News
Spokespersons Awards: Zulum’s media team wins award from 100 days campaign
Spokespersons Awards: Zulum’s media team wins award from 100 days campaign
… Gusau lauds social media associates
By: Our Reporter
Media Team of Borno’s Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has emerged winner in the social media category at this year’s
Spokespersons’ Communication Awards (SCA2023) held in Abuja.
A letter confirming the award was addressed to the Governor’s special adviser on media and strategy, Malam Isa Gusau.
Gusau in September, 2023, coordinated and headed a multimedia campaign with a hashtag #77ProjectsInZulum100Days.
The media campaign involved a syndicated circulation of one minute cinematic videos, infographics, photographs and texts which captured 77 projects delivered by Governor Zulum within the first 100 days of his second term.

The videos were tactically circulated by Zulum’s media team and hundreds of social media associates through multiple social media platforms.
The campaign was done in a number of days and each day had different content syndicated at the same time.
The success of the media campaign made it voted as this year’s best engagement on social media during selection of award categories at the spokespersons’ communications awards.
Zulum’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, who hailed the entire media team and associates for the nomination asked the senior special assistant on new media, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, to receive the award on behalf of the Governor’s media team.
The award presentation took place on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja.
The event was organized by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR).
The Spokespersons Communications Awards, according to the organizers, was instituted to recognize the most outstanding public relations contributions and communications strategies undertaken between 2022 and 2023.

The award ceremony honoured individuals and organizations behind some of the most successful campaigns, initiatives, people and teams in the communication, public relations, and integrated marketing communication industry.
Receiving the award on behalf of Zulum’s media team, Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, commended the governor for the giant stride and for providing rich content that enables the media team to produce compelling media campaigns.
“Let me first and foremost commend my Governor for always providing content for us to showcase, 77 projects in 100 days is remarkable,” Bundi said.
The Governor’s New Media aide expressed gratitude to the organizers of the Spokespersons’ Communication Awards 2023
Earlier in his address, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, Executive Director of Image Merchant Promotion Limited (IMPR) said 13 winners emerged in different categories from over 139 entries.
The event which was endorsed by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, was attended Public Relations experts amongst them individuals and representatives of civilian and armed forces’ institutions.
Mr Bundi was accompanied by Special Assistant to Governor Zulum on Photography, Mohammed Alhaji Gana, the Coordinator of Borno Social Media Frontiers, BSF, Habu Kale Tijjani, and the Coordinator of Borno APC New Media, Mohammed Sheriff.
Others included Dogo Mohammed Shettima, Bulama Mohammed Bukar, Mohammed Jidda and Aisha Sanusi Mafindi.
Spokespersons Awards: Zulum’s media team wins award from 100 days campaign
News
Outbreak of Malnutrition: EU Offers Support to Nigeria
Outbreak of Malnutrition: EU Offers Support to Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
The European Union Parliament has decried the perennial malnutrition crisis in Northern Nigeria, promising to stand by Nigeria in addressing the issue.
The promised was made in Wednesday evening by EU parliamentarians who paid a three-day visit to Nigeria.
The leader of a six-member delegation, David MacAllister during a press conference to round up their visit, also urged the three tiers of government to urgently face the health crisis.
MacAllister said: “At the same time, ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply concerned and deeply saddened by the malnutrition crisis, in particular in north-east and north-west Nigeria.
“The European Union stands with Nigeria and the affected populations, mainly children, with the humanitarian support of nearly €50 million this year.
“But a financial commitment from Nigeria’s federal and state governments is also urgently needed to face the crisis. Thousands of children are unemployed.”
He promised that the EU will follow up the situation. “We will certainly follow up in particular on those matters and in particular on the unfolding humanitarian crisis in north-western Nigeria,” added.
He pointed out that Nigeria matters to the EU being the most populous country on the continent and one of its major economies.
He added: “So we do hope that Nigeria can also contribute to play a leading role to strengthen the EU-EU relationship, in particular on the occasion of the EU-EU summit to be held in Angola at the end of November.
“When it comes to your great country, Nigeria, we in the European Union consider Nigeria a strategic partner.”
MacAllister said his stay in Nigeria has brought him closer to unravel some of the 5,000 puzzles about the country.
He quoted an English saying: “Well, I described Nigeria to me as a puzzle of 5,000 pieces, and we have certainly set the frame in the last 48 hours, and every conversation, every briefing, every meeting we had makes me add further pieces together. And what I have always realised is the good English saying, “what is seen is better than a hundred times read”.
He said this applies to Nigeria, adding “We have started to understand better, and our main message will be that we need to be in continued engagement with the European Parliament, not only with the largest country in Africa, but also with democracy.
“Nigeria may not be a perfect democracy. Indeed, in the actual governance, you know that yourself, but this country is a democracy, and that’s why we highly respected our colleagues we met today from the different political parties, and we’re very honoured to not only be received by the President of the Senate, but also by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
On the European Union-African Union summit holding in Angola next month, MacAllister said “European Parliament has adopted a resolution, a particular resolution last week in Strasbourg, where the draft version, which was finally adopted between the political groups after three days of negotiations with a broad majority, kind of underlines the European Parliament’s expectation towards this summit.”
He also added: “We would like to see concrete results. We want to foster trade between Europe and Africa. We want to make our development cooperation as effective as possible, and we strongly, in the European Parliament, across party lines, believe that the future of Europe and the future of Africa are so closely linked to each other.
“Your success and the success of Africa will also be our success in Europe and vice versa.
Also speaking, the Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot said EU’s interest is to have a prosperous Nigeria.
Explaining why the EU has been magnanimous to Nigeria albeit ECOWAS, Mignot said “Of course we are doing this also because it is in our interest. Our interest is to have a prosperous, stable and democratic West Africa and in particular the main country in West Africa and in the African continent and Nigeria.
“And also, of course, we need Nigeria to partner with us to defend our common values that we are sharing, defence of natural resources in particular, on the world scene. And we need Nigeria also to make business. We need Nigeria to manage, to gather migration flows. “This is what we are doing. So we have common interests and of course this is what our partnership is based on. Nigeria matters, Nigeria matters to the European Union and our message returning to Europe, returning to Brussels will be that we believe it is time for the European Union to engage more with and in Nigeria.”
On the issue of malnutrition, the envoy said EU teams are in contact with partners who are operating different states like Katsina and Sokoto for instance, in particular in the North-West of the country.
He added: “And they ‘ve been recently on the field, so what we see is that there are still many, many families coming, mothers with babies, with children in states of severe acute malnutrition and these children are in danger of dying and some of them have died. I’ve seen myself a few weeks ago when I went to Katsina and there are also many families that do not reach these centres because they don’t know of their existence or they are just too far away to reach them. So there is really a necessity to make sure that there is no breakup in the chain of supply of the therapeutic food, which is absolutely indispensable and this requires additional funding from international donors or from national donors.
“We have seen how some state governments, Katsina for instance, have become more aware of the necessity of addressing the situation, but we need real efforts from all sides to inform the reaction to this crisis.
“So it’s very important to mobilise the necessary funds to address this situation.”
Then on the question on cooperation between the European Union and ECOWAS, he said :Our cooperation is rooted in shared values such as mutual integration, good governance and economic growth. The partnership has evolved to cover a wide range of areas including security, trade, migration and institutional capacity building. I want to underline that the European Union has supported ECOWAS through financial aid, technical assistance and political dialogue, particularly in conflict prevention, counter-terrorism and also intellectual processes.
“The EU provides support to ECOWAS regional peace, security and stability mandate to build and maintain peace, security and stability in the region to ensure conditions of development.”
Outbreak of Malnutrition: EU Offers Support to Nigeria
International
France, Italy Collaborates with Nigeria to Boost Human Trafficking Fight
France, Italy Collaborates with Nigeria to Boost Human Trafficking Fight
…Launch Common Operational Partnership Project
By: Michael Mike
The French and Italian governments, in conjunction with Nigerian government have launched the Common Operational Partnership (COP Nigeria) Project aimed at combating human trafficking.
Speaking at the official launch of the project in Abuja, the Director General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hajiya Binta Bello said: “Today’s event marks yet another milestone in our collective efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s response to human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants. It is a moment of renewed collaboration, shared commitment, and forward-looking action.
“Nigeria occupies a strategic position in the migration dynamics of West Africa. As a country of origin, transit, and destination, we continue to grapple with multifaceted and evolving challenges — from human trafficking and migrant smuggling to related transnational crimes such as sexual exploitation, document forgery, and drug trafficking.”
Bello, who was represented at the Launch by the agency’s Director, Research and Programme Development, Josiah Emerole, noted that: “Over the years, NAPTIP has made remarkable progress in its five cardinal areas of intervention — Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership. However, we are fully aware that the changing nature of trafficking and smuggling necessitates continuous innovation, deeper collaboration, and the strengthening of institutional capacities across all levels.”
She said: “The Common Operational Partnership (COP) initiative, implemented by the Government of France with the support of Italian Ministry of Interior, represents a strategic opportunity to consolidate our achievements and introduce evidence-based, context-specific approaches to tackling these crimes in Nigeria.
@Built around four key pillars — Joint Needs Assessment, Training and Mentoring, Operational Support, and Geographic Focus — the COP Project provides a comprehensive framework to enhance investigation, prosecution, and victim-centered interventions. Equally important, it will promote effective intelligence sharing, joint operations, and operational synergy among NAPTIP’s zonal commands and our regional partners in West Africa.”
She disclosed that: “The project will commence with pilot implementation in 3 target States — Cross River, Osun, Katsina, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — all strategically positioned along high-risk trafficking and migration corridors. These routes have witnessed increasing volumes of irregular movement and emerging trafficking trends aimed at accessing developed countries. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated and sustained action, which this initiative aptly supports.”
Bello added that today’s launch is not merely ceremonial. It is a clear statement of intent — a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment, through NAPTIP and in partnership with our international allies, to dismantle trafficking networks, disrupt smuggling operations, and uphold the dignity and rights of every human being.
She acknowledged the contributions of
the Government of France, CIVIPOL, the Italian Ministry of Interior, the European Union, and all other partners for their unwavering support, technical expertise, and steadfast commitment to this success of the project
She said: “Your collaboration reinforces the spirit of shared responsibility and global solidarity in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.”
She added that: “As we formally launch this project today, I urge all stakeholders to remain united and focused on our shared vision. Together, we can make the Common Operational Partnership not only a model of success for Nigeria but also a benchmark for regional cooperation and best practices across West Africa.”
Speaking on the project, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot said the official launch of the Common Operational Partnership
France-Italy-Nigeria project is a milestone in our shared commitment to combat trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants.
He said. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who contributed to developing this initiative, including CIVIPOL, whose leadership and experience with the COP model is proving fundamental in providing expert coordination to the project, the International Security Cooperation
Directorate (DCIS) of the French Ministry of Interior and the Italian Ministry of Interior, whose technical expertise and coordination support will be crucial for the project’s success; and finally, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in particular the
Migration Partnership Facility (MPF), for their management support.”
He added that: “As you well know, Nigeria occupies a central position in this global challenge. It remains a source,
transit, and destination country for trafficking and smuggling, with well-established networks along the main migration routes. These rings exploit the most vulnerable, undermine security, and
violate fundamental rights. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and the renewed EU action plan against migrant smuggling (2021-2025) call for a comprehensive response and an even closer
cooperation along the migratory routes to dismantle criminal networks while safeguarding migrants’ dignity. The initiative we are launching today reflects that vision.”
He noted that: “The Common Operational Partnership France–Italy–Nigeria Project is a concrete step forward. Running until June 2027, with a budget of €1.43 million (93% co-funded by the European Union), it aims to achieve two objectives: first, to enhance NAPTIP’s capacity to dismantle trafficking and smuggling networks while protecting victims; and second, to strengthen regional and international cooperation against these crimes.
“Its methodology is practical and results-driven: a comprehensive needs assessment, followed by tailored training, equipment provision, and daily mentoring. This approach builds trust and ensures sustainable impact.”
Speaking also, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Marc Fonbaustier said: “The project we are launching today is both concrete and ambitious. It is action–oriented and forward–looking. It aims to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement agencies, particularly NAPTIP, to improve information sharing, encourage joint investigation, and ensure coordinated support for victims”.
In her goodwill message, the Head, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Isabelle Wolfsgruber, assured that the Centre shall continue to partner with state and non-state actors in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
The project is co-funded by the European Union, contracted by ICMPD through the Migration Partnership facility. It will be implemented by CIVIPOL and NAPTIP.
End
News
NANS Warns Against Political Interference In The Attempted Assassination Case Of Chief Benard Jagboro
NANS Warns Against Political Interference In The Attempted Assassination Case Of Chief Benard Jagboro
By Daniel Dafe
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed deep concern over the recent attempt on the life of one of the patrons of NANS, Chief Benard Jagboro, which occurred in Okwokoko, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.
Comr. Jeremiah Ohomah, National Financial Secretary, NANS, who said this in a statement on Wednesday, commended the swift and diligent response of the Nigeria Police Force, who promptly tracked and arrested the suspects involved in the dastardly act.
NANS also said that “it is also on record that arms and ammunition were recovered during the operation, a clear indication of the gravity of the crime and the professionalism displayed by the security operatives.”
According to the statement, “NANS has received credible reports that the case and the arrested suspects—originally scheduled for transfer to Abuja for proper investigation and prosecution—have been stalled following an alleged intervention by a yet-to-be-named political figure and a serving Minister,” saying that “this development, if true, is a grave threat to justice and a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law.”
“On this premise, the leadership of NANS strongly warns against any form of political interference aimed at aiding or abetting criminals. We will not sit idly by while individuals in positions of authority attempt to pervert justice or shield perpetrators of violence from accountability,” the statement said.
The statement said further: “The Association reiterates its unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice for Chief Benard Jagboro and demands that the police be allowed to carry out their constitutional duty without undue influence or intimidation. Any attempt to obstruct justice will be met with firm resistance from the Nigerian student community.”
NANS also called on the Inspector General of Police and relevant authorities “to ensure that this case is handled transparently and that justice is not only done but seen to be done.”
NANS Warns Against Political Interference In The Attempted Assassination Case Of Chief Benard Jagboro
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