National News
British High Commissioner Presents Commonwealth Points of Light Award
British High Commissioner Presents Commonwealth Points of Light Award
By: Michael Mike
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing has presented the 214th Commonwealth Points of Light award to, Uloma Ogba and Hauwa Balami, founders of Nigerian NGO ‘Give Girls A Chance’.
The Award was presented at a reception in Abuja on Tuesday hosted at the British High Commissioner’s Residence for High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries with missions in Abuja to mark this year’s Commonwealth Day.
In Lagos, the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Ben Llewellyn-Jones hosted a Commonwealth Day reception on 14 March in Lagos. In Abuja, the Points of Light Award winners, Uloma, and Hauwa, were awarded the prestigious accolade for their voluntary work in their local community through the NGO ‘Give Girls A Chance’.
Her Majesty The Queen – as Head of the Commonwealth – launched the Award as a part of the legacy of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. The Award recognises inspirational volunteers from across the 54 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities and beyond them.
Earlier this year, the Give Girls A Chance founders became the 214th winners of the Commonwealth Points of Light award. The NGO received the Award for the work it does to help girls between 10 and 19 from low-income families to identify and benefit from opportunities that will help them forge successful careers including financial support and access to mentorship. Over 2000 girls have directly benefitted from Give Girls A Chance since it started in 2016.
Speaking during the awards presentation the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, said: “Congratulations to Ms. Uloma Ogba and Dr. Hauwa Balami for receiving the prestigious Commonwealth #PointofLight award for the amazing work you have been doing through the #GiveGirlsAChance Programme, to improve access to quality education for over 2000 girls through school and mentorship programmes.”
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Hauwa, who spoke on behalf of her ‘Give Girls A Chance’ co-founder Uloma, said:
“We are deeply honoured to have been selected for The Commonwealth Points of Light Award. It is an even greater honour to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past honourees. We are thrilled to receive recognition for our work in supporting girls and young women to access and maximise the benefits of a quality education through scholarships, capacity building of girls and schools and advocacy for girl child education.
“We stay committed to our mission to improve access to quality education for girls across Nigeria and are grateful to all our sponsors, volunteers, and supporters, without whom, none of these would have been possible. Thank you once again for this honour.”
The occasion also had the Platinum Pudding competition, where the British High Commissioner hosted a Platinum Pudding competition as a part of this year’s celebrations in Nigeria of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The Platinum Jubilee is going to be celebrated in 2022 throughout the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952 and to celebrate The Queen’s historic reign.
According to a statement, part of this year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place around the world will include a Platinum Pudding competition. The British High Commission in Abuja was pleased to take the opportunity to host their pudding competition between High Commissions in Abuja. The competition was won by an entry from the South African High Commission in Abuja
British High Commissioner Presents Commonwealth Points of Light Award
National News
Lukurawa extremist Attack Police Checkpoint in Kebbi, killed 2 policemen
Lukurawa extremist Attack Police Checkpoint in Kebbi, killed 2 policemen
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected extremists, believed to be members of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), otherwise known as LUKURAWA have attacked a police checkpoint at Garin Natshini Gada in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State in the early hours of Jan. 3, resulting in the death of two police officers.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the attackers, reportedly on motorbikes, overran the Nigeria Police Force personnel stationed at the checkpoint, seizing two AK-47 rifles and other items.
They also rustled a significant number of cattle during the assault. A police patrol vehicle was abandoned at the scene.
Troops from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Argungu, in collaboration with elements from Augie, responded swiftly by conducting clearance patrols to the affected area, approximately 10 kilometers from Argungu town. Upon arrival, they discovered that the extremists had already vacated the scene.
According to local sources interviewed by the troops, the attackers retreated along identified withdrawal routes. The military has since dominated the area and initiated an exploitation operation to pursue the assailants.
The bodies of the fallen police officers have been evacuated to the morgue while efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen cattle are ongoing as security forces intensify their operations to restore normalcy in the region.
Lukurawa extremist Attack Police Checkpoint in Kebbi, killed 2 policemen
National News
NYSC DG tasks Corps members on national unity, development
NYSC DG tasks Corps members on national unity, development
By, Jamilu Abubakar
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed has tasked Corps members on the collective resolve to sustain vigorous implementation of the scheme’s mandate of fostering national unity, integration and development of Nigeria.
Ahmed stated this in his 2025 New Year message to the Corps members and staff, in a statement by the acting Director, Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu.
The statement further reminded the corps members of the pivotal role of the Scheme in the unity and development of the nation and urged all the serving Corps members to step up more efforts for noble assignments ahead in 2025.
He said: “I want to use this medium to sincerely appreciate your resilience and dogged commitment to duty at your various locations, which culminated in the unprecedented successes we recorded in the year 2024.” The statement said
The statement further added that the scheme was indeed looking ahead, full of optimism that this year will record even greater achievements in our quest to extend the frontiers of development in all the critical sectors of our national economy.
It urged all to step up more efforts for noble assignments ahead, in the collective resolve to sustain vigorous implementation of the Scheme’s mandate of fostering national unity, integration and development of Nigeria, our nation.
“May I also reiterate my commitment to engage relevant stakeholders to increasingly make facilities available, and opportunities for Corps empowerment under the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED).
“I also enjoin all Corps Members to actively participate and maximally utilise them for self-development,” he stated.
The DG equally used the medium to appreciate all the collaborating agencies and stakeholders for their invaluable support and assured them of increased opportunities for more engagements in the New Year.
“Management would continue to improve on our statutory responsibilities to Nigerians by ensuring that NYSC consolidates on its laudable achievements as we look forward to a rewarding and prosperous year 2025,” Ahmed said.
NYSC DG tasks Corps members on national unity, development
National News
BORNO COMMUNITY PETITIONS POLICE OVER THE RELEASE OF A MURDER SUSPECT BY THE DPO
BORNO COMMUNITY PETITIONS POLICE OVER THE RELEASE OF A MURDER SUSPECT BY THE DPO
By: Our Correspondent.
The Marama community in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State has petitioned the Commissioner of Police in the state over the release of a murder suspect.
The petition which was written under the auspices of MARAMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, and obtained by our correspondent, stated that “on the 17th of December, 2024, a security man, (Henry Musa), attached to the Government Secondary School Marama was attacked and fatally wounded by one James Musa in public glare”.
‘The victim,’ according to the petition, was rushed to the General Hospital, Biu, while the culprit was arrested and detained at the Divissional Police Headquaters in Azare Hawul Local Government Area.”
Signed by Mdahyelya Buba Yirngau and Samuel Bwala, Secretary and Chairman of the association, a few days after the attack, community members noticed the culprit moving around freely in the town, while the victim was struggling for survival on the hospital bed,”
They called the command headquaters’ attention to the development according to them because the victim eventually died on the 26th of December, 2024, while the James Musa, the suspect has been re-arrested, but they have reservations about the action of the DPO in Hawul, on the matter, since he has released him before without charges, when he was first arrested.
The community made an appeal to the police authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the release of the suspect, and seeks that the suspect be charged appropriately since the act was undeniable.
While affirming that they community is conscious of the gravity of murder, and covering up this one by the Hawul DPO, for whatever reasons, is a great miscarriage of justice to the victim and the community.
When contacted, the DPO, Habila Lemak CSP, c9nfirmed the development, but claimed that he released the suspect after five days because he refused to eat and that the victim was not dead at that time.
He explained that he is making efforts to transfer the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, in Maiduguri.
Investigations by our correspondent reveal that the community has forwarded their complaints to the Public Complaints Commission, PCC, in the event that attempts are made by the police to sweep the matter under the carpet.
BORNO COMMUNITY PETITIONS POLICE OVER THE RELEASE OF A MURDER SUSPECT BY THE DPO
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