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ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR HOSTS 37th ANNUAL QUR’ANIC RECITATION COMPETITION

The 37th annual Quranic recitation competition organised by Center for Islamic Studies of the Usman Dan Fodio University has been declared open by the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zullum.

Governor Zullum, who served as the Chairman of the occasion, described the efforts of Zamfara State Governor in hosting this year’s competition in spite of biting economic reality, as a very commendable one.

He extolled the good virtues of the Governor whom he said deserved the title he bears, “Khadimul Quran”. “The sheer drive towards enduring efforts done to promote the Quran among the youth is an indication that the state Governor’s committment to the Government and people of Zamfara State to the wellbeing of the society is not in doubt”.

Governor Zullum believes that the meriad of challenges facing the Country today can be eased if we embrace the power of the Quran. He then, donated the sum of N10 million for the successful conduct of the one week long event.

In his remark as the Chief Host of the event, Governor Bello Mohammed outlined the importance of the competition which he said include the translation of the words of Allah into practice.

He said that the importance of the Quran in our lives and the guidance it serves are the major take-aways we should expect from the conduct of the event and thereafter.

He commended the Local Organising Committee for a well organised event. He also called on participants not to see the competition as an affront to one another but as a service to humanity.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committeee, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara state, Senator Hassan Mohammed Gusau said the competition is made possible with the total support from the state Governor, Dr Bello Mohemmed.

He commended the co-operation of the people of the state and the hard-work of his team to realise a hitch-free event. He assured of a free and fair event and a memorable one.

The Vice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University, Professor Bilbis commended the Government of Zamfara state for hosting this year’s competition which he said is an indication of the readiness of the state to continue uplifting the status of the book of Allah.

He called on competitors to consider their participation as a contribution to the promotion of the virtue of the Quran.

In a short remark, royal father of the day, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi described the annual compettion as a unifying factor among Nigerian Muslims. He called on Muslims, beyond recitation, to apply the teachings of the Quran in their daily lives.

The Guest Speaker, Sheikh Ibrahim Ahmad Makari extols Governor Bello Mohammed, describing him as a Governor who came to power in the state at a very difficult time.

He spoke on the need to protect the centers of Quranic studies across the Islamic communities in the Country. He advocated for compulsory contribution to an endowment for the upkeep of such Islamic centers and also for the vulnerable by all State Governors.

Professor Maqari also advocated for certification and the drawing and adoption of a modern curricular for the informal and semi-formal Quranic centers spread across the Islamic Communities in the Country.

I WILL BUILD 400,000 HOUSES IN 4 YEARS FOR NIGERIANS -SDP’s PRINCE ADEBAYO

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, says his administration will provide 400,000 houses in four years if he is elected.

Adebayo spoke on Friday during an interview with Channels Television.

Speaking of his economic plans, the SDP presidential candidate said his focus will be on ensuring that the rights of Nigerians, as listed in chapter two of the constitution, are protected.

“What we have as a plan is that we want to invest in the items that are listed in the chapter two of the constitution,” he said.

“We’ll provide adequate nutrition for all Nigerians; we’ll provide adequate medical care for all Nigerians.

“We’ll provide adequate education and housing. We have promised in SDP to build 100,000 housing units in every state, every year, for the first four years.

“All of these things will create employment. We had a 30 million job plan, which many said was too ambitious. We went back to do an analysis and we discovered that it is absolutely realistic.”

Reacting to a report in which the World Bank said it will take the north 40 years to meet up with the south, Adebayo said his goal is that all parts of the country meet up with 21st century technological advancement.

“My aim is not for the north to catch up with the south. My aim is for the north and south to catch up with the 21st century,” he added.

“That analysis is not useful to us because even the south that has comparative advantage is awash with poverty, underdevelopment, and insecurity.

“What I want is to let the north catch up with the rest of the world, not just catch up with the south. The idea is not the relativity of poverty — the north is poor, the south is poor. Maybe the north is a little poorer.”

KEPA Boss Embarks On Plastic Mop Up In Tudun Wada Area

The General Manager of Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority KEPA, Maimuna Zakari led a team of her staff and volunteers on a mop up walk around Bachama Road in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis in a bid to rid the streets of plastics and dirts.

The GM who was personally involved in picking up plastics, cellophane bags and other biodegradable objects along with the members of her team also took out time to go from house to house and shops to enlighten members of the community on the harmful effects of biodegradable materials on the community

One of the houses inspected by the Maimuna led team was discovered to have no toilet, furthermore an open drainage was conspicuously dug from the compound of the house to the middle of the road .The pathetic condition of the house drew the ire of Maimuna Zakari that she had to admonish the occupants of the house on the need to keep their surroundings clean.

Speaking to a group of journalists, the District Head of Tudun Wada commended the effort of the GM in embarking on the mop up tour
He said,

” We are very happy that the KEPA boss choose to start from this place .This would help to educate our people and keep the area clean .

” The GM has also seen the sanitary situation of of the area, in some places, there are no toilets, no bathrooms and other places no drainage channels.

“I am therefore appealing to the state government, through KEPA to help constructing drainage channels along the streets and to set aside a day that the community would engage in environmental sanitation .

A volunteer and members of Plastic Mop Team, Madam Doris Zakama Shanni, Programs Manager,Centre For Water and Environment Development who was actively engaged in enlightening traders on how to dispose plastics also commended KEPA management for embarking enlightenment campaigns aimed at keeping Kaduna free of plastic wastes

Speaking to the press during the exercise, Maimuna Zakari assured members of the community that the state government would look in to their requests with the view of set a day aside to environmental cleanup
She further emphasised the need for community members to keep their environment clean, free from plastics and other wastes as well .

The GM and assured members of the public that the clean up exercise would be on a continuous basis .

Philanthropic Organizations to train 10, 000 Youths from 7 States on Digital Skills, Technology, ICT, others

By David Odama

Two giant philanthropic organisations, Renaissance Logistics & Supply Limited and Wootlab Foundation are set to train over 10,000 Nigerian youths across seven states in Nigeria, particularly the Okun students of Kogi state on Basic and mid-level digital skills.

Wootlab Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that aims to address inequalities for underrepresented and marginalised children and youths by providing opportunities that foster economic growth and financial freedom through digital literacy interventions. Wootlab Foundation achieves these goals by leveraging technology to advance human capital development through basic, intermediate and advanced digital skills.

Wootlab in partnership with Renaissance Logistics and General Supplies will train in areas such as graphics design, web design, digital marketing, productivity tools and entrepreneurship

The Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Logistics and Supply Limited, Abdulghafar Bala Dirisu, who disclosed this to journalists, said the gestures put together by the organisations are basically designed to equip the youths from the seven selected states with the basic knowledge of technology, skills acquisition, and ICT to make them self-reliant, useful to themselves and employers of labour.

Dirisu who reaffirmed his commitment towards youths and women, particularly on human capital development, said this explains why his Organisation in collaboration with others are deliberately embarking on the training of youths across seven states in Nigeria, which includes Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Delta, Bayelsa, Kano and Lagos State.

Abdulghafar Bala Dirisu said the initiative by the philanthropic organisations is to complement the effort of the government and other agencies to provide for the youth a source of livelihood, make them employers of labour, useful to themselves and the society.

According to the Senatorial candidate of National Rescue Movement (NRM) in the 2023 election in Kogi West, “Our mission is to empower over 10,000 Nigerian Youths with relevant skills that would make them self-reliant, useful to themselves and the society at large”.

“Entrepreneurship is the major way out. We are not the most populous country, I don’t think population is our problem. If you look at what is happening in other countries, such as India that are having a population of over a billion people, as well as China today, then you will agree with me that population is not really our problem. Ideas, initiatives and entrepreneurship are our major problems,” Dirisu declared.

He pointed out that no government is in position to employ all the graduates from the nation’s universities and other tertiary institutions, stressing that he will continue to promote capital development among the youth, women and other vulnerable.

“We in NRM will continue to promote skills acquisition programmes. The major employers of labour are the small scale entrepreneurs who employ 5, 10 or 15 workers, but cumulatively provide jobs for 60 percent of the total working population”, the Lawmaker stated

According to the NRM Senatorial Candidate, the job of a lawmaker is to facilitate, expedite and attract federal government’s projects to his senatorial district as well as use the legislative process to drive good governance to the people.

He also stated that the NGO partner, Wootlab Foundation, has successfully implemented several digital skills programs for a vast network of strategic partners, such as the Digital States Literacy Programme in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Microsoft, the At-Risk Children Project with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Devcamp Software Development Training, a British Council UK Nigeria Tech Hub (UKNGTH) funded program, Basecamp Software Development in partnership with GIZ for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and many others.

The philanthropist urged the youths to take advantage of the training programme and register for the training, which is billed to kick off in January next year.by According to him, registration for the training programme opens on Monday next week in all seven states of the federation.

Why Gbagyiza Breed Decides to Organize January 7, 2023 Peace ,Unity Concert-CEO

Nathaniel Alkali popularly known as Nath Kali is the Chief Executive Officer of a Kaduna based Cultural organization, Gbagyiza Breed Carnival . In this interview with our Correspondent , he explain reasons he decided to organize a Peace and Unity Concert holding January 7, 2023 to promote Gbagyi cultural heritage and Language.Excerpts:

Can you give us background information about your organization ?

The organization was established basically to preach peace and unity, which is gradually becoming elusive amongst our Gbagyi people . We are also using the Gbagyi Carnival to raise awareness about the cultural diversity of the Gbagyi tribe and bring the Gbagyi people together to understand the language better. We realized that the upcoming generation now are left behind when it comes to speaking the language. This amongst many reasons is why we decided to come up with an event of this nature to galvanize our people, especially the youths. It is our desire, that the event will serve as a repository for growth and development of Gbagyi cultural heritage .

These are the major reasons for organizing the cultural show titled: (Akavuluyha) with hope that Gbagyi people from all over the country will come together to showcase our traditional heritage. It will equally help the Gbagyi people get together to know one another other and understand cultural values .

The show consists of visual representation; speeches, dramas, dance, short plays and presentation of Awards.This festival can be a great opportunity to enhance talents as well.

Where are the Gbagyi People domiciled in Kaduna State?

We are mainly based in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State .

What is your expected figure of invited guests at the event ?

We are expecting nothing less than two thousand guests to grace the event.We have gone round to most of the village heads and title holders to inform them about the event and what we intend to achieve with it.

Who are your target Audience?

Our target is to bring the old and young Gbagyi people together under one umbrella, because if you’re talking about culture ,the young generation needs to learn from the old ones ,hence our resolve to invite our fathers , traditional leaders and custodians of our culture. For instance, I don’t know how to speak the language very well and I believe there are several youths with same problem. And the possible avenue to engender passion and interest in our youth for speaking the language . For me , creating a platform for social interaction with the older ones is the best possible way to understand and speak the language fluently .

Is this your first edition of the event ?

No, we have done it before something in 2018 .

Why didn’t you organize the event in the subsequent years ?

The first time I did ,the turn out was low and I had some issues with some persons, who saw me as too young to organize event of this magnitude .But even at that, we had close to two hundred persons that attended the maiden edition .It was fun and people liked it . Thereafter, there has been pressure from people on me to continue , despite initial challenges .This is why I have relaunched my passion to continue regardless of any challenge. But this time , I had to visit the Sir Gbagyi to inform him officially and sought his blessings . During the visit I explained the mission and goal behind the event and he agreed that we should go ahead .As I speak ,His Royal Highness has agreed to be Patron of the organization .

Do you have a team or is a one man show?

No .I have a solid team with six members working with me on the project and event.

How do you intend to sustain the event, considering issues of harsh economy and other basic challenges that usually frustrate good intentions such as this?

We have established a structure for the event to hold annually, every December without any hitch. There are plans to put in place a board , a secretariat and group sponsors to make the event an annual feature every December .

How do you source funds to pay your bills ?

We have written letters to potential sponsors and we are reaching to them to ensure we get the required funds to organize the historical, cultural and epoch making event. We are optimistic that it will be a good outing , because we have put serious efforts to plan it. After the event , we are going to work on a document on the appraisal and future strategies to adopt for Sustaining it .We also planned to visit the Internally Displaced Persons Camps within Chikun local government area to show them love and listen to their needs and see areas we can mobilise support .

Any plan to Collaborate with the local or state government in future , especially in the areas of security and funding ?

Definitely, we love to do that because the main reason for the event is promote peace and unity .I strongly believe that Peace is a veritable panacea for development . We are looking forward to scale up our reach to extend our tentacles even to the international communities in the nearest future . We want the world to know that the Gbagyi people are peaceful, receptive and industrious .The traits you can’t take away from the Gbagyi people .

Kaduna has suffered several crises, banditry and communal clashes that created acrimony, do you have plans to create a platform for bridge building ?

We have it covertly behind our minds to use the event to also broker peace amongst persons that have suffered attacked within the communities around Chikun ; victims of banditry and communal clashes. But in doing so, there is need to trace the remote causes of these issues and address them without any sentiment, so that doing we can create the platform to unite and appease all aggrieved and affected persons .

SDP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, PRINCE ADEWOLE ADEBAYO SPEAKS ON FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Prince Adewole Adebayo has said the fight against corruption in Nigeria needs to start from inside the government, for it to be successful.
He said his party will change the mode of fighting corruption, as Nigeria has been getting it wrong all these while.

Prince Adewole was speaking at the Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA) Integrity Award Public Lecture, which held on Wednesday, 14th December 2022 in Kano State.
The theme of the event was ‘Promoting Integrity as a way of Fighting Corruption’.
He said, “We are getting something wrong in Nigeria; government cannot fight corruption in Nigeria, government can only fight corruption inside government. Why we have failed is that government is not fighting corruption inside government but is fighting corruption inside other people’s bed room, so we’ll change that”.
He further noted that there is a need to watch out for the institutions used to fight corruption because corruption is capable of capturing institutions.
“Corruption is dangerous to institutions; any institution that you can use to fight corruption, corruption will capture it. So we must watch out for institutions, including religious institutions”.
“The thieves sit in the front and the hard working people sit at the back when you go to the mosque or you go to the Church. So you have to make sure these institutions are not captured”, Prince Adewole said.
He further said that the government must be willing to keep policemen with integrity at the top in order to help tackle the problem of corruption.
“There’s a fight between the police and the government – a good police knows that people in government will go to jail, that is why they look around to look for bad policemen to put on top of the good policemen”.
Dignitaries present at the event were – Prof. Usman Yusuf, Professor of Haematology-Oncology, Former Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Barr. Solomon Dalung, Former Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth & Sport Development, Malam Auwal Musa Rafsanjan, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Centre (CISLAC) and Kabiru Dakata, Executive Director, CAJA, Pst Ade Alabi, Pst Light, Engineer Yusuf Salisu Buhari, SDP vice presidential candidate, Sen. Ugochukwu Uba, Mr Patrick Anethua, Chief Godwin Osigbeme, members of the SDP Presidential campaign organization and others.
The event was organized by CAJA in collaboration with The Penlight Center.

APCO MEDIA TEAM

Petroleum, Gas consumers form association to Protect Petroleum Industry Act , NNPCL

As part of effort to strengthen petroleum and gas consumption in Nigeria, consumers have birthed an umbrella body to operate under the aegis of
National Association of Petroleum Products and Gas Consumers (NAPGCO).

The association said, it has become necessary for the interest of Nigerians consuming Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and gas to be protected, noting that activities in the upstream and downstream industry must be operated within the confines of laws governing the industry.

In a statement which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday by the pioneer General Secretary, Dr Usman Dabo, added that Nigerian government has done its best to have enacted a Petroleum Industry Act, hence, it required all stakeholders to ensure that the industry runs full blown.

It added that the association will protect the Petroleum Industry Act from political manipulation of any administration in the interest of the growth of the oil and gas industry.

The statement further averred that the association would work with government, Industry players and mother relevant sectors to ensure protection of rights of consumers and support the reform in the oil industry that guard against fuel scarcity in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Association will open offices in the six geopolitical zones of the country with a view to monitor and carry out their activities smoothly.

According to Dr Dabo, fuel consumption stand at 68 million litres per day, and to this much, Nigerians have right to daily fuel for the smooth operation of business activity across the country.

The statement said: “The Association wil educate and enlighten the citizenry on the rights of the consumers of petroleum products and gas.

“Will cooperate with the NNPCL and other trade unions and marketers in protecting the rights of the consumers”, it noted .

The Association called for cooperation across all oil and gas sectors in a view to tackle sabotage of all forms in the oil and gas industry.

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Tinubu vows to eliminates bandit’s in northwestern region of Nigeria

By Gambo Abubakar

The All progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Ahmad Tinubu has promised to restore peace and harmony in the northwest zone by eliminating all the kidnappers, castle rustlers and banditry, if elected.
Tinubu made the promised while addressing the crowds of party supporter’s in an north west campaign rally, which recently held at Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.
Ahmad Bola Tinubu however, promised to improve the educational system for all out children’s,for the poorest and wealthiest with equal educational opportunities.
“our plan’s is to massively industrialized the nation, builds our youth with training, access and policies support to explore new economic frontiers in the digital economic and other use’s of technology to create new goods and services to benefit benefits the entire population”.
In his addressed the Plateau state governor, chairman northern governors forum, and the director general Tinubu/Shatima campaign organization, Simon Bako Lalong, said that.
” we are back again to reaffirm our position for the support of Bola Ahmad Timubi and Kashim Shatima, and have a rally here in Kaduna for the declarations by all the northwest governors on behalves of our people’s”.
Also in his for well addressed, the director APC Northwest presidential campaign,governor Bello Mohd Matawallen Maradun (Barden Kasar Hausa) praised all the gigantic youth and women gathered for their support and solidarity to oir presidential and vice president candidate.
He however called on the peoples in northwest zone, to came out massively and vote for all APC candidates for the incoming 2023 general election.
Earlier in his welcome addressed, the Kaduna state governor Malam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai thanked the people’s of Kaduna and others came from States in the regime, for honourably answered our calls to support Tinubu and Shatima.
However assured the northerners that, Tinubu and Shatima will solve all the lingering problems facing the regime.

Petrol: NAPGCO Commends NNPCL Boss for Slashing Price To Tackle Brewing Scarcity

Group under aegis of National Association of Petroleum products and Gas Consumers, (NAPGCO) has commended the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL ,Mele Kyari for adopting measures to guarantee adequate fuel supply by fixing N148 per litre as the price for lifting petrol at depots.

According to the group, for agreeing to supply outstanding stock to independent oil marketers, to end product shortage is no doubt part of the swift administrative response to tackle the brewing fuel scarcity problem across the country has helped to make fuel available at filling stations .

“We can all see that making the products available really helped to during this period did really doused tension over usual perennial panic that characterized the ember months , especially Christmas and New Year festive periods.”

“We are glad to announce that Saboteurs who profit from this have not only been frustrated ,but also have been thought a bitter lesson that with a proactive leadership and right administrative approach , it is no longer business as usual.” It added .

National Association of Petroleum products and Gas Consumers, which stated this in a Press Statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Mohammad Ibrahim Kazaure said, the decision to commend the NNPC boss, who in few years in office has transformed NNPC into a profit making organization, reiterated that frantic efforts to tackle the problem of scarcity head-on is reasons Nigerians will queues are already disappearing at filling stations today.

“For us , the greatest feat beyond making products available is the slashing of pump price ,which was the “magic wand” .that help to reduce long queues at filling stations as today.

“There is no doubt that the increase in the national crude oil reserves to achieve the 40,000 billion barrel target through focus and commitment; efforts to revive refineries and decision to collaborate with relevant security agencies to clamp saboteurs are enough reasons to ensure and sustain steady supply of fuel across the country .

It further stated , ” We are particularly impressed that for the first time in the history of NNPC, the company declared profit,which Kyari achieved through the area of financial transparency via the audited financial statements of the NNPC LTD.

While urging the NNPCL Boss to shun those it described as “saboteurs and enemies of Nigerians” in the bid to make fuel available always , it pointed out that the decision to make public the Corporation’s Monthly Financial & Operations Reports (MFOR) in line with his Transparency Accountability and Performance Excellence(TAPE) vision placed NNPC as the only national oil company that publishes its financial and operations reports monthly globally.

It further said , Kyari’s efforts to fight oil theft has yielded results as disclosed during the Senate’s joint committees on Petroleum (Upstream and Downstream) and Gas, that “within six weeks, 395 illegal refineries have been deactivated, 274 reservoirs destroyed, 1,561 metal tanks destroyed, 49 trucks seized and a 4-kilometres illegal oil connection line from Forcados Terminal into the sea – which had been in operation undetected for nine years – detected.”

” As a group ,we appreciated that against all odds ,he was able to champion reforms in the upstream sector, sustaining oil output, boosting its subsidiary, implementing the National Gas Expansion project, AKK pipeline project, NLNG Train 7 FID, facilitating power projects, efficient crude oil lifting contract and ultimately instilling transparency in the corporation .