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The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), launched on Friday a stabilization fund in the Cuttlefish Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina state which would benefit no less than 1,398 vulnerable people.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk, Alhaji Ali Grema, was represented at the Humanitarian Affairs event.
He said the project was part of the Community of West African States (ECOWAS) interventions to member states to cushion the effects of the floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister added that the current phase of the project was being implemented in the LGAs of Cuttlefish and Faskari.
According to her, for Nigeria, the ECOWAS intervention was being provided through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for two projects.
“First, the post-flood humanitarian assistance and second, the humanitarian stabilization fund. These projects are being implemented by the Red Cross Society (NRCS) and WFP on behalf of the Ministry,” he said.
In her speech, WFP Program Officer Agnes Mungatia said that WFP was collaborating with the Federal Government and ECOWAS in their program to alleviate food and nutrition insecurity in Katsina, Borno, Adamawa and Zamfara states.
She said the program was also building sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable families.
The program officer said: “In Katsina, 208 households or 1,398 individual beneficiaries received cash transfers of N27,800 each month to buy their favorite foods from local markets.
“Beneficiaries are generally encouraged to buy a wide range of nutritious local foods from local markets, which has the added benefit of stimulating local markets and local agricultural production.”
Mungatia added that to prevent acute malnutrition in the first 1,000 days of life.
He added that the program was also intended to provide nutritional assistance to children between six months and 23 months and 4,690 children would benefit from it.
He said the program was also helping pregnant and lactating mothers from vulnerable households, adding that 644 families would benefit in the state's Faskari and Jibia LGAs.
“In the last phase of the program, WFP planned to use the ECOWAS donation to build the resilience of some of the household machines and provide training support to 86 beneficiaries to generate income to support their livelihoods,” he added.
Earlier, Governor Aminu Masari of KAtsina state praised the federal government, ECOWAS and all partners for the gesture.
The adviser represented by Masari, Department of Empowerment and Social Intervention, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman-Nasir, promised to design a mechanism to sustain the program beyond its time frame in the state.
According to him, this will benefit more communities throughout the state.
No fewer than 112 graduates from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, will be awarded first-class degrees at the institution's 25th convocation, Vice-Chancellor Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello announced.
Olatunji-Bello revealed this at a press conference on Wednesday to intimate journalists about the activities scheduled for the ceremony.
He added that the first-class graduating students were the highest number the institution had ever produced.
“The total number of graduating students is 7,232 undergraduate, first grade, postgraduate and master's degree students.
“Benjamin Damilare Olowu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering emerged as the best graduating student overall, having achieved a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.97 among all graduating students from the institution.
“In addition, two master's students would graduate with a CGPA of 5.0 from the Department of Peace and Religious Studies and the Department of Transportation and Logistics,” Olatunji-Bello said.
The vice chancellor said any of the 112 interested first-class graduates would be employed as a lecturer's assistant at LASU.
“The highlight of the activities for the convocation would be a sports competition for the staff, a thanksgiving service, a coconut and a cultural festival, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State is the president of the convocation.
“The convening conference would be delivered by Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State, with the theme: “Global Trends: Nigeria's Rightful Place in the World”.
“The rank of Professor Emeritus would be conferred on the distinguished Prof. Peter Okebukola.
”While Dr. Abdullahi Gantuve, Governor of Kano State; Prof. Babagana Zulum, Governor of the State of Borno and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abuja, will receive an honorary doctorate,” he said.
Olatunji-Bello added that the call would mark the first time that the university's Africa Center of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative Stem Education program would produce graduates.
The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has said that the Federal Government will continue its efforts to promote digital innovation and entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.
The minister gave the assurance on Tuesday by launching an Information Technology (IT) Innovation Center named after President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina state.
He insisted that doing so would make young people become job providers and contribute to the growth of the nation's economy.
Pantami said that the world economy had gone from being dominated by the oil and gas sector to that of Information and Communication Technologies.
According to him, the ambition of the Federal Government is to have individuals and institutions achieve greatness and wealth through IT.
“Nigeria needs to create an enabling environment and mentorship that encourages talented young people in the IT sector. This informed the federal government's decision to build the IT center in Katsina state.
“Digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship are the prerequisites for the digital economy.
“The leading nations today in Europe, Switzerland, Asia, South Korea, and the United States that excel in digital innovation and digital entrepreneurship have strong economies.
“Nigeria cannot and must not be left behind.
“That's why this kind of IT center was built where the IT needs of our youth would be monitored.
“We will continue to mentor them to end up being job providers and successful IT people like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates of this world.
“A center like this will help the federal and state governments discover our talented young people and guide them to become job providers and contribute to the nation's economy,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari also assured that the state would continue to encourage young people to adopt IT.
The governor said the newly commissioned IT center will be put to good use under the state Institute of Science and Technology.
The Small and Medium Development Agency (SMEDAN) of Nigeria has adopted the "One Local Government, One Product" (OLOP) program in the agricultural value chain with a view to developing the country's economy. Dr. Dikko Radda, Director General (DG) of the Agency, stated this at the official signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Microfice Banks and Candidate-Beneficiaries under the Program in Katsina on Monday. Radda said that OLOP was adopted by promoting the development of at least one product of agricultural value identified per local government area in the country. He said that the objective was to add value to the raw material identified for the brand and be certified for import and export. According to him, the main objective of OLOP is to improve human capacity through technological and official support for efficient and viable cooperative enterprises. “This will allow us to improve the productivity and quality of our products to achieve competitiveness to meet national and international standards. “I am pleased to inform you that the Agency will support 199 cooperatives/companies in 199 local government areas under the OLOP 2021/2022 intervention. “Some 364 of the 774 LGAs in the country have benefited from the scheme since the intervention from 2016 to 2020. "Around 212 LGAs were covered in 2021 according to our estimate, leaving a balance of 198 to be covered in 2022," it added. The Director General noted that President Muhammad Buhari was committed to fighting unemployment through the development of agriculture and the products of its value chain. He praised Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari for his unwavering support for the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the state. Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, praised SMEDAN for the initiative, noting that they would not misuse any opportunity given to them to develop the economy.
The Katsina state government says it has reserved different price categories, including a Toyota Highlander SUV to be won at the end of its National Talent Hunt Challenge on February 15.
State Information Commissioner Alhaji Abdulkarim Yahaya-Sirika revealed this while briefing reporters in Katsina on Sunday about the preparations for the closing session of the competition.
According to Yahaya-Sirika, Governor Aminu Masari will present the vehicle to the best overall winner of the competition, while three prizes will be awarded to the winners in each of the four categories.
*The first position will be rewarded with N5 million, the second position will be rewarded with N3 million, while the third position will be rewarded with N1.5 million.
“In addition to the cash prizes, 100 contestants will be handsomely rewarded with consolation prizes of N100,000 each for having entered the competition.
“The main objective of the Katsina National Talent Hunt Challenge is to encourage innovation and develop the potential talents of the young people of the state in particular and of Nigeria in general.
"This is in line with the vision of Governor Masari, who believes in the potential of young Nigerians," revealed Yahaya-Sirika.
The commissioner further explained that the competition began in November 2018 with the public presentation in Abuja, the nation's capital.
He added that around 7,000 contestants submitted their works for the competition and after the selection exercise, 250 were selected through a very competitive process.
“The final products produced by talented young people were exhibited during the public presentation exercise from November to December 2021.
“Four different categories were provided, this produced the basis for the selection of the top three winners in each of the four competition categories.
“Categories include; Arts and Design, Modeling and Automotive Products, ICT Design, Music and Entertainment”. according to Yahaya-Sirika.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina state says his administration has set up a security structure in the village as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the state, especially banditry.
Masari revealed this on Sunday in Katsina when he received APC National Leader Bola Tinubu for a condolence visit for the recent assassination of his Commissioner, Dr. Rabe Nasir.
According to the governor, the security structure of the village is made up of the village chiefs, the two religious leaders who dominate the areas, and also the head of the butchers.
Other members of the structure are chief barbers, motorized park officials, youth leaders, chief security guards and whoever has a role to play in the communities.
According to Masari, “we have engaged them under our new security structure which clearly outlined the involvement of all sectors of the community.
“We have fully involved traditional institutions. As I said, because we realized that this is a community issue, it has been addressed with the community participation of all.
“Again, we established organized and operated dispute resolution centers, particularly the State Chief Judge's Office. We are currently establishing more than 40 conflict resolution centers across the state and they are up and running.
"And you'll be surprised, about eight that we've opened so far have settled more cases than regular courts would have."
He added that the centers attend to community issues such as conflict between landlords and Tets, and the sale of lots.
“Disputes like minor business issues that are not criminal in nature, drainage issues, issues like maybe your goats going into your neighbors, and misunderstandings between families.
“These are all issues that should not go to court, these conflict resolution centers are equipped with community participation so that we reduce the workload of the Judiciary.
“And also bring a harmonious life between the communities, you know that the courts do not resolve disputes.
“You hardly go to court and leave as friends, but if you go to conflict resolution centers, you leave as friends because you have agreed to resolve your problems outside the normal court or police system,” he added.
Keep readingSource: NAN
The Katsina state government has ordered the reopening of all previously closed gas stations and cattle markets as part of measures to tackle cattle rustling and banditry in the state.
This reopening order is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, and issued to journalists on Saturday.
He said Governor Aminu Masari had also instructed the two Emirati councils in the state, Katsina and Daura, to implore district and village chiefs in the affected areas to be vigilant.
According to the statement, the governor also asked them to ensure that no collusion by the butcher leaders (Sarakunan Fawa) and others is allowed.
“The governor also warned that the government would not hesitate to impose the closure where there is a resurgence of any questionable activity.
“It is worth remembering that the affected fuel stations and markets were closed as part of the Containment of Security Challenges Order issued by the government.
"The security containment order was intended to restrict the supply of fuel to bandits and transactions on stolen animals in the state," the statement recalled.
YAYA
The Katsina state government said Wednesday that it will not allow insecurity or any pandemic to disrupt teaching and learning in the state.
Sani Danjuma, a public relations officer at the Katsina State Ministry of Education, said this in a statement in Katsina.
Mr. Danjuma summoned the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Badamasi Lawal from Katsina State, when he received a combined delegation from the Federal Government and UNICEF officials on an inspection visit.
“The sector will not be left out of the digitization of the Nigerian education system. We will not allow calamities, disease and insecurity to continue to distort learning and teaching in the state.
“The commissioner also revealed that the visit came at the right time when Nigeria has provided innovations to solve its educational challenges.
“The state government of Governor Aminu Masari is always ready to partner with the Federal Ministry of Education and other development partners to develop education in the state.
"This can be achieved by using desired technology to empower teachers who will inspire students to learn in the face of global challenges." Mr. Danjuma quoted Mr. Lawal as saying.
He said that the team leader, Dr. Muhammed Mahmud, had revealed that they were in Katsina to inspect the e-learning equipment supplied to the state by the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to him, the supply was made in conjunction with UNICEF / GPE-NIPEP for the establishment of an E-Learning Passport study / laboratory located in the state Ministry of Education.
Mr. Danjuma said that Mahmud, also a technical adviser to Education Minister Adamu Adamu, also said that e-learning was a priority considering the security situation throughout the country, particularly in the north.
"The UNICEF representative, a M&E specialist, Mr. Babagana Yahaya, reported that e-learning also provides vocational skills to beneficiaries," Danjuma said in the statement.
YAYA
Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari says he is unaware of the reports of the arrest and detention of any journalists.
Mr. Masari also said that he did not ask any of his officials to do so.
Abdu Labaran, the governor's Director General of Media, said this in a statement issued in Katsina on Sunday night.
Mr. Labaran was reacting to a statement issued by the NUJ FCT Chapter accusing Mr. Masari of ordering the arrest of a Nelson Omonu from the Summit Post newspaper.
“The attention of the Katsina state government has been drawn to a press release issued by the NUJ Council, FCT, in which the governor is accused of ordering the arrest of one Nelson Omonu, who works for the Summit Post newspaper.
“The statement was issued today Sunday and signed jointly by comrades Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, president and secretary of the Council, respectively.
“They alleged that the journalist was kidnapped in a commando style by security agents believed to have been working under the orders of Governor Masari.
“As bad as the prosecution is, the FCT NUJ continued to make degrading remarks about the security challenges facing the state, as if Katsina is the only state facing the threat of banditry.
“For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of clarifying matters, Governor Masari, or, for that matter, any official of the Katsina state government, has not ordered the arrest or detention of any journalists, in Abuja or anywhere otherwise, ”the statement read in part.
The governor added that journalists working in Katsina, and even some of those working in other parts of the country, notably the FCT, will attest without notice to the fact that he is one of the most media-friendly public officials. in Nigeria.
“In our opinion, this reckless press release from the NUJ FCT Council has exposed the bankruptcy of journalistic ethics among some members of the fourth kingdom in the country.
“And the FCT Council is supposed to lead the rest of the councils across the country.
“We also believe that we may not be mistaken in suspecting that an ax work executed for a good reward, paid for by a shadow puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes.
“We cannot teach FCT NUJ council members how to keep wolves away from their door, but they would do well, very, indeed, to make sure of its truth before rushing to put pen to paper, making laughable accusations at tribute to its payers.
"Such actions, which have nothing to do with purity of purpose, have a way in which they easily become a boomerang," the statement advises.
YAYA
Dr Shamsuddenn Yahaya, executive secretary of the state's Primary Health Care Development Agency, said this in an interview with the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) on Thursday.
Yahaya also said that so far 58,471 people have received the second dose of the vaccine, including Governor Aminu Masari.
He said the number of those who received the first dose accounted for 56 percent of the target, while those who received the second hit was 44 percent.
Yahaya also said 210,520 doses of Astrazeneca were received for phase one and two of the exercise in the state.
“A total of 40,366 people received the first dose of Moderna, while 21,872 received the second dose.
“Of the 40,366 who took the first dose of Moderna, 18,494 did not return for the second dose. The total of the Moderna vaccine received is 95,380, '' he said.
He said 123,000 doses of Astrazeneca had been received for the third prick, also known as a booster dose, while the Pfizer vaccine received for the same purpose is 35,100 doses.
Yahaya said the vaccination registered a large turnout which he attributed to the commitment of Governor Aminu Masari and the traditional rulers of the state.
He said that a team was created to sensitize people in neighborhoods and local governments about the importance of exercise.
"There were doubts about the vaccine even among health workers due to misinformation, especially on social media, but with vigorous social mobilization, people are now accepting the vaccine," he said.
YAYA
