The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Shehu Idris

  • Emir drums support for Girl-child education

    The Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris on Thursday canvassed more support for girl-child education, saying it is necessary for societal development.

    The monarch made the remark when an NGO, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation paid him a courtesy call in his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The Emir said: “it is of course true, if you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate the society, because she is a mother and the first teacher of a child.

    “Mother is a pace setter, foundation and pillars upon which children build their entire live, therefor, if she is educated, she will make sure she raise educated children, thereby liberating and emancipating the society from ills of illiteracy.”

    He urged parents to encourage their children including the girl-child to pursue both western and Islamic education for the benefit of not only their immediate family but also the society.

    Idris pledged his total support to individuals and groups holistically involved in promoting girl-child education, and in addressing the welfare of orphans and fighting drug abuse.

    He lauded the efforts of the Arewa Youth Trust Foundation at sensitising and creating awareness in the areas of health, education, peace building, social investment and advocacy on policies.

    “I am impressed by your gigantic efforts at designing and executing programmes that educate the youths to become useful to themselves and the society.

    “These are important and laudable programmes that would give the youths a sense of direction and a sense of hope for a brighter future,” the emir said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NGO had organised series of sensitisation campaigns covering education, health, economy and peace building among others aimed at transforming the youths.

    Earlier, Chairman of the Foundation, Alhaji Fahad Ahmed-Chikaji told the emir that they were in his palace to thank him for accepting to be the Grand Patron of the organisation.

    “Your Royal Highness, we are here to seek royal blessing and to thank you for accepting to be the Grand Patron of our noble NGO, we are indeed grateful.

    “We also want to use this medium to highlight some of our activities which include; promoting girl-child education, assisting the orphans, fight against drug abuse and advocacy campaign against some diseases among others.”

    Ahmed-Chikaji promised that the foundation would sustain the series of programmes it runs for the benefit of youths, society and the nation at large.

  • El-Rufa’i inaugurates N5bn animal feed company

    El-Rufa’i inaugurates N5bn animal feed company

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, has said that his administration would continue to create more job opportunities for the youth in the areas of agriculture and mining.

    The governor made the pledge at the opening of a new animal feed mill, constructed by Sunseed Nigeria Ltd, in Zaria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it is the second animal feed mill unveiled in the state in last two weeks.

    “The state is gearing toward diversification of its economy away from dependence on government by developing its natural endowment especially in agriculture and mining.

    “While mining will take some time to begin to give us the results that we need, agriculture can bring immediate results and this is why our investment policy in Kaduna state is focused on agricultural industrialization.

    “Kaduna state is Nigeria’s leading producer of maize, Soya beans and Ginger, and we are also second in the production of Sorghum, Millet, Tomatoes, White beans and Potatoes.

    “Therefore every serious business in the world should be in Kaduna state,” he said.

    The governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i also stressed that the target was to create jobs and take the youth off the street.

    “As a government, the overriding economic imperative is to create jobs.

    “89 per cent of the population of Kaduna state consists of young people below the age of 35, and if we do not find ways to create jobs for them we will have a major social problem.

    “This is why this administration is committed to attracting investment into the state, so that we will have jobs for our young people.

    “This plant and even the hospital are the contributions towards creating jobs in Kaduna state.

    “Today we are commissioning a Five Billion Naira investment that will produce 100,000 tonnes of animal feeds yearly.”

    The governor disclosed that the administration was working to enhance the capacity of farmers to produce rice and wheat, as well as a special beans consumed in India, which would be exported to that country.

    He also said that the government was working with a group of investors to resuscitate the moribund Ikara Food Processing Company, adding: “we are working to privatise it fully to encourage investors and create more jobs.”

    El-Rufa’i commended the animal feed company for constructing a 15-bed hospital for use by its host community as part of its corporate social responsibility.

    Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris said the opening of the company would add value to Federal Government efforts at diversifying the nation’s economy, as it would provide needed jobs to a large number of people in the agric value chain.

    The monarch called on government to reintroduce marketing boards which would purchase farm produce directly from farmers for export.

    He appealed to all Nigerians to live in peace with one another irrespective of tribe, creed, social and political affiliation.

  • Zazzau cancels Eid Durbar for blast victims

    Zazzau cancels Eid Durbar for blast victims

    There will be no Eid-El-Fitr Durbar or any other festivities in Zaria and environs this week, the Zazzau Emirate Council announced yesterday.

    This is to honour victims of last week’s dual bomb blasts in Kaduna.

    The death toll in the blast has reached 110.

    Former military Head of State and APC chieftain, General Muhammadu Buhari and popular Islamic preacher, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi both of whom were the targets of the blasts escaped unhurt.

    Addressing reporters in Zaria on behalf of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, the Wazirin Zazzau, Alhaji Ibrahim Aminu, said the durbar cancellation was necessitated by the security challenges confronting the state and the nation.

    He commiserated with the bereaved families and wished the injured quick recovery.

    He also urged Muslims and Christians to continue to pray for peace, security and progress in the state and the nation at large.

  • Emir to Jonathan: revive NIREC

    Emir to Jonathan: revive NIREC

    The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to do everything possible to resuscitate the Nigerian Inter-religious Council (NIREC) to promote peace, unity and progress in the country.

    The Emir, who led traditional rulers from the Northwest to receive President Goodluck Jonathan at the Hassan Katsina House in Kaduna, said the unity of the country could best be promoted if more attention is given to the security of lives and property.

    The Emir said: “I want to make a passionate appeal to the government to resurcitate the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council at the national level. After this, there should be the establishment of branches of NIREC in all the 36 states of the Federation.”

    Jonathan told the traditional rulers that the unity rally embarked upon by the PDP was not a campaign rally, but efforts aimed at reconciling aggrieved members of the party.

    Also speaking, Vice-President Namadi Sambo said the President has delivered on his promise to the people of the zone, adding that an additional 215 megawwats power project would be completed and commissioned in November by the government as a way of boasting power supply to the zone.

    The Vice President also announced that N10 billion was approved by the Federal Government for the Great Green Wall to address the challenges of erosion, adding that the rail line from Abuja to Kaduna was 70 per cent completed and the Kaduna to Kano project was in progress.