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Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has appealed to the National Assembly to revisit the constitutional amendment and evolve a new revenue sharing formula for the federal and state governm...
A middle aged fisherman identified as Temipreyo from Bomadi local government area of Delta State on Thursday hacked down his mother and only daughter to death over allegations of witchcraft.Police authorities confirmed that the suspect,upon interrogati...
The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) says it uncovered multiple registration of Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) by some pension contributors.This is contained in a statement by its Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr EmekaObiora, made available to news...
Mr Taiwo Oyedele, Dean, Faculty of Direct Taxation, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), says harmonisation of tax legislations will address the challenges of multiple taxation in the country. Oyedele made the observation in an interview ...
The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Prof. Chinua Achebe.
Ekweremadu, in condolence message by Mr Uche Anichukwu, his Special Adviser (Media), in Abuja on Friday described Achebe's death as the ``exit of a literary Iroko’’.
``This is a very sad development given that Achebe employed his writing prowess to paint Nigeria proudly on the global map of fame, and as a social critic.
``He was very courageous and spoke his mind according to his conviction without fear or favour,’’ he said.
Ekweremadu condoled with the professor's family as well as the government and people of Anambra and the nation in general over the irreparable loss.
Also, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, described late Achebe as a patriotic, honest and detribalised Nigeria of this era.
Chukwumwerije said this while speaking with newsmen in Nsukka on Friday during the committee’s oversight function at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
He said the death of Achebe had marked the end of era of undiluted truth in the history of Nigeria.
``I received the news of Achebe’s death with shock. Achebe dedicated his life time to the service of humanity. Nigeria and the world in general have lost literary icon and giant.
``Achebe will be remembered as detribalised, great thinker and honest Nigerian. The history of world best literary icons will be incomplete without mentioning Achebe,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Bartho Okolo, also described the death of Achebe as great loss to the country and the world at large.
``Achebe will be remembered as one, who believed in excellence, intellectualism and merit. UNN will remember Achebe, especially on his immense contributions to Institute of African Studies.
Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers while reacting to Achebe’s in Port Harcourt on Friday said his literary works spoke volumes and were internationally recognised.
Amaechi said his favourite among the books written by Achebe was a man of the people’’ noting: “I love and have read’’, the book over and over again, mostly because of its portrayal of leadership as it is in Africa.
``I have also commissioned that a movie be made out of it for the benefit of more people, especially our youths who are the leaders of tomorrow.
``It is such a shock to me that our dearly beloved Achebe, the man who gave us several notable works of literature is gone,’’ he said.
Amaechi said, ``Achebe's intelligence still motivated me, I remember his kind words, his fatherly advice and encouragement.’’
While, Gov Chime wants Achebe’s literary legacy sustained
Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has called for the sustenance of the legacies of the late renowned author, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who died at 82.
This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Chukwudi Achife, in Enugu on Saturday.
Chime described Achebe as a renowned and celebrated literary icon whose works and efforts toward the advancement of the human race would continue to be acknowledged and respected.
The governor called on stakeholders, writers to advance his legacies, adding: ``Achebe’s death is a huge loss to mankind, Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.
`` Nigeria in particular will miss a great patriot, worthy ambassador and a role model for many generations,’’ he said.
Chime extended his condolence to the President Goodluck Jonathan, the government and people of Anambra as well as the family of the deceased.
Malama Binta Ibrahim, the leader, Dutsen-reme women stone crushers in Bakori Local Government area of Katsina, has solicited for increased government support for the development of their business. Ibrahim made the call in an interview with the News Age...
Only 4,522 of 55,223 candidates who applied were able to secure admission into University of Calabar for the new academic session, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. James Epoke, has said.
Epoke who disclosed this while administering the oath of matriculation on the new students on Friday in Calabar described the matriculation ceremony ``as the occasion for a privileged few".
He said the 50,701 applicants were rejected at the point of screening since the university could only admit few new students.
``Based on our quota, we could only admit 4,522 into our various departments,’’ the vice-chancellor said.
He said 3,467 of the candidates admitted were for Science-based courses while 1,055 were for Arts-related courses.
Epoke pointed out that those admitted account for about eight per cent, with about 92 per cent of those who applied unsuccessful.
He however explained that the high rate of failure was not as a result of academic defficiency.
``It was not as if all the 50,701 candidates were not admissible. Rather, it was all due to our `carrying capacity’.
``Cut-off points were set to accommodate the numbers we can carry in the different programmes,’’ the vice-chancellor said.
He noted that competition for admission was made stiffer by more subscription into the professional courses like Medicine and Surgery and Law.
``There were limited spaces in such programmes.
``Thus, candidates who ordinarily would have easily secured admission into other programmes are annually unable to get places in the over-subscribed courses,'' Epoke said.
He also advised candidates to diversify their interest in order to reduce frustration.
``You should regard yourselves as the very privileged `chosen few’ as it is said. In fact, `many are called but few are chosen’," the vice-chancellor said.
The Taraba Police Command has nabbed two suspected car thieves, Ibrahim Jafar and Shaibu Abdullahi, for allegedly stealing a total of 11 cars between 2012 and 2013.
Mr Jubril Adeniji, the Commissioner of Police who paraded the suspects before journalists in Jalingo on Friday, said the duo’s arrest had reduced the rate of car thefts in the state.
The police official explained that Abdullahi, who was caught while trying to escape with a stolen vehicle, pretended to be seriously ill and escaped from the police custody.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that he was later re-arrested at Gombi in Adamawa.
Adeniji said also that Jafar, who recently left prison on March 6 for the same offence, stole another car from Adamawa and brought it to Jalingo for sale before he was caught.
He announced that the command was currently carrying out raids in Jalingo between 12.30 a.m and 3.00 a.m daily to track down criminals operating in the state.
"We are currently carrying out a raid within Jalingo and its environs to track down on criminals operating in the state," the police commissioner said.
The two cars allegedly recovered from the suspects as well as the master keys were also displayed
Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has inaugurated a 14-member committee to study the problems of divorcees in the state. Inaugurating the committee, Dankwambo decried the high rate of divorce in the state and said the committee’s objective wa...
The Kano State Government has said that water supply to prisons in the state would be restored to reduce the hardship being faced by inmates. Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso made this known on Friday when he met with the new Controller of Prisons, Mr Abdurrahman ...
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to encouraging Technical and Vocational Education in order to improve skilled manpower to operate the nation’s economic activities for rapid development. The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat...
South African Olympic and Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius, who is accused of murdering his girlfriend, will approach South Africa's High Court next week to appeal his stringent bail conditions, prosecutors said Friday.
US President Barack Obama said the Israeli and Turkish premiers held a rare telephone call on Friday, welcoming the move in a statement issued before he wound up a three-day trip to the Holy Land.
President Goodluck Jonathan has described literary icon, Prof Chinua Achebe as a committed patriot and the conscience of the nation the country will miss, following his exit from the face of the earth.
Deregulation of the downstream sector will be a gradual process in line with the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, an official of the NNPC has said.