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  • IITA wins Africa food prize

    The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan has won the distinguished Africa Food Prize for demonstrated innovations to improve “food security” in Africa.

    The pioneer in the field of “food security innovation” was announced the winner on the sidelines of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Kigali, Rwanda.

    According to an official statement the research institution is the first African institution to receive such distinguished award.

    The independent Africa Food Prize Committee, chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has selected IITA for its deep commitment over many decades to producing a steady stream of innovations, the statement said.

    Reports show that these innovations have especially boosted the nutrition and incomes of millions of people across Africa.

    Commenting on the award, the former Nigerian president noted that IITA
    stood out for its “steadfast and inspiring commitment to a research agenda that aligns with both our African traditions, as well as the evolving needs of African farmers and consumers for the latest advances in food production.”

    “From the cassava we’re still eating today, to the valuable and nutritious soybeans we now grow in our fields, to maize varieties that can withstand drought and deadly toxins – our diets and our agriculture businesses would be much poorer today without IITA’s leadership, and its willingness to forge powerful bonds with African farmers and African communities,” he said.

    According to official estimates, overall, for Africans, the value of the crops developed by IITA and its partners now stands at US$ 17 billion and counting.

    It said that this is underscoring the research entity’s contribution to not only Africa’s agriculture, but its economy as well.

    Speaking as he received the Prize on behalf of his institution, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, IITA’s Director General, insisted on the impact of research carried out to be scaled up and made available to millions of farmers.

    “I’m extremely honoured to be receiving this prize on behalf of IITA and proud to be part of a group of researchers dedicated to building lasting and relevant solutions for the continent,” said Sanginga.

  • Tinubu solicits support for Oyetola in Osun guber election

    Tinubu solicits support for Oyetola in Osun guber election

    By Lucy Osuizigbo
    The All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Sunday called for support for the party’s candidate in the Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun, Alhaji  Gboyega Oyetola.
    Tinubu said in Lagos that Oyetola was the best man for the job and the one to beat in the race.
    He said he was backing the renowned insurance guru and corporate player to help replicate the economic and infrastructure development witnessed in Lagos State in Osun.
    “With the impeccable credentials, competence and the sterling performance of the outgoing Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, the APC flag bearer is the best man for the job and the one to beat in the race,” he said in a statement by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman.
    Tinubu described Oyetola as a technocrat, shrewd manager and administrator, recalling how he single-handedly founded and raised his own insurance company to a place of enviable status.
    “Ogbeni Aregbesola has laid the infrastructural foundation for the state; Oyetola with his experience and expertise in the corporate world will take Osun to the next level by raising  its economic and investment profile, ” Tinubu said. (NAN)

  • Monica Lewinsky cuts Israeli interview

    (Reuters/NAN) – Monica Lewinsky cut short an Israeli interview and walked off stage after what she described on Tuesday as an “off limits” question about former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

    Lewinsky, whose affair as a White House intern with Clinton in the 1990s nearly brought down his presidency, sat for an interview with an Israeli TV anchor at a Jerusalem speaking event on Monday where the now 45-year-old anti-bullying activist delivered an address on the dangers of social media.

    She abruptly rose from her seat and strode off stage after the opening question – on whether she still expected a personal apology from Clinton.

    “I’m so sorry. I’m not going to be able to do this,” Lewinsky said before walking away.

    Clinton, asked in an NBC interview in June whether he felt he owed Lewinsky an apology, replied: “No. I have never talked to her, but I did say publicly on more than one occasion that I was sorry.”

    Tweeting about her reason for leaving the stage in Jerusalem, Lewinsky wrote: “There were clear parameters about what we would be discussing and what we would not.

    “In fact, the exact question the interviewer asked first, she had put to me when we met the day prior.

    “I said that was off limits … I left because it is more important than ever for women to stand up for themselves and not allow others to control their narrative.”(Reuters/NAN)

  • Youths riot, injure 2 policemen, destroy patrol vehicle in Jos

    Youths of Lopandet village in Du District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau have attacked and injured two Policemen attached to the ‘A’ Division of the State Police Command while on duty in the community.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, DSP Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos that the incident occurred on Monday.

    Tyopev said the youths also vandalised a police patrol vehicle.

    NAN reports that gunmen had on Sunday night attacked Lopandet community, killed 11 persons and injured scores of the residents.

    “You will recall that Lopandet community of Jos South local government area was on Sunday attacked by gunmen during which 11 persons lost their lives and many others got injured.

    “As usual, we mobilised our men to the area to forestall further attacks and ensure law and order.

    “Unfortunately, the youths of the community attacked some of our men and injured Inspector James Gomos and Sgt. Muazu Adamu, of our ‘A’ Division.

    “The youths also vandalised one of our patrol vehicles, ” the police spokesman said.

    He said the injured officers were currently receiving treatment at the Police Clinic, Jos.

    He advised members of the public to see policemen as friends and partners in progress, rather than enemies. (NAN)

  • FG releases 19 high yield crop varieties, 1 chicken breed

    By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko

    The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has released 19 new high yield crop varieties to enhance agricultural production.

    The National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release at its 26th meeting held at its secretariat at the  National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.

    NACGRAB’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr Sunday Aladele, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan that an indigenous chicken breed was also approved for registration and release.

    Aladele said the chicken breed submitted by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), was a dual purpose (egg and meat) livestock breed called FUNAAB Alpha Chicken.

    The Registrar said the chicken breed had performance characteristics such as body weight, egg weight and survivability surpassing those of existing Nigerian local chickens.

    He said the Chairman of the NVRC, Chief Oladosu  Awoyemi, announced the release of the chicken breed and the 19 crop varieties out of the 21 submitted for consideration during the meeting.

    Aladele said the 19 crop varieties included one soybean (SC-SL01), five maize hybrids (P4226, P3966, P4063, WE3205and DKB350) and two maize varieties (AMANA-1 and AMANA – 2).

    Others, he said,  were one sweet potato variety (Solo Gold),  three groundnut varieties (SAMNUT 27, SAMNUT 28 and SAMNUT 29)  and three sorghum varieties  (SAMSORG 47, SAMSORG 48 and SAMSORG 49).

    Aladele said two cowpea varieties (SAMPEA 18 and SAMPEA 19) and two transgenic hybrid cotton (MAYCO C567 BGII and MAYCO C570 BGII) were also approved for release.

    The NACGRAB boss said criteria used by the committee for release of the crops included characteristics such as high yield potential, good pod clearance and resistance to potato virus.

    He said other characteristics were good standard, resistance to lodging, early maturity, tolerance to drought, excellent husk cover, high grain yield and tolerance to insect pests.

    Aladele said scientists, seed companies, research institutes, universities and breeders from Nigeria, India and Kenya attended the meeting.

    He said some foreign participants also developed the newly released varieties for their countries. (NAN)

  • Housemaid remands in prison for theft of jelwery worth N10 million

    Housemaid remands in prison for theft of jelwery worth N10 million

    A 24-year-old housekeeper, Abosede Owofolabi, was on Tuesday remanded in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos,
    after she pleaded guilty to stealing her employer’s gold worth N10 million.

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, directed that the convict should be kept behind bars pending sentence.

    Abosede, who resides with her employer, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Sgt. Michael Unah, told the court that the accused committed the offences with others still at large between
    Aug. 19 and Aug. 20 at the residence of the complainant.

    Unah said the accused stole the jewellery valued at N10 million, property of her employer, Mrs Bukola Babatola.

    He said the accused entered the room of the complainant and stole the jewellery.

    “All attempts to recover the stolen items from her is to no avail,” he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 287 (7) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287 (7) stipulates a seven-year jail term for stealing, while Section 411 provides
    two years for conspiracy.

    The Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, fixed Sept. 6 for sentence. (NAN)

  • Man, under codeine influence, allegedly assaults 2 Policemen

    The Police in Lagos on Tuesday, arraigned a 31-year-old applicant, Joshua Oshame, at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly assaulting two policemen while under the influence of hard drug.

    Oshame, whose address was not given, is facing a two-count charge bordering on assault.
    The prosecutor, Sgt Michael Unah, alleged that the accused assaulted one Insp Yakubu Adeniyi and Sgt. Moses Ogwu, with a beer bottle while on their lawful duties.
    Unah told the court that the accused committed the offences on Aug. 25 about 10.30 a.m. at Aganga Street, Ifako-Ijaiye in Lagos.
    He alleged that the complainants while on patrol at suspected criminal hideout area located at Ifako-Ijaiye, apprehended the accused who was in possession of a codeine cough syrup and other illicit drugs.
    “The accused resisted arrest and in the process, he hit the complainants with a beer bottle,” he said.
    Unah said the offences contravened Sections 117 and 174 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, (Revised)
    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
    The Chief Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety.
    Fashola ruled that the surety must be gainfully employed and who should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions..
    The Magistrate adjourned the case until Sept. 28 for mention. (NAN)

  • Dentist elected as Pakistan’s new president

    According to unofficial results, Alvi secured 353 votes out of a possible 679.

    He is expected to replace Mamnoon Hussain, an ally of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who will be completing his five-year term on Sept. 8.

    The president is elected through a secret ballot by the electoral college comprising the Senate, the national parliament and four provincial assemblies.

    A dentist by profession from the port city of Karachi and one of the founding members of the PTI, Alvi’s political career spans over five decades.

    According to the constitution of Pakistan, members of the Senate, the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies will vote for the post.

    Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies whereas lawmakers from the national assembly and Senate will poll votes in a joint session of parliament in Islamabad.

    NAN reports that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday completed preparations for the election.

    Polling stations have been set up in all four provincial assemblies in addition to the National Assembly.

    Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Raza Khan served as the Returning Officer.

    NAN also reports that the PTI controls the National Assembly and has a majority in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, and has the support of the ruling party in Balochistan, its candidate Alvi is in a strong position.

    However, the Opposition parties are in majority in Senate.

    The president of Pakistan is elected in a secret ballot by the provincial and national assemblies.

    There are total 706 assembly members who will elect the president.

    The ruling party has the highest number of party votes in the electoral college for elections to the office of the president. (dpa/NAN)

  • No president can succeed without ingenuity of Ndigbo — Bafarawa

    Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, a  Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) Presidential aspirant, has said that nobody can rule Nigeria without tapping the education and business ingenuity of Ndi Igbo.

    Bafarawa, a two time governor of Sokoto State, made this known when Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi hosted him in Enugu on Tuesday.

    He was in Enugu to consult and intimate the party in the state about his intention to vie for the country’s president.

    “Ndi Igbo are partners in Nigeria unity, cohesion and political stability; nobody can govern the country without Ndi Igbo,’’ he declared.

    He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the 2019 general elections were free, fair and credible.

    Bafarawa said that Buhari had no alternative than to allow for credible poll in the forthcoming elections because “he is a beneficiary of free and fair poll in the country’’.

    He commended Gov Ugwuanyi and the state PDP for the wonderful reception accorded him and delegates and promised to carry everybody along if elected as the country’s president.

    “I will carry everybody along politically in building a virile, united and prosperous Nigeria. This is my bond to Nigeria and Nigerians,’’ Bafarawa declared.

    Earlier, Ugwuanyi, described Bafarawa as an ambassador of peace and good governance adding that the presidential aspirant was one of Nigeria’s politicians with grassroots followership.

    Ugwuanyi said that the people of Enugu respect Bafarawa’s role in unity of the country. (NAN)