Northern Group Congratulates Azuta-Mbata on Emergence as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

By: Michael
Mike

Northern Christian Youth Professionals Congratulate Senator John Azuta-Mbata on His Emergence as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has congratulated Senator John Azuta-Mbata on his emergence as the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation representing the Igbos worldwide.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak, the group said: “His (Senator John Azuta-Mbata) assumption of this esteemed role comes at a time when the land of Ndigbo is experiencing notable progress in addressing the challenges of insecurity and violence from various groups.

“We are confident that Senator Azuta-Mbata will leverage his vast experience in public administration and his distinguished service in the Nigerian Senate—particularly on key committees such as Defense, Finance & Appropriation (as Vice-Chairman), and Works & Housing—to further secure the region and drive economic growth for Ndigbo and Nigeria as a whole.”

The statement added that: “There is no doubt about the significant contributions of the Igbo people to Nigeria’s economic strength and global pride, particularly through their entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen. We believe this legacy will continue to thrive and expand under Senator Azuta-Mbata’s leadership.

“The Northern Christian Youth Professionals, a coalition of professionals from the 19 states of Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is committed to improving the socio-economic well-being of our people, fostering religious tolerance, and promoting peaceful coexistence for national development.

“We extend a hand of fellowship to the new President-General and the entire Ndigbo community, pledging our support for initiatives that will advance the collective growth and benefit of all Nigerians.

“We look forward to working together to build a more united, prosperous, and harmonious nation.”

Northern Group Congratulates Azuta-Mbata on Emergence as President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo

“Be responsible and guard your utterances while using social media platforms” ~YSU VC

By: Kolo Gulani

The Vice-Chancellor of Yobe State University, Prof. Mala Mohammed Daura, has charged the newly elected members of the Executive Council of the Student Union Government (SUG) to be honest and good ambassadors of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor made the call today Friday 10th January, 2025 while inaugurating the new EXCOS of the union at the Geidam Hall of the University.

Prof. Daura who was represented at the event by the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Sani Isa, expressed his dissatisfaction on some students over their unguarded utterances about the activities of the University on social media platforms.

He said it’s good for the students to always seek for clarification through the appropriate channels of communication in the institution so as to avoid sharing fake news and hate speeches that will implicate them.

In his address, the University Acting Director of ICT, Dr. Idi Mohammed, advised the students to properly apply for the students’ NELFUND in which he said, some students are making mistakes while applying for the loan.

In their separate remarks, the Head of Geology Department, Prof. Adam Zarma, and his counterpart from Public Administration, Dr Hadiza Mali Bukar, charged the students to concentrate more on their studies than student unionism.

In the meantime, the newly elected President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Comr. Yunusa Abdullahi Barde, called on the students of the University to support him and his team in discharging their responsibilities.

The President said his administration will prioritize students’ welfare, academic support, leadership and skills development as well inclusion and equality among the students.

The newly inaugurated EXCOS are Yunusa Abdullahi Bardea as President, Zainab Abdulmumin, Vice President, Mustapha Abdullahi, Secretary General, Muhammad Iliya, Assistant Secretary Genera and Helen Lukas as Treasurer.

Others are; Abba Kabir Yusuf, Financial Secretary, Hussaini Yakubu Abdullahi, Social Director and Saidu Musa Baba, Welfare Officer, Aliyu Adamu, Director of Sales, Ahmed Nasiru, Director Sport and Shitu Musa as Public Relations Officer (P. R. O).

“Be responsible and guard your utterances while using social media platforms” ~YSU VC

Prostitution among former captives on the rise in Borno, says Commissioner

By: Zagazola Makama

The Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, has raised concerns over the growing prevalence of prostitution among former captives of Boko Haram in communities such as Bama, Banki, and Gwoza Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Wakilbe stated this during a courtesy visit by Hamsatu Allamin, Chief Executive Officer of the Allamin Foundation for Peace, on Friday in Maiduguri.
He advocated urgent intervention to empower freed Boko Haram captives, to enhance their economic and social protection.

He said the call was imperative to fast track support and integration of the victims into the society, to enable them to resume normal life.

The commissioner lamented that some of the freed victims were exposed to sexual abuse due to their vulnerability, poverty and lack of support.

“I recently encountered an 11-year-old girl surrounded with three children. It was heartbreaking.

“The Cameroonian authorities’ repatriated young girls aged 13 to 15 with multiple children.

“These vulnerable individuals need urgent reintegration and support,” he said, adding that the spate of sexual abuse could be attributed to poverty and lack of viable alternatives for survival.

He also called for the establishment of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers in border communities like Bama, Gwoza, and Kamburungara, to empower the resettled victims of conflict.
“We need sustainable programmes to address their vulnerability and provide alternatives. Poverty drives many of these individuals into vices like prostitution.
“Once we offer skills and support, they can rebuild their lives,” he said.
Wakilbe stressed the need to focus attention to handling conflict affected children, noting that traditional education systems were ill-equipped to address their unique needs.
“Our education system must accommodate these children but they are not equipped to handle the specific needs of these children.
“Those children witnessed unimaginable violence, abduction and displacement which requires tailored de-radicalisation and reintegration efforts..
“We tried integrating some of these children into regular schools, but it failed. For instance, some of the Chibok girls were enrolled in secondary schools, the principals reported that they could not handle the unique needs of these children.
“We had to transferred them to special programmes like Second Chance schools,” he said.
According to Walkibe, lack of long term planning in addressing the education needs of the conflict affected children has been a key concern, adding that donor agencies implemented programmes that failed to meet their immediate needs.
He said that teaching local languages like Hausa in areas where Kanuri was dominant missed the point, and stressed the need to focus teaching in English Language, to ensure that the children adapt to modern education.
The commissioner noted that some donor funded programmes failed to address the immediate needs of the region, and urged them to prioritise capacity building for educators, and implement viable long term solutions for conflict affected persons.
“There are 67,000 women and children in the camps. We cannot continue turning a blind eye. We must rethink how to educate and reintegrate them.
“We need centers to teach skills and provide start up packs for these girls. Poverty drives them into vices, but with alternatives, they can rebuild their lives,” he said.
He said the state government had trained over 300 women in vocational skills and distributed start up packs, to enable them to become self-reliant.
Wakilbe reitrated government’s commitment to partner with development organisations and agencies, to address problems affecting victims of the conflict.
In her remarks, Allamin called for interventions to address critical issues identified during the peace building programme initiated by the organisation.
She said the organisation identified serious issues that required immediate, proactive and sustainable interventions to address.
Allamin said the foundation had rehabilitated hundreds of women and girls involved in the insurgency under its Community-based De-radicalisation of Women and Girls in the state.
She said the de-radicalised women had encouraged their peers in the bush to surrender to the authorities.

Prostitution among former captives on the rise in Borno, says Commissioner