Flowerbud News

Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

  • Nobel Prize: Why Nigerian scholars were not nominated

    Nobel Prize: Why Nigerian scholars were not nominated

    By Funmilayo Adeyemi

    The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) has said that Nigerian scholars `especially from the intellectual community’ were not nominated for the 2023 Nobel Prize  because of poor research funding.
    The Secretary-General of the committee, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu was reacting to the recent announcement of the 2023 Nobel Prize winners.
    He  spoke at a news conference to herald the commemoration of 60th anniversary of the committee in Abuja on Friday.
    Ochefu explained that for Nigerians to feature in the Nobel prize nominations, there must be major breakthrough in cutting-edge research.
    “This comes back to the work that the CVCNU has been doing over the years which is to improve the funding of university system.
    “To win a Nobel prize is a product of sustained and rigorous research in the academic discipline, it is not a one-off things.
    “It looks surprised that the average age for a Nobel prize winner is from 50 years, it means that the person would have been doing research for at least 10 years to make a major breakthrough in his area of specialisation .
    “We do not have enough funding for research in this country, there is a correlation between the quantum of resources available for research and the development of every country.
    “And the benchmark is at least one per cent of your Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be set aside for research and innovation, we are not even doing 0.1 per cent,” he said.
    Ochefu also added that absence of facilities to do the cutting-edge research over a sustained period of time to compete with researchers from other parts of the world was a major challenge.
    The Nobel Prize is an international prize awarded annually since 1901 for achievements in physics , Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine , Literature and Peace.
    Nobel Prizes have been awarded to over 800 individuals since inception.
    Norwegian author Jon Fosse is the winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature for his “innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.
    Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian, became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.
    NAN
  • Kebbi Govt. shares N5.7bn palliative to 550,000 families

    Kebbi Govt. shares N5.7bn palliative to 550,000 families

    By Ibrahim Bello

    The Kebbi Government, on Friday distributed palliatives worth N5.7 billion to 550,000 vulnerable families in the state.
    Gov. Nasir Idris inaugurated the distribution of the palliative in Maiyama.
    He said 210 trucks of grains would be shared to the families to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal and provide them with sustainable means of livelihood.
    “The distribution of these palliatives beginning from today, will continue until every beneficiary receives their allocation.
    “Each of the 21 local government areas will receive 10 trucks consisting of rice, millet and maize; Kebbi state government expended over N5.7 billion to procure these grains,” the governor said.
    He charged the committees set up in each local government area to be firm and resolute and ensure that only the most vulnerable people in every ward benefit from the gesture.
    Idris disclosed that the state had enrolled into the 2023/2024 Federal Government Special Dry Season Programme, to provide solid, lasting and sustainable means of livelihood to the citizenry.
    “Support will be provided for dry season crop production to create a circle of agricultural activities.
    ” Under the programme, farmers will be supported with subsidised inputs and solar irrigation pumps to cultivate rice, wheat, maize, and cassava in the dry season.
    “I, therefore, call on all genuine farmers in the state to enrol into the programme to cultivate the crop of their choice so as to contribute to the food basket of the country,” the governor said.
    According to him, the state government recently distributed 6,720 tons of free fertiliser worth N2.3 billion to farmers in the state, as part of overall efforts to enhance agricultural activities.
    NAN
  • Court sentences 4 men for kidnapping Mike Ozekhome to 20 years imprisonment each

    Court sentences 4 men for kidnapping Mike Ozekhome to 20 years imprisonment each

    By Taiye Agbaje

    A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Friday, convicted and sentenced two of the four defendants alleged to have kidnapped Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to a 20-year-jail term each.
    Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, held that the prosecution had been able to establish the counts preferred against Kelvin Ezeigbe and Frank Azuekor, who were 1st and 2nd defendants, beyond reasonable doubt.
    Justice Nyako held that the sentence would run from the day of their arrest.
    The judge, however, discharged and acquitted
     Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna, who were 3rd and 4th defendants, of the counts levelled against them in the terrorism charge.
    She held that though some of the counts against Ezeigbe and Azuekor attracted punishment ranging from death sentence, life inprisonment to at least 10 years jail term, she said she had found that the accused had been been remorseful of their criminal act.
    She said she also found that they had been in custody for about 10 year from the day of their arrest.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Omonigho, who was said to be the chief priest was in court, Haruna was not.
    When Nyako warned Omonigho to be careful as people worship in his shrine in the open court, the chief priest responded thus: “I have repented my lord.”
    The judge, however, directed that Haruna, who was at large, should be brought to court to face the sin of his escape from lawful custody, even though he was discharged of the counts against him.
    They judge commended the defence lawyer, Bala Dakum, and the prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegbu, for their industrious input in the course of the trial.
    NAN reports that the defendants; Kelvin Ezeigbe, Frank Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna were first arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a FHC, on June 9, 2014, on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and acts of terrorism.
    While the three defendants were in court, Haruna was said to be missing after the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists on July 5, 2022.
     They were accused of committing acts of terrorism, contrary to Sections 1, 8 and 10 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.
    They were alleged to have, on Aug. 23, 2013, kidnapped Mr. Ozekhome at Iruekpen on his way to Iviukwe in Agenebode, Edo.
    Ozekhome was held in captivity for about three weeks before his release allegedly following the payment of N28 million ransom.
    They were also accused of kidnapping Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha; Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and killing five policemen and two prison officials.
    The defendants were also alleged to have compelled Eghagha to pay N7 million, Ugbome paid N20 million and Omorogbe paid N3.5 million.
    The five police officers allegedly killed were Paul Ajaka, Sunday Ewanshiha, Michael Akpada, Bakary Ekong and Innocent Odoh.
    They also allegedly killed Lawrence Edora and Oyibo Okoye who were prison officers and made away with their service rifles.
    The four suspects were refused bail filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Bala Dakum.
    While Ezeigbe and Azuekor had been held at the facility of the Department of State Service (DSS), Omonigho and Haruna were held at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.
    NAN
  • Marwa seeks global commitment in tackling illicit drug trade, societal menace

    Marwa seeks global commitment in tackling illicit drug trade, societal menace

    By Flowerbud News

    Oct. 6, 2023

    Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has said that the task of keeping modern societies safe from the scourge of illicit drugs demands global commitment.

    This is contained in a statement on Friday in Abuja, by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi.

    Marwa said this while delivering a lecture to academics, students, mental health professionals and Nigerians in diaspora at the Jayhawk Welcome Centre, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, US.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the lecture part of the 2023 edition of the Marwa Africana Lecture Series established and organised annually since 2003 by the Department of African and African-American Studies of the university.

    The lecture had as its theme “War against Substance Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking: The Nigerian Story”.

    Marwa while relieving the Nigerian experience in the fight against the global drug scourge said that the NDLEA had been able to keep huge cache of drugs from getting into the streets.

    He explained that this was achieve by seizing them at the border or before distribution, adding that intelligence sharing with counterparts in source countries or along the transnational routes played huge role in the success story.

    The chairman said that for some 33 months now, Nigeria had run an unflagging anti-illicit drug campaign based on global best practices for drug law enforcement, and guided by UNODC’s Whole-of-Society approach to the drug conundrum.

    According to him, while we have achieved remarkable mileage, the Nigerian anti-drug campaign is nonetheless a work in progress.

    “Be that as it may, our achievements of the past 30 months, relative to the past 30 years, have bolstered our hope of greater accomplishments going forward.

    “The support from our international partners; governments of friendly countries; the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Nigerian people have strengthened our conviction that the objective we pursue is not unrealistic.

    “Now we have before us an open vista where the objective of a drug-free society is a possibility.

    “The task of keeping modern society safe from the scourge of illicit drugs requires a global commitment, and in NDLEA and Nigeria, we are doing everything possible to fulfil our end of the bargain.”

    The NDLEA boss also said that the choice of words for the campaign against illicit drugs in Nigeria was a metaphor that was reflective of the need for drastic steps against a brewing illicit drug apocalypse.

    He added that the war on drugs within the Nigerian context connoted the severity of the situation as an existentialist threat to the Nigerian nation and the urgency and intensity of action required to bring the situation under control.

    He further said that the campaign, was however, being conducted in accordance with global best practice.

    Marwa also told the gathering some of the strategic steps taken to get positive results by NDLEA.

    “In every facet of our activities, we endeavour to adopt innovation. We upgraded our standard operating procedures. We innovated our methodologies, adopted sophisticated tools and systems, and embraced revolutionary paradigms in treatment.

    “For instance, to break the jinx of barriers to treatment, NDLEA commissioned a drug abuse tele-therapy centre.

    “This toll-free call centre has a round-the-clock helpdesk to which drug users, their families, and associates can call for assistance, and receive prompt attention from a team of counsellors and mental health professionals.

    “The UN conventions encouraged law enforcement agencies in different countries to work in collaboration.

    “We explore the opportunities maximally by renewing and strengthening our ties with our international partners, such as INL and DEA here in the United States.

    “Also with Narcotics Control Bureau of India, the UK Border Force, and NCA, Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt, and the French Police, among others, “he said.

    NAN further reports that the lecture followed an interactive session during which Marwa answered questions asked by members of the audience especially Nigerians who expressed happiness on efforts being made by the Nigerian government to curtail drug scourge.

    Some Academics who spoke at the event include Dr Shawn Leigh, Professor and Chair, Department of African and African-American Studies, Dr Peter Ukpokodu, a Professor of African and African-American Studies.

    Others were Dr Dorthy Pennington, also a Professor of African and African-American Studies, Dr Amal El Haimeur, Assistant Professor of African and African-American Studies, all of University of Kansas.

    “They commended the NDLEA chairman for his leadership skills and commitment to Nigeria and humanity.

    NAN

  • Communal Clash: Osun Govt Imposes 24-hour curfew on 2 LGAs

    Communal Clash: Osun Govt Imposes 24-hour curfew on 2 LGAs

    By Victor Adeoti

    The Osun Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ifon and Ilobu, in Orolu and Irepodun Local Government Areas of the state respectively over ongoing communal clash in the area.

    This is contained in a statement in Osogbo on Friday, by Mr Kolapo Alimi, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both communities in the two local government areas have been clashing over a parcel of land.

    Alimi said that the curfew was to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the hitherto two peaceful and law abiding communities.

    He said that Gov. Ademola Adeleke directed that the 24-hour curfew on the communities should take immediate effect.

    “To maintain a lasting peace and order, pending when the issues at hand will be amicably resolved, Gov. Adeleke, in his executive capacity as the Chief Security Officer of the state, has ordered the immediate takeover of the disputed lands/areas by his administration.

    “In the same vein, government has ordered that anyone or group of persons found or seen doing one thing or the other on the disputed lands/areas will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Therefore, in strict compliance with the 24-hour curfew now imposed, there will be strict restriction of both human and vehicular movements in the affected areas and communities until otherwise directed by the governor,” he said.

    The commissioner also said that officers of the Joint Security Task Force, comprising the Nigerian Army, Police, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, have been directed to be on a 24-hour surveillance on the communities with a view to ensuring lasting peace.

    “As a government, the present administration has the obligation as conferred on it by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to protect the lives and property of the people of Orolu and Irepodun local governments and by extension, Osun state.

    “The present administration will not in any way be a party to compromising any action or utterances that will mortgage the peace and order currently holding sway in the state.

    “While commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the wake of the recent crisis, the present administration is still reiterating the need for peace and order to be restored in the two concerned local governments.

    “Maintaining peace and order is our collective responsibility in Osun state,” he added.

    NAN also reports that the state government had earlier on Sept. 17 imposed an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew on both communities.

    The measure came in the wake of a communal clash between the two communities, resulting in a total breakdown of law and order.

    NAN

  • No to security deal with Israel- MURIC tells Wike

    No to security deal with Israel- MURIC tells Wike

    By Abdul Hassan

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted plans by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesome Wike, to partner with Israeli security experts on security challenges.

    MURIC stated this in a statement on Thursday, by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola in Abuja.

    “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, yesterday disclosed that he was working on a deal to partner with Israeli security experts for the improvement of security in Abuja.

    “We like to warn that such collaboration with the state of Israel will exacerbate Nigeria’s security problem by escalating it from a local crisis to an international fracas engineered by MOSSAD (Israel’s secret spies) with the likelihood of Nigeria becoming the center of rivalry for global espionage outfits like the American CIA and the Russian SVR and FSB.

    “We believe that Wike is now courting the Israelis because, like most Nigerian Christians, he holds the wrong notion that Israel is a Christian state whereas the reverse is the case. Several instances confirm that the only religion Israel recognises and respects is judaism.

    “Just yesterday, Wednesday, Sept.4 Jews spit on Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem, Christians are under constant attacks in Israel,” he said.

    Akintola added: “To cap the edifice, Israel’s arrogant posture at the United Nations as it shuns the latter’s resolutions is legendary. At least 45 UN resolutions have condemned Israel’s aggression against Palestianians.

    “A terrorist state cannot be the ideal security partner for us in Nigeria. Wike should take the Israelis to Rivers State. Israel constitutes an existential threat to both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.”

    NAN

  • World Teachers` Day: Gov. Bago decry falling standard of education

    World Teachers` Day: Gov. Bago decry falling standard of education

    By Rita Iliya

    Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, has decried the falling standard of education especially in public schools in the state.

    Bago who said this during the 2023 World Teachers` Day celebration on Tuesday in Minna, called for attitudinal change toward the sector.

    The theme of the celebration is: The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse teacher shortage in Minna.

    Bago was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Yakubu Garba on the occasion.

    He acknowledged that enhancement of teachers’ salaries was overdue and promised to address the salary gap of teachers in the state.

    “Firstly, we need to change our attitude generally, if you are a teacher, we understand your plight, I want to plead with all teachers to be patriotic and resilience in impacting knowledge,” he said.

    He said that government would look into the challenges affecting teachers and promised to pay 50 per cent of outstanding October salary within the next 10 days.

    In a remark, Mr Akayago Mohammed, Chairman of NUT in Niger, said the event was to celebrate the contributions of teachers to nation building.

    He said that it was unfortunate that teachers, who impact knowledge on the lives of people, are always neglected and reduced to beggars.

    Akayago appealed to Bago to review teachers’ salaries upward  and other challenges ranging from over population of pupils, lack of teachers and dilapidated structures amongst others.

    In his Keynote address, Alhaji Yabagi Alfa, former Registrar, Niger College of Education, Minna, said the country needed highly qualified and motivated teachers.

    He said that to reverse the shortage of teachers, government should allocate more resources for in service training of teachers, increase their remuneration to retain them.

    Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, Commissioner, Basic and Secondary Education, said the governor had given the ministry a matching order to study and proposed measures to address shortage of teachers and improve the sector.

    Speaker of the House, Mr Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, assured that the state house of assembly would come up with legislation to review the old education laws, especially on area of teachers` welfare.

    NAN

  • Mbah inaugurates committee on N30,000 minimum wage payment to Enugu primary school teachers

    Mbah inaugurates committee on N30,000 minimum wage payment to Enugu primary school teachers

    By Benson Ezugwu

    Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has set up a committee on payment of N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers in the state.

    Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Enugu State wing, Chief Theophilus Odo, made the disclosure on Thursday in Enugu during the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration.

    Odo, who said that he was a member of the committee, thanked the governor for the gesture.

    Speaking on the theme for this year’s Day: “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage,” he stressed the need for the re-ordering of a new value system.

    “There is the need for re-ordering the societal value system, such as stewardship, steadfastness, commitment to service, sincerity, etc. which an ideal teacher epitomises

    “It is this kind of moral vision against the false value of acquisitive, oppressive and exploitative society that will awaken Nigeria teachers to their duties and responsibilities to the nation, as it was in the past,” he said.

    Odo drew the attention of the governor to the need for recruitment of new teachers in the state and the release of outstanding promotion of teachers.

    He also demanded for the payment of outstanding leave allowances to teachers in both primary and post-primary schools in the state.

    “We also demand for donation of an 18-seater bus to the union for ease of movement, as the ones donated by successive governments can no longer travel beyond Enugu metropolis because they are old,” he said.

    The NUT chairman urged parents, students and the society at large to accord teachers their due respect, adding that “honour should be given to whom honour is due.”

    He condemned, in totality, situations where teachers were beaten up in the presence of their students and guardians, saying it was most unfortunate.

    “Teachers themselves should see commitment to service and hard work as their watchword and be guided at all times by the ethics of the profession,” he said.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, who represented the governor at the occasion, described teachers as role models and mentors.

    He said that government would continue to support the teaching profession in the state.

    In her keynote address, a don, Prof. Obiamaka Egbo, said the theme of this year’s celebration resonated deeply with the Nigerian context, where shortage of teachers remained a significant challenge in the pursuit of quality education for all.

    She said that education was regarded as a fundamental right and powerful tool for personal and national development in Nigeria.

    “However, the quality of education we provide for our children and youth is at a crossroads, largely due to the critical shortage of well-trained and motivated teachers.

    “To reverse this shortage, we must first understand the global imperative behind this issue and then apply it to our unique Nigerian situation,” she said.

    NAN

  • Katsina pilgrims board fixes N3m initial deposit for 2024 Hajj —- Official

    Katsina pilgrims board fixes N3m initial deposit for 2024 Hajj —- Official

    By Zubairu Idris

    The Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board has fixed N3 million as initial deposit for each prospective pilgrim who wishes to perform the 2024 hajj.
    The board’s Executive Director, Alhaji Suleiman Nuhu-Kuki, made the announcement on Thursday in Katsina at a news conference.
    He also revealed that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), had allocated 4,513 hajj seats to the state.
    “In consideration of the fluctuating exchange rate of Naira to Dollar, the commission demanded intending pilgrims/depositors to make an initial deposit of N4.5 million.
    “His Excellency, Gov. Dikko Radda has agreed to the proposal of the board to spread the payments within a timeframe of three months beginning with initial deposit of N3 million, and subsequent monthly payments.
    “So, by December, 2023, intending pilgrims/depositors would comfortably conclude the payment, and waiting for whatever may be balance of Hajj fares to be announced by the NAHCON,” he said.
    He further said that all payments must be made through a certified bank draft payable to Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
    The executive director added that the registration must also be conducted at the seven Zonal Offices of the board situated at Katsina, Funtua, Malumfashi, Dutsinma, Kankia, Daura and Mani.
    On the early arrangements, Nuhu-Kuki explained that the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah released the preliminary arrangement document for the 2024 Hajj.
    “The documents stated clearly the timeline for the implementation of all important activities and fixed the 20th of Shawwal 1445 AH equivalent to 29th April, 2024, as the deadline for the closure of e-track portal and the stoppage of pilgrims’ visa issuance, among others,” he said.
    Nuhu-Kuki said that depositors must also sign an undertaking form on validation of his/her Hajj seat at a point of registration.
    He therefore urged the intending pilgrims to seek for knowledge of Hajj from scholars to enable them to perform acceptable Hajj (Hajj mabrur).
    NAN