Airlift of Kebbi pilgrims to commence May 15 – Board Chairman

The Chairman, Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro-Enabo, has disclosed that the airlift of prospective pilgrims from the state would commence on May 15.

He made the disclosure while addressing members of 2024 Hajj Publicity Committee in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

A statement signed by Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to Kebbi State Governor, noted that the chairman said the first flight consist of 423 intending pilgrims from Jega and Arewa Local Government Areas including their Hajj Guides (officials), while the second flight would covey another 423 pilgrims from Argungu and Dandi local government areas.

The chairman who added that pilgrims from Kalgo, Aliero, Bunza and Gwandu LGAs were expected to make the third flight, pilgrims from Birnin Kebbi LGA would be airlifted in the fourth flight and the fifth flight would carry pilgrims from Zuru, Danko Wasago, Fakai and Koko Bese LGAs.

He explained that Bagudo LGA would make the sixth flight, Yauri, Shanga and Ngaski LGAs would be conveyed in the seventh flight, the eighth flight would airlift pilgrims from Maiyama and Augie LGAs, while the last flight would convey the remaining intending pilgrims from all the 21 LGAs, including the State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris and other officials.

The chairman said a comprehensive list of pilgrims and their flights would be made public at the board’s headquarters to enable prospective pilgrims reschedule their activities.

Commenting on the number of people that paid the balance of N1.9 million as the directed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), the chairman noted with satisfaction that His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris had paid off N1 million for each intending pilgrim.

“All they need to pay is a balance of N900,000. I am glad to inform you that all the intending pilgrims from Kebbi State have paid the balance, except three people. However, government is trying to do something about these three pilgrims, so that they too can perform the Hajj,” he said.

Kuti, Udoaka are new West African champions as Nigeria, Togo share titles

African Games medallists Matthew Kuti and Hope Udoaka showed class against experienced players after the Nigeria national champions emerged as the new West African champions at the 2024 ITTF West Africa Regional Championships, which ended in Lome, Togo, at the weekend.

Over 32 men and 29 women from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, and host – Togo took part in four events (team and singles for men and women) at the three-day tournament organised to select teams that will represent the region at this year’s African Championships taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Despite not playing to his best in the team event, which allowed Togo to dethrone Nigeria as the regional champions, Kuti ensured he was flawless in the singles event when he took down some established players including, the former regional champion – Oba Oba Kizito of Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

Starting his campaign from the group where he only dropped a game against Benin Republic’s Kossi Akakpo, Kuti breezed into the knockout round to right the wrong that befell him in the team event.From the round of 16, he took down Togo’s national champion Kokou Fanny, 3-0 to advance to the quarterfinal.

In the quarterfinals he edged out his compatriot – Matthew Fabunmi 4-2 to set up a semifinal clash against the player that defeated him in the team – Mawussi Agbetoglo of Togo. And with the mind of avenging the defeat, Kuti humbled the Togolese 4-2 to hit the final, where he was to face former champion Oba Oba Kizito of Cote d’Ivoire.

Like the true champion that he has been, Kuti mesmerized Kizito with a 4-1 bashing to be crowned the new regional champion and ensured that Nigeria held on to the title, which was won by Taiwo Mati in 2023.Udoaka held sway in the women’s singles beating compatriot – Ajoke Ojomu 4-0 to claim the title.In the team event, Nigerian ladies led by national champion Hope Udoaka dominated the team event without dropping a game and beat Ghana 3-0 in the final to retain the title.

But the host team gave the fans something to cheer for with a 3-2 win over Nigeria to emerge as the regional powerhouse in the men’s team event.Meanwhile, Madagascar reaffirmed its dominance of the East African region after claiming three of the four events at stake at the ITTF East Africa Regional Championships held in Kampala, Uganda.41 men and 29 women from Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and host Uganda converged in Kampala to compete in four events (team and singles for men and women) and it was Madagascar-led by Antoine Razafinarivo that emerged as champions.In the team event, the host – Uganda were at its best in the women’s categories with the trio of Jemimah Nakawala, Judith Nangonzi, and Shanitah Namaala defeating their Kenyan counterparts to emerge as champions.

In the men’s team event, Madagascar repeated their 2023 feat in Djibouti with a 3-0 convincing win over Uganda in the final.

They continued their reign in the singles as the duo of Razafinarivo and Hanitra Raharimanana claimed the titles ahead of their Ugandan counterparts.

Uganda’s Nangonzi wanted to repeat what they achieved in the women’s team with huge home support, but her efforts were thwarted by Raharimanana who claimed a 4-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10) to lift the trophy.

And in the tension-soaked men’s singles final, Madagascan Razafinarivo was emphatic in his 4-1 (14-12, 11-5, 11-2, 12-10, 14-12) to end the tournament on a high note for the visiting Madagascan team.

Kebbi Pilgrims Board inaugurates 15 committees for 2024 Hajj operations

Chairman, Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Faruku Musa Enabo has inaugurated 15 different committees that would carry out the 2024 Hajj operations.Inaugurating the committee on Friday at the board’s conference hall in Birnin Kebbi, the chairman said the 15 different committees would serve in different capacities during and after the exercise.

“These committees will work according to their assigned portfolio towards ensuring a smooth exercise and make it easy for the pilgrims. We don’t want our pilgrims to suffer in the 2024 Hajji operations,” he assured.

He disclosed that the present administration had done a lot for the prospective pilgrims to perform a hitch-free Hajji exercise, while urging the committees to be alive to their responsibilities to achieve the aims and objectives of establishing them.

He also commended His Excellency, Gov. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu for all the necessary support given to the board, while assuring a successful exercise.

Responding, on behalf of other committees, the Committee Chairman in charge of Munna and Arfat Hon. Mohammed Garba-Bena thanked the Kebbi State Governor and the Pilgrims Board Chairman for choosing them to render thier services in this year’s Hajji operations.

He assured the people of Kebbi State most especially the pilgrims that all the committees would do everything possible to discharge their responsibilities diligently.

The 15 different committees included: 1. Camp Committee 2. Jamrat Committee 3. Media/ information committee4. Luggage Committee 5. Airport and Reception committee6. Accommodation committee7. Preaching committee8. Hygiene Committee 9. General walfare committee 10, Munna/ Arfat committee 11. Feeding committee 12. Transport and Turaddiya committee 13. Disciplinary committee14. Hadaya Committee 15. Musdalifah Committee.

Kadun Assembly pledges support for KAD-DIP across three Zones

Following the efforts to bring the digital incubation programme to the doorsteps of young people, particularly girls in Kaduna State, Hon. Henry Marah, the Chairman of Information, NGOs and Development Partners in the Kaduna State House of Assembly has said that the State’s

Assembly is working with the relevant arms and stakeholders of the state government to ensure digital literacy for girls in the state.

Hon. Henry Marah made this statement during a stakeholder engagement meeting with the team members of the Creative Arts for Development Centre (CRADC) over their advocacy project on the Advocacy for the Expansion of the Kaduna Digital Incubation Programme saying that it is better to diffuse the digital incubation project across the three zones.

“The Kaduna State House of Assembly is aware of the over centralization of many government programmes. We are working to decentralize them and KAD-DIP is one programme that we want to take to the three zones”.

“We can relate to the factsheet you have presented and we understand the concern of your Advocacy to expand KAD-DIP to Sabon Gari. We want much more than that.

We will take it to six (6) locations in the three zones and ensure that girls all across the state benefit from it”, he said.On his part, Franklin Zaure, the Executive Director of CRAD Centre stated that the Advocacy is imperative given the limited access girls have to digital incubation skills in the state.

According to him, the Advocacy for the Expansion of the Kaduna Digital Incubation Programme, as supported by Rise Up, is an advocacy project put up together to prepare Kaduna girls for the digital market saying that Kaduna State stand the chance of leading the region and by extension, Nigeria if attention is paid to expanding the digital ecosystem for girls.

While hailing the efforts of the State legislature in ensuring that sustainable policies and laws are put in place, Sarah Yanayork of SNART Foundation projected that the expansion KAD-DIP to other zones will bring in investors into the State; something that will result in the creation of more digital jobs for girls.