The Zazzau Emirate Council has commended the renewal of appointment of Prof. Ahmed Mora as council member of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo state.
This is contained in a statement by the Media and Publicity Office of the Emirate on Friday in Abuja.
“It is with great pleasure that we announce the renewal of Wakilin Maganin Zazzau, Professor Ahmed Tijjani Mora’s appointment as a Council Member of Igbinedion University, Okada, for a further period of three years.”
It disclosed that Mora has been serving on the council since 2022 and previously contributed to the Board of Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital (IUTH), Okada, from 2020 to 2022.
Mora holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree (Pharmacy) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.
He is a Member of National Institute (mni), a Fellow of the West African Post-graduate College of Pharmacists (FWAPCPharm) and a Fellow of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), and has undertaken several Professional and Management courses in various Universities and Institutes including Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Mora led the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) as Registrar/CEO from October 2003 to January 2012 to execute a radical restructuring and transformation of the PCN into a global player in pharmacy regulation.
He was a member of the PCN Governing Council at various times and served as its Chairman.(NAN)
A procurement expert, Builder Olatunji Adekoya, says constant capacity building, strengthened welfare of officers and a speedy justice system will tackle corruption in Nigeria’s procurement processes.
Adekoya said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, at the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards (SPESSECE) Programme of Ahmadu Bello University.
“Number one, training, bringing up capacity for the procurement officers, so that they will be able to identify what is wrong and do what is right.
“Another thing is the willingness of government because whichever way you look at it, corruption in this nation, 90 per cent of them is through procurement.
“Because we have seen situations whereby some people will be caught in the web, that they have done this in procurement, they have done one thing or the other, but at the end of the day you see them moving freely.
“It’s not giving good signals to others. Others will feel, oh, if we steal or if we do something against the procurement act, we will still be walking freely.”
He commended the World Bank SPESSECE ABU programme and those in other centres for enhancing the capacity of procurement officers across Nigeria.
Adekoya harped on welfare, noting that meagre pay entices public servants to corrupt practices.
“And another thing again is taking care of those people in procurement, or even civil servants generally.
“Their salary now cannot take them home, and when they retire, it is even as if they are being ignored.
“Those people that work in procurement and other departments, by the time they retire, what do they live upon?
“Is it the meagre amount they are paying them? A director will retire and they pay the director less than N150,000. What will N150,000 do in this present day?
“So, for them to curb all these things, the people must be sure that while they are in service, they are well taken care of, and while they retire, they will still be taken care of.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has lauded three Nigerian public relations firms for outstanding performance at the 2025 SABRE African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference in Mombasa, Kenya.
The firms include Chain Reactions Africa, Integrated Indigo, and Blanche Aigle Communications.
The President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku in a statement by the NIPR’s Director of Public Relations, Mr Stanley Ogadigo, on Friday in Abuja said the three firms brought honour to the country.
“We are extremely proud of these Nigerian public relations firms. They have flown our nation’s flag high on a global stage, and for us, that affirms the height of creativity, innovation, strategy and leadership that Nigeria offers to the global PR ecosystem.
“These victories are not just wins for them, their companies, and their clients, but a national victory worthy of pride and celebrations.
“Chain Reactions Africa emerged as the biggest Nigerian winner, taking home four trophies, including two coveted Diamond SABRE Awards.
“Integrated Indigo demonstrated impressive continental run by winning Gold in Financial Communications.
“Similarly, Blanche Aigle Communications earned Gold for Best Campaign in the Western Africa region,” Neliaku said.
SABRE Award Africa organised by PRovoke Media is widely recognised as a global benchmark for excellence in public relations hosted annually across continents.
The regions include North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa, which attracts hundreds of entries from PR agencies, multinationals, nonprofits and public institutions across each continent.
The awards are presented annually and are known for highlighting campaigns that demonstrate strategic excellence, creativity, and impactful results.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Ndace, says VON is targeting about 500 million Swahili language listeners in South and East Africa “with contents that tell the African story.”
Ndace made this known when he received the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Selestine Kakele in his office on Friday in Abuja.
He said that this objective would be achieved by bolstering VON’s Swahili language partnership with the Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) to boost the exchange programme between them.
According to him, VON will also send a reporter to TBC in a matter of weeks to boost and accomplish the objectives of the exchange programme between them.
He also promised that the sole Nigerian foreign broadcasting organisation would send reporters to cover the Tanzanian elections scheduled to hold later in October.
Ndace disclosed that the organisation was already broadcasting in four foreign languages; French, Arabic, English and Swahili, and four indigenous languages; Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Fulfude.
He added that VON would soon begin broadcasting in China’s Mandarin, Portuguese and Indonesia’s Bahasa.
“This partnership is to solidify our broadcast in Swahili to enable us service Africans in Southern and Eastern Africa with contents that tell the African story.
“However, we intend to strengthen it more, because it is a memorable encounter in the sense that we never had agreement with any African country aside yours.
“On exchange of content, that is one of the core benefits in this partnership, and it cannot be over-emphasised, we have to be deliberate in using our content to share our stories and achievements,” Ndace said.
He assured Kakele that with President Bola Tinubu’s support and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, the partnership would be positively strengthened to benefit Nigeria and Tanzania.
“I want to assure you that we are just a call away, call us anytime you have an event, we will be happy to cover and share content with TBC,” Ndace added.
Speaking earlier, the High Commissioner said that Tanzania and Nigeria had enjoyed good relationship over several decades, stressing that Nigeria had assisted Tanzania to gain some positions on the global stage.
He said Nigeria and Tanzania had come a long way in their relationship, noting that a certain Nigerian soldier by name Yakubu Pam assisted Tanzania in building its Army in 1964.
“We have been working to support the use of Swahili because the language is spoken by about 500 million people; and also, 1400 media organisations including VON broadcast in Swahili.
”We want to strengthen the partnership more, on the exchange programme that is captured in our MoU, extend the flow of content. It is our duty as Africans to tell our own stories by ourselves not from outside.
“On behalf of the people and government of Tanzania, we will continue to support VON and others to promote the use of Swahili language,” Kakele said.
The envoy told his host that July 7 every year is the International Day of Swahili Language, and invited him to be a guest during the celebration in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that VON’s top management staff and some staff members of the Tanzanian High Commission in Abuja were present at the meeting.(NAN)
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG), has said that the Federal Government’s new flood insurance policy, is a strategic measure that will reduce economic losses occasioned by flood disasters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had in June, unveiled a National Flood Insurance Policy, as part of proactive efforts to address Nigeria’s growing vulnerability to flood disasters.
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s Chairman, Mr Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Mr Dapo Okubanjo, TMSG said the move was apt and strategic.
The group described the insurance initiative, as a crucial lifeline for flood victims across the country.
”For us, this initiative could not have come at a better time than now that the country is still reeling from the devastating effect of the recent flash flood.
”The flood in Mokwa, Niger State, claimed at least 200 lives and destroyed property worth millions of naira.
”It is also noteworthy that the Mokwa flood became a case study by stakeholders, who recently converged in Abuja, to deliberate on a framework for the implementation of the policy,” he said.
TMSG, consequently, urged stakeholders, to fast-track the policy’s implementation and finalisation of its framework.
”We are elated that such an initiative is about to take root in a country where about five million individuals were affected by floods in 2024 alone, according to official statistics from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
”This, is because, flood insurance is a global practice in several countries of the world, even though it is relatively new in Africa.
”It is on record that a similar policy came into operation in the US in the 1960s, and has since then, been instrumental to alleviating the pains of flood victims.
”So by institutionalising it in Nigeria, the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, would be laying the ground work for a safety net for individuals and businesses, who may be affected by flooding to enable them recover quickly.” he said
The group, emphasised the urgency of implementing the policy to safeguard national interest.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
President Bola Tinubu has extended heartfelt congratulations to Oba Akinloye Olakulehin on his 90th birthday and the first anniversary of his coronation as Olubadan of Ibadanland.
It will be recalled that Oba Olakulehin was officially crowned as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland on July 12, 2024, marking a historic chapter in the city’s royal lineage.
The congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga on Friday.
Tinubu said at 90, the Oba embodies the rare blend of age-old wisdom, service, and enduring leadership, earned through decades of service to his people and the nation.
The president emphasised the traditional ruler’s commitment to peace and progress, calling his reign one of grace, insight, and community upliftment.
He described the Olubadan as a distinguished royal father, cultural custodian, and statesman who has preserved Yoruba identity, values, and heritage.
”Your Imperial Majesty, Oba Olakulehin, as you mark nine decades of a life well lived in service, sacrifice, and stewardship, and on your first anniversary on the throne of your forefathers.
”We honour not only your longevity but also your immense contributions to community development and national unity.”
”May your reign be peaceful, prosperous, and impactful,” the president said.
Tinubu prayed for the Oba’s continued good health, strength, and grace, while his throne continues to symbolise peace, prosperity, and pride for generations to come.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Oba was born on July 5, 1935 in Okugbaja Village within Akanran, in the present day Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Olakulehin began his education in Ibadan, later training as a teacher before gaining vocational skills at Yaba Technical Institute, marking the start of his professional journey.
He joined the Western Region Government as a clerk, then earned OND and HND in Building at Yaba College of Technology. He transferred to the Nigerian Army in 1970 as an officer.
He served nationwide, eventually retiring in 1979 after a distinguished 20-year military career and transitioned to business.
He also entered politics, becoming a federal legislator before ascending Ibadan’s traditional leadership hierarchy.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
The Presidency, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, has appointed new executives to the leadership of the SDGs National Students Council.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the National Coordinator of the council, Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu.
Nwachukwu said the council, chaired by Comrade Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, is committed to advancing the UN SDGs in the area of quality education.
He said the SDGs national students council serves as a platform for engaging and mobilising students across Nigeria to champion sustainable development through advocacy, campaigns, and strategic partnerships.
According to him, it will collaborate with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, diplomatic missions, and international development organisations to promote SDG awareness and localisation among Nigerian students.
He added that it would also engage national student bodies such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of University Students (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS).
Also included is the National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NANCES).
The new appointees include Ismail Lawanson as Deputy National Coordinator; Abdulrasheed Mubarak, National Secretary; Stephen Omatule, National Programme/Project Coordinator; and Cynthia Agubama, National Treasurer.
Others are Elizabeth Adepoju, National Gender/Advocacy Officer; Ayuba Dhikirullahi, representative for NANCES; Ogidan Ibukun, representative for NAPS; and Joel Ogwuche, representative for NAUS.
The newly appointed executives pledged to implement impactful projects aimed at enhancing student welfare and advancing the SDGs in Nigeria.
They also assured the public of their commitment to transparency, accountability, and service delivery. (NAN)
President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Nigeria’s business mogul, late Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the tribute on Thursday in Kano during a condolence visit to the family of the late business mogul who died recently.
The Nigerian leader implored Nigerians to emulate the good habits of late Dantata, particularly his extraordinary generous philanthropy.
The President described Dantata’s demise as a great loss, not just to the Dantata family, but to Nigeria and the entire Muslim community.
“I am here at the behest of President Bola Tinubu, who said I should come here to pray and sympathise with the Dantata family over the loss of our father and grandfather, the late Aminu Dantata.
“He was a good man, full of the fear of God. He helped a lot of people, not just here in Nigeria but in other parts of the world.
“He will be remembered for his good works. May God grant him Aljannatul Firdausi and comfort the family and all of us over this great loss”.
Tinubu said the death of Aminu Dantata was a celebration of life and the good works of the late elder statesman.
He advised the children of the deceased and other family members to cooperate and continue to live in peace with one another in honour of their departed father.
Responding on behalf of the Dantata family, the younger brother of the deceased, Alhaji Munzali Dantata, thanked President Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima for their show of love.
He explained why the late Aminu Dantata was buried outside the shores of Nigeria, saying the late elder statesman had requested that whenever he dies, he should be buried in Saudi Arabia.
“This is a request the Saudi government obliged,” he said.
Those who accompanied the Vice President on the condolence visit were the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; Special Adviser to the President on General Duties, Alhaji Umar Modibo; former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), and former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, among others.
The renowned business magnate, Aminu Dantata, died on Saturday, June 28, in Dubai, at the age of 94, and was buried on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, is a nephew of the late Aminu Dantata.
Left behind to mourn him are three wives, 21 children and more than 100 grandchildren. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Prof. Yusuf Isah, a Professor of Economics at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, says the procurement sector must embrace digital literacy and ethical AI tools to enhance performance.
Isah spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE ABU) programme in Abuja.
Procurement is the comprehensive process of acquiring goods and services for an organisation, encompassing everything from identifying needs to finalising the purchase and payment based on clear, open guidelines and regulations.
It is a strategic function that involves more than just purchasing; it includes sourcing, negotiation and contract management to ensure the organisation gets the best value for its money.
Isah, therefore, urged ministries, departments and agencies of government to key into modern technology tools for smooth and effective operations in line with international best practices.
“Digital literacy is actually one of the new innovations.
“We are in a digital world; the pace of change is very rapid. Procurement cannot be left behind.
“So, it is very important and all procurement professionals need to be digitally literate.
“What it entails to be digitally literate 10 years ago is slightly different from what it entails to be digitally literate now, particularly in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
“There are procurement digital infrastructures that may also need procurement professionals to be able to understand certain AI systems.
“So that is why digital literacy now is all-encompassing; it goes beyond just appreciating the use of computer equipment and all that.”
He also stressed the need for an enhanced bandwidth to guarantee seamless digital operations, noting the speed at which information is passed across different units of the digital space.
“The bandwidth is an important aspect of digitising systems or digitising processes. There’s a coverage but there’s also the bandwidth.
“So, the bandwidth is what ensures that digital operations are seamless in terms of either uploading or downloading, the speed at which information is passed across different units of the digital space.
“So, bandwidth is also very important and what you notice generally, not just in Nigeria but in most developing countries, is that the bandwidth is limited; that in itself places a barrier to the extent to which you can digitise the procurement process.”
He harped on the need for basic understanding of procurement in both public and private sectors, reiterating the need to highlight the input, output and outcome priorities of services.
“As a public servant or as a civil servant in Nigeria, you need to have a basic understanding of what procurement and procurement management is.
“With the context of procurement, usually public sector entities are guided by their specific mandates in terms of providing either goods or services to the citizens.
“In the process of doing that, usually there is a need for them to acquire certain inputs, and the idea is that these inputs are now supposed to translate into expected output and subsequently to expected outcomes.
“So, we make this distinction between input, output and outcomes to show that when analysing the use of public resources, more often than not, we focus on the output.
“But we need to also be interested in the outcomes and more often than not, these outcomes are usually things that reflect in the developmental indicators that we are all interested in, in terms of whether education, health, poverty, social inclusion and so on and so forth.”
The economist also highlighted the need for social and gender inclusivity in procurement as a core value for social harmony and stability in the system, urging procurement officers to hone their skills and competencies in ethics of the profession. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
An NGO, Anti-Kidnapping, Human Trafficking, Child Abuse and Drug Abuse Initiative (AKH-TRACADA) has called on the NDLEA to introduce compulsory drug testing for major national institutions and road safety protocols in Nigeria.
The Founder and Executive Director of the NGO, Belonwu Ezeanyaeche, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, said it would serve as part of registration and participation processes.
He said that the proposed drug test would be made mandatory for candidates writing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
He advocated for the inclusion of commercial drivers, especially those driving lorries and buses before issuance or renewal of driver’s licenses, stressing that it should be at six-month intervals for such drivers.
He said that this would ensure the continued safety of commuters and reduce the number of avoidable road crashes.
“A driver under the influence of illicit drugs or substances is exposed to grave risks such as sleeping while driving, speeding, loss of consciousness, dangerous overtaking and poor judgement, which are major contributors to the daily road carnage,” he said.
He said that data from relevant road safety and public health stakeholders indicates that human errors, directly linked to drugs and psychotropic substances abuse, accounted for over 95 per cent of road traffic accidents in Nigeria.
He added that the incorporation of a drug testing system in the education sector would not only tackle drug abuse but also curb cultism.
Ezeanyaeche added that it would also reduce criminal tendencies and foster a more secure and morally sound academic environment.
“Making the NDLEA illicit drug test mandatory for school-age children preparing for exams will minimise the use and abuse of drugs as well as improve mental and cognitive health, and promote quality education outcomes,” he said.
The NGO boss emphasised that early detection and testing would help safeguard Nigerian youths against exposure to substances through peer pressure, cult activities, poverty, and exploitation.
He said that the drug testing policy would contribute to the fight against human trafficking, child abuse, and other related crimes by addressing one of their key enablers.
He called on the Ministries of Education, Youth Development, Transportation, and Health to partner with the NDLEA and Civil Society Organisations to create a multi-sectoral framework for implementation.
“We must see this as a national emergency. A drug-free youth population is a catalyst for national transformation. Schools, exam bodies, and even transport unions must work together to protect our future and our roads,” he added.
Ezeanyaeche also appealed to stakeholders in the transport industry to embrace the initiative, noting that public support would be crucial in building a safer, healthier and more productive society.
He reiterated the commitment of AKH-TRACADA to collaborate with relevant government agencies to ensure that the drug testing initiative becomes a permanent policy in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Ismail Abdulaziz
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