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Tag: SOKOTO

  • Sokoto APC passes vote of confidence on Tambuwal

    Sokoto APC passes vote of confidence on Tambuwal

    Sokoto State All Progre-ssives Congr ess(APC) has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

    Its chairman, Usman  Danmadamin, said the party was united behind the governor.

    He lamented that the governor’s attention was being diverted by the antics of elements bent on destroying the party.

    The chairman said Senator Dahiru Umar, who is challenging the nomination process that threw up Tambuwal as the party’s candidate for last year’s election, was on his own.

    Danmadamin, who spoke with reporters in Sokoto, the state capital, described Tambuwal as a resilient political pillar.

    He said: “We were living witnesses to his struggle as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is a committed and patriotic leader. As governor, he is demonstrating the political will to transform Sokoto State and ensure good governance for dividends of democracy to reach the nooks and crannies of the state”

    Danmadami hailed the judgment of the apex court, saying: ”Itwas in order and we are satisfied.”

    The chairman said the litigation by Umaru was not aimed at unseating the governor, but scuttling and destroying the party.

    He added: “I am convinced that Dahiru’s action is a grand design aided by the opposition party to bring down the APC in Sokoto State. He is acting the script of the opposition party. We have not seen any offence that will hold waters and form the basis of unseating Tambuwal. He was duly nominated as the candidate for the governorship election and he won at the poll.”

    The chairman advised Umaru to close ranks and keep the flag of the party flying in the state.

    Danmadamin said: “He should embrace the principle of party loyalty and promote the ideals of the APC through positive commitment.”

    Danmadamin also spoke on the Buhari administration, saying that it was on course.

    He assured that the dividends of change will soon be felt by Nigerians, urging them to cooperate with the administration.

    Danmadamin said: “The steps he is taking are considerably provoking good tidings and restoring hope.”

    He said the country has changed for better since president Buhari begun to steer the affairs of the country.

    The chairman noted that the cprevious administration created problems that will take time to resolve, urging Nigerians to endure.

    He added: “The  country has been sick for a long time. The administration is working assiduously to make life better for Nigerians. It takes time. The government deserves the cooperation of Nigerians.”

    “It is not a day’s work to fix the rot. The country cannot be transformed immediately. Buhari needs  time to fix the ailing economy and stem the tide of destruction.”

    The politician said Nigeria was heading to its rightful destination of hope and opportunities.

    He added: “ President Buhari will restore the culture of transparency, accountability and integrity. We appeal for continuous prayer for  peace, progress and unity.”

  • Sokoto Corps members get entrepreneurship training

    No fewer than 2,221 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to Sokoto State under the 2016 Batch “B” Stream 1 have been trained in skills to make them self-reliant. They  were trained under a programme tagged: “Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development”.

    The NYSC coordinator, Mr Thomas Yamma, said the training was aimed at exposing the Corps members to entrepreneurial opportunities.

    The training started immediately after the members were sworn-in last Monday by the state Chief Judge.

    Yamma advised the beneficiaries  to acquire skills that would make them self-reliant after their service year. He said the NYSC Directorate initiated the programme to address unemployment.

    The camp Director, Alhaji Namadi Hamisu, said arrangements had been made for a hitch-free exercise. He warned against stealing, saying anyone caught would be punished to deter others.

    He said: “As part of military culture, no Corps member should be found in the hostel when the call for morning parade is made. On no account should anyone remain in the hostel while others are on parade ground, because some would use the opportunity to steal colleagues’ items.”

    The NYSC Director-General’s representative Giwa Abdul, hailed the members for their good behaviour, urging them to maintain peace and respect those managing the camp.

    The camp commandant, Captain A.B. Kaoje, assured the Corps members of adequate security, urging  them to report actions that may undermine security. He said military officers deployed in the camp were ready to ensure discipline.

    Some of the Corps members, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, hailed the exercise, promising to use the skills acquire to create jobs.

  • Sokoto, others plan conference on girl-child education

    To deepen its commitment to girl-child education, the Sokoto State Government  is planning to convene a national stakeholders’ conference on girl-child education early next year which President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to attend.

    The conference, to be organised in collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Sultan Foundation, would attract paper presentations from experts from across the globe on how to address the issue of falling standard of education, especially female education in Sokoto in particular and the nation as a whole.

    In a statement, the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said at the end of the two-day conference, practical guides would be outlined on how best to turn around the fortune of the education sector, and address disparity in girl-child education.

    “We appreciate the need to have all hands on deck as we proffer solutions to challenges confronting the education sector in our state.

    “This necessitated the need to organise a national conference on girl-child education to bring together experts from home and abroad, and development partners, to discuss and agree on the best approach to revamping the sector,” the statement said.

    It further said resolution from the conference would provide updated guideline for achieving set targets for female education in Nigeria.

    “Few days ago, we announced the establishment of the Agency for Girl-Child Education, expected to coordinate all issues related to female education from basic to tertiary levels in our state.

    “We are working to ensure that officials of the new agency interface closely with local and international stakeholders to properly monitor progress of our girls in schools and what needs to be done to boost enrollment, retention and completion of all girls in schools in Sokoto State,” it said.

  • NUC approves four engineering programmes for Usmanu Danfodiyo varsity

    NUC approves four engineering programmes for Usmanu Danfodiyo varsity

    Approval has been given to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto by the National Universities Commission (NUC), to commence four core engineering programmes.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru disclosed this to journalists in Sokoto on Wednesday.

    Zuru named the programmes as Civil, Electrical/Electronics, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, adding that the programmes would take off in the 2016/2017 academic session.

    He said:” This feat was achieved sequel to series of accreditation visits conducted at the institution by various teams from the commission.

    ” The routine accreditations for other programmes at the university are also ongoing.

    ” This is to ensure that all the academic programmes of the institution are being done according to the set standards.”

    According to Zuru, the exercises focused on issues such as the provision of adequate and qualified lecturers, laboratories, classrooms and equipment, among others.

    ”The exercises are ongoing and so far, so good, we are not anticipating any problem.”

    On Treasury Single Account (TSA),Zuru said that it had not hampered the activities of the university.

    He stated that the university was getting all its requests approved, saying that the initial teething problems of the system had been overcome.

    ” Hitherto, the system affected the issues of research grants and funds meant for endowments.

    ” However, these problems are now history and all is well.”

    Zuru, however, advocated more funding for the education sector at all levels in the country.

    Meanwhile, Zuru has commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, for ensuring the commencement of the rehabilitation work on the Sokoto city to the university’s main campus road.

    ” Major works are ongoing on the bridges and culverts on the road was devastated by flood in 2010.

    ” The project, when completed, will really boost academic and socioeconomic activities in the institution and some adjoining communities.

    ”We are also appealing to the Minister to extend the similar gesture to the dilapidated internal road network at our main campus.”

  • Sokoto, USAID partner on primary education

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Sokoto State’s efforts to improve the quality of and access to basic education.

    A statement released by the Information Unit of the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy, Abuja, noted that the signing of the MoU was done by the USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey and Sokoto Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    The MoU sets out shared and individual commitments for collaboration by both parties and provides a framework for mutual accountability for education activities in the state.

    Harvey said the agreement supports the government’s goals and targets in its education sector strategic plans as well establishes a preliminary plan for joint monitoring and evaluation of progress.

    “The United States commends Sokoto State for its extraordinary efforts to provide greater learning opportunities for its children. This MoU will expand the partnership between USAID and Sokoto State to improve primary education in Sokoto,” said Harvey.

    Currently, USAID implements two activities that support Sokoto State’s efforts to improve the education sector: the Northern Education Initiative Plus and the Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy and Development.

    These activities build state and local government capacities and systems that would teach approximately two million primary school children how to read and allow nearly 500,000 children the opportunity to attend classes in community-based learning centers by the year 2020.

  • Sokoto earmarks N77 million for refuse bunkers, drainage desilting

    To ensure adequate refuse bunkers and discourage indiscriminate refuse dumps, Sokoto State Government has earmarked over N 77million for the rehabilitation and construction of refuse bunkers, as well as desilting drainages in Sokoto city and its environs, says the Environment Commissioner, Alhaji Bello Sifawa.

    The development followed the poor attitude of residents toward personal and environmental hygiene, where most residents have turned streets to refuse dumps.

    Sifawa told reporters in Sokoto weekend shortly after monitoring the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

    The commissioner stated that out of the amount, N42million would be spent on the rehabilitation of eighteen refuse bunkers and construction of twenty new ones.

    The commissioner, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bawa Goronyo, and other officials, also said N35million would be spent on the desilting of all major drainages in the metropolis.

    He said, “The state government had also purchased fifty branded tricycles for the evacuation of refuse in the hard to reach areas of the city. This is to complement the array of vehicles and other facilities adequately provided for the ministry and its agencies.”

    Sifawa expressed satisfaction with the active participation of the residents, youth clubs and associations in the exercise.

    He also acknowledged the patriotic spirit and commitment of a businessman, Alhaji Abdullahi Gidan-Kaya, for employing fifty youths monthly to undertake the sanitation exercise, using his personal resources.

  • Sokoto, USAID partner on primary education

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Sokoto State’s efforts to improve the quality of and access to basic education.

    A statement released by the Information Unit of the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy, Abuja, noted that the signing of the MoU was done by the USAID Mission Director, Michael Harvey and Sokoto Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

    The MoU sets out shared and individual commitments for collaboration by both parties and provides a framework for mutual accountability for education activities in the state.

    Harvey said the agreement supports the government’s goals and targets in its education sector strategic plans as well establishes a preliminary plan for joint monitoring and evaluation of progress.

    “The United States commends Sokoto State for its extraordinary efforts to provide greater learning opportunities for its children. This MOU will expand the partnership between USAID and Sokoto State to improve primary education in Sokoto,” said Harvey.

    Currently, USAID implements two activities that support Sokoto State efforts to improve the education sector: the Northern Education Initiative Plus and the Leadership, Empowerment, Advocacy and Development.

    These activities build state and local government capacities and systems that would teach approximately two million primary school children how to read and allow nearly 500,000 children the opportunity to attend classes in community-based learning centers by the year 2020.

  • Deputy governors challenge cleric over doomsday prophecy

    Deputy governors challenge cleric over doomsday prophecy

    Deputy  governors of Abia, Ebonyi, Kano, Sokoto and Taraba states have  rejected a prophecy that they will have issues with their principals (governors) before the end of their tenure.

    The prophecy which was credited to Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, the Spiritual head of INRI Evangelistic Spiritual Church, the deputy governors said was meant to create rancor and disaffection in the polity.

    The self-acclaimed prophet had in the prophecy said that the four deputy governors will have issues with their principals (governors) before the end of their tenure.

    An online news platform had at the weekend published the prophecy in which the cleric made certain wild assertions concerning the future of these politicians.

    But in a swift reaction, Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Kelechi Igwe has described the publication as outright falsehood designed to create rancour and disaffection in the polity.

    In a statement he issued in Abuja  on behalf of his  other colleagues, Igwe  faulted  the cleric  on his prediction and accused him of concocting prophecies that had no foundation in reality.

    “Ordinarily, we would have ignored this so called prophecy   but doing so could create the impression that we believe him or that that he should be taken seriously.  We make bold to state that this prophecy like the ones before it are fallacies meant to create tension, rancour and unnecessary friction in the polity. We vehemently reject this so called prophesy which in our own estimation is nothing but a figment of the imagination of the man who released it.

    “We all have had and still have very good working relationship with our bosses in our various states and do not see any reason for the predicted crisis.  We urge the government and the good people in our various states to ignore Primate Elijah Ayodele for he knows not what he is saying or doing.

    “Primate Ayodele could not have heard from God because he has been in the business of releasing false prophecies at every turn in the politics of Nigeria and the world.  It was he who predicted that President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 presidential election; it was he who predicted that Governor Ahmed El- Rufai will not win the governorship election in Kaduna State last year and it was the same man who recently predicted victory for Hilary Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate in the just concluded elections in the United States,” he said.

    Igwe  said that  with the series  of failed  prophecies  emanating from  the clergyman,  he should  be hiding his face from God and the general public, adding that he lacked   the credibility to utter  any further “gibberish”   in the name of prophecy.

  • Sokoto recruits 500 youths for sanitation

    No fewer than 500 youths have been employed by the Sokoto State Government for refuse evacuation, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Aminu Dodo-Iya, announced yesterday.

    Speaking at the end of the monthly environmental sanitation in Sokoto, Dodo-Iya said the youths have since been redeployed and swung into action.

    ‘These youths will continuously operate to rid the city and its environs of filth. They will be used for daily clearance and evacuation of refuse in the city,” he said.

    Dodo-Iya also said the state government has purchased 30 specialised refuse evacuation tricycles.

    He explained that the tricycles were being deployed in hard-to-reach areas of the city.

    The permanent secretary decried the non-challant attitude of the residents toward the exercise, adding that the state government might be forced to wield the big stick, using the tribunals.

  • Sokoto, Army to establish two schools

    Two new schools will soon be established, following partnership efforts by the Sokoto State government and the Nigerian Army. One of the schools will be located in Sokoto, while the other would be sited in Shagari Local Government area of the state.

    One of them, a primary school, will have boarding facilities that will cater for children aged five to 12. The secondary school, which would be sited at Giginya Barracks, Sokoto, would operate a day system.

    In a statement in Sokoto, the state Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Jabbi Kilgori, explained that the deal with the military authorities would expand access to education for military personnel and their families, and give opportunity for citizens in local communities to tap from military’s expertise in school management.

    “The partnership provides that the government provides land and requisite infrastructure, while the Nigerian Army would provide personnel and teaching facilities.

    “This is the beginning of a relationship which we hope to expand in the future. Both sides are happy with preparations for the take off of the schools. We are confident it will benefit our citizens going forward,” the statement added.

    Meanwhile, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has approved the upward review of feeding allowance for boarding school pupils in the state.

    “Due to inflation in prices of food stuff in the market, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has approved the increase in feeding allowance of boarding pupils in public schools from N70 to N140 per pupil per day,” Kilgore, said in a  statement in Sokoto.

    Kilgori urged contractors handling supplies to schools to ensure prompt delivery in accordance with stipulated guidelines.