​UniAbuja governing council reappoints Alawas,Abba as DVCs Academic, Admn

The Governing Council of University of Abuja has approved the appointment of Prof. Clement Barikuma Innocent Alawa and Prof. Abubakar Sadeeque Abba as Deputy Vice-Chancellors Academic and Administration, respectively.

A statement by Dr Habib Yakoob,Head, Information and University Relations,University of Abuja,said,”The Council’s approvalfollowed the endorsement of the Vice-Chancellor’s request to Senate for the re-appointment of Professor C.B.I. Alawa for a further period of two years after a successful two years in the first instance.”

It added:”Professor Sadeeque Abba was elected by the Senate at its 67th Extra Ordinary meeting held on Wednesday 24th February 2021.”

“A statement by the Registrar, Mallam Yahya Ibrahim Mohammed said that the appointments were confirmed at the 89th Regular Meeting of the Governing Council held on Monday 1st March 2021.

Both appointments took effect from 1st March 2021 for a period of two years,” it said.

“Alawa, a professor of Animal Production was born on 11th January 1961 in Bodo-Ogoni, Rivers State.He is a graduate of Veterinary Medicine from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1988), and holds a Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Animal Science from the same University in 1994 and 2003 respectively.

Professor Alawa began his career as an Assistant Research Fellow at the National Animal Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Shika – Zaria, between 1989 and 1994, rising to the rank of a Principal Research Fellow in 2006 and Professor in 2009. Alawa who joined the service of the University of Abuja in 2013, was also at the Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA where he spent his Fulbright Fellowship year between 2001 and 2002. The Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic has several publications both in local and foreign journals; chapters in books, in addition to papers presented at conferences.He has also served on several committees both at ABU and the University of Abuja including as chair of the University of Abuja Convocation Planning Committee and chair of the University of Abuja Research Grant Committee. He was a one-time Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and also doubled as Deputy Dean as well as the Head, Department of Animal Health and Production between August 2014 and November 2016.

Professor Alawa is a member of many professional bodies, including the College of Veterinary Surgeon in Nigeria where he became a Fellow in 2014.

“The new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) was born on 29th November 1967 in Yola, Adamawa state. He graduated in 1997 from the University of Maiduguri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, and had his M.Sc., and PhD degrees from University of Abuja in Political Economy and Development in 2004 and 2011, respectively. Abba who began his teaching career as a primary school teacher rose to become Head Master at Modibbo Raji Islamiya Primary School, Wuro – Modibbo and was also a secondary school teacher (master grade II) between 1989 -1992. He joined the service of the University of Abuja in 1999, and rose to the rank of a Professor with specialization in Conflictology, Alternative Development Paradigmsin 2018.

” Professor Abba is a member of several professional organisations including International Political Science Association (IPSA) and Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA); and he is visiting scholar in various institutions such as Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Korean Academy of Social Sciences (KASS), and International Institute of Juche Idea (IIJI).

“Abba was the political Party Specialist for the International Republican Institute (IRI) from 1998 – 2012, a Democratic Governance Expert for the UN midwifed Democratic Governance Project (DGD II) from 2012 – 2015, and earlier he served as Research and Intelligence field coordinator for Movement for the Advancement of African Societies (MAAS) in Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific from 1986 – 1992 among other responsibilities,” the statement read.

​UNICEF to provide psychosocial support to released Jangebe schoolgirls

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it will provide psychosocial support to the released Jangebe schoolgirls and their families.

UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Peter Hawkins, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Hawkins added that UNICEF would also work with the Zamfara State Ministry of Education on how to ensure the safe return of all children to school in the state.

“We are relieved with the news of the reported release of the over 200 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School Jangebe in Zamfara, North-west Nigeria.

“While we rejoice at the release of the school girls and look forward to their safe return to their families.

“We reiterate that attacks on students and schools are not only reprehensible but a violation of the right of children to an education.

“It is a right that any society can ill-afford to violate.”

He called on the Federal Government to take measures to protect schools in the country so that children would not be scared of going to school, and parents not afraid of sending their children to school.

READ ALSO: Jangebe schoolgirls: FG too friendly with kidnappers ― Education stakeholders

According to him, schools must be safe places to study and develop, and learning should not become a risky endeavour.

It was earlier reported that the girls were kidnapped at their school in the early hours of Feb. 26.

Announcing the release of the girls on Tuesday, Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara said “repentant bandits in the state assisted security agencies in the operation that led to the rescue of the school girls.”

The governor, who received the girls at about 5 a.m. on Tuesday in Gusau, said that the 279 girls were returned safely without paying any ransom.

Atiku For NIgeria Project Anchored on National Rebirth – Director General

The Atiku For Nigeria (AFN) project is one that is anchored on national rebirth and reconstruction towards a Nigeria that works for all.

Director General, AFN, Barrister Sunday Umeha expressed this in reaction to his appointment to head the political group.

“It is with humility that I accept the appointment of the distinguished Governing Council of the Atiku For Nigeria as the Director General of the Organization.

“This assignment by all means has critical impetus in extending the frontiers of the legacies and ideals of His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON in bringing about the leadership that has for too long eluded us as a nation,” he said.

He said that he has no doubt that mutual experiences have prepared him for this role, and in midwifing their programmes and activities.

“It goes without saying that I would look to profit from their wise counsel, support and cooperation in the course of discharging this national assignment,” he added.

Barrister Umeha extended aappreciation to members of the council for the strategic leadership they have showed and continue to show in piloting the activities of the organization; and for finding him worthy in this capacity.

“I look forward to working with them in achieving the noble and nationalistic mandate of this great organization.

“I would also like to use this opportunity to thank my brother, Amb. Aliyu Bin Abbas, the Chairman Governing Council of Atiku For Nigeria for considering me for this position,” he stressed.

The AFN DG further said that it is a particular honor for him, given his renowned wise exercise of discretion and judgment.

“In the coming weeks, I look forward to working closely with him in charting a new course for the organization towards the actualization of its objectives.

“Let me also mention my unalloyed gratitude to all the States, Zonal and National Leaders of the Atiku Care Foundation, with whom I have been in the trenches in the last few years in the noble and patriotic cause of rescuing our beloved nation from the hands of its current managers who have shown outright cluelessness and incapacitation in the art of statecraft,” he added.

To all his friends, supporters and well-wishers who have stood by him all these years, he pointed out that their moral support and confidence in his leadership abilities have in no small measure been a source of motivation and inspiration.

“For this, I am eternally grateful,” he added.

He said that nation building is a collective effort.

“Thus, achieving the Nigeria of our dreams must take the concerted efforts of all Nigerians in electing leaders; both at the national and sub-national level, with the requisite moral and intellectual wherewithal of 21st century governance.

” It has been the conviction of Atiku For Nigeria Foundation that all of these qualities and more, are resident in the person of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON) whose passion for a united and improved Nigeria is well renowned.

“The road to the leadership of any organization; not least the presidency of a nation, requires wide consultations. In a diverse and multi-ethnic country like ours, it is probably more expedient. Chiefly amongst the many reasons, is the proper aggregation of diverse interest towards achieving national consensus around the person of the prospective leader.

“This is what I believe, is the objective of the Atiku For Nigeria project vis-à-vis the prospects of an Atiku Abubakar presidency in 2023. I must quickly add that it is a patriotic objective which holds vistas in the advancement of Nigeria’s socio-economic fortunes towards Getting Nigeria Working Again.

“Consequent upon the above, I am not in any doubt of what is required of my humble self, and the team I would be setting up in the next few days towards the actualization of this national project. In the weeks to come, we shall communicate our roadmap for the actualization of the short, medium and long term goals of the organization under my humble leadership.

“As I conclude this acceptance remarks, it will be naïve of me to fail to acknowledge that this assignment would no doubt, present its own peculiar challenges. But you can trust, dear members of Council, that it is one which I look forward to, with renewed vigor and optimism. I am inspired in this regard by the wise words of that great soldier, politician and statesman, Sir. Winston S. Churchill thus: “To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour”.

“God forbid that I should be one of those men spoken of, by the late sage,” he concluded.

​We scaled several hurdles to rescue Jangebe schoolgirls from abductors-Gov Bello

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, says officials of the state government scaled several hurdles to secure the release of the kidnapped students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe.

Bandits who stormed the school, last Friday, on motorcycles and Hilux vehicles abducted the 300 girls.

Matawalle stated this via his official Twitter handle on Tuesday.

“Alhamdulillah! It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe from captivity. This follows the scaling of several hurdles laid against our efforts. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to rejoice with us as our daughters are now safe,” he tweeted.

The governor also described the process of securing the kidnapped schoolgirls as “exhausting”, noting that he was “very devastated” over the incident.

Matawalle explained that efforts would be made to convince bandits to accept a peace deal, saying, “We want to bring everybody on board.”

Bauchi Gov Completes 3-Day Supervision

Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi state has ended a 3-day inspection and monitoring tour across the three senatorial zones of the state with the renewed promise of speedy completion of awarded projects in the state.
A statement by his Special Assistant on new media Lawal Mu’azu Bauchi said the third day saw the governor visiting ongoing and completed projects at Dass, Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro, Alkaleri and Dindima.
“The projects inspected by Governor Bala are, ongoing construction of primary healthcare centre in Bagel, ongoing construction of housing units in Dass completed renovation of the health centre at Gwaltukwarwa a community in Dass, ongoing Dass-Bununu road, 24 kilometers of project, 11.6 kilometers of Boi to Tapshin, ongoing construction of Bununu township road, the ongoing road from Burga of Tafawa Balewa to Alkaleri.

 

“The rest includes, renovated General Hospital Alkaleri, School and Primary healthcare centre in Yalwan Duguri, relocated Dindima primary school and Sheikh Dahiru Tsangaya School.

“At housing scheme in Dass, the Emir of Dass, Usman Bilyaminu Othman appreciated Governor Bala for improving the sectors of health, education, renovation of royal palaces, and construction/renovation of worship centres”, the statement read in part.

The statement said Governor Mohammed who concluded his inspection of the projects with answering questions from journalists, expressed satisfaction with the level of their executions.
“He said all the projects and programmes introduced by his the administration is geared towards improving the living conditions of the people of the state.
“Governor Bala expressed gratitude to the people of the state for their confidence and trust in his administration and promised that, soon an empowerment program would be announced for self-reliant”, the statement added.