By Thompson.Yamput

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Monday repaired the Obajana junction that had consistently caused traffic gridlock along the Kabbah-Lokoja-Abuja road.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the repairs on the dilapidated point of the highway was initiated by the Zariagi Unit Command of the FRSC in collaboration with NURTW.

Mr Moses Odogiyon, the Zariagi Unit Commander of the FRSC, told NAN that the damaged junction was largely responsible for the traffic gridlocks experienced along Kabbah-Lokoja-Abuja road.

The experience of our officers at this junction on Friday and Saturday was very bitter.

Because of the bad state of the road, it took us 48 hours to clear the gridlock.

So, the repairs on the damaged portion is a big achievement to us.

We had written to the Federal Ministry of Works and Dangote Cement for assistance, but nothing came. We just had to find another means, which paid off today,

We are grateful to the NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Haruna Salami, who quickly momobilised his members for the repair of the damaged portion, Odogiyon stated.

Also speaking, Salami expressed happiness that the collaborative effort between NURTW and FRSC became a success that would allow free flow of vehicular movement through the junction.

As NURTW chairman here at Zariagi, I am so glad that this damaged portion of the Zariagi-Kabba Junction Roundabout is fixed, considering the series of accidents and gridlocks experienced here, he said

He called on the federal and state governments as well as corporate organisations to always give attention to highways to reduce the carnage on the nations roads. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Joy Mbachi

The Women Aid Collective (WACOL), a Non-Governmental Organisation has inaugurated 50/50 Action Women for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Anmabra.

Mrs. Egodi Igwe, Programme Officer and Head of Communications at WACOL, made the disclosure in a Statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Sunday.

Egodi who spoke on behalf of the Founding Director of WACOL, Prof. Joy Ezeilo (OON), said that the WACOL, had on March 30-31, held a two-day Womens Rights Advocacy and Leadership programme in Awka.

She said that the inauguration was achieved after the two-day womens Rights Advocacy and Leadership programme in the state.

Egodi said that the training was apt and a swift response to the spike in cases of Violence Against Women And Girls in Anambra State.

WACOL desired to properly position women advocates to respond effectively to the menace, particularly the harmful cultural practices against women and girls in the state.

Members of the group were carefully selected and trained in areas of Womens Rights Issues, VAWG in Nigeria, Womens Transformational Leadership for the realisation of womens rights, Human Rights of Women in International, Regional, National Instruments and relevant SDGs, Advocacy and Lobbying, Networking and Collaborating for Change, as well as the Role and Mandate of Women 50-50 Advocacy Group, she said.

Egodi said that WACOL plans to train a total of 350 women across seven states, namely Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Delta, Ebonyi, and Edo.

She expressed satisfaction on the class of women selected who participated actively and made valid contributions and assured commitment that would enable WACOL achieve its goal.

We at WACOL are very expectant of quality and good reports and results from the Action Women team from Anambra in a shortest time, she said.

She disclosed that under the project, WACOL will engage with relevant stakeholders in seven different states (5 South East states and 2 South-south states) to review cultural norms and practices that promote violence against women with the aim of changing the narratives.

We are presently partnering with the Ford Foundation on a project to translate and transform the social norms in the South-East and South-South of Nigeria through engagement with womens Rights Advocates, and traditional and judicial institutions.

The objective of this project is to engage with relevant stakeholders in different states to understand and document norms and practices that positively or adversely affect women and girls rights and general equality in rural communities.

We are also working on ensuring the elimination of Violence against Women and Girls and the operationalisation of the state of emergency on SGBV, declared by the Governors forum in 2020, Egodi noted.

She noted that the training was well attended by representatives from relevant ministries and this is a proof of their readiness to partner WACOL to achieve grand success in the fight against violence against women.

Egodi stated that in their separategoodwill messages, the representatives of ministries of Women Affairs, Justice, and Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs unanimously agreed that there is an urgent need to intensify action on ending VAWG in the state.

She said that all the relevant ministries made commitments towards eradicating the scourge, and to sustain the mutual partnership with WACOL in the fight.

The statement said that Nneka Anoliefo from the office of local government (LG), Chieftaincy, and traditional rulers, in particular, assured that her ministry is working tirelessly in curbing VAWG in the communities.

Anoliefo cited an example of the latest violence meted out against a woman in Aguleri who was accused of killing her husband, and how the traditional ruler intervened in collaboration with other stakeholders to save the woman from further dehumanisation.

Also at the event, a one-time commissioner for Women Affairs in Anambra, Dr Ego Uzoezie, expressed huge concern over the increased violence against women in the state and assured that the advocacy would be total.

Also, Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Mass Communication at UNIZIK, Prof Stella Okunna, expressed concern and dismay over the increased rate of VAWG in Anambra communities.

Okunna encouraged the participants in the training to leverage the opportunity provided by the capacity to gain skills in preventing any form of VAWG to be able to fight the scourge.

Okunna, who is also the first female professor of Mass communication, however, extolled the sterling efforts of WACOL in promoting and protecting the interest of women, girls and children.

She further commended the organisation for the current initiative of empowering women, and girls in the society and pledged her total commitment to the course.

Egodi said that WACOLs 50/50 Action was drawn from community women leaders, female lawyers, market leaders, media leaders, female student leaders, politicians, and women traditional title holders.

She disclosed that WACOL was established in 1997 as an independent, non-political, non-governmental and non-profit organization; registered as a company limited by guarantee as a charitable organization (RC: 388132).

Egodi said that WACOLs vision is a democratic society free from violence and abuse, where the human rights of all, particularly women and young people are recognised in law and practice.

Its mission is to assist in the education, social, economic, and political development of women and young people through a wide range of services: training, research, advocacy, shelter, free legal and financial aid, intra-familiar conflict resolution, and information and library services.

WACOL works across Nigeria and in the West African sub-region and its offices in Nigeria are located in eight states namely: Abuja (FCT), Enugu, Katsina, Imo, Rivers, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia.

It works in four thematic areas namely; gender and human rights, peace advocacy and conflict resolution, democracy and good governance, and reproductive health and rights.

WACOL has established itself as a credible and committed organisation whose work is well recognised beyond the shores of Nigeria.

It has observer status with the African Union, African Commission on human rights since 2003 and it also has an NGO Special Consultative Status with the United Nations, approved in 2010 by ECOSOC, she said. (NAN) ()

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared his intention to contest in the 2023 presidential election.

Osinbajo made his declaration in a video posted on his twitter handle on Monday.

The vice presidents declaration speech reads, In the past seven years, I have served as Vice President under a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity, President Muhammadu Buhari.

We have, together, worked through some of the most difficult times in the history of our Nation, but we have remained focused on securing the country, providing infrastructure and growing our economy.

In seven years, Osinbajo said he served the government in several capacities and have at the direction of the president, represented Nigeria in sensitive high level international engagements.

He said: I have been to practically all local governments in Nigeria. I have been in markets, factories, schools, and farms. I have been in agricultural, mining and oil producing communities; in the Delta, in Kebbi, Enugu, Borno; Rivers, Plateau and Ondo; and in all other states of the federation, listening to the diverse experiences and yearnings of our people.

I have visited our gallant troops in the North East and our brothers and sisters in the IDP camps. I have felt the pain and anguish of victims in violent conflicts, terrorist attacks, flooding, fire and other disasters.

I have been in the homes of many ordinary Nigerians in various parts of the country. I have sat with our techprenuers in Lagos, Edo, and Kaduna, with our Nollywood and Kannywood actors; with our musicians, from Lagos, Onitsha, and Kano. And I have spoken to small and large businesses.

I stood where they stood and sat where they sat. I know their hopes, aspirations and fears; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire.

I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.

Which is why I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the Office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.

If by the grace of God and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started; radically transforming our security and intelligence architecture, completing the reform of our justice system focusing on adequate remuneration and welfare of judicial personnel.

He solemnly and respectfully sought the support of fellow Nigerians everywhere, young and old, male and female, in the great and exciting journey ahead of him/

We will work together by the grace of God. The Nigeria of our dreams in a few short years. We will build on the foundation laid by our predecessors. We will need to move, with much speed, intentionality, and perseverance, towards the vision of a prosperous, stable, and secure nation.

I am convinced beyond doubt that we have the creativity, the courage, the talent, and the resources to be the foremost black nation on earth. Let us now birth the expectations of greatness conceived generations before us.

Let us build a Nigeria where the man from Nnewi sees the man in Gusau as his brother, where the woman in Warri sees the woman in Jalingo as her sister, where the love of our nation burns alike in the hearts of boys and girls from Gboko to Yenogoa.

Where everywhere, in this land, is home for everyone, where our diversities, tribes and faiths unite, rather than divide us.

Let our tribes become one tribe; the Nigerian tribe, where all are treated fairly, justly and with respectwhere all are given equal access to the abundant opportunities that God has bestowed on this nation. Its time.

God bless and keep our Republic and its great people.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

The Federal High Court (FHC)s vacation has stalled the judgment in suit seeking for the declaration of the seat of Rep. Yakubu Dogara vacant on account of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had, on March 23, reported that the judgment, in two separate suits filed against Dogara, was fixed for today, Monday, by Justice Donatus Okorowo of an Abuja division of FHC.

The first suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/883/30 and filed by Incorporated Trustees of United Global Resources for Peace Organisation Vs. Rep Yakubu Dogara and five others was on number one on the cause list.

However, the second suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20 filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vs. Rep Yakubu Dogara and four others, was on number five in todays cause list.

When NAN visited Court 6 where Justice Okorowo presides, the courtroom was empty with court registrar and other workers doing their daily activities.

NAN was, however, told that the judgments could not be delivered since FHC had began their Easter Vacation.

The court began the vacation on April 8 and will end April 25.

My lord is waiting of the Chief Judge of the court will give a fiat for the judgments to be delivered during this vacation.

But as it is now, no date has been fixed and parties will be communicated as soon as another date is fixed, one of the court workers told NAN.

NAN reports that the PDP and the group had asked the court to remove the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dogara, as member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, over his defection to APC.

While the PDP is the plaintiff, Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC are 1st to 4th defendants respectively in the second suit.

Dogara had, on July 24, 2020, defected from the PDP to the APC when he submitted a resignation letter to the chairman of the Bogoro C Ward in the state.

The plaintiff, through their counsel, Jubrin Jubrin, said by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, Dogara by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.

NAN reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo, a sister judge, had, on March 8, sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, alongside other lawmakers who dumped the PDP for APC, describing their action as unlawful.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, another judge in the Abuja division, had also, on March 21,, ordered the 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats following their defection from the PDP to APC.

The lawmakers comprises two House of Representatives members and 18 states House of Assembly members. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Union leaders in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have rejected the picketing of the agencys headquarters in Abuja on Monday and called for dialogue in resolving labour-related matters.

Some officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists had blocked the entrance of the agencys headquarters, claiming they were protesting the routine transfer of an editorial member of staff, Collins Yakubu-Hammer.

The union leaders, however, said after a meeting with police officers in charge of Central Area and officials of the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists that every labour agitation must end in dialogue.

Speaking on the development, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) in NAN, Ogechi James, said her union was committed to promoting peace.

We want peace in the Agency. I believe in dialogue and negotiation. So I look forward to a date set for a meeting between both sides, she said.

In a similar vein, Hamza Ibrahim, the Vice Chairman of the Radio, Television , Theatre and Arts Worers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), rejected the picketing of the agencys headquarters, saying the workers were unaware of the development.

We, RATTAWU, hereby reject the picketing of our office even as we support dialogue as a way of resolving the dispute at hand.

As a mediator in the matter, we want Collins Yakubu-Hammer and the FCT Council of NUJ to toe the path of peace in resolving the matter between both parties, he said.

Abubakar Waziri, the spokesman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Technical and Recreational Employees, on his part, also pleaded for dialogue.

The agency, while responding to enquiries, had clarified that transfers in NAN are administrative procedures that could affect any member of staff due to exigencies of work.

It added that at no time did NAN management reach an agreement with union executives not to transfer workers.

The agency listed no fewer than five union leaders who had been transferred before Yakubu-Hammers transfer, describing it as administrative procedures.

It said Yakubu-Hammers transfer was as a result of the vacancy created in the Pankshin District Office with the transfer of his predecessor, Thompson Yamput, who had spent eight years in the office as Correspondent.

The Agency maintained that Yakubu-Hammer s refusal to report at his duty post was an act of disobedience to lawful directive, a misconduct in the public service.

It also stated that no union official was being victimised or harassed, stressing that Yakubu-Hammer had even been paid his transfer allowance and refused to go.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The failure of intelligence gathering and sharing is the reason security agencies have not been able to address the current security challenges in Nigeria.

Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, the Director-General, Army Resource Centre (NARC), retired, said this at the opening of a four-day Leadership Course in Criminal and Security Intelligence Management Course 4/2022.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the course was organised by the Defence Intelligence College (DIC), in conjunction with Peace Building Development Consult (PBDC) on Monday in Abuja.

The theme of the course is Integrating Human and Artificial Intelligence in Combating Security Challenges in Nigeria.

Wahab urged members of the intelligence community to identify how to address the security problems in the country, saying the failure of intelligence had magnified the problem.

According to him, there are questions about whether the security agencies actually act on intelligence provided by those in the field or whether those at the helm are actually working on what is being provided.

According to him, there is massive lack of trust and confidence, whether you want to call it revelry or whatever you want to call it.

My prayer is that we dont get to what happened to U.S in 2001 before we wake up because the same issues were raised so many times within be U.S. intelligence community.

Agencies, services have information or intelligence credible enough but they were not passing, they were not sharing because everybody wants to lead.

Unfortunately, the September 2001 incident took place and then all of a sudden everybody woke up and they realised that there were those who had information that these guys were actually trading in Canada and were moving in gradually.

So we dont have trust, we dont have confidence in each other and that is the problem of leadership and even if you dont have trust, you must be able to manage whatever you are doing and get the results, he said.

Wahab, however, called for renewed and enhanced synergy among the various actors within the nations intelligence community and security agencies to be able to address the current security challenges.

He also urgedparticipants of the course to ensure they took away something that would help them to proffer solutions to the challenges.

Wahab also advocated involvement of members of the public in the security setup, saying they were the ones that usually see what happened around them.

The retired general said that citizens should be encouraged to provide information that would be analysed to become intelligence by the security agencies.

The Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, said the intelligence college and its partners had trained more than 300 participants in the area of security and intelligence in the last four years.

Adebayo, who was represented by the Director of Operations, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Maj.-Gen. Bala Isondu, said the training was needful given the myriad of security challenges which appeared to be mutating daily across the country.

He said the challenges had placed a heavy burden on the security stakeholders to deliver security to the citizens of Nigeria given the fact that security remained the primary responsibility of government.

Adebayo said that intelligence remained a potent instrument needed to stem the tide of criminality and insecurity in the country ranging from terrorism, banditry, insurgency, violent agitations, and kidnapping among others.

This, according to him, is very particular given the systematic and unconventional nature of threats in the 21st century.

To provide an adequate response, security operations must be guided by intelligence for better operational results and good intelligence thrives on interagency cooperation.

Thus, the need for intelligence sharing and shunning of rivalry is critical to Nigerias national security, he said.

The CDI said the course was designed to encourage the exchange of competencies, experiences and ideas for the overall good of the intelligence community.

He urged participants to pay rapt attention to all the lectures, the questions and interactive sessions during the course with a view to acquiring transferable skills that would help improve the security architecture of the country.

The Commandant of DIC, Commodore Abraham Zipele, said the course had been of immense benefit to the intelligence and security community since its maiden edition in 2019.

Zipele said that security had remained a recurring challenge to the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation in the last decade ranging from kidnapping, banditry piracy, and crude oil theft to insurgency and terrorism among others.

He said the threats posed by violent non state actors were becoming more dynamic, sophisticated, intelligence driven and well-choreographed to achieve their broad aims of destabilising the governments.

According to him, it is in realisation of this fact that short term courses of this nature are being periodically organized.

The aim he said was to provide the requisite knowledge and develop the capacity of members of the intelligence and security communities to overcome these security challenges.

The Course Director, Peace Building Development Consult, Mr Kayode Bolaji, said the course was put together to create a convivial environment for intelligence managers, security experts and stakeholders.

According to him, the objective is to assess the condition of intelligence gathering process and address the security challenges.

Bolaji said the participants were drawn from the intelligence community, the police, military, banks, private security agencies as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Akeem Abas

The Federal Government has begun efforts aimed at lifting 40 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next two years through the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES).

The National Coordinator, NG-CARES Programme, Mr Abdulkarim Obaje, made the disclosureat the closing of a week-long workshop in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advance training workshop, held in Ibadan, had 440 participants from across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in attendance.

Among the participants are: Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Heads of Delivery in states and State Care Coordinating Units across the country.

NAN reports that the NG-CARES programme seeks to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 crises on the livelihood of poor individuals, farmers, vulnerable households, communities as well as owners of micro and small enterprises.

Obaje said that the NG-CARES was the initiative of the federal government, with the support of World Bank and active participation of the 36 state governors.

He expressed confidence that the programme would impact on the poverty situation in the country, lifting no fewer than 40 million Nigerians directly and indirectly.

This modest support should have direct impact on about eight to 10 million Nigerians and indirectly impact on 20 to 30 million people.

We are very confident that this will impact on the poverty situation in Nigeria after two years, he said.

Obaje said that the programme would be implemented along 11 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs), starting from social transfer to the aged, the poor and the vulnerable.

He said that it would also involve labour-intensive work fare to livelihood grant, basic services and food security to micro and small-scale enterprises spread across 11 DLIs.

According to him, the result from the workshop reveals that states are now fully prepared to receive Independent Verification Agents (IVAs).

Also, the Chairman, Federal Cares Technical Committee of NG-CARES Programme, Mr Aso Vakporaye, said that the exercise was not a new package, adding that it was part of governments sustainable development agenda.

So, it was when COVID-19 came that everybody realised that if we dont act now, it isnt going to be good enough.

All the major stakeholders then came together to fashion out this agenda, with the directive from the presidency, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ibrahim Kado

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa has won all the 21 local government council election held on Saturday.

Alhaji Isa Shettima, the Chairman, Adamawa Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), declared the result on Sunday in Yola.

Shettima said that two parties, PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC), contested in the local council chairmanship election.

He said: Having satisfied with the requirements of the law and highest votes score, the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won the all 21 local government councils election.

Shettima expressed the commissions appreciation to the electorate, security operatives and other stakeholders for peaceful and successful conduct of the election. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Concerned by the plight of children in the North-East, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in 2016, gestated the North-East Childrens Trust (NECT) Learning Centre in Maiduguri, the Borno capital.

NECT, which became operational in 2018, was established with a view to providing educational and extensive-care support to no fewer than 10,000 children, orphaned or displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

By most accounts, the charity centre is creditably acquitting itself; thanks to the unwavering commitment of the initiator, students, teachers and board of the institution.

Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, recently graced the fifth anniversary celebration of the NECT in Abuja.

The vice president, just before cutting the anniversary cake, went down the memory lane and paid tributes to former governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima, for the role he played in setting up NECT.

I want to start by saying that when in 2016, I visited Borno, it was in 2016 not 2018; 2018 was when the school was opened.

It took about a year to build, but our first encounter was in 2016; and we started raising the funds in 2016 and March 2017, and spent almost a year getting the school built. 2018 was when the first children were taken into the school.

But, I want to say that the then governor of Borno, Shettima and I visited a number of IDP camps when I visited Borno, and, both of us came to a conclusion that something has to be done.

Of course, the Borno Government was already doing a lot of work; trying to accommodate the students; trying to build schools and all that.

Osinbajo said that the choice land where the school was built was allocated by Shettima.

According to him, Borno has been possibly one of the luckiest states in this country; just going by the leadership that the state has been having.

Immediately after Shettima, comes Zulum; no state can be better after Zulum taking over from a dynamic predecessor, Shettima.

I have been told that about 173 of the children are now in secondary school; even the school, the buildings of the school, I was in Borno about three weeks ago or so and we went round and saw the school; we met these young men and women who are now in secondary school.

I think ultimately, service to the people is what our being in government is about; if we are not able to serve the people with everything we have; with all our hearts, then, our role is really quite irrelevant; perhaps, unjustified.

So, I want to really commend Zulum and of course, his predecessor for the great work they have done, he said.

Osinbajo hailed the board and teachers of the centre for the excellent work they were doing in running the institution; directing policy; directing the plans and purposeful teaching.

These teachers are a special bunch of people, very special, and I explained to them what we are trying to achieve.

This is not an ordinary school; we are trying to achieve and develop a school that would be a world-class learning centre.

I said to them, that what we want from you (teachers) is a generous spirit; we want you to love and care for these children; and the teachers have been incredible and absolutely wonderful; they have done such a great job with everything you see today.

These ladies and gentlemen are the real heroes of the story of the learning centre; and in the past five years, they have contributed in every way by just being there night and day, ensuring that they love and care for the children.

We now have a situation where the learning centre has become a model, a centre where young boys and girls, who have been traumatised in one way or the other, are now accommodated in a loving and caring environment.

They are given the very best facilities in terms of education and care; and of course, vocational education and digital literacy, he said.

Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, who spoke, applauded Osinbajo for his commitment to education of the vulnerable children in the North-East.

Abubakar, who described NECT as an excellent initiative, lauded the vice president and every other person involved in the scheme.

I will like to thank you, the vice president for your commitment andconcern; pursuing such projects not only to start, but being maintained and even marking the fifth anniversary having taken off in April, 2018.

I will like to thank the governor of Borno for your total commitment and selfless service to humanity.

In the last three years, we have been seeing what you are doing; definitely, with your support, this project, NECT is gaining strength and strength; becauseit is very important for us as religious leaders, you know the importance of taking care of the orphans and the less privileged.

We want to thank the initiators of this project; and all those who have had a hand, one way or the other to see this fifth anniversary of NECT becomes a success.

It is an excellent initiative, he said.

Sharing similar sentiments with the traditional ruler,Zulum commended the vision of the vice president in establishing NECT in Borno.

According to him, Borno has about 39, 311 orphans; and a total of about 50, 000 widows.

These are official figures; the unofficial figures are more than this; and therefore, establishing this learning centre, particularly in Maiduguri, will go a long way in reducing the number of out-of-school children in Borno.

One very important aspect of this learning centre is that it is critical to development.

In addition to providing intensive literacy and numeracy to the children, this school also offers strong technical and vocational education to the pupils; it offers strong digital literacy to the students.

And I think, this is the type of education that we are looking for; because it will make the students to become self-reliant, he said.

More so, Jim Ovia, the NECT Board Chairman, also commended the vice president for the initiative, saying that he felthonoured to join in ensuring that the project was successful.

Deserving no less attention, Dr Mariam Masha, the Executive Secretary of NECT, said that the commitment to deliver on the mandate remained very strong.

The event attracted the presence of governors, members of the Federal Executive Council, traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

It also featured cultural dance and showcase of talents in robotics, coding, computer programming, word puzzle, among others by students of the centre.

The vice president and his wife also joined the students on stage to solve word puzzle among others.

Perceptive observers say this laudable gesture is not only succeeding in assuaging the anguish of orphaned and displaced children in the North-East but in irradiating their future. (NANFeatures)

Source: NAN News

By Babatunde Ogunrinde

The Nigeria Basketball Federations (NBBF) says the federations has concluded plans to organise the national basketball leagues for male and female.

The President of NBBF, Musa Kida, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos on Sunday, following a board meeting where members were able to come together and strategies their plans for a viable basketball season.

Kida said that the dates for the leagues would be made public soon.

He said that there would be a stakeholders meeting where all modalities would be put into proper perspective.

The federations president also said that the board was set to meet with sponsors of the leagues to present their plans for the next basketball season.

He said that he was proud and confident of the developments, adding that arrangements were underway to make the leagues better than before.

It feels good to be back and as a new board, we are determined more than ever to make basketball a huge success in Nigeria, Kida said.

He said that the league had faced unnecessary hitches in the past such as legal litigations that did not allow them to achieve as much as they desired.

He added that he was looking ahead with a lot of confidence that such challenges that impeded the development of the sport would not arise again.

We are working harder like never before especially reshaping the six geographical zones and making them stronger.

The national teams are also of great importance and we have to move quick to get them ready for the world cup windows which comes up in June, he said.

On the relationship with the Ministry of Sport, Kida said the relationship was a respectable one and that the board was also scheduled to meet with the Secretary General to discuss strategies.

He said he was optimistic that the meeting would yield good results for the progress of the sport. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News