Flowerbud News

Blog

  • Edo deputy Gov, Shaibu formally declares interest in 2024 governorship

    Edo deputy Gov, Shaibu formally declares interest in 2024 governorship

    The Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Monday formally declared his intention to contest the 2024 Edo governorship election under the banner of Peoples’ Democratic (PDP).

     

    Shaibu, in the early morning declaration, alluded to his political travails in the last couple of months, especially, and declared that he remained unbowed even as he forged ahead against the unfavourable disposition of his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki.

     

    The declaration event which was earlier scheduled to take place at Eterno Hotels, GRA, Benin, was shifted late Sunday night when information flittered in that one of the Governor Obaseki’s support groups, “Obaseki ending well”, also scheduled an event at the same venue for 7.30 pm on Monday. The development forced Shaibu to look for an alternative venue and he chose the sacred ground of a Catholic church in Benin City, the state capital.

    Addressing his supporters at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Central, the new venue the deputy governor secured, Shaibu said that despite his present predicament, his antecedents in the struggle for democracy were parts of the propelling factors for him to move on to actualize his ambition.

     

    Describing himself as “100 percent Home Boy”, an allusion to the clamour that the next governor of the state must be someone who knows the state very well, and not someone imported, a veiled reference to the touted candidate of Governor Obaseki, Shaibu hinged his campaign on five pillars that include: infrastructural development, economic diversification, Education, Sports.

     

    Others are Skills development and job creation, healthcare, social welfare system, agriculture, rural development, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, and transparent governance.

    He said while working closely with Governor Godwin Obaseki in the past seven years, a solid foundation for progress had been laid in the state.

     

    “Under our administration, we have seen remarkable achievements and milestones, but there is still much work to be done. I am aware of the need by the greater Edo people for a more inclusive government, a government of the Edo people, by the Edo people, and for the Edo people.

     

    He reiterated that his administration would be “A government of individuals who have been there and know the pains and wishes of an average Edolite”

     

    Shaibu maintained that under his supervision, the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), grew impressively, which he attributed to the introduction of digital and cutting-edge ideas.

     

    “Back in the day, you didn’t just call me “Mr Constituency Project” for nothing. In my time as a legislator, I delivered 49 constituency projects at the state level and 13 solid constituency projects within my short stint at the federal level.

     

    “I have fought the good fight for you my people, Along the way, suffered humiliations and enjoyed many moments of victory but I am thankful in all things. I have been pressed but not crushed, persecuted but not abandoned, badly hurt but not destroyed. I resonate with the tireless and irrepressible Spirit of the Edo People. By the grace of God, nothing and no one can stop us. After all, I be original Edo son; your 100 percent home boy.

     

    “This is why today, I stand before you with great conviction and resolve, as I declare my intention to run for the office of the governor of Edo State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming 2024 election”, he declared.

  • FG plans full autonomy for varsities

    FG plans full autonomy for varsities

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has indicated that the Federal Government is considering reintroducing the Policy of University Full Autonomy to promote progress and minimize external impediments.

    This decision is consistent with the government’s belief that university autonomy allows institutions to develop at their own pace.

     

    Tinubu expressed confidence in the proposed strategy while speaking through the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engineer Abubakar Momoh, during the University of Benin’s 48th convocation event over the weekend.

    University autonomy will no doubt, transfer the responsibility of performance directly to the individual institutions rather than the current state of uncertainties,” he said.

     

    In his speech, the President highlighted university employees’ concerns about unpaid salaries.

     

    He announced a four-month wage payment for all university employees to ameliorate the problem.

    Furthermore, Tinubu pledged to keep the government’s commitment to improving university circumstances by providing critical facilities like lecture theatres, student hostels, administrative offices, and learning tools.

     

    These facilities, established through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), are meant to incentivize staff and students to achieve success.

     

    Tinubu pledged, “As a responsible government, we would continue to dedicate tangible resources to education and to formulate sustainable policies that would outlive this administration.

    Our universities have the multiple responsibilities of helping to expand horizons through research and technological breakthroughs, impartation of relevant skills and by being more entrepreneurial in outlook

  • Lecturers shortage hits varsities, ASUU blames japa, IPPIS

    Lecturers shortage hits varsities, ASUU blames japa, IPPIS

    Universities in Nigeria are facing a severe staff crisis as hundreds of teachers leave to seek greener pastures in foreign countries despite a high number of retirements at the varsities.

    In separate interviews with newsmen on Sunday, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapters corroborated this, saying the scarcity was caused by a surge in lecturers leaving Nigeria and concerns about the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

     

    ASUU at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto said about 100 teachers had departed, while the union at the Federal University of Gusau in Zamfara said the institution needed about 1,000 academics to cover the gaps left by those who had left.

     

    The union at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said the institution had over 350 academic vacancies, while 27 lecturers left two faculties at the University of Lagos and 100 workers at the University of Uyo fled the country.

     

    According to the union, there are over 500 academic openings at the University of Ilorin in Kwara State, and both academic and non-academic workers at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology are fleeing the country.

     

    Dr. Rotimi Olorunsola, Chairman of the union in Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology in Okitipupa, Ondo State, stated that many of the university’s workers, both academic and non-academic, had gone.

  • Sierra Leone Arrest Attackers After Assault on Strategic Army Base

    Sierra Leone Arrest Attackers After Assault on Strategic Army Base

    Sierra Leone security forces arrested several perpetrators who attacked a key military base in the capital Freetown and invaded prisons, President Julius Maada Bio said Sunday.

     

    “Most of the leaders have been arrested,” Bio said in a televised address. “The attackers are being repelled by a combined team of security forces and police. Calm has been restored,” he said.

     

  • Dr. Betta Edu Felicitates UAE on 52nd Independence Anniversary

    Dr. Betta Edu Felicitates UAE on 52nd Independence Anniversary

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja ( Flowerbudnews): Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has felicitated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the occasion of that nation’s 52nd independence anniversary.

    Dr. Edu said in a post on her Twitter handle that she joined the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi @UAEEmbassyNGR, to mark the occasion.

    The event was attended by other Ministers and key Government officials and was chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Sen Barau Jubril.(Flowerbudnews)

  • DTAC: 23 TAC volunteers return home from Uganda

    DTAC: 23 TAC volunteers return home from Uganda

     

    By Maureen Okon

    Abuja:   The Directorate of Technical Aid Corps (DTAC) on Sunday received 23 Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Volunteers sent to Uganda in November 2021, who returned back to Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports they were received by the Director-General (D-G) of DTAC, Dr Yusuf Yakub, at a de-briefing exercise to welcome them back home.

    Also, the TAC volunteers were honoured with the certificate of service for for doing Nigeria proud in their host communities in Uganda.

    Speaking at the ceremony, the DTAC boss said that the agency was excited with the volunteers in discharging their duties diligently in their host country.

    He recalled, `’From what we have gathered in the course of our recent 4-day visitation to Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Seychelles, the authorities have specifically,extolled the diligent performances of the volumteers.

    “They have continued to discharge their duties with dexterity and knowledge and have been adjudged by all as worthy Ambassadors of Nigeria, who have exemplified character, conduct and learning wherever they served.

    “It is no wonder that when the TAC scheme came on board with the establishment of the DTAC in 1987, Uganda became one of the first countries to receive volunteers and benefit from the scheme in 1988.

    “35 years after, I am happy to observe that we have continued to deploy quality volunteers to Uganda who has made us proud as parents,” he said.

    Mr Temitope Ajai, Director, Policy Research and Statistics for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said the de-briefing exercise was laudable, saying, “because it would avail the ministry to familiarise with the TAC volunteers’ experience in order to have a robust approach in the future,

    “This means a lot for MFA, because the TAC Scheme is one of the important instruments of our foreign policy and that is why it is very important to the entire ministry.

    “As well as the articulation of our foreign policy, so in terms of the de-briefing coming up, we believe is one of the best ways of accessing the impact of the scheme on the volunteers themselves.

    “Also to give us the opportunity of knowing what their experience were at their primary places of assignment, also it will help us to develop a robust policy around the implementation of TAC Scheme, ‘’he said.

    Speaking separately,.some of the volunteers told NAN about their encounters in Uganda in two years of their stay in that country.

    Dr Sharon Igbinoba, an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy said, “In the Kampla International University, the School of Pharmacy I served as the Dean, which back home I was the Vice-Dean but with the responsibility given to me as the dean .

    “It helped me to perform well and to put structures on ground to help the Faculty, if I could show you the comments of students and members of staffs on my phone.

    “It shows how we as a people have impacted the lives of the Ugandans through our soft-power diplomacy, and that is what makes us the giant of Africa,’’ she said.

    Dr Ibrahim Abubakar, a Senior Lecturer, served as Assistant Dean and Associate Dean of Research Facility of Biomedical Sciences at Kampala International University

    Abubakar also the team lead of the TAC volunteers, applauded the DTAC boss’s initiative of binging all the volunteers back home at a time.

    He added that when they left Nigeria in November 2021, most of them were wondering what they could do to make an impact in their host communities.

    “I must say, when we left for this programme in 2021, a lot of us were wondering how can we contribute and the need for the programme , but having gone there, most of us have served in various capacities in our institutions.

    “The people you’re looking at are deans, association deans, directors and resourceful people who have served the nations very well in their host community and had contributed immensely, and that is highlighted in the interest of our host countries wanting some of us to go back.

    “I want to commend the director-general for a well organised programme , because in a long time, this is the first time we are having a de-briefing exercise where everyone is coming back home in one day,’’ Abubakar said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • Curfew in Sierra Leone After 2nd Gunfires Within 3 Months 

    Curfew in Sierra Leone After 2nd Gunfires Within 3 Months 

     

    By Paul Ejime

    Freetown: (Flowerbudnews):   Sierra Leone’s government has slapped a nationwide curfew on the country following what it called an attempt by “some unidentified individuals to break into the military armoury at the Wilberforce Barracks” in the nation’s capital Freetown on Sunday morning.

    The barracks is near the Presidential Lodge.

    A statement by the Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah said the individuals “have all been repelled.”

    Residents in the capital spoke of sporadic gunfire Saturday night/Sunday morning, with the capital enveloped by uncertainties on Sunday morning.

    No casualty has been reported in the second exchange of gunfire in Sierra Leone after a similar incident in September following the June controversial presidential and legislative elections in the country.

    The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) declared sitting President Julius Maada Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) re-elected with 56.17% in the presidential vote.

    His opponent Samura Kamara and his main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) rejected the results citing alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

    Civil society organizations as well as local and international election observers Missions in their separate reports said the electoral process, especially the result management lacked transparency.

    There have been some behind the scenes efforts to douse the political tension generated by the disputed elections to prevent Sierra Leone from sliding back to instability after its 10-year devastating civil war from 1991.

    Meanwhile, from his social media X handle, President Bio has confirmed the alleged attack and the blanket curfew on the country, saying: “As the combined team of our security forces continue to (root) out the remnant of the fleeing renegades.”

    “I bring you greetings from the Presidential Lodge, in Freetown,” the president said, adding: “The Peace of our beloved nation is priceless, and we shall continue to protect the peace and security of Sierra Leone against the forces that wish to truncate our much-cherished stability.”(Flowerbudnews)

  • Centre, residents laud Gov. Mbah for ending 20-year water scarcity in Enugu

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu: The Centre for Humanity, an NGO, has commended Gov Peter Mbah for restoration of water to Enugu metropolis after 20-year scarcity within 180 days as promised during his electioneering campaigns.

     

    In a statement issued on Sunday by the NGO’s Director of Communications and Public Enlightenment, Mr Peter Ugwu, noted that the abundance of water achieved by the Mbah administration in 180 days, could have taken any other serious government four years.

     

    Ugwu regretted that Enugu people had suffered acute water shortages that impugned their humanity.

     

    “According to the World Bank, about 70 million Nigerians do not have access to safe drinking water, while approximately 114 million do not have access to basic sanitation facilities.

     

    “This has affected people’s health, well-being, and economic productivity.

     

    “This is why the Centre for Humanity is pleased to identify with the grand success registered by Gov. Mbah in the provision of potable water in Enugu city in 180 days, especially the commissioning of the 9th Mile 24/7 Water Scheme.

     

    “This backed by a 4.4MW backup gas-powered electricity generation plant to guarantee non-stop water supply to Enugu metropolis going forward,” he said.

     

    According to him, raising water production capacity from an occasional two million litres to 120 million litres daily is a great mileage, and we trust that the governor will, as promised, now concentrate on fixing the bursting pipes and willful vandalisation.

     

    Ugwu also urged Enugu residents to own the facilities and protect them against vandals and those out to sabotage efforts to have the people enjoy public water after over two decades.

     

    “Anyone caught should be made to face the law as an enemy of progress”, he said.

     

    Meanwhile, speaking during governor’s stop-overs to inspect some reconnected institutions and commissioned some of the 96 water galleries constructed around the city, the Senior Prefect of the Godfrey Okoye University Secondary School, Master Radiance Kamah, expressed appreciation of the students to the governor.

     

    Kamah said: “Not long ago, you came into this state, you already started improving Enugu and I am very sure that by next year, we will be ranking the first best state in Nigeria.

     

    “I remember, the 11th convocation held at Nike recently, on our way, we saw constructions going at different points and also beautiful water galleries like this one being constructed. With no much time, you have completed it and now, you are commissioning it today.

     

    “I know your governance style will demonstrate to the students and the youths of Nigeria how a good leader should be and how we should begin to form themselves so that when it will be our turn, we would have that idea of how to govern a country and a state”.

     

    Prof. Chinedu Nebo, former Minister of Power, described the administration’s massive investment in water resources through Internally Generated Revenue, and 120 million litres daily volume of water recorded in 180 days as a miracle.

     

    Nebo said that Mbah had redefined governance and rebuilt public confidence in government.

     

    “In the past, we used to hear that government earmarked a lot of things, but nobody gets to see them. But we are now “eye-marking” a solemn promise that was made and kept”, he said.

     

    On his part, the President-General of Nsude Autonomous Community, Udi LGA, Mr Nicholas Eneje, appreciated Gov. Mbah for revamping the 9th Mile water project 41 years after it was initiated.

    He confessed that although many had doubted his promise to break a 20-year old jinx of pipe-borne water in 180 days, they had now seen and believed.(Flowerbudnews)

  • DANJUMA TO UNVEIL ENUGU MODEL MEDICAL CENTRE FOR THE POOR

    DANJUMA TO UNVEIL ENUGU MODEL MEDICAL CENTRE FOR THE POOR

     

    General TY Danjuma GCON (Rtd), accompanied by the Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah will Commission a multimillion Naira Goodwill Medical Centre in Enugu, the State capital on Tuesday, 28th November 2023.

    The state-of-the-art model Centre located in the Umuchigbo, Iji Nike, Abapka Community in the Enugu East Local Government Area is fully funded by the TY Danjuma Foundation on the approval of the General.

    The GMC project is the brainchild of Prof Uche Amazigo, Nigeria’s renowned pro-poor public health specialist, and one of the few female Africans to have led a specialized UN Agency, overseeing a highly successful multilateral partnership in global health.

    The Centre has provision for Maternal and Child Health, General Primary Healthcare, Laboratory, Eye Health, Prevention, and treatment of Communicable Diseases, General Surgical, Accident and Emergency services.

    It will also provide opportunity for Research and out-reach programmes with Diaspora-based health professionals, free treatment for indigent patients and standard charges for others.