Blog

By Justina Auta The Federal Government on Friday inaugurated Nigerian Council for Social Work (NCWS) and it’s board, to ensure strict compliance with all operational regulations guiding the practice of social work in Nigeria. Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, while inaugurating the council alongside its board members in Abuja, said the body had the statutory duty of ensuring strict compliance with all regulations guiding the practice of social work in Nigeria. Kennedy-Ohanenye, stressed the role of the ministry plays in the care and protection of the most vulnerable groups in Nigeria. ” The Nigerian Council for Social Work is targeted at professionals who deliver services to the vulnerable groups, hence the reason why the ministry is playing the lead role in th...

By Justina Auta Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), says Nigeria has recorded significant decline in the number of persons infected with HIV/AIDS. He disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, ahead of the 2023 World AIDS Day (WAD). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WAD is a global observance, annually celebrated on Dec. 1 around the world to raise awareness about the AIDS pandemic, caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who died of the disease. The day has “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030” as its theme for 2023. The NACA boss, therefore, said “Nigeria like many other countries has made significant strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but there is still much to be done to achie...

By Justina Auta The Federal Government, UK and other stakeholders have commended Sightsavers, an NGO, for implementing programmes to support Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they made the commendation at a gala night and award ceremony to mark Sightsavers 70th anniversary which ended early Friday morning in Abuja. Sightsavers is an international charity working to prevent avoidable blindness, support equality for people with disabilities and advocate for change. Mr James Lalu, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), acknowledged the support of Sightsavers in the establishment of the commission and the Discrimination Against Pers...

By Joan Nwawgu The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has underscored the importance of mainstreaming women in climate change activities, especially in the Great Green Wall project. Tinubu made this submission while inaugurating the Green Women Platform (GWP) at the 9th Session of the Council of Ministers under the Pan African Agency for the Great Green Wall on Friday in Abuja. The first lady, who was represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, described women as indispensable personalities for preserving the environment and advancing the cause of sustainability. According to her, the role of women in the Great Green Wall initiative is driven by a shared commitment among African nations to address critical environmental and social challenges facing the Sahel reg...

By Justina Auta A coalition of gender groups on Thursday commenced a hashtag campaign advocating for the reintroduction of the five gender bills that were rejected by the 9th National Assembly to further safeguard rights of women and vulnerable groups. The group, #constitutionwomenwants, led by Women Advocates Research and Documentation (WARDC), supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Palladium, launched the advocacy campaign and hashtag in Abuja. The advocacy campaign and hashtag is for a series of online and offline activities, including social media campaigns, to draw more attention on the need to reintroduce the five rejected gender bills. Dr Abiola Akiyode- Afolabi, the Founder and Executive Director, WARDC, said: “Women’s leadership and p...

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), says it is set to electrify Rubuchi Community in the FCT with 900 Kilowatts Peak (KWps) solar mini-grids in phase 1 of the Korean Energy Project, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is the agency’s efforts aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation with foreign development partners The partners are the Korean Institute for Advancement of Technology and its Korean implementing consortium partners. Other are Iljin Electric, S&D Powernics, Korea Smart Grid Association and Technology University of Korea) under the Korean Energy Project. Speaking at the ground-breaking on Thursday in Rubuchi, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu said that in the last few months the country had witnessed transformative changes i...

Mr Sule Abdulaziz, the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN), says the management in recognizing the gravity of corruption is poised to prevent and stamp out the menace in the agency. Abdulaziz said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the inauguration of a Preventive Guide Handbook to educate members of staff against corrupt practices, by the agency’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit. The managing director at the inauguration of the book and awareness campaign, said that in recognising the severity of corruption, the management established the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). Abdulaziz, represented by Mr Justin Ododo, Executive Director, Human Resources and Corporate Services, TCN said that ACTU was set up to spearhead TCN’s commitment to eradic...

Chairman, House Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Isiaka Ibrahim, has said the National Bureau of Statistics needs to be protected from political interference to perform more effectively. Ibrahim said this at a public lecture to mark the 2023 African Statistics Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday. The theme of the 2023 African Statistics Day was “Modernising data ecosystems to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA: The role of official statistics and big data in the economic transformation and sustainable development of Africa.” He said the reliability of data from the NBS would be questioned if there was any form of political interference. “Statistics forms the adjustable shock absorber of any government, be it at the local, state and federal level. ...

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to construct pedestrian bridges at strategic locations on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The resolution followed a motion moved by an All Progressives Party’s lawmaker representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe. A statement by Akande-Sadipe’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olamilekan Olusada and made available to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, said the lawmaker moved the motion during plenary. The motion highlighted the unprecedented growth of Ibadan which is now the third-largest city globally according to United Nations data. According to her, this is in response to the critical safety concerns posed by the absence of pedestrian bridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Ms Akande-Sadipe urg...

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says sexual harassment is corrupt practices that attracts imprisonment term not less than seven years. The Secretary to the commission, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, gave the warning in Abuja at a One Day Sensitization Workshop on Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Institutions. Oparaodu said that ICPC regarded sexual harassment as a corrupt practice; hence there was a need for victims to know their rights and how to seek justice. He expressed concern that sexual gratification had become a form of “illegal tender” in many institutions. ``Sexual harassment is a form of corruption. ``It is a deviation from the norm for an official to use his/her office or position to demand, receive, obtain or attempt to obtain ...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Jibrin Baba Ndace, says, he is committed, determined, desirous and focused to position the station to be the authentic and authoritative voice of telling the Nigerian stories. Ndace stated this when he inspected the transmitter and other facilities of the agency at Lubge in Abuja on Wednesday. He explained that the VON facilities at Lugbe had always been in his mind, adding that some of the retired staff had told him of the need to leverage on the facilities to position the radio station. The DG further explained that as an apostle of convergence, with background from the print and later broadcasting, he would ensure the enhancement of global best practice in terms of digitalisation in the information technolog...

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) has restated the association's resolve to negotiate with the Federal Government on issues instead of embarking on strike. Mr Lucky Osesua, the National Chairman of PTD, gave the assurance on Wednesday at a news briefing on the crisis rocking the association through its parent-union, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). "Remember that one of our mantras is not to, in any way, work against the progressive and seamless policies of the administration of President Bola Tinubu or be an attack dog to the Federal Government." According to him, the association is resolved to toe the line of peace and not strike on issues concerning its members, in spite of the arrest of the top executive members of the PTD. He recalled that ...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), says it is set to reposition the body for greater height and maximum impact. The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of NAPPS, Dr Said Mijinyawa stated this at a media conference on Wednesday in Abuja. He was supported by the Secretary of the Board, Prince Sakiru Raji, and members such as Dr Samira Jibir, Dr Francisca Chinwe Olikeze, Hauwa Abarshi, Obong Edet Udo, Jude Idakpo, Gbenga Olowie and Hajiya Wakilbe Ashe. According to Mijinyawa, following the expiration of Chief Yomi Otubela led administration, today Nov. 22, “the Board deemed it necessary to save the association from untold administrative up headers”. Mijinyawa said action plans are being rolled out to midwife a new administration t...

All is set for the 2023 Second Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament in Abuja, as delegates from 15 member countries have arrived. The session, which begins on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, will last until Friday, December 15, 2023. The programme will witness the swearing-in of new legislatures to the parliament. Other highlights of the ordinary session will be the sitting of the joint committees ranging from agriculture, environment, natural resources, health, legal affairs to human rights. Other committees are those of social affairs, gender, and women empowerment. NAN

An Abakaliki Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered the remand of a 29-year-old man, Chikodili Igboji, in a correctional centre for allegedly raping a 50-year-old widow, Chinyere Igwe. The magistrate, Chinedu Agama-Agama, ordered the remand of the defendant after rejecting his bail application. Mr Igboji is facing a count charge of rape allegedly committed on October 5 at Udenyi village, Izzo Imoha, in the Ezza North local government area of Ebonyi State. He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court. The defence counsel, Francis Nwelom, moved a bail application for the defendant, stressing that he was innocent. The prosecution counsel, Inspector Stanley Ngene, however, opposed the bail application and prayed the court to order the remand of the...

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu's administration to the welfare of the Armed Forces and families of fallen heroes. Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, in a statement on Wednesday said Shettima stated this at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The vice-president spoke shortly after he was decorated with the emblem of the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day by the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin. He said the administration’s resolve was in acknowledgement of the sacrifices of service personnel to the unity of Nigeria and sustenance of global peace. Shettima recalled the heroics of Nigerian service personne...

The National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) has called on the National Assembly speedily pass the National Traditional Medicine bill for the overall well-being and economic prosperity of the nation. The National president of NANTMP, Dr Shaba Maikudi, made the call at the official inauguration of the newly elected executive members of the association on Monday in Abuja. Maikudi also urged President Bola Tinubu not to delay in assenting to it after the passage as well as ensuring its effective implementation. He said the “bill is aimed at sanitising the profession as well as ensuring the development of roots and herbs profession among others.” Maikudu said that China and India had long enacted traditional medicine laws and are harvesting its d...

Festus Porbeni, President of Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation, has decried the "unnecessary" delay of the boats meant for the 1st Olympic Qualifying tournament in the country at the ports. Sharpedgenews. reports that the 1st Canoe Olympic Qualifier is scheduled to hold from Wednesday, Nov. 22 to Sunday, Nov. 26 in Abuja with 16 African countries expected to participate. Porbeni told newsmen that the boats which are expected to be used for the tournament were yet to arrive in Abuja as they have been unduly held by officers of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). "As I speak to you, our equipment are still being held up at the ports, even though the Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs has instructed them to be released to us. "The boats were brought down for inspectio...

By Diana Omueza The Government of the Ireland and the Government of Norway have advocated for an improved educational system in Nigeria to meet international education standards and address the needs of out of school students. Mr Ronan McGurrin, Second Secretary, Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at an event organised to commemorate the 2023 Universal Children's Day. The event was organised by the Knosks N100-A-Day Charity Secondary School Kuje in partnership with Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. McGurrin said that there was a need for the Nigerian government at all levels to sustain its achievement in the educational system and also enhance it to maintain balance within the international education parameters. "For us in Ireland, we have been suppor...

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has cautioned contractors in the construction industry against cutting corners. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has cautioned contractors in the construction industry against cutting corners. Sanwo-Olu cautioned them on Tuesday during the inauguration of an edifice for the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) at Ikeja. He said such practice had been responsible for the recurring collapse of buildings in the state, Nigeria and around the world. ”I want to use this opportunity to call on all Lagosians, especially professionals that are engaged in the construction industry not to cut corners in the discharge of their duties. ”Trying to cut corners has been majorly identified as the cause of building collapse in our society today. It is not ju...