Category: General News

  • REP. ONWUEGBU EXPRESSES JOY OVER BEATRICE EKWEREMADU’S RETURN

    REP. ONWUEGBU EXPRESSES JOY OVER BEATRICE EKWEREMADU’S RETURN

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    The Member Representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency in Enugu State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, has expressed joy over the release of Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from the United Kingdom’s prison.


    Onwuegbu made the remarks in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Friday.

    He said that the release of Mrs. Ekweremadu from the UK’s prison and eventual return to Nigeria brings joy to her immediate family, Mpu community, and the people of Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency.

    He said that “Mrs. Ekweremadu is a trailblazer”, whose commitment to the welfare of the people, especially people from Greater Awgu, had been always felt by all.


    According to him, I am gladdened with the news of Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu’s release from UK prison; and this has brought so much joy and a sense of ecstasy to our people, especially her immediate family.

    “She is my constituent and the wife of my very respected brother, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    “Her release and return to Nigeria is a great relief to her family and many of us.

    “You must have read or seen videos of people celebrating her return. To be honest with you, her immediate family will have a better temperature at this point, given her long absence from the country.


    “No mother wishes to be separated from her family for this long. I completely understand the situation and how difficult it was for loved ones and our people. She is welcome back home,” he said.

    Also speaking on the expected release of Sen. Ekweremadu; Onwuegbu said “I am in high hope that the former lawmaker will be released sooner than expected.”

    “This is a legal matter, but I am hopeful he will come out stronger.

    “Sen. Ekweremadu is a great son of Enugu State who has contributed immensely to the development of our dear state and country.


    “I have visited him in the UK, and we spoke on a lot of issues. I must confess that he is in high spirits,” he said.

    The lawmaker also appreciated the support provided to the family of Ekweremadu during this hard period by friends, constituents, and well-wishers, adding that the support had uplifted their faith and spirit.

  • Agro-industrialisation: ENSG to establish 340 Green House Technology farms

    Agro-industrialisation: ENSG to establish 340 Green House Technology farms

    By Flowerbudnews
    The Enugu State Government says it is set to establish no fewer than 340 Green House Technology farms across the 17 council areas in the state.


    The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Dr Patrick Ubru, said on Friday in Enugu that the Green House Technology farms was an initiative of Gov. Peter Mbah to revolutionarise agriculture in the state.


    Ubru said that the Green House Technology farm had successfully completed it pilot stage in the last nine months, adding that the pilot stage was highly successful and “it is time to replicate it in the council areas.”

    “After the successful pilot stage, it is time the state government in partnership with the 17 local council governments set up the Green House Technology farms and get our people involved in this lucrative business of technological modern farming system,” he said.

    According to him, there will be 20 Green House Technology farms in each of the 17 council areas and we will do all year round culitivation of exotic vegetables and spices.


    He said that the exotic vegetables and spices would be for export purpose as the cargo terminal wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu would soon be completed to air freight the produce.

    “The Green House Technology farm initiative holds a lot of benefits and promises for the state as we already found out from its pilot scheme that under a controlled environment, we can do three or four times cropping and harvesting yearly.

    “The improved seedling of exotic vegetables and spices can give us super yields and required export standard and specification.


    “The Green House Technology farms also have solar-powered cold box system attached to it for preservation of the exotic vegetables and spices and ensuring they retain freshness for export.

    “It is one of the initiative meant to realise Gov. Peter Mbah envisioned reality of moving Enugu State economy from $4 billion to N30 billion GDP within eight years,” he said.

    The commissioner said that each Green House Technology farm would employ at least betwern four and six staff.


    He said that the materials to build a environment and temperature controlled Green House Technology
    farm are available within the state including the solar-powered cold box system attached to it.

    “We are also encouraging corporate organisations and individuals to participate in the Green House Technology farming as the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation is ready to provide technical support to such private ventures to succeed.


    “Our agriculture-loving governor is putting all to ensure that agriculture becomes a big business venture and no one regret taking up agriculture as a business and residents taught best agronomy practices to take advantage of any available space within homes for farming.”

  • APC Chieftain says Ganduje appoint as Chairman will usher FAAN golden era

    APC Chieftain says Ganduje appoint as Chairman will usher FAAN golden era

    By Flowerbudnews

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hycienth Ngwu, has hailed appointment of His Excellency, Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of APC as Board Chairman of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

     

    Ngwu, a former South-East Publicity Secretary of the APC, in a statement on Sunday in Enugu commended President Bola Tinubu for the apt appointment.

     

    He noted that he was optimistic that “the appointment will usher in a golden era of progress for FAAN”.

    The APC foundation member said that the apt appointment would ensure that the FAAN mandate, which is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” would be achieved.

     

    “The recent appointment of His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kano State Governor and presently the National Chairman of APC as Board Chairman of FAAN is a catalyst that will quicken the realisation of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for FAAN.

     

    “Given Ganduje’s wealth of experience in public administration, his appointment as the Chairman of the Board of FAAN will complement and quicken the ministerial mandate/vision of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in FAAN.

    “This mandate is ably supervised by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Olubunmi Kuku.

     

    “With the combination of these personalities, I have no doubt FAAN will witness a golden era under this administration,” he said.

     

    In another development, Ngwu condoled with the families and friends of the victims of the fuel tanker explosion at Ugwu-Onyeama Hill along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

    According to him, this is an unfortunate incident and this type of occurrence could have been minimised if the roads were in good condition.

     

    “The Enugu-Onitsha Expressway is a gateway from Ebonyi, Enugu, to Anambra and the South Western States.

     

    “Therefore, the government, through the Federal Ministry of Work, should prioritise complete reconstruction of the road and the portions dilapidated be rehabilitated for the smooth movement and benefit of all road users.

     

    “I commend the Enugu State Chief Fire Officer, Chief Okwudiri Ohaa, and his team for rising to the occasion and halting the spread of the fire on time,” he added.

  • Enugu Govt registers over 60,000 verifiable farmers within 18 months

    Enugu Govt registers over 60,000 verifiable farmers within 18 months

     

    By Flowerbudnews
    The Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization says it has registered over 60,000 farmers within the last 18 months in its ongoing farmers registration.

    The Commissioner for the Ministry, Dr Patrick Ubru, told newsmen in Enugu on Sunday that the over 60,000 farmers are duly verified with vital details such as verifiable residential and farm addresses.


    He said that “the ongoing diligent registration” was the first mandate given to the ministry by Gov. Peter Mbah.

    The commissioner noted that Gov. Mbah wanted to ensure that genuine farmers were identified and given necessary inputs and technical support to make agriculture a “big business in the state”.

    According to Ubru, the ministry collected their National Identity Numbers (NINs); cell-phone numbers; the farming cooperative society they belong to (if they belong); and the capacity of the farming they are current involved in.


    “We also classified the agricultural practice they engaged in such as: plantations of various economic crops/plants; crop farming such as tubers, cereals, vegetables and spices; exotic plant/horticulture; animal husbandry, poultry and fishery among others.

    “We also registered agro-industrialists such as middlemen and women in value-chain addition; produce middle market men and women as well as produce off-takers as well.

    “The ministry also sends its staff to do secret verification to locate the claimed farm or agriculture practice sites most times,” he said.


    Ubru noted that the Gov. Mbah administration had effectively stopped the issue of “political farmers” with the ongoing registration.

    He said that previously, political farmers, with no farms or idea of farming, held sway in the state without any actual farming activities.

    The commissioner said that the political farmers’ activities drove away the real farmers, and the support supposed to be given to them directly was diverted.

    He said, “At a time before the emergence of Gov. Mbah, most genuine farmers lost interest in farming, as no government input and technical support was given to them.

    “Today, we have real farmers and our agriculture-loving governor has increased funding in agriculture activities and food production.

    “Gov. Mbah is doing this through robust farmers’ participation in state-fashioned agricultural and agro-industrialisation programmes as well as in Federal and international institutions agricultural programmes and projects.”

  • $6.7bn investment in Nigeria’s energy sector in 2024, commendable – TMV

    $6.7bn investment in Nigeria’s energy sector in 2024, commendable – TMV

     

    By Danladi Ahmed

    The Tinubu Media Volunteers (TMV) has described the inflow of $6.7 billion in investments into the country’s energy sector in 2024 as encouraging and, therefore, commendable.

    In a statement signed by its Chairman Chukwudi Enekwechi and Secretary Shedrach Sunday, TMV noted that the investment inflow was a consequence of incentives introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    “We note that this information was contained in the “Presidency Energy Sector Wrap-up 2024” and released by the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

    “It is also observed that $5.5 bn of the amount was invested in the oil and gas sector, while $400 million was the federal government’s investment in the Presidential Metering Initiative and $700 million was channelled to the Clean Mobility and Clean Cooking Initiative.

    “We also acknowledge that Shell has invested $5 billion in the Bonga North Deep Offshore Project, which is the first green field deep offshore project in over ten years. The project will boost Nigeria’s oil production capacity by about 110,000 barrels per day.

    “It is our view that the implication of these investments is a clear demonstration of investors’ confidence in the Nigerian oil sector and also shows that the sector is stable and conducive for large-scale investments.

    “We are also aware that several local investors have been showing interest in unlocking opportunities in the onshore fields with multi-billion naira acquisitions and investments in recent months.

    “With the new investments in the upstream sector, Nigeria now has the capacity not only to meet its OPEC quota but to exceed it as production will peak at about 2.06 million barrels per day. All of these will help to boost the country’s revenue profile and production capacity.

    “We also note that these investments have been enabled by the various executive orders signed by Mr. President, which include: The oil and gas Companies (Tax incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc) order 2024, Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements 2024 and the Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines 2024.

    “These proactive measures by the President have greatly impacted the oil and energy sectors in general coming with a renewed interest by local and foreign investors in the country,” it added.

    The group also expressed optimism about more investment inflow into the energy sector in 2025.

     

  • Sex, Pastors and Pastors’ wives, By Funke Egbemode

    Sex, Pastors and Pastors’ wives, By Funke Egbemode

     

     

    By Funke Egbemode

    Today I’m worried about men of God, wet matchboxes and the fire at the base of the mountains of pastors’ wives. I’m worried about pastors who leave their wives’ needs unattended in the name of doing God’s work.

    A pastor’s wife was caught pants down with her butt-naked brother-in-law defiling the clergy man’s marriage bed. The video trended for a while, last week. Did you see it? The woman said she was pushed into the act by hunger, sexual hunger. Her pastor husband was focused more on fasting and prayer than fulfilling his conjugal duties. The man of God neglected the fire in between the legs of his wife. He allowed his wife to burn while he concentrated on the fire on his prayer altar. He refused to mount his wife and deliver her from the tension in her loins but instead moved from one prayer mountain to the other.

    He must have convinced himself that the fire burning his wife was a fire of lower importance than the fire on his mountain. What did he know? When a woman wants her man, she wants him. She is not impressed by his spiritual exercises or excuses. She will hold on for as long as she can keep the fire under her wrapper, skirt or trousers. And women, especially wives, are good with holding that fire than men. Maybe that is why men take advantage of us.

    They think because we do not have evidence of a ‘morning glory’ or an angry ‘hard-on’ we do not have desperate moments. What ignorance! What carelessness! That’s why the Pastor stayed on the mountain, ignoring his wife’s cry for help. Did he think being a pastor exempted him from taking his wife to peaks of orgasmic pleasure plateau or that being Mummy G.O. excludes his wife from sexual needs?

    Therefore, on Count 1, Oga Pastor was guilty. He left his primary assignment, his first call and allowed the devil to use it to taint his calling and ministry. Because, come to think of it, sex in marriage is holy, God-approved. Bible-sanctioned. So what was the Pastor thinking, that there would be no consequences for leaving his wife’s needs attended?

    In any case, how long does it take to quench the fire in between a woman’s legs? You can do a one-hour drill. You can also do a quickie. She’s your sheep, pastor. Lead her in the right direction, lead her to wet pasture. But you can’t ignore her. She is God’ gift to you, your helpmeet, the bone from your side. Ignoring her needs is like telling God to ‘come and carry his load’ because you have other more important loads. No sir, you can’t tell God that.

    The things that happen when a woman’s needs are ignored are far more costly than the little sacrifice of touching her in the right places and taking her to cloud nine twice a week. Okay, once a week. Just give a good account of your manhood when you do your weekly ministration. That’s all.

    A pastor friend of mine told me that when you see a man of God prancing energetically on the altar, singing and dancing on Sunday morning, his wife had ministered to him all night. Meaning: a loving night of love puts a spring in the steps of pastors too. Now, imagine what an unhappy, frustrated pastor’s wife will mean and do to the call and commission, her husband’s prayer will be hindered.

    What then is the essence of eight months of prayer and fasting if the prayer will be hindered? Imagine the sacrifice, denying yourself food, water, soft drinks for months just so the man in the wheel chair in your church can be healed, only for nothing to happen just because your wife is not being treated fairly. It’s not even as if sex is some bitter pill. It’s sweet, delicious, relaxing, therapeutic blessing from God. Why would a man of God run from a gift from God, a gift that was created before Pastor was formed? I don’t just understand some men’s interpretation on the holy books and God’s thoughts when he created the marriage institution. Is it that they know more than God or they simply don’t know anything at all? You keep your wife on ice for months and you say you love God?

    We all need to read 1Peter 3: 7.

    ‘Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives. And treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the glorious gift of life, SO THAT NOTHING WILL HINDER YOUR PRAYERS.

    Dear men of God, do not waste our faith, the hope of your congregation because that is what you do when you treat your wives unfairly. We come to you. You lead the service, you bless us at the end of the service. We go home waiting for a miracle but you dear pastor, go on to block our testimonies by the way you treat your wives. Today is Saturday sir, make Mummy happy tonight. It is important for tomorrow’s service. Don’t use your I-can-go-without-sex-for-12-months pride to spoil your congregants’ testimonies. Do not hold back tonight. It is not a sin to do your wife well in every style and position. Forget her big hats and flowing dresses, she is just a warm-blooded female waiting for you to quench the fire down there.

    On Count 2, therefore, the pastor, whose wife confessed to adultery, in the video is also found guilty of indirectly hindering the prayers of his flock.

    But wait, isn’t it suspicious, very suspicious that a man, any man will go without sex for eight months at a stretch. A friend tried to plant a bad angle in my head.

    ‘Are we sure he wasn’t getting some on the side, outside?’ He asked with mischief glinting brightly in his eyes.

    ‘He is a man of God!’ I warned him, like thunder could follow his blasphemous insinuation.

    ‘He’s a man first.’ He insisted on his theory. Bad guy, that one.

    ‘What if his matchbox is wet…?’ it’s possible, right?’

    ‘Oh wow, that is very possible.’ He’s my friend and I know how to divert his attention from one interesting theory to even more colourfully interesting ones.

    Seriously though, if a man is hiding out on prayer mountains for eight months, avoiding his wife’s bed and bosom, it is safe to assume that his matchbox is wet. A wet matchbox will have wet matchsticks. Wet matchsticks can’t produce sparks, least of all light a fire. Now, that is sad and a natural disaster that we cannot hold Pastor responsible for. But he should have taken his wife into confidence so they could have sought medical and psychological help. To just hide behind church activities, fasting and prayer is both unfair and unwise. We all know that when men’s libido starts waning, it’s like a death verdict for them. They first go into denial, then feelings of shame, anger and then self-help of all shades. You do not want to know the risks and danger they expose their livers and kidneys to just so they can raise the dead, if you get my drift. The small sachets of this and that…Ale, aleko, opa eyin, and of course, Viagra and its blue cousins. May the Lord help our men.

    Ladies, when you notice or suspect that your man’s matchbox is wet, don’t let him fool you with ‘ there’s an important match at 11pm.’ Or, members of the Men’s Fellowship are starting a 30-day fasting and prayer. Don’t let him sleep on the couch. Help him get his groove back, after all you were the great beneficiary when he was doing it everywhere in the house. There are many ways to dry his matchbox but this is a family platform, we will have to take the details somewhere else. Right.

    Finally, to Mummy G.O who decided her husband’s brother was the alternative to her husband, it’s a shame, ma, you are guilty on that count and your sentence will have no option of parole. Your brother-in-law on top of you or under you was not the solution. Oh no! Even if that was a cry for help, it was a shameful cry. There are many ways, many options, many devices you could have resorted to. There are sex toys. At the very worst, you could have done what you did far away from the homestead. When you have diarrhea, you do not defecate close to where you live but you, ma’am, you stooped and defecated in front of the family house.

    Now, you have stained your husband’s calling. You have called his manhood to question. You have damaged your own name, title and position. Instead of people sympathizing with your eight-month dry spell in sexual wilderness, you are now the butt of jokes. It is really difficult to come back from this. But it is possible.

    (Egbemode can be reached via: egbemode3@gmail.com)

  • Again Boko Haram kills Army commander, 19 Soldiers in Borno

    Again Boko Haram kills Army commander, 19 Soldiers in Borno

     

     

    By Ndahi Maramma

    Maiduguri:  Two days after the killing of 20 fishermen in the Gadan Gari fishing community of Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, on Wednesday, another attack by armed terrorists, suspected to be Boko Haram/ISWAP, has reportedly claimed the lives of a military commander, two senior officers, and 17 soldiers at a military base in Malam-Fatori, the headquarters of Abadam Local Government Area.

    Bama is located in Borno Central, while Malam-Fatori, in the northern part of the state, lies near the border with the Republic of Niger.

    A similar incident occurred a few weeks ago when terrorists invaded a military base in the Sabon Gari community of Damboa Local Government Area, Borno State, killing several soldiers, including officers.

    Reliable sources reported that the attackers, who stormed the Malam-Fatori military base, wreaked havoc for several hours on Friday, 24 January 2025, before dislodging the 149 Battalion. Survivors of the deadly attack reportedly fled to safety.

    Intelligence sources confirmed that the insurgents arrived at the base in multiple gun trucks, razing several buildings and military operational vehicles during the assault.

    “Many soldiers were seriously injured, and a yet-to-be-ascertained number of personnel remain missing as of Saturday,” one source said.

    “The commanding officer of the battalion, two senior officers, including the base medical director, were among those killed. This comes just days after the terror group launched a brutal attack on the military’s Forward Operating Base in Damboa, killing an unconfirmed number of soldiers, with many still missing.

    “The 25 Taskforce Brigade was attacked over the weekend with heavy casualties. So far, over seven bodies have been recovered. The terror group invaded the FOB Sabon Gari camp around 4 am on Saturday, using various weapons,” the source added.

    Meanwhile, in the Gadan Gari attack in Bama, Modu Ari, a member of the civilian joint task force, reported that insurgents stormed the fishing community on Wednesday at about 11:00 am, opening fire on fishermen, killing at least 20.

    Mustapha Kachallah, a resident, said his child was killed in the attack, and they had buried more than 15 people.

    The military and Borno State officials have yet to comment on the attacks.

    Since November last year, there has been a resurgence of terrorist attacks across Borno State. Before these two incidents, over 40 farmers were killed in Dumba, a fishing and farming community in Kukawa Local Government Area.

    The current situation calls for urgent action from the federal government and the Nigerian military to restore the relative peace previously enjoyed in the region. This is especially critical as the state government continues its efforts to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their ancestral homes.

  • FG partners Singapore to transform Nigeria’s civil service

    FG partners Singapore to transform Nigeria’s civil service

    By Flowerbud News

    The Federal Government has sought Singapore’s partnership to transform the nation’s civil service to a model of professionalism, efficiency and responsiveness.

    Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) sought for the partnership when she led a delegation to Singapore.

    The delegation visited the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore.

    Walson-Jack, in a statement by Mrs Eno Olotu, Director, Information and Public Relations in Abuja on Sunday, said that the move was to learn from Singapore’s exemplary civil service.

    She highlighted the critical importance of collaboration in advancing public service development in Nigeria.

    According to her, the visit provided a significant opportunity for the delegation to draw insights and best practices in advancing civil service transformation in Nigeria.

    She reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global excellence in public service, pointing out that the Southeast Asian country was renowned worldwide for its efficiency, transparency, innovation and achievements in public sector transformation.

    “The Nigerian delegation is eager to draw inspiration and insights from such successes to drive impactful changes in Nigeria’s civil service.

    “The visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening ties between the Nigeria’s civil service and Singapore.

    “Not only that, both nations aim to establish partnership between the Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development and the Public Service Institute of Nigeria.

    “This collaboration will focus on joint training programmes, collaborative research, and sharing innovative solutions,” she said.

    The HCSFA said that the synergy between the two countries represents a beacon of hope for the quest to transform Nigeria’s civil service into a model of professionalism and efficiency.

    She identified some of the key benefits of the partnership to include joint training programmes, collaborative research, and sharing innovative solutions.

    This, she said, would empower Nigeria’s civil servants with the needed knowledge and tools to excel.

    “By working together, we can build a public service that is responsive, accountable, and dedicated to the welfare of our people and eventually serves as a model for the continent,” she said.

    She commended UNDP for facilitating the visit to the Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development, formerly Global Centre for Public Service Excellence.

    She expressed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing reforms and building partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of its public service.

    According to her, the collaboration is expected to pave the way for transformative advancements in training, policy implementation, and service delivery in Nigeria.

    “This promised a brighter and more efficient future for Nigeria’s civil service.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian delegation, comprising 20 Heads of State Civil Services, is the first batch in the first phase of a two-part initiative.

    The initiative is designed to enhance Nigeria’s civil service by leveraging globally renowned Singapore Public Service model, in line with 21st-century expectations.

    NAN

     

  • Tinubu commits to bolstering horse racing in Nigeria

    Tinubu commits to bolstering horse racing in Nigeria

    By Mohammed Baba Busu

    President Bola Tinubu says he is committed to bolstering horse racing in Nigeria for the nation to be at par with her contemporaries globally.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu gave the commitment at the finals of the ‘2025 International Renewed Hope Horse Racing Competition’ held at Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar 111, International Race Course, Bida, Niger on Saturday.

    NAN also reports that the international Horse Racing Tournament tagged: Sahel Savannah Stakes Series Bida 2025 was organised by the Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria (HFN).

    Tinubu was represented by the Chairman, National Sport Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko.

    The president vowed to liaise with all the critical stakeholders in horse racing to take the sports to greater heights.

    Tinubu further said that the Federal Government would do the needful to improve horse racing and other sporting activities in the the country.

    “We will support all initiatives in this direction as as part of my Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “Horse racing will generate more employment and and it’s the number one unifier and peace builder in Nigerian.

    “We will bring renewed hope to the doorstep of every Nigerian and I am keen to making all sports thrive in Nigeria,” the president promised.

    The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and Life President of the federation, said it was founded in 2019 with the aim of creating a national platform to regulate horse racing activities across the country.

    According to the Etsu Nupe, the federation was dedicated to promoting national unity and prosperity by bringing from various regions through a shared passion for equestrian activities.

    The Etsu Nupe noted that efforts will be intensified to strengthen the cultural norms and values of the people through sports

    According to Abubakar, this has become necessary to prevent culture and traditions from going into extinction.

    “The race, which is traditional in nature, further provided an opportunity for the display of culture and various cultural activities” the royal father said.

    Also speaking, the National Coordinator, Horse Racing Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha-Bida, Sarkin Dawaki Nupe extolled Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to boosting horse racing in Nigeria.

    According to him, the president has consistently recognised horse racing as part of efforts to ramp up the unity and socioeconomic prosperity of the nation.

    While acknowledging the successes of the tournament, Mustapha-Bida also commended the Etsu Nupe for sustaining the event for 12 consecutive years.

    Mustapha-Bida, who is also the Chairman, New Niger Development Projects stated that no fewer than 500 participants featured in the epochal event from across the Sahel Savannah countries.

    The national coordinator explained that Nigerian was taking a lead in the horse racing in the comity of nations in Africa, adding: “we are happy to be part of history and to have pushed to ensure that this has become a reality.

    “We have five countries that participated in the event. They are Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

    “TTheyare our international partners during racing events in Nigeria.”

    NAN further reports that Tinubu’s ‘Hope Renewed Horse’ has maintained her winning streak to clinch the first position as the fastest horse for the fourth time.

    NAN also reports that six Toyota vehicles and N50, 000 were presented to the first position winners of various categories of race.

    Also, the second position winners got N700, 000 each while the third and fourth position winners received N500,000 and N350,000, respectively.

    NAN