​Urban Renewal: Sabo GRA Commends el-Rufai On Kafanchan Urban Renewal

Residents of Tsaunin Kura (Sabo GRA) has commended the government of Kaduna State under the leadership of Governor Nasir  El-Rufai for the project of Kafanchan urban renewal.

This was expressed in a statement  jointly signed by the Secretary General, Barrister Dan Paul Fredericks and the President of the community, Comrade (Dr.) Silas Adamu, at a press briefing held on Sunday October 18, 2020 at the community.

The group stated that already the Governor has mandated the Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) to assess their roads, hoping that the deplorable roads in it’s community would soon be attended to.

The statement reads; “This is to brief you that we have been given hope on the roads which for now is our greatest challenge in the community,  by the administration of Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
“Our hope stems from the fact that he has mandated the Kaduna Roads Agency (KADRA) to visit our community on assessment, which they have promptly carried out.

“We believe that is a step in the right direction and thousands of members of the community are excited, while praying diligently, to see the commencement of work.

“We as a community are happy and wish to commend Governor el-Rufai for the massive urban renewal projects, which are not just limited to the Kaduna metropolis alone, but has extended to Zaria and Kafanchan.

“The commencement of work in Kafanchan Urban renewal, which was awarded to  Rafali Nigeria Limited and Farmtrac Nigeria Limited is another testimony that this administration does not pay lip service, but matches words with action, which further gives hope to.our community that soon our deplorable roads that are causing us untold hardship would soon be awarded.”

Speaking further, The President, Silas Adamu said that no community can develop without peace  and peace building attracts development as evidenced in the Southern Kaduna Peace Summit, which shortly after it was convened, Kafanchan Urban renewal kicked off.

Adamu commended the Agwatyap, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), security agencies and the state government for the success of peace efforts in the state.

Sabo GRA President therefore, tasked members of the community to keep promoting peaceful co-existence which they have been enjoying.

“Along that thought, we urge residents of the Sabo GRA Community to sustain peaceful co-existence being enjoyed and spread the message of peace to all other communities across the state,” he steessed.

He used this opportunity, to appeal to Governor Nasir el-Rufai to expedite action on their request for roads and drainages, while wishing him good health and wisdom to keep leading the state to prosperity.

​Adamawa emerges National winner, as 11 state champions storm Kaduna for Maltina Teacher Award

By Habila Victor.

Teacher representatives of eleven states of Nigeria have stormed Kaduna State for the 6th Edition of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s Maltina Teacher of the year event. 

The Maltina Teacher State Champions are from 11states of the North which includes Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Nasarawa, Borno, Kebbi , Sokoto,  Gombe, Abuja, Jigawa and Niger States, attended the event which was held simultaneously in Kaduna, Ama (Enugu) for the East, Ibadan for the West and Lagos in adherence to COVID-19 Protocols. 
Kaduna hosted the northern states whereas Lagos event held for the finalist-states with Adamawa State’s Miss. Anani Oluwabumi emerging as the overall national winner of the Maltina Teacher of the year for 2020.

Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony for the Maltina Teacher Champions, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Honourable Shehu Makarfi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Phoebe Yayi, said “Maltina and in fact Nigerian Breweries Plc is known for greatness in its support for Education not just for Kaduna State but other States”. 

“When it comes to Education, Nigerian Breweries Plc has always been in the forefront of supporting teachers, students and other stakeholders. With this Maltina Teacher of the year award for the first time holding in Kaduna, it is another great milestone for the company. This is providing teachers with a feeling of appreciation and hope for the noble profession”. 
She further  appeal for more as Maltina can add Maltina Student of the Year in the subsequent editions.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive officer for Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi Borrut Bel, represented by Brewery Manager, Abbey Ajayi, revealed that “we all have tough days in the office, but I definitely believe that being a teacher is one of the toughest jobs in the world. A good teacher inspires hope, ignites imagination and instills a love of learning – literally shaping and changing lives. Individually, we owe much of who we are and what we have achieved to the education we received from great teachers.
‘’This is why in 1994, we set up the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. Through this initiative, we seek to invest in projects at primary, secondary and tertiary level that will contribute to improving the level of education in Nigeria.
‘’Over 26 years, we have positively impacted over 35,000 students in 74 communities across the country, by providing them with 417 classrooms, libraries and laboratories. This fund has also made today’s event possible, as it has provided financial backing to the Maltina Teacher of the Year award for 6 years in a row.
Commending the panel of judges led by Professor Pat Utomi for the longhours they put into making this year’s edition a success, Borrut Bel said ‘’ to the 1234 teachers who submitted those amazing stories I talked about earlier, thank you so much. Even though we cannot give prizes to all of you, on behalf of Maltina and Nigeria Breweries, we are forever grateful to you for inspiring our students, for giving your time, money and energy to build our future leaders. ‘’

Also speaking, NB Plc’s Head of Government and External Affairs, Mr. Uzodinma Odenigbo, ……   said ‘’for us what is more important is that we are recognizing teachers. Apart from the Maltina Teacher of the Year, we are also leveraging on schools that need support by proving their basic needs.”
Similarly, the Corporate Affairs Manager, North, Mr. Danjuma John-Ekele stressed that ‘’the key driving force with the ‘wining with Nigeria’ platform which takes care of our stakeholders in different ways and this time we are focusing on teachers. We know that in other to have a knowledgeable economy you

need to partner the educational industry which has the teachers as the key drivers. Am a product of teachers given my academic background so teaching profession is key for any nation that wants to grow.’’
Some of the State Champions Simon Apeh and Goodness Walter of Kaduna and Nasarawa respectively thanked Maltina for this rare privilege, promising to boost the education sector via quality teaching.

#Endsars: Kaduna youths joins protest

Youths in their hundreds took over some roads in Kaduna on Saturday, demanding an end to insecurity, kidnapping and the alleged sins of police SARS.

They said posterity would not judge them right if they failed to join their counterpart to condemn “bad governance” and #ENDSARS.

Some of them were displaying placards with inscriptions like “#ENDSARS”, “Justice for SARS victims and survivor”, “Reform Police”, “Stop killings in Kaduna”; “Kidnapping must end.”

Police and other security agents were seen, following them calmly .

The protest ,however,caused gridlock near the Ahmadu Bello Stadium and Railway roundabout,Kaduna.

According to a source, “the protesters gathered early in the morning are still on the ground.”

“They said it has become necessary to lend their voices and call on the authorities to do the needful before it leads to the revolution they will not be able to manage.”

“That they don’t have anyone leading them but they have decided to boycott other social engagement to stage the protest – in solidarity to the victims and survivors of police brutality in the country.”

Mamman , a protester, said “the government will do well by ensuring speedy recovery of SARS officers who have questions to answer, investigate them and bring them to justice in the public glare to show that the victims and survivors of police extrajudicial killings get justice.”

“No one is leading us. We are just tired of bad governance which has led to serious insecurity all over the country with its peak here in the North.You are in your house, you could not sleep. You travel, you and your loved ones don’t have peace of mind until you return. For how long do we live like prisoners in our land?”

He said; “though the known hashtag is #ENDSARS, to us, what we are all clamouring for is good governance, see killings in Birni-Gwari, Giwa and Southern Kaduna.

“We want a country where security agents will protect our life and not take it without a just cause like what we have now.”

Senate President sponsors wedding of 100 couples in Yobe

Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan on Saturday sponsored the wedding of 100 orphans and less-privileged couples of his constituents, in the Karasuwa and Nguru Local Government Areas of Yobe state.

Lawan, at the occasion in Nguru, said he would also support the beneficiaries with appropriate entrepreneurial skills to enable them to sustain their marriage.

“We are here to sponsor the wedding of 50 young couples from Nguru, and 50 others from Karasuwa local government areas,’’ He said.

Lawan who was represented by Ahmed Mirwa, the Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, also said the gesture was meant to assist underprivileged intending youths who were due for marriage; but could hardly afford it.

He said all the brides were provided with modern household appliances such as furniture, kitchen utensils, and so on.

He added that the couples would also be trained and empowered on various skills acquisition schemes, in accordance with their respective gender groups to be able to sustain the marriage.

Meanwhile, Bashir Shariff, the local Government’s Programme Coordinator said the couples were medically certified before the marriages took place.

He also said the selection process of the couples was carried out through Ward Heads, Village Heads District Heads, and Youth leaders.

Lawan would soon sponsor another round of wedding ceremony of 100 less privileged in his constituency, this is the second phase of wedding sponsored by the senate president.

He had earlier in September supported the conduct of 100 weddings in Bade and Jakusko Local Government Areas of the state.

NCC moves to formulate policies on 5G

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) says it is working vigorously with multi-sector stakeholders to formulate policies for the 5th generation (5G) mobile network.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umaru Danbatta, made this known on Wednesday during a virtual innovative tech forum organised by Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA).

The theme of the event was ‘Multi-Stakeholders Approach to National Recovery Post-Pandemic’.

Dambatta said that the stakeholders included the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

He said other bodies working with the Commission to establish the 5G policy were Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Academia, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), among others.

“Our goal is that when the Federal Government is able to establish a policy that will drive 5G, all the benefits of 5G will be properly harnessed by Nigerians.

“The Commission is also working to ensure the safety of 5G networks in Nigeria by having multi-stakeholder approach in environmental impact analysis on the use of 5G and the Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) impact on humans in Nigeria.

“Once this is done, Nigerians can safely utilize 5G and reap all the economic, human and material benefits of 5G,” he said.

Danbatta said that the economic benefits of 5G to Nigeria post coronavirus pandemic would be huge, especially as almost all businesses and activities of government are migrating and offering their services online.

He noted that 5G would enable a new kind of network for Nigerians, adding that it is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects and devices.

Danbatta said it would usher in the era of Internet of Things and faster innovation in Artificial Intelligence applications.