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Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. Minister of State for Labour and Employment and the newly inaugurated 4th National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee (NPOMAC) for selecting the awardees for the award for 2024. By Joan Nwagwu The Federal Government said it has inaugurated the 4th National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee (NPOMAC) for the process of selecting the awardees for the award for 2024. Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said this during the inauguration ceremony of the 13-man committee on Tuesday in Abuja. The 13- man committee was inaugurated to determine the recipients of the next NPOM Award of the National Productivity Centre (NPC). Onyejeocha said since the inspection of the award in 1991, that this was the 4th com...

The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders in addressing the challenges faced by the border communities’ dwellers. The Minister made the call when the Executive Secretary of Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Dr. George D.A. Kelly paid him a courtesy visit in Ship House. Badaru emphasized the urgent need to address challenges such as provision of healthcare facilities and access to clean water in border towns across the nation. He acknowledged the gravity of these challenges and therefore called for innovative and concrete solutions to improve the welfare of the border communities’ inhabitants. The minister further opined that the Agency should come up with a Strategic Master plan with members drawn ...

Gombe State Government has lauded the intervention of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in executing the child spacing project in the State. The State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, made the commendation during the closeout meeting of the project with a commitment to sustain the programme. Represented by his Deputy, Manasseh Daniel Jatau (Ph.D), the Governor said, Gombe State Government is capable of sustaining the programme for the benefit of it's people. Underscoring the importance of child spacing in strengthening the health of his people especially women and children, the Governor pledged his administration's readiness to continue to ensure rapid response to health issues for the overall wellbeing of the people. He said, the theme of the meeting “Gombe’s journey towards se...

King Charles III made his first return to public duties since announcing his cancer diagnosis with a visit to the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on Tuesday , the first in a series of public appearances he's scheduled to make in the coming weeks. The visit to a cancer charity marked a return to formal engagements after Buckingham Palace first announced in February he would take a break from public duties to be treated for an undisclosed type of cancer. The King has been named as the new patron of Cancer Research UK and has expressed a desire to continue raising awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, according to the BBC—the royal family has long been involved with a number of cancer charities in the UK.. The royal family in February announce...

Global leaders have been advised to commence preparation against the next pandemic so as to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic experience. Speaking during a conference, organized by the Global Healthcare Travel Council (GHTC) which brought together representatives from 56 countries in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the Founding Chairman of the Global Healthcare Travel Council, Emin Çakmak, said: "The world must be ready for future pandemics through rapid healthcare reforms, investments in facilities and human resources to serve not just local populations but also international patients during crises,” Çakmak, was in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, DoctorCare247, Nigeria's leading telehealth company, Chuks Melville Chib...

Gombe State Network of Civil Society (GONET) has tasked the Gombe State Government on changing the negative narrative surrounding Local Government elections that has always been marred by exclusivity and lack of transparency. In it's reaction to last Saturday's Local Governments election in the State, the Civil Society group said it also observed that the election was marred by voter apathy and logistical challenges. Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman of GONET in a press statement shared with our correspondent said, in some polling units, there was the experience of delayed arrival of election materials. The group pointed out that there is an urgent need for improvement in subsequent Local Government elections. "GONET strongly urges the Government to change the narrative surro...

The National Orientation Agency and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have entered into strategic partnership aimed at achieving universal registration and legal identity for all children in Nigeria. The partnership is to ensure success of vision 2030. Currently, only 60-65% of children in Nigeria are registered, highlighting the urgent need for action. The Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Isssa- Onilu announced the committed to partner with the UNICEF during an audience with the UNICEF team led by Ibrahim Siseh, Chief Child Protection Officer. The primary objective of the meeting was to forge a strategic partnership aimed at devising an action plan and sensitization campaign to achieve universal registration and legal identity for all children in Nigeria. ...

A one day workshop on Security and Human Rights has identified why Nigerian Security Agents still feel that respecting the fundamental human rights of citizens hinders the performance of their responsibilities. Most of the security agents who participated in the workshop which was held in Gombe, expressed the opinion that in most cases, it is only through torture or the use of force that people will be law abiding or an information can be extracted from a suspect. However, a human right expert and activist, Dr Innocent Ajenogore, a consultant with Lite Africa who was the key resource person during the workshop, said Nigerian security agents would earn the respect of Nigerians and enhance the performance of their responsibilities if they (security agents) execute their functions unde...

The Managing Director of the NSITF, Maureen Allagoa assisted by the Executive Director, Operations, plants a tree to mark the 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at Work at the Headquarters of the NSITF in Abuja. By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has said that it conducted 5,592 occupational safety and health activities at various work places across the nation in the last one year. Mrs Maureen Allagoa, Managing Director of NSITF said this on Monday in Abuja during a tree planting ceremony to mark the 2024 World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The theme of the 2024 edition is “Impacts of Climate Change on Occupational Safety and Health”. According to her,, the exercise was conducted between May 2023 to April 2024 adding that the SITF was comm...

.Says Rivers'll Deploy AI To Drive Dev, Tackle Political Crisis Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that it was now imperative for policy makers to draw up futuristic plans that can strengthen governance when implemented while also protecting the interest of the people. The Governor emphasised that his Administration was ready to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) because it would significantly enhance operational efficiency and transform citizen experiences. Governor Fubara made the remark when participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC-17 Syndicate 5) of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) paid him a courtesy visit at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday. He stated that the advanced societies were accelerati...

Finidi George has been appointed as the new coach of the Super Eagles. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Finidi’s appointment on Monday in a statement on its official website.The statement reads in part, The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles. George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

United States Deputy Secretary, Kurt M. Campbell will be visiting Nigeria as part of his three nations foreign trips,Sharpedgenews learnt. Campbell according to his itinerary will also be visiting United Kingdom and France. While in Nigeria, the US Deputy Secretaty will co-chair the Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission with Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar. A statement by the US Embassy in Abuja, announcing the scheduled trip noted, "Deputy Secretary Kurt M. Campbell will travel to Abuja, Nigeria; London, United Kingdom; and Paris, France April 29-May 3. In Abuja, the Deputy Secretary will co-chair the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar to discuss partnerships; security cooperation; shared prosperity; democracy, gover...

The first proceedings in a sprawling multipart trial against members of an alleged far-right plot to attack the German parliament and overthrow the government began in Stuttgart on Monday. Nine members of the group led by the minor aristocrat and businessman Prince Heinrich XIII Reuss will take the stand in the southwestern city. They included, among others, a special forces soldier, a former far-right MP, an astrologer, and a well-known chef. Prosecutors accuse them of preparing a “treasonous undertaking” to topple the German government. The affair is the most high-profile recent case of far-right violence, which officials say has grown to become the biggest extremist threat in Germany. The complexity of the trial and the need for extra security measures has seen proceedin...

Manchester City Head Coach, Pep Guardiola, has said that if his team draw any game before the end of the season, they will not win the league. The Spanish tactician said this on Sunday during the post match news conference of 2023/2024 English Premier League (EPL) match day 35 encounter away to Nottingham Forest. Goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland means Manchester City continued its title charge for a fourth English Premier League title in a roll with a 2-0 win over hosts, Nottingham Forest. Josko Gvardiol opened the scoring for the defending champion, Manchester City in the 32nd minute with an assist from Kelvin De Bruyne. Haaland returned from injury and came from the bench to score the winning goal in the 71th minute to leave City one point behind current league l...

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, says the Nigerian Navy has recruited 1,486 personnel to boost the manpower needed for effective internal security operations in the Niger Delta. Mr Matawalle said this during the passing out parade (P)P) of the Nigerian Navy’s Batch 35 Trainees at the Nigeria Navy Basic Training School in Onne, Rivers, on Saturday. He said the ratings underwent six months of extensive warfare and maritime combat training to equip them for the ongoing fight against oil thieves, pipeline vandals, and sea pirates, among other criminals. These young men and women are joining the Nigerian Navy at a time when the Armed Forces need personnel with strength, courage, and resolve to combat the security challenges we face. “They will be assigned to various ...

…Commiserates With Rivers People Over Tanker Inferno The Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) has said that discussions are advancing among the 36 State governors and strategic federal agencies in the oil and gas industry over the adoption of safer methods of transportation of petroleum products across the country. Chairman of the forum, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, gave the hint on Sunday in Government House, Port Harcourt, when he visited to commiserate with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people and Government of Rivers State over the Friday night's tanker inferno which claimed the lives of five persons and razed over 120 vehicles on the Indorama-Aleto bridge axis of the East-West Road in Eleme Local Government Area. AbdulRazaq, who is also the Governor of Kwara State, recalled a...

.Condoles Omehia Over Mother's Demise .Confirms Five Deaths, 120 Burnt Cars In Tanker Fire Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has lamented that there is a fierce fight over the soul of the State to destroy it but noted that only the well-meaning persons who are standing firmly with him can wield the force of unity to save it. Governor Fubara made the remark at the country home of Sir Celestine Omehia in Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday. The Governor, accompanied by some elders of the State, was in Ubima to commiserate with Sir Omehia, who had just laid his late mother, Mrs Ezinne Cecilia Omehia, to rest after 95 years. State, which according to him, should be discouraged as a bad political culture in contemporary times. ...

The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) on Sunday expressed deep concern for the safety of campaigners under its aegis, following the gruesome murder of its Ward 10 Coordinator in Supare, Akoko Southwest Local council of Ondo State, Mr. Alaba Abe Excel. Excel was shot dead Saturday night in his Supare hometown by unknown gunmen. In a statement issued by its Director of Contact and Engagement, Dr. Marindoti Oludare, the group contended that the incident, traceable to hecks by some disgruntled aspirants over the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the recent governorship primary election, "has darkened the nation's character, with the stain of blood". Oludaret stated, "It is with a heavy heart and profound sorrow that I, Charles ...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won the chairmanship seats in all the 33 local governments in Oyo State following Saturday’s council elections. The announcement was made at the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) headquarters in Ibadan by the returning officers for the local governments. Chairman of the Commission, Isiaka Olagunju, while speaking to journalists, attributed the success recorded in the exercise to the support given by Gov. Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders. The OYSIEC chairman, who doubles as the Chief Returning Officer, however acknowledged the fact that there were some aspects of the elections that required improvement. He said such areas would reflect in the elections report that would be submitted to the state government. The News...