PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, september 13, 2017
News NTI, Commonwealth of Learning to develop environmental education curriculum From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
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ational Teachers Institute NTI and Commonwealth of Learning COL are developing a curriculum on environmental education for schools under Green Teachers Nigerian Project across the country. Speaking at the second phase of NTI / COL materials Development workshop organized for NTI, Acting Registrar and Secretary To Governing Council of the Institute , Mahmud M Usman said the workshop will help produce quality course materials for use in the Green Teachers Project Nigeria. He commended COL representatives for their efforts towards building capacity of teachers under the project. He added that Green Teachers Project is essentially an environment program hence the need to educate pupils and students on ways to protect environment. In her Remarks, COL Teacher Consultant Dr Shivani Jain said Green Teachers Project started in India before it was moved to Commonwealth Nations. She explained further that the Green Teachers Project have succeeded in the area of developing quality materials for teachers to use in the area of environmental education. She commended NTI in the area of teachers training, saying during the training there would be sharing of experiences on Green Teacher Project Indian perspective and Nigeria.
Yoruba monarchs to agitators: Nigeria’s unity remains sacrosanct From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
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he Chairman, Council of Yoruba Traditional Obas and Chiefs in the 19 Northern State and Abuja, Ambassador Mohammed Arigbabuwo has said the unity of Nigeria as a nation is nonnegotiable, hence, regional forces calling for the breaking of the country should think twice and consider the sacrifice of the founding fathers, military and Nigerians who laid down their lives to ensure that Nigeria remain as indivisible entity today. He stated this when he received a team of Yoruba Deeper Life Bible Church, led by the Group Pastor, Pastor Joseph
Olugbade in his palace yesterday. Ambassador Arigbabuwo said, it is high time Nigerians should consider the unity and interest of the country above personal interest; saying the calling for Biafra, the problem in the southsouth, the calling for Oduduwa state and the quit notice from the northern youth are not in the interest of the country. He said God in His infinite wisdom has brought this nation together and it is the same God who has the final say whether the country should remain one or not. So no individual should see himself as somebody who can divide this nation. Ambassador Arigbabuwo expressed dismay at the increase
rate of crimes in the country, citing kidnappings and abductions on the Kaduna – Abuja express way, armed robberies in the south-east and ritual killings in the southwest, all these according to him should be subject of worries to every right thinking Nigerian and not Nigeria to break. “If Nigeria break up today, all these problems will still be around; so we’ve achieved nothing. Only that we’ve gone back to square one because armed robbers operating in the south-east will not want to know whether in Biafra or no they will continue their activities. Same applies to kidnappers, ritualists and other menace,” he said. “On our side and leaders,
we will do everything within our reach to see that the people of Yoruba extraction in the 19 Northern States and Abuja work harmoniously together and respect one another. “We shall also strive hard to see that our people are not left out in the scheme of things anywhere they reside. On this note I want to say that we cannot achieve all our aims if we live at cross-roads. “I want to implore all the Yorubas in the Northern states, to support the government in all its programmes and prayed for it success. Also prayed for other leaders, those who have kept faith in the country unity and doing their best to see the country moving forward,” he added.
NUJ hails Gov Abubakar over appointment of Peoples Daily COO, Ali as S/A Media From Bauchi
Ahmed
Kaigama,
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he Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Bauchi Council has applauded Governor Mohammed Abubakar for appointing a veteran journalists Mallam Ali Mohammed Ali as his Special Adviser on Media and strategy The Council Chairman Ibrahim Mallam Goje made the
commendation when he lead a delegation of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) executives on a courtesy call to the Governor at Government house Bauchi yesterday. Ibrahim said “sir you took a wise decision by appointing a veteran who knows inside out of journalism who is an erudite journalists to man the media constituency” . According to him, journalists in the state expressed their
appreciation for the gesture. Saying the gesture is not for you but for the entire journalists who will have the atmosphere to operate freely in the state. “The person you appoint as S A Media knows the constituency very well, he will inject his wealth of ideas and create smooth enabling environment for others to operate in the state” he said Mallam Goje also commended Governor Abubakar for the
achievement recorded by his administration in the last two years especially his commitment on oil exploration in the state. Goje then urged the Governor to improve the welfare of staff of state media organization as well as provide sporting facilities at NUJ secretariat. In his remark the Bauchi state Governor Mohammed Abubakar cautioned media practitioners against reporting issues that is
against journalism ethics. He said “As a media practitioners, you have a lot of responsibility to report issues of governance correctly. You should not be partisan as a journalist because you do not belong to a political party so you are suppose to report the truth”. He then reiterated the support of his administration to support and partner with working journalists in the state.
FCT: Akwa Ibom youth association gets new exco By Paul Efiong
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n apex youth association from Oron Akwa Ibom State known as the Essu Nlap Oro, Abuja branch at the weekend swore in its 25-member new executives who are to man the organization affairs in Abuja for the next 3years. Speaking at the event, the new president of the group, Comrade Ulap Okon Archibong promised to operate an open door policy with all irrespective
EDITORIAL
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Messy handling of Benue floods
o say that all of Benue state, in Nigeria’s north central zone, is under water is not an exaggeration. As at the weekend, 22 of the state’s 23 local government areas were contending with floodwaters. Reports say that, so far, over 100,000 persons have been displaced from their homes in the state capital alone. This figure is bound to rise because the rains are getting heavier by the week, and humanitarian help has not been commensurate with the level of the tragedy. Video clips of the floods showed a state, and country, unprepared for a tragedy that was waiting to happen. Sleepy residents of Makurdi, the Benue state capital, were captured on camera, walking through floodwaters, clutching pieces of drenched furniture, cooking pots and what bags of foodstuffs they were able to salvage from the rising water.
A collapsed wooden bridge which cut some residents from their kits and kin at Imiringi town in Obgia Local Government Area, yesterday in Bayelsa State. Photo: NAN
of ones background,educational status and gender. Comrade Archibong also used the opportunity to appeal to Oron youth leaving in Abuja to always identify themselves with his association instead as he has mapped out a workable strategies which are job seekers and others who may be in need of one thing or another will be massively assisted. The new president further disclosed his readiness to defend
Oron people especially the youths in the Federal Capital Territory whom he alleged have for some years been neglected by successive elders of Oron. The president general of Oron Union,Dr. Effiong Edunam was represented at the occasion by Mrs. Jenet Amba, who applauded the youth for their steadfastness and unity of purpose in keeping the mandate of the group alive. Dr.Edunam in his address congratulated the new exco for their
victory during election urging them to put the interest of oron people and nation above every other things as such would help in propagating the aims and objectives of the founding fathers of Oro extraction. In his address, the Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of the group, Chief Asukwo Enweme lamented against youths reckless desire for political offices observing that if such disposition continues, Oron nation may not have prominent persons to
represent them in civil service in the near future. He also warned the newly sworn in executives members of the association never to bend rules in order to perpetrate themselves into office after their tenure expiration. The president General of Essu Nlap Oro, Joseph Bassey in his address urged the new exco to ensure that 35% is reserved for women as such has been the tradition of the group right from its inception.
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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, september 13, 2017
had warned of unprecented floods this year. This followed a statement by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency listing 30 states as those likely to experience floods with the onset of rain late July. Humanitarian agencies followed up with sensitization campaigns, urging people in the lowlands to relocate before the arrival of the floods; it was not a question of whether the floods would come but when. Still, when the heavens opened up and River Benue overflowed its banks, the
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We deplore the government’s tardy response to what is clearly a perennial problem. It is a criminal dereliction of duty. This is in sharp contrast to the prompt, wholehearted response of the United States federal government to similar floods in the state of Texas.
However, it should not have been so. If we know the topography of Benue state well, nobody should be told that it is prone to flooding. The state is situated in the trough of the Benue river from which it derives its name, and its tributaries including Gamana or Katsina Ala. The fertile flood plains created by these rivers are what make state government and residents reacted as people refer to the state as Nigeria’s if taken offguard. “food basket”. Ironically, when the weather turns inclement, as it has this year, the harvest is not that of crop but There were no ready camps to receive the increasing flow of IDPs ((internally one of immense destruction and loss of displaced persons). It was at the heart of the lives. tragedy that the state, as an after thought, converted the uncompleted international Besides our familiarity with the state market in Makurdi to a refugee camp. Not geography, which should put the state originally meant for that purpose, it lacks government on red alert, weathermen
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power, water and public conveniences. The problem here is that if death does not come directly from the floods, it is sure to come from an epidemic, something which congestion in the camp portends. It was against this background that President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send help to the flood victims in Benue. The president assured that he would personally monitor how NEMA carries out the task. Lamentably, the reports we are getting speak of quarrels between NEMA staff and local aid groups that have stepped up to fill a gap created by official inaction. A role conflict isn’t what the flood victims want to see, but concerted efforts to alleviate their immediate plight and eventual rehabilitation when the floods will have receded. We deplore the government’s tardy response to what is clearly a perennial problem. It is a criminal dereliction of duty. This is in sharp contrast to the prompt, wholehearted response of the United States federal government to similar floods in the state of Texas. President Donald Trump and his wife flew down to supervise the rescue work. Back home, we want to commend neighbouring state governments, wealthy individuals, local and international aid groups that have contributed relief materials, money and medical teams to give succour to the Benue flood victims. We give the thumbs up to this flow of ‘milk of human kindness’. We hope and pray that today’s Benue will not become a recurring decimal in our national life.
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