Zulum Announces Scholarship to Female Indigenes with JAMB Score of 250 and Above

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced scholarship to Borno female indigenes who scored 250 and above in the 2025 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Zulum made the announcement on Saturday at the inauguration ceremony of new executive members of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) Maiduguri Chapter and scholarship programme to 12 female students by wife of the governor at the Government House, Maiduguri.

The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) is a platform that provides mentorship and advocacy for gender inclusion in engineering, promote the advancement of women in engineering and inspire young girls to pursue careers in science and technology.

The governor assured that his administration will continue to support girl child education and sponsor more women to study medical and technical education.

“In order to encourage girl child education in the state, I want to announce that all female indigenes of the state that have scored 250 and above in JAMB would be sponsored by the Borno State government to either study technical/vocational education or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses,” Zulum announced.

The governor then directed the acting Chief of Staff, the state scholarship board, Ministry of Education and APWEN, Maiduguri chapter, to identify and screen those that met the criteria to benifit from the scholarship.

He commended his wife for the scholarship programme and congratulated the outgoing and incoming chairperson for their commitment towards promoting the engineering profession.

In a paper titled: The role of Mentorship in Encouraging Girls to pursue Engineering Careers in Nigeria, wife of the governor, Dr Habiba Babagana Zulum, observed that mentosrship is a tool for personal and professional development, noting that women in Nigeria make only 14% of STEM work force, stressing that excluding more than 50% of the population in nation building is counter-productive.

“Mentorship is critical to shaping the minds and future of upcoming generations, identify inspiring role modelling, breaking stereotype, guidance and support, overcoming obstacles, building confidence and skills, critical thinking and creativity, networking and opportunities, access to resources and opportunities as aspects that encourage mentorship,” Dr Habiba stressed.

The outgoing Chairperson of APWEN, Engr Kori Shettima, said the association has worked tirelessly to create a platform that fosters innovation, mentorship, advocacy and collaboration with the aim of paving the way for future generations of female.

“I am proud of the progress we have made, the lives we have touched and the young minds we have inspired. Our advocacy for girl child education in STEM has been a beacon of hope, illuminating paths to a brighter future,” Kori stated.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the inauguration of the 4th APWEN Chairperson, Engr. Hajju Tijjani Gazali, and award of scholarship of N200,000 to six best female pupils of Wulari primary school, Maiduguri, and N300,000 to six best science students in Federal Government Girls College, Monguno.

Zulum Announces Scholarship to Female Indigenes with JAMB Score of 250 and Above

Gunmen kill community leader, three others in Anambra terrorist attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) have attacked a residence in Isseke community of Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, killing a prominent community leader and three women.

Zagazola Makama understands that the incident, which occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Friday, was reported by the President General of Mbosi town, Hon. Pastor Azuka Innocent Okolie.

The the assailants stormed the residence of Ichie Kennedy Igboanugo, also known as Ichie Akurou-Ulo 1, in Ekwuru village an area described as heavily infiltrated by IPOB/ESN operatives and fatally shot him and the three female victims, whose identities are yet to be confirmed.

Security forces have been deployed to the area to restore calm and pursue the perpetrators.

The motive for the killings remains unclear, but security agencies suspect it may be linked to IPOB’s ongoing campaign of violence in the South-East.

Gunmen kill community leader, three others in Anambra terrorist attack

First Lady Expands National Food Security Initiative To Vulnerable Groups Across Nigeria

** Says project has made positive impact on women, disabled, marginalised communities

By: Our Reporter

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and empowering the nation’s most vulnerable populations through the expansion of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Food Outreach Scheme.

She affirmed that the programme, which officially began on March 8, 2024, will continue to deliver critical food assistance to women, persons with disabilities, and marginalised communities across the country.

The First Lady, who was represented by the Wife of the Vice President and Vice Chairman of RHI, Hajiya Nana Shettima, stated this at an RHI held on Friday at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, Abia State, where she oversaw the handover of food supplies to Abia State’s RHI Coordinator, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the Wife of the State Governor.

She said, “As I hand over these essential food commodities to Abia State and the RHI State Coordinator, I urge the beneficiaries to use these items for the well-being of their families. We at RHI are implementing several impactful interventions that are touching lives across the nation, and we are pleased that our efforts are yielding positive outcomes.”

Since its launch, the Food Outreach Scheme has reached eleven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Oyo.

The initiative is scheduled to reach Enugu and Kaduna next. Funded by The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and an anonymous donor, the programme targets one state per month for food distribution.

The First Lady used the occasion to announce the rollout of several other new initiatives under RHI’s five core pillars—Social Investment, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Agriculture—for the year 2025.

“Under Social Investment, RHI is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to establish ‘The Environment Club’ for senior secondary school students and ‘The Environment Society’ for students in tertiary institutions nationwide. These initiatives aim to promote environmental cleanliness and tree planting.

“Under Economic Empowerment, RHI plans to disburse grants of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000) each to 250 persons with disabilities in all 36 states and the FCT to support and recapitalise their small businesses.

“In the area of Education, the ‘Flow with Confidence’ programme will distribute 10,000 packs of sanitary pads—enough to last a year—to young girls, particularly those in rural communities. This initiative aims to help girls stay in school throughout their menstrual cycle,” Senator Tinubu said.

According to the First Lady, the programmes are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to improve the lives of Nigerians across the country.

Senator Tinubu also commended the Wife of the Governor of Abia State for her outstanding efforts and support in ensuring the success of the RHI Food Outreach and other related programmes in the state.

Governor Alex Otti, speaking on behalf of the Abia State Government, declared his administration’s readiness to partner with organisations like RHI that aim to uplift the vulnerable. He applauded Senator Tinubu’s commitment and the tangible impacts of the RHI outreach.

Receiving the items, Mrs. Priscilla Otti highlighted the significant impact of the Food Outreach on families in the state. “This intervention has transformed many lives,” she stated, assuring the First Lady of continuous support and affirming that items would be distributed to individuals from diverse backgrounds to meet the programme’s objectives.
Also, Managing Director of ASR Africa and representative of BUA, Dr. Ubon Udoh, lauded the sustainable impact of RHI’s work and pledged continued support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

First Lady Expands National Food Security Initiative To Vulnerable Groups Across Nigeria