By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has evacuated 152 Nigerians, who are stranded and lived as illegal immigrants in Libya, to Nigeria.

The evacuated Nigerians whose return was facilitated under the FG-IOM Voluntary Repatriation Exercise, arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday evening.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Charge Daffiares en titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The Envoy noted that this was the third exercise the Federal Government and IOM had carried out in 2023, with a successful evacuation of nearly 500 Nigerians stranded in Libya to Nigeria already.

Today, we have successfully evacuated another 152 Nigerians stranded in Libya to Nigeria.

Libya is a transit country for irregular migrants to the Western and other parts of the world. Whenever these irregular migrants can no longer continue their journey to expected destinations, they become stranded here.

Because of their status as undocumented immigrants, they become vulnerable to exploitation and degrading treatment, including forced labour and prostitution.

The Federal Government is determined to protect the rights of these migrants and will continue to facilitate their safe and voluntary return home.

This is the third exercise we have conducted this year. We evacuated almost 4,000 stranded Nigerians from Libya in 2022 and we hope to surpass that number this year, Musa said.

Musa appreciated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and IOM for facilitating the exercise.

He also thanked the Libyan authority for their support and cooperation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

==================
Edited by Chidinma Agu/Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

Source: NAN News

Tapshin community in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi, has conferred the title of Jagaban Tapshin on Prof. Suleiman Bogoro

By Ephraims Sheyin

The Tapshin community in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State has conferred the title of Jagaban Tapshin on Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The honour, according to its traditional ruler, Dauda Godit, is in recognition of his efforts toward national and community development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bogoro was decorated with the regalia and title during the areas 2023 cultural festival held at the Community Secondary School, Tapshin on Tuesday.

Godit eulogised Bogoro for impacting on the lives of the community in the past 20 years.

According to the traditional ruler, the former TETFund boss assisted the community with educational facilities as well as bursaries to its students.

He also initiated other developmental projects even before he was appointed to lead TETFund in 2014, he said.

Godit commended Bogoro for the landmark achievements recorded when he served at TETFund, saying that he lifted tertiary education in Nigeria to its desired position.

The Chief said that almost all public tertiary institutions in the country benefitted from infrastructural developments and capacity building programmes when Bogoro led the agency.

The traditional ruler praised the innovative policies initiated by Bogoro in research and development as a way of contributing to national development.

On social relationships, Godit eulogised Bogoros efforts in bringing together people across tribes and religious divide in Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency.

His focus is always on development and progress. He has done so well, Godit said.

Responding, the recipient noted that it was his deliberate policy to ensure that all ethnic nationalities and religions lived in harmony.

My policy is that if you eat in your house, you should also assist your neighbours to eat because if they are hungry, it means you are also hungry, he said.

Bogoro, who noted that his assistance to Tapshin Community dated back to when he was a senior lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, promised to do even more.

He urged guests invited for the event which featured fund raising for water projects, to assist the community achieve its goals.

The former TETFund boss commended Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for the construction of the Bogoro-Lusa-Mallar and Boi-Tapshin roads, saying that the projects had opened up the communities around the area.

Bogoro urged the people of the state to continue to support the Governor in his efforts to provide development to the state.

The cultural festival, which is tagged Kang Khishi Masur 2023, was graced by a huge crowd that included Prof. Sylvester Shikyil (SAN) of the Law Faculty University of Jos, Dr Justina Deshi, among others.

The event also featured traditional dancers across towns and villages in Tapshin communities as well as Zaar Cultural dancers. (NAN) (nannewsngr.com)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Gregory Mmaduakolam

The Evergreen G6 Club, a Non-Governmental Organisaion (NGO) has donated some food items worth N300,000 to Rachels Home for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Kurudu, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Bamidele Olujobi, the President of the Club, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Olujobi , represented by the Secretary of the club, Mr Philip Akpa, said that the items donated to the orphanage home included bags of rice, cartons of indomie noodles and cartons of spaghetti

Other food items are yams, toiletries, bags of salt, kegs of groundnut oil, palm oil, bags of beans and beverages.

According to Olujobi, needs of the vulnerable and orphans should not be left for only the governments and the owners of the organisations.

He said God Almighty had blessed the members of the organisation and they were now giving back to the society.

Some of these homes like Rachels Home for Orphans and Vulnerable Children provided the opportunity for us to give back to the needy and the vulnerable in the society.

Particularly this period every member of this club, who is a Christian, is celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ which is Easter and this is the period, where every child will need a touch of a parent and need for somebody to celebrate with them.

So, we said we should come here to celebrate Easter with them in a way they will not feel the absence of their biological parents , as we are standing in as their parents today, he said.

Olujobi, said the club had given scholarships to several vulnerable and indigents students up to university level, adding that eight students were recently registered for WAEC and NECO exams by the organisation.

He explained that the club had previously visited the Old Peoples Home in Kardo, FCT and Apo Mechanic Village as well as the orphanage home in Masaka in the Nasarawa State.

He said the club has annual projects it carries out every year in order to assist the vulnerable and the needy and had donated item like braille for the school of blind.

He urged the Federal Government to pay more attention on supervision and monitoring of the orphanage homes and schools for the vulnerable in order to check the incidence of childs trafficking and kidnapping.

Olujobi, also advised the governments to establish vocation facilities such as tailoring, mason, carpentry and barbing salon where these vulnerable and needy children could be trained as well as paying of school fees for them.

He also called on the Federal Government to reduce the issues of banditry and terrorism which always gave rise to orphans and vulnerable children who lost their parents as a result of these factors.

Dr Oladele Oluayinka, Chairman, Project Committee of the club, said the club had 30 financial members who had the passion to help the need and vulnerable, hence they came together to form the club in order to assist them.

Oluayinka, said since the establishment of the club in 2011, it had spent over N5 million in order to provide succour for the needy and vulnerable children.

Earlier, Mr Pedro Odewu, Admin Director, of the orphanage home, thanked the club and expressed satisfaction for the food items it gifted to the home.

He urged the federal and state governments to come to their aid; as they have over 83 children; infants and adolescent who required a lot of monies and personnel to take care of them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Chief Kenneth Gbagi, Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Delta

By Kingsley Okoye

Chief Kenneth Gbagi, Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Delta, has appealed to the election petition tribunal in Asaba to disqualify the Governor -elect, Sheriff Oborevwori over alleged forgery.

He also sought the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ovie Omo-Agege; Labour Party Candidate (LP) Ken Pela; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Mr Great Ogboru, on the ground of violation of the 2022 Electoral Act.

Gbagi, a former Minister of Education, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

The SDP candidate in the March 18 governorship election, had filed a 79-page petition against the governor-elect and the other frontline candidates, seeking for their disqualification .

Gbagi in a certified true copy petition with No. WPT/DL/GOV/2023 to the tribunal, alleged that the candidates, in their attempts to meet the constitutional requirements of eligibility for 2023 governorship election, presented forged documents while filling the INEC forms.

He said the forged documents included multiple sworn statutory declaration of age and affidavits, inconsistency of names of some of the candidates, perjuriously swearing of affidavits.

Other electoral infraction alleged to be committed by the candidates also included lying under oath, claims of possessing and non possession of various academic qualifications and alleged financial impropriety by one of the candidates, among other infractions.

He also hinged his call for their disqualification on the alleged degrees of electoral malpractice at the march 18 poll in Delta.

He listed the alleged malpractice to include over voting, vote buying induced by the candidates.

He said there were situations where the total number of votes recorded and allotted were more than the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) collected by voters that exceeded the number of registered voters in the polling unit.

Other alleged infractions, according to him, included alteration of some results sheets which did not reflect on the duplicate copies given to party agents, mutilation of form EC8As, polling units without corresponding voting points result sheets, over and under balloting, among others.

I am a candidate, and I am saying, we are candidates of these election, but this people who are candidates ought not to be candidate and the tribunal is the appropriate place.

The SDP candidate, consequently in the petition, urged the tribunal to declare non and void and of no effect, the Certificate of Return issued by INEC to the candidate of PDP as the winner of the governorship election in Delta State.

He further urged the tribunal to withdraw the Certificate of Return and issue a fresh certificate to him as duly qualified and elected governor.

For those of us, who contested and participated, I am the only one on the list that is qualified.

The election has been held, marks were allocated to us, my prayer is that they were not qualified, and I should be declared as the winner of the election because I am the only qualified candidate in the first instance, he said.

He said it was the right time to bring up the matter as records and experience showed that pre election cases most times do not go far.

Go back to the Electoral Act, I could not have raised an objection on issue of a candidate of a party that I am not a member.

Every one who went to pre-election matter, none of them went any where, this is the appropriate time, to raise this issue, he said

Meanwhile, effort to get reaction of the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta Governor -elect, Mr Dennis Otu, was unsuccessful as he didnt respond to the WhatsApp message request for his reaction. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

Prof. Roger Delves, TEXEM UK faculty

By Abigael Joshua

In spite of the plethora of challenges in the world at present, African and global leaders have been assured of a myriad of opportunities for those who are well prepared and equipped to face such challenges.

One of the resource persons at a forthcoming virtual programme organised by TEXEM UK on such challenges, Prof. Roger Delves, gave the assurance while answering questions on the programme coming up on April 15 to May 6 on TEXEMs website (www.texem.co.uk).

The programmes theme is Strategic Leadership For Enduring Impact During Volatile Periods.

Delves said the programme would help challenge assumptions, offer fresh insights and inspire leaders to aspire to do more with less.

He added that it would inspire their teams to develop innovative solutions and achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

Executives should participate in the TEXEM forthcoming programme because it will be an excellent opportunity to network and learn how to unlock scarce value in these turbulent times.

The TEXEM methodology is another reason that participants should attend as this assures quality, and this programme will help leaders and their organisations shore up their core competence and capabilities to thrive, he said.

Delves said the programme would help executives see better and understand their approaches to addressing their contemporary strategic leadership issues.

He also spoke on the programmes outcome, which will be held virtually throughout the four-week duration.

The results of the programme will be very positive and beneficial. We are living in a digital world, and many of the stakeholders that we engage, we do this virtually.

Moreso, for the busy executive, it is easier for them to spend an average of one hour studying every day and three hours every weekend than to travel for four weeks.

Furthermore, the content of this TEXEM programme is useful, pertinent and applicable, Delves explained.

He expressed confidence that if participants applied themselves diligently to the content and with TEXEMs engaging customer support, they would achieve results with which they would be delighted.

Delves is a professor of Leadership and Management Practice with experience that dates back over 44 years in International Advertising Management Development and Education.

Ambassador Charles Crawford, Prof. Paul Griffith and Prof. Rodria Laline are other faculties that will deliver the programme.

TEXEM UK is founded by Nigerian-born British expert Dr Alim Abubakre, and the company has trained over 4,000 leaders and executives from Africa and other parts of the world. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=======
Edited by Razak Owolabi

Source: NAN News

Some members of Oluwa Chieftaincy Family of Lagos and Apapa

By Kazeem Akande

The Oluwa Chieftaincy Family of Lagos and Apapa has announced the appointment of Madam Iyabo Odedairo (Nee Oluwa) of Idewu Ruling House as the Olori Ebi (Head of the Family), pending the appointment of a new Chief Oluwa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the appointment was concluded at a meeting organised by Alhaji Ganiyu Durojaiye, a prominent member of the Asalu Ruling House, held in Agege on Sunday.

The meeting was to deliberate on the vacuum created by the demise of the former family head, Late Chief Mukaila Oluwa (ODOFIN).

Durojaiye said that the family of Oluwa of Lagos and Apapa had in attendance representatives of four of the five Ruling Houses in the family.

According to him, the principal members of the Adogia (Amore) Ruling House were not in attendance.

We have appointed Madam Iyabo Alake Odedairo (nee Oluwa) of Idewu Ruling House as the Olori Ebi of the family.

The family condemns in strong terms the fact that Asiwaju Rabiu Adio Oluwa (Adogia) has been parading himself as Olori Ebi of the family.

He should cease control of the family office at 82, Bale St. Olodo Apapa and along with Adeniyi Lawal (Odofin) and Wale Oluwa (Adogia).

Being dealing in family property, assets and monies when they are unelected, un-appointed, unrepresentative and unauthorised to manage family property assets and monies, Durojaiye said.

Durojaiye added that it was pointed out that in the absence of a Chief Oluwa, the Olori Ebi (in consultation with the principal members of the family) manages family property and assets pending the appointment of a new Chief Oluwa.

He said that by operation law, the eldest family member amongst the five heads of the Ruling houses becomes the Olori Ebi, and that except on account of ill health and fitness for service, the family may appoint a person other than the eldest as the Olori Ebi of the family.

He said that the family, therefore, presented for consideration the three eldest members of the family; namely: Alhaji Samsideen Oluwa, 92 years, in absentia; Alhaja Modina Ibrahim Oluwa (Asalu), 89, and Madam Iyabo Alake Odedairo (nee Oluwa), 87-year-old.

Durojaiye said that having considered the criteria for the appointment of the family head as stated in the rules, Odedairo was unanimously agreed upon as the head of the Oluwa chieftaincy family in Lagos and Apapa.

NAN reports that there are five Ruling Houses in the family namely: Odofin, Idewu, Asalu, Faro and Adogia (Amore). (NAN)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Source: NAN News

Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese His Grace Ignatius Kaigama , Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen , clerics with Members of the David Osunde Foundation during the blessing and presentation of gifts to the less privileged

By EricJames Ochigbo

No fewer than 1,500 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) were on Monday empowered by Sir David Osunde Foundation.

The foundation said at its 31st annual Special Easter Monday Celebration in Abuja that the beneficiaries were drawn from across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed included wheel chairs, crutches, white canes, clothes, foodstuffs and educational grants, among others.

In his speech, the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, His Grace, Ignatius Kaigama, noted that the foundation has been consistent in its support of PWDs irrespective of tribe or religion.

He admonished Nigerians that instead of fighting over religion, tribe or politics, they should channel their energies into building a society where PWDs will feel at home and loved.

Kaigama, who celebrated mass at the event, said instead of thanking God, a lot of able bodied people engaged in crimes like kidnapping and killings of even Internally Displaced Persons.

This is a duty that needs to be done; we sometimes waste so much time on things that do not matter; this foundation is calling our attention today.

We are so concerned about very big projects that are of national and international value, but when it comes to the people who matter, people who just need basic things to survive, we are lacking.

We are invited to a work of love and charity; helping the sick, works of mercy; I am calling on everyone to get engaged, he said.

Kaigama said there are over 1.3 billion PWDs in the world, as such a lot of work needed to be done to support them to be self reliant.

Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, commended the foundation for helping the less privileged for more than 30 years.

We must do all we can to share what God has given us with the disadvantaged, and to touch lives, Tallen said.

Dr Anthony Osunde said apart from the items donated, some of the PWDs were trained on liquid soap production and business logo design, among others.

Osunde called for the setting up of a ministry to cater for people with disabilities in all the states and FCT. (NAN)

=====================

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Maharazu Ahmed

Source: NAN News

By Gregory Mmaduakolam

The Evergreen G6 Club, a Non-Governmental Organisaion (NGO) has donated some food items worth N300,000 to Rachels Home for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Kurudu, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Bamidele Olujobi, the President of the Club, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

Olujobi , represented by the Secretary of the club, Mr Philip Akpa, said that the items donated to the orphanage home included bags of rice, cartons of indomie noodles and cartons of spaghetti

Other food items are yams, toiletries, bags of salt, kegs of groundnut oil, palm oil, bags of beans and beverages.

According to Olujobi, needs of the vulnerable and orphans should not be left for only the governments and the owners of the organisations.

He said God Almighty had blessed the members of the organisation and they were now giving back to the society.

Some of these homes like Rachels Home for Orphans and Vulnerable Children provided the opportunity for us to give back to the needy and the vulnerable in the society.

Particularly this period every member of this club, who is a Christian, is celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ which is Easter and this is the period, where every child will need a touch of a parent and need for somebody to celebrate with them.

So, we said we should come here to celebrate Easter with them in a way they will not feel the absence of their biological parents , as we are standing in as their parents today, he said.

Olujobi, said the club had given scholarships to several vulnerable and indigents students up to university level, adding that eight students were recently registered for WAEC and NECO exams by the organisation.

He explained that the club had previously visited the Old Peoples Home in Kardo, FCT and Apo Mechanic Village as well as the orphanage home in Masaka in the Nasarawa State.

He said the club has annual projects it carries out every year in order to assist the vulnerable and the needy and had donated item like braille for the school of blind.

He urged the Federal Government to pay more attention on supervision and monitoring of the orphanage homes and schools for the vulnerable in order to check the incidence of childs trafficking and kidnapping.

Olujobi, also advised the governments to establish vocation facilities such as tailoring, mason, carpentry and barbing salon where these vulnerable and needy children could be trained as well as paying of school fees for them.

He also called on the Federal Government to reduce the issues of banditry and terrorism which always gave rise to orphans and vulnerable children who lost their parents as a result of these factors.

Dr Oladele Oluayinka, Chairman, Project Committee of the club, said the club had 30 financial members who had the passion to help the need and vulnerable, hence they came together to form the club in order to assist them.

Oluayinka, said since the establishment of the club in 2011, it had spent over N5 million in order to provide succour for the needy and vulnerable children.

Earlier, Mr Pedro Odewu, Admin Director, of the orphanage home, thanked the club and expressed satisfaction for the food items it gifted to the home.

He urged the federal and state governments to come to their aid; as they have over 83 children; infants and adolescent who required a lot of monies and personnel to take care of them.(NAN) www.nannews.ng

==========

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

Justice Bola Ajibola.

By Oluwatope Lawanson

The President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, mourns the demise of a former Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Bola Ajibola.

Ajibola passed on in Abeokuta on Sunday at the age of 89 years.

In a condolence message signed by his media spokesperson, Mr Tunde Rahman, Tinubu sympathised with Ajibolas immediate family, associates and professional colleagues.

The two-term former governor of Lagos State also extended his condolences to Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and the good people of the state for the loss of a great son of the Gateway state and Nigeria.

While expressing his sympathy, the president-elect also acknowledged Ajibolas important contributions to Nigerias political evolution and nation-building, legal profession and international jurisprudence.

The former Nigerias minister of justice and leader of the Bar was an eminent statesman and legal icon whose contributions to national progress and development will be written in gold.

During his earthly sojourn, Ajibola didnt just serve his country with his gift of extraordinary brilliance as a lawyer, he served the world as a Judge of International Court of Justice in Hague and Member of its Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

As ICJ judge, Ajibola made his mark as one of the brightest legal minds in the world in many decided cases involving state actors across the world.

Through his excellent performance, he brought honour and dignity to Nigeria, he said.

The president-elect stated that the deceased devoted himself to the promotion of Islam and expansion of the frontiers of knowledge.

This, he added, that he did through training and development of cutting-edge manpower for national growth with the establishment of Crescent University in Abeokuta, his home-town.

Tinubu noted that Ajibola would be remembered for his patriotism and love for Nigeria and his countrymen and women regardless of their ethnic origin or religious persuasions.

According to him, we had hoped and prayed that Ajibola willstill be around with us for a little more time to witness the dawn of a new era of renewed hope for our people in a better, stronger, more secure and more prosperous Nigeria,

He, however, thanked Almighty Allah that he lived to an advanced age and left behind important legacies.

He prayed Almighty Allah admit him to Aljanna Fridaus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajibola, Founder of Crescent University, Abeokuta, was the president of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1984 to 1985.

He was Nigerias former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in the military administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.

He was the High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2002.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

Source: NAN News