Blog

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Divorce
By Tolu Dada
Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) The President of Kurudu Customary Court, Abuja, Jamilu Jega, has identified desperation to get married among youths as a major cause of divorce in the country.

Jega told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday that present day marriages experienced shorter lifespan compared to the marriages of old.

“It will interest you to know that most of those seeking divorce today are between one and 10 years. Some are even a few months old and they want you begin to wonder what the problem is.

“ Most young men and women are so desperate to be married and don’t use their courtship period to get themselves ready for each other. A lot are just so eager to get married, a lot of them not minding what the consequences of their actions are.

“Unlike before, intending couples don’t take time to study each other, learn to communicate properly to each other and prepare for the task of marriage ahead,’’ he said.

Jega also attributed the increasing divorce rates to roles played by family, friends and the society at large.

According to him, it is unfortunate that friends, relatives, colleagues, family pressurise young people into marriage.

“Some couples in trying to meet what is demanded of by the society, out of desperation rush into marriages without careful considerations,’’ he said.

He advised aspiring couples to see the marriage institution as something serious and not some fantasy or funfair.

“Intending couples should stop seeing marriage as some sort of fantasy or funfair; they should be serious about their marriage and not treat the marriage like a wedding where you invite third parties into your personal affairs.

“They should also embrace the idea of long courtship in other not to go into a marriage based on falsehood,’’ he said.

He also advised couples not to compare their marriages to that of their friends or relatives. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha

College trains 540 in poultry, fishery production, to boost agriculture

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Training

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Oct 5, 2016, (NAN) The College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Kaduna, has trained no fewer than 540 unconventional students in poultry, fishery, and crops production in the last two years.

The Provost, Dr Balarabe Jahun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday that the training was in line with the institution’s mandate of producing middle level manpower in the agriculture sector.

According to him, 400 of the trainees were sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 80 were self sponsored, and 60 by the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company.

“The aim of the training is to serve three purposes of providing employment, creating wealth and reducing poverty among youths and women.

“Nigeria is blessed with land, manpower and good climate, and if the three resources are properly utilised, we can sustain ourselves with agriculture.

“The training is to empower the youth and women to look inward and engage in agricultural activities that will enhance their welfare,” Jahun said.

The institution was established in 1952 as part of the initiatives to give necessary flip to agriculture.(NAN)

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Edited by Morayo Omolade and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

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Election
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) The 39th Assembly of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has elected Nigeria into its council for the next three years.
Mr James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, said this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
The statement said that Nigeria’s election was endorsed by 152 member countries to secure the seat in the Part II category of the world aviation regulatory body.
It said the height was a direct result of the shuttle diplomacy by the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.

It said that this marked the country’s entry into the council for the first time in history.
Sirika in his reaction to the election expressed his gratitude to the ICAO Assembly for their support, saying that Nigeria had taken its rightful place.
He appreciated African and other countries that voted Nigeria into the council as well as President Muhammadu Buhari for his approval and necessary support that led to the country’s success.
According to Sirika, Nigeria has long ago endorsed the `No Country Left Behind’ initiative of ICAO and had been supporting aviation industry in the sub-region.
“We have Banjul Accord and BAGASSO domiciled in Nigeria and headquartered in Nigeria and being funded largely by Nigeria.
“Nigeria will continue to play the key role in leading aviation in the West and Central Africa.”

“Nigeria has been in this organisation since 1962 and have been contributing it quota adding that aviation has taken a centre stage in the world,” he said.
The statement said that the ICAO President, Dr. Bernard Aliu visited Nigeria office at the ICAO headquarters to congratulate Sirika, the Permanent Secretary and aviation chief executives present after the election.
It said that Ms Iyabo Sosina, Secretary-General, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) also congratulated Nigeria and praised it for developments in the nation’s aviation sector.
“She also urged the country to put effort towards attaining the desired standards,’’ it said. (NAN)
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(Edited by |Dorcas Jonah/)controlled by Tukur Muntari.

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Sentence
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) A 21-year-old hemp peddler, Emmanuel Wale, is to spend the next 24 months in jail, a  Federal High Court ruled in Lagos on Wednesday.

Wale was prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for dealing in restricted narcotics, specifically, 200 grammes of hemp (cannabis sativa).

Delivering her judgment, Justice Ishola Olatoregun, found the accused guilty as charged, and accordingly convicted him.

“The convict is hereby sentenced to a term of two years imprisonment, or an option of N1 million fine in lieu,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wale, who was not represented by a counsel when he was arraigned on July 25, had pleaded guilty to the charge and the court adjourned for a review of facts.

On Sept. 8, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan of NDLEA reviewed the facts of the case and tendered several evidences which the court admitted as exhibits.

Aernan had told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 18 and was arrested at Pipeline, Katangua Market in Abule0-Egba, a Lagos suburb.

According to him, the accused dealt in narcotics and sold same to touts in the vicinity.

The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

NAN also reports that shortly before sentence was passed, the convict had begged for mercy, saying “I will turn a new leaf if given another opportunity.’’ (NAN)
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(Controlled by Dele Akinsola & edited by Bayo Sekoni)

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FRSC

By Peter Okolie

Oba (Anambra), Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said it prosecuted no fewer than 274 traffic offenders for 352 violations in Onitsha, Anambra, between July and September, 2016.

The Commander of Onitsha Unit of the commission, Mr Paulinus Akpotobo, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Oba, near Onitsha on Wednesday.

Akpotobo, who spoke on the sideline of ‘Ember’ month enlightenment on Highway Code, organised for members of the Tipper Owners and Welfare Association, said that 30 vehicles were impounded during the period.

According to him, 16 vehicles were confiscated and 23 drivers were cautioned during mobile court sessions carried out in different locations of Onitsha within the period.

“Motorists still overload their vehicles and drive without seatbelts in Onitsha area, but the command has intensified its enforcement on overload, especially in this Ember months,” he said.

Earlier, during the event, Akpotobo had urged tipper drivers to obey traffic rules by avoiding overloading and to ensure that the tyres of their vehicles were in good shape before embarking on any trip.

He also advised them to obtain new driver’s license through the relevant authorities, cautioning that “any driver license issued to you within three days or without capturing your face, finger prints and electronic signature is a fake document.

“If you are caught with it, you will be apprehended and made to pay a fine.”

In a lecture, the Unit Commander for Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Patrick Ogbu, also cautioned the drivers against overloading.

“Stop creating compartments in your vehicles just to carry overloaded sand or stones; it ends up causing hazards and inconveniencing other road users.

“You should also have respect for smaller vehicles and humans and not use your horns to instil fear in them,” Ogbu said.

In a remark, President of Tipper Owners and Welfare Association, Mr Hycent Okafor, commended the FRSC for the lecture and promised that members would adhere to traffic rules.

He assured that the association would introduce internal disciplinary measures to check the conduct of members. (NAN)

OPC/DUA/OPI

Edited by Dada Ahmed and controlled by Olisa Ifeajika

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Tennis

Beijing, Oct. 5, 2015 (Reuters/NAN) World number two Andy Murray overwhelmed Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-2 7-5 and second seed Rafael Nadal crushed veteran Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-1 6-1 to reach the China Open second round on Tuesday.

Briton Murray, three-times grand slam champion, showed no signs of fatigue having just recovered from a thigh injury and wrapped up the match in under an hour and 30 minutes.

“I thought I did okay considering I hadn’t played much the past couple of weeks.

“I think I can do better,” Murray told reporters.

“There was some good stuff in there. With each match, I’ll play better hopefully. No injuries. Felt fine.

“Just need matches now,” the top seed added.

Murray will play the winner of the all-Russian clash between Andrey Kuznetsov and Konstantin Kravchuk in the next round.

Nadal, who won the China Open in 2005, won 79 per cent of his first-serve points to breeze past the 34-year-old Lorenzi.

The 30-year-old Spaniard will next face compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas or French qualifier Adrian Mannarino.

Third seed Milos Raonic beat Germany’s Florian Mayer 6-4 7-6(1) and the big-serving Canadian will meet either Argentina’s Guido Pella or Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri in the next round.

During a rain-hit day in Beijing, Germany’s Alexander Zverev upset fourth seed Dominic Thiem 4-6 6-1 6-3 to advance to a second-round clash with American Jack Sock.(Reuters/NAN) ERO/MZA

Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

NGO seeks gender parity in national development

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Gender

By Talatu Maiwada

Abuja, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) Ms Inimfon Etuk, Founder, `SHE Forum Africa’, a pan-African NGO, says the organisation is seeking gender parity in national development in order to harness skills and empower women in the society.

Etuk told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the world would be a better place if more women participate in decision making at various organs and system of governance.

According to her, the `SHE Forum Africa’ is a women development, leadership and lifestyle organisation that represents women.

She added that the` SHE’ acronym represents Strengthen, Harness and Empowerment, adding that it creates a platform that brings women together in an atmosphere of learning.

Etuk said the foundation was organising its 3rd `SHE FORUM AFRICA’ Conference at Sheraton Hotel on Oct. 6, in Abuja, with the theme “Regroup, Reboot, Remove the mask’’.

She said the conference aims at women reorganising and realigning their strategies and policies to building a better and brighter Africa that leverages on the skills of the African women.

“She Forum Africa is an organisation that provides the perfect window for a shift in our value system as they impact women across development and decision making spheres.

“The whole idea is to bring women together in an atmosphere of learning and sharing life experiences from role models that have excelled in their chosen endeavours.

“Nigeria is strategically at the time we need more than just the men service; we also need women in the key decision making.

“The message we are preaching is about seeing women as partners in development,’’ Etuk said.

She stated that some women were successful in politics and developmental cycles as well as improving the livelihoods of people who were dependent on them.

Etuk said it was important for men to build on those natural skills of women in their thinking and analysis, in order to acquire a better understanding of economic issues.

She further encouraged the right women to come into politics such as those educated and experienced in managing systems and organisations.

“Politics is a place for everyone but the well qualified women in Nigeria need to come forward so that we can altogether build a better and stronger economy,’’ urged the founder. (NAN)

TIM/HS/MST

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Edited by Halima Sheji/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

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Depression
London, Oct. 5, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) Britain’s world heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury has been drinking and using cocaine to help him deal with depression, he told Rolling Stone magazine in an interview released on Tuesday.

“I’ve been out drinking, Monday to Friday to Sunday, and taking cocaine.

“I can’t deal with it (depression) and the only thing that helps me is when I get drunk out of me mind,” he said.

“I’ve done lots of cocaine. Lots of it. Why shouldn’t I take cocaine?

“It’s my life isn’t it? I can do what I want … That ain’t a performance enhancing drug.

“I never took other drugs, ever, in my life.

“I only started to take cocaine in the last few months,” added the WBA and WBO champion, who said he stopped using the drug on Oct. 1.

Fury’s representatives were not immediately available to comment when contacted by Reuters.

ESPN reported last week that Fury, 28, had tested positive for cocaine, citing a leaked letter sent by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).

VADA declined to comment and Reuters was unable to verify the details of the report.

Asked by Rolling Stone if he was clean when he was fighting, Fury said: “No drugs at all, no drugs at all.

“I have never ever taken a drug to help me boxing in my life.

“Never took a performance enhancing drug ever.”

Earlier this year, Fury was charged with a doping offence by UK Anti-Doping after a urine sample from February 2015.

This happened nine months before he beat Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA and WBO world titles – showed traces of the banned stimulant nandrolone.

“If I tested positive in February 2015 for drugs why let me fight the long reigning champion and leave him of all his belts in November?

“Why not strip me in February?” Fury told Rolling Stone.

It was 40-year-old Klitschko’s first defeat since 2004. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed

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Examination
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Kwara Government has released the results of 2016 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Junior Secondary Schools in the 16 local Government areas of the state.

The State Commissioner for Education, Mr Musa Yeketi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ilorin at a meeting with members of the management of curriculum and assessment in the ministry.

Yeketi said he was delighted by the efforts of the department in charge of examination for the steadfastness in ensuring the results were out for students early.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Ayo Garba, commended the efforts of the current administration.

He said that the current efforts had moved education sector in the state forward and congratulated the commissioner for the success recorded in this year’s examination.

Garba said that the scratch cards to be used to check the results would be provided free.

Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed, the State Director, Curriculum and Assessment, said that he appreciated the efforts of the commissioner, management and staff of the ministry for the success recorded in the examination. (NAN)
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Edited/controlled by Tajudeen Atitebi

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Inauguration
Birnin Kebbi, Oct. 5, 2016 (NAN) The National Chartered Institute of Taxation has urged Kebbi
Government to intensify efforts in training the capacity of tax collectors for robust economic development.

Dr Teju Samorin, the National  President and Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, made the call in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday while inaugurating the state’s chapter of the institute.

She said that the institute expected relevant authorities to expose licenced tax collectors on
current tax policies, laws and new methods of tax administration.

She described members of the institute as “great asset to the state”, stressing that “a good and transparent tax policy brings about socioeconomic development in a society.”

Samorin assured that the institute would work with stakeholders for a veritable tax administration system through seminars and capacity building for tax administration staff.

She urged members of the chapter to compliment the efforts of the institute through enlightenment campaigns for both tax collectors and tax payers and taking care of the welfare of members.

She said it was mandatory for the state chapter to make positive impact in tax administration through strict adherence to ethical factors in the conduct of their official duties.

Alhaji Muhammad Dan-Ige, the Chairman of the state’s Revenue Board, commended the institute for inaugurating the state’s chapter.

He appealed to the state government to guarantee administrative and financial autonomy to the board for successful conduct of its statutory responsibilities.

In his remarks, the state’s Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, congratulated the state chapter of the institute for its formal inauguration.

He called on members to strive hard to actualise the dream of the present administration in improving the rate of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He said government had introduced measures against leakages in public financial expenditure, stressing that “we are determined to entrench prudence and accountability in government business.

Meanwhile, members of the institute had elected Alhaji Iliyasu Mega as Chairman, Aminu Abdullahi as Secretary General and Muhammad Abdullahi as Assistant Secretary General.

Others are Muhammad Danko as Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Sauwa as Treasurer, Aliyu
Kende as Vice Chairman and Abubakar Bello as Legal Adviser. (NAN)
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)