A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Former President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, on Tuesday, expressed concerns that Nigeria may continue to experience the current recession cycle till 2020, if the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government fail to immediately bounce the economy massively.
*Agbakoba
Agbakoba, who spoke to journalists in Lagos, lamented that having done a diagnosis of the nation’s current economic woes, it seems to be complicated by inflation, high interest rates, unemployment, weak infrastructure, lower oil price and no growth economy.
The Catholic Bishop of Owerri, His Grace Anthony J. V Obinna has identified hunger, underdevelopment and misuse of the country’s resources as major factors encouraging militancy in the oil rich communities of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
He lamented yesterday in Owerri, when a group called Partners For Peace, P4P, in the Niger Delta visited him in his office.
According to the Bishop, “the stage of democracy in Nigeria is leaking. Something has to be done to salvage the situation of hunger in the country which equally can lead to so many of the things we are seeing now. Before now, I can travel round the country at anytime I want, but now the situation is so terrible that to travel from Port Harcourt to Owerri at night is a terrible thing to do.”
The Bishop who assured the Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta of his support towards working out a lasting peace in the area also condemned the level of politicization of the issues.
He, however, called on the stakeholders within the oil communities to see reasons why there should be peace as such would provide the speedy process of development.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation who is the Imo State Chairman of Conflict Prevention Committee of the Partners For Peace in the Niger Delta, said, “we have come to let you know that, P4P, has started the peace process in the Awarra Court Area of Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. Why we are here, is to let you know the extent we have gone and also to plead that you assist us in this process. We know that in your own way you have done so much and we have come to teem up with you in order to achieve a lasting solution.”
The group also pleaded with the Bishop to reach out to authorities concerned for them to withdraw the military that was weekend deployed to the area.
They added that such a step would disrupt the peace process.
He said: “We hear that the people living in Ochii and Awarra communities have vacated from their homes for fear of intimidation.”
The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd), says he has pardoned the 261 ex-agitators, who petitioned the Presidency against him and warned them to stop playing politics with national interest.
Special Adviser to the President on amnesty, Gen. Paul Boroh (retd)
In his reaction to a public apology by delegates of the John Togo Camp that sent the petition against him, General Boroh said misinformation can cause disaffection in society and urged them not to play politics with the collective interests of the country.
He said the Presidential Amnesty Programme is doing well and is focused on its mandate of fully reintegrating all the 30,000 persons, who took the amnesty.
General Boroh said the Amnesty Programme has been fair to all, including impacted communities whose youth have been given over 3,000 scholarship to study locally and internationally.
The Programme he said, is meeting its mandate and is winding down adding that no new intakes are contemplated.
He urged all those who are carrying out campaigns against the Programme and its officers, to desist, and rather concentrate on how they can contribute in making it a success as this will translate to the success and stability of the Niger Delta.
General Boroh also advised the people in the Region, particularly unemployed youths to turn to agriculture, adding that the government is willing to assist all who want to do so.
According to a statement signed by the media and communication consultant to the PAP, Mr. Owe Lakemfa, the Public apology was tendered by the group's Chairman. Mr. Peter Atima and Secretary, Commander Ebitimi, who had jointly signed the August 8, 2016 petition against the Presidential Amnesty Office.
In their letter of apology, the group stated in part that "It was during the process of settlement/reconciliation, the truth about what led to the temporary suspension of our monthly allowances became known to us. We therefore, apologize particularly to your person and your Office."
Ado-Ekiti- The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said Governor Ayodele Fayose lied on his claim that no member of the opposition was attacked since he assumed office in October 2014.
The party debunked the governor’s claims in his Monday media chat television programme.
Fayose
The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, listed instances of attacks on the opposition, saying Fayose only pulled the brakes after President Muhammadu Biuhari was inaugurated in May 2015.
The party said it was unfortunate that Governor Fayose claimed on his television programme that there had never been harassment and attacks on the opposition since he assumed office, Olatunbosun said attacks on the opposition only stopped after Buhari was sworn in.
Listing instances of harassment and intimidation of the opposition, APC spokesman queried: “What of the shootings in Igbemo by Fayose’s thugs for more than three hours with pellets falling on the palace roof and shooting at Hon. Ife Arowosoge’s house at around the same time that the 19 APC Assembly members were not allowed to sit by the governor’s thugs?
“What of our members that received machete cuts by his thugs for wearing APC vests or the shooting in front of CNPP chairman’s house at Egbewa or the APC members he clamped into jail for crimes they didn’t commit?
“What of the several shootings and burning of APC secretariat where offices and vehicles, including mine, were destroyed and are still kept in police stations as exhibits or the attack on our members in front of Bisi Egbeyemi’s house with the latter’s truck vandalised?
“What of the forceful seizure of vehicles belonging to Fayemi’s commissioners and aides or the forceful eviction of Fayemi’s aides and Commissioners from their houses at Irewolede Estate until the court stopped him?
“What is the governor doing with his thugs quartered in the Government House over which we have written many petitions to the security agencies and National Human Right Commission?”
Others, according to Olatunbosun, include Oluwole Jinadu who was allegedly dealt machete cuts in Aisegba- Ekiti by PDP thugs on the eve of Presidential election, the same period that Oluwafemi was attacked in Ado Ekiti while Hon Segun Erinle’ s house was teargased and his aged mother nearly died of teargas fumes on the eve of State Assembly election in 2015, even as the late Gbenga Olofin was similarly attacked during his senatorial campaign in Igede-Ekiti, among several similar attacks across the state.
Olatunbosun wondered whether Fayose was referring to another Ekiti State with the aforementioned cases of attacks.
Olatunbosun also debunked his lies that he built all the structures in the Government House, explaining that most of the structures he claimed to have built were forcefully acquired from their original owners who are in the opposition in continuation of his vendetta war against opposition members.
He explained that Governors Adebayo, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi all built many structures in the Government House that Fayose was claiming credit for.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has urged the people of Edo State to give their votes to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu on Saturday, saying "Edo people should not make the same mistake Nigerians made last year by enthroning the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Muhammadu Buhari."
Fayose
The governor, who also called on the people of Edo State to be extra vigilant before, during and after the election, said; "the people should not just vote and go to sleep, they must make sure that their votes count and victory is ensured for Pastor Ize-Iyamu who is unarguably the best among the contenders."
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said "party sentiment apart, Pastor Ize-Iyamu has campaigned through the nooks and crannies of Edo State to sell his visions and missions to the people of the State and anyone who saw the Channels Television debate on Sunday will agree with me that Pastor Ize-Iyamu is better equipped for the governance of Edo State."
The governor declared that; "If you believe in me and you are a voter in Edo State, give your vote to Pastor Ize-Iyamu, the man who has demonstrated the required capacity to lead Edo State to prosperity."
He said; "Opportunity to choose comes once in four years and the people of Edo State must grab this opportunity to change the fortune of the State for the better.
"Edo people should also be assured that Nigerians are now looking for a more meaningful change that is better than the APC's one chance change and Pastor Ize-Iyamu represents that meaningful change in Edo State."
While calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to maintain neutrality before, during and after the election, the governor described the Edo State election as a litmus test for the APC led federal government, urging all government agencies involved in the election to put the interest of democracy first.
He said INEC must not repeat its story of inconclusiveness on the Edo State election, adding that for the first time in the history of this APC led federal government; election must be free, fair and conclusive.
Governor Fayose said Edo people should be vigilant on the election day and make sure that votes are counted and recorded in relevant forms at the polling units, adding that; "the people should know that elections are not concluded until results are announced officially."
Ado-Ekiti- Residents of Emure in Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State, are yet to recover from the shock of why a 50-year-old man simply identified as Williams would allegedly impregnate his 14-year old daughter (names withheld), and subsequently murdered her to cover up his crime.
Residents in the community told newsmen that Williams had some few months ago put his 14-year old daughter in the family way after series of alleged illicit affair with her.
They added that recently, they started noticing some transformation in the girl that suggested that she was pregnant and this strange development fired their curiosity which eventually made them to discover that she was allegedly impregnated by her father.
Neigbhours who had been suspicious of the unholy rapport between father and daughter began to peddle rumours about the source of the girl’s pregnancy. Soon, the news was making the rounds among the villagers, that Williams had impregnated his own daughter.
According to Anike, a lady resident in the community, “Williams took his ‘expectant girl’ to his farm in Aba Iso area of the community, where it was learnt that he strangulated the girl to death.
“We are sure Williams killed his pregnant girl so as to cover up his crime because the girl’s pregnancy was already becoming very conspicuous and everyone knew that it was her father who slept with her.”
“It took us a while before we were able to apprehend Williams and handed him over to the traditional chiefs in the Community,” the lady said.
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Alberto Adeyemi denied any knowledge of the incident, saying “the matter has not been officially reported to us.”
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation yesterday named a Kenyan, Egyptian, and Zambian as winners of the photography competition, conceived to capture imaginations of a future Africa from the perspective of Africans.
Mo-Ibrahim
Kenyan photographer, Jeri Muchura was announced as the winner of the competition in the professional category, Samar Baiomy from Egypt won in the amateur category while Phindule Tshizumba from South Africa won the contest in the student category.
All three winners according to a statement issued by the Foundation will each receive a prize of $10,000, though Tshizumba would be expected to split his prize money with his school.
The competition themed MyAfrica was launched earlier in the year as part of the activities commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and was open to photographers of all abilities and ages.
The entries were to capture what Africans envision would influence the shape the continent in the different areas the foundation is engaged.
Mo Ibrahim, Founder, and Chair of the Foundation responding to the announcement said: "The Foundation received thousands of photographs, and I would like to thank all those who submitted entries. The best photographs show a vibrant and dynamic future for Africa and tell a story of opportunity and hope. MyAfrica celebrates Africans – through their own images and words – speaking for themselves rather than being spoken for."
All the finalists' photographs will be displayed at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's 10th-anniversary celebration, which will take place in London in October and at the Annual Governance Weekend in Marrakech in November.
Tragedy struck in the early hours of Tuesday, in Lagos, as one unidentified woman was recovered dead and two others rescued alive from a collapsed structure at Kuata Area by Amara Olu Street, Mechanic Village, Agidingbi, Ikeja, as a result of mudslide following a long-hour heavy downpour.
The rainfall, which started late Monday evening, resulted in heavy flooding across the metropolis. Most of the areas such as; Ikeja, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Ikorodu, Mile 2, Ojo, among others experienced heavy flood, resulting in terrible traffic gridlock.
Confirming the incident, General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Engr. Micheal Akindele, said the remains of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary in Ikeja General Hospital while the survivors are currently receiving medical treatment.
According to Akindele, “We received a distress call through the emergency toll free line 112/767 at about 10.54 am today 6th September, 2016 of a report of mudslide at some illegal shanties around Kuata Area by Amara Olu Street Mechanic Village Agidingbi, Ikeja.
“Three persons were discovered trapped under the mud. The Agency’s Emergency Response Team, ERT, were able to rescue some people ( a male and a female), while one adult female lost her life and the dead was recovered by the agency’s ERR.
“The Agency’s ERT and men of the Nigerian Police from Alausa Division, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence LASAMBUS, National Emergency Management Authority, were also on ground for the recovery operation.”
Akindele added that the area is a wet land and a buffer zone which is not habitable for human settlement.
“The state government has been sensitizing people staying in flood prone and wet land to vacate such areas to avert loss of lives especially during this raining season.”
Those at the scene of the incident were Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare; Commandant, Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, Lagos State Command, Mr. Tajudeen Balogun and Director, Lagos Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadope, among others.
The world’s first recipient of a face transplant, Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, died in April “after a long illness”, a French hospital said Tuesday.
The hospital in Amiens, northern France, confirmed the death of “Mrs D., the first patient in the world to receive a face transplant in an operation carried out by Professor (Bernard) Devauchelle and his teams on November 27, 2005.”
The hospital said her death had been kept quiet to protect her family’s privacy.
According to a report, Dinoire’s body had rejected the transplant last year “and she had lost part of the use of her lips”.
The drugs that she had to take to prevent her body from rejecting the transplant left her vulnerable to cancer, and two cancers had developed, the report said.
At the age of 38, Dinoire received a triangular-shaped graft, comprising the nose, lips and chin from a brain-dead donor, to replace parts of her face that had been mauled by a dog
Ekiti State Government will within? the next few days refunded money over-deducted from the salaries of workers for car, housing and computer loans.
This followed the submission of the report by a committee set up by the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, that looked into the matter.
Speaking on an interview programme on radio and television in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Fayose also promised that the legacy projects embarked upon by his administration would be completed as scheduled.
Fayose
In a statement on Tuesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor said teachers, whose salaries were over-deducted fell into those under the Teaching Service Commission and the State Universal Basic Education Board.
While giving the assurance that the money would be refunded shortly, the governor said steps had been taken to prevent a recurrence of such th?ing in the future.
On t?he legacy projects such as the flyover, the new Ojaba Market and the extension of the dualisation of the Ado-Ikere Road, Governor Fayose gave the assurance that they would be completed on time.
He emphasized that the projects could not be in anyway rushed into completion for cheap political reasons as being demanded by some individuals and groups due to their nature.
While appealing for understanding and cooperation of the people over inconveniences encountered as a result of the ongoing works,he said he was not unaware of the pains and discomfort being faced by residents in the process of executing the projects through occasional road diversions.
He clarified that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the projects being undertaken were not misplaced, saying certain facilities that should ordinarily make a state capital or local government headquarter look its worth were lacking in Ekiti State.
Fayose explained that he deliberately embarked on such projects in order to creating long lasting legacies that would outlive him after his tenure of office.
"Only a foolish leader or politician will be working for the purpose of winning election alone but the wise one will do those things that will take care of the future.
?”The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo is still being remembered for what he did. The? dualisation of roads in Efon, Ikole and other places is being done despite the paucity of funds. We need a leader who has the vision and won’t be bogged down by paucity of funds or other hindrances.? I have taken it to personally impact on people’s lives positively.? We need to put the people first?,” he said.
The governor enjoined the state workers, in their capacity as the engine room of government, to rally round his administration to deliver on its promises.
He threatened to soon embark on unscheduled visits to public offices to ensure that issues relating to laziness and complacency among civil servants became a thing of the past.
The governor warned that any worker caught abdicating his responsibility in the process would be dealt with according to necessary industrial law.
He used the occasion to announce that the 20th anniversary of the state creation coming up on October 1,2016 would be low-keyed due to the economic realities of the day.
A woman, who got married two weeks ago in Adamawa, Faisa Mohammed, was killed on Tuesday in Lagos when mudslide occurred in the Agidingbi Area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said that three persons, a male and two females, including Faisa, aged 24, were trapped under the mud but the other two were rescued alive.
The General Manager of LASEMA, Michael Akindele, said in his report that the agency received a distress call through the emergency toll free line 112/767 at about 10.54 a.m.
“The report was of mudslide on illegal shanties around Kuata Area by Amara Olu Street, Mechanic Village, Agidingbi in Ikeja.
“Three persons were discovered trapped under the mud.
“The agency's Emergency Response Team (ERT) were able to rescue two people (a male and a female), while one adult female lost her life and the body was recovered,'' the report said.
“The ERT and men of the Nigerian Police from Alausa Division, Rapid Response Squad and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence, LASAMBUS, NEMA, were on ground for the recovery operation.''
The general manager said that the area was a wetland and a buffer zone which was not habitable for human settlement.
“The Lagos State Government has been sensitising people staying in flood-prone and wetlands to vacate such areas to avert loss of lives, especially during this rainy season,'' Akindele said.
The Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare and the Commandant, NSCDC Lagos State Command, Mr Tajudeen Balogun were also at the scene for rescue operation.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has said that the giant strides and economic growth recorded in Lagos in the last 16 years could be replicated in Edo if the people vote for continuity.
Ambode, who is the Chairman, National Campaign Council for the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Sept. 10 poll in Edo, spoke at the party's final rally in Benin, on Tuesday.
File: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Chairman, National Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (left); Mr. Godwin Obaseki, APC Gubernatorial candidate in Edo State and Governor Adams Oshiomhole during Governor Ambode’s visit to Edo State, Tuesday.
He said that the Gov. Adams Oshiomhole-led APC government in Edo had recorded remarkable progress in the state in the last seven years and this should be sustained by voting in the APC candidate.
Ambode said the governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, was a trustworthy, reliable and God fearing person, who would bring his wealth of experience as a financial expert to bear in the governance of Edo.
He said that Edo, with its vantage position, as well as its human and natural resources, had the potential to be greater.
"We are happy for the presence of President Buhari in our midst and it is a pointer to the importance of Edo state to Nigeria's economic development.
"Edo State has witnessed tremendous progress under Oshiomhole this last seven years, and more than it achieved in the last 10 years of the previous government.
"Oshiomhole has laid the foundation for the progress of the state.
"Edo can be like Lagos State, it has all the potential to be great, and we need Godwin Obaseki to make it greater," he said.
Similarly, in his address, Mr Anselm Ojezua, the state APC chairman, said the support the party had received in the state over the years was a clear testimony of the achievements of the party in Edo.
He appealed to the people to continue giving such support and vote for Obaseki in the Sept. 10 election.
ABUJA – The Bring Back Our Girls BBOG movement, perhaps got what they did not bargain for, Tuesday, as they clashed with some pro-Buhari protesters in Abuja who insisted that the advocacy to rescue the 218 abducted Chibok school girls was a scam sponsored to frustrate the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The altercation ensued as the #BBOG forced their way through a first police barricade around the Ministry of Justice, and tried to head closer to the presidential villa.
As they trudged on, the pro-Buhari group, #WithBuhariWeStand stood in their way chanting “Buhari is a man of peace, stop frustrating him”.
Led by one Idris King, the pro-Buhari group said, "We are for peace. Buhari is a man of peace”.
The BBOG which had oftentime restated its commitment to meaningfully engage the presidency without resort to violence, however ignored the other group.
Co-leader of the BBOG, Aisha Yesufu, said although the group had given three options to the president, which are the use of peaceful means, military option or a combination of the two in rescuing the girls, Buhari appeared to have added a fourth option which is doing nothing to get the girls back.
She said; "All we are saying is #BringBackOurGirls. There is a fourth option which entails doing nothing, which seems like government's option. That we will not accepted”.
DETERMINED to address problem of youths' unemployment in the country, the Federal Government has trained and empowered no fewer than 41,161 graduates under the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) bankrolled by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The Project Director Mr. Dennis Chukwu who made this known while addressing 50 beneficiaries from Akwa Ibom State yesterday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital said so far "the scheme has demonstrated high prospect for job creation and social projection of youths.
"The career development and entrepreneurship skills training have been designed to help you answer the question of 'what next. It is expected that from this training, those of you who are yet to begin plans for your future will do so without further delay.
According to Chukwu, who was represented by Dr. Essien Akparawa, the graduates are imbued with skills in various trades including Information and Communication Technology (ICT), community health, agriculture, construction, education, as well as financial empowerment to start businesses after one year internship.
"The intervention became necessary to re-orientate and redirect the minds of the youths towards independent ventures that would make them employers of labour, instead of job seekers", he said.
Also, Mr. Dauda Madaki, who stood in for the project consultant, enjoined participants to take more than a passing interest in the scheme to fully develop their potentials.
"If effectively maximized the programme has the tendency of molding youths to become functional entrepreneurs that will help to grow the economy and create jobs for others", he stressed.
It could be recalled that out of all the SURE-P programmes initiated by the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the GIS remains the only scheme retained by the current administration as a stop gap programme to curtail youths' unemployment in Nigeria
Ahead of the visit of Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to Cross River State on Wednesday, the Nigerian army has advised residents not to panic over the large movement of troops within the Calabar metropolis.
Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai
A press statement by the headquarters, 13 brigade of the Nigerian army in Calabar, disclosed that Buratai will visit the state to officially flag-off 'Exercise Crocodile Smile', currently ongoing in the Niger Delta region.
This came just as the 13 brigade, on Tuesday, in Calabar south area, provided free medical services to the residents, in view of the forthcoming exercise.
The statement, signed by the brigade's Public Relations Officer (APRO), Captain Kolawole Owolabi, indicated that the visit would attract a large movement of troops in the state, and accordingly, urged residents to feel free while going about their lawful endeavors.
It further indicated that upon his arrival, the COAS, in company of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 division, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, will pay a courtesy visit to Governor Ben Ayade.
The statement read: "Following the deteriorating security situations in the Niger Delta by activities of militants in the area, Exercise Crocodile Smile has been scaled up to neutralize these threats.
"To this end, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. TY Burutai, in company of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 division, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, will arrive Calabar to flag off Exercise Crocodile Smile on Wednesday 7, September, 2016.
"Consequently, members of the public are advised not to panic when they see large movement of troops within Calabar.”
The United Nations said on Tuesday in Geneva that the world is set to miss by more than half a century a deadline for ensuring all children receive secondary education.
The UNESCO report observed that 40 per cent of pupils are being taught in a language that is not their mother tongue.
It recalled that the World leaders agreed last year that by 2030 all girls and boys should be able to complete free quality primary and secondary education, but chronic under-funding is holding back such progress.
The report reiterated that aid to education needed to be increased by six-fold to achieve the goal of quality universal education by 2030.
Jeffrey Sachs, a Special UN Adviser on the SDGs, said in a foreword that the report should set off alarm bells around the world and lead to a historic scale-up of actions to achieve the goal.
He observed that the deadline on universal education was agreed as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – an ambitious plan to end poverty, hunger, advance equality and protect the environment.
“The gaps in educational attainment between rich and poor, within and between countries, are simply appalling,'' he said.
Sachs, who is also an Economist, called for a Global Fund for Education modeled on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which she said had helped drive dramatic improvements in health interventions and funding.
He said that the report indicated that around 263 million children are currently out of school globally, and almost 30 per cent of children from the poorest households in low income countries have never been to school.
Sachs said that critics of the educational goal believed that pushing for universal upper secondary completion distracts from ensuring at least nine years of basic education for all.
Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, on the current trends, analysed that universal primary education would be achieved in 2042, universal lower secondary education in 2059 and upper secondary in 2084.
She described education as key to every aspect of sustainable development including increased prosperity, better agriculture and health, less violence and greater gender equality.
“Achieving universal upper secondary education by 2030 in low income countries could lift 60 million people out of poverty by 2050.
“Educating mothers to lower secondary education in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030 could also prevent 3.5 million child deaths between 2050,60,'' she said.
Bokova said that the report attributed conflict as one of the greatest obstacles to progress in education, keeping over 36 million children out of school.
“It also pointed out that poverty and unemployment resulting from a lack of education could fuel conflict.
“The UNESCO report warned that the type of education children are receiving is not equipping them for the challenges ahead.
She said it called for more emphasis on teaching children about environmental concerns, climate change and how to think collectively so that they can become global citizens.
Bokova stressed that a fundamental change is needed in the way the society thinks about education’s role in global development.
The UNESCO Director-General, said this has become imperative because it has a catalytic impact on the well-being of individuals and the future of the planet.
“Now, more than ever, education has a responsibility to be in gear with 21st century challenges and aspirations.
ABUJA- Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state, have hailed the appointment of Prof. Nelson Brambaifa as the state’s representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
While the state chairman of the party, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, described the appointment as “noble and satisfactory”, one of the chieftains, Engr Preye Aganaba, who was also the Bayelsa Central senatorial candidate in 2015 general elections described the appointment as “a positive step for the state and the Niger Delta region”.
He said, “we must however thank Mr President for consulting with relevant stakeholders on the appointment”.
In his reaction, state deputy chairman of the party, Eddi Julius, said; “This is how appointments are made, with due consultations with stakeholders, with men who had given blood, sweat and tears to make this party great. Previously, only one man sat down and handed appointments to a political turncoat like Heineken Lokpobiri who left the Peoples Democratic Party PDP only because Mr Timipre Sylva had wanted desperately to make him a minister (without consulting stakeholders) in an APC government”.
Mr Julius, a former Bayelsa West Senatorial candidate of the party is of the same local government area as the embattled minister.
The elated former Chairman of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state reflected on the controversies that ripped the state branch of the party apart and regretted that “when appointments are clandestinely given to those who did everything to stop APC from winning Abuja at the expense of those who sacrificed their all to install change, people are going to be disappointed. It was what almost collapsed the party here in the state – one man’s selfishness and ambitions”.
APC chairman in Sagbama Local Government Area, Engr Phil Arepadei, also expressed delight at the development, saying the party is now stronger as stakeholders are always consulted before making such sensitive appointments.
He said; “Prof. Brambaifa’s appointment shows that things no longer move in a haphazard way in our party. This is the first time the party was consulted in any appointment in the state. This appointment is special to me because the man in question, Prof. Brambaifa, is also of the same Sagbama LGA with me”.
It would be recalled that crises began in the Bayelsa chapter of the APC when its governorship candidate in the last election, Mr Timipre Sylva allegedly narrowed federal appointments to his personal aides and friends with some of the appointments allegedly paid for.
ABUJA- THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Monday, said that Nigerians are very troubled, angry, hungry and want the situation changed.
The minister made this during a summon of Agric commissioners from the 17 States and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, over an outbreak of locusts in Niger Republic.
Ogbeh said the meeting became urgent after officials from Niger Republic alerted the Ministry over the invasion of locusts and grasshoppers in their farms.
Commissioners from Adamawa, Borno, Jigawa, Zamfara, Yobe, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Kebbi, Plateau, Bauchi, Sokoto, Enugu, Delta, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa States were present at the meeting.
The Minister said the meeting was to immediately come up with solutions to prevent locust invasion and quelea-birds following the bumper harvest envisaged to tackle the present hunger in Nigeria.
He said: “We have called you for two major reasons first we have received infromation that locusts and quelea-birds are messing up in Niger Republic from where they normally attack us in Nigeria.
“As you know through the efforts some of you are making grain production is increasing steadily especially in the northern part. But you also know how dangerous quelea birds can be and locusts.
“If they arrive within minutes they can wipe out what our farmers have put in the field. Now the price of food is very high today and Nigerians are very troubled. People are very angry and they speak on the television and over the radio, write in newspapers, they are hungry and want that situation resolved.
“Now I believe the efforts you are making we are getting to the promised land.”
The Minister said there maybe problem if urgent steps were not taking to stop the invasion locusts, quelea-birds, army-worms and avian influenza.
“The reason for this meeting is how to urgently attack the locusts and not even in Nigeria but from Niger Republic. And you have to be out the look out.
“We have the Niger-Nigeria Commission and we have been in contact with people in Niger Republic to see what we can do immediately to make sure that the pest don’t arrive here. Now I am told that Niger Republic has aircraft and we used to have some but now we use some private sector service providers, we have chemicals so that we can attack these pests.
“We will get to work and to deploy resources for this fight against the pests before they arrive our shores. Mr President has also written that we move quickly to arrest the menace of locusts, quelea-birds, grasshoppers, and to liaise with the governors in view of the extent of operational and financial support required. So we want to that”, he stated.
However, according to the commissioners quelea-birds, army-worms and grasshoppers have invaded Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Cross River, Yobe, Kano, Borno, Benue,Kebbi, Enugu States, and others.
They said efforts have been made to arrest the situation and have also reported to the Federal Ministry of Agric.
The commission came up with various measures on how to launch the attack on the pests and protect farmlands, which the Minister promised soon to deploy resources to stop the menace.
