down to sign their course forms.

    Business activities have also picked up in the school. Shop owners were seen conducting business as CAMPUSLIFE visited last week. Eka Pinging, a trader in Angwan Lambu, said business were gradually picking up. “Yes, we are happy that students are back after six months of strike; we are also back here to offer them everything they need to succeed in their academic work,” she said.

     

     

     

  • Nasarawa to build three modern markets, says Deputy Governor

    Nasarawa to build three modern markets, says Deputy Governor

    Mr Dameshi Luka, the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State said on Friday that plans were under way to construct three modern markets across the state.

    The Deputy Governor said this while receiving members of market associations, who paid him a Christmas visit in Akwanga.

    Luka said that the construction of the markets would help in boosting the socio-economic activities in the state.

    “In order for the state government to fulfil its campaign promises to the people, it plans to construct three modern markets, to be located in Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi local government areas of the state.

    “The construction of the three modern markets will not only boost the revenue base of the state but will also reduce unemployment.

    “It will also boost the general well-being of the people of the state and the development of the country.

    He said the state government was determined to ensure even distribution of projects across the state.

    “As you can see, each local government has been selected from the three senatorial areas of the state for the projects.

    “I am calling on the people of the state to use this period to forgive and forget the past and unite and embrace peace”.

    He said they should do this “irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliation for the overall development of the state and the country at large.

    “I am also calling on the people of the state and Nigerians to shun all acts capable of fomenting troubles in our state and the country,”Luka said

    He charged Christians to reflect on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ by embracing love, unity and peace in their day to day activities.

    Earlier, Mr Shamatu Dantosho, the President of the marketers association in the state said that the visit was to celebrate with the deputy governor on the occasion of Christmas.

    He commended the state government for embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people and called for their sustenance.

     

    Source: (NAN)

     

  • Nasarawa hands over two firms

    Nasarawa State Investment and Property Development Company (NIPDC) yesterday in Lafia handed over two state-owned firms to private investors.

    The companies, Nasarawa Fertiliser Blending Limited and Nasarawa Sacks &Packaging are to be managed by Agtho Merchant & Company Limited and Young Plastic Enterprises Limited, Kano.

    Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Emmanuel Brass Yaji, said at the ceremony that ‘’the essence of leasing the firms is to reposition and enhance them towards capacity and service delivery to boost job creation and internally generated revenue.

  • No major shake-up in Nasarawa — Ganaru

    No major shake-up in Nasarawa — Ganaru

    Nasarawa United Technical Adviser, Mohammed Baba Ganaru has said there won’t be a massive clear-out at the Solid Miners.

    Ganaru was officially unveiled as the club’s new boss on Monday following his resignation at Kano Pillars.

    Ganaru told SportingLife that he will assess the players he met on ground at the club before he decides to bring in new players.

    “The club has already declared some players surplus to requirement before I came here and the players I met on ground are good too. I will work with all of them first before I decide what to do,” he said.

    “We will bring in new players no doubt but it won’t affect most of the players on ground. Our plan for the team is to see that they do well in the league. The team struggled last season and we want to see that we don’t experience something of such this season.

    “The atmosphere here is good for work and we will make use of all the opportunity in our reach to see that the team do well.”

  • Ganaru absent at Nasarawa Utd

    Ganaru absent at Nasarawa Utd

    Nasarawa United new helmsman, Mohammed Baba Ganaru was conspicuously absent in Lafia on Monday to endorse his contract paper as earlier scheduled.

    Ganaru, who has been hotly claimed by the Glo Premier League champions, Kano Pillars and their Lafia-based counterparts, Nasarawa United, was expected in Lafia to pen a contract and by so doing end the speculation over where he hopes to pitch tent for the 2013/14 season.

    However, his new employer, Nasarawa United chairman, Isaac Danladi who showed no worry over the coach’s absence on Monday, said the side is in constant touch with the coach as there is no cause for alarm.

    “I spoke with him (Ganaru) this morning (Tuesday) and he reassured me that he’ll be arriving unfailingly within the week to endorse his contract. I know there is pressure on him right now but as a gentleman he is insistent on honouring our agreement with him.

    “I can tell you authoritatively right now that he is an employee of Nasarawa United. Ganaru complained of having some domestic problems back home in Maiduguri, I think it’s just proper to allow him time to sort out himself and that’s what we’ve done.

    “If he’s running away how long will he do it? I can tell you he’ll come around within the week, I’m positive it won’t exceed this week,” Danladi said to supersport.com.

    Ganaru, who guided Kano Pillars to the 2012/13 Glo Premier League triumph, is expected to step into the vacated seat of coach Kadiri Ikhana.