Month: April 2023

Posted on

There is enough food to feed SHS students – Dr Adutwum

Senior High Schools (SHSs)across the country have enough food to feed students without difficulties, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, has said.

He assured parents and stakeholders in education that there was no cause for alarm about reports of food shortages in schools, saying that government had put measures in place to ensure regular supply of food to schools.

The Minister was addressing the media at Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School (OKESS) which is one of the distribution centres for schools in the Kumasi Metropolis.

He was in the school as part of a four-day working visit in the Ashanti Region to engage with students and inspect ongoing projects.

He took advantage of the visit to inspect the warehouse which was stocked with large quantities of assorted foods such as rice, maize, beans, gari, flour and various kinds of canned foods.

Dr. Adutwum said as part of government’s efforts to ensure sustainable supply of food to the schools, it had contracted a company called Commodity Exchange to supply food in addition to the Buffer Stock.

He said the challenges of food supply associated with the implementation of the Free Senior High Schools informed the addition of Commodity Exchange to find lasting solution to the shortage of foods in schools.

‘We have also made sure funds for the purchase of perishables are released to the schools on time to ensure students are fed without excuses,’ the Minister stated.

He said the President was committed to addressing all challenges confronting the Free Education Programme to preserve the huge benefits of the programme for posterity.

Mr William Darkwa, the National Coordinator of the Free Senior High School Programme, said OKESS was one of 54 distribution centres across the country where food for the schools were stored.

He reiterated that there was adequate food in the schools, adding that, feeding the students was an important component of the programme that could not be compromised.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Posted on

University games: Athletes from 23 delegations begin competing in Ngaoundere

The 23rd edition of the University games in Ngaoundere kicked off on Saturday, April 29, with over 3000 athletes converging on the event ground.

The participants from 23 delegations representing the ten regions of Cameroon, will compete in 14 sports disciplines which will also feature cultural displays from fan clubs. The activities will run till May 6.

During the opening ceremony presided at by the Minister of Higher Education, accompanied by Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi of Sports and Physical Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo told the athletes that what has brought them together goes beyond winning a prize.

“Through this competition, we are celebrating friendship, fair play, performance, equity, sports ethic, and fraternity. It is therefore not just to win the trophy” the Higher Education Minister said.

The rector of the host University Prof. Uphie Chinje assured the population that all has been put in place to ensure a successful event.

This year’s edition of the games comes after a three-year break since 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Posted on

Sudan: FG says $1.2m negotiated on condition of war

The Federal Government has explained that the sum of 1.2 million dollars allegedly spent in hiring buses for the evacuation of Nigerian students in Sudan was due to the dire need of the war situation.

This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Mrs Rhoda Iliya.

It was also signed by officials of the ministry of foreign affairs Ambassador Janet Olisa and Dr Sani Gwarzo of Humanitarian affairs ministry in Abuja on Saturday.

“The outcry over the negotiated sum of 1.2 million dollars for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for.

“The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.

“The general public is hereby advised to discountenance the unverified information being circulated on the social media as some of them are either due to ignorance or sheer mischief,” it said.

The statement also appealed for cooperation and understanding of all Nigerians in the ongoing efforts to ensure all Nigerians stranded in Sudan are returned home safely.

“The first batch of 13 buses conveying six hundred and thirty seven (637) evacuees had arrived the identified safe borders at Aswan, Egypt.

“The evacuees are undergoing necessary documentation and clearance before admission into the Egyptian territory for their eventual evacuation to Nigeria in the coming hours by the Nigerian Air Force and Air Peace airline, who have been on standby for the operations.

“However, the movement of the second batch of 29 buses will commence on April 29 and the evacuees are advised to be at the designated locations with only one luggage.”

It advised Nigerian students awaiting evacuation from Khartoum to cooperate with embassy officials for proper documentation while embarking on the buses to the designated locations.

“This will go a long way in speeding up the process and avoiding unnecessary delays with documentation and clearance upon arrival at the Aswan, Egypt.”

The government expressed commitment towards successful evacuation of all Nigerians stranded in Sudan before the expiration of the extended 72 hours ceasefire agreement.

“We want to use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to friendly countries who have in one way or the other assisted in bringing succour to Nigerians fleeing the war in Sudan.

“Particularly, Nigeria acknowledges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously assisting with the evacuation of eight Nigerians from Sudan to safety in its territory, from where they would be airlifted back to Nigeria,” the statement added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Posted on

I’m optimistic of Oyetola’s victory at Supreme Court – Ex-Federal commissioner

Prof. Razaq Abubakre, a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, has expressed optimism that former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola will reclaim his mandate at the Supreme Court.

Abubakre, a retired Iwo professor and prominent indigene of Osun, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

He said those threatening to cause trouble if APC wins at the Supreme Court are making empty threats.

“As for the promise of fire and brimstone by the PDP should APC win at the Supreme Court, it is an empty threat.

“This is because the security apparatus is part of the paraphernalia of the office of a chief executive, which will cease to be effective for the use of the PDP with its reputation of violence.

“Peace will return to the state once again by the grace of God the Almighty,” Abubakre said.

He alleged that the violent posture of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) remained a hallmark of the PDP, especially in Osun State.

“Many lives were lost in the struggle for Rauf Aregbesola to become governor in Osun State.

“The state normally knows peace only when progressives are in power.

“They kill their members even while conducting their primaries. They killed many members of APC and forced many to abandon their abodes which enabled the PDP and the unscrupulous umpire and security allies to write whatever they chose.

“Still, cast-iron records show that irregularities characterised the Osun governorship election,” Abubakre alleged.

He alleged that the intimidation of the Supreme Court by the spokespersons of PDP was not dissimilar to what Mr Ahmed Datti did, which prompted the Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka to condemn some of the Labour Party members.

Abubakre said that good governance was not impression management, neither was it corruption in the guise of delivering substandard infrastructural projects at inflated costs.

He said the performance of Adeleke was incomparable to the governance credentials of Oyetola, who was a silent performer.

Abubakre said that, for example, Oyetola demonstrated commendable probity and genuinely delivered critical infrastructural projects that would stand the test of time.

According to Abubakre, former governor Oyetola of the APC is still popular in Osun and is the favourite of the people.

“The popularity of APC and the former governor Gboyega Oyetola was tested twice in the just concluded Ramadan.

“The first of the events was held in Iwo, the headquarters of Osun West Senatorial District. It was a Ramadan lecture and prayers for the successful inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of Nigeria and the victory of Oyetola at the Supreme Court.

“This, we organised from our own free volition and financial contribution without any funding from outside Iwoland. It was a mammoth crowd of devotees. May Allah accept the prayers,” he said.

Abubakre said the second event was a similar programme at Osogbo, held at the Tinubu-Shettima campaign office, for the same intent and purpose, which also turned out to be an up roaring success.

Abubakre was a Federal Commissioner for the Public Complaints Commission for Osun State between 2012 and 2018, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ilorin from 2001 to 2003.

The Emeritus Professor has been a member of Agba Osun (Elders of Osun) of the APC, from 2021 to date.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Posted on

Expert says new WhatsApp feature can expose users to hacking

Mr Jide Awe, the Chief Exexcutive Officer, Jidaw Systems Ltd., says the new feature in WhatsApp can make users vulnerable to hacking or phishing attacks by cybercriminals.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the new WhatsApp feature enables users to operate their account on four different devices.

Awe told NAN in an interview in Lagos on Saturday that having multiple devices linked to a single account gives hackers more opportunities to access personal data or take over the account.

He, however, noted that WhatsApp had implemented several security measures to protect against such threats, including end-to-end encryption and remote device management.

Speaking on its advantages, he said the new feature would increase flexibility and convenience by providing users with more ways to access their WhatsApp accounts.

“The ability to use up to four different devices simultaneously makes it easier for users to stay connected with their contacts.

“This feature will enable users to manage their devices and log out of them remotely. This can give them greater control over their accounts, “he said.

On users opinions, Awe said individual preferences would come into play, noting that it might be convenient for some to use it on different devices while others could stick to using WhatsApp on one device.

He said that Mark Zuckerberg’s aim for adding the new feature could be an attempt to make WhatsApp more user-friendly and convenient with a view to attracting more users to the platform.

Awe said it could also be an attempt to keep up with other competitors like Telegram and Signal, both of which already offered multi-device support.

He added that the impact or success of the new feature would depend on whether users embraced it or if it would have any unforseen consequences.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Posted on

Troops eliminate 3 bandits, recover weapons in Zamfara

Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji on Sunday neutralised three bandits in an ambush at Anka-Dan Kapani crossing in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Danmadami said the troops also recovered one PKT gun with 48 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 ammunition, three AK 47 rifles, three magazines with 63 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and three motorcycles.

“The military high command commends troops and encourages the public to avail troops with credible and timely information on terrorist and all criminal activities within their area,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Posted on

Group tasks Vice-President-elect on Minister from Borno South

Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), has tasked Vice-President-elect Kashim Shettima, to ensure that the ministerial appointment for Borno is given to the southern zone of the state.

Dominic Ogakwu, President, CSGGG, said this at a news conference in Abuja.

Ogakwu said that for decades the southern part of the state had suffered marginalisation in terms of state and national appointments.

He said that from 1979 till date, the north and central zones had continue to occupy the state governorship office, while the south was yet to occupy the office.

Ogakwu added that the southern zone was also at disadvantaged position in the political arrangements in the state.

He said the group appeal was not an ethnic agitation nor a religious protest, but a ‘moralsuation.’

“We are only appealing to the humanity which binds all of us and calling the good people of Central and Northern Borno, led by Vice-President-elect Shettima, to ‘be their brothers keepers’ this time.

“We must back a Southern Borno person for appointment as a federal minister, for balancing, inclusion and participation, which are key criteria for political equity, fairness and justice.

“Considering the current political setup in the state, we are particularly calling on the president-elect to lead the charge for sociopolitical and socioeconomic integration, by appointing a person from Southern Borno as a federal minister,” he said.

Ogakwu said the appeal was critical considering the disadvantage and marginalisation position the people of the south in the state were already facing.

“As civil society, we are appealing Shettima to leverage on his influence in the party to mend the broken fences.

“To build a bigger, better and more united Borno State and Nigeria, by throwing his weight behind Borno South for federal ministerial appointment, to compensate and bring them into the fold as one family,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Posted on

AirPeace, NAF begin evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Sudan

The Federal Government on Friday said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF C-130H) plane and Airpeace plane have been cleared to fly Egyptian airspace for the evacuation of Nigerians stranded in Sudan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this followed the outbreak of war between the Sudanese armed forces and para-military Rapid Support Forces.

The government confirmed this in a joint press statement issued to newsmen by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Janet Olisa, and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Sani Gwarzo in Abuja.

”The NAF C-130H is scheduled to leave Abuja on April 28, 2023, to commence the airlift of the stranded students.

” Similarly, arrangements have been concluded to airlift all Nigerians that have already escaped on their own to safety in countries neighbouring Sudan.

”However, forty buses have been secured in Sudan to convey the students and other Nigerians from Khartoum to Aswan border in Egypt.

”Which is one of the identified safe reception borders, as at time of this statement, first batch of buses had already departed Khartoum,” the statement said.

The federal government however said the initial hitches during transportation of stranded Nigerian students from Khartoum where bus drivers stopped and dropped the students in the desert over non-payment transport fees have been resolved.

”Some Nigerian students who found their way to the Ethiopian border were allowed entry into Ethiopia, following the interventions of some Nigerian leaders.

”The students are in safe condition. Similarly, another group of Nigerians assisted by government of United Arab Emirate have arrived Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and arrangement are been made to return them back home,” it assured.

The government said it has already convened a Situation Room to monitor the evacuation exercise.

It stated that the situation room is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria