Uncategorized

Abiodun to set up special committee on rehabilitation of public schools

Published

2 years ago

September 15, 2022

NewsDirect

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun says his administration will soon set up a special committee on the rehabilitation of public schools in the state.

According to a statement issued in Abeokuta by Kunle Somorin, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Abiodun made this known when he received the Ogun State chapter of the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

He explained that the special committee would look into the public schools that are not included in the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) programme.

The Governor informed his visitors that his administration has paid the state counterpart fund SUBEB with the view to further intervene in the development of basic education in the state.

He further disclosed that the State Government would be launching its Education Trust Fund for the purpose of the special committee, adding that funds from the trust fund would assist the special committee on rehabilitation of public schools.

“We have paid another counterpart fund to SUBEB so they can Intervene further, but beyond SUBEB, we realise they can’t do it alone, I have decided that I am going to set up a special committee on the rehabilitation of public schools.

“That special committee’s responsibility is basic education infrastructure, it will look at schools that SUBEB will not be handling and we have decided to launch our Education Trust Fund specifically for this purpose.

“The fund will be a sinking fund where we will creatively look for money we can put into the fund and it is that fund that will assist the special committee on rehabilitation of public schools to ensure that all the ones not covered by SUBEB is not left for another SUBEB year,” he said.

Abiodun,who also noted that his administration has decided to localise the production of school furniture in the state, added that the decision would not only empower more artisans, but would also ensure they can be held responsible for a any shoddy job.

“I have requested that the provision of more furniture for our schools across board, but this time, I have decided to localise it’s production to avoid what happened in the past whereby we awarded a contract to someone somewhere, who then brought the furniture to a central position, from where the furniture would then be distributed across other parts of the state.

“We have now decided to change the model where our furniture are made from a central position, let us even use this to empower artisans in the immediate vicinity where we have this furniture deficit.

“So, let the artisans in Ogun Waterside be the ones to get the contract to provide the furniture for Ogun Waterside, artisans in Ijebu-Ode provide for Ijebu-Ode, so we can even make them responsible. If the items are substandard, we know who to hold. And we don’t now have pay for the cost of transportation too,” he said.

He noted that primary school teachers are important to the education value chain, saying that his administration would continue to do all it can to continue to develop the education sector in the state.

Governor Abiodun also noted that his administration would make available affordable homes in the state for the head teachers of primary schools.

The Governor who reiterated the decision of his administration to ensure that the appointment of Head Teacher-General is made permanent, disclosed that a bill that would institutionalize the title of Head Teacher-General in the state is underway

“You mentioned the gazette of the title of the Head Teacher-General, what has slowed that down is because we are trying to ensure that it has the required legislative backing. So, we are working on that to ensure that we have a law, a bill that is drafted that turns into a law so that it is properly institutionalised, so nobody is going to come after my tenure to reverse it,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the association, Balogun Olatunji, while commending the Governor for the prompt payment of salaries and the rehabilitation of school buildings across the state, submitted that the association is solidly behind the aspiration of the Governor for a second term in office.

Sports

Usyk beats Fury to become undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion

Published

50 mins ago

May 19, 2024

NewsDirect

Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury by split decision to win the world’s first undisputed heavyweight championship in 25 years on Sunday, an unprecedented feat in boxing’s four-belt era.

Britain’s Fury was the early aggressor but Usyk gradually took charge and the “Gypsy King” was saved by the bell in the ninth round before slumping to his first career defeat.

Ukraine’s Usyk, who remains undefeated, joins the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson as undisputed heavyweight champion, the first since boxing recognised four major belts in the 2000s.

With the win, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion can legitimately claim to be the best of this heavyweight era, although a rematch expected in October could provide another twist.

“It is a big opportunity for me, for my family, for my country,” said Usyk, 37, who briefly served as a soldier after the Russian invasion.

“It’s a great time, a great day,” he said, adding that he was “ready for a rematch”.

Fury called it a “fantastic fight with Oleksandr”.

“I believe I won that fight, I believe he won a few of the rounds, but I won the majority of them,” he said.

“You know his country is at war, so people are siding with the country at war but make no mistake, I won that fight in my opinion and I will be back.”

Britain’s Lennox Lewis was the last man to unify the heavyweight belts — three at the time — after beating Evander Holyfield in 1999.

News

Minister of Women Affairs Calls On IG to stop marriage plans of 100 orphans in Niger

Published

5 days ago

May 14, 2024

Emmanuel Atokolo

Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has called on the Inspector general of Police, Kayode Egbetokun seeking an injunction to stop the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, from marrying off girls who were orphaned after bandits attacked Mariga LGA on May 24.

The speaker recently announced that the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished”, while also promising to pay the dowry for the bridegrooms.

The Minister said such an act is “unacceptable” which is why she petitioned the IG to halt the proposed marriage until it is certain that the girls willingly gave their consent and also to ascertain the ages of the girls and who they will be getting married to.

She said that the Child’s Right Act has to be taken into consideration with a full scale investigation. In her words, she stated that “These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered”.

She also noted that the girl-child should have access to education and should also be empowered instead of being married off at the slightest inconvenience, which is why she said that “the ministry has decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married”

She further stated that any contrary action by the speaker to hurriedly marry the girls off without proper investigation from the Federal ministry of Women Affairs would result in legal action against the speaker.

Crime

5 persons remanded for kidnapping bus driver

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

Anita Anyanwu

A Makurdi Magistrate’s court on Friday remanded five persons in Makurdi Correctional centre for alleged Criminal conspiracy, Armed robbery, Kidnapping and Act of Terrorism.

The defendants Terhile Iorkaana, Lanshima Orkunde, Msendoo Faasema, Nancy Shima and Mngusuun Hilega were arrested following a tip off.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Eunice Ndayaryo, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.

She ordered that they should be remanded at the Makurdi Correctional centre pending the outcome of further investigations.

The Police prosecutor, ASP Stella Ngbede, told the court that the defendants were arrested by men of Operation Zenda tactical team led by Insp Amile Joseph.

He said the arrest followed a credible intelligence within Mbachegh council ward, Katsina-Ala axis, Benue.

The defendants, who are notorious members of a vicious armed bandit kingpin AKA Konyo, had on April 12, blocked the Ayati- Zaki Biam road and robbed motorists of their valuables.

They later demanded for the sum of N10 million through phone number 09154338395.

“Operation Zenda on getting the information of their hideout, stormed the area and arrested the bandits while five handsets and one 5.5.6x39mm live ammunition of type 06 rifle were recovered from them, ” she said.

According to her, the defendants during police investigation confessed to committing the crime while others are still at large.

The prosecutor said that investigation into the matter were still in progress and prayed the court to adjourn the matter to another date for mention.

She said the offence contravened section 6(b) and 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the robbery and firearms special provisions Act 2004, Section 3(2) , 4(2) of the abduction

Others are, hostage taking, kidnapping, Secret cult and Similar prohibition law of Benue State 2017.

A Makurdi Magistrate’s court on Friday remanded five persons in Makurdi Correctional centre for alleged Criminal conspiracy, Armed robbery, Kidnapping and Act of Terrorism.
The defendants Terhile Iorkaana, Lanshima Orkunde, Msendoo Faasema, Nancy Shima and Mngusuun Hilega were arrested following a tip off.
The Magistrate, Mrs. Eunice Ndayaryo, did not take the plea of the defendants for want of jurisdiction.
She ordered that they should be remanded at the Makurdi Correctional centre pending the outcome of further investigations.
The Police prosecutor, ASP Stella Ngbede, told the court that the defendants were arrested by men of Operation Zenda tactical team led by Insp Amile Joseph.
He said the arrest followed a credible intelligence within Mbachegh council ward, Katsina-Ala axis, Benue.
The defendants, who are notorious members of a vicious armed bandit kingpin AKA Konyo, had on April 12, blocked the Ayati- Zaki Biam road and robbed motorists of their valuables.
They later demanded for the sum of N10 million through phone number 09154338395.
“Operation Zenda on getting the information of their hideout, stormed the area and arrested the bandits while five handsets and one 5.5.6x39mm live ammunition of type 06 rifle were recovered from them, ” she said.
According to her, the defendants during police investigation confessed to committing the crime while others are still at large.
The prosecutor said that investigation into the matter were still in progress and prayed the court to adjourn the matter to another date for mention.
She said the offence contravened section 6(b) and 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the robbery and firearms special provisions Act 2004, Section 3(2) , 4(2) of the abduction
Others are, hostage taking, kidnapping, Secret cult and Similar prohibition law of Benue State 2017.