Month: January 2023

By Uzair Adam Imam

There was excitement on the faces of inmates and tears in their eyes when Darus-Sunnah Foundation Wednesday visited the Goron Dutse Correctional Center, Kano, to bail out some of the inmates.

The foundation, under the leadership of Sheikh Muhammad Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, was able to secure the release of 14 inmates, who, amidst joy, departed to reunite with their families.

The development was contained in a statement issued and signed on Saturday by Malam Aisar Salihu Musa, the committee secretary.

Salihu said the foundation had bailed out the inmates charged with civil offences and debts, where N250,000 was spent in the process.

He added that the foundation also paid for medical treatment for some sick inmates.

Need for authority to intervene

The foundation also called on the authority to intervene in feeding and bailing some of these inmates, whose offences are not criminal.

“There is a need for our rich people and politicians to be taken their annual alms (zakka) to such correctional centres and bail out inmates.

“They need to know that these people suffer because of the little debt or fine they couldn’t afford to pay.

“We need to help them with food, water, clothes, shoes, etc. Some of these inmates will go down on their knees to thank you because of just one Maggi cube.”

Inmates jailed for minor offences

“There is also a need for lawyers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to visit such places because some inmates are jailed for minor offences.

“They need to interview them, review their warrants, and ensure their constitutional rights are not injured.

The leadership of this foundation also instructed Malam Anas Madabo and Malam Aisar Salihu Musa to preach to the freed inmates before they left.

By Aminat Akinyemi

As the year 2022 came to a close, the world was thrown into a frenzy after a US-based AI firm, OpenAI released a groundbreaking solution called “chatGPT”, which could converse, reply to text messages sent by humans and answer almost any question as accurately as if it were human itself and all-knowing. This solution even proves to have the capacity to write news articles, public speeches, academic papers, and computer codes and can go as far as discussing matters relating to your local traditional recipes. 

Today, unlike a decade ago, countries are now competing fiercely towards attaining AI supremacy.

This is not surprising as recent events have proven that AI, Robotics, Blockchain and Cybersecurity have a huge impact on national security, intelligence, healthcare and food security. With fast advances in technology, there is no doubt that the next decade presents an opportunity for countries to redefine their future and improve the quality of life, healthcare and availability of jobs through the needed up-skilling of their workforce and re-modelling of their industries.  

Deviating from an age-long Nigerian tradition of simply waiting to import and consume any latest technology in the world rather than contribute to its development, the nation is lucky to have some leaders that are keeping tabs on global developments and are guarding the coast keenly. 

For example, in 2019, a young Nigerian, Olusola Ayoola, after bagging his PhD in the area of Nuclear Robotics and working extensively with the UK government, decided to return home to establish Nigeria’s first fully functional robotics and artificial intelligence facility, Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN) for training, research and product development. 

Since its establishment, RAIN has proven to be world-class and has even attracted international students and recognition from the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Ms Amina J. Mohammed, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), USA and Canada missions in Nigeria, as well as First Bank of Nigeria Plc., Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the National Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE), the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

Some of the groundbreaking research carried out at RAIN include unattended baggage detection, a mini weather station, an AI-based Traffic Light System, a ground robot vehicle and unmanned VTOL aerial vehicle (IMORP), CETHED and RAINSC75/76.

The great feat which RAIN has achieved without any support from the Government and this fact only makes one want to ask what an intervention grant will do to the growth of technology in Nigeria.

This must have been the thought of Honorable Oluyemi Adewale Taiwo, a federal lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, Oyo State. In January 2022 and on the floor of the green hallow chamber, Honorable Taiwo moved a motion for the house to encourage the federal government to liaise and work with RAIN, especially during the course of tackling the insecurity. The house unanimously adopted the motion and passed a resolution in support. 

Honourable Taiwo did not stop at that. The pragmatic lawmaker followed this up with the ministry of science, technology and innovation until he successfully got the nod of the ministry to provide such an intervention grant. 

This is a confirmation of his stewardship to his constituency. However, the nation could do with more of his kind that will direct the federal government’s attention to burgeoning areas within the economy that can help return this nation to the path of greatness. No doubt, with this intervention grant being well managed by the tested and proven management of the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria board, the nation can only expect to move upwards from this point onward. 

The Chief Executive of RAIN, Dr Ayoola, has confirmed that there are lofty plans in place including the construction of a Centre for Excellence in Drone and Unmanned Vehicles for Geospatial Intelligence, provision of training scholarships to the youths of Nigeria, particularly those from Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency, and the improvement of AI Robotics product prototypes up to the required military standards.

While the efforts of Honorable Taiwo are not common in this part of the world, it is not unexpected as he was basically doing what a genuine representative of the people would do in order to preserve the indigenous technological firms in his constituency, promote their global advantage and protect the future of the youths in such communities through up-skilling.

Let it be known that when Nigeria becomes a great country, it is the sacrifices of genuinely honourable men like Hon. Taiwo of House of Rep and his supportive colleagues in the National assembly, the Honourable Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Senator Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, as well as the permanent secretary of the ministry, will be mentioned for praises. Now, let Nigeria’s global competitiveness in AI and Robotics begin.

Aminat Akinyemi writes from Ibadan and can be reached via aaebunoluwa@gmail.com.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Almost all banks are now attending to long queues in their banking halls as the deadline for the use old currency by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) draws closer, investigation by The Daily Reality has revealed.

The rush by customers to deposit old currency generated much chaos in and around banks premises across the Kaduna metropolis throughout the week. The queues at banks in Yakubu Gowon Way, Station Road, Kano Road and Sabon Tasha were characterized by commotion caused by slow speed of the deposit process and impatience by customers.

Some of the customers who spoke to TDR said they were scared of losing their monies as the CBN had warned that those who failed to remit their old currencies would lose it after the deadline.

Officials of these banks had a very hectic time controlling the huge crowd in their premises, even as customers complained of slow services by the banks. Some of the customers expressed frustration queueing in the sun and the difficulty in remitting their monies, suggesting that further extension of the deadline would ease their pain.

It would be recalled that the CBN had given all Nigerians up to the end of January, 2023 to remit their old currencies as it ceases to be a legal tender after the stipulated time.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

According to findings obtained by The Daily Reality, Kano State has been experiencing a diphtheria outbreak since last Friday, and as of Thursday, at least 25 people had died as a result.

It was discovered that the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano are treating the killer disease, which was first discovered in the state in the late 2022.

Diphtheria infection is a dangerous infection of the nose and throat, according to medical professionals, and it is easily avoidable through immunisations.

Experts say that a sore throat, hoarseness, swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck, trouble breathing or quick breathing, nasal discharge, fever and fatigue are some of the signs and symptoms of diphtheria.

The state’s Ungogo Local Government Area is where the illness, which is thought to be communicable, was originally identified.

According to the state ministry of health’s records, at least 58 probable instances of the disease were recorded during the outbreak, six of them were admitted, and 25 patients had already passed away as of January 13, 2023.

The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), according to our source, sent medical personnel to the state last week due to the severity of the outbreak.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Kaduna State youth leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Aliyu Bello, has affirmed that the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 Presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remains the best among the presidential candidates in the presidential race.

Alhaji Bello said that Atiku has the prerequisite experience, contacts internationally and across the country, and has impacted many lives through his philanthropic works.

While speaking with The Daily Reality reporter, he disclosed that Atiku understands how to bring deliberate steps and actions to create big ripple effects that can impact an economy and make life far more abundant for the people in the country. 

He urged Nigerians of voting age to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the various Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in their localities to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

By Ibrahim Alhamdu

The name Senator Ishaku Abbo, of the senator representing Adamawa north, is synonymous to controversies. Abbo, being one of the youngest senators in the Nigerian 9th senate, is always at the center of one controversy or another, which resulted in his condemnation by many people in his constituency – Adamawa north in Adamawa State and the entire northern Nigeria as a whole.

Before the inauguration of Abbo at the hallowed chamber of the Nigerian senate, a video clip of him physically assaulting a lady at a sex toy shop surfaced. After he physically assaulted the lady in the video, Abbo was seen ordering his police orderly to further arrest the lady he allegedly assaulted for taking sides with the shop owner. The incident generated so much angry reaction from Nigerians on social media and on the streets, which brought disrepute not only to Abbo, but his constituency and his political party. Though, days after the incident, Senator Abbo was arrested by the police who held him for a night, before granting him bail “after meeting a set of administrative conditions for his bond”. He later apologized: he said he was sorry for what happened, adding that regardless of the provocation, his action did not portray him as a good ambassador of the Senate, the PDP, and the youths of Nigeria.

However, all of a sudden, on July 10, 2019, at the Senate hearing of Senator Elisha Abbo over his sex toy shop assault on a lady, there was an intense argument between Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Senator Abbo, while trying to emphasize the extent of the damage to the Senate body and her feeling as a woman, Senator Tinubu, expressed the embarrassment which the youngest Senator in the ninth Senate has brought to the entire National Assembly, but Senator Abbo, in his usual uncouth manner attacked Senator Remi defiantly.

The heat was so intense on Senator Abbo, as women’s groups, civil society movements, students unions, political groups, teams of lawyers and other common people frowned and condemned Abbo’s actions both at the sex toy shop and at the senate hearing, calling for his prosecution.

On September 28, 2020, an FCT High Court found Senator Abbo guilty of the offense. Delivering the judgment the judge ordered him to pay the sum of N50 million to the complainant, Osimibibra Warmate

In his usual character, around October 2019, Abbo picked a ‘fight’ with his governor- Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State. Abbo accused Governor Fintiri of being an ‘Alpha and Omega’ who parades himself as a demi-god, running the PDP like a ‘gangster’, Abbo went to the extent of describing Gov. Fintiri as a ‘small man’ with a big office. When Abbo finally realized that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wouldl expel him, he defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) where his “sins” would automatically be forgiven.

However, after the APC accepted and admitted Abbo, the trend of his unnecessary political fight, use of excessive and offensive language which causes tension among people continued bitterly. His open campaign and criticism against his party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, including criticizing the APC presidential flag-bearer, Bola Tinubu, on national television didn’t come as a surprise to many who knew his antecedents. These led to his expulsion by APC Mubi North Local Government Area on 7th October, 2022, for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities and tampering with the process of internal democracy of the party.

On January 11, 2023, the Adamawa State High Court of Justice No. 3, presided by Hon. Justice Danladi Mohammed, sacked Senator Abbo as APC Senatorial Candidate for Adamawa North, saying he is not entitled to seek re-election since he was expelled. Justice Danladi, held that Senator Abbo and APC are bound by the resolution of Mubi North LG Exco dated 7th October 2022, which expelled him, saying that he is not entitled to enjoy any right or privilege accorded to the APC members.

While responding to the judgment, Senator Abbo, said, the judgment is just a ‘child-play’- saying in Hausa- “Kare ya taka Nera ya wuce bai san kuɗi ba”. Abbo said – the judge is wrong and just wasting his time, peoples’ time, and the Senator’s time. But Abbo promised to appeal the judgment.

Now the question is; has Abbo truly lost his ticket?

Many legal experts are of the view that Senator Ishaku Abbo has lost the ticket, because, people saying that the state high court lacks jurisdiction on such matters, are wrong. Section 6, Subsection (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria explains all the intricacies and the law has fully explains it all.

But what about a change of candidate? The electoral Act 2022 says: A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of the Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate: Senator Abbo is neither dead nor withdrawn his candidature. Many legal experts say the Nigerian Constitution supersedes the provisions in any other laws; a competent court of law has agreed and validated what the 29-member committee of APC Mubi North LGA, did – the expulsion of Senator Ishaku Abbo, thus, the judgment is bound on Abbo, APC and INEC, the only doctrine of necessity available to the APC and INEC is to accept the person that came second in the primary election that produced Abbo.

Some political pundits are of the view that this court judgment is a golden opportunity for the APC to easily replace Senator Abbo who has been in anti-party activities criticizing the party, its presidential and vice presidential candidates including other leaders of the party, bringing disrepute and low esteem to the whole APC.

Ibrahim Alhamdu is a social and political commentator. He writes from Abuja, Nigeria.

By Umm Khalid

When I was in college and still single, I was considering a proposal from a certain brother (named Daniel).

I had a conversation with one of my closest friends about what qualities are important to look for in a husband. Alhamdulillah, this Saudi friend was 5 years older than me and had seen many of her peers get married, and she gave me some wise advice.

She told me, “After checking on the basics, his deen and his خلق (character), you know what the most critical qualities are? He needs to be هَيِّن لَيِّن.”

These two Arabic words refer to basically the same general characteristic: one of ease, leniency. A man who is laidback, relaxed, easygoing. Basically, he should be a chill dude.

Of course, he can’t be chill about everything. We all have to stand for something, to care deeply about SOME issues, to be strict in SOME matters. But he should be strict when it matters, when it’s warranted; like when it comes to the commands and limits set by Allah, for example. Then he should absolutely not be chill or lenient, as that amounts to negligence and abandonment of the laws of Allah, and that leads to destruction.

But when it comes to other matters, smaller issues of inconsequential everyday things, you want your husband to be laidback. Not uptight, nitpicky, rigid, inflexible, exacting, OCD about the littlest things, overly sensitive to every small detail. Some people, just by their nature or personality, would be classified by most as “difficult people.”

You don’t want this type of rigidity in a husband. It makes everyday life unnecessarily stressful. Life is already hard enough by itself, that the last thing we need is a spouse who nitpicks and needs everything to be just so. Then married life would be a nightmare.

A good husband is a man who is tough or strict when he needs to be, but with his wife in their home life, he is relaxed and easy. He has a fun side and a sense of humor about life’s ups and downs, and is understanding when things go south. He is lenient with her and indulgent and forgiving (up to a point, of course! Within reason!). He doesn’t, for example, ask her why she moved this small object from this side table to the coffee table, or castigate her for accidentally putting in the wrong address into the GPS, or flip out if dinner is 15 minutes late or on the verge of being under-salted, or interrogate her about small and inconsequential details that are innocuous. Someone who acts this way is usually not easy to be around or live with.

You want your husband to be easy to live with. Because… you will live with him.

Alhamdulillah, now looking back more than a decade later, I completely confirm that advice. An easygoing, chill husband is an enormous blessing.

Of course, the thing is: as a wife, don’t forget to return the favor! If you are blessed with a chill husband, extend the same courtesy back to him and let the little things go. Don’t nitpick or nag him when he annoys you. No person is perfect.

By Aisar Fagge

The Dangote Cement Plc. has Thursday appointed Arvind Pathak as the group Managing Director with effect from 1st March, 2023.

The news was relayed to journalists in a corporate disclosure made available to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. by Edward Imoedemhe, the company’s acting Secretary/General Counsel.

It was gathered that the Pathak appointment was prompted by the retirement of Michel Puchercos from from the group Managing Director/CEO.

The statement reads in part: “The appointment of Arvind Pathak will be included in the agenda at the next Annual General Meeting for ratification by the shareholders in accordance with the Companies and Allied Matters Act.

“The Board would like to thank Michel Puchercos for his commitment and contributions to the Board and wishes him well in his future endeavours, while welcoming Arvind Pathak back to the Dangote family and wishing him success in his new role,” the company said.

Before his appointment, Pathak worked as MD and CEO of Birla Corporation Ltd. and was described as the experienced and hardworking person.

It was gathered that Pathak is also the former Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Bingham University Nassarawa has banned the use of smartphones in the institution. 

The Registrar, Dr Esther J Dyaji, disclosed the development in an internal memoir on Wednesday. 

According to Dr Gyaji, the phones of defaulters of the ban would be confiscated while they face appropriate sanctions. 

The memoir reads, “Following repeated abuse in the use of smartphones in contravention of section 5.14 subsection i, ii and iii of the students’ handbook, the use of smartphones is hereby prohibited with immediate effect. Violators of this would have their phones confiscated and face appropriate sanctions.”

Bingham University is a private missionary university owned by the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA). It was founded in 2005.

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

Youths in Bauchi state have been challenged to engage in community development projects and uphold the spirit of patriotism by providing a lasting solution to the severe hardship the rural dwellers are experiencing due to poor infrastructure in the nation.

Speaking with the reporters in an interview with Joshua Sanga, the Director General of Bauchi state Public Procurement in Kwagga, during the commissioning of the solar borehole project worth over N6 million executed by a corps member, Umar Abubakar Ahmed in Kwagga, Toro local government Bauchi state.

Abubakar, who sacrificed the money offered to him by Shibnobi Firm as an award of recognition for his selfless service to the company said to have spent it to provide a lasting solution to long decades of water scarcity in his community.

Commending the project initiator, Eng. Sanga emphasised that it’s high time for young men to start reaching out to their various communities with such a life-changing project to meet the yearning and aspirations of the people as the government alone can’t meet people’s demands up to a satisfactory level.

While commissioning the milestone project, the chairman of Toro local government of Bauchi state Alhaji Danlami Tashan Dami, represented by his deputy Alhaji Auwal Abba affirmed that when youth possesses patriotism, our rural areas would be developed, adding that it will go a long in reducing the hardship experienced by rural dwellers as well as the burden of the government. 

Umar Abubakar Danfulani, the project initiator, said he only forfeited the 6 million Naira offered to him by Shibnobi Firm not because he doesn’t have dreams but rather to provide potable drinking water to his community. He, however, stated that it pains him much to see his parents, sisters and among other well-wishers fetching drinking water from the mucky pond, adding that government must stand on its feet to end the water scarcity and other social amenities deficits in the rural areas hence the need is to provide a conducive atmosphere for living.

Abubakar asked the parents to take their wards to school, describing education as the bedrock of development, saying that without being educated, he won’t have Shibnobi Firm won’t offer him a job, not talk about bringing the project to the community. Abubakar, who is currently in his one-year mandatory service to the nation in Abuja, said that he struggled so much and sponsored his education as an orphan. Therefore, they called on parents to do everything possible to ensure their wards are educated for a better tomorrow.

In his remark, the royal father of the host community Kwagga, Mlm, Idris Abdullahi, on behalf of the entire Kwagga community, showed their appreciation to the young Umar Abubakar for remembering the town’s predicaments and by bringing them the timely succour, adding that only God almighty can bless him. He also urged the Bauchi state government to provide them with pipes to channel the water to their various houses.

Meanwhile, the Uplift Association presented an award of excellence to the young Umar Abubakar for his sacrifice and selfless service to humanity; while presenting the award Abdulfatah Mu’azu, the association chairman, challenged the youth to emulate his kind gesture as there were many gaps awaiting the youths to fixed, saying government alone can’t provide our needs.

The event had notable dignitaries, Toro local government Danlami Tashan Durumi who was represented by his deputy Alhaji Auwal Abba, a representative from the state ministry of water resources, royal fathers, politicians, corps members, and youths associations, among others.