Pray For Tinubu, All Leaders and Nigeria-Gov. Buni

By: Mamman Mohammed

Yobe state Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, has urged Nigerians to pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other leaders and security operatives for divine guidance and improved security across the country.

Governor Buni made the call in Damaturu today when the leadership of the Shiek Usman Dahiru Bauchi foundation, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House.

He explained that prayers comes with divine guidance for leaders to deliver good governance to improve the lives of the people while, negative prayers for leaders begets poor leadership and poor service delivery.

“It therefore becomes important for us to pray to almighty Allah to guide the President, Governors and all those in position of leadership to succeed with improved security and for peace to reign in Nigeria” Buni said.

The Governor also urged the people to pray for the security forces “here in Yobe state, we have seen the efficacy of prayers in the fight against insurgency, we should tberefore continue praying for the country.

“We should not relent in praying for the president all leaders, and the security forces for us to succeed” he said.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the foundation, Shiek lbrahim Dahiru Bauchi, said the foundation was in the state for the Maulud anniversary of Shiek Ahmadu Tijjani.

“We have representatives from Morocco, Algeria, other countries and states across the country who are here to pray for the nation.

“We appreciate Yobe state for supporting this programme, we will pray for Yobe and other States, our leaders and, peace in Nigeria” Shiek Ibrahim assured.

Pray For Tinubu, All Leaders and Nigeria-Gov. Buni

Two brothers injured in herders’ machete attack in Kukawa, Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Two brothers have sustained severe machete cuts following an attack by suspected herders in Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday when the victims, identified as Abba Gana Tijani, 40, and his younger brother, Kaka Abubakar Tijani, 35, were attacked while working on their farm at Mile 90 bush, Kukawa.

The victims had reportedly confronted some herders who attempted to graze their cattle on their crops, an encounter that escalated into violence.

“The herders, now at large, became infuriated after being stopped from grazing and brought out machetes with which they attacked the two brothers, inflicting deep cuts on their heads and right legs,” the sources stated.

Troops alongside joint a patrol team, Civilian Joint Task Force, and hunters, mobilised to the scene and documented the incident.

The victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Monguno, where they were hospitalised and are responding to treatment.

Sources said efforts were ongoing to trace and arrest the fleeing suspects through engagements with Fulani leaders and farming communities in the area.

“Both parties have been cautioned against reprisals as security agencies intensify surveillance to prevent escalation,” said the sources.
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ECOWAS to Support School Feeding in West Africa with €4.5 million

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Communities of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on Friday said it has set aside €4.5 million to support the implementation of home grown school feeding in primary schools across the West African region.

The Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission,

represented by the Director Agriculture and Rural Development, Alain Traore, stated this at the launch of the national policy forum on the institutionalisation and implementation of the home grown school feeding programme for sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion in Nigeria.

The event was organised by the presidential committee on home grown school feeding and supported by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN).

He said: “ECOWAS, with financial support from Spanish cooperation, is implementing the project to promote integrated school feeding models in West Africa (PMAI-AO), worth €4.5 million, the aim of which is to generate promising practices and strategies that can be scaled up and support the sustainability of school feeding programmes in the region.

“Food and nutritional security in general, and school feeding in particular, remains a strategic priority for our organisation, ECOWAS. It is at the heart of our regional agricultural policy, particularly through Axis 3, which aims to improve access to food, nutrition and the resilience of vulnerable populations.

“Children’s education is an essential pillar in the development of human capital in West Africa. School feeding based on local production (ASPL) is proving to be a promising approach for achieving this objective. It is not simply an isolated initiative; it is a holistic strategy that aims to improve child nutrition and contribute to school performance, support local agriculture, stimulate rural economies and reduce poverty.

“According to data from the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF), the school feeding situation in the region shows that 25 million children benefited from school canteens in West Africa in 2024, i.e. 32% of children of primary school age.

“This shows that the overall coverage rate is low in the region, despite the efforts made by governments and their partners. Greater political will, large-scale implementation of school feeding programmes, and their sustainability are therefore more than necessary.”

Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, said with the relaunch of the programme Nigeria is at the forefront of feeding school children.

He said: @This year, the federal government relaunched the New Hope National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, signalling a decisive return to scale and systemisation. The programme is designed to boost enrollment and attendance, improve academic performance, and raise smallholder incomes through stable local procurement.

“Across ECOWAS, governments and partners are codifying school feeding into law, financing at scale, and improving delivery standards. Nigeria’s relaunch places us at the forefront of this regional movement, where political commitment, sustainable financing, and multisectoral coordination are the levers that lift outcomes.”

The Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by the chairman house committee on food safety and nutrition, Chike Okafor, promised to monitor the implementation of the policy at all levels.

Representative of the Minister of state Humanitarian Affairs Yusuf Sununu, Mr. Valentine Ezulu, in his keynote address said, “the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is not just about feeding children. It is about nation-building.

“It is about Education: because a child who is nourished is more attentive, more likely to attend school, and more capable of learning. It is about nutrition and healtth because regular balanced meals combat malnutrition, stunting, and anemia.”

ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Andrew Mamedu in his welcome address noted that there’s need to institutionalise the policy

He said: “Across Nigeria, too many children still go to school hungry. According to the World Bank’s Human Capital Index, Nigeria scores just 0.36—meaning a child born here today will achieve only 36% of their productive potential if nothing changes.

“The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is more than a nutrition intervention. It is an education strategy that keeps children in school and helps them learn better.”

He noted that: “When properly institutionalised, the programme will improve nutrition and learning, create jobs, enhance financial inclusion, and build resilience for future generations.”

ECOWAS to Support School Feeding in West Africa with €4.5 million