The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Taraba State

  • Taraba trains youths in skills

    Taraba trains youths in skills

    Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku is rescuing the youth of the state from idleness which often leads them to violence and other social ills. How is he doing this? He sends a bulk of idle youths from the state to Peter Akinola Foundation to be trained in various skills. Peter Akinola Foundation is a youth centre in industrial training in Ogun State. Sources said the Ishaku strategy is paying off.

    Last week 51, out of the 57 Taraba youths (males and females) who went to Ogun State for the skills acquisition training in February were graduated successfully, after nine months of intense training. Taraba Commissioner for Education, Johannes Jigem, said, “The trained youths are ready to storm the state with the trades they have learned.”

    Jigem disclosed that 12 youths were trained in catering and tourism, 13 in information and communication technology (ICT), 12 in fashion and design and five in tiling and concreting. Four were trained in electrical installation, three in metal fabrication/aluminium and two in auto mechanics.

    “13 out of the 51 [trainees] have been selected to write London City and Guild which will enrich their CVs and qualify them to seek jobs in any part of the world,” the commissioner said.

    Governor Ishaku has received the 51 trainees in Government House, Jalingo. Happy with the development, he reiterated his commitment to ensuring that more youths and women are trained in different skills.

    “What began like a dream is today a reality,” the governor said, promising the graduands that they would be provided with starter pack kits in order to kick the ball rolling by putting into use what they learned from the Peter Akinola Foundation to make themselves better people in the society.

    He informed them that, those that the Taraba State government will need their services would be employed by the State. For those that will become self-employed, a conducive working environment would be provided for them so as to also train others in the skills they have learnt.

    “Another set of youths will immediately be sent to the foundation for training. My desire for Taraba State is to engage the youth productively and bring to end youth restivenes and idleness,” he said.

    Ishaku expressed optimism that entrepreneurship would soon flourish in the State, as he encouraged the trained ones to make better use of the rare opportunity they have and become employers of labour. “The essence of acquiring skills is to be independent and self reliant,” he said.

    The Governor praised the graduands for “exhibiting high sense of responsibility and repre-senting Taraba State well” during the period of their training, urging them to translate the positive attitude they displayed in Ogun in their home State too.

    Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Dauda Attah, leader and spokesman of the graduands, th-anked the governor for selecting them across the State for the training. “We proved ourselves worthy,” he said.

    Dauda Attah explained that at the end of the training they bagged the following certificates: International Certificate from German Co-operation, Center for Capacity Building and Enterprises Development CCBED, National Certificate from Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Trade Test 3,2 and 1 and National Business and Technical Examination Board NABTEB which will be out next year.

    Inspired, the Ogun State government has sent 100 indigenes of the state to the  Peter Akinola Foundation for training in skills acquisition, sources told The Nation.

     

  • PHOTO: President Buhari receives Gov. Ishaku of Taraba

    PHOTO: President Buhari receives Gov. Ishaku of Taraba

    PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES TARABA GOVERNOR
    President Buhari receives Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku at the State House in Abuja.
  • Taraba Assembly constitutes committee on constitutional amendment

    Taraba Assembly constitutes committee on constitutional amendment

    The Taraba House of Assembly has constituted a three-man committee to coordinate and harmonise its members’ positions on the upcoming amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

    Its Speaker, Mr Abel Diah, who announced this during plenary on Wednesday, said that the committee, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Mohammadu Gwampo, has Mr Hosea Ibi and Alhaji Bashir Mohammed as members.

    He said that the committee was expected to aggregate members’ views ahead of the vote on the provisions of the constitution being altered.

    Diah said that the proposed amendment was very crucial to the deepening of the nation’s democracy, and urged the committee to be thorough and strive to capture the true positions of Taraba people on the issues.

    He urged his colleagues to help the committee by consulting with their respective constituencies on the items slated for amendment.

    “Our decisions must reflect the wishes and desires of the good people of Taraba State; we cannot compromise that,” he said.

    The speaker commended his colleagues for contributing towards developing their constituencies using private resources, and lamented that legislators in Taraba had not enjoyed constituency project allowances since return of democracy in 1999.

    Mr Charles Maijankai, member representing Karim-lanido Constituency, in a remark, said that the current economic recession was hitting hard on the lawmakers, making it difficult for some of them to fuel their vehicles to attend plenary.

    “Things are hard; there is the need to improve the welfare of members for optimum productivity,” Maijankai said.

  • Cannabis Plantation: NDLEA arrests 14 farmers in Gombe

    Cannabis Plantation: NDLEA arrests 14 farmers in Gombe

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Gombe State on Tuesday said its operatives arrested 14 farmers for cultivating Cannabis in two communities.

    The Commandant of the agency in the state, Mr Aliyu Adole, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe that the farmers were arrested with 413.19 kilogrammes of Cannabis.

    He said nine of them were arrested with 322.6 kg at Kulani village of Balanga Local Government Area of the State, while five were with 191.300 kg at Amkargu village of Taraba State.

    He added that “we have been on farm raid in the past one month and we arrested 14 people with 413.19 kilogrammes of Cannabis from two villages; some farmers have hectares of Cannabis farms, while some plant in their backyards.

    “We also arrested five others with 191.300 kilogrammes of the substance at the boundary village between Gombe and Taraba, headed by an old man of about 76 years who claims that he is 62 years.”

    According to him, all of them will be charged to Federal High Court for prosecution.

  • Ishaku, Fayose, others pay last respect to ex-Governor Suntai

    Ishaku, Fayose, others pay last respect to ex-Governor Suntai

    Ekiti State Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong Saturday joined their counterpart Darius Dickson Ishaku of Taraba State to pay the last respect to former Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, who was buried Saturday.

    The governors offered their heartfelt condolences during funeral service which was done at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, Jalingo. But Suntai’s body was later conveyed to his home in Suntai village, Bali local government area for entombment.

    Suntai died on June 28, two days to his 56th birthday, in Orlando, Florida, USA, exactly four years and seven months after surviving an air crash in which he was the pilot.

    Governor Fayose said the late Suntai was a good man. He asked Taraba people to learn from the good believes Suntai had for the State.

    “Suntai, continue to sleep peacefully. The good gifts of a man make the way for him,” he said.

    Governor Dankwambo of Gombe State described Suntai as a “true democrat.” “I know he (Suntai) meant well for the State and people of Taraba.”

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and the Governor of Adamawa State Bindo Jibrilla, who was represented by his deputy, also paid glowing tributes to the late former governor.

    “He (Suntai) used tell me to be always upright with God whenever we met,” the deputy governor said.

    Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku said his predecessor (Suntai) was an “amiable leader and an icon par excellence.”

    “He was very well known for his frankness, boldness and large heart given to sincere forgiveness.

    “Late Governor Suntai’s public life, ranging from politics to public service, left no one in doubt that he was born a natural leader.

    “God has called him home,” he said.

    Ishaku broke in tears when on Friday he arrived with Suntai’s corpse at the Jalingo Airport –which he has proposed before the State Assembly to rename after Suntai to immortalise him.

    “When Suntai had that plane crash, Taraba State literally crashed with him. The future and wellbeing of his family, the sanctity of his administration, and indeed, the wellbeing of the people of Taraba State also crashed with him.

    “This is because the very fabric of the socio-economic being of the people of Taraba State was intricately interwoven within the stature of this great man and leader of our time.

    “The news of Danbaba Suntai’s demise came to me as a rude shock, because from my human perspective, I looked forward with very high expectation to the day that he would be fully restored and returned home to us.

    “But sadly, that was not to be. Words cannot describe the intensity and depth of my grief and the trauma that the immediate and extended family members of Suntai are going through, as well as the gloom that has settled on the government and good people of Taraba State.

    “Let us be consoled by his legacy of humility, diligence, compassion, empathy, love and mutual respect for all,” Ishaku said.

    Other dignitaries at Suntai’s funeral included: former Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Plateau State Jonah David Jang, pioneer military administrator of Taraba State Rear Admiral (retired) Adeyemi Ambrose Afolayan and first civilian Governor of Taraba State Jolly Nyame.

    Governor Samuel Ortom of neighbouring Benue State was represented by his Secretary to the State Government (SSG), while Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State was represented by his Commissioner for Women Affairs.

    Others included Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and Senator Shuaibu Lau, House of Representatives members, former senators, former House of Representatives members, Taraba Deputy Governor Haruna Manu, Taraba Speaker Abel Peter Diah and many traditional rulers.

  • Taraba airport to be named after Suntai 

    Taraba airport to be named after Suntai 

    His love for flying and piloting aircrafts during his reign as governor of Taraba State led to his death, although five years after surviving a plane crash near Yola, Adamawa State capital.

    But former Governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai who died in Orlando, Florida, United States, on June 28, will now have the State airport named after him, his successor Darius Dickson Ishaku has announced.

    The governor said he has presented a request to the State House of Assembly for approval to name the airport after Suntai, whom he described as an “unforgettable leader.”

    “If I am able to obtain their (lawmakers’) support, the airport will be named Danbaba Danfulani Suntai Airport,” he said.

    There have been calls for the Taraba State University (TSU) to be named after the deceased governor -for establishing the institution, but his predecessor (Ishaku) said Suntai’s soul will be happier if he is immortalised with the airport, adding that “He had love for the skies.”

    Ishaku announced that “preparations were in top gear for Suntai to get a state burial on August 5.”

    He said: “I wish to appeal to all Tarabans to pray for Suntai’s family and the burial committee members as we enter the emotional days that lie ahead for the people of Taraba State.

    “We must all come together as a people to give this amiable leader of ours a befitting burial.

    “On the part of government, we are doing everything possible to give him the honour that he deserves.”

    Suntai’s Aide-de-Camp, Chief Security Officer and the Chief Detail, who were aboard the ill-fated private Cessna plane that crashed, have survived and are all doing well.

     

  • ‘Why I returned N60,000 salary to N-Power’

    ‘Why I returned N60,000 salary to N-Power’

    Mr. Daniel Joshua, the Taraba state-born 31-year old, former N-Power graduate employee says his sound Christian moral upbringing compelled him to refund the N60,000 paid into his account, after he quit the scheme in April.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday July 1, tweeted and praised Joshua’s rare display of integrity, which he said was worthy of emulation by Nigerian youths.

    Joshua now works for the Central Bank of Nigeria in Benin. He is  from Lissem in Ussa local government area of Taraba state.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday: “My Christian moral upbringing helped me to do the right thing.

    “My pastor once told me that whatever weakens the conscience weakens the authority.And because i have always tried to avoid anything that will weaken my conscience, taking the decision to refund the money was not a problem.

    “Although i didn’t have any money in my account at the time, the orientation from my bosses in my new employment about transparency, integrity and accountability also helped me quickly decide on the right path to take in the matter,’’ he said.

    Joshua, who married in 2015 and now has a child, said some family members and friends tried to persuade him to keep the money.

    “ But I am happy because both my wife, mother and elder brother, encouraged me to refund the money as soon as i received the alert for the two months salary.

    “Yes, there were some friends and family members who persuaded me to keep the money, saying it was my luck,’’ he said.

    Joshua graduated in Economics from the Modibo Adama University of Technology, Yola.

    He said:“It pays to be upright at all times.’’

    He advised Nigerians, especially the youths to be upright in their daily dealings and become good ambassadors of the country.

    Joshua was employed under the federal government N-Power scheme as a Primary school teacher at Kaduna Lissem primary school, in Taraba, in January. He disengaged from the job after working for three months.

    Although Joshua left the N-Power job at the end of March, he was paid N60,000, being stipends for April and May.

    He refunded the money to the coffers of the Federal Government.

    The N-Power management has commended Joshua for refunding the money. A message on its official Twitter handle reads: “We are extremely proud of Daniel.

  • Taraba governor’s media aide is dead

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity to Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Sylvanus Yakubu Giwa died Friday.

    It was not clear what caused his demise, but unconfirmed report said he died of congestive heart failure.

    Governor Ishaku, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Hassan Mijinyawa, has commiserated with Giwa’s family on the death which he described as sudden.

    Ishaku described the late Giwa as a hardworking professional who stood firmly by the lofty ideals of the journalism profession and by the interest of the people of Taraba State.

    Giwa died at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo.

    The deceased was the General Manager of the Taraba Television during the Jolly Nyame administration.

    He served as Governor Danbaba Suntai’s SSA Media and Publicity Assistant and was returned in the position by Governor Ishaku in 2015.

     

     

  • Osinbajo condemns violent attacks in Taraba

    Osinbajo condemns violent attacks in Taraba

    …Orders security reinforcements

     

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday condoles with the victims of the recent violent attacks in a number of communities in Taraba State, where deaths have been reported.

    He condemned the acts of violence, assuring that perpetrators of the attack would be brought to book.

    In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo also commiserated with the people of the affected communities, the entire government and people of Taraba State.

    The Acting President, over the matter, summoned and held an emergency meeting with top security officials of the Federal Government and Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.

    He also ordered the deployment of an extra military battalion, police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to the areas affected.

    The Acting President also ordered the provision of relief materials to be delivered to the affected communities in Toffi, Mayo Daga, Mayo Sina, Tamiya, Kwara-Kwara, Tungan Lugere, Timjire, Nguroje and other villages in the hinterlands of Mambilla Plateau.

    “The Federal Government has also put in motion long time solutions including mediation between opposing groups in the communal conflict,” it stated.

     

  • Taraba: Governor’s wife partners CBN on entrepreneurship training

    Mrs. Anna Ishaku, the Wife of Taraba State Governor and Founder, Hope Afresh Foundation, says her foundation has gone into partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to train 220 unemployed youths in the state.

    Ishaku disclosed this in Jalingo on Wednesday while inspecting facilities at the Skills Acquisition Centre of Taraba State University in preparation for the take-off of the training.

    She said the exercise was intended to build capacity and help to make participants self-reliant.

    The wife of the governor said that the training would be open to women, youths, physically challenged and all interested unemployed persons.

    Mrs. Helen Douglas, the Project Manager of Hope Afresh Foundation, said the CBN Entrepreneurship Development Training had been in existence for over two years in the North-East zone.

    According to her, most of the states in the zone had been benefitting from the CBN gesture.

    She expressed regret that Taraba had not been able to key into the scheme due to the ‘I-Don’t-Care’ attitude of the people.

    “The training for this zone normally holds in Maiduguri, the zonal headquarters, but because of the distance, the Governor’s wife requested that the training for Taraba citizens be done in Jalingo.

    “The training is open to everyone that is interested and will last for four weeks for theoretical training and eight weeks for internship.

    “At the end of the training, participants will be issued certificates as well as connected to particular financial institutions where they will get loans to start up their businesses,” she said.

    The project manager also announced that the first batch of the beneficiaries would commence the training on April 7.