By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The maiden edition of the Panegyric Competition among Nigerian Secondary school’s students was held recently by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.

Speaking during the event, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the art of panegyric competition promotes cultural values and fosters national unity, peace, creativity, eloquence, and a healthy competition among students across Nigeria.

Dr.

Alausa, represented by Dr. Ismaila O. Adiatu, his Senior Special Assistant, said in the 21st century, innovation and progress are driven by the pillars of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

According to him, STEAM is the heartbeat of morden education, equipping the youths with the skills to tackle global challenges, from climate change to health crisis.

He said integrating Arts into STEAM will foster creativity, turning discoveries into transformative innovations.

“However, the Arts in (STEAM) has not been given much attention, hence the need to organise the Panegyric competition as a way of exposing youths to the beauty of Arts,

“I urge you all to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and mutual respect. Also remember the fusion of knowledge and creativity reflects the power to change the world” he said.

He appreciated the organisers of the event and the secondary school’s participants for their enthusiasm and talent as a testament to creating a brighter future for Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, added that the competition celebrates eloquence and the art of rhetoric, “but also to promote a culture of scientific inquiry and technological advancement with a shared vision of Innovation, critical thinking, and inspired expression among the youth”.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo stated that “education is the cornerstone of progress and development in any society. An event like this serves as a testament to the importance of fostering a historic approach to learning.

“We often emphasized the significance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Education. It is equally imperative to recognise and appreciate the role of arts and creativity in shaping our cultural landscape and driving societal change”.

Three schools competed at the event. Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State clinched the first position, while St. Monica’s Girl’s Grammar School and Federal Government Secondary School (GSS) Gombe emerged 2nd and 3rd respectively.

A consolation prize of N50,000 each was given to other participants.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Senior Special Assistant(SSA) to Benue State Governor on Youth Organization and Illegal Levies, Gbenda Terver has warned against multiple taxations and Illegal levies collections at local markets and business centers in the urban areas of the State.

He said anyone caught in such an act especially during this yuletide, in which almost all activities have intensified, would be severely dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.

The SSA lamented that the hardship being faced by Benue citizenry and residents, occasioned by multiple taxations and Illegal levies collections in the markets and highways across the State, has not only created untold hardship for the people, but, also inimical to the development of a fragile State like Benue, especially at this critical moment that the nation is experiencing higher economic challenges.

Terver listed the Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) and Revenue Departments of the various 23 Local Government Areas of the State as the only constitutionally garzetted and licensed bodies saddled with the responsibility of collecting all revenues on behalf of the State government.

The SSA who sounded this note of warning in a statement he issued and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, through  his media aide, Saint Paul, however, cautioned unauthorized bodies and perpetrators such as ” General Chief, APC Youth Leader, Central Youth Leader, Local Government Youth Leader, Community Youth Leader, Area Youth Leader, Peace Committee, Maintenance, Clearance, MINDA development association, JENGBAGH development association, JECHIRA development association, SANKERA development association, KWANDE development association et cetera, often found on the highways and market places, extorting commuters and traders, to desists from such devilish and unholy activities or be ready to face the full consequences of the law prohibiting illegal levies collections as enacted by the 10th Benue State House of Assembly 2024.

“To this end, the office of Youth Organization and Illegal Levies, Benue State, has directed all the constituted Taskforce team on illegal levies collections across the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State to close ranks and work assiduously with their various Local Government Chairmen and all the relevant security operatives within their domains, to ensure the full implementation and compliance of the law prohibiting illegal levies and taxations”, he stated.

 He promised to provide adequate support to the Taskforce team and the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the State is free from all forms of criminality and Illegalities, during and after the yuletide, so as to complement the developmental strides of the Alia led administration.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, on Tuesday, performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the Abia Airport project.

In a speech at the event held at Ubaha-Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, Keyamo said that the project was upgraded from an airstrip to an international cargo airport.

He described the airport as a presidential initiative because President Bola Tinubu instructed that no part of the country, particularly the South-East, should be left out of aviation development.

Keyamo said that the president specifically requested an airstrip for Abia State in the 2024 Budget due to his affection for the state and its governor.

He also said that Abia Government expressed willingness to partner with the Federal Government through counterpart funding to upgrade the project to an international cargo airport.

The minister highlighted the economic importance of Abia in the country’s industrial ecosystem.

He said that the state is considered the industrial hub of the South-East, producing many “Made in Nigeria” goods.

Keyamo further said that siting a cargo airport in the state would allow goods to be processed and exported directly, boosting logistics and economic activity.

He said that the airport would primarily focus on cargo operations to support industrialisation and trade in Abia and the South-East.

Keyamo said that an airport stands as an enabler that generates economic activities, and its construction should not be dependent on existing commercial demand.

He said that airports play a key role in enhancing connectivity and response to emergencies and Abia being excluded from the aviation ecosystem was deemed unacceptable.

He directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to prioritise employment for people in Nsulu, where the airport will be located, to give them a sense of belonging.

He said that funds were allocated in the 2024 budget to commence clearing and development.

Keyamo also said that the Deputy Speaker had promised prompt approval of subsequent funding in 2025.

He said that the initiative underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to equitable infrastructure development, regional economic integration, and industrial growth in Abia.

In an address, Gov. Alex Otti of Abia said that the airport would accelerate the socioeconomic development of the state.

Otti thanked the president for his  commitment to boost socioeconomic advancement of the zone.

He said that the State Government had commenced preparation for the payment of compensation to genuine land owners.

Otti also said that the project would be completed in 36 months and thanked everyone that  contributed to marking it a reality.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, expressed confidence that the project would be completed in record time because “Abia is blessed with a governor that understands the importance of synergistic partnership”.

Kalu said that he would work assiduously to ensure that any fund appropriated for the project received speedy approval by the House.

“The people with me here are members of the House from different parts of the country.

“We are promising Abia people that when the budget comes we will look out for the budget that is  going to benefit Abia Airport and we will approve it,” he said.

Also, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, expressed the determination of the president to deliver the dividend of democracy to the citizens.

Onyejeocha said that the people of Abia stood to gain enormous economic benefits from the siting of an airport in the state.

The lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, thanked the president for the resolve to build an airport in Abia.

Onwusibe said the project would contribute greatly to the achievement of critical infrastructure development in the area.

In a remark, the Chairman of Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, expressed delight over the fact that “an airport would be built in Abia in our lifetime”.

Wabara also expressed delight over the upgrade of the project from an airstrip to an international airport, where Boeing 737 aircrafts would land.

The Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, described the project as a foundation for the future of economic growth and progress in Abia.

Ukaegbu said that the vision of the airport aligned with the government’s commitment to position Abia as a key economic hub in Nigeria and  beyond.

In separate speeches, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, and the Airport Project Coordinator, Mr Okorougo Aji, said that 1,325.86 hectares of land were acquired from nine Nsulu Communities for the project.

They said that Abia Government was working assiduously to ensure that compensation was paid to all those whose land made up the project space.

They also said that Nsulu was chosen as the site for the airport because “all the analysis indicated that the place passed the requirements for an airport”.

A prominent son of Nsulu, Chief Ncheta Omerekpe, thanked the Federal and State Governments for the decision to site an airport in the area.

Omerekpe described the project as a welcome development and appealed to Abia Government to ensure that due compensation was paid to land owners.

report says that the event was attended by top government functionaries and prominent Nigerians from different walks of life.

NAN also reports that the project is being handled by Craneburg Construction Company. (NAN)