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COVID-19: Bauchi Govt Partners Japan, UNESCO To Tackle Disruption Of Learning

Published

3 years ago

June 3, 2021

Our Correspondent, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has partnered with Japanese government and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) to tackle the disruptions of learning, sexual gender based violence caused by COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Mrs. Magdalene Maidoh, representative of the director, UNESCO regional office, Abuja, announced this at the formal launching of the Japan-UNESCO projects in Bauchi.

She said the project was tagged ‘Empowering women and girls for better wellbeing through Education in Nigeria’.

Maidoh explained that the project was set to tackle the disruption of learning and surge of sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the project was also to promote the empowerment of women girls in the marginalised community for better well-being through education and advocacy.

She said, “The project is a tool for effective advocacy on eliminating sexual gender based violence (SGBV) and reducing the spread of COVID-19 contributing to peace and stability and inclusive development to beneficiary states of Bauchi, Gombe and Delta”.

Maidoh pointed out that the project was expected to be achieved through the combined impact of psychosocial rehabilitation, community media empowerment and second chance education opportunities.

She said the project was designed to be implemented in Bauchi, Gombe and Delta states with funding from the Japanese government.

Maidoh added that technical support would be provided by UNESCO, to create awareness on strategies for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and to provide training on preventive measures to women and girls, through education and advocacy.

Responding , Professor Sani Mallami, Senior Adviser to the Bauchi State governor on Multi-sectoral, expressed the government’s commitment to implement the projects in the state.

He said the present administration will provide all the counterpart funding required for the smooth implementation of the project in the state.

He further commended UNESCO for selecting Bauchi for the implementation of the project, saying the state government had been addressing gender based violence in synergy with critical stakeholders in the society.

“We are really delighted to receive you on behalf of the Government and people of Bauchi State on this very rewarding and mutually beneficial programme that you will be implemented in Bauchi. We thank you sincerely for bringing this project to us in Bauchi,” he said.

He said the project would add value and complement government efforts in reducing the disruption of learning and the scourge of SGBV in the state.

Mallami pledged continued support during the implementation of the project effectively in the state.

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

9 months ago

July 22, 2023

Editor

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

Business

Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

11 months ago

May 18, 2023

Editor

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

“In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.