By Ukandi Odey, Jos

Governor Abdullahi Sule has explained that his recent banning of certain vigilante groups from operating in the State is not a blanket ban on all vigilante activities within State.

The Governor said he only outlawed ethnic militias or vigilante groups whose membership is restricted specific or certain ethnic groups exclusive of others, explaining that vigilante groups that are open to all tribes or ethnic groups and meant for the protection of the general society and the common good are free and enabled by law to operate.

Speaking in Jos over the weekend during the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of Bukuru Technical College, BUTEC, of which he is an alumnus, Governor Sule said he took action concerning the vigilate groups to forestall a situation where some elements within the society will disguise as vigilantes and raise ethnic frontiers to promote ethnic discord and tension.

As an old student (1980 graduate class) and chairman of the occasion, Governor Sule commended the vision of the founders, noting that BUTEC has contributed immensely to the training of captains of industry in Nigeria, and to that extent impacted positively on the employment potential of the national economy over the years.

Noting that the school however has degenerated over the years in terms of infrastructure and other technical equipment for craft work and training, he called on all the old students who are now in various trades and positions in the global economy, to rise to the occasion and rescue the school from continuing depletion and fall in standards and programmes, and reposition it to respond to growing technological and manpower challenges in the national economy.

Dissatisfied with the state of the College refectory which he recalled was conducive and hygienic during their time and decrying the refectory infrastructure which have either collapsed or disappeared, the Nasarawa State Governor announced that he will personally replace the infrastructure that used to be in the College refectory, and reiterated the call on the alumni to come together immediately to conceive and implement a resuscitation and revamping agenda for the College.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the employment of 15 people with disability who have undergone formal educational system and obtained bachelor’s degree certificates, NCEs, diplomas and vocational training certificates.

The Governor gave the approval in Maiduguri on Friday night at the Government House.

“I am delighted to note that despite your disability, you people are not lazy; you decided to pursue your education, and for this, I want to commend you,” Zulum said.

“I directed the Commissioner of Education to process your application for employment for my approval immediately. Therefore, I want to bring to your kind notice that you should be on the payroll of Borno State Government effective 1st May, 2024, in sha Allah.”

Governor Zulum directed the commissioner of education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, to review the activities of all the blind schools in Borno State in order to train more people with disability.

Zulum also ordered the Ministry of Education to work out modalities for introducing the teaching of special education courses at the College of Education in Bama.

“I am happy that they have obtained their qualifications in different specialisations. Let’s strengthen the College of Education in Bama to start delivering courses on special education,” Zulum ordered.

Earlier in his address, Borno State Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Mohammed Mustapha, expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum for approving employment for his members.

By Laiatu Bamaiyi

Wife of the president, Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed N70 million to 140 women farmers in the North West

The gesture saw 20 women in agriculture from each of the seven states going home with N500,000 each, disbursed under Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP).

She also disbursed N100,000 each to 100 persons living with disabilities in the region.

The First Lady, while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries said the Federal Government would continue to empower women to contribute to sustainable development while also helping to achieve food security.

Speaking at the disbursement ceremony in Birnin Kebbi, she said the maiden edition of the scheme was launched in February in Imo State to encourage women farmers to grow more food in line with the agricultural agenda of the Tinubu administration.

The first lady, who was represented by the wife of the speaker, House of Representatives, Fatima Tajuddeen Abbas, in Birnin Kebbi, affirmed commitment to energise women in agriculture to improve production, including animal husbandry.

“Agriculture plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development and food security. Consequently, we are introducing ‘Every Home a Garden’ competition to encourage each Nigerian woman to cultivate a garden at home to feed the family and share with neighbours, we want to see food on every table,” she said.

She disclosed the winner of the competition would pocket N20 million star prize.

The ceremony was attended by wives of the governors of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa and Kano states who also gave goodwill messages.

“Today, we are supporting 20 women farmers per state in the North Central zone with N500,000 each. To this end, a draft of N10,000,000 per state for the North Central zone  Coordinators for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective states.”

She said the Renewed Hope Initiative will be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower more potential farmers, adding that in this phase, 75 percent of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers while 25 percent will be for young male farmers who will all be specially identified, trained and empowered.

Tinubu stressed that the pre-identified 80 women farmers in each state for the agricultural support programme will be carried along and implored  women farmers receiving support to seize this opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures, contribute to local national food production, and serve as role models for others aspiring to join the agricultural sector.

The event also featured the empowerment of 100 Persons with Disabilities.