NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Implement teachers’ professional salary structure – NUT urges FG
Education

Implement teachers’ professional salary structure – NUT urges FG

344 total views today

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed concern over the delay in accommodating the teachers’ professional salary structure in the country’s budget and calls for prompt implementation.

Speaking at the union’s 6th Annual Solemn Assembly on Monday in Abuja, the National President, NUT, Comrade Audu Amba explained that the salary structure ought to have been implemented since 2023.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in commemoration of the World Teachers Day on Oct. 5, 2020, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved a special salary scale for teachers in the country.

Buhari also increased the number of years of service and retirement age of teachers from 35 to 40, and 60 to 65 respectively.

He said there will be Special Salary Scale for Teachers in Basic and Secondary Schools, including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance.

Other promises include, building low-cost housing for teachers in rural areas, sponsorship to at least one refresher training per annum to benchmark best practices for improved teaching and learning.

Amba however regretted that the approvals made by the former President were yet to be implemented, particularly the professional salary structure for teachers.

He, therefore, urged the present administration to ensure implementation of the policies for the development of the nation’s educational sector.

Amba explained that the solemn assembly by the NUT was organised to submit the activities of the Union in to the hands of God.

“We found it imperative to invite Imams and Pastors of reputable image from our two great religions – Islam and Christianity, to as usual lead us in praying to God.

“Committing our leaders, members, teachers and their welfare packages to the overall master – God, towards an all embracing success for the betterment of Nigerian teachers and the country at large.

“I want, as a matter of fact commit myself to the uplifting of the Union to greater heights while leaning on the various achievements of my immediate past President,” he said.

Earlier, the clerics, Imam Muhammad Bin Uthman and Rev. Fr Nduka Uzor urged Nigerians, especially teachers to be truthful and committed in the discharge of their duties.

They respectively urged Nigerians to learn to live together, preserve lives, be patient and humble themselves. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Rotimi Ijikanmi

Pre-Valentine’s Day: Church champions chaste living for young people
Religious

Pre-Valentine’s Day: Church champions chaste living for young people

454 total views today

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

Mr Chidi Udo, Pastor of the Teens Church, Assemblies of God Church (AGC), Surulere, on Monday urged adolescents and teenagers to embrace and maintain a chaste life until they are married.

Udo made the call at the ‘Chastity March’, organised by the AGC in Lagos.

Hundreds of adolescents and teenagers from other districts participated in the road walk which had the theme, “My Price Tag”.

“The increasing rate of sexual perversion and immorality among youths is an epidemic, and we recommend a pure life as the way forward.

“It is against this background that the church organised the ‘Chastity March’ to counsel adolescents and teenagers to refrain from immorality.

“The ‘Chastity March’ is specifically organised ahead of the celebration of this year’s Valentine’s Day to counter the immorality being perpetuated in the guise of love celebrations,” Udo said.

The young people marched from the Church Premises at Clegg Street through Funsho Williams Avenue to the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, Ojuelegba and back to the Church.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “True Love Waits”, “Saving it for Marriage”, “Celebrate your Purity”, “Stay Chaste”, “Stay Faithful”, “Don’t Let Lust Destroy Your Future”, “Your Body is a Temple, not a Playground”, “A Moment’s Pleasure, a LifeTime Regret” and many others.

Some parents joined the parade to support the teenagers in spreading the message of chastity and morality.

Speaking during the march, Mr Kaycee Onyegbule, a Youth leader in the Assemblies of God Church (AGC), Clegg Street, Surulere, said that the theme for the programme was taken from 1 Corinthians 20.

He lamented that Valentine’s Day had over the years been taken over by depravity, adding that young people now used the day to experiment with sex leading to all manners of sexual perversion.

Stressing the need to curb the trend, Onyegbule said, “It is important for children to make up their minds to remain chaste early in life and keep away from such.

“This can only be achieved by imbibing religious principles like those taught in this programme.

“African and Nigerian parents detest having children with premarital pregnancies. Premarital pregnancies are not encouraging as the society, Church and Bible are against it,” he noted.

On what the church was doing to curb immorality, Dr Chinyere Udo, the co-Pastor of the Teens Church, explained that the Church ran programmes for the youths to empower them economically and discourage them from being lured into sexual immorality.

Udo said that the Church also reached out to indigent youths around them and supported those who could not complete their education due to a lack of finance.

“The Church also empowers them with vocational skills and start-up fund and support and this usually helps them reject sexual harassment that comes through monetary and material appeals in any form.”

A top member of the Church, Dr Blessing George, noted that the church had a mission to raise a generation that understood the need for chastity before marriage.

George said children are raised to know that marriage is honourable and the bed undefiled.

According to her, what the church is saying is that they should wait for God’s time when they’re married before engaging in sexual activities more so now that Valentine’s Day is around the corner.

“The importance of the road walk is to teach the young ones the importance of being chaste.

“You know that Valentine is around the corner and it’s a season where people go all out showing love to one another but in doing that, they should not be involved in sexual immorality.

“They should realise that Jesus would like them to show love which made our Saviour die on the Cross of Calvary for us and they should not allow lust to destroy their destiny,” she said.

Earlier, Chidinma Isiguzo, President of the Household of Transformation, stated that chastity was important because it helped to build our relationship with God.

Isiguzo declared that people should realise that, “our bodies are the temple of God and whoever goes about committing sexual immorality will regret it at the end of the day’.

“Staying out of sex helps us build a good relationship with God, we know many people have deviated from the original concept of Valentine’s.

“As the day is approaching, many girls will tell their boyfriends to take them out, buy one gift or the other for them and might likely be involved in sexual activities.

“This is the reason we’re sending this message across that they should avoid doing that because their body is the temple of God,” she said.

Another Pastor, Rev. Bright Unuane, noted that the teenagers are the future of tomorrow, the church and society at large, therefore must live right and not go astray.

Unuane added that the programme was part of efforts to groom the young ones in holiness to nurture them accordingly, whereby they could take over from the present leadership in future.

Adolescents and teenagers from local churches in Alapere, Ketu, Mile 12, Ojodu, Mende, Iyana Oworo, Oworonshoki, Bariga, Ikate, Ebute-Metta, Gbagada and Ogudu participated in the Chastity March. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Christiana Fadare

FG places N2m bounty on lawyer for allegedly burning house help
General News

FG places N2m bounty on lawyer for allegedly burning house help

388 total views today

By Justina Auta
The Federal Government has placed a N2 million bounty on Anambra based lawyer, Adachukwu Chukelu-Okafor, currently at large, for allegedly burning her 11-year old house help.
She was alleged to have used hot pressing iron and knife to burn and chop in pieces, the private part of her house help.
Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja, following a viral video of the girl after she was abused and returned to her aunt, who gave her out as a house help.
“Please Nigerians go out there search for this woman, bring her out, call any Police station and hand her over.
“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is offering N2 million to anybody that will lay hands on this woman and hand her over to the Police.
“We need this woman urgently because the girl is in pain and has been in the hospital. It could be your child or anybody’s relation, so let us not fold our hands.
“We will give N2 million to anybody that will give necessary information to the police or the women affairs ministry on how to get Adachukwu, the barrister, who did all those harmful things to her house help.
“This woman will be apprehended by the police who have been looking for her and she is nowhere to be found,” she said.
Kennedy-Ohanenye also urged the public to divulge any information that would enable the authorities to apprehend the suspect, who has gone into hiding, to ensure justice for the victim.
“This issue of Adachukwuchu who burnt her 11 year old house girl with hot knife, putting it in her private part and at the same time using hot pressing iron to do other damages on her is of grave concern to the Federal Government.
“I kept quiet initially because I thought that by now it would have been solved by the state since they are aware of it. For the fact that it still hasn’t been solved, I have decided to wade in.
“Some people will say why is the ministry always getting involved. Let me explain that it is within my purview to get involved in anything that involves women and children across Nigeria. I have every right to get involved in it,” she said.
The minister also revealed that the government would soon make a pronouncement on the issue of employing underage house helps that are less than 18 years, to end cases of child abuse and violation.
According to her, there will be an enforcement programme to that end to be driven by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
“Again, in a couple of days, there will be a pronouncement from this ministry on taking house helps that are less than 18 years.
“We are going to put a stop to it, there will be a pronouncement within a week and an endorsement programme towards that action.
“And we will need the whistle blowers, who are Nigerians, to come and fight for your country, especially now. Come out and give information of anything that you feel will help this country,” she urged.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a video of the house help, lying on a hospital bed after being allegedly abused, went viral, sparking public outrage. (NAN)
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Idris Abdulrahman

Teachers beg Tinubu to declare state of emergency on security
Education , Defence/Security

Teachers beg Tinubu to declare state of emergency on security

298 total views today

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare state of emergency on security.

National President of the union, Comrade Audu Amba, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja at the NUT 6th Annual Solemn Assembly.

He said Nigeria in recent times had recorded an unprecedented security challenges and government must take decisive action to address them.

“It is therefore my humble plea that the Federal Government declare a state of Emergency as far as the security situation did not improve.

“Government at all levels should do the needful since security is everybody’s business.

“Nothing can be achieved with insecurity in the country. So, it is imperative to move all stumbling blocks that are bedeviling the security architecture of the country.

“It is our hope that Federal, State, Local Government and all stakeholders in education should join hands to protect our schools and the education workers in Nigeria,” he said.

On teachers’ welfare, Amba appealed for Constitutional amendment on the funding of primary and secondary education to be on the first line charge in the revenue allocation in the country.

“It is our belief that when enacted into law, it will go a long way to address the issue of irregular salary payment of teachers across the states.

“Teachers’ professional Salary Structure that is supposed to have been implemented in the year 2023, has not been accommodated in the budget, as such we will continue to push for its implementation,” he said.

The NUT President stressed the need for a uniform scheme of service for all teachers, adding that the union would ensure its actualisation.

He urged the government to implement an acceptable and sustainable minimum wage for workers and Nigerian teachers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Nigerian disagrees with Google over alleged frivolity of his 0m suit
General News

Nigerian disagrees with Google over alleged frivolity of his $150m suit

243 total views today

By Taiye Agbaje

A Nigerian, Mr Chianugo Peter, on Monday disagreed with Google LLC, an American multinational technology company, over allegation that his 150 million dollars suit is frivolous and unmeritorious.
Peter, through his counsel, Emmanuel Ekpenyong Esq. of Fred-Young & Evans LP, told Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court, Abuja in his reply to Google’s statement of defence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the company, in its statement of defence dated Nov. 9, 2023 and filed Nov. 10, 2023 by its lawyer, Mark Mordi, SAN, urged the court to dismiss Peter’s suit for being unmeritorious and unworthy.
Peter had sued GoDaddy.Com LLC and Google LLC as 1st and 2nd defendants over allegations bordering on the shutdown of his YouTubeAudio.com domain name after eight years of promotional and marketing works.
Google, in its defence, averred that Peter did not own the YOUTUBE trademark nor did he have a bona fide claim to use or register any mark that incorporates or is similar to the YOUTUBE trademark.
According to the company, the plaintiff was aware of his lack of bona fide claim because he approached it before he commenced operation “and acknowledged the 2nd defendant (Google)’s rights.
But in his response dated Feb. 7 but filed Feb. 8, Peter argued that “though it is a common knowledge that Google owns the YouTube trademark, the plaintiff’s YouTubeAudio.com domain and business name is different and distinct from the YouTube trademark.”
According to him, the followers and users of YouTubeAudio.com know that it is different and distinct from YouTube and it is not calculated to deceive them.
He said the 1st and 2nd defendants, as well as the relevant regulatory authorities, acknowledged that his YouTubeAudio.com domain and business name is different and distinct from the YouTube trademark.
“The 1st defendant being a domain registrar who works hand in hand with the 2nd defendant, has been in the domain hosting business for more than 2 (two) decades and has a database of existing domain names and domain names likely to infringe existing domain names.
“Upon a compulsory search, the plaintiff lawfully purchased and acquired YouTubeAudio.com domain name from the 1st defendant without any caveat or objection that the domain name is similar or infringes the YouTube trademark or any of the 2nd defendant’s trademarks.
“The plaintiff approached the Corporate Affairs Commission (“CAC”) and upon conducting the compulsory search, reserved and registered YouTubeAudio.com as a business name for the plaintiff’s business without any caveat or objection that it is similar or infringes the YouTube trademark or any of the 2nd defendant’s trademarks.
“The plaintiff approached the Trademark, Patents and Designs Registry, Commercial Law Department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade And Investment, Abuja, Nigeria (“the Trademark Registry”) to register the YouTubeAudio.com trademark with logo No. 173554 in Class 16.
“And after the compulsory search, the Trademark Registry accepted the same for publication without any caveat that it is similar or infringes the YouTube trademark or any of the 2nd Defendant’s trademarks.
“The 2nd defendant only has exclusive right over its trademarks registered in Classes 9, 41, 38, 35, 42 as listed in Paragraphs 9.1 to 9.8 of its Statement of Defence.
“None of the 2nd defendant’s trademarks is registered in Class 16 where YouTubeAudio.com trademark and logo is accepted for registration before the Trademark Registry.
“In 2021, the plaintiff approached the 2nd defendant to hoist YouTubeAudio.com application as “YTAudio” and its website youtubeaudio.com on the 2nd defendant’s Google Playstore.
“And the 2nd defendant duly approved the name and the website and hoisted the same on its Google Playstore without any caveat or objection that it is similar or infringes the YouTube trademark or any of the 2nd defendant’s trademarks until 25th December 2023 when it unilaterally removed the plaintiff’s application on its Google Playstore in reaction to the plaintiff commencing this suit.
“Upon clicking the application on the 2nd defendant’s Google Playstore, users are seamlessly redirected to the website youtubeaudio.com which was duly approved by the 2nd defendant.
“The YouTubeAudio.com website functioned as the application’s engine room on the 2nd Defendant’s Google Playstore,” he said.
He said in 2021, Google also duly approved and registered YouTubeAudio.com on its Google AdSence program with publisher ID pub-4279408488674166 without any caveat or objection that YouTubeAudio.com infringed its YouTube trademark.
He said the 2nd defendant would not have registered the YouTubeAudio.com domain name on its Google AdSense and Google Playstore platforms in the first place if it infringed on its YouTube or other trademarks.
Upon resumed hearing on Monday, Ekpenyong informed the court that a reply had been filed on Feb 8 in response to the statement of defence and that Google had been served.
The court, then, regularised the plaintiff’s reply to Google’s statement of defence.
The lawyer equally informed the court of their intention to amend their statement of claim and writ of summons
Oluwaseyi Ogundiran, who appeared for Google, responded that the plaintiff had just served on them the motion to amend their writ of summons and statement of claim on Friday.
She said the application was not ripe for hearing.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the matter until April 18 for mention.
NAN reports that GoDaddy.Com LLC, the 1st defendant, had neither been represented in court nor filed any application since the commencement of the case.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Be patient with Tinubu, Cleric urges Nigerians
Metro

Be patient with Tinubu, Cleric urges Nigerians

243 total views today

By Philomina Attah

The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

Ndukuba, who made the call at a news conference in Abuja on hardship and insecurity in the country, said that the problems in Nigeria would take 10 to 20 years to be fixed.

“I want to appeal to Nigerians to exercise patience by giving this government more time to do what they said they will do.

“With the problem that we have, it’s not something that can be solved within a day, one month or one year.

“The magnitude of our problems will take us another 10 to 20 years for us to deal with them,” he said.

On insecurity, the cleric decried the constant attacks in some parts of the country and called on the government for urgent intervention to protect lives of citizens.

“I call on the government and statutory security agencies to rise to their responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the citizenry, giving heed to the call for effective community policing.”

He equally appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to shun the planned nationwide strike.

“I want to appeal to the leadership of NLC to go into negotiation rather than going on strike. Let them go back to the round-table.

“We are pleading with the government to do the needful by engaging with the leadership of the NLC to resolve the issues amicably.

“People are hungry, and a hungry man is an angry man. We can’t tell them not to express themselves.

“Nigerians are not asking for too much. They are asking for food, security, infrastructure such as roads, and a constant power supply for them to live and do their economic activities.”

Ndukuba emphasised the need for Nigerians to engage in subsistence farming by using the available land within their premises for farming.

This, according to him will reduce hunger and suffering affecting the citizens.

“Nigerians are hardworking and can labour to feed their families if encouraged.

“There is a need for us to encourage Nigerians to go back to farm on any available land around their houses to get basic food.

“The wealth of this country has been captured and hijacked by the few elites. In a situation where few are richer than the whole nation, the wealth is not properly distributed.

“It’s very dangerous. We need to see what can be done to salvage this nation together,” he added

He urged Christians to pray for peace of the country, stressing that religion should be part of the solution to the societal problems and not the cause of its problems.

“We are trusting God that this challenges will be resolved in a no distant time.”(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Accessible road network, infrastructure will curb security challenges in FCT –Expert
General News

Accessible road network, infrastructure will curb security challenges in FCT –Expert

302 total views today

 

By Patricia Amogu

Mr Chukwuemeka Okoye, Managing Director, Vegas Homes, a real estate hub in the FCT, says curbing the current security challenges in Abuja will be easier with accessible road network and other infrastructure.

Okoye, who is also a real estate consultant, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

He said that aside from checking the growing security challenges in Abuja, a good road network would reduce the pressure of settling within the city.

According to him, good roads have the ability to reset security and end the recent kidnappings that are happening all over the country, mostly in the FCT.

“One thing that has made FCT very attractive all these years was the top-notch security advantage which is now a far cry from what it once was.

“Most of which happens where the roads have failed.

“Right now, you can drive 10 minutes conveniently to the office from most of the new layouts close to the FCT but not from around the farther areas around the outskirts.

“This is very important because a lot of those houses and layouts without good road networks are easy prey for armed robbery attacks because there are no road networks to catch up with them due to the bad roads.’’

He said he preferred living in the outskirts and also in places like Orozo and Karahi but those areas lacked infrastructure and once could spend a lot of time coming to the office in town every day.

Okoye said that in Dubai, people took 15 minutes by train to work in places around the outskirts because it was convenient and the roads were good and they had adequate infrastructure.

“Wike’s coming has brought a lot of hope to the business; he has promised all lands in Abuja will have Certificate of Occupancy; and a lot of impactful changes he has already made.

“I believe he will do more to check the security concerns in Abuja.

“So, many people cannot buy land directly because of allocation; so, we are bridging the gap between buyers and the government.

“A lot of residents complain about the hike in house rents in Abuja. Instead of renting, you can acquire your personal property.

“This brings me to the land banking project; we have adjustable payment plans for government workers and even business people.

“I was 18 years-old when I bought my first land; I bought it for N350,000; it is now worth about N80 million.

“Vegas homes has a 5000 housing units housing project for everybody and we are coming up with a three year plan for people to pay and start building.

“You can pay as low as N50,000 ,100,000 to N250,000 monthly and the land appreciates in the three years to your advantage giving you greater value for your money.

“With N1million, you can buy a plot of land and within the three years you will finish building and become a homeowner,’’ he said.

He added that the move would bring more development to Abuja and decongest cities like Lagos and surrounding cities; thereby, making FCT the biggest real estate hub in Nigeria.(NAN)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Disaster: FEMA inaugurates local emergency management committee in Kwali
Metro

Disaster: FEMA inaugurates local emergency management committee in Kwali

243 total views today

 

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Monday, inaugurated Local Emergency Management Committee for Kwali Area Council of the territory

The committee was inaugurated during FEMA’s dry season sensitisation campaign in Kwali Council Secretariat, Kwali, to prevent dry season related disasters.

The Committee has the Council’s Vice Chairman, Mr Mohammed Yakubu as its Chairman with the Directors of Environment, Agriculture, Health, Education and Social Development, and Works among other directors as members.

Others are representatives of youths, traditional leaders, National Orientation Agency, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, local vigilante, fire service and Special Assistant to the Chairman on Emergency Matters among others.

Mrs Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, explained that the committee would serve as the first responder to emergency situations in the council.

Wenegieme added that the committee would also sensitise community members to disaster prevention and mitigation where prevention fails.

“This is in accordance with the global strategy for disaster risk reduction, adding that it would help to reduce the impact of disasters on communities when they occurred.

“The committee will be trained on how to support community members to prevent preventable disasters,” she added.

Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya (right), during inauguration of Local Emergency Management Committee in Kwali Area Council of FCT on Monday

On dry season sensitisation, the director said that the move was to ensure zero loss of lives and properties to disasters in the FCT.

She described sensitisation as an innovative tool in disaster management, stressing the need for community members to be aware of disasters and how to prevent or mitigate their impact.

The director particularly identified fire outbreaks, epidemic, and buildings collapse, among other dry season related disasters that residents should know about and how to prevent them from occurring.

She called for the full support of Area Council’s executives in sensitising residents against attitudes that would predispose them to hazards that could turn to disasters.

According to her, disaster management is everybody’s business, stressing that relevant stakeholders must play their peculiar roles in disaster management.

The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, described the establishment of the committee as a huge relief.

Chiya explained that the committee would take over the burden of emergency response from his shoulder, particularly flood, fire outbreaks, and building collapse, among others.

He said that inaugurating the committee was a stepping-stone towards saving lives and properties during disasters and promised to provide the needed support and motivation to enable the members deliver on their tasks.

He said that the council was taking the issue of disaster seriously, adding that it observes monthly sanitation to keep the environment clean.

“Kwali Area Council is also the only area council with a Special Assistant on Emergency Matters,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Mohammed Yakubu, pledged to deliver on the mandate.(NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

DEPOWA president tasks members on self-discovery
Defence/Security

DEPOWA president tasks members on self-discovery

469 total views today

 

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Musa,  has tasked wives of military personnel to strive towards achieving their individual dreams.

Musa stated this at the opening of a two-day visioning and Planning Workshop organised by DEPOWA for wives of military personnel on Monday in Abuja.

Represented by Mrs Helen Kangye, Musa said the workshop was organised to create a balance and fulfillment for the women to realize their dreams.

According to her, apart from the complex roles they play as wives, professionals and caregivers, women often find themselves entangled in family responsibilities that hinder them from actualising their dreams.

Mrs Musa therefore urged them not to give up,  but rise above the challenges that hold them back in taking the right steps in actualising those dreams.

“It is important to note that within one lies so much untapped potentials, and coming together to awaken those potentials is important.”

She said they must circumbent the challenges to ensure a better future for themselves.

“It is against this backdrop that the workshop was organised to address the issue of lack of vision.

“It is expected of us to engage in meaningful discussions and adopt actionable strategies aimed at empowering each other to take decisive steps towards our goals,” she said.

The Resource Person and Founder Vision Academy, Celina Unogwu, defined personal vision as the process of creating a clear and compelling mental image of what the person wants to achieve or become in future.

Unogwu said that personal vision involves defining a purpose, mission, vision, values, and desires for different aspects of life.

According to her, personal vision is a foundation, direction and inspiration which ignites passion and enthusiasm to succeed.

She therefore urged the women to focus and prioritise, and have the resilience to achieve their dreams. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdul Hassa/Maharazu Ahmed

Alia appreciates NAN quality news content -Gov’s Media Aide
General News

Alia appreciates NAN quality news content -Gov’s Media Aide

294 total views today

By Emmanuel Antswen
An Aide to Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue,  Mrs Bridget Ikyado, has commended the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for the quality and authenticity of its news content.

Ikyado, who is the Principal Special Assistant, Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications to the Governor, made the commendation on Monday, when she visited the Makurdi office of the agency.

She said, “the governor appreciates the quality and content of the news items published by the agency on a daily basis.“

She also said that the governor appreciated the level of support his administration was receiving from the agency and pledged to strengthen the existing relationship.

Ikyado, who is a staff of the agency on secondment to Benue Government, promised that the government would strengthen its  collaboration with the agency on public awareness to drive the governor’s ‘Greater Benue Agenda’.

“NAN is my home. My everything. I have come here to say thank you for your continuous support to me and my governor.

“If not for NAN, I wouldn’t be in the office I’m occupying today.

“NAN gave me the platform to showcase my capability and I’m very grateful to the agency.

“My boss, Gov. Alia, appreciates NAN news content very much,” she said.

Ikyado said that in less than one year in office, the governor had started the implementation of all his seven strategic plans for the state.

She listed some of the projects being executed by the governor to include the Makurdi township roads, construction of flyovers in high-level parts of Makurdi, remodelling of  the 42-year-old state Secretariat and the revival of  the health sector, amongst others.

Ikyado further said that the government was also motivating the workers by prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity, training and retraining of workers.

She also said that the governor was also training at least 10,000 youths in different aspects of ICT and other areas of technology.

Earlier in a remark, the Head of NAN Makurdi, Mr Philip Dzeremo, said that the governor had been quite remarkable since he left the pulpit to serve as governor and “has so far been getting it right”.

Dzeremo, an Assistant Editor-In-Chief, congratulated Ikyado on her appointment, describing her appointment as well deserved.

He said that her appointment and a few others from the agency across the country was a clear indication that society was beginning to recognise what NAN stood for.

“God has decided in his infinite wisdom to reward NAN staff in this dispensation.

“It is our prayer that this should be replicated all over the country.

“Always do your best to represent the agency well.

“This is your home. And on our part, we will partner with you to ensure that you succeed.

“You have a very strong background, so work with us and we will give you the necessary backing that you need to succeed,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Sam Oditah

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