News

By Muhammad Aminu

At least 614 public secondary schools in Kano State will be renovated through the World Bank funded project called ‘Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).

The project which will be implemented by the Schools-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) of the benefiting schools has budgetted N1.8 billion naira so far.

The Deputy Project Coordinator of the programme, Nasiru Abdullahi, stated this during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Bayero, alongside other staff of the project on Thursday, 11th August, 2022 in Bichi.

“The SBMC committee has community and religious leaders, representation from self-help organization, and students, among others.

“The Principal is the secretary of the committee who knows the problems of the school better,” he said.

He said that the funds had already been credited into the bank accounts of the Schools-Based Management Committees, SBMCs, of the participating schools in the State.

According to him, the SBMCs members had been trained on the key priorities of their schools for the attainment of the desired objective.

He noted that each school received an amount of money based on the nature of project it will undertake.

“Close to N1.8 billion has been granted to the schools, which is half of what the schools will get, in order to ensure effective utilisation of the funds.

“Any school that finished its project will get the balance for the remaining project.

“The money is in the account of each of the benefiting schools. A school will come to AGILE to get clearance, which it will take to bank and withdraw the money,” he said

The deputy coordinator further revealed that the project is targeting close to 38,000 girls from vulnerable households for Conditional Cash Transfer which will be followed by training on digital skills.

He said that the girls would be trained on skills that would assist them to become self reliant in their maritall homes.

He, therefore, solicited for the support of the traditional ruler for the success of the project.

On his part, the Emir vowed to support the project wholeheartedly and urged all other relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts in improving the capacity of teachers.

“We are not saying construction is not good, but the teachers who will impart the knowledge to the students need to be improved.

“More teachers should also be recruited, and trained regularly to acquaint them with modern teaching techniques,” he advised.

He called on parents to desist from withdrawing girls from schools for marriage, counselling that girls should proceed to higher education after secondary schools.

By Muhammad Aminu

Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike has debunked reports that he dragged the People’s Democratic Party PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to court over alleged manipulation in the PDP presidential primaries.

Reports said Wike alongside PDP stalwart Newgent Ekamon sued PDP, Atiku Abubakar and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Gov. Wike told Journalists in Abuja on Friday, 12th August, 2022 that he does not know the lawyers that filed the case and they did not represent him.

“I don’t know anything about the so called suit. I did not ask anyone to file any suit for me,” he said.

According to the purported suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022, the plaintiffs were said to have hinged their claims on the grounds that the PDP primary conferred undue advantage on Atiku which aided his emergence as candidate of the PDP in the May 28 and 29 primary.

The Rivers State first citizen described the suit as the handiwork of mischief makers who want to use him to score cheap political goals.

“I don’t know the lawyers. Am I a kid to be filing a suit at this time. I had 14 days after the primary within which to have filed any suit. I didn’t do that then, is it two months after primary I will file a suit?,” Wike queried.

He added that “just yesterday they came up with the claim that I ordered my Chief Security Officer to pull down PDP flag in Government House. This is all false, it’s all propaganda. Some people are trying to use me to win the election. Please disregard all these lies”.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Associate Professor Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi, and other journalism educators, urged Kano State Polytechnic journalism students to imbibe critical thinking in reporting their beats as journalists of the 21st century. 

Kurfi, who is the Head of Department, Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, tasked the journalists in the making, reiterating that the students should be jack of all trades and masters of none.

Kurfi stated this Thursday at a One-Day Lecture Series organised by the Department of Mass Communication, Kano State Polytechnic.

Speaking on the topic, The 21st Century Mass Communication Student, the university don added that there were numerous opportunities in the field and that the students should read a lot to upgrade their learning and skills.

In his words, Kurfi stated, “there are numerous opportunities in mass communication because the world is no longer a global village but rather a global room.

“For this reason, you only need to read hard and acquire the necessary skills. If you do that, you’ll be getting money from the comfort of your room.

“Some of the career opportunities for a 21-century mass communication student include; film production, photography, advertising, development communication, public relations, broadcasting, strategic communication, among others.”

Also speaking, the event convener, Malam Aisar Salihu Fagge, stated that the essence of the lectures was to prepare students for the basic need of 21st-century journalism.

He added that the event would also develop help the students develop entrepreneurial mind to enable them to learn the modern skills of the journalism profession. 

Academics from sister institutions, directors from various units, heads of departments, and alumni of the Mass Communication department graced the event.

The Head of Department, Mass Communication, Kano State Polytechnic, Malama Binta Muhammad Lawal, ably represented by one of the department’s lecturers, Malam Salihu Sule Khalid, commended the event.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Adam Muhammad, who lives in the UK, said he cried when he first arrived at Makkah for the 2022 pilgrimage. 

“I cried when I first arrived,” He told reporters. 

According to a report by Islamic Channel, the 53-year-old electrical engineer from the UK travelled around 4000 miles on foot to reach Saudi Arabia. 

He thanked the Saudi government for granting him and his family Hajj permits.

“The Saudi government granted my family and me Hajj permits when it knew I was travelling from the UK to Makkah on foot. I met with my family in Madinah after they arrived from the UK and walked together to Makkah. I feel grateful to them,” Adam said. 

While commenting on the journey, Adam said it was difficult, and he made it solely for Allah’s sake. 

“I would feel mentally exhausted, unable to eat or drink too. But then something inside me would tell me that what are you afraid of? You have Allah by your side, and you can make it. I have lived for 52 or 53 years for myself. Why can’t I dedicate 10 or 11 months to Allah?” He said. 

According to reports, Adam reached Ayesha Mosque in Makkah on June 26, where a huge crowd received him. 

Adam had documented the progress of his journey on TikTok, where he is very active with over 2.8 million likes.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Katsina State gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Dikko Umar Radda, has nominated Honorable Faruk Lawal Joɓe as his running mate. 

This is, however, coming after the former running mate earlier nominated, Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Musawa, voluntarily withdrew.

The Chairman of Gwagware Media Organization, Ahmed Abdulkadir, disclosed this in a statement signed Thursday, August 11th, 2022.

The statement read, “Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Musawa withdrew from the race voluntarily after wide consultations with relevant stakeholders. 

“Faruk Lawal Joɓe is the current Commissioner, Budget Economic Planning in Katsina State. 

“You may recall that Faruk Lawal Joɓe, who hails from Ƙanƙara, in Funtua Senatorial District of Katsina State, also contested for Katsina State Governor but lost to Dr Dikko Umar Radda at the primary elections,” the statement added.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Users of WhatsApp, a famous messaging application, will start enjoying a feature that will allow them to exit from a group unnoticed.

This was announced by Mr Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta (the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram), via his verified Facebook handle.

Another feature that will be available on the application is that users will enjoy disallowing their contacts from taking screenshots of their messages on view.

He said, “New privacy features coming to WhatsApp: exit group chats without notifying everyone, control who can see when you’re online, and prevent screenshots on view once messages.”

Assuring the company’s commitment to privacy, he said his company would keep building new ways to protect users’ messages and keep them as private and secure as one-on-one conversations.

By Muhammad Aminu 

In what appears like a movie, a sum of N31 million naira has been stolen inside the Katsina Government House.

The Director-General to Governor Aminu Masari on New Media, Alhaji Al-Amin Isah, confirmed the heist at the account section of the State Government House on Thursday.

Isah, who did not disclose the exact figure, said that some of the suspects were investigated.

“Yes, it’s true that some money was alleged to have been stolen, as you have asked. We have already reported the matter to the police for investigation. I can not tell you the exact figure now, but those in the best position will give you more updates, please,” he added.

However, sources in the Government House confirmed that the money stolen was in the sum of N31 million.

The Katsina Government House experienced money theft in 2020 when unknown persons allegedly broke into the office of the former Secretary to the Government of Katsina State (SGS), Mustapha Inuwa, and made away with N16 million.

A few weeks ago, the police in Katsina State confirmed that it was investigating the alleged stealing of N61 million from a cashier at the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Darma.

The financial officer reportedly said he was attacked by shooters while travelling with three bags filled with N61 million cash. He was said to have been shot in the arm before the money was stolen.

According to reports, the shooters trailed Darma from the bank, where they reportedly ambushed him.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Federal High Court sitting at Abuja has declared illegal and null and void the unilateral amendment of Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The Vice President 1 of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), John Aikpokpo-Martins, Esq, who led the NBA legal team, disclosed this on Wednesday.

“NBA WON.
FHC/ABJ/CS/77/22: The Nigerian Bar Association Vs Attorney General of the Federation.

We got it right again.

The rule of law will always prevail over impunity. We are condemned to challenge that which we must challenge. Hala NBA.” Aikpokpo-Martins posted

In a detailed judgement, Justice Donatus Okorowo dismissed the preliminary objections filed by the AGF and granted judgement in favour of the NBA.

To the dismay of the NBA, Malami unilaterally amended the RPC in September 2020.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Reports reaching The Daily Reality indicate that unknown shooters have stormed the Kaduna community and abducted the daughter-in-law of the Chairman, Northern Elder’s Forum, Ango Abdullahi.

The bandits were said to have invaded the community, Yakawada village in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna, on Tuesday night, where they abducted the woman and other residents. 

This is, however, coming barely a month after the abduction of one of the sons of the elder statesman, Ango Abdullahi, by the unknown shooters. 

The elder statesman confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday, adding that the victim was abducted alongside four of her children.

“My daughter-in-law, Ramatu Samaila, was among the abductees, including her four children. She is the wife of my son-in-law, who is the village head of Yakawada,” he said.

According to a source, the bandits also kidnapped some of the residents of the community. 

“They also went to the residence of the neighbour to the village head and kidnapped the household, Abubakar Mijinyawa, along with his two wives, namely Aisha and Hajara. And the two wives were both nursing mothers who were abducted with their little babies.”

By Damilare Dosunmu

Last Friday at the State House in Nairobi, the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, announced the addition of coding as a subject into its primary and secondary schools curricula. This new development makes Kenya the first country in Africa to approve coding as a subject of study in the two early schools.

 “I applaud the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development for leading our nation to this landmark achievement, by implementing coding as a critical skill within our new Competency Based Curriculum,”  President Kenyatta said at the event.

The President also launched the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2022, which provides strategic interventions in addressing national cybersecurity challenges in Kenya. The Kenya National Digital Master Plan, which will run till 2032, was also inaugurated.

With all these digital roll-outs, the president, whose tenure comes to an end in a few weeks, is optimistic about the impact the National Digital Master Plan would have on the country. He believes the plan will establish the country’s leadership in ICT by fostering the growth of ICT-related businesses and creating an enabling policy, legal and regulatory environment for the greater adoption of e-governance.

“This, no doubt, will enhance employment creation, enable and scale up ICT innovation and the development of a dynamic and robust ICT sector that will enhance the growth of all sectors of our economy. The master plan also guides investors while planning their investment priorities,” President Kenyatta said.

The digital master plan’s target of establishing over 20,000 village digital hubs across the country will enable the government to employ an additional 40,000 youth directly to run the centres and train interested citizens.

Kenya continues to maintain its place as one of the hotbeds for digital innovation on the continent. This new initiative reflects an ambition to reimagine education and a solid dedication to building the future. And as it seems, both the private and public sectors are aligned with this vision. Just this year alone, Microsoft, Visa, and Google opened their first development centres in the country’s capital.

Source: www.techcabal.com