A Dei-Dei Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja on Monday sentenced a 27-year-old labourer, Abubakar Mohammed to nine months imprisonment for stealing iron rods.

Mohammed, who lives in Katampe, Abuja pleaded guilty to theft and begged the court for leniency.

The Judge, Sulyman Ola, gave the convict an option of N30,000 fine and also warned him to stay away from crimes.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that on July 10 at about 3: a. m, the police patrol team while raiding black spots and criminal hide outs arrested the convict.

The prosecutor said thatduring police investigation, the convict could not give location where he got the iron rods.

He said the iron rods were recovered from the convict.

The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code. (NAN)()

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Afonne

Former governor of Abia and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu has congratulated Tobi Amusan, for winning the womens 100 metres hurdles in Oregon, U.S., on Sunday.

The News Agency Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amusan is the first Nigerian athlete to win a Gold medal at the World Athletics Championship.

Kalu in a statement on Monday described Amusan who is a graduate of University of Texas as a talented and skillful sprinter, while urging her to sustain the feat in future sporting events.

The Pillar of Sports in Africa, called on the younger generation to embrace sports as a profession, adding that Amusans performance would inspire the womenfolk.

Kalu expressed happiness over the superlative outing of Amusan, adding that the athlete had done Nigeria proud.

He said, I am elated with the record breaking performance of Tobi Amusan, who clinched a gold medal after winning the womens 100 metre hurdles at the World Athletics Championship.

The athletes victory is a welcome and timely development for Nigeria.

She has shown the world that Nigerians are talented.

Amusan has indeed made Nigerians proud with her performance.

Kalu wished the sprinter continued success in her career.

NAN reports that Team Nigeria finished joint-13th on the medals table with Amusans Gold and Ese Brumes Silver in the Womens Long Jump.

Team USA won 33 medals comprising 13 Gold, 9 Silver and 11 Bronze medals to win the championship, while Ethiopia finished second with 10 medals of which 4 are Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze.

Jamaica finished third with 2 Gold, 7 Silver and 1 Bronze. (NAN)

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Edited by Obike Ukoh

Source: NAN News

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed a veteran journalist, Mr Chooks Oko as his new Special Assistant on Media and Strategy.

The appointment was disclosed in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Goverment, Dr Kenneth Ugbala and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abakaliki.

Ugbala, in the statement, disclosed that the erstwhile media aide, Mr Francis Nwaze has been re-assigned as the SA on Documentation.

The handing and taking-over of duties is with immediate effect.

All concerned are to ensure strict compliance to this directive, the statement read.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oko, who hitherto, was the governors SA on strategy, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literary Studies from the University of Calabar in 1989.

He was a former Special Projects Editor, the Vanguard Newspapers and Business Manager, Diet Newspapers, presently, Daily Independent newspapers.

Okoh was a former Managing Editor of the National Pathfinder Newspapers and a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

He is also member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and is happily married with children. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

A non-governmental organization, Women Initiative for Leadership Strategy and Innovation in Africa (Women Africa) has released a report on the state of gender-based violence response in Nigeria.

The report which is developed with support from the European Union and United Nations Spotlight Initiative Programme through UNESCO is a mapping of critical response mechanisms across the 36 states and FCT in Nigeria.

It provides comprehensive information on the current state of gender-based violence response in Nigeria with regards to available laws and policies, support system and structures, law enforcement, justice institutions, reporting channels and available coordination mechanisms.

The Executive Director, Chinwe Onyeukwu who made this known in Abuja, said following the rise in fatal cases of sexual and domestic violence against women and girls recorded in Nigeria across the country during the four-month Covid-19 lockdown,

The Federal Government of Nigeria, and the State Governors, under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), declared a State of Emergency on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in June 2020.

It also made commitments towards putting in place gender-based protection laws including adopting the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act) and the Child Rights Act into state laws by states that have not done so to increase protection for women and children, ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, and creating sex offenders register in each state to name and shame violators.

Since then, few studies have been carried out to map and assess the level of implementation of these commitments and the milestones achieved by various states in the country on gender-based violence protections and child rights interventions.

Although the number of states that have adopted the VAPP Laws, Child Rights Laws, and Disability Rights Laws across the states have increased, however, there is still limited information available regarding the existence and level of implementation of these laws.

She stated that it was this premise that informed the need for the research; to identify the available mechanisms and provide comprehensive information on GBV and Child Rights Protection in the country.

Over 50 stakeholders from relevant government agencies, civil society organizations and development partners under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Programme were in attendance at the one-day meeting.

Participants at the meeting contributed to the validation of findings from the report.

In her remarks, a representative of the European Union and Programme Manager, Gender and Human Rights, Esm Stuart stated that; the context for the report came from the pandemic, within the pandemic that we saw in 2020 where we had huge numbers of people being victims of GBV because of COVID-19, restriction and because of being locked up at home in their house. Which saw commitments from the Nigerian government and the Nigerian governors forum as GBV was high on the national agenda.

This report is part of efforts to track the commitments from states governments in terms of gender based violence whether it translates into actual action for victims and survivors.

She added that in order to consolidate the different efforts of various stakeholders, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Programme, developed a National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Barometer.

In her remarks, the representative from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head SGBV Response Unit, said:We are all experts working in the field with hands on deck to ensure justice and proper services are delivered to victims of GBV and as mentioned also, the work will be in vain of we do not know the state of response we cannot access the congress of our effort.

Acting Director, Women Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ilyasu Zubair, said: the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is and has always been working with partners especially on issues of Gender Based Violence particularly United Nation Agencies, Civil societies and other spirited individuals in the NGO.

Its our hope that the document will go a long way to eradicate the issue of GBV in our society and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs like I said before is ever willing and ready to support the programme and put in place policy geared towards the eradication of GBV in Nigeria.

Ms. Hadiza Dorayi, National Coordinator, Spotlight Initiative and Gender Advisor to the United Nations Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator, lauded the commitment and dedication of the stakeholders for contributing to the success of the report.

The Joint European Union and the United Nations Spotlight Initiatives are committed to the elimination of all forms of violence and harmful practices against women and girls, and persons with disabilities facing intersecting forms of violence in Nigeria, so that women and girls can reach their full potential and contribute to nation-building.

Some of the key findings from the report include:32 states including the FCT have passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 into law and gazetted in 15 states (including the FCT).

States that are yet to pass the VAPP Act include Borno, Gombe, Kano, Katsina and Zamfara.

The VAPP Act is an innovative piece of legislation that provides for a robust response, care, and support services to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

There are now 32 Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across 19 states including the FCT in Nigeria, where victims and survivors of sexual assault can receive medical assistance, counseling, and justice support services in a confidential space.

The Child Rights Act 2003 has been signed into law in 29 states (including the FCT) out of 36.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ruth Oketunde

The diaspora group, IA-Foundation has taken its campaign to tackle out-of-school crisis in Nigeria to Ajegunle, one of the most populated communities in Lagos State.

The outreach is the latest initiative of the British charity to sustain its commitment to tackling the out-of-school crisis in Africas most populous nation, where 10.5 million kids are currently out of school, according to UNICEF.

The Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, made the disclosure in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Adeagbo said the group decided to embark on street-to-street outreach in Ajegunle, the most densely populated community in Lagos, to sensitise parents on the dangers of child labour.

She re-stated that Nigerian children should not be allowed to be on the streets to be trading during school hours, instead of being in classrooms.

We decided to take our campaign to the grassroots, starting from Ajegunle in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State because of the huge population there.

Nigeria must end child labour to move forward and our position is that the high rate of out-of-school children must be brought to the barest minimum.

Adeagbo, a British citizen, who has sustained a campaign to give comprehensive education to children, especially the girl-child, said it was regrettable that Nigeria should have high number of out-of-school kids.

The Federal Government must demonstrate the political will to give quality education to every Nigerian kid, rather than allowing them to roam the streets to find their daily bread.

Education is fully the responsibility of government, although we as corporate citizens must be part of the solution to bring positive change, Adeagbo said.

She recalled that the UK-based charity had carried out a similar outreach at Oshodi Market in Lagos, saying that the foundation was determined to carry out its campaign to other cities nationwide.

According to her, the foundation has also discussed with the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, to agree on areas of partnerships, to make the difference for children in Lagos State.

The IA-Foundation chief executive said that the group had also discussed with the Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos, Hon. Olorunfemi Okeowo, on how to collaborate to tackle the out-of-school problem.

She pointed out that Lagos State had made its mark as one of the states with the least figures of out-of-school children, describing the development as commendable.

Adeagbo said that IA-Foundation had been providing books, uniforms and paying tuition for some of the children who were previously out of school.

Last year, UNICEF announced that 10.5 million children in Nigeria were currently out of school, down from the previous 18.5 million figure recorded in 2001.

Nigeria is Africas top petroleum exporter but weak policies and poor governance have thrown its education sector into crisis, forcing many kids and adults out of school. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Saidu Adamu/Silas Nwoha

Source: NAN News

Wole Olanipekun and Co., a legal firm, has finalised plans to partner The Duke of Shomolu Productions, a Play staging outfit, on annual theatrical plays espousing national unity.

A statement by Yemi Shodimu, Director, Shomolu Productions, said that the plays would also seek to promote other values aimed at fostering national cohesion.

It quoted Joseph Edgar, Executive Chairman, Duke of Shomolu Productions, as emphasising the need to continue to push for national consensus using very strong socio-cultural imperatives.

Edgar said that the partnership would execute some of the most inspiring theatrical productions that would tell stories of strong leadership, passionate engagements and cultural depth.

It is our convictions that these stories will go a long way in inspiring emerging leadership as we seek to rebuild the fabric of our Nation.

Already, the partnership will be staging its inaugural play this October in Abuja as part of the National Day activities.

Sardauna, a Play, written by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, a renowned playwright, is among those to be staged.

It is an intriguing look at the last moments in the life of iconic leader and former Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, throwing up his deep love for Nigeria.

It also opens up the trado-cultural traits of Northern Nigeria for better understanding of our youths specifically, and Nigerians as a whole.

The National Troupe of Nigeria will be playing a very major role in these Productions with its Artistic Director/CEO, Mohammed Ahmed, serving as a co- Executive Producer.

Sardauna is expected to attract the presence of President Mohammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibajo, governors, members of the National Assembly, among others.

The two-day Fiesta will be open to the public who are not required to pay any gate fees as the legal firm will be covering all expenses.

Other plays include Ladi Kwali to be directed by Prof Ojo Bakare, Nigerias first Professor of Dance and current Commissioner for Culture and Arts in Ekiti State, he added.

The goal is to heal Nigeria through song, dance and story telling, the statement said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has charged members of the West African Society of Pharmacology (WASP) to spearhead research for the production of vaccines to contain epidemics that are endemic in the sub-region.

Jonathan gave the advice in Abuja on Saturday at a programme of the West African Society of Pharmacology where he was invested as the Grand Patron of the Society

The former President said that the world had been experiencing outbreak of viral diseases, some of which were more prevalent in West Africa

Jonathan said that pharmacologists and scientists in related disciplines must give their best to ensure that such peculiar health challenges were adequately tackled.

Let me therefore, use this opportunity to task and challenge pharmacological scientists in this sub region to invest more energy in finding solutions to medical challenges, especially the ones that are peculiar to us.

The sub-region is in dire need of essential Covid-19 vaccines, following the imperative of tracking and halting its mutating variants.

We are now accustomed to hearing of the outbreak of new viral diseases, some of which are more prevalent in our part of the world.

One of such diseases is the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)which has killed thousands in West Africa. In 2014 an outbreak in Guinea spread to many West African countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.

My administration had the good fortune of containing the spread through a clinical contact tracing mechanism which significantly reduced the fatality rate in the country, he said.

Jonathan further observed that Ghana recently reported its first two cases of the deadly Marburg virus, which unfortunately claimed the lives of both victims, adding that the sub-region needed to do more to contain the spread of such outbreaks.

Emphasising that some of the diseases were endemic in West Africa, Jonathan further cited an example of the sickle cell disease (SCD).

He said that the management of sickle cell disease was still a big problem for us in Africa.

Jonathan said that sickle cell anaemia contributed the equivalent of five per cent of deaths of under-five-year-old children on the African continent.

Sadly, more than nine per cent of such deaths occur in west Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In the case of Nigeria, a recent WHO report indicated that 24 per cent of the Nigerian population are carriers of the mutant gene while the prevalence of sickle-cell anaemia is about 20 per 1,000 births.

He added that another report further indicated that three countries harboured about 90 per cent of the worlds SCD population.

These countries are Nigeria, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease is said to affect up to two per cent of the population.

Such high prevalence rate and significant number affecting the workforce would obviously affect productivity.

The West African Society of Pharmacology and other related institutions like the universities must do something about that in order to change such unenviable health records.

We must be able to develop the technology for the production of the essential vaccines for the prevention and management of these diseases.

The economic consequences of poor health are obvious. Our pharmacologists, scientists and related disciplines are therefore, challenged to give their best to ensure that our peculiar health situation is adequately addressed.

The former President praised WASP for their efforts, stating that the job of a pharmacologist was very crucial to human existence and well-being.

Jonathan added that the science of pharmacology entailed much more was usually conceded to it

We all are its direct beneficiaries for which we have good reasons to show more appreciation and interest in the works of pharmacologists.

He expressed joy that the West African Society for Pharmacology was made up of members from different professional backgrounds.

This, according to him, includes medical doctors, pharmacists, molecular biologists, veterinarians, biochemists, chemists, botanists, toxicologists, biological scientists.

Pharmacology is often described as a bridge science because it incorporates knowledge and skills from a number of basic science disciplines.

They are people with special skills because they are able to translate such knowledge into the rational development of therapeutics.

As a result of their multidisciplinary training, pharmacologists are able to offer a unique perspective in solving drug, hormone and chemical-related problems.

In this era, interdisciplinary collaboration is the gold standard in scientific research.

In medicine, drug development and administration, many breakthroughs have been recorded as a result of such collaboration.

Pharmacology is at the centre of such viable partnerships in medicine because it encourages collaboration among many medical and allied professionals. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Sylvester Thompson

Parents of pupils at the New World Emerald Private School, Dutse, Abuja, have expressed satisfaction in the schools high standard especially its hub for technology, coding and robotics.

The parents made this known at the graduation ceremony of their children and wards on Saturday in Abuja.

Mr Sheni Oke, a parent with two wards in the school, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on the sideline of the event said the school had tried in managing the children.

I was just speaking to one of the parents now and she was like, when her child joined the school, the child couldnt even speak with the peer group.

But today, they are here singing songs and doing choreography, I believe there is still a long way to go, the future is bright, Oke said.

Mrs Maryam Momodu, another parent said she sent her wards to the school because she wanted improvement for them.

So far, so good. I have seen improvement in them from where they were before, theres a difference, the school is doing well, she said.

Mr Segun Ayoola, a parent and construction manager said everything was unique about the school.

They have different uniforms for one week, there is always something unique about the school.

Their learning standard is high, their teachers are lovely, lovely playground and setting, Ayoola said.

One of the directors of the school, Miss Oluwateniola Olasanya, said the school boasts of good teachers, attributing it to why students are enrolling everyday.

Speaking further on what added value to the school, Olasanya said it was passion.

Once you have passion, a lot of things are possible and the directors and teachers have true passion for the school, he said.

Mr Raji Akeem, Head of Faculty and Resources Religion of the school told NAN that the school teaches not just academics, but morals.

He said in their certificates, it is boldly inscribed that the student is found worthy in both learning and character.

Mr Fisayo Odubela, Head of Primary and Early Years Foundation Stages of the school, in his opening remarks said a unique feature of the ceremony was that the pupils were pioneers.

He said the event was the first to be held since the establishment of the Kubwa campus of New World Schools, hence the pupils from UKS2, Reception and Playgroup could be regarded as pioneers.

Master Oke Ipet Oluwaduro, the best graduating pupil in his set, said the school gave him a second chance.

Sharing his thoughts on what set him apart, Oluwaduro said, I think I might have maybe concentrated a little bit harder, but apart from that, all of them are good.

The best graduating student whose best subjects are Mathematics and the Sciences, hopes to become an architect.(NAN)()

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Ibrahim Kado

The Police Command in Adamawa has arrested one Caroline Barka, 20-year-old house wife, for stabbing her husband, Barka Dauda, to death.

Mrs Barka is a resident of Angwan Tamiya in Madagali Local Government Area of the state.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commands spoke person, SP Suleiman Nguroje, on Saturday in Yola.

He said that the suspect was apprehended by the police on Friday following report received from a relative of the deceased.

The suspect, Caroline Barka, a resident of Angwan Tamiya, Madagali Local Government Area, engaged her late husband, Barka Dauda, in a fight following an argument that ensued between them after the deceased returned home drunk and fell on their one-year-old baby who was in bed.

Angered by his drunkenness, habitual late nights and failure to provide basic necessities as a husband, the suspect and the deceased engaged themselves in a fight which resulted to her stabbing the husband.

As a result he fell down unconscious and was later rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead, Nguroje stated.

According to him, investigation so far revealed that the suspect, being a nursing mother, has a child with the deceased after two years of marriage.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Sikiru Akande, directs Deputy Commissioner of Police Investigation to take over the case and ensure that the suspect is prosecuted accordingly, he stated.

Akande called on the public to always report people of suspicious character around their neighbourhood to the police authority nearest to them.

He said that this would help in tackling criminal activities and other related offences in the state. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado/Angela Atabo

Mr Dasuki Arabi, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has pledged governments support to collaborate with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in enhancing accountability and transparency in government.

Arabi made the pledge when he received a delegation from Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) led by its Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oludare in Abuja.

He said that the BPSR had set a foundation for good working relationship between government, state actors and non state actors, unlike the belief that government did not open its doors to CSOs.

Our mandate says we must provide information on government activities.

We must work with the civil society groups and ensure that they have been given that right place that they deserve to ensure compliance with rules, regulations and guidance .

This is how we should manage the human resources we have and the financial resources that have been entrusted onto us as government workers.

We have worked with several civil society groups on a number of initiatives, which were created in our attempts to improve transparency, stop corruption and make sure that there is no space for it to happen.

Arabi assured SERAP of governments support and commitment to tackle irregularities and further strengthen its Open Government Partnership(OGP) .

We are assuring you that this relationship will lead to better things in the sight of the citizens of this country to enhance the quality of life.

SERAPs Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oludare said that the group was seeking partnership with BPSR to promote and build the culture of transparency and accountability in public service.

Oludare said that this stemmed from the background of the recent announcement of corruption in the service by the Auditor-General of the Federation .

Our request is to ensure that members and officers of public institutions are aware of the roles they need to play to ensure that those things have been reported by the auditor-general should not be that way.

It is called corrective or preventive measures; the figures that the auditor general throws out every year that could not be accounted for.

So we are here to engage to this very important institution who has that oversight over all officers of public institutions in Nigeria.

Oludare said that SERAP was not just critical as people think but it also proffered solutions to ensure that Nigeria was better for everyone.

He said that as part of that advocacy for transparency and accountability, SERAP was seeking partnership with BPSR to ensure that public officers understood the statutory law to drive the transparency and accountability.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yusuff

Source: NAN News