By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The PDP Governors Forum is scheduled to meet on Monday to review the current state of the nation.

The Director-General of the forum, Hon. C.I.D. Maduabum, said that the forum would deliberate on issues on national security and the economy.

Maduabum said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the governors elected under the platform of the PDP would meet in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The meeting will further review the current state of the nation, especially issues of national security and the economy, and also fine-tune strategies to support PDP as a viable and necessary alternative to the All Progressives Congress administration.

Maduabum said that the meeting, expected to be attended by the 15 governors elected under PDP, would be presided over by the Forum Chairman, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, while Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State would be the Chief Host. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joan Odafe

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has assured Nigerians abroad, who plan to invest in the nation, of governments support and enabling environment.

Dabiri-Erewa gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hospital, founded by Dr Modupe Elebute-Odunsi and her husband, Mr Bolaji Odunsi, was set up in Victoria Island, Lagos about six months ago.

Dabiri-Erewa said it was commendable that one of the best professionals in healthcare, left her comfort zone, took the risk to come back and set up a hospital in Nigeria.

She added that it was an inspiration to many Nigerians abroad who wanted to do likewise.

I think this is most commendable; to come back home to give back. It is not just giving back but giving the best to your society.

When we travel abroad, we didnt get anything better than this and the beauty of this is that it is owned by all Nigerians, she said.

Acknowledging the challenges the hospital may be experiencing in service delivery, Dabiri-Erewa pledged governments support in helping the hospital achieve its goals.

The role of government is to create an enabling environment and the good thing is that we have a diaspora policy that puts all the things we are saying to make life better for those who want to come back.

This is about the fourth that we are acknowledging; we also have a Stroke Centre in Imo state, set up by a Nigerian in diaspora.

People are coming from abroad but we dont see these things, we rather see the negatives. We are here to celebrate positivity.

Government will support every other Nigerian professional that wants to come back home, she said.

Dr Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital said the desire to contribute to healthcare in Nigeria was not done light-heartedly.

Elebute-Odunsi, who is also a Consultant Haemato-Oncologist, whohas about 30 years experience of working internationally, said it took a lot of planning to achieve.

She said her team did not just want to give back to the society but do it properly, by establishing a hospital that was of international standards.

What we decided to do here was a complete one-stop shop. We see the issues when patients access care, its so disjointed.

They come to see a doctor somewhere then go and see a specialist somewhere else; they do blood test in one place, scan somewhere else, theres no cohesiveness.

If they need a biopsy, chemotherapy, surgery, everything, its done here.

Apart from a PET CT Scan, there is no reason why anybody should get on a plane to go and access care for cancer outside Nigeria, she said.

Speaking further on the equipments, she said that Nigeria needed about 1,000 Linear Accelerator Machines to deliver radiotherapy for her population of cancer patients but currently have only five available.

Elebute-Odunsi commended the Chairman of NIDCOM for her support in ensuring that people in the diaspora who want to come home to contribute to the development of the nation are able to do so.

She urged banks to make financing accessible to people in the diaspora to make it possible for them to thrive.

Also, Mrs Kemi Ogunyemi, Director of Nursing at the hospital said that the aim of the hospital was to ensure that the journey of cancer care remained positive, regardless of what happens during the treatment.

Ogunyemi, who specialises in Oncology and Cancer Care said the period she worked as a Director of Outpatient Clinic in the United States of America had exposed her to quality and standard, which she pledged to maintain.

She urged NIDCOM to fast track the process so Nigerians in the diaspora, who are at the top of their fields and want to come back home to help with the development of the nation.

One of the patients, Mrs Ifeoma Dibia observed that accessing healthcare at the hospital was not different from what she receives when she goes abroad for treatment.

Dibia said the reasons she preferred receiving treatment at the hospital was because she receives the same quality without having to pay for flight tickets, accommodation and being disconnected from her family.

She urged NIDCOM to encourage more professionals to come back home to invest.

We need them here, in all fields, especially health. There is no hospital you go to in New York you dont have Nigerians. So let them come home, she said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) will soon begin the execution of 35 projects in Taraba in line with its mandate.

Chief David Kente, Commissioner, representing North East in the Commission made the disclosure on Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Jalingo.

He said that two projects would be executed in each of the 16 local government areas of the state.

According to him, three mega secondary schools would also be built in all the three senatorial districts in the state.

He said that contractors would soon be mobilised to sites as all modalities have been concluded towards the execution of the projects.

Kente, a former gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the APC urged residents to cooperate with the contractors towards the successful execution of the projects.

The North East Development Commission as a new agency of government established two years ago has taken its time to produce a blueprint towards delivering effectively on its mandate.

The commission, in the next three weeks will commence the execution of 35 projects in all the 16 local government areas in the state.

Two projects have being approved for each of the 16 local government areas and as well the construction of three mega secondary schools one each in all the senatorial districts in the state.

We also have provision for scholarships and other interventions in critical areas.

I am advising residents to cooperate with contractors as the work commence soon to ensure those projects are fully delivered, Kente said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Victor Adeoti

The Osun Free Train Service, on Sunday, returned about 600 passengers, who came for Eid-el-Fitr celebrations from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo back to their various destinations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the free train ride brought back the passengers for the celebrations for the three states to Osogbo, the state capital, on May 12.

Speaking at Osogbo terminal of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mrs Christiana Ogunfolaju, Special Adviser to Gov. Gboyega Oyetola on Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Empowerment, expressed delight at the impressive turnout of the passengers.

Ogunfolaju said that the state government would continue to prioritise the welfare of the masses in the state.

She said that the free train service was aimed at ensuring that Osun indigenes residing in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states have the opportunity of celebrating festive periods with their loved ones in the state.

Some of the commuters, who spoke with newsmen, commended the state government for the initiative.

Mr Akinwale Oluwagbemiga,one of the commuters, commended the state government for the initiative, describing it as unprecedented.

Oluwagbemiga, who said that he had been enjoying the free train service since it was introduced, expressed delight in the fact that the present administration had been able to sustain the initiative.

Another beneficiary, Mr David Oyedele, saidthat the free train service had afforded people the opportunity to come home to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr with their loved ones.

He appealed to state government not to allow any to disrupt the initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola-led administration had been providing free train service for citizens in the Diaspora during festive periods. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday called for more synergy among the state governors in order to resolve the numerous challenges affecting the country.

Jonathan spoke in Benin after a thanksgiving service organised to mark the 59th birthday anniversary of Pastor Charles Osazuwa, General Overseer of Rock of Ages Christian Assembly International (RACAI).

According to the former President, the the state governors through their various platforms should discuss issues affecting Nigeria.

He decried the antagonism between the Southern Governors Forum and the Northern Governors Forum, following the inauguration of the former in Asaba on May 11.

He said that the collaboration of all the governors in a roundtable would go a long way in helping President Muhamadu Buhari to address some of the current national challenges.

Governors themselves should continue to meet, I dont really love a situation where the northern governors will meet then the southern governors will cry foul.

Then the southern governors will meet then the northern governors will cry foul, that will not help our country.

The governors, through the governors fora should meet, they are the people who run this country, the president is just one person in Abuja, the former president said.

He pointed out that the states, especially in a country where the local governments are very weak; its the states that people fall back to.

So if the governors of the states meet to dialogue and interrogate things that are good for this country, then we will move forward.

I dont really enjoy the antagonism between governors, they should come together and discuss.

If there are issues that are affecting one or two states, I think the governors should see how they can collectively come with a way to address those issues, Jonathan said.

He also warned leaders and privileged Nigerians not to use their positions to oppress the people. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Aisha Gambo

Kaduna Electric has urged the Kaduna State Government(KDSG) and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to resolve their impasse amicably to avert the planned strike by NLC.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NLC had planned to mobilise workers in both public and private sectors to shut economic activities in the state on Monday, over what it described as obnoxious anti-worker policies by the state government.

The company made the appeal in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna through its Head, Corporate Communication, Mr Abdulazeez Abdullahi .

Kaduna Electric is keenly observing the ongoing negotiations between the Kaduna State Government and the NLC aimed at averting the planned shutdown of the state.

As key stakeholders, we are deeply concerned and hope that the talks will yield positive outcomes that will guarantee no one suffers unduly in the event of a strike, he said.

He said that the company as a private corporation was caught in the middle as their staff belonged to a union, affiliated to NLC hence they might be obliged to join any strike called.

He explained that the company offered critical utility service in which withdrawal of services would cause untold hardship on residents, adding that the organisation also had the responsibility to keep to both their staff and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

We urge both parties to, in the spirit of give and take, try to find common grounds to resolve the dispute amicably.

We are doing all we can on our part, to ensure that our esteemed customers have access to our services while a lasting solution is being sought to end the crisis. Our online payment services via our website is www.kadunaelectric.com, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Schools, kindergartens and other educational institutions in Bayuquan District of Yingkou City, northeast Chinas Liaoning Province, have been temporarily closed from Sunday.

This was over the resurgence of sporadic COVID-19 cases, local authorities said.

According to the education bureau of Bayuquan District, all primary and junior high schools in the district will launch online classes, and all exams and other activities will be postponed.

As for senior high schools, the bureau said all first- and second-year students would also be taught remotely.

Those in the third year, or the 12th grade, will continue to attend classes in person together with their teachers with entry and exit controls in place.

At the same time, all private clinics in Bayuquan District are temporarily closed, the local epidemic prevention and control headquarters said on Sunday.

A confirmed COVID-19 case recently identified in Anhui Province had been treated in a clinic in Bayuquan due to a sore throat.

The doctor that treated the case was later reported as an asymptomatic case, said the headquarters.

As of noon Sunday, Liaoning Province reported seven confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the recent resurgence, said the provincial health commission.

The majority were reported in Bayuquan District.

The second round of nucleic acid tests covering all 500,000 people in the Bayuquan District was launched on Sunday, said local authorities.(Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

New evidence gives a high degree of confidence that coronavirus vaccines work against the Indian variant.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who said this, did not rule out a return to local lockdowns to stem resurgences.

Hancock said on Sunday that it is appropriate to push on with the major easing of lockdown in England on Monday in spite of warnings from scientists and medics.

But he warned the highly transmissible variant could spread like wildfire among the unvaccinated groups as he urged people to come forward for jabs when eligible.

Hancock was also forced to defend the government against criticism it acted too late in imposing heightened border restrictions for travel from India.

The minister said there are now more than 1,300 cases of the so-called Indian variant in total and it is becoming the dominant strain in areas including Bolton and Blackburn in north-western England.

But offering good news to plans to ease restrictions without unleashing a fresh wave of infections and deaths, Hancock said there is new very early data from Oxford University giving confidence that existing vaccines work against the variant.

That means that we can stay on course with our strategy of using the vaccine to deal with the pandemic and opening up carefully and cautiously but we do need to be really very vigilant to the spread of the disease, he said.

We have a high degree of confidence that the vaccine will overcome.

Hancock said that the government would decide on June 14 whether all legal restrictions can be ended in the final step of the road map out of lockdown on June 21.

He did not rule out the possibility that Mondays easing may have to be reversed if the strain turns out to be very highly transmissible, but said the hope is the cautious and irreversible approach can continue.

Source: NAN News

By Olanrewaju Akojede

The Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has described Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi and Forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, as gifts to Nigeria.

The duo helped their club, Leicester City to clinch the 2020/2021 English FA Cup title.

The clubs National Chairman, Samuel Ikpea, gave the commendation in a statement by NFSCs media officer, Peter Ejiofor.

Reacting to the feat by the players, Ikpea said they were good ambassadors of the country, having etched their names in gold in the competitions annals.

Leicester on Wednesday at Englands Wembley Stadium defeated Chelsea FC 1-0 on Saturday, courtesy of Youris Tielemanns goal in the 63minute.

Having to be in the team that earned Leicester City FC its first FA glory is equally a great honour for Nigerian football fans who have followed your exploits in the club.

We in the Nigeria Football Supporters Club are happy with your achievements.

We wish you more laurels in your careers.

I assure you that Nigeria and the number one football supporters club will always support you to the peak of your endeavours as footballers.

We have noted that you have joined your compatriots that have won the title in the past, including Nwankwo Kanu and others, Ikpea said.

Contributing, Dominic Ehimare, NFSCs Publicity Secretary also congratulated the duo on their FA Cup victory over Chelsea.

These Nigerian internationals are really gifts to us and we are proud of them for good representation abroad.

I encourage them to bear their professionalism and zeal whenever they adorn our jerseys to play for the Super Eagles.

Let them export their football prowess and dedication to helping us to victory in future tournaments whenever they are called to make our team, Ehimare said.

He added that he was also happy seeing the two players celebrating with the Nigerian flag at the end of the competition.

It was awesome.

Other Nigerians, who have won the English FA Cup are Daniel Amokachi, who won it with Everton in 1995 as the first Nigerian that earned glory at Wembley.

Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea 2000), Nwankwo Kanu, (Arsenal 2002, 2003 and Portsmouth, 2008) and John Utaka (Portsmouth 2008)

Mikel Obi (Chelsea 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012), Alex lwobi (Arsenal 2017) and Victor Moses (Chelsea 2018). (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Egypt said it had begun dredging works for expanding the Suez Canals southern section to allow two-way traffic in the international man-made waterway.

The countrys Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced this in a statement by its Chairman, Osama Rabie on Saturday.

The dredging, according to the authority, is part of a project to develop the southern entrance of the Suez Canal.

Rabie said in the statement that the project is a continuation of developing the waterway that began with the opening of the new Suez Canal in 2015.

He added that dredging works would take place in several stages.

The project, Rabie said, would raise the efficiency of the canal and reduce the transit time for ships, in addition to increasing the safety of navigation in the southern section.

Last week, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi approved the SCAs plan to expand and deepen the southern stretch of the Suez Canal.

The project, to be completed in two years, is expected to widen and deepen 40 km of the waterway, including the part where a container ship Ever Given became jammed and blocked traffic for six days in March.

The SCA will also widen the 30 km southern stretch of the waterway between the city of Suez and the Bitter Lakes area by 40 meters, and deepen that section from 20 to 21 meters. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Irans Interior Ministry has registered almost 600 candidates for the presidential election on June 18.

Out of a total of 592 candidates, 40 are women and 552 are men, the ministry announced on Sunday.

All candidates must now be examined and confirmed by the powerful Guardian Council.

The names of the presidential candidates are then to be published by the end of the month.

The list of the leading candidates includes almost 30 names, including Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, hardline head of the judiciary Ebrahim Raisi, and former parliament speaker and nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

Ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the reformer and former womens representative in the presidential office Sahra Shodzhaei, and Mohsen Hashemi Rafsanjani, the son of a former president, have also thrown their hats into the ring.

President Hassan Rowhani is not allowed to run again after two terms in office.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Pope Francis has described child sexual abuse as a kind of psychological murder.

He said that the acts are committed, for example, in schools, sports and recreational facilities and religious communities, as well as by individuals.

The Catholic Church leader said at the Vatican on Saturday that the act must be consistently uncovered.

Child abuse is a kind of psychological murder and in many cases a cancellation of childhood, Francis warned.

The Pope made his remarks at an audience for members of the Italian anti-abuse association called Meter.

Protecting children from sexual exploitation is a duty of all states, he said.

They must prosecute and punish both traffickers and perpetrators of abuse, Francis said.

The 84-year-old criticized the advertising of child pornography that takes place via the internet and various social media.

The Catholic Church itself has also been repeatedly criticized for covering up cases of child abuse within its own ranks.

It faces repeated accusations that those high up in the church do not deal with allegations quickly enough.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ariwodola Idowu

The Ekiti State Government on Sunday said it intends to produce of over one million metrics tonnes of rice within the next couple of years.

Mr Olabode Adetoyi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, made this known in Ado Ekiti at a news conference ahead of the official launch of the Ekiti Rice Pyramid Project and flag off of the 2021 Wet Season Rice Cultivation, scheduled for Tuesday.

According to him, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, would perform the inauguration of the rice pyramid project while Gov. Kayode Fayemi, would be the chief host.

The commissioner said the state was embarking on massive production of rice so as to be able to meet both local demands and for export.

He explained that the state government had brought in investors, who were ready to invest in planting and processing of rice, adding that the product would be of high standards and stone free.

Adetoyi added that the state government was working assiduously towards ensuring that youths ventured into farming by making it more attractive and lucrative, through various agricultural incentives

He assured farmers in the state that the government would not fail in providing adequate security for them to enable them go to their farms anytime without entertaining fears

Adetoyi disclosed that 23 new investors had already been allocated lands to plant rice, cocoa and palm oil, among others, as the government was doing all to attract investors through provision of enabling environment.

Top notch rice processing plant like Stallion, Dangote and Jumlar rice have been allocated land in premium location in Ekiti Knowledge Zone for quality rice production.

Land clearing and development of over 5,000 hectares of land for commercial agriculture is also on, out of which 1,000 is cleared for swampy rice along the river banks and valleys in the state. Over 40,000 hectares is to be made available as time goes on, he said.

The commissioner said that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, had conceived the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide easy access to credit for farmers and processors at low interest rate, among others.

He added that the government of Japan had also brought in some equipment such as harvesters to provide high quality rice production in the state.

Adetoyi warned people in the habit of setting fire to bushes while hunting game to desist from such acts to avoid causing damage to peoples farms.

According to him, some farms had been destroyed in the process.

The commissioner said that government had approved money to buy seedlings that would be distributed to those farmers who lost their farms in such preventable fire incidences. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stanley Nwanosike

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested 16 suspects, one female inclusive, for cultism and unlawful possession of firearms within two weeks.

The command also recovered two cut-to-size locally-made gun, one locally-made pistol, two live cartridges, six mobile phones, powdery substance suspected to be heroin and weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu.

Ndukwe said that the feat was achieved by joint operations carried out by police operatives attached to 9th Mile Police Division, Anti-Cult Unit and personnel of the Nigerian Army, 82 Division in Enugu.

He said that the joint operation took place between April 19 and May 4, within a span of three council areas in the state.

They included: Cornelius Uche, 31; Ifeanyi Umeneze, 22; Chijioke Anachuna, 34; Chibuzor Umeayo, 28; Chinedu Okeke, 23; Ozinachi Obadike, 22; Ifeanyi Nwagbo, 27; Chigozie Okeke, 18, and Chikamso Odinwankpa, 18; were all arrested.

They were arrested on May 4 within Ezeagu Local Government Area following their alleged involvement in bloody cult clashes.

Others included: Ozor Chidubem, 22; Amina Inalegwu (female), 18; Benard Bright, 20; Ugwu Chidera, 21; Ani Chukwuebuka, 23, and Onoh Obumneme, 20, who were all arrested on April 19 at about 3:30 a.m.

They were arrested along Enugu-Makurdi Expressway, 9th Mile, Udi L.G.A. on their way to plan and perfect a heinous cult activity, as preliminary investigation reveals.

Another of the suspect, one Uchenna Aniagozie, 28, was arrested on April 28 for his alleged involvement in a deadly cult clash sometimes in January 2021.

Preliminary investigation show that they all confessed to being members of Vikings Confraternity, he said.

The police spokesman said that the suspects would be prosecuted accordingly once ongoing investigations into their nefarious activities are concluded.

To this end, residents of the state have been called upon to remain law-abiding, vigilant and quickly report suspected criminals and their activities to the nearest police station.

Residents can call the Commands emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

I can see that a lot has been on in our dear state, especially the scramble on who will replace Dr Ifeanyi Okowa come 2023.

Unfortunately, some are not even patient. They started their campaigns in the first three months of my second term in office.

I want to charge our leaders and people to be cautious because politics is such that if you dont read it rightly, you will directly throw your people into fire.

I am not all-knowing, but at the appropriate time, leaders must be ready to sit down for us to do a proper analysis politically, before we take decisions so that we will not lead our people into darkness.

I want to caution our leaders who are jumping the ship because of the very little thing that has been provided for them.

It is not about self, it is going to be about the people.

I am the governor of the state and I appreciate it. I believe in equity and will not shy away from the fact that I am from Delta North Senatorial District, he said.

By the grace of God, in our approach to governance, we have been fair in what we do.

Shine your eyes so that people will not come to lure you with N500,000 and N1,000,000 and you sell the conscience of your people and you lure them into fire.

I believe in equity; It has shown that we are not inferior in Delta North. Please let us stay cautious, especially, the leaders.

Who ever is coming to rule this state, by the grace of God, must be somebody who is ready to ensure that there is fairness, equity and justice.

We want somebody who will come to Asaba and see Asaba as his home and not somebody who will come and feel that Asaba as headquarters is misplaced.

So, I urge our people that this is the time to stay together; this is the time to think alike and I want to reassure you that in the next one month, we will start the politics, Okowa said.

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has offered a gifted physically challenged artist, Ms Abosede Okeowo, a US online scholarship to enhance her skills.

Osinbajos spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the presentation was made recently at the palace of Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, the Oore of Otun-Ekiti in Ekiti.

The 27-year-old artist had presented to Osinbajo a pencil portrait of himself during his courtesy visit to the Ooni of Ife in 2020.

Inspite of her limitations, Okeowo focuses on her artistic skills and has gained recognition because of her talent.

Okeowo, an indigene of Otun Ekiti in Ekiti State, had suffered an illness when she was a child which resulted in her current state of health.

A self-taught artist who, driven by passion, nurtured her talent in drawing to her current stage of expertise and is now known for making drawings of many dignitaries.

Okeowo first caught the attention of the vice president when she drew a portrait of his wife, Dolapo.

She yet again enthralled Osinbajo with her skills when she drew and presented a lifelike portrait of him.

Osinbajo, the statement said, was represented at the presentation by a team led by Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters.

Also in the team was Dr Ebi Awosika, Senior Technical Assistant to the Vice President on Community Engagement.

In her remarks, Awosika expressed gratitude to God for Okeowo, saying it was just the beginning of greatness for the young artist.

She presented to the talented artiste a special wheelchair, laptop and a scholarship in Hyper-Realistic Portrait Course, a virtual course offered through an American online programme.

This scholarship will help Okeowo to realise her dreams and desire to own an establishment where she can teach others how to draw and help those who are physically challenged to also fulfill their life ambitions,the statement quoted her as saying.

In his remarks, Adeagbo, who received the delegation on behalf of Okeowos family and Otun Ekiti community expressed gratitude to the vice president and his wife for making life meaningful for the artist and her family. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Nabilu Balarabe

Yobe Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Gomna on Saturday commended Gov. Mai Mala-Buni for granting 85% financial autonomy to the state Judiciary.

Gomna made the commendation in Damaturu when he led High and Sharia Court judges to pay sallah homage to the governor.

He said judicial workers in the state only joined the ongoing strike of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria in solidarity with their colleagues across the nation.

If state judiciary were to decide individually here in Yobe state, there is no reason going on strike, Gomna said.

The CJ expressed confidence that the governor would meet all other important demands of the judiciary in the state.

Responding, Buni expressed appreciation over the cordial working relationship between the executive and the judiciary in the state.

He, however called on the judiciary to consider Nigerians who are victims of the current industrial action.

The governor advised that something should be done to end the strike which had paralised judicial activities in the country. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

The Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Olufemi Peters, has urged new students of the university to be studious, have thirst for knowledge and the limits of ideas during their academic journey with the institution.

Peters made the call during the 20th Matriculation Ceremony for the students which took place virtually on Saturday across the 103 study centres in the country.

A statement issued by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN, quoted Peters as also urging the students to be expository and courageous.

I want you to know you are now our ambassadors, and I wish to request you to be of good character, befitting of your new status as students of NOUN.

As positive ambassadors, we expect you to draw friends, associates, relatives and the society at large to NOUN Community of learning, as you represent the old adage of taking the gown to the town.

He also promised the students that as members of the NOUN community, they would be given excellent opportunities to learn in an atmosphere of mutual respect, justice and quality service delivery.

It will be required of you to adapt to a new mode of learning that is mostly remote and technology driven, flexible, but challenging.

Your welfare and satisfaction is paramount to us. Therefore, our study centres are being renovated and modified for effective and ever-improving service delivery.

Our curriculum, course materials development, information request, service delivery and examination administration processes are continuously reviewed to advance your learning experience.

Our e-library facilities are replicated in all study centres.

As we strive for perfection in the deployment of cutting-edge technologies for your learning and other service deliveries, the process may encounter challenges, some of these will be related to the state of infrastructure in this part of the world.

The VC also stated that NOUN was determined to make learning rewarding and satisfactory.

He said that the learning content and service delivery facilities were being upgraded continuously with the state-of-the-art methodologies and innovations in the use of information and communication.

According to Peters, NOUN operates in a worldwide community of Open and Distance Learning (ODL), plays a significant roles in several international ODL bodies through affiliations.

These affiliations, he said, included African Council on Distance Education (ACDE), International Council on Distance Education (ICDE), Commonwealth of Learning (COL), among others.

Peters further urged the students to be resolute and seek assistance promptly when challenges arose.

The Registrar of the institution, Mr Felix Edoka, administered the matriculation oath to the students.

The 20th matriculation, the first performed by the VC since his assumption of office on Feb. 11, had some 17,804 students, with 11,983 for undergraduate and 5,821 for postgraduate studies. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Hajara Leman

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has advised residents to desist from dumping refuse in drainages to avert flood as the rain approaches.

Yahaya gave the advice in Gombe on Saturday when he received the Emir, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar III, who paid him Sallah homage.

He said that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had predicted how the rainfall season across the country would look like, hence the need for people to take precautionary measure to curb flooding.

The governor said that dumping refuse in drainages was wrong because it caused blockage of waterways which resulted to flood.

According to him, government has set up a committee for evacuation of drainages and anybody found wanting will be dealt with.

He assured the Emir and the people of his administration readiness to continue with developmental projects in the state.

He further called on the people of Gombe to continue their support to the state government for it to continue improving their living conditions.

Earlier, Shehu-Abubakar said that they were at the government house as part of the tradition to pay their Sallah homage and to show support and loyalty to the governor.

The first class traditional ruler noted some achievements recorded by the governor, including construction of roads network and healthcare facilities across the 114 wards in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the event was horse Durbar by the Emir and the traditional title holders in Gombe Emirate. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Patricia Amogu

The Federal Government has reiterated commitment to restoring mangrove in Ogoniland to improve lives in the communities.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Saghir el-Mohammed, Director Press, Ministry of Environment on Saturday in Abuja.

The Statement said that Dr Mohammad Abubakar, Minister of Environment, said this in Abuja when he opened an international expertise meeting on mangrove restoration in the land.

He said that the gathering would improve in clean-up of Ogoniland devastated by years of oil spill.

According to Abubakar, the meeting is a turning point for mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland.

Using the knowledge and experience of the experts assembled here today, together, we will be able to restore the mangroves and improve the lives of the Ogoni communities who are affected every day by the devastating pollution.

We are going to discuss the conditions and methods of successful replantation and recovery of mangrove habitats, he said.

The minister said that the meeting would lead to the creation of a strategy and conservation plan for the restoration of mangroves in Ogoniland.

He said that international experts provided their experiences from around the world and application to Ogoniland, adding that examples of successful mangrove restoration already taking place in the country were provided.

Mangroves are not just ecologically significant but are critical to the livelihood and food security of communities in Ogoniland.

It is hoped that the meeting will bring new momentum to the restoration efforts for mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland, paving way for healthy ecosystems and successful environmental remediation of areas affected by pollution.

It is worthy of note that the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) found extensive damage to mangroves in Ogoniland when undertaking its 2011 Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland.

The report found that the impact of oil on mangrove vegetation in Ogoniland has been disastrous, he said.

The minister noted that the impacts of the pollution varied from extreme stress to total destruction.

In the most impacted areas, only the roots of the mangroves remain, with no stems or leaves.

In many of these areas, the roots were completely coated in oil, sometimes with a one centimeter or more thick layer of bituminous substance, he explained.

Abubakar said that the experts discovered that pollution had accumulated over for a very long period.

The meeting was attended by experts from more than 20 institutions while the programme was supported by UNEP. (NAN)

Source: NAN News