News
Kwara Gov’s wife inaugurates water projects, receives N100m worth of items
Kwara Gov’s wife inaugurates water projects, receives N100m worth of items
Mrs Olufolake AbdulRazaq, Wife of Kwara Governor and Founder Ajike People Support Centre, on Thursday in Ilorin, inaugurated three solar-powered boreholes and received N100 million worth of food and medical materials from the Victims Support Fund.
AbdulRazaq said that the collaboration and engagements of her office and her pet project were a testimony of greater things to come.
She said that the provision of potable water and sanitation was crucial to human hygiene and socio-economic development.
“The state government has resolved to ensure that potable water supply is available to all residents, irrespective of how detached they are from city centres.
“This is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 that is encouraging all nations to ensure that there is clean water and sanitation for all,’’ AbdulRazaq said.
She urged the beneficiaries of the motorised boreholes to ensure that the facilities were protected from damage, saying that they should adhere to instructions on how best to use them for optimum benefit.
According to her, the government’s efforts may not entirely sufficient.
The governor’s wife said that the palliative distribution to families and presentation of medical equipment to the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency would go a long way in complementing the government’s efforts.
“During the lockdown, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, my office and Ajike People’s Support Centre presented food and other palliatives to over 3,000 families across the three senatorial districts of the state.
“My office and Ajike People’s Support Center are doing their utmost best to ensure that Kwara people enjoy the best of times.
“This has made my office and the centre engages in plausible partnerships that would further benefit citizens of Kwara in the areas of empowerment through skill acquisition.
“We also advocate for the encouragement of youth entrepreneurship and leading advocacies to curb drug abuse, gender-based violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other initiatives that directly impact the people.
“Three secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state are beneficiaries of the borehole intervention,’’ she said.
AbdulRazaq listed the schools as Government Day Secondary School, Adeta (Kwara Central), Lade Community Secondary School, Patigi (Kwara North) and Iketa Grammar School, Osi (Kwara South).
She said that 6,000 units of re-usable branded face masks and 18,000 bottles of hand sanitisers would be shared among the schools.
“To the benefitting schools, it is our hope that these water facilities will be sustainably operated and maintained so as to provide long term service to the people living in these communities,” she said.
Earlier, a representative of VSF, Toyosi Ogunsiji, said that the organisation, with Retired Gen. Theophilos Danjuma as Chairman, was set up in 2014 for the humanitarian and charitable gestures.
It was also set up to provide succour to people in distress across the nation so as to touch every family in the state with food and medical supplies.
Ogunsiji said that the supplies were to compliment the government’s efforts and curb social vices, adding that the value of the donated items was about N100 million.
She said that Kwara was the 32nd state to be visited since the inception of the programme while appreciating the state government for its support.
In his address, the principal of one of the benefiting schools, Government Day Secondary School, Adeta, Alhaji Yahaya Yisa, prayed for the continued progress of the sponsors and for the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration.
He appreciated the wife of the governor and the VSF for deeming it fit to give their community clean and potable water, stressing that this would provide more opportunities for the students to excel in their academic pursuits.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the food support and medical materials distributed included: 3,000 units of 10kg rice, 3,000 units of 5kg beans and 3,000 units of 7.5kg garri and 6,000 units of 1kg salt.
Others were: 3,000 units of 2.75 litres of vegetable oil, 50,000 units of surgical face masks, 290 units of Hamzat suits, 290 units of safety medical goggles and 10,000 units of latex gloves 290 units of medical safety boots.
NAN also reports that among those present at the event were the Commissioner for Social Development, Health and Communication, Alhaji Raji Rasaq, Mrs Abosede Aremu and Mr Olabode Towoju respectively.
News
MADONNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT NIGERIAN ARMY RESOURCE CENTER TO LEARN THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
MADONNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT NIGERIAN ARMY RESOURCE CENTER TO LEARN THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
By: Our Reporter
On Thursday, 21st November 2024, the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, welcomed students from Madonna University, Department of International Relations on an academic field trip designed to enhance their understanding of the practical dimensions of International Relations and Diplomacy. The visit formed a core part of the students’ academic programme, specifically their International Relations Study (IRS) 482 course, which integrates practical learning to bridge the gap between theory and real-world applications.
Major General GA Wahab (rtd) PhD, the Director General of NARC, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Impact of the Military on Nigeria’s External Relations.” He outlined the military’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s foreign policy and international engagement, emphasising its role as a crucial pillar of national power. General Wahab further explained that a country’s foreign policy is deeply influenced by internal factors such as leadership, national security, public opinion, economic conditions, and social structures, as well as external factors, including international relations and global order. He stressed the importance of aligning internal stability with foreign policy goals to foster effective international diplomacy.
The interactive session allowed students to explore the military’s strategic role in Nigeria’s external engagements and its impact on global diplomacy. Accompanied by two faculty members, the students expressed appreciation for the hands-on learning opportunity, which deepened their understanding of how theoretical concepts translate into practical realities.
In his vote of thanks, the team leader, Dr Jude Odigbo, Head, international relations department, thanked the DG NARC for the warm reception, wonderful and enriching presentation and the collaboration between academia and strategic institutions like NARC. He highlighted the importance of such partnerships in developing graduates equipped with practical knowledge and leadership skills necessary for national development.
The field trip underscored the Nigerian Army Resource Centre’s commitment to fostering academic and professional collaboration while promoting awareness of the military’s multifaceted contributions to Nigeria’s development and diplomacy. This initiative serves as an exemplary model of how academic institutions and national establishments can work together to prepare future leaders.
Present at the occasion were Major General AS Ndalolo mni, the Executive Director Consult at NARC, Brigadier General SK Usman (rtd) mni and Lieutenant Tosin Taiwo.
MADONNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT NIGERIAN ARMY RESOURCE CENTER TO LEARN THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
By: Michael Mike
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Dr. Yemisi Asagbra debunked some allegations level against the agency by some non governmental organisations (NGOs) concerning negligence and compromise.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Asagbra said: “The negative statements circulating are misleading and lack credible scientific backing. The agency asks these organisations to present verifiable scientific evidence for their claims and we relies on sound scientific research and internationally recognized protocols to make informed decisions. It is part of the Cartagena Protocol with over 180 parties, our mandate is to protect the health of Nigerians and the environment. It will not compromise on this as it is an agency of integrity.
She added that: “The agency is transparent and accountable in its operations. It invites review of its processes and rigorous evaluations of GMO products. We are confident in our procedures that it’s meet global standards and it is a leader in effective regulation in Africa”.
On the source of the allegations, she said “over the years they have been advocating to have their presence in the board where all these products coming will be thoroughly Investigated, but it hasn’t been given. Most times we rely on the information given by Nigeria Custom Service to furnish them with needed information, which most time is not always easy if they have other things doing.
The Head planning, research and statistics National Biosafety Management Agency Mrs. Bello Scholastica said the agency is concerned with safety to our health and safety to our environment.
She further reiterated that what NBMA stands for is to establish first regulation from identification of the gene of interest, “of what you are interested in, from then till commercialization, and even after commercialization, they still follow suit to make sure that the approvals they gave hasn’t caused any harm, or those that were given approval to that they stay put to what they were asked to do”.
She further explained that the agency has put in effort to promote environmental conservation and biosafety in Nigeria.
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
By: Michael Mike
The House of Representatives has revealed that it is interested in the passage of the Human Rights Defenders Bill into law, saying that the bill has already passed the first reading and will soon be subjected to second reading.
The House also promised to take the necessary steps to ensure an improvement in the 2025 budget of the NHRC, pointing out that the N5 billion approved for it in the 2024 budget is inadequate considering the myriad of human rights violations in the country.
The Chairman House Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Abiola Makinde made this disclosure during the oversight visit of Committee to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The Chairman, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Hon. Mudashiru Lukeman assured the NHRC that the Committee would continue to advance the course of human rights in Nigeria by ensuring that the House of Representatives passes critical bills on human rights issues as well as makes adequate budgetary provisions to ease the work of the Commission.
Makinde also stated that in a bid to improve some aspects of Civil and Political Rights, the House of Representatives had ensured the establishment of human rights desks in all police formations and Headquarters across the 36 States of the Federation.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu who received the lawmakers with his management staff told the Human Rights Committee that the Commission relies heavily on them for the enactment of human rights friendly laws and enhanced budgetary provisions to discharge it broad mandate of promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights in the country.
He used the opportunity to commend the legislators for their role in the amendment of the NHRC Act 2010 as well as the support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in the payment of compensation to victims of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
He equally informed the legislators who were on oversight visit about the recent report released by the Commission following the findings of the Special Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations in Counter-Insurgency Operations in the North East Nigeria , which he noted has saved the country from possible invitation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He noted that the aforementioned wide spread allegations of human rights infractions against some government institutions could result in the ICC extending invitations to some of the leaders to respond to the allegations, but the Commission has done the needful in compliance with the international principles of omplementarity.
He thanked the Committee for promising to improve the budgetary allocation of the Commission in the 2025 fiscal year.
House of Reps Assures on Passage of Human Rights Defenders Bill
MADONNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS VISIT NIGERIAN ARMY RESOURCE CENTER TO LEARN THE MILITARY’S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
VP Shettima Restates FG’s Commitment To Improved Healthcare Delivery
NBMA Debunks Allegations of Negligence, Compromise Against It
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
EYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News8 months agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News8 months agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
ACADEMICS9 months agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns9 months agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions9 months agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Opinions3 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
National News9 months agoFraud and Mismanagement Rock INGO’s IDP Cash Assistance Effort in Bama
