By Tony Obiechina Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disowned fictitious contacts purportedly awarded by some faceless persons on behalf of the Bank.

The CBN said in a statement by the Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali on Monday that such individuals and groups claim to represent the Apex Bank 

The statement further reads, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn once again to the activities of individuals and groups falsely claiming to represent or act on behalf of the CBN.

“These actors continue to circulate fictitious offers of contracts, loans, grants, intervention funds, and other financial benefits allegedly issued or endorsed by the CBN.

“Despite the public advisory issued on November 18, 2024, through the Bank’s official channels and news outlets, these misleading schemes have persisted, targeting unsuspecting members of the public with false and deceptive narratives.

“The CBN wishes to reiterate that it has not authorised, licensed, or appointed any individual, group, or organisation to act as an agent or intermediary in offering contracts, financial grants, or intervention funds to the public. 

“The CBN also does not endorse or support such claims in any form.

Members of the public are advised that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not award contracts or disburse funds through unsolicited communications such as emails, phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp, or any social media platform. It also does not request payment of fees in exchange for contracts, grants, or financial interventions, nor does it engage intermediaries or third parties to offer financial services or opportunities to the public.

“If you are approached by individuals or entities making such claims, we strongly advise that you do not engage with them. Instead, such incidents should be reported immediately to the relevant law enforcement agencies or the nearest CBN Branch.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to safeguarding the financial interests of the Nigerian public and continues to work closely with security agencies to investigate and address fraudulent activities.”

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By Tony Obiechina Abuja 

The federal government on Monday reaffirmed it’s committment to the education of the girl-child in the country.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad  gave the assurance in her welcome address at the Validation Workshop on the situational analysis and baseline assessment of the Japan-funded UNESCO-IICBA project titled “Capacity Building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa.

Professor Suwaiba noted that the project aligns with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which prioritizes girl-child education, STEMM, TVET, teacher development, and quality assurance in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda for Education.

She urged stakeholders to critically examine the consultant’s findings, identify key gaps, and propose strategic and cost-effective interventions to strengthen teacher capacity and female leadership in schools. She appreciated the Government and Embassy of Japan, UNESCO, and development partners for supporting Nigeria’s inclusion in the regional project. 

The Minister who officially declared the workshop open  thanked all the participants for their commitment to transforming Nigeria’s educational landscape.

Earlier, Dr. Tanko Sununu, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, described the teaching profession as highly rewarding, drawing from personal experience. He commended teachers as nation-builders whose contributions leave lasting legacies. 

Dr. Sununu also praised the ongoing partnership with UNESCO IICBA and the Government of Japan, highlighting the significance of investing in human capital, particularly through girl-child education, as a catalyst for national development and societal progress.

In her remarks, Dr. Uchenna C. Uba, Director of Colleges of Education and Chairperson of the Project Technical Working Group, highlighted girl-child education as a national priority and fundamental human right. 

She noted that the validation workshop was designed to review the findings of the situational analysis, gather stakeholder input, and refine strategies for empowering teachers with inclusive, ICT-driven, and gender-responsive tools. She appreciated the Government of Japan and all development partners, and encouraged participants to contribute actively to ensuring the project’s success and sustainability.

Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of Japan, the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Kozaki Hitoshi, reaffirmed Japan’s strong commitment to promoting inclusive, safe, and quality education. He underscored the role of empowered teachers in driving access to education for girls and highlighted Japan’s broader contributions through the TICAD framework, including a $5 billion pledge for peace and development in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea. 

Mr. Hitoshi praised the efforts of UNESCO IICBA, the African Union, and the Federal Ministry of Education, urging all stakeholders to invest boldly in teachers and girls’ education to achieve lasting transformation.

Also speaking, Dr. Quentin Wodon, Director at UNESCO IICBA, emphasized the importance of the project in strengthening pre-service education for girls in Nigeria. While acknowledging that the project is relatively small in scale, he noted its potential for far-reaching impact. 

He commended the collaborative efforts of the project team, especially with AU/CIEFFA and the KIX initiative. Dr. Wodon also spoke about upcoming opportunities, including a new e-learning initiative funded by the Japanese government to support female school leadership. 

He was hopeful that Nigeria would continue to participate in such proposals and stressed the value of planning and empirical discussions during the workshop to benefit teachers and girls alike.

In a statement by the  Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Folashade Boriowo, “The Federal Ministry of Education is committed to sustaining partnerships that drive inclusive and equitable education, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our valued partners, including the Government of Japan, UNESCO IICBA, AU/CIEFFA, and all stakeholders, in empowering Nigerian girls for a brighter future”.

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 The Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) in Oyo State says the command will deploy its operational energies to enforce the use of crash helmets by passengers and motorcyclists.

Mrs Rosemary Alo, the FRSC Sector Commander said this at a news conference organized by the command in commemoration of the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week on Monday in Ibadan.

The global road safety week, scheduled for May 12 to May 18, provides an opportunity to spur action at national and local levels to make walking and cycling safe.

The theme for the 2025 global road safety week is “Street for Life, #Make Walking Safe, Make Cycling Safe”.

Alo said that the week aims to highlight concrete and specific interventions that could be undertaken by various stakeholders like governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses and schools, to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

She said road users, particularly vulnerable groups like pedestrians and street children, faced higher risks of road traffic injuries and deaths due to poor road infrastructure, unsafe road conditions and inadequate safety measures.

According to her, the use of a helmet reduces damage to sensitive parts of the body, including eyes, skull, brain and nose.

“Pedestrians, especially the elderly and street children often involved in commercial activities on roadsides, are particularly vulnerable to injuries from traffic.

”Motorcyclists in the same way, as pedestrians, are still a significant road user group that faces high risks of injury.

“As Oyo sector commander, I am proud to lead efforts that prioritise the safety of our road users.

“The command remains committed to reducing road crashes and promoting a culture of safety on our roads, “she said.

She further noted that the week long event would feature sensitisation rally, distribution of flyers and media broadcast awareness to road users.

Alo revealed that the command had planned strategic visits to selected schools for road safety talk, advocacy visit to fleet operators and orphanage home, as well as commemorative church and mosque service.

“These initiatives aim to educate and remind road users of their roles in preventing road crashes.

“We urge all stakeholders, including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to join us in this crusade.

“Together, we can make our roads safer and reduce the incidence of road crashes, especially those involving pedestrians and cyclists, “she said. (NAN)