Abuja, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of candidates, who participated in the supplementary Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted between June 21 and June 22.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Friday by the board’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
JAMB said the supplementary examination was conducted for 28,835 candidates, who were unable to be biometrically verified during the main 2024 UTME.
Similarly, the board said the other category of candidates were those suspected to have been involved in examination malpractices during the main UTME but who were given a second chance to sit the examination.
“The exercise, which recorded a huge success nationwide, was marked by heightened security
measures put in place by the Board to preclude any instance of examination infractions.
“As such, some nefarious characters, who had attempted to impersonate bona fide candidates were apprehended and handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution,” the board said.
The board said it will continue to ensure that no candidate benefit from any acts of infractions through the deployment of state-of-the-art technology before, during and after its examinations.
JAMB therefore, urged candidates in their own interest to refrain from engaging in any form of irregularities during their examinations.
The board also enjoined candidates to desist from soliciting score upgrade from fraudsters or engage in the mutilation of their result sheets while trying to generate fake result sheets with higher scores.
JAMB advised candidates to check their supplementary UTME results, candidates by sending UTMERESULT to either 55019 or 66019 through the same phone number they had used to generate their profile codes at the start of registration. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
UNICEF engages Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara on safe schools initiative
Schools
By Habibu Harisu
Sokoto, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for effective implementation of the safe school initiatives in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
UNICEF Chief of Field Officer in Sokoto, Mr Micheal Juma, made the call during two-day seminar on Safe Schools in Northern Nigeria on Friday in Sokoto.
” UNICEF has developed a monitoring tool for the implementation of Minimum Standards for Safe Schools (MSSS).
” The MSSS outlines minimum capacity, infrastructure and disaster preparedness a school must implement to protect children from all forms of threats.
” It also has six result areas that are; strong school system, violence against children, natural hazards, conflict, everyday hazards and safe school infrastructure, ” he said.
He explained that lack of safety in the school environment has the tendency of reducing school attendance, lower academic performances and increase drop-out rates.
He, therefore, urged governments at all levels to provide the needed safety in schools.
He reiterated that the objective of the seminar was to promote awareness, present insights on monitoring the implementation of safe schools and explore actionable strategies to address the gabs.
In his address, the Zamfara Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Wadatau Madawaki expressed optimism that the efforts would enhance learning and safe school environment as relevant stakeholders were involved at all levels.
Madawaki said the documents were aligned with religious and cultural contents that were suitable for the three states as they share similar values and perspectives.
He assured stakeholders of a rebost committment to ensure the provisions were maximally implemented.
Speaking also, the Sokoto state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Tukur Alkal described the seminar as relevant .
Alkali urged assured parents and guardians that donor agencies supported programmes were in accordance with state government policies of ensuring quality education, morals and productive skills training.
Prof. Suleiman Khalid, the Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Kebbi, said the seminar had accorded opportunities for participating states to leverage on individuals’ success and share solutions on challenges.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Believe Eke, presented an overview of minimum standards for safe schools while Francis Elisha spoke on creating safe, conducive school environment through effective strategies and functioning of infrastructures. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Roof at New Delhi airport caves in amid heavy rains, killing one
Roof
New Delhi, June 28, 2024 (dpa/NAN)A portion of the roof collapsed at a departure terminal at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport amid heavy rains on Friday morning, killing at least one person and injuring several others.
Authorities of the airport, the busiest in India, said it had suspended departures from the affected terminal until at least Friday afternoon and promised compensation to the victims.
The roof caved in at the pick-up and drop-off area outside Terminal 1, which handles domestic flights, at around 5 am on Friday (2330 GMT Thursday), the airport authorities said.
Images from the scene showed cars crushed under giant pillars.
At least one person was killed and six were injured, the NDTV news channel and news agency PTI reported.
The victims were in the vehicles struck by the pillars, according to NDTV.
Flights operating from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 were unaffected.
Heavy rains and strong winds lashed the Indian capital for several hours overnight, flooding swathes of the city.
June marks the start of the monsoon season in South Asia, which lasts until around September. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Insecurity: 3 more boko haram terrorists surrender to MNJTF troops
Surrender
By: Hamza Suleiman
Maiduguri, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Three Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the ongoing ”Operation Lake Sanity II”.
Lt.- Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, MNJTF, Chief Military Public Information Officer, Ndjamena Chad, made this known in a statement released in Maiduguri.
”In Cameroon’s Sector I, two terrorist fighters surrendered to the troops at Wulgo.
”They have been identified as Rawagana Mustapha, 18, and Mustapha Ali, 20.
”Similarly, Sector III in Nigeria reported the surrender of one terrorist fighter, Ibrahim Malam, 28, to the 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga.
”Preliminary investigations revealed that Malam had been a Boko Haram fighter living in Kwaleram, south of Lake Chad, for six years,” he said.
“As Operation Lake Sanity II progresses, MNJTF urges other terrorists to surrender and lay down their arms for lasting peace and prosperity in the region,”he said.(NAN)
Fashion model emerges winner of Korean writing competition
Mr Kim Changki, Director KCCN, contestants and supporters at the event
Fashion model emerges winner in Korean writing competition
Competition
By Priscilla Osaje
Abuja, June 28, 2024(NAN) Miss Joy Ossai, a fashion model, on Thursday emerged winner at the 2024 Korean writing competition, organised by King Sejong Institute Foundation at the Korea Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sejong Institute Foundation is the major Korean Languages Institute in South Korea.
It introduces Korean culture to foreigners by working to make their interests in Korea develop into their better understanding and love for Korea.
The Korean ‘Speech and Writing’ contest grand finale and award ceremony, held at KCCN, featured 15 contestants, 10 contestants for speech contest and five for writing contest with the topic” My Special Korea Culture Experience”.
Ossai who emerged winner in the writing competition and second in the speech competition, will go home with a cash prize of N100, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.
Ms Pearl Ogbalu who came second will go home with a cash prize of N50, 000 and Lantana Muhammad who came third, takes home a cash prize of N30, 000.
An online contestant, Ms Precious Ayodele emerged winner of the speech competition with a cash prize of N100, 000 and a trip to Korea, Ms Chidera Nwankwo who came third won a cash prize of N30, 000.
Ossai said words were not sufficient for her to express her joy, as she emerged winner in the writing competition beating five contestants.
According to her, she feels so happy and grateful for the opportunity given to her by KCCN to participate in the competition.
Ossai said that the award meant a lot to her, adding that she would not take it for granted.
” I did not study the Korean language, I started the study in Nigeria and every single thing I know in Korea started here.
” I never attended any Korean school; I always study with materials on the internet.
” I developed interest the first time I heard about the language. I told myself I must learn this language.
” Sincerely speaking, Korean is the best language in the world and I prefer the language to English. That is to tell you how much I love it,” she said.
Miss Pearl Ogbalu, a content creator, who came 2nd in the writing competition, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity given to her to prove her ability.
Ogbalu said that though her hard work gave her the position, it was made possible due to the resources that were made available online for them to study.
” You can also study through hobbies, interested in drama as well as K-pop music.
” There are so many ways to learn, but you must be willing to absorb information as much as you can,” she said.
Ogbalu appreciated KCCN for fostering such a beautiful relationship between South Korea and Nigeria.
“I commend the centre for creating such opportunities and constantly giving people the chance every year to be in Korea to experience their imagination about Korea,“she said.
Mr Kim Changki, Director KCCN, said that a speech and writing contest was organised yearly for Nigerians that are interested in studying Korean language.
According to him, the centre has Korea language classes, aimed at promoting the Korean language in Nigeria and their teachers came from Korea some days ago.
He commended the winners for developing interest in studying the Korean language, as well as their love for Korean culture.
“I congratulate the winners of this competition for doing their best in studying Korean language.
” The speech competition winner will have the opportunity to go to Korea, eat their food, drink and have full knowledge of Korean culture.
Also speaking, Ms Chidinma Tobins, administrative officer of KCCN, said the competition aimed at spreading the Korean language in a bid to expose it to other countries.
According to her, there are other programmes at the King Sejong Institute Foundation, where Korean language is being thought.
” This competition that involves speaking and writing is a way of encouraging the spread of the language, as well as encouraging people to be interested in it,“he said. (NAN)(WWW.nannews.ng)
Ekiti LG boss to introduce new local security outfit
Insecurity
By Adedeji Egbebi
Ado-Ekiti, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The Chairman for Moba Local Government Area in Ekiti, Mr Bamidele Fadugba, on Friday said his administration would unveil new local security outfit to address insecurity within the community.
Fadugba made the declaration while interacting with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Ado Ekiti.
He said that the local security outfit would be called “Mase”, which means “Don’t do it”.
He explained that the aim of establishing the outfit was to ensure the protection of lives and property of the people in the local government area.
Fadugba further explained that the local security outfit would comprise of local hunters with special uniforms to distinguish them from other security outfits.
The chairman promised that the new security outfit would collaborate with the conventional security agencies to get rid of criminals in Ekiti.
Fadugba also promised to establish a sports hub, which would serve as an opportunity for youths to develop their talents.
Reacting, the Chairman of NUJ Ekiti State Council, Mr Kayode Babatuyi, commended Fadugba for his contributions to the development of Moba local government.
He assured the chairman that journalists would continue to assist him to promote his activities in the local government area.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
L-R: Former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke, current Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; former Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Labaran Maku and former Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, at the NIPR 60th anniversary celebration in Abuja
Narratives
By Emmanuel Afonne
Abuja, June 27, 2024 (NAN) The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), says it has designed a new narrative for the country to address the threat to national cohesion.
President of the Institute, Dr Ike Neliaku, communicated this at a dinner on Thursday in Abuja to mark the 60th anniversary of NIPR.
Neliaku said the narrative would be anchored on eight cardinal points to ensure the country recover its lost glory.
He said the process of designing the new narrative started in 2021, when the Institute was mandated to intervene in addressing the threat to national cohesion which necessitated the convoking of Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security.
“It has been said that our colonial masters came, armed with a programme and deployed the vision, its templates, icons, monuments and story lines with deadly efficiency.
“This sad narrative still holds sway till date.
“Our response is, if Nigeria was designed and programmed to fail, it is now time for Nigerians to wisely reprogramme Nigeria for genuine transformation and development.
“Napoleon Bonaparte said that a leader is a dealer in hope and I tell you here that we cannot achieve anything with violent communication,” Neliaku said.
He highlighted some of the core essentials of Nigeria’s new narrative to include trust and truth, hope, effective and responsible communication, as well as rebuilding relationship and restoring respect for one another.
The president said that citizen reorientation and re-engagement, leadership accountability, deliberate promotion of made in Nigeria products, reputation building and perception management were all parts of essential narrative for a new Nigeria.
Neliaku said that being honest with the citizens and earning their trust was the only way to make progress in any nation.
Prof. Justin Green, President, Global Alliance, said that his organisation would work with NIPR to establish a Public Relations and Leadership Academy in the country in September to support the new narrative for Nigeria.
“Public Relations is the best job in the world; we have the power to influence the world; you have the power to influence the world.
“We are at the right hands of presidents, kings, queens and governments everywhere in the world, no other profession has that access,” he said.
Mr Arik Karani, President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), said the association’s main purpose was to promote excellence in public relations across Africa.
Karani, a seasoned communications expert, said APRA would work with NIPR to achieve its new narrative for the country having recorded many achievements in the course of existence.
“Most of us in Africa have been trying to get to where NIPR is and my visit to Nigeria all the way from Kenya is to learn how NIPR achieved success over the years.
“As your ambassador for Africa, every country I go to now in Africa, I share the success story of what Nigeria has done and what every country in Africa should be able to copy to have an institute of excellence wherever they are.
“As we celebrate today with Nigeria, it is important to remember one thing, we in Nigeria are leading the world; we are leading the world in culture, music, doctors here and abroad and many sectors of the economy, and do not stop now.
“The world is watching what you are doing and we are proud that you are leading the way and as you are leading the way, I implore you to empower other African countries to follow suit,” Karani said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institute used the occasion to confer honorary fellowship on some prominent Nigerians.
Among the conferees were former Ministers of Information, Frank Nweke and Labaran Maku. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Lagos, June 28, 2024 (NAN) Data Knowledge Information Privacy Protection Initiative (DKIPPI) has called for the review of the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) data storage system.
The Chief Executive Officer of DKIPPI, Mr Tokunbo Smith, made call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Smith, also a Data Protection Controller, spoke against the backdrop of the NIMC’s statement that five websites are allegedly harvesting Nigerians’ data fraudulently.
The statement was against the backdrop of the recent alarm raised by the Paradigm Initiative that some websites are selling Nigerians’ National Identification Number, Bank Verification Number, and International Passport, among others.
The NIMC in a statement issued by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Kayode Adegoke, said the websites engaging in the illegal harvest of data without its authority include idfinder.com.ng and Verify.Ng/sign in.
The commission, however, noted that Nigerians’ sensitive data have not been compromised as claimed by Paradigm Initiative.
Smith said that the challenge of data harvesting experienced by NIMC could be averted if the data storage is domiciled in Nigeria.
“It is time for Nigeria to look inward and encourage local content to avert challenges of data harvesting.
“An issue of such weakness experienced sometime 2022 and having such again is really unhealthy for a national critical infrastructure,” he said.
He said the NIMC storage infrastructure should be domiciled in Nigeria handled by qualified and experienced human resources, robust infrastructure and secured platforms.
‘’We have such issues when the right steps are not taking before awarding of contract.
‘’At this point, there is little or nothing that the Data Protection Commission can do.
‘’And that is why I have always emphasised the need for NDPC to be independent of any ministry or minister but to report directly to the presidency,’’ he said.
He added that NIMC employees should be trained and disciplined for non-compliance with policies.
NAN reports that Mr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria, said that investigation has commenced into the alleged breach of data of Nigerians domiciled at the NIMC.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Tijani said the NIMC and National Data Protection Commission have commenced a probe into the matter. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
SKA/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
NGO unveils campaign to protect, promote freedom of religion, beliefs
Campaign
By Abbas Bamalli
Katsina, June 28, 2024 (NAN) A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Search For Common Ground (SFCG), in partnership with the Legal Aid Council has began a campaign to promote, protect freedom of religion and belief in Nigeria.
Speaking at the unveiling the campaign in Katsina, Hajiya Amina Umar, the Deputy Coordinator of the Northwest zone of the SFCG, said theproject aims to promote the rights of all Nigerians to freely practice their religion or belief hinged on their fundamental human rights.
“It’s a constitutional right for each and every citizen to exercise his/her religion without interference, or any sort of discrimination because of differences in understanding, religion or belief,” she said.
Umar said the initiative is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and executed through the Youth Inter-Faith dialogue and higher level advocacy meeting.
She further explained that the collaborative effort addresses emerging conflicts related to freedom of religion belief violations, and enhances public understanding of interfaith dynamics.
“As part of this endeavour, we will be engaging with youths from prominent higher institutions in Katsina state to facilitate dialogues on misconceptions and beliefs among different faiths.
“The aim is to create awareness as well as educate the public on the human rights to religious freedom and the need to stop violations along religious lines.
Umar pointed out the mission of the NGO was to transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions.
“We believe that conflict is inevitable, but violence is not. Conflict is a natural result of human diversity. When we deal with conflict adversarial, it generates polarisation and violence.
“When we collaborate, conflict catalyzes positive changes. Our vision is a world where cooperation is the norm where differences stimulate social progress, rather than precipitate violence.”
Also speaking, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Abdullahi, the village head of Unguwar Kofar Marusa welcomed the campaign in the state.
Abdullahi said such a project will remind the public to respect each other’s religion or belief without interference or discrimination as provided by the constitution. (NAN)
Gusau, June 28, 2024 (NAN) The All Progressive Congress (APC) Unity and Reconciliation Forum in Zamfara has commended Sen. Abdul’aziz Yari (APC-Zamfara) for promoting unity, peace and stability in the party in the state.
The forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Mande Umar, made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Gusau on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yari represents Zamfara West Senatorial District in the Senate.
Umar said that the forum mobilized over 500 prominent Islamic scholars in the state to conduct a two-day special prayers for Yari to mark his bne-year anniversary in the Senate.
“On behalf of the entire leadership and members of APC unity and reconciliation forum in the state, we appreciate Sen Yari for his kind support to the peace of the state, not only his constituency.
“We laud him for promoting unity, peace and stability in the state APC chapter.
“Considering that, this forum organized a two-day special prayer for Allah to continue to guide Sen Yari to celebrate his one-year anniversary as Senator for Zamfara West Senatorial district,” Umar explained.
According to him, as APC supporters, it is necessary to pray for Yari considering his kind gesture to the teaming APC faithful across the state”.
Umar said, “We remain grateful for his efforts to keep APC as one family since he left office as the Executive Governor of the state.
“Yari has graciously maintained cordial and mature relationships with his state constituents all the time despite his numerous schedules.
“We remain grateful for his efforts to keep APC as one family since he leaves office as executive Governor of the state.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
