News

Out-of-school Children: Traditional Rulers Pledge To End Menace In Adamawa

Published

3 weeks ago

July 25, 2025

Traditional rulers in Adamawa State have expressed commitment to partner with relevant development partners to put an end to out-of-school syndrome threatening the future of the youth in the state.

Alh. Muhammadu Mustapha, the Lamido of Adamawa and the Chairman, Council of Emirs and Chiefs, who led the traditional rulers to a high-level meeting held in Yola, made the pledge on behalf of others.

The meeting was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office in partnership with Global Partnership on Education,(GPE) in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government.

They assured that they were ready to take bold steps in the campaign to end the growing out-of-school children crisis in their domains and across the State.

The meeting, which was attended by traditional rulers from the Central Senatorial Zone, underscored the importance of collective action in tackling the out-of-school children crisis and securing the future of Adamawa youths.

According to a UNICEF-supported report released in January 2024, over 886,000 children in Adamawa State are currently out of school.

The statistics made the traditional rulers make the pledge, marking a significant step towards addressing this pressing issue and ensuring every child in Adamawa State receives quality education.

In her remarks, Dr.Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, stressed that the traditional leaders would be a catalyst to lead the campaign for reducing the number of the out-of-school children in their communities.

Rafique explained that Unicef as a humanitarian organization was out to protect and promote initiatives for children in ensuring that no child was left behind in all aspects of life especially, health and education.

Addressing the meeting, the UNICEF Education Expert, Dr. Abdulrahaman Ado, said that the aim of the orientation was to strengthen the roles of traditional rulers in promoting school enrollment, retention and transition, particularly, the out-of-school children, girls and vulnerable learners across the state.

He explained that the platform was expected to be a renewed commitment by the traditional leaders to serve as education champions in their communities, supporting advocacy, monitoring and mobilization efforts and to enhance awareness and alignment of traditional institutions with state education priorities, policies and donor supported initiatives.

“Develop actionable resolutions and follow up mechanisms for sustained collaboration between traditional leaders, Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board, LGEAs and development partners in addressing barriers to education access and learning outcomes”, he added.

In his presentation on the current status of out-of-school children in the state, Mr. Rufus Hanawa, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Education, decried the level of out-of-school children in the state.

He lamented that the national level indicated that 10.2 million children are out of school with 8.1 million in their junior secondary school levels urging that all hands must be on deck to address the challenge head on.

Responding on behalf of the emirs and chiefs at the occasion, paramount ruler of Bachama Chiefdom, His majesty, Hama Bachama, applauded the development partners especially, UNICEF for the intervention pledging their cooperation for the success of the programme.

He advised the federal government to accord the traditional institutions a constitutional role so that legal backing can be provided for the traditional institution to function well.

He also urged the state government under Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri to address the deplorable nature of the infrastructures in the education sector in the state.

The one-day interface had all the Six Emirs and Chiefs in Adamawa Southern Zone including; Hama Bachama, Hama Bata, Murum Mbula, Amna Shelleng, Kwadi -Nunguraya and Gangwari Ganye as well as top government functionaries and stakeholders in education sector.

News

By-election: Voters Attack Edo PDP Agent For Allegedly Hoarding PVCs

Published

6 minutes ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

An agent of the Peoples Democratic Party was attacked on Saturday at Ozolua Model Primary School, Iguobazuwa East Ward, headquarters of Ovia South-West Local Government Area, Edo State, for allegedly refusing to release Permanent Voter Cards to eligible voters.

The agent, whose name was withheld, was accused of hoarding the cards.

A voter, who identified himself as Robert, said, “The PDP agent has our voter cards and we need them to vote, but he refused to release them. People got angry and descended on him.

“The fact is that he mobilised us for the registration, so when the cards came, many people handed them over to him, believing they would collect them during the election. However, he refused to release them because most of the people wanted to vote for the APC candidate, Omosede Igbinedion.”

The swift intervention of the police saved the agent from being lynched.

News

By-election: Low Turnout As Voting Begins In Anambra South Senatorial District

Published

16 minutes ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Observers say the low turnout could affect the pace and energy of the election, emphasising the need for more residents to participate to ensure robust representation.

Voting kicked off on Saturday at Igbo-Ukwu 1 Polling Unit in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State, for the Anambra South Senatorial District bye-election, but voter turnout remained low despite the early arrival of materials.

Accreditation and voting began on time at Ihua-Afor Ward III and Afaukwu College Ward II, but many polling units recorded thin crowds, with residents slow to show up.

The bye-election, covering seven local government areas, seeks to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in 2024.

Dominic Okafor, Member representing Aguata Federal Constituency, who voted at Igbo-Ukwu Polling Unit, acknowledged the low turnout but urged residents to exercise their civic duty.

“First and foremost, we pray for the repose of the soul of our former Senator, Ifeanyi Ubah. Voting has started, but we urge more people to come out. Almost a year without representation is too long, and every vote counts,” Okafor said.

Eighty-year-old voter, Madam Victoria Okeke, said she was pleased with the process, even though turnout was low.

“Materials came early, around 7:30 am. I was accredited and have voted. It was good and smooth, but not many people have come out yet,” she said.

An INEC official, who requested anonymity, confirmed that all machines were working and the process was seamless. She noted that voters began arriving as early as 7:00 am, conducting themselves orderly while security personnel monitored the units.

Observers say the low turnout could affect the pace and energy of the election, emphasising the need for more residents to participate to ensure robust representation.

News

Published

26 minutes ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Saturday expressed concerns over the slow performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the ongoing by-election in Edo Central Senatorial District.

Okpebholo said this while casting his vote at Ward 2 Polling Unit 1 in Udomi Primary School in Esan Central Local Government.

Speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote, Okpebholo said that although the exercise was peaceful, the BVAS machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were causing unnecessary delay.

“Well, I just voted. You can see the frustration.

“The BVAS is just too slow. It takes too long before you can get accredited.

“I think INEC needs to look into this. So far, so good, the reports I’m getting are good,” Okpebholo said.

The governor, however, commended INEC for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

He urged the electorate in the senatorial district to participate fully in the process and defend their votes.

“The process has been smooth here and the reports I am getting from other areas in the district are also smooth.

“INEC is doing well. I urge the voters to come out to vote and defend their votes,” Okpebholo said.

The by-election is being conducted to fill the vacant senatorial seat following Okpebholo’s emergence as Governor of Edo State.