News

By Ahmad Deedat Zakaria

Nigerian First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has lauded the achievement of Miss Hawau Ibrahim, who developed two software applications named Archiscope and Jupimart.

The First Lady celebrated the young lady on her verified Facebook page on March 25, 2022.

“Celebrating the Achievements of young Miss. Hauwa Ibrahim, 22, [is] a developer of two exciting and innovative Apps (Archiscope) for Architects and (JupiMart) for online Shoppers,” she posted.

Mrs Buhari also wrote about the excellent performance of the young lady at both Ghana and Mauritius universities, where she attended for her first and second degrees.  

“A graduate of Computer science with First Class Honors from Lancaster University Ghana and a distinction in her MSc from Middlesex University, Mauritius,” she added.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari.

Sultana Tafadar, a hijaab-wearing Muslim barrister, has been appointed the Queen’s Counsel in the United Kingdom.

Radio News Hub reported this on their verified Facebook page on Monday, March 21, 2022.

“Sultana Tafadar received her letters Patent – the document denoting the award for excellence in advocacy – at the Palace of Westminster on Monday,” the news platform reported.

The rank of the Queen’s Counsel (QC) is the equivalent of the status of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The QC and SAN titles are awarded to barristers who distinguish themselves in character and excel in advocacy.

Sultana Tafadar is of Bangladesh origin. Her elevation to the rank is a great inspiration to many hijab-wearing Muslim women across the globe.

By MMuhammad Sabiu

The wreckage of a crashed Alpha Jet aircraft has been discovered in Sambisa Forest, Borno State, according to the Nigerian Army’s Operation Desert Sanity forces.

The Army reported in a brief statement that the plane (NAF 475) went off the radar on March 31, 2021, with two crew members aboard.

“Troops of Operation Desert Sanity on [a] clearance patrol in Sambisa Forest, Borno State, have uncovered the wreckage of crashed Alpha Jet aircraft (NAF475) that went off the radar with two crew members on 31 March 2021. Further exploitation ongoing,” the statement reads.

There are no further details regarding the discovery of the missing plane as of the time of filing this report.

By Muhammad Sabi’u

The Nigerian Army has on Monday confirmed that its personnel have succeeded in neutralising many ISWAP/ Boko Haram terrorists.

This was contained in a short post and photo evidence the army put on its official and verified Facebook page.

The post reads, “Ongoing offensive clearance operations records another feat as troops of Operation Desert Sanity destroyed ISWAP/BokoHaram enclaves around Ukuba & Camp Zairo in Sambisa forest, Borno State. Several terrorists were neutralized as troops recovered equipment & weapons.”

There are signs that the Nigerian Army has overpowered the terrorists operating in the Northeastern part of the country, who have been wreaking havoc on towns and communities in Borno, Yobe and, minimally, Adamawa States.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Musa Labaran, a farmer from Kebbi State, has lost five of his children in a boat accident on Wednesday.

The event occurred when a boat carrying Labaran, his five children, and two other passengers to their fields across the river collapsed due to strong winds near Yauri.

According to reports, while the other two passengers were retrieved alive, Labaran’s fifth child’s remains have yet to be discovered.

“The four bodies recovered are all of my children, three boys and a girl. The fifth one is a boy, and he is yet to be found.

“The boat capsized while we were in the middle of the river. I did my best to save them but couldn’t hold on to five of them. I held on to the girl while trying to swim to the river bank but eventually lost grip of her,” Mr Labaran said.

This is not the first time lives were lost in a boat mishap in the state, as some months ago, over 50 passengers, many of whom were children, were feared dead after their boat capsized.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari.

The Vice President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dr Mansur Muhtar, said the action for the implementation of the Blue Deal on Water and Sanitation aligns with the key pillars of IsDB’s water policy.

Dr Muhtar stated this at the 9th World Water Forum held in Dakar on March 22, 2022, where he attended alongside a delegation of experts he led.

The Blue Deal is reportedly an action plan outlined by ministers in charge of water and heads of delegation assembled for the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal (21-26th March 2022)

“We are well positioned to support member countries’ efforts in implementing the Blue-Deal actions through provision of financing, technical assistance, capacity development and leveraging Islamic finance instruments,” Dr Muhtar stated

Dr Muhtar stated that the IsDB water sector policy is concurrent with the actions advocated for in the Blue Deal.

“Capacity development and solutions transfer for an improved governance of the water sector is a very important pillar of the policy,” he added.

The Blue Deal aims to achieve the urgent need for water and sanitation targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The World Water Forum, which is organized by the World Water Council and the host country, is the largest event that talks about global issues on the water. It takes place every three years, and the 9th Forum in Dakar is the first one to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa.

By Aminu Naganye

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos, in collaboration with Media Awareness and Information for All Networks (MAIN), has organised a two-day workshop for journalists in Kano on mainstreaming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their routine journalistic activities.

The programme tagged “Training Journalists on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and developing a Network of Sustainable Development Journalists” took place at the Kano State Library from Monday, March 21, to Tuesday, March 22, 2022. The event is a part of training for journalists across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria on how to mainstream the SDGs into their professional engagements.

UNIC Director, Mr Ronald Kayanja, noted that the training was to expose the journalists to the key issues of the SDGs and how they can contribute their part toward achieving the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

Mr Kayanja, who was represented by Dr Oluseyi Soremekun, stressed the need for partnership and collaboration among all stakeholders toward achieving the SDGs at the stipulated time.

On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Lai Oso, said the objective of the training was to acquaint the participants with social, economic and environmental dimensions in reporting issues related to sustainable development. 

He said sustainable journalism should be people-centred and geared toward proffering solutions to identified societal challenges.

Head Technical, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Dr Bala Yunusa, who was represented by Dr Zakariyya Mohammed, explained Nigeria’s progress and challenges in implementing the SDGs in Nigeria and called on the media personnel to remain supportive to achieving the SDGs and Nigerian Agenda 2050.

Dr Yunusa noted that Nigeria has recorded successes in the previous MDGs and is now determined to achieve more with the SDGs.

At least 50 journalists drawn from traditional media of radio, television, newspaper, and online-based news media participated in the workshop.

The participants were decorated with emblems as champions of the SDGs.

By Muhammad Sabiu

In Ewekoro, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, a local hunter named Saheed Ogundahun is said to have slain a Fulani herdsman.

The Ogun Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, verified this on Monday while arraigning the suspect and others at the State Police Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Ogundahun was detained on March 13 for killing a Fulani herdsman with a Dane rifle, according to Bankole, adding that after killing the herder, the suspect buried him on his property in Ewekoro.

The dead herdsman’s body has been unearthed and sent to Ifo General Hospital mortuary for an autopsy.

“on credible intelligence, one Saheed Ogundahun, a hunter, was arrested in connection with the case.

“On interrogation, the said Saheed confessed that he shot the victim to death and buried him in the bush,” the police commissioner was quoted as saying.

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

The Kaduna State Security Council has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas. The government said this was to assist the security agencies to stabilize the situation in the areas, save lives and property and enable the restoration of law and order.

A statement signed by the Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, said “Security agencies have full authorization to enforce the curfew. Government appeals to all residents of Jema’a and Kaura local government areas to cooperate with the security agencies in the urgent task of restoring peace and upholding law and order”

The government further condemned the violence and all acts of lawlessness that have occurred in the two local governments. The curfew followed the recent clashes that took place in the two communities.

By Tijjani Muhammad Musa

On a Friday, Tilden Fulani in Toro Local Government of Bauchi State witnessed something unique and rare in the marriage nikah of 18 years old Muhammad Ahmad Salihu and his bride Sumayyah Adam Ibrahim who is just 16!

According to our sources, the event which took place at the Ahlussunnah Wal Jama’a Izala Central Mosque of Tilden Fulani town was conducted in peaceful, exciting celebrations and fanfare.

With the Muslim Fulani lot of Northern Nigeria, it is a common thing to marry young. Marriage is often the preferred option once love and mutual understanding are arrived at rather than engage in illicit sex outside matrimony.

“And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.” [Qur’an, 24:32]

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding chastity, and whoever cannot then he should fast, for it will be a restraint (wija’) for him.’ [Sunan an-Nasa’i, 3209]

So a sincere and hearty congratulations to the Ango (groom) and his Amarsu (bride). May Allaah SWT bless this early nuptial union. May He grant them peace and bless them with blissful offsprings and means of daily sustenance, amin.