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Striking Ogun State Workers Demand Audience With Governor

Nigeria

Lateefat Ibrahim

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July 16, 2025

Striking Ogun State Workers Demand Audience With Governor

Organised labour in Ogun state, south West Nigeria have embarked on an indefinite strike, vowed never to entertain dialogue from any of the government functionaries except the state governor himself, Dapo Abiodun.

The workers’ agitation was over failure of the state government on the unremitted N82 Billion contributory pension deductions to their respective Pensions’ Administrator.

The Labour leaders noted that past meetings with government officials have never yielded the desired results other than “unkempt promises”, hence, they are not ready to be deceived again.

Organised labour in the state had on Monday, through a document jointly signed by leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), called on their members to proceed on indefinite strike.

The state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Hameed Ademola-Benco, who was flanked by his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Akeem Lasisi and representative of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), while speaking during a press briefing stated that no amount of threat or intimidation could make them call off the strike except there is a concrete agreement with the governor of the state on the way forward.

In his address, Ademola-Benco said: “yes we have been receiving calls from one government official, but I told my colleagues that we are not going to meet that person. He is our major problem. “

“We want to meet only the governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun; he is our employer.”

“We are not employees of the Secretary to the State Government; we are not employees of the Head of Service or the Chief of Staff to the governor or any commissioner; no! We are employees of Governor Abiodun: he is the one paying our salaries every month and he is the one we want to sit with on this matter, not any other persons. “

He said that the contributory pension scheme is really giving the workers in the state sleepless night, arguing that even if it is implemented, a worker who retired on the old pension scheme can be collecting over N300, 000 monthly pension while someone who retired on the contributory pension scheme of the same level will be collecting N60,000 as monthly pension wondering where the justice and equity lies.

The NLC Chairman explained that, according to the 2013 amended pension law of Ogun State, the commencement of the scheme is slated for July 1st 2025 whereas the government has failed to remit over N82bn contributory pension deductions of the workers for over 14 years.

Ademola- Benco also said that the government has equally failed to pay workers’ leave allowances of over eight years saying that the government had repeatedly reneged to fulfil his several pledges on this huge outstanding running into several billions of naira.

Similarly, the state chairman of TUC, Comrade Lasisi said “We have had several meetings, sent several messages to the government but got no reply yet the future of the entire workforce look so bleak.

The way the contributory pension scheme is being handled is a big source of nightmare to the workers in the state “The government set up different committees on the implementation of the Scheme but it has refused to work on the recommendation”.

“Whereas the Contributory pension law says that 7.5% of the workers emoluments should be deducted every month while the employer, in this case the government, will also add 7. 5% making 15% and remitted the savings within seven days to the approved Pension Fund Administrators, yet for over 14 years, the government of Ogun State has defaulted. “

Lasisi explained that the workers have however vowed not to honour any meeting with government representatives except Governor Abiodun saying that he is the only one that could help to resolve the crisis. ”

The labour leaders claimed that past meetings held with other government officials had brought no respite their way that the issue under dispute is one crucial to their survival and well being as workers of the state government, noting that the only one that could help to resolve the crisis is Governor Abiodun.

Lateefah Ibrahim

Anambra Approves ₦31.6bn Roads, Completes Beltway Linking Cities

Nigeria

Lateefat Ibrahim

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July 16, 2025

0

Anambra Approves ₦31.6bn Roads, Completes Beltway Linking Cities

The Anambra State Government has approved infrastructure projects valued at ₦31.6 billion, including the dualisation of major roads across the state, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve connectivity, attract investment, and ease the movement of people and goods.

This was announced on Tuesday in a press statement by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, following the 14th meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) held at the Government House, Awka.

Among the key projects is the construction and dualisation of the 32.6km Ekwulobia–Nnobi Road, awarded to Geld Construction Ltd for ₦28.85 billion, aimed at completing the Anambra Beltway—an ambitious infrastructure linking four major cities via four dual carriageways.

With this latest project, the government has now completed the fourth segment of the dual carriageway network, effectively connecting the major cities and improving traffic circulation across the state.

Other infrastructure contracts approved include:

Construction of Metallic View-Point Barricade at the Light House, Awka – ₦488.4 million (awarded to Muterbonch & Company Nig Ltd)

Installation of Mechanical Appurtenances at the College of Nursing Sciences – ₦110.7 million (awarded to Crystal Dove Construction Company Ltd)

Outstanding road segments in Okpoko Area – ₦2.03 billion (awarded to IDC Construction Ltd)

Procurement and deployment of digital multi-band jammers – ₦96.9 million (awarded to Intertrek Solutions and Services)

Payment for geophysical survey/mapping of 2,018.319 hectares of land – ₦95.8 million (to Calyzid Ventures)

In addition to infrastructure, the council also reviewed and approved the 2024 Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan, reaffirming the state’s annual commitment to implement measures that enhance the ease of doing business.

“These reforms have led to notable progress in land administration, tax systems, investment promotion, justice access through small claims courts, and infrastructure upgrades,” Mefor stated.

The Council also discussed the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), acknowledging technical challenges and directing that public servants who present proof should be granted time to participate.

Meanwhile, the Council extended its condolences following reports of the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari in London. He was reportedly laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. In his honor, the Council observed a minute of silence.

Lateefah Ibrahim

France: Avignon Festival Celebrates Egyptian Diva

Africa

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July 16, 2025

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France: Avignon Festival Celebrates Egyptian Diva

The Avignon Festival in the south of France celebrated the Arabic language and paid tribute to singer Umm Kulthum, an iconic figure in Egyptian music.

A show called “The Voice of Women” celebrated the 50th anniversary of her passing.

The concert in the emblematic Palais des papes on Monday featured seven artists, including Camélia Jordana and Souad Massi.

They performed modern renditions of the Egyptian diva’s songs.

“Purists should not be offended; this is not about replicating Umm Kulthum but paying homage to her, expressing how we love and sing her”, Zeid Hamdan said, the Lebanese producer is the music director for the concert.

“I believe it’s crucial to honour our peoples, our culture, to showcase something valuable, something grand and noble, and to say: we are here, we exist. Our art is strong; we deserve protection, love, and respect. We are equals among all people”, he said.

The show sought to highlight the grandeur and nobility of Arab culture, too often reduced to stereotypes.

“In this concert, each performer already has their own identity, and that was what made it interesting from the start. We were all curious to see how each of us would reinterpret Umm Kulthum in our own way and what that would produce”, said Egyptian singer Maryam Saleh.

Umm Kulthum is considered a national treasure in her native Egypt.

Throughout her five-decade career, she became known as the “star of the East”, and as “the fourth pyramid.”

“She represents the Arab woman: elegant, musical, and also a feminist”, said French-Algerian singer Souad Massi.

Umm Kulthum died in 1975, her funeral procession was followed by 4 million people who gathered in the streets of Cairo.

In Avignon, her spirit was reignited for one night, a highlight of the festival, the concert transcended cultural and generational differences, and captivated audiences.

Africanews/Hauwa M.

2027: Nasarawa PDP Battles Over Consensus Candidate

Politics

Confidence Okwuchi

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July 16, 2025

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Some faction from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Nasarawa State have distance themselves from adoption of an aspirant as a party’s consensus candidate ahead of the party’s primary in the state.

The group under the auspices of concerned stakeholders, said the unfortunate and misleading development is threatens the unity, fairness and internal democracy of the PDP in nasarawa state.

In a press briefing in Lafia, the state capital, chairman, concerned PDP Stakeholders Forum, Comrade Jibrin Idris Ibrahim, on be half of the PDP Stakeholders across the 13 local government areas said the adoption of a consensus candidate was undemocratic and their decision doesn’t reflect the will of majority of the party members across the state.

The group in their statement said their attention was drawn on few self-serving individuals claiming to speak on behalf of the PDP in Nasarawa State which they met at former PDP chairman Francis Orogu’s house in Lafia on July 2025 to have purportedly adopted a an aspirant as a consensus candidate.

“We reject in totality this charade and manipulation, which is clearly orchestrated to mislead the public and imposed a candidate through back door”.

“The PDP is a party founded on an ideals of democracy, inclusiveness, and fairness. The processes leading to the emergence of candidates must be transparent, credible, and in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act,” the group stated.

They insisted that no any aspirant has been adopted by the PDP in Nasarawa State as the sole candidate for any elective position.

They further added that the purported adoption lacked legitimacy, credibility, and the backing of the party organs or wider stakeholders.

Confidence Okwuchi

Millenial Honour For President Buhari

Nigeria

Lateefat Ibrahim

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July 16, 2025

0

A millenial Aisha Abdullahi Adamu has penned a moving eulogy in honour of the Late Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Aisha Adamu, Founder Child Rights Foundation, Aisha Cares and Convener, The Bridge, said Late President Muhammadu Buhari was more than just a name in Nigeria’s headlines but “a symbol of discipline, of resilience, of conviction in an age where such values too often felt negotiable.”

” For me, as a 30-year-old Nigerian woman, born into a country that was shaped, steadied, and sometimes stirred by his presence. President Buhari was not just a political figure. He was a fixture in the architecture of our nation’s story.” She said

Aisha Adamu, who is the daughter of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a Former Governor of Nasarawa State and a Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, eulogised the Late President through two lenses; his relationship with her father and her view as a Millenial.

I saw him through two lenses; First, through the reverent eyes of a daughter watching her father, Senator Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, walk side by side with a man he deeply admired, a man who trusted him enough to ensure his rise.”

On the shared brotherhood between her Father and the departed Leader, she mused “That bond between my father and President Buhari was not just political — it was brotherhood forged in vision, loyalty, and nationhood. Their shared dream was Nigeria. Their shared burden was Nigeria. And through seasons of noise and turbulence, they both stood firm.”

Through the second lens, She confessed that as a young Nigerian, she did not always understand the quiet strength President Buhari embodied.

“We are a generation that demands speed, transparency, connection. He represented a different rhythm — one marked by silence, calculation, and steadiness. And yet, over time, I came to respect the way he bore the weight of expectation and legacy.

He was a bridge between Nigeria’s military past and its democratic journey between our elders’ reverence for duty and our generation’s thirst for reform.”

For her, late President Buhari embodied a life of sacrifice, resilience and the belief that Nigeria could be better.

“He taught us that patriotism is not a performance, but a quiet, enduring act. That leadership is not always loud sometimes, it is simply doing the right thing, even when no one claps.” She wrote.

Reflecting on her Meeting with him in March, 2025, she nostalgically recollected “I saw something often missed in public commentary: warmth. A subtle, sincere warmth that made you lean in, listen closer. He was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, the room paused.”

Aisha described his passing, as the loss of not just a president, but a patriarch of integrity, stoicism, and duty in Nigerian politics.

“Nigeria will remember him in history books, but some of us will remember him in family conversations, in quiet lessons learned from watching our fathers serve alongside him, and in the way his presence, however distant — always seemed to echo in the background of national change,” She said.

She concluded with appreciation, to Late President Buhari for showing Millenials what it means to serve, endure and believe, even when belief is costly.

“Today, a chapter closes in the book of Nigeria’s political history.May your legacy remind us all: nation-building is not a sprint, it is a relay and each generation must carry the baton with honor.God bless you,God bless Nigeria,” She implored.

Late President Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s President from 2015 to 2023 and previously as Military Head of State from January 1984 to August 1985.

President Muhammadu Buhari died at a London Hospital at the age of 82.

He has been interred at his hometown, Daura- Katsina State, with full Military and State honours befitting of a National Leader.

He is survived by his wife, Former First Lady Aisha Buhari, children and relations.

Lateefah Ibrahim

Anambra Approves ₦31.6bn for Roads, Completes Beltway Linking Cities

News Feature

Omowumi Samuel

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July 16, 2025

0

Anambra Approves ₦31.6bn for Roads, Completes Beltway Linking Cities

The Anambra State Government has approved infrastructure projects valued at ₦31.6 billion, including the dualisation of major roads across the state, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve connectivity, attract investment, and ease the movement of people and goods.

This was announced on Tuesday in a press statement by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, following the 14th meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) held at the Government House, Awka.

Among the key projects is the construction and dualisation of the 32.6km Ekwulobia–Nnobi Road, awarded to Geld Construction Ltd for ₦28.85 billion, aimed at completing the Anambra Beltway—an ambitious infrastructure linking four major cities via four dual carriageways.

With this latest project, the government has now completed the fourth segment of the dual carriageway network, effectively connecting the major cities and improving traffic circulation across the state.

Other infrastructure contracts approved include:

Construction of Metallic View-Point Barricade at the Light House, Awka – ₦488.4 million (awarded to Muterbonch & Company Nig Ltd)

Installation of Mechanical Appurtenances at the College of Nursing Sciences – ₦110.7 million (awarded to Crystal Dove Construction Company Ltd)

Outstanding road segments in Okpoko Area – ₦2.03 billion (awarded to IDC Construction Ltd)

Procurement and deployment of digital multi-band jammers – ₦96.9 million (awarded to Intertrek Solutions and Services)

Payment for geophysical survey/mapping of 2,018.319 hectares of land – ₦95.8 million (to Calyzid Ventures)

In addition to infrastructure, the council also reviewed and approved the 2024 Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan, reaffirming the state’s annual commitment to implement measures that enhance the ease of doing business.

“These reforms have led to notable progress in land administration, tax systems, investment promotion, justice access through small claims courts, and infrastructure upgrades,” Mefor stated.

The Council also discussed the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), acknowledging technical challenges and directing that public servants who present proof should be granted time to participate.

Meanwhile, the Council extended its condolences following reports of the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari in London. He was reportedly laid to rest on Tuesday in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. In his honor, the Council observed a minute of silence.

Nigeria Launches NiYa Youth Ambassador Programme

Nigeria

Lateefat Ibrahim

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July 16, 2025

0

Nigeria Launches NiYa Youth Ambassador Programme

Nigeria’s Government has officially launched the NiYA Ambassador Programme in Akwa Ibom State, a landmark initiative to strengthen youth engagement and grassroots participation in national development.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening of ARISE Youth Skills Week 2025 in Uyo, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande described the launch of the ambassador programme as a strategic move to bring Federal youth programmes closer to communities.

Under the initiative, two youth ambassadors will be appointed in each local government area to promote key programmes of the Ministry, including the Bamboo Youth Empowerment Scheme, the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), and Digital Literacy For All (DL4ALL).

“To the young people here today: You are not just the future, you are the present. Your ideas, energy, and courage have the power to transform Nigeria,” the Minister said.

He praised the efforts of the Akwa Ibom State Government in organizing the celebration and commended the Akwa Ibom Youth Skills Pitch Challenge, calling it “a model for other states.”

“Giving young people the platform to present their ideas and receive support is one of the most impactful ways to empower them. This is real, practical development,” he said.

The Minister also emphasised the importance of technology and innovation in today’s economy, noting that skills in AI and digital tools are now critical across sectors like farming, healthcare, fashion, education, and music.

Drawing from lessons learned during his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates, he called for stronger support systems to help young innovators turn their ideas into viable businesses.

As part of its ARISE Agenda for human capital development, the Akwa Ibom State Government hosted the grand finale of ARISE Youth Skills Week on Monday, July 14, in Uyo. Themed “Harnessing Youth Skills for Economic Growth and Innovation,” the event featured a dynamic panel discussion with leaders in agriculture, healthcare, tourism, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence.

Representing the Executive Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Ekanem, reiterated the administration’s commitment to empowering young people through access, innovation, and opportunity.

A major highlight of the day was the AI and Digital Skills Pitching Competition, where 15-year-old Ephraim Asuquo emerged overall winner with his innovative agricultural technology project, AGROCAD, earning a ₦1 million cash prize.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with state governments to ensure that young Nigerians are skilled, empowered, and ready to compete globally.

Lateefah Ibrahim

Nigeria Names 92 Athletes For 3rd CAA U18/U20 Championships

Sports

Mosunmola Ore

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July 16, 2025

0

Nigeria Names 92 Athletes For 3rd CAA U18/U20 Championships

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced its official team for the 3rd CAA U18/U20 Combined Athletics Championships from 16-20 July at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

The selected team was unveiled on Tuesday by AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa and Technical Director Gabriel Okon. The team comprises 51 male and 41 female athletes.

After two weeks of camping, following the national U18/U20 trials in Shagamu, Ogun State, the Nigerian team moved into the championship village on Monday under the supervision of the AFN Technical Committee, led by Okon.

A detailed breakdown reveals that 23 boys and 17 girls will compete in the U18 category, while 23 girls and 29 boys will vie for honours in the U20 category of the Championships.

Okon stated that the Technical Committee conducted a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the team’s strengths, technical and tactical skills, as well as the events where Team Nigeria held an advantage, before selecting each team member.

“I am confident that this will go places; they are the future of Nigeria athletics. They’re young, eager to learn, and the spirit in the camp is sky high,” said Okon, a former Nigerian 200m sprinter.

Meanwhile, the President of AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa, has charged members of Team Nigeria to go for glory at the competition which starts on Wednesday.

“It’s not a win at all cost but they should run, jump and throw with the zeal and determination to succeed, we are fully committed to this project of laying a solid foundation,” said Okowa, who is also a Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics.

“We went to Ndola, Zambia, two years ago with 41 athletes, and the team finished third on the podium. This time around, we want to run for the top honour,” he added.

Temitope Ademola and Honourable Victor Clement are the captains of the team; Ademola leads the girls, and Clement is the boys leader.

Team Nigeria – Abeokuta 2025

U18:

Girls: 18 athletes – 17 events

Boys: 22 athletes – 17 events

U20:

Women: 24 athletes – 18 events

Men: 28 athletes – 19 events

NAN

Irabor: Buhari believed in me despite our never meeting

Nigeria

Ademola Adepoju

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July 16, 2025

0

Irabor: Buhari believed in me despite our never meeting

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky E.O. Irabor (rtd), has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, revealing that the former Commander-in-Chief appointed him to Nigeria’s top military position in 2021 without ever having met him personally.

“I have never met you before, but I have heard of your performance. I hope you will not disappoint,” Buhari told Irabor at their very first meeting after his appointment, a moment the retired general said has never left him.

General Irabor made the revelation in a solemn eulogy to the late president, who died recently in London at the age of 82. He described Buhari as “a good man”, “a disciplined and deeply principled leader”, and “a soldier’s soldier”, praising his leadership style, humility, and trust in the Armed Forces.

“Before he appointed me as Chief of Defence Staff on 26 January 2021, I had never met him personally,” Irabor wrote in the tribute. “Like many Nigerians, I knew him only from a distance through the pages of history, the news, and the reverence with which he was spoken of in military circles.”

Irabor, who was a cadet during Buhari’s first rule as Nigeria’s military Head of State in the 1980s, recounted how he admired him from afar back then. But it wasn’t until he assumed leadership of the military under Buhari’s democratic presidency that he came to fully understand the man behind the stern public image.

“In President Buhari, I encountered a disciplined and deeply principled leader. A man who said little but listened intently and deeply,” he said.

According to Irabor, Buhari’s leadership style was one of trust and delegation. “He placed implicit trust in those he appointed, never micromanaging, never second-guessing,” he noted, adding that this quiet confidence was sometimes misunderstood, but for those who worked closely with him, it was a mark of his character.

Irabor also recounted Buhari’s willingness to listen and yield to sound advice, particularly on national security matters. On at least two occasions, the retired general said, he successfully asked the president to reverse directives based on strategic concerns, and Buhari did so “without ego, without hesitation”.

At National Security Council meetings, Irabor said he was often struck by Buhari’s stamina and composure. “He sat for hours, attentive and composed, never once calling for a break. I once asked him, half in jest, how he found the patience and strength. He only smiled.”

While acknowledging that Buhari, like all men, had his flaws, Irabor said he would always remember him as “a patriot who loved Nigeria deeply and gave of himself sacrificially.”

“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have served in his administration,” Irabor said. “To my Commander-in-Chief, my Principal – President Muhammadu Buhari, at the sound of the Last Post, rest well. You fought the good fight. May your soul find eternal peace in the bosom of the Almighty.”

The former military chief also extended condolences to the Buhari family, particularly the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, describing the late president’s service as marked by “dignity, honour and integrity”.

Utilise Research Findings to Boost Food Security, Expert Urges Government

News Feature

Omowumi Samuel

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July 16, 2025

0

Utilise Research Findings to Boost Food Security, Expert Urges Government

An agricultural expert and lecturer at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Dr. Philips Nto, has urged the government at all levels to utilise research findings on agriculture as a means of boosting food security in the country.

Nto who is the Director of Agribusiness Incubation Centre at the University, regretted that research findings by institutes and universities were gathering dust at various libraries without the government’s attention

He made the call in his office when his former schoolmates from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, paid him a courtesy call.

According to him, volumes of research findings that can enhance agricultural production were lying waste at various institutions in Nigeria without being put to use by either government agencies or private concerns.

He said his expectations were that the government would not only make use of those research findings but celebrate the researchers as was being done in more advanced countries.

“I believe that we should honour and celebrate these researchers whose contributions to national development are unquantifiable. I feel bad when government officials gather to commission roads instead of celebrating the products of research.

“Serious-minded developed countries like America, China and Europe celebrate cutting-edge research outcomes in agriculture and not a few kilometres of roads.”

Nto said that on the contrary, many researchers and their products in Nigeria are dumped in university archives and libraries, used only for promotion exercises.

The former Abia state Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning deplored what he described as a disconnect between research agencies and government, saying that there’s no encouragement of researchers by government.

According to him, most of the results and research findings in Nigeria are not used by the government for the development of the society, and he regretted that many improved varieties of crops and livestock have been abandoned in research agencies.

He advised his visitors, who consisted of lecturers, researchers, and scientists, that they should join the advocacy to persuade the government to patronise research findings that deal with agriculture and commend them for finding time to visit Umudike to assess what his team was doing at the Agribusiness Incubation Centre.

Dr.Nto, who is the immediate past Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, informed them that the centre has been engaging the farmers within its catchment areas of innovative methods of farming for improved yield.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr. Charles Osita of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, commended Dr.Nto for his commitment and diligence in enhancing food security in Nigeria through the centre.

He expressed happiness that Dr. Philips Nto was using the centre to revolutionise the practice of agriculture in this part of the country and described him as a good ambassador of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Team Nigeria – Abeokuta 2025

U18:

U20:

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