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IITA Reintroduces African Yam-Bean With 40 Varieties

Lateefat Ibrahim
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The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) says it has embarked on ‘genetic diversity’ land race for African Yam-Bean crop to improve soil fertility and achieve food security.

The crop, with over 40 varieties has the ability to produce bean and tuber, rich in protein and calories needed for human growth and development.

A Genetic Professor and Principal Investigator for African Yam-Bean, IITA, Morufat Balogun said this at the ongoing research by the institute, on Wednesday in Kano.

Withstand climatic changes

She said the crop could also withstand climatic changes after showing prospects even in areas with less rain fall.

The agronomist described AYB as high nutritional packed crop abandoned due to introduction of quick maturing crops.

According to her, the crop has the ability to withstand changing climate conditions as shown by research.

“African Yam-Bean is an indigenous crop. It is a legume, traditionally held in high importance, especially in south western Nigeria.

“Taking Africa Yam-Bean secures the health and nutrition of the family because it contains more than 30 per cent of protein, higher than other plants and crops.

“It also has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. All crops usually require nitrogen phosphorus and potassium and some micro-nutrients for them to grow well in the soil.

“This crop is able to fix the nitrogen in the air and convert it to what is needed in the soil; that means, it will reduce the use of synthetic fertilisers and bring farmers more profit by spending less on fertilisers.

“It has been forgotten due to national and international support as well as funding for crops like cowpea and soybean,” Balogun said.

She said the rebirth of the crop would lead to better environmental preservation thereby leading to higher food security, adding that, “this was because it came with better options and more nutrients”.

 

NAN/Lateefah Ibrahim

NECO Releases 2022 SSCE External Result

Oluwasola Akintonde
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The National Examinations Council, (NECO), has announced the release of the result of the November/December 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination, (SSCE).

The Registrar of NECO, Prof Dantani Wushishi, who made the announcement in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday, said, 59,124 candidates sat for the examination, with 31,316 males, representing 52.96 per cent while 27,808, representing 47.03 per cent were female.

Wushishi added that the number of candidates that sat for English Language is 58,012 out of which 44,162, representing 76.13 per cent got Credit and above, while the number of candidates that sat for Mathematics is 57,700, out of which 43,096, representing 74.69 per cent got Credit and above.

He further disclosed that the number of candidates who got five Credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics is 33,914 representing 57.36 per cent.

“Also 46,825 candidates, representing 79.20% got five (5) Credits and above irrespective of English Language and Mathematics,” he said.

Exam malpractice

Wushishi said 11,419 candidates were booked for various forms of malpractice, as against 4,454 in 2021, which shows a sharp rise in the number of malpractice cases.

According to him, this is largely due to the improvement in the strategy and technique adopted by the monitoring officers.

“This led to the blacklisting of four (4) supervisors, one (1) each from Rivers and Plateau States and two (2) from Ogun State for aiding and abetting as well as poor supervision,” he said.

Speaking further on the examination, Wushishi said, a total of 29 subjects were examined as it was done in 2021.

 

Olusola Akintonde

Gombe State Enrols 40,000 Vulnerable Persons In Healthcare Schemes

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Gombe State government has enrolled 40,000 vulnerable persons in healthcare schemes to enhance quality healthcare service delivery at the grassroots.

The enrollees had registered under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund between 2021 to date.

The Team Lead, Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, GoHealth, Dr Abubakar Musa stated this while responding to a survey on the social safety net programme.

According to him, “the healthcare programme is being implemented in collaboration between the state and the Nigerian Government.”

He said the enrollees comprised people above 65 years, children under the age of five, pregnant women, People Living with Disabilities (PWDs), and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Musa said the beneficiaries were drawn across the 114 wards of the state, to enable them to enjoy free quality healthcare services.

He said, “the beneficiaries are expected to provide National Identity Card Number (NIN) and meet other specified guidelines to ensure that they were within the target population.”

Also, Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman, Advocacy Centre for Development, a non-governmental organisation in Gombe, advocated for the allocation of houses to senior citizens in the state.

He said; “We are calling on the government to allocate some houses for the senior citizens out of the six housing estates in the Gombe metropolis.”

Yusuf said there was a need for government to prioritise the needs of senior citizens in terms of security, and psychosocial support, among others.

“The senior citizens served their fatherland in various capacities with nothing to show, hence the need to consider them.

“It is good for the government to provide their benefit before exiting the service.

“It is also desirable to establish a recreational centre for the senior citizens where they will be meeting with pears to ease their difficulties and other problems associated with old age,” he said.

 

 

NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere

Senior Citizens In Bauchi State Get Free Healthcare

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency, BASHCMA, says it has enrolled senior citizens under its free healthcare scheme.

The Chairman of the agency, Dr Mansur Dada said the beneficiaries were enrolled across the 20 local government areas of the state.

He said that “some of the beneficiaries had been captured under the basic health provision fund while others were under the informal sector of the scheme.”

According to him, healthcare services providers are offering primary and secondary Medicare services to enhance quality service delivery at the grassroots.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa State Coordinator, National Senior Citizens Centre, NSCC, Mustapha Yakubu says the health component of the social safety net for the aged is yet to begin implementation in the state.

Yakubu said that N20,000 grant would be provided to senior citizens in the state.

He said; “The programme was launched in Niger state sometime in 2022.

“The work plan which is yet to be implemented, the senior citizens are expected to be linked up with the Social Security Programme grant and aid.”

“The senior citizens are yet to be informed about their possibility to join NHIS or the Jigawa State Contributory Health Insurance Management Agency, JICIMA.

“Even though the programme started in October 2022, we hope that good things will come to the senior citizens when it is fully implemented,” Yakubu said.

Yakubu is also the Training and Communication Officer of the State Cash Transfer Unit of the National Social Investment Programme, NSIP.

On empowerment, the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, has trained seven senior citizens on entrepreneurship development in the state.

NDE Coordinator in Jigawa, Mr Miwa Lasco said the training exercise was being implemented in collaboration with the NSCC.

He said the beneficiaries comprising five males and two females received training in weaving, carpentry, leather work, blacksmith, clay pot and basket making.

 

NAN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere

 

Former Big Brother Show Housemates Predicts Possible Winner

Oluwasola Akintonde
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South African Mmeli and Nigerian Jenni O, the recently evicted housemates of the ongoing television reality show, Big Brother Titans (BBTitans), have predicted possible winner of the show.

The duo revealed their predictions during a Zoom interview session with journalists.

Mmeli said the winner of the game would be either Yemi, Khosi, Thabang, Marvin or Blaqboi, Jenni O said the winner would be Yemi, Marvin, Khosi or Blaqboi.

The 25-year-old Mmeli noted that the things he cherished most in the house were the experiences gained, the people he met and the prizes received in the course of the show.

Also, for the 24-year-old Jenni O, she valued the unlimited drinks at their disposal and the various tasks Biggie, the Coordinator of the show, usually come up with.

She said she would take her new found fame by the bull’s horn and use it to the best of her ability to make her life better.

Reports said that Mmeli and Jenni O, with the paired name ‘Jenne Li’, were evicted from the show during the last eviction night on Sunday.

As the show runs into the fifth week, 18 housemates are left to compete for the grand prize of $100,000.

 

Pulse/Olusola Akintonde

Nasarawa NNPP Debunk Claims Of Party Alliance

Emmanuel Ukoh
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The New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Maidoya, has debunked claims of alliance with other political parties or candidates.

Maidoya stated this during the continuation of his ward-to-ward campaign in the Southern Senatorial District compromising of Awe, and Obi Local Government Areas of the state.

Maidoya reiterated that if given the mandate, his party has designed a roadmap to provide robust job opportunities to the teeming job seekers including the recruitment of one million youths into the Nigerian army and another one million into the police force.

The governorship candidate called on electorates to vote out the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and the People’s Democratic party, PDP, who ruled this country for 16 years yet failed in their responsibilities as government.

“The 8 years of APC and 16 years of PDP has dragged the nation into hardship, hence there is a need for the electorates not to vote them again in 2023,” he said.

 

Community participation

The NNPP campaign train was at the palaces of Sarkin Tunga, Sarkin Akiri, Wuse, Azara, and Obi, to seek royal support and blessings.

The New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Maidoya

 

In his speech, Maidoya also informed the royal fathers that the NNPP is out to contest and win the elections for the presidency, governorship and all the other elective positions.

“Your royal highnesses I want to state here categorically that the New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP is the only alternative party for every true and genuine Nigerian who wants peace, unity, and development”.

He further explained that they have plans to establish a Community Participation Re-orientation Committee (CPRC), in each of the 147 wards across the state, just as he pointed out that traditional rulers will head the proposed committees in their respective domains.

On education, the NNPP’s governorship flag bearer promised free and compulsory education for every child from primary to secondary school as well as free WAEC, NECO, and JAMB to all students.

All the Monarch visited appreciated Abdullahi Maidoya and showered praises and fatherly blessings on him for his focus and determination to rescue the state.

They also prayed for him to excel in his ambition to govern the state come elections.

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh

NGO Trains Officers On Response To Gender Based Violence 

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Women Rights Advancement and Protection Initiative, WRAPA, Nigeria have trained about 60 gender-desk officers on adequate response to Gender-Based Violence, GBV, cases.

The trainees were selected from the 10 Pillar Partners of the Spotlight Initiative Project of the NGO.

Coordinator/Technical and Logistics Support Officer, Spotlight Initiative Project, Hajia Umma Rimi said;

“The training is to build the capacity of participants to be more efficient in their approach to gender-based violence.

“We visited these organisations some couple of weeks back and we identified some gaps and most of the gaps had to with service delivery model, documentation and others. So, we came back, band brainstormed on ways to mitigate some of the gaps we discovered.

“That is why we are having this training for the Ten Pillar Partners under the Spotlight Initiative Project and their gender desk officers.”

The training covered gender response budgeting, case management for GBV front liners preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, among others.

The State Project Officer, Spotlight Initiative Project of WRAPA, Mr Precious Anslem urged the participants to be proactive with cases of gender-based violence cases reported to them.

He urged organisations to endeavour to establish gender desk officers in their various offices in other to have rapid and effective responses to such cases.

Also, the Programme Officer of the National Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Mr Ifeanyi Eze called on the participants to ensure that a gender-responsive budget was implemented in their various organisations.

He said; “We want them to understand that a gender-responsive budget is not a different type of budget but it is the same that ministries and their line ministries roll out.

“But in this case, they have items that are inclusive and cover issues that relate with everybody, men, women, aged persons, persons with disabilities.

“This is a form of prevention to the prevalence of gender-based violence in the society.”

One of the participants, Ms Fatima Abubakar, said commended the organisation for the training.

She said the knowledge gained would help her respond and report gender-based violence cases effectively.

 

NAN/Oyenike Oyeniyi

Syria earthquake: Aleppo Hospitals Overwhelmed by Victims

Shakirat Sadiq
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Hospitals in Aleppo do not have enough room for new patients in the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake, a doctor in the Syrian city says. Reports said.

At the Al-Razi Hospital there are too many beds to fit into the wards. They reach end-to-end through corridors and into the chilly courtyard.

“We weren’t able to discharge patients from the hospitals even after treating them. The city is damaged and there are no places for them to go,” said Dr Nizar Suleiman, the head of orthopaedics.

“Huge numbers of patients came in a short period of time. We have a huge shortage in medicines, so it’s really worrying.

“For example, we suffer from a lack of medical equipment to treat fractures. We already suffer from this shortage because of the crisis, and the siege, sanctions, make it worse.”

More than 4,400 deaths and 7,600 injuries have been reported in north-western Syria since a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck neighbouring southern Turkey on 6 February, according to the UN.

The damage to Aleppo is widespread.

Over a week after the earthquake the chance of finding anyone alive in the rubble is slim. But patients keep arriving at Al-Razi Hospital.

Abu Muhammad, who spent about 24 hours trapped under the rubble, lies among other survivors on a ward. He lost his wife and three of his five children in the earthquake. He looks at a colourful photo on his phone showing his family in happier times.

“They went to Heaven, they are now with God,” he says, tearfully.

He is thankful for one thing: “God saved my mobile phone for the sake of remembering them, so at least I can look at their pictures every time I miss them.”

Tens of thousands of people are now living in churches, mosques or in public spaces and parks after losing their homes.

 

 

 

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq

BBTitans’: Big Brother Punishes Five Housemates For Breaking House Rules

Oluwasola Akintonde
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Big Brother, also referred to as ‘Biggie’ has imposed punishment on five housemates: Marvin, Blue Aiva, Kanaga Jnr., Thabang, and Nana, for breaking important house rules.

The five housemates, including the Head of House, were called out for breaching the rules of the house and were given punishment tasks.

The tasks must be completed before this afternoon, as it threatens to interfere with their preparations for their weekly wager task.

Biggie provided visual evidence of times when the housemates broke the rules by whispering and speaking in coded language.

Their punishment is to tie 10 knots in more than 250 laces—a punishment that may be a setback ahead of the wager task presentation.

This is the third punishment for not abiding by Biggie’s rules. A week ago, Biggie punished Blue Aiva, Nelisa, Khosi, Nana, Miracle OP, Mmeli, and Jenni O, who issued threats and threw jabs at one another in the house.

Last week, Yemi and Nelisa were also punished for not wearing their Tails of House costumes.

 

 

Pulse/ Victoria Ibanga

“National Assembly Not Under Siege”- Management

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The National Assembly management has dismissed the speculation that the complex is under siege by the operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS.

An unverified video trending on social media from a Twitter handle account of one @Chukwuebuka alleged the siege of the National Assembly complex by officers of the Department of State Security, DSS.

The National Assembly said the reposted unverified video clips was a reported incident that took place in 2018 at the main entrance gate leading into the National Assembly complex, which is presently under reconstruction.

In a statement, the Director, Information, National Assembly, Agada Rawlings, described the video as ‘mischief.’

The stated said; “It is therefore intriguing to understand what motive this mischief marker set out to achieve with the repost, gauging the political mood of the country and the fourth coming general elections.

“Accordingly, the members of the National Assembly, Staff and the general public are to discountenance the said unverified malicious, mischievous and misleading reposted video as fake news in its entirety. as the National Assembly members are currently on recess and staff are not under any siege by the DSS.”

It noted that the new Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal and his Management team are fully in charge, focused and determined to achieve their set goals in line with their core mandates to motivate the workforce to provide the expected support services to the National Assembly leadership/ members, Nigerian Government and the general public.

“The management equally wish to extend its appreciation to the National Assembly leadership /Members, Top Government officials, Security Agencies and the general public, who through phone calls shown concern and solidarity. It is expected that the relevant security agencies should further Investigate the user of the Twitter handle account to forestall future abuse and spreading of misinformation into the media space capable of creating panic, mischief and anxiety leading to break down of law and order as this repost, may have been intended,” the statement reads.

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

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