Month: October 2023

he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu, says the interpretation of plays and films will promote national unity and integration in Nigeria.

Akpagu made this known on Thursday during the 2nd Calabar International Conference of Theatre and Media 2019, holding at the Chinua Achebe Arts Theatre in the University of Calabar.

The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by Prof. Uche Amalu, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, said that theatre performances could enhance the unity in diversity, thereby encouraging oneness among Nigerians.

He said that theme of this year’s conference, “Theatre Media and National Integration in a Globalised World’’ is apt as it is borne out of the need to foster national integration.

The vice-chancellor expressed satisfaction with the activities and performances of the Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies Department, saying it had harnessed the potential of different cultural values through stage performances.

“I am very confident that the papers that will be presented at this conference will no doubt espouse ways to re-engineer, restructure and reposition our great country, Nigeria for greater heights,’’ he said.

Prof. Emmy Unuja-Idegu, Head of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies Department, said that through the instrumentality of entertainment, theatre could enhance societal development.

Unuja-Idegu said that theatre could deliver a serious message with great impact through music, plays, songs and dance.

“The role of the Nigerian home movies in trying to unite the country through different plays is highly commendable.

“The cultural and ambassadorial role that Nollywood is playing is exceptional and that is only an arm of theatre that we are talking about.

“Government should realise the potency of media and theatre and begin to invest massively in it to promote their image laundry,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were various stage plays by students of the department to showcase Nigeria’s unity in diversity.

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday expressed his gratitude to delegates for electing him as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Governorship election in the state.

Bello in a statement in Lokoja, commended the delegates for their conduct and maturity during the party’s primary election held on Aug. 29.

He promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him, calling for unity among party members to ensure that the party emerged victorious in the coming election.

“Your votes demonstrated your esteemed confidence in my leadership. This show of faith is highly appreciated and shall serve as a boost to our collective aspirations of moving Kogi State to the next level.

“I am assuring you that I would do you proud by coasting home to victory for the party in the Nov.16 general election,’’ he said in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Onogu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bello emerged winner of the APC governorship ticket by polling 3,091 votes to beat nine other aspirants who contested the governorship primary.

The primary election was conducted at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja on Thursday.

The governor also hailed the democratic posture of all the aspirants and appealed to them to join hands with him to retain Kogi State for APC come November.

“I thank God Almighty for this victory. I want to appreciate the National Leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his advice.

“I want to express my appreciation to the National Chairman of our party, Mr Adams Oshiomhole and the National Working Committee for the quality of leadership they have provided.

“My sincere appreciation goes to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, His Excellency Badaru Abubakar and his members.

“In this contest, there is no winner, no vanquished.

“I, therefore, called on all aspirants, stakeholders and members of our party to come to work with me to ensure victory for our party on Nov. 16,’’ Bello said.

NAN

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has called on parents and guardians to be particularly watchful of the companies their children and wards keep, to prevent them from joining bandits and other criminals.

Masari made the call on Thursday in Katsina, while speaking at a security meeting between traditional rulers, herdsmen leaders and security agencies in the state.

“Herdsmen leadership at all levels should counsel their children to desist from joining criminal gangs killing people or destroying property.

“A situation where people are being killed on daily basis is unacceptable.

“Therefore, these criminals must repent or we as government, will know how to deal with them’’, he added.

The governor lamented that Katsina, the home state of the President, is now being portrayed in bad light as a result of the recurring banditry.

Masari, however, assured that the government would work with any group that is ready for peace, to make sure that sanity return to rural communities in parts of the state.

Also speaking, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, called for immediate halt to the shedding of blood of innocent persons.

He urged communities in his domain to continue to live in peace with one another, describing the present spate of killings in the state as counterproductive.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, said government had committed huge resources in sustaining peace and protecting lives and property. (NAN)

(FLOWETRBUDNEWS)   Kaduna State Government said it would ensure the completion of all the 51 ongoing capital projects in the education sector, awarded between 2016 and 2019.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr Shehu Makarfi, made this known at a meeting with some of the contractors on Thursday in Kaduna.

According to the Commissioner, the meeting was  to discuss the challenges hampering the completion of the projects and agree on  the way forward.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only four out of the 55 projects were fully completed while the rest were at between zero per cent to 80 per cent completion stage.

A document obtained by NAN indicates that the projects, awarded at the cost of over N6.4 billion were mainly on construction, renovation and rehabilitation of classrooms.

It also included provision of drainage, solar-powered boreholes, toilets, solar streetlights, furniture, and perimeter fences in schools.

The document revealed that about N2.4 billion was disbursed to the contractors out of the N6.4 billion.

At the meeting, the commissioner said that the state government was now ready to pay outstanding liabilities to the contractors.

He, however, noted that some of the contractors had collected mobilisation fees and disappeared, warning that their contract would be revoked and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

“We equally observed that some of the contractors are not executing the project as specified in the Bill of Quantity.

“This is unacceptable and such contractors will not be paid until the projects meet minimum standard.

“We will, therefore, recommend payment to only performing contractors and those who are willing to go back to site and complete the projects according to specifications,” he said.

Makarfi also said that the state government has began compilation of a compendium of accredited contractors, urging the contractors to avoid being blacklisted.

Also speaking, the Director, Education Sector Project, Malam Ubale Salisu, urged the contractors to be diligent in executing the projects.

Salisu added that Bill of Quantity would be released to all relevant stakeholders to monitor and ensure quality delivery of the projects.

Responding, Malam Ibrahim Balarabe, who spoke on behalf of the contractors, identified non payment and security challenges as the major challenges militating against completion of the projects.

One of the contractors, Malam Sambo Salisu, of Salzi Nigerian Ltd., acknowledged that some contractors had disappeared after collecting mobilisation fee.

He noted that scarcity of funds was common with day-to-day running of government, pointing out that some committed contractors mobilised to site without payment.

“I mobilised to site the moment I collected my contract award, because I am very confident that the government will pay me in full.

“For example, I renovated the whole of Government Girls Secondary School, Kabala Costain, without mobilisation fee and I was paid in full upon completion of the project.

“We did same thing with the renovation of Rimi College Phase I, and now I am on Phase II,,” Salisu added.

He advised his colleagues that have no capital to execute projects to stay away from construction business, stressing that without capital, there was little or nothing that a contractor can do. (NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS)  The Kano State Hisbah Board says it has arrested 46 suspected beggars in Kano metropolis for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state.

Alhaji Lawan Ibrahim the Public Relations’ Officer of the Board disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Kano.

He added that the suspects were apprehended on Thursday afternoon during a special raid carried out between 1p.m and 3 p.m at Audu Bako Secretariat, Oasis Bakery at Taurauni, Magwan road and Iyaka road in the metropolis.

“The number comprises of 32 adults and 14 children.

“The board will properly screen them, counsel and thereafter release them since there are first-time offenders,’’ he said.

NAN reports that on Aug. 28, the board arrested 60 other suspected beggars in Kano metropolis for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state. (NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Thursday emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Nov. 16 Governorship election.

Bello emerged winner of the governorship ticket by polling 3,369 votes to beat eight other aspirants who contested the governorship primaries conducted by the party in Lokoja.

Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa,  who was the Chairman of the electoral panel that conducted the process, said that Mr Babatunde Irukera came second with 109 votes while Rep. Hassan Bewa came third with 44 votes.

He said Mr Yahaya Audu got 10 votes while Mr Sani Abdulahi polled seven votes.

He also said that Mr Abubakar Bashir got three votes.

Badaru also said that Mrs Blessing Ekele, Mrs Hadiza Ibrahim, Mr Yakubu Mohammed and Mr Danlami Mohammed scored zero votes.

According to Badaru, 3,596 accredited delegates voted during the primaries election out of which 54 votes were declared invalid (FLOWERBUDNEWS)

(flowerbudnews) President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno as he hits the golden age of 50.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, who disclosed this on Friday in Yokohama, Japan said the governor got a goodwill message from the President.

Zulum is on the presidential delegation to the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) in Yokohama, Japan.

Buhari wished Zulum good health, long life, and strength to serve his people dutifully, having been inaugurated as governor last May 29.

Zulum, an academic and politician, holds a Ph.D in Soil and Water Engineering, and was Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement under the Kashim Shettima administration. (NAN)

(flowerbudnews)  Japan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have announced a joint target of 3.5 billion dollars under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA4) for Africa initiative.

A statement by AfDB’s s Communication and External Relations Department on Friday said the development was made known at the 7thTokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) in Japan.

It explained that both Japan and the bank had also set a target of 1.75 billion dollars each between 2020 and 2022, to enhance the fourth phase of EPSA to spur private-sector-led sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa.

The statement quoted the Japan’s State Minister of Finance, Mr Keisuke Suzuki as saying “building on the successful achievements so far, Japan and the bank had decided to upgrade EPSA in both quality and quantity to meet financial needs for infrastructure development.

“And also for the private sector development in Africa, we will cooperate by integrating our funds, expertise, and experiences, and I wish the win-win relationship between Japan and Africa will deepen further.’’

Suzuki explained that electricity, transportation, and health would be key priorities under EPSA4.

According to the minister, projects and programmes for the three key priorities will be formulated and implemented in line with the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment.

“African countries will also be provided with support to improve and create conducive business environments to attract private investments,’’ he said.

The statement also said that the bank’s president, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina noted that the development marked another day to celebrate the strong and impactful partnership between Japan and AfDB.

Adesina explained that the bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) were long-term partners in the promotion of Africa’s development.

He said the EPSA had helped to deliver much needed support to the private sector.

“During EPSA1 (2005-2011), Japan set the target of providing one billion dollars in loans and two billion dollars under the second phase (2012-2016).’’

According to Adesina, the ongoing EPSA3 (2017-2019), Japan and the African Development Bank are cooperating closely to provide the targeted joint amount of three billion dollars.

“As of today, the bank and JICA under ACFA have co-financed 25 projects to improve key transportation and electricity transmission networks.

“These include the Construction of Three Intersections in Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and Power Sector Reform Programme in Angola.

“Under EPSA4, JICA and the AfDB will provide co-financing of 3.5 billion dollars. This is a significant increase over EPSA-3, which was executed at three billion dollars with 17 per cent increase.

“Increase is what we need to meet the needs of Africa, what we need to raise the level of our ambitions for Africa and what we need to build upon the solid foundations of co-financing over the last 13 years, and deliver even greater and more impactful development results in the years ahead.

“Now, let us arise with renewed vigour. Let us deliver even greater impacts for African countries through EPSA 4,”  Adesina said. (NAN)