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