The Kogi Central Senatorial District Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Engr Abubakar Ohere, says he represents the yearning and aspirations of people of the district, pointing out that his antecedents and pedigree is what is sending fears into the camp of his opponents.

Engr. Ohere made the disclosure while taking stocks of the overwhelming support his aspiration has garnered, thus making him to be confidence of victory, says, “Our people know me. I have lived with them all year round. I was with them all through tick and thin and having seen what I can offer, they have resolved not to be deceived with mundane sentiments but to overwhelmingly vote for me in the forthcoming February election”.

Engr Ohere says if politics is local and about numbers, says he has all the needed support to coast home to victory in the forthcoming February General Election, described APC as the party of choice in Kogi Central and his aspiration the desires of the people.

While pointing out that his unprecedented support base has silent and sent jitters into the camp of his opponents, assured however that he would not be dragged into joining them to bath in the mud, as he explained that there plans is to introduce violence, which he pointed out has begun with the destruction of billboards overnight.

He however expressed confidence that since the election would be held in the day and not in the night when his opponents go to destroy billboards without being noticed, expressed optimism that his victory is not in contention as what is upper most on his minds is to secure a landslide margin of lead with his majority support that is visible not in contention.

Engr. Ohere described the outstanding infrastructural development programs carried out by Gov. Yahaya Bello as what has made his work in the Central an easy one for him, lauded the present administration for its outstanding impact and performances in the district in all sectors of the economy like has never been witnessed in the State’s history.

Engr. Ohere assured of an issue based campaign devoid of name calling and violence by the APC, assured that his desires to represent the district is borne out of the need to improve on the well-being of the people using the instrumentality of legislation and quality representation.

Engr. Ohere used the opportunity to call for the people to imbibe the Spirit, teachings of Jesus Christ by showing love and affection, sharing of alms with one another at all times as enshrined in the Holy Book during this Christmas.

Engr. Abubakar Ohere reminded Christians that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolises love, peace, humility and, indeed, dignity for the human race prayed to God to make the season a joyous one for everyone in the Central Senatorial District.

He explained that It is for this reason that Jesus Christ embodies self-sacrifice, good neighborliness, charity and reconciliation among humankind wished the Christian community and the entire people of the state with Kogi Central in particular,” Merry Christmas.

The APC candidate for Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Engr. Tunji Akinosi have felicitated with Christian faithfuls on the celebration of Christmas.

In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the immediate commissioner for Forestry urged the Christians to reflect on the teachings of the festival and transfer it into their everyday’s dealings.

“Among many other things, the teachings of Christmas revolve around sacrifices, love and compassion. I would like to urge the people of my constituency in particular and our dear country in general to take a leave from these values in their everyday dealings”, he said.

The APC stalwart stressed that development of the society rests on all its members, hence the need for people to imbibe the Christmas’ message in the course of building a society of dream.

While also charging Nigerians to use the opportunity of the sanctity of the festive period to pray for peace, unity and prosperity of the country, he advised them all to be modest and decent in celebration.

Presenting the achievements today during the International Press Briefing held at the National Press Centre, Abuja, Dare stated that his Ministry has
the mandate to promote the physical, mental and socio- economic development of the youth, constituting the largest demographic composition representing 65% of our population.

He stated that, under the present Administration, the Sports and Youth sector has witnessed tremendous turn around through the implementation of well-thought out initiatives, programmes and policies targeted not only at empowering our youth but also moving sports away from mere recreation to business. This he said, was with a view to contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

While describing the youth as the strength and future of our nation, Dare observed that “fixing them is fixing the country” and that was why he added, that the present Administration embarked on empowering them through the acquisition of various skills to make them enterpreneurial, employable as well as employers of labour. Stating further that so far, a total of 432,812 youth have benefited from the various training programmes which
include Cyber Security, Web Development, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Coding, among others

This, he noted, became realisable through its Digital Skills Acquisition, Enterpreneurship, Employability, Leadership and Mentorship (DEEL) programme in collaboration with other development partners.

The Minister explained that, in order to provide access to funds to empower the teeming Nigerian Youth, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration committed N75 billion to National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF). Of this amount he said, 26,000 applicants have so far accessed N10bn out of the fund while the next trench of N10bn is slated for disbursement in January 2023.

He said that the present Administration also boosted the commitment of graduates during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), through the increment of their allowances from N19,800 to N33,000 from January 2020.

On the Sports Sector, Dare informed that, it has also witnessed a massive face-lift through its Initiatives/Projects such as Adopt-an-Athlete, Pitch, Sports, Talent Hunt Programme as well as Welfare Fund for Athletes which had led to various sponsorship opportunities for them, thus leading to the numerous medals being harvested in different competitions within and outside the country.

He noted that the Administration was able to revive the National Principals’ Cup, OSOM Games, National Youth Games as well as the National Sports Festival which is a forum for the discovery of talents.

The Minister emphasised that, the present Administration, in recognition of the sterling performance of our athletes at the Commonweath Games hosted them to a Presidential Reception and gifted them a cash award of Two hundred million naira, including National Honours.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed stated that the event which was launched on October 19, 2022 is the 14th Edition in the Administration’s Scorecard Series

He stated that the programme was organised by the Ministry to avail the public of the numerous achievements recorded by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government since the inception of the present Administration till date.

Signed
Mohammed Manga
Director, Press and Public Relations
December 20, 2021

… Respondents list bridge building ability, community development as his staying power

An opinion poll conducted by Sagios Communication has placed the All Progressives Congress Flagbearer For Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Barr. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem ahead of other contestants in the forthcoming February General Election.

Speaking with Newsmen after the poll, Senusi Valo, Chief Executive Officer, Sagios, said the poll sampled opinion across the federal Constituency.

He said 5000 opinion across the Wards of the Federal Constituency showed there preference for Barr. Sanni.

As to why he is preferred, the respondents listed his bridge building ability as his greatest selling point.

They all note that what Ajaokuta Federal Constituency needs moving forward is a representative who can build bridges and unite the people together.

Ajaokuta Federal Constituency according to the respondents is a miniature nigeria with the next dispensation expected to produce one who can make the people see themselves as one again irrespective of tribe, religion and district, said emphatically that Barr. Sanni has proven to have such qualities.

Respondents observed that Barr. Sanni has over time proven to be passionate about the development of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, pointing out that all that is needed was to cross his path, said he does not descriminate.

Similarly, his philanthropic gestures even before joining politics as a gladiator, speaks volumes, with all the respondents pointing to one area he has individually and has impacted there communities collectively over the last two decades.

The demography showed that the women and Youths group are more, irrespective of political and tribal affiliation placing Barr. Sanni ahead other contestants.

According to the Chief Executive, the poll results represent the views of the people, said it intends to cover more respondents in the December and January poll before the February and March General election.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has identified ways to deepen the democratic process and drive sustainable development in Nigeria.

Dare, who was the keynote speaker at the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation roundtable held on Friday at the University of Ibadan, highlighted the reviving of the culture of public debate of ideologies and policies, investment in education and enlightenment and continuous improvement of our electoral laws among others, as practical steps that must taken to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the country.

His words: “Apart from having roundtable discussions and open fora on the subject matter such as this, there is the need to take very practical steps in growing our democracy in Nigeria.

“There must be the reviving of the culture of public debate of ideologies and policies in our country and eliminating toxicity, abuse and vulgarity especially at this time that the social media is helping the spread of negativity and increasingly making more people anti-Intellectual even in the universities.

“We have a challenge to find great minds of the past like Professors Aboyade Cole, Sam Aluko, Moses Akin-Makinde and Chief Obafemi Awolowo who wrote and formulated policies for the country.”

The Minister also tasked the Government, “to continue to invest in education and public enlightenment so that the mass of the people can know their roles, rights, duties and obligations in the democratic process.”

Dare said there must be the continuous improvement of the electoral laws in Nigeria to protect the ballot and make votes count during elections, praising President Muhammadu Buhari for the Electoral Law 2022, which he says has instilled more confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process while strengthening the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) as an institution.

He further called for an effective criminal justice system to deal with all electoral offenders.

“Our criminal justice system needs to be more alive to its responsibilities. Our judiciary and law enforcement agencies, especially the Police, must be able to stamp out violence and intimidation from our political space.

“There should be punishment for electoral offenders. The Election Offences Tribunals must be able to prosecute these offenders.

“We also need strong and viable political parties, who apart from being vehicles for political participations must play critical roles in deepening the democratic system and sustainable development through the propagation of their manifestos and public education of their programmes and government policies. Political parties must remain a public trust and be properly organised as such.”

The Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare then eulogised the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, describing him as a leader who loved his people and served them with honesty of purpose and with the determination to make positive impact on their lives.

“Some of the enduring legacies Senator Abiola Ajimobi has left us are the reforms in education, security and urban renewal.

“Without a doubt, we miss him greatly. If he was still here with us, our party, the All Peoples Congress(APC) would have been more vibrant, cohesive and viable,” Dare concluded.

The Kogi Government on Friday, threatened heavy sanctions to any school and principal involved in any form of examination malpractices in the state.

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the warning at the inauguration of distribution of free Chemistry and Physics textbooks to 95 public school students in Kogi West Senatorial district at Saint Augustine College Kabba.

He noted that 61 secondary schools in Kogi was recently de-recognised by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) on account of malpractices in the 2022 West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

According to him, similar complain was tendered by the examination body in 2019, where 51 secondary schools were involved, noting that things got better in 2020 and 2021 when the numbers of derecognised schools were reduced drastically from 51 to only one.

This, he said was as a result of serious warning by the ministry of education to principals of schools coupled with the commitment and determination of the state government to halt examination malpractices in the state.

The Commissioner lamented that just on Thursday, WAEC officials forwarded a letter to his office intimating the ministry that 61 secondary schools were grossly involved in examination malpractices in the 2022 examination.

“This, I am not going to let it go. We are going to sanction any principal found wanting in this unwholesome behaviour trying to tarnish the good image and reputation we have built in examination conduct in the state.

“The ministry of education will set up a committee that will investigate the involvement of principals in this disgraceful act before we sanction appropriately to serve as deterrent to others.

”The state government can not be investing hugely in education sector then somebody somewhere will be sabotaging our efforts

“We are aware that when WAEC charged registration fees of N23,000, but principals charged over N40,000 ” logistic” involved to indulge in examination malpractices.

”We are not unaware, we will curb the situation by sanctioning whoever found wanting in the act according to the 2020 Kogi State Educational Law.

”We will kill ‘miracles centers’ in Kogi, we will halt all forms of examination malpractices, and some erring schools would be closed down,” the commissioners warned.

He, therefore warned all schools’ principals in the state against involvement in any form of examination malpractices, saying defaulters would face heavy sanctions according to the state’s education law.

Jones also frown on the existing of illegal private tertiary institutions in the state, and assured that very soon the ministry would clampdown on them..

The commissioner enjoined the affected tertiary institutions to put their house in order by doing the heedful.

End

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, made the call during the flagg-off distribution of free Chemistry and Physics textbooks to public school students in Kogi West Senatorial district, on Thursday at Saint Augustine College Kabba.

The free science textbooks totaling 11,000 for the entire state, was sponsored and donated by Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government, in support of the State Government’s school adoption and mentorship programme.

The commissioner commended the donor for boosting Gov. Yahaya Bello Administration’s effort to revamping education in the state.

Jones noted that the distribution of the textbooks had been inaugurated and distributed at Okene for Central and Idah for the Eastern senatorial districts.

The commissioner noted that the intervention by Ododo remained the biggest so far in the state since the commencement of the programme, saying it was massive across the three senatorial districts.

He, therefore appealed to individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through the programme by adopting schools and mentoring of students for excellence to bringing back the glory of education in the state.

”You don’t need all the money to adopt a school or to mentor our students; sharing your experience alone with the students is enough motivation for them to boost their morale,” he said.

Jones stressed the commitment of His Excellency to continue to give utmost priority to education sector particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The commissioner warned schools’ principals and teachers against selling the textbooks, saying government had set machinery in motion to apprehend any erring officials.

He advised the students to utilise the textbooks effectively by studying hard, saying examination malpractice is forbidden in the state.

He further warned all schools’ principals in the state against involvement in examination malpractice, saying defaulters would face heavy sanctions according to the state’s education law.

”We will kill ‘miracles centers’ in Kogi, we will halt all forms of examination malpractices, and some erring schools would be closed down,” the commissioners warned.

In their goodwill messages, Mr Robert Awodi, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), and Mr Ranti Ojo, the state’s Chairman, Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), both thanked the donor for the gesture

The unions commended the governor for given topmost priority to education in the state, and assured the government of their maximum support.

They further commended the education commissioner for the initiative and for his unprecedented achievements in the sector, saying history would forever remember him for the legacy.

On their part, the Authors of the textbooks, Engr. Yusub Ibrahim and Engr. Yusuf Isah, who are both Lecturers at FUTMINNA, said the leading feature about the books was its learner’s friendly, saying it was a good opportunity for the students and the teachers to utilise.

The authors commended the governor and the commissioner for partnering with them and for making the textbooks to see the light of the day.

In her vote of thanks, Hon Nana Raji, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Vocational and Informal Education, appreciated all the relevant stakeholders for making the project a huge success.

She urged the students to make good use of the textbooks for their own benefits as well as fulfilling the donor’s good intentions.

Some students, Hannah Oloruntoba, Goodluck Osarumwenser, from Lokoja and Kabba/Bunu LGAs, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked the government and the donor for the gesture, and promised to utilise the books effectively.

End

The Kogi State Government, on Tuesday extended the distribution of free science textbooks to Senior Secondary Secondary (SSS 2) students in public schools in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.

The free 11,000 Chemistry and Physics textbooks, was sponsored and donated by Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government, in support of the State Government’s School Adoption and Mentorship Programme.

Speaking at Our Lady of Schools (OLS), Anyigba, Gov. Yahaya Bello, commended the donor for boosting his Administration’s effort to revamping education and for extending the gesture across all the three senatorial district.

Bello, who was represented by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, said that the distribution of the 11,000 science textbooks was inaugurated on November 12, at Okene, in Kogi Central.

Bello reaffirmed his commitment to continue to give utmost priority to education sector particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The governor stressed that education remained the most expensive venture that any government could fund, and expressed his full support for the school adoption and mentorship programme.

The governor enjoined individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through its School Adoption and Mentorship Programme to bringing back the glory of education in the state.

The governor advised the schools’ principals against selling the textbooks, saying government had put machinery in motion to ensure the books were effectively utilised as intended.

Bello noted that the education ministry was already working with another individual who has volunteered to sponsor the production of Mathematics textbooks.

He further said that the state government during the recent State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, approved the elongation of service years for teachers from 35 to 40 years in service as well as 60 to 65 years’ retirement age.

The governor stressed that Kogi remained the first State to domesticate such education policy of the federal government on the elongation of teachers’ service years.

He disclosed that the government would round up the ongoing teachers’ recruitment processes in the next two weeks.

”We need adequate and competent human resources that will teach in our schools, and that is why we have ensured a transparent recruitment processes from the aptitude test to the final employment.

”You can not achieve anything meaningful in life without education. We are bringing back the glory of education to Kogi State,” he said.

He, therefore urged the students to utilise the textbooks effectively by studying hard, saying there was no more room for examination malpractice in the state.

The governor warned that any erring student, teacher as well as parent involved in examination malpractice would be prosecuted in line with the newly enacted education law of the state.

In their goodwill messages, Mr David Apeh, Kogi Commissioner for Agriculture; Dr Gabriel Ottah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Communication; and Prof. Daniel Atidoga, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), all commended the donor for the gesture.

They praised the governor for given topmost priority to education and his determination and commitment to revamping the sector in the state.

They commended the education commissioner for the initiative and for his unprecedented achievements in the sector, saying history would not forget him.

On their part, Mr Robert Awodi, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), and Mr Ojo Ranti, the state’s Chairman, Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), both thanked the donor for extending the distribution of the textbooks across the state.

The unions commended the governor for given approval for elongation service years and retirement age for teachers in the state.

Some of the students, Fatima Yusuf from Holy Rosery College, Idah; Umar Farouk, and Goodness Egbunu from Community Secondary, Abocho, all expressed their excitement over the free textbooks, saying it would help them to pass their exams.

End

The attention of the Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, has been drawn to an online publication by the name “PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S NEWSLINE” which is not registered with the University, and whose main administrator goes by the name, Saeed Jibrin, a 300 Level student of the Faculty of Law.

The widely circulated publication misinformed the public and our law abiding students that the University under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, has increased school fees without confirmation of the said increase from the University Management.

Consequently, the University Management wishes to categorically state as follows:

1. That there is no increase in school fees payable by the returning students;
2. That the fees payable by the returning students still remains as itemised below:
   i. Tuition = N21, 900
   ii. Third Party Fees = 23,000
   iii. Students Levies and Dues (charged by various students’ associations) = N1, 650
   This brings the total charges to N46, 550
3. That only recently, after a successful resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC), a set of new programmes were approved for the University to commence in the 2022/2023 academic session.
4. That these new programmes include B. NSc. Nursing Science, B.Sc. Pharmacology and BMLS. Medical Laboratory Science;
5. That these new programmes are highly capital intensive which attract higher fees across all Nigerian universities for their peculiarities;
6. That to guarantee the sustainability of these new programmes, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, cannot be different; that is why there is need to charge appropriate fees;
7. That, also, for the sustainability of some programmes currently on offer in the University, predominantly those that have two cycles of accreditation, it has become unrealistic to continue to charge a fee of N46,550 to run these programmes.
   Conclusion
   In line with a circular recently issued out on mode of communication in the University, the University Management wishes to reiterate that students strictly abide by the content of the circular. We therefore wish to inform the public that the position was not as presented in the said publication. The presenter embarked on a frolic of his own without sufficient information. As stated earlier, the returning students are not to pay more than the school fees known to them.

Signed:
Management, PAAU, Anyigba

The coordinator and leader of Labour Party (LP) in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Mr David Apeh, and over 200O others, on Monday defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, received the defectors with enthusiasm at Okpo Olamaboro.

Onoja eulogised the LP leader, his followers and several other defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for heeding to the voice of reasoning by joining APC.

The deputy governor explained that the APC worked tirelessly to defeat PDP in 2015, repeated same in 2019, expressing confidence that 2O23 would be a walkover.

He stressed that the ruling party had performed tremendously well in social economic and infrastructure development across the council and the state at large under Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration,

The deputy governor assured that with the increase in the number of registered voters, the LGA would double its winning streak.

He further called for massive support for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, saying Kogi would hugely benefit from Tinubu’s administration if elected Nigeria’s president.

Reacting on the allegations against him by LP House of Representatives candidate, Chief Peter Ameh, that he authorised the destruction of billboards, Onoja urged the LP candidate to do the needful by obeying the law.

According to Onoja, the state has passed a signage law through Kogi Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), which stipulated the amount payable by candidates of political parties before mounting billboards and posters in the state.

He disclosed that as sitting Deputy Governor, he paid huge amount of money to advertising agencies for him to paste posters and mount billboards when his principal, Governor Yahaya Bello was contesting for presidential ticket of the APC.

”My name is a catalyst for news, a brand that if not added to a story by my detractors, their stories will not sell.

”I never ordered anyone to destroy billboards, because I am chairman of KGIRS,” Onoja said..

Earlier, the coordinator of the defectors and LP leader, said he was an ‘intensed political archenemy’ of the deputy governor with several confrontations in many fora .

”But having sat down and did a comprehensive analysis of the political trends in the country, i realized that labour party was not going to have a meaningful headway in the 2023 polls.

”I, therefore decided to pitch my tents along with my over 2000 numerous supporters with the ruling party,” he said.

Apeh enjoined all sons and daughters of Olamabiro in opposition parties to join APC, stressing that the party had brought unprecedented developmental strides to the areas.

Other dignitaries at the events were: House of Representatives member for Olamaboro/ Omala /Ankpa Federal Constituency, Mr. Abdullahi Halims; and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Gabriel Olofu.

Others included the Chairman Olamaboro, Mr Friday Adejoh; member, House of Assembly member, Anthony Ujah Alewo and a host of other sons and daughters of the LGA.

End