SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
Try "researchers"
Home Blog Page 2037

Organisers announce star-studded 10th Crown Elite Basketball Championship

Mosunmola Ore
-
0

Crown Elite Sports is proud to announce the commencement of it’s star-studded 10th edition of the yearly Crown Elite Basketball Championship, which begins on February 15.

READ ALSO: How Elite Schools Cup is breeding new sporting talents

According to the organsiers of the event, this year’s competition will be a first ever All Stars competition and an All Stars Awards Weekend, as well as the fourth Crown Elite Basketball Championship.

Started in 2013, Crown Elite Sports is an international sports management organization founded by ex-international player Hanson Oguche to maximize the

potential of talented youth athletes and professional players. Through sporting championships, player development programs, and educational counseling, Crown Elite’s championship events plan to become the most renowned national and international forum for showcasing talented African athletes.

The expansion to Crown Elite’s yearly event is aimed at showcasing and celebrating the best players, coaches, technical officials, and stakeholders in the

country’s basketball ecosystem. This entertaining and fan-centric program of events will once again see the best teams from Nigeria’s Premier Basketball League and the Nigeria University Games lock horns in a weeklong tournament, with the Crown Elite Basketball Championship Title and over 4 million Naira in cash prizes and awards at stake.

“With the outstanding success and fan engagement experienced in the past three editions of the Crown Elite Championships, we look forward to another remarkable sporting year,” said Hanson Oguche, the president and founder of Crown Elite Sports.

“We appreciate all of our supporters and welcome new partners as we embark on the journey to make basketball the most beloved sport in Nigeria.”

CBN intensifies cash swap sensitisation in Taraba state 

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja
-
0

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Friday, extended its currency swap sensitisation exercise to more Communities in Yorro Ardo-Kola and Ibi local government areas of Taraba state.

 

The Director, Financial Systems Strategy, Central Bank of Nigeria, Ibrahim Hassan who announced this to newsmen in Jalingo said, the development was in continuation of the CBN initiative targeted at ensuring that all rural dwellers in Taraba have their old naira notes swapped to new ones or deposited in banks before the extended CBN deadline for currency swap.

Hassan noted that the currency Swap Initiative was to help save communities who do not have access to bank, swap their old naira notes to the new notes.

“Just as we have been doing to ensure that people in the rural Communities of Taraba who do not have access to Bank have their old naira notes swap to new ones. CBN delegation have been drafted to more Communities of Yorro, Ardo-Kola and Ibi local to ensure success of the initiative.

“CBN delegation for Yorro is led by Mr Jackson Imandi, the Deputy Director, the one Ardo-Kola is led by Mr. Kazeem Olatinmu while the one in Ibi local government is been led by the CBN Head of Banking Services in Taraba State, Hayatu Yahaya Shehu to ensure the villagers gain advantage of the Ten days extension for the currency swap” Hassan explained.

When contacted, the chief of Mumuye in Yorro local government, Ado Adamu Manang, that of Ibi, Abubakar Salihu Danbaw and some participants in Ardo-Kola local government, Mohammed Musa, Hafsatu Babangida and Isa Mahmud, commended the central Bank of Nigeria for the exercise as it was the best for villagers and promised to help create massive awareness for people to swap their old naira notes to the new ones.

According to them, businesses were already collapsing as people were no longer accepting the old naira notes even before the extended window.

Reverend Father Alia Wins APCs Rescheduled Primaries In Benue State

Nnenna Okoronkwo
-
0

The Electoral Committee for the rescheduled Governorship Primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, has declared Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia winner of the rerun exercise held in 11 Local Government Areas of the State.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Senator Basheer Lado, who declared results of the rerun primaries, said Rev. Fr. Alia scored a total number of 219,002 votes to defeat 11 other aspirants in the race.

According to the Committee Chairman, a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Micheal Aondoakaa scored 606 votes while former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade polled a total of 450 votes.

Senator Lado also announced that former Minister of State Niger Delta, Dr. Sam Ode got 255 votes with House of Representatives Member, Hon. Herman Hembe scoring a total of 688 votes.

In other results, former Deputy Governor of Benue State, Ochagu Steven Lawani scored 120 votes, Dr. Matthias Ibuan secured 4,797 votes, Professor Terhemba Shija scored 219 votes, Arc. Benard Yisa scored 136 votes while Mr. Ayom Mlanga got 766 votes and Mr. Terwase Orbunde got two votes.

Senator Basheer Lado explained that Rev. Fr. Alia scored the highest number of votes after the results collated from the eleven Area Councils in the rerun were merged with those of twelve others earlier conducted by the party to arrive at the total figure.

He commended delegates who participated in the direct primaries for their orderliness during the exercise and urged them to keep faith with the party till victory was achieved at the general elections.

Reacting to the outcome of the rerun exercise at a Special Congress, Chairman of APC in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada reaffirmed the determination of the party to bring Benue State back to development from the ruins under PDP leadership.

Agada said he has seen visible signs of victory is on the side of APC in Benue state with the re-emergence of Rev. Fr Alia at the rerun exercise.

In the meantime, an Appeal Committee set up by the national leadership of APC is scheduled to commence a one day sitting on Friday to entertain complaints from aspirants bothering on the conduct of the rescheduled primaries.

 

N.O

Supreme Court Affirms Agbu as Taraba PDP Governorship Candidate

Nnenna Okoronkwo
-
0

The Supreme Court has affirmed retired Colonel Kefas Agbu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State for the March 11 governorship election.

In a judgement on Friday the Apex Court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Yola, Adamawa state that dismissed two different suits challenging the eligibility of Kefas Agbu as candidate of the Party in Taraba State.

According to Justice Emmanuel Agim, the appellants (Professor Jerome Nyameh) acted in breach of Section 84 and 87(9) of the Electoral Act by failing to make use of the primary election dispute mechanism as contained in the party’s guidelines.

The Apex Court said, both appeals were deemed premature and lacking in merit as they were instituted without exploring the internal party options to seek redress before heading to court.

The Court further stated that failure of the appellants to include other aspirants who took part in the primary at the early stages of the trial robbed them of their right to fair hearing.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

It would be recalled that the Yola division of the Court of Appeal had affirmed Mr. Kefas Agbu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State.

The three-man panel of justices dismissed the appeal brought by Professor Jerome Nyameh challenging the ruling of the Federal High Court, Jalingo, which earlier upheld the primary election that produced Kefas as PDP governorship candidate in the State.

In another judgment by the Appeal Court in the suit filed by another governorship aspirants Mr. Hilkiah Bubajoda Mafindi, the court also affirmed Kefas as the PDP governorship candidate and dismissed the appeal brought by the appellant.

Not comfortable with the appellate court’s decision, Professor Jerome Nyameh, who believed that his case had merit, immediately proceeded to the Apex court, calling for the disqualification of the party’s governorship on the grounds that Kefas did not purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms of the party.

Nyameh, claimed that the candidate was the party chairman and wanted the court to restrain him from contesting for the governorship position of the state on the platform of the PDP come 2023.

The affirmation of Mr. Kefas Agbu as PDP Candidate by the Supreme Court, has now put to rest the wranglings between an aggrieved guber aspirant, Professor Jerome Nyameh and the party’s candidate , as well as the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking in an interview with journalists the PDP Candidate Mr Kefas Agbu expressed happiness with the supreme court Judgement and promised to work for the development of Taraba state.

 

 

 

N.O

APC Flags off Gubernatorial Campaign in Niger State

Nnenna Okoronkwo
-
0

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has flagged off its Gubernatorial campaign rally for Niger South Senatorial District (Zone A) in Bida amidst large turnout of supporters.

The Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello who led the rally at the Bida Township Stadium , called on the people to vote for APC candidates at all levels in the next general election.

The state Chairman of the APC, Alh. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro also canvassed for votes for the party, assuring the people that better days are ahead.

The APC gubernatorial candidate, Mohammed Umar Bago promised a new Niger State in all its ramifications if elected.

He expressed happiness with the mammoth crowd at the rally, describing it as a proof of love to him as their own.

“You saw the mammoth crowd, you saw the acceptance, you saw the organic love. This is my home and they have shown love to me”, he said.

Also speaking, the Federal Lawmaker representing Bida/Katcha/Gbako federal constituency, Saidu Musa Abdullahi said that the overwhelming crowd is an indication that they have produced popular candidates for the election.

Abdullahi added that they have always listened to the yearnings of their people and they will never take them for granted.

National Vice Chairman of APC, Mu’azu Bawa Rijau presented the party flags to all the candidates from the zone as the official flag bearers instructing them to go to all the nooks and crannies of the Zone to canvass for votes.

Earlier, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had led the APC candidates and stakeholders to the Wadata Palace for royal blessings, advice and support from the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers HRH Alh. Yahaya Abubakar.

The Governor in a statement by his spokesperson Mary Noel Berje, spoke highly of the gubernatorial candidate and gave the assurance that he will hold traditional institution in high esteem.

The Etsu Nupe admonished politicians to practice what they preach and to have the masses at heart while wishing the team success.

 

 

N.O

Currency Shortage: President Buhari To Decide Next Action 

Aisha John-Mark
-
0

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged citizens to give him seven days to resolve the cash crunch that has become a problem across the country from the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria to change high value Naira notes with new ones.

Speaking to the Progressive Governors Forum who came to the Presidential Villa to seek solutions to the cash crunch which they said was threatening the good records of the administration in transforming the economy.

Read Also: President Buhari Meets With APC Governors

President Buhari said the currency re-design will give a boost to the economy and provide long-term benefits while expressing doubts about the commitment of banks in particular to the success of the policy. “Some banks are inefficient and only concerned about themselves”, said the President, “even if a year is added, problems associated with selfishness and greed won’t go away.”

He said he had seen television reports about cash shortages and hardship to local businesses and ordinary people and gave assurances that the balance of seven of the 10-day extension will be used to crackdown on whatever stood in the way of successful implementation.

“I will revert to the CBN and the Minting Company. There will be a decision one way or the other in the remaining seven days of the 10-day extension,” the President assured.

Complaints

The Governors told the President that, while they agreed that his decision on the renewal of currency was good and they are fully in support, its execution had been botched and their constituents were becoming increasingly upset.

They told the President that, as leaders of the government and party in their different states, they were becoming anxious about a slump in the economy and the series of elections that are coming.

They requested the President to use his powers to direct the concurrent flourish of the new and old notes till the end of the year.

The President said when he considered giving the approval to the policy, he demanded an undertaking from the CBN that no new notes will be printed in a foreign country and they in turn gave him assurances that there was enough capacity, manpower and equipment to print the currency for local needs.

He said he needed to go back to find out what was actually happening.

President Buhari told the Governors that, being closer to the people, he had heard their cries and will act in a way that there will be a solution.

 

Kogi state records 6 cases of Lassa Fever

FELA OLAGUNJU
-
0

Kogi State has recorded six cases of Lassa fever, the Director of Disease Control in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr Austin Ojotule, said in Lokoja on Friday.

“As it is now, we are battling with six cases of Lassa fever in the state, but the situation is under control” he said.

 

READ ALSO: Lassa Fever: death toll rises to 37, NCDC reveals

 

“The good thing about it is that we have not recorded any death and we are treating the affected persons and preventing further spread of the disease… When there is an outbreak, samples are taken by Disease Surveillance Officers in the local government areas and sent the ministry for analyses to enable us to effectively and efficiently control the disease,’’ he explained.

 

He said each of the 21 local government areas of the state has primary healthcare facilities and enough personnel to handle cases of heat-related illnesses. “There are also tertiary health institutions in Lokoja and in Anyigba, and zonal hospitals in each of the three senatorial districts of the state that could conveniently treat diseases,” he added.

He added that government had put machinery in place to deal with the outbreak of heat-related diseases such as meningitis, cholera, measles, diphtheria and Lassa fever among others.

 

“Beside Lassa fever there is no other disease outbreak. For now Kogi has no case of diphtheria, cholera, meningitis and measles, which are heat-related diseases,’’ he said.

 

He added that the ministry was on a vigorous sensitisation of the public on the need to watch out and to be conscious of their environment and to report any sign or symptoms of diseases to the nearest hospital promptly. Ojotule advised residents to take their personal and environmental hygiene serious to avoid disease outbreak.

 

 

S.S/NAN

Nigeria, Uganda seek partnerships in Aviation Sector

Hauwa Abubakar Anaja
-
0

As part of concerted efforts to facilitate direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Uganda, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika has led a delegation to Kampala, Uganda to hold talks with his counterpart, the Minister of Works and Transport of Uganda, Gen. Edward Katumba Kamala.

 

General Kamala, who was on hand to receive the delegation, appreciated Senator Sirika for his visit noting that it would afford both Ministers the opportunity to provide the necessary political leadership that would facilitate the implementation of the Agreements reached during the meeting.

 

The meeting focused on the review of the subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries, which was signed in 2002 and reviewed in 2005.

 

 It also focused on how to give the necessary administrative and technical support to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed during the last International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) Event which held in Abuja from 5th to 9th December, 2022.

 

General Kamala, during the meeting, reiterated his Country’s quest for the operation of direct flight into Nigeria using its national carrier, the Uganda Airlines.

 

He also sought technical collaboration between the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, and the East African Civil Aviation Academy (EACAA), located in Soroti, Uganda.

 

Equally, the Ugandan Aeronautical Authorities also solicited technical support from Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

 

In his response, Senator Sirika expressed his appreciation to his Ugandan counterpart for providing the atmosphere to host the meeting and acknowledged the roles played by the High Commissioner of Uganda to Nigeria and Nigeria and Uganda’s Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture in facilitating the meeting.

 

“I underscored the importance of air transportation, which he said remains the major veritable means of connecting the people of Africa and enhancing trade.”
“Air transportation will do well in Africa with her population of over 1.37 Billion and urged African Nations to leverage the opportunity of Single Africa Air Transport Market ( SAATM) to attain the 2065 Africa Agenda”.

 

He assured the Government of Uganda that Nigeria would do all she could do to ensure air connectivity becomes a reality as both countries have come a long way and promised positive responses to the requests made by Uganda.

 

Sirika lauded the excellent relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari, and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, as both leaders are united in ensuring that Africa and her people are prosperous and united on all fronts of human capital development.

 

On the Minister’s entourage were officials of Ministry of Aviation and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority which included Director, Air Transport Management, Ministry of Aviation amongst other.

 

 

 

Nigerian Government to expand NIGCOMSAT operations in International markets

Aisha John-Mark
-
0

The Nigerian Government has directed the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT ) Ltd to explore opportunities in the local and international markets to contribute its own quota in the digital economy and industrial revolution.

This was disclosed by Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami at the workshop on Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), a flight demonstration within the Nigerian Airspace by Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Ltd using the NigComSat-1R payload, the L-Band.

The NigComSat-1R navigation (L-Band) payload provides Navigational overlay Services, which have disruptive applications in the aviation and non-aviation sectors.

The event which was organised by the SatNav Africa Joint Programme Office (JPO) in collaboration with the ANGA programme and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) in conjunction with Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

Professor Pantami disclosed that  Communications and Digital technology was the key enabler of other sectors like security, defence, health, agriculture, education and aviation,

He added that he has directed NIGCOMSAT to collaborate and reach out to the aviation sector for the application of SBAS.

“I have directed NIGCOMSAT to collaborate and reach out to the aviation sector to ensure successful implementation of SBAS in Africa.

“The satellite covers part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, it covers parts of Asia and Europe.

“Our satellite here in Nigeria has the capacity to provide the navigation overlay services.”

The Minister also has the capacity to support the implementation of the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) not only in Nigeria but in the whole 54 countries in Africa.

He therefore urged African nations to consider the Nigerian Communication Satellite when the need arises.

The Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT Ltd, Mr Tukur Lawal also added that it plans to contribute its own quota to the digital economy and industrial revolution by exploring more opportunities locally and internationally.

”For NIGCOMSAT Ltd to contribute its own quota in the digital economy and industrial revolution, we cannot remain in the comfort zone, but rather look for areas of exploring the market both local and international.
We will give all the support needed and innovations that will meet and convert all weaknesses to successes.”

He stressed the need for the different agencies of government  regional and international  partners to collaborate towards the success of the SBAS utilisation.

He  added that the programme is to boost the knowledge-sharing platform to support stakeholders’ decision-making in the creation of synergies and enable benefits provided by SBAS in the continent, including safety, efficiency and environmental protection benefits.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who was represented applauded the efforts of ministry of Communications and Digital Economy for its innovation that will drive the Aviation industry to the high standards to compete with the other countries in the world

“I believe the Satellite Based Augmentation System SBAS,  will drive Civil Aviation Industry to our desired goal and  this Satellite navigation will bring significant contribution in terms of of Safety and flight efficiency improvement while contributing to economic and social development in other economic sector in Africa.”

The Satellite Implementation, Outreach and Demonstration in Africa in Aviation had in attendance of representatives of European Union,  African Union, ICAO, African Civil Aviation Commission, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority amongst other.

The Satellite lunched is expected to improve the Africa Aviation industry to recover its former dynamism in the near future despite the economic backslash of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) is a company and agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy whose mission is to be the leading satellite operator and service provider in Africa.

NIGCOMSAT Ltd owns and operates the Nigerian Communications Satellite. The company provides innovative and cutting-edge satellite communications solutions by operating and managing a geostationary communication satellite-NigComSat–1R, built to provide domestic and international satellite services via a 2-way satellite communications services across West, Central, South East Africa, Europe and Asia. The satellite is a hybrid Communication Satellite with a payload for navigation overlay services (NOS) system similar to EGNOS.

 

FCT to enhance collaboration with soil science institute

Kamila Bello
-
0

The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has pledged to strengthen the existing collaboration between the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science to improve the quality of soil in the nation’s capital.

The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Permanent Secretary FCTA, Mr Adesola Olusade, made the pledge when the governing council of the institute led by its President, Prof. Ayoade Ogunkunle, paid a courtesy call on the FCTA, on Thursday in Abuja.

The minister said, that the FCT Administration was very concerned about the quality of land because the productivity was largely dependent on land.

According to him, if the land quality is weak you will farm for nothing and therefore, for a body to regulate the use of land is very important and appropriate for the country.

He assured that any agency of government that was desirous to contribute to the development of the FCT is always well received.

“We are here to receive you today on behalf of the FCT Minister, by my person Adesola Olusade, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCT, Abubakar Ibrahim and other management of staff in the secretariat.

“We have taken note of the accomplishments of the institute and we also noted the paragraph two of your letter where you requested for an office space in the FCT. We will convey your request to the minister

“I thank you Prof. Ayoade for acknowledging the robust structure we have in the FCT and for the enlightenment you provided us on the institute. On thing is certain the institute appears to be the father of all.”

Earlier, Ogunkunle, explained that the institute was an agency under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with its Act enacted and signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 3, 2017.

He also said, that the institute was charged with the mandate of regulating and sustaining the profession of soil science and not only the profession but the use of soil.

He revealed that currently the institute have over 350 registered soil scientist that we can vouch for and they can counsel or advice people on the use of soil and if you adhere to it you are bound to succeed.

According to him, soil is like the home for everybody such as human being, plants, animals and the nature of soil in every country makes it if we destroy it then we are in for problem.

“If we don’t manage it sustainably then we are in trouble. In abroad where we study we realized it and they make so many places untouchable because you cannot go to the next country to ask for their soil.

“You can ask for many other things but not soil. If a soil is erroded and damage it will take many years to restore it. Soil is like a living being when you start using it at a stage it doesn’t respond again unless it is well manage.”

The president use the opportunity to request for a piece of land from the FCT Minister to enable the institute build a befitting permanent headquarters.

“We want a piece of land that can be develop for the institute.”

 

 

 

1...2,0362,0372,038...3,627Page 2,037 of 3,627

HEALTH

ENTERTAINMENT & TOURISM

WORLD

NEWS COMMENTARY

NEWS FEATURE

Voice Of Nigeria Mission is “Reflecting Nigerian and African perspectives in our broadcasts, winning and sustaining the attention, respect and goodwill of listeners worldwide, particularly Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora … making Nigeria’s voice to be heard more positively in the shaping of our world.”

More from CN

Contact

© Voice of Nigeria Broadcasting Service