Borno Federal Lawmaker Releases ₦17.8 Million to Civilian JTF, Village Heads, and District Heads in Jere LGA

… Emphasizes Importance of Collaboration between CJTF and Traditional Leaders

By: Our Reporter

Rt. Hon. Engr Satomi Ahmad FNSE, the Member Representing Jere Federal Constituency, has disbursed ₦17.8 million during a one-day intensive security training program in Jere Local Government Area, Borno State.

The training, organized by the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in collaboration with Jil Investment and General Concept Ltd, focused on “Controlling Jere Farming from Insurgency.” It convened key stakeholders, including Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members, Village Heads, and District Heads, to enhance community security strategies.

In his address, Engr. Satomi emphasized the importance of grassroots-led security measures and commended local leaders and the CJTF for their unwavering efforts in maintaining stability. He stated, “Our communities must be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and resources needed to tackle security challenges effectively. This training is not only a learning platform but also a way of appreciating the sacrifices and dedication of our local security stakeholders.”

… Breakdown of Disbursement:

• 250 Civilian JTF members: ₦50,000 each
• 41 Village Heads: ₦100,000 each
• 6 District Heads: ₦200,000 each

Participants expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting its potential to foster collaboration, enhance proactive security measures, and ensure the safety of farming activities in the region.

Prominent dignitaries at the event included Hon. Abba Kyari Abba Kolo, Member of the Borno State House of Assembly (Jere), and Hon. Inna Galadima, Chairperson of Jere Local Government. This initiative is part of Engr. Satomi’s broader strategy to support local security efforts and promote peace and resilience in Jere.

Borno Federal Lawmaker Releases ₦17.8 Million to Civilian JTF, Village Heads, and District Heads in Jere LGA

ARMY WAR COLLEGE NIGERIA DECORATES SIX NEWLY PROMOTED BRIGADIER GENERALS

By: Saad Abdullahi

The Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) held a ceremony on Friday 3 January 2025, to decorate six of its officers recently elevated to the rank of Brigadier General. The event took place at the Tukur Yusuf Buratai Hall of the College, located in Asokoro, Abuja.

The newly promoted officers are Brigadier General IB Buhari, Brigadier General SBN Egbulem, Brigadier General AA Sambo, Brigadier General AU Abdul, Brigadier General AM Dikko, and Brigadier General MI Lemu.

In his remarks, the Commandant of AWCN, Major General Ishaya Maina, commended the newly promoted officers for their dedication, professionalism, and loyalty, which had earned them this significant career milestone. Addressing the promoted officers, he emphasized the weight of leadership and responsibility that accompanies their new rank.

Quoting General Norman Schwarzkopf, a revered U.S. Army Commander, General Maina remarked, “Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy.” He underscored the message by explaining that while strategic expertise is crucial, the character of a leader defines their ability to inspire trust and loyalty, especially in challenging circumstances.

He further reminded the officers of the purpose of rank and authority by quoting General Bruce C. Clarke: “Rank is given you to enable you to better serve those above and below you. It is not given for you to practice your idiosyncrasies.” General Maina elaborated on this, urging the newly decorated generals to view their promotion not as a privilege but as a call to greater service, accountability, and humility.

The Commandant also extended his gratitude to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, for his unwavering support of the College and for approving the promotions.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Director of Administration and Logistics AWCN, Brigadier General JN Garba, commended the officers’ exceptional achievements. He noted that these six individuals were part of the 73 colonels promoted by the Nigerian Army, who had been thoroughly assessed by the promotion board and deemed exemplary in character, military expertise, and dedication.

The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Senatorial District; the Chief of Special Services and Programmes, Major General HT Wesley; and Major General DG Alu, among others.

ARMY WAR COLLEGE NIGERIA DECORATES SIX NEWLY PROMOTED BRIGADIER GENERALS

VP SHETTIMA AT NASARAWA STATE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE GRADUATION

• Our Reforms Creating Employment Opportunities, Greater Economic Prospects
• Flags off distribution of relief materials to flood victims, tractors, paddy rice to farmers

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said the ongoing reforms initiated by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are such that will create employment opportunities for the youth population as well as provide greater opportunities in the various sectors of the economy.

He underscored the inevitability of skills acquisition among the young demographic in Nigeria, noting that the nation can no longer afford to keep growing a population of idle, unemployed and unemployable youths.

The Vice President spoke on Friday during the Combined Graduation Ceremony of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The Vice President stated: “The danger of paying lip service to technical and vocational skills acquisition is one none of us is prepared to experience, and the examples of various low- and middle-income countries, especially the Asian Tigers, are there to inspire the direction of our National Development Plans and push our economic drive towards a destination we all desire—a place of boom.

“This is why His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has championed economic reforms beyond the usual cosmetic fixes to lay the groundwork for greater opportunities ahead. With increased allocations to the states, I believe that we are more than energised to fund our development programmes”.

Recalling Nigeria’s origin as an agrarian nation, Senator Shettima noted that there is no greater inspiration than concentrating on “the magnitude of initiatives made possible by the proceeds of the sector and the hard work of those skilled and unskilled workers who were the fulcrum of our pre-oil economy”.

He said the graduation ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate the sincerity of the administration’s promise to create avenues for upskilling and reskilling the nation’s workforce across sectors.

VP Shettima pointed out that the institute is a vehicle through which the APC-led government fulfils its promise to Nigerians to “prioritise poverty reduction, employment generation, and job creation”.

Cautioning against harbouring the population of unemployed youths in the country, he said, “The reality we inherited points to the existence of a link between youth unemployment, violence, and other associated crimes, and as such, we cannot afford to create an idle, unemployed, or unemployable demographic.

“Our response, over which we gather here today, is to build on our agenda of providing our youths with skills to either find gainful employment or become self-reliant. This grand event, the Combined Graduation Ceremony for the graduands of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Technology Institute, Lafia, aligns with the direction the world is headed—the path of skill acquisition.”

The VP applauded the foresight of Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, which he said is being manifested in his aspiration to turn the state “into a hub of jobs and opportunities.”

Senator Shettima who had earlier flagged off the distribution of relief materials to flood victims, presentation of tractors and paddy rice to farmers in the state said it was a demonstration of his “affinity for Nasarawa State, and as a Kanuri man who has ancestral connections with some segments” of the state that has already become home to him.

He also commended the institute for graduating no fewer than 9,000 graduands barely three years of its existence, even as he charged the graduands to join relevant associations and cooperatives to enable them access loan facilities and learn from the experiences of those ahead of them in their respective enterprises.

Earlier in his remarks, Governor Sule said the skills programme of the state vocational and technology institute was designed to address the skills gap in critical sectors and empower young Nigerians.

He thanked Vice President Shettima for finding time to visit the state, and for supporting its modest contributions to economic transformation and youth empowerment.

In his remarks, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the courage and efforts of the state government in impacting the lives of young Nigerians through the various schemes in agriculture and vocational and technology training.

On his part, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Lordship, Hassan Kukah, thanked Nasarawa State government for the efforts to address poverty through skills acquisition and economic empowerment initiative, just as he emphasised the significance of empowering young people with skills to impact their communities and societies.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational Technology Institute, Dr Daniel Asele said the 1,000 graduands of the 2024 programme of the institute had undergone rigorous training and acquired skills that are relevant to contemporary challenges of their communities and state at large.

In a goodwill message, the Director General of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Adewale Oyerinde, commended the Nasarawa State government for its commitment to empowering young Nigerians, saying the programme would significantly impact ongoing efforts to transform and industrialise the economy by providing the necessary skilled manpower to drive the processes.

On his part, the Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd), thanked the Vice President for his support and commitment to the people of Nasarawa State, pledging the loyalty of the traditional council to the federal government’s programmes and policies.

High points of the event were the presentation of start-up packs and certificates to the graduands in welding, tailoring, and ICT among other fields.

Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima had earlier flagged the distribution of relief materials to flood victims in affected local government areas.

He also presented tractors and distributed Jangwa Paddi Rice from the proceeds of the pioneer Nasarawa Rice Farm project to 13 local government areas.

The VP commended Governor Sule for his exemplary leadership and sterling qualities, saying they have ensured peaceful co-existence among the different tribes in the state, and transformed agricultural production across the area.

The VP also toured the Olam warehouse where the produce of the Nasarawa State Rice Farm project for 2024 was stored.

Also present at the event were the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari; Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Danladi Jatau; Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Silas Agara, and other top government functionaries.

VP SHETTIMA AT NASARAWA STATE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE GRADUATION