The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East Region, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Ballah Nasarawa. The CD wants him to track the killer of the editor of Anambra News Magazine, Mr. Ikechukwu Udendu. Uniden...
President Goodluck Jonathan said on Saturday that only high standard of education would guarantee a better future for Nigerian children.
He made the remark in Nsukka at the 42nd convocation and conferment of higher and honorary degrees at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He said the best way to derive the benefits of the country's large population was to get the people educated, skilled and employable.
“It is for this reason that education receives the highest financial allocation in our budget in 2013,” Jonathan said.
“The present administration is determined to provide access to quality education at all levels for Nigerians”.
Represented by NUC Secretary, Prof Julius Okogie, Jonathan urged the private organisations to join hands with the Federal Government in forging partnership in funding of research and scholarship with the universities.
“We are prepared to work with all relevant stakeholders to improve education sector of our national economy.
“As a developing economy, our social progress and economic advancement will depend largely on progress we make on research and technology,”he said.
He urged the recipients of honorary doctorate degrees to see the awards as a way to strengthen their relationship with the university as well as make them to contribute more to national development.
“Let this honour done to you by the oldest university in the county spur you to greater height in your service to your fatherland, “he said.
Jonathan commended the university’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Bartho Okolo and his management team for the massive infrastructure development going on in the university, urging other universities to emulate it.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that four eminent Nigerians were conferred with honorary degrees including Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to Federal Government.
He bagged the Doctor of Law; Prof Attahiru Jega,the INEC Chairman, received Doctor of Administration; Mr Fola Adeola, the Chairman of Main One Cable, Doctor of Business Administration and Mr Alex Oti, MD/CEO of Diamond Bank PLc ,went home with Doctor of Business administration.
Responding, Anyim expressed appreciation to UNN for finding them worthy of the award.
He noting that the ward would make them to do more to the university as well as to the country.
"We are excited for finding us worthy of this prestigious award, we will continue to identify with the university in its quest to become world Class University,” he said.
Earlier, Okolo said that the awardees met the stringent conditions of the University for Conferment of honorary degree, having distinguished themselves and contributed so much to national development.
“By this award, they awardees have become alumni of UNN and will share in pride privileges and responsibilities of the university.
"As special alumni of the university we hope you will hearken to our calls in times of need," he said.
The VC announced that 198 persons would bagged doctorate degrees, 2,268 master degrees while 269 will receive post-graduate diploma.
There is a mass movement away from Wadata, the boarder village in Wase Local Government of Plateau, which was hit by unknown gunmen on Wednesday, says its Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Zakari. Capt. Salisu Mustapha, Media Officer of the Special Task Force (ST...
The Military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has destroyed 362 illegal, local crude oil refineries during its patrol of the region.
The Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) about the find on Saturday in Yenagoa.
He said the illegal refineries were in Kolokolo area of Bisigbo in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, Igbomotoro and Sangana communities in Bayelsa state.
Nwachukwu said further that the JTF arrested 3 vessels and 7 barges reportedly engaged in crude oil theft .
According to him, the arrest of the vessels and barges took place on the Opobo River, in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State and Tomkiri in Brass Local Government of Bayelsa state.
"The operation as well led to the scuttling of 75 wooden boats (Cotonou boats) conveying illegal petroleum products at Ogbokodo creek and Ugbokolo areas of Warri South West of Delta state.
"175 suspects were arrested in the operation and handed over to prosecuting agencies, " Nwachukwu said.
He stated that the new JTF Commander, Maj.-Gen. Bata Debiro’s counter strategy to stamp out oil bunkering in the Niger Delta was yielding positive results.
"Debiro had already embarked on an appraisal tour of troops’ deployments, including Naval Forward Operational Bases (FOB) in Brass, Bonny, and Escravos.
Nwachukwu said the tour also took the JTF Commander to Nigerian Navy Ship Delta in Warri and the Amphibious troops, 146 Battalions and 343 Regiment of Nigerian Army deployed in Warri, Bonny Island and Nembe, respectively.
Nwachukwu quoted Debiro as saying that “Nigeria is the only country where people engage in crude oil theft with the connivance of our country men and we must put an end to it."
"He pointed out that crude oil theft is tantamount to economic sabotage and a threat to the economic security and future generations of Nigeria," the JTF spokesman said.
Nwachukwu stated that the commander had vowed to tackle the menace of oil theft vigorously.
He said that Debiro had warned operatives of JTF to sit up and face the challenge before the Task Force.
Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has appealled to the Referees officiating at the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup Nations (AFCON) to be fair to the teams in the remaining matches.
Reacting to Friday’s controversial penalty awarded to Zambia at the 86th minutes, Yobo said that while he would not want to question the officials, he would want to appeal for fairness.
``I don’t want to question the decision of the referee, but I want to make a passionate appeal to the referees to be fair in their decisions, so that the best team will always win.
“It was a bizarre officiating, the worst penalty award I have ever seen in my entire football career, only God knows why they are doing this to us,” Yobo said.
Another Super Eagles player, Azubuike Egwueke, said he was shocked from the bench area when the referee pointed to the spot.
“It was like a dream and I was asking whether it was a penalty award or free-kick against Zambia.
`` CAF should help us plead with the referees to be fair to the team,” he said.
On his part Ogenyi Onazi, who was alleged to have caused the penalty, said he’s still at a loss over the referee’s call.
“The opposing Zambian player was the one who was pulling me, shoving and almost pulled down my pants and we were not even in the 18 yard box when the referee called for a penalty.
``CAF should please tell them to stop killing African football”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will on Sunday morning depart for Rustenberg from Nelspruit, where they will play their final game against Ethiopia on Tuesday.
Super Eagles will play their ``must win'' last group match against Ethiopia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenberg.
Governor Murtala Nyako may soon rejig his cabinet to weed out members accused of double standards in the recent crisis that rocked the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party has been embroiled in a war of wits between the factio...
Four suspected Boko Haram members have been arrested by security operatives in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. It was learnt their arrest was prompted by the killing of one State Security Services (SSS) officer and a civilian in the metropolis at 4...
A former minister of transport, Hon. Ibrahim Bio has urged the north central zone to blame past leaders for the lack of development in the zone. Ibrahim, who spoke at the inauguration of north central consultative assembly at Nicon Luxury hotel in Abuj...