By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The newly appointed Director General of National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu has assumed duties at the headquarters of the Institution in Lagos on Monday 16th June,2025.

The Director General and immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State was received on arrival by management staff of the institution.

He was joined by the Directors at the conference room where he received the handover notes from his immediate predecessor, Professor Morolayo Fasakin who was represented by Mrs Omonude.

In his remarks, the new DG , Comrade Philip Shaibu appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the trust and confidence reposed in him and assured that she will do his best with profound sense of duty, responsibility and dedication to unreservedly serve the country along with the President renewed hope agenda.

Shaibu promised to lead by example and sustain collaboration with relevant partners and requested for cooperation of staff towards achieving set targets of proactive tasks of the institution.

The DG also held a meeting with the staff in Abuja were he solicited for their understanding to deliver on the President renewed hope agenda.

He said, “I have come here to work with you in line with the mandate of Mr. President, Ahmed Bola Tinubu renewed hope agenda. Our business here is sports. President has a vision for sports to take its pride in Africa.

“So, ours here is to train world class coaches, athletes that will go out there as our product. We must turn things around. All over the world there is shortage of para – medis , we must produce them . Am drafted here by Mr. President, I have come and I must deliver. We need to wake up, we must deliver on our tasks.

” We will train our coaches, athletes and para-medis for the world. We have the potentials and I believe in collective work. So, NIS must deliver on its mandate.”

 Mrs Helen Mutfwang, the  wife of Plateau governor has called for an end to sexual violence in conflicts.

 Mutfwang said this during the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict in Jos on Thursday

According to her, the day should be seen as a solemn reminder of our shared duty to confront one of humanity’s gravest crime; a crime that shatters lives, stains our collective conscience, and demands urgent action.

The governor’s wife said that conflict -related sexual violence was not just rape but a weapon of war.

“It includes sexual slavery, forced pregnancies, trafficking, and other brutal acts inflicted on women, men, and children.

“These atrocities leave deep scars, not only on survivors but on entire communities, perpetuating cycles of pain and injustice,” she said.

She said the UN designated this day to amplify global awareness, to stand with survivors, and to ignite hope.

“It is a day to declare with one voice Enough! No more silence. No more impunity. We must end sexual violence in conflict, now and for future generations, “ she said.

She added that this year’s theme: ”Breaking the Cycle, Healing the Scars”, revealed a painful truth of the trauma of sexual violence across generations.

She said survivors endured not just physical wounds but psychological trauma, stigma,  poverty because families were torn apart and  communities left fractured.

 Mutfwang said the state had  taken steps to establish a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), a sanctuary where survivors would receive medical care, counseling, and legal aid to the victims.

“The center will be a lifeline to restore dignity and hope to the heart broken,” she said.

She said the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)  were at risk because they were forced from their homes to face heightened threats of abuse.

“We are working tirelessly to transform IDP camps into true safe havens, providing shelter, healthcare, education, and economic opportunities to rebuild lives with security and purpose,” she said.

She said that the state would stand by the victims and would ensure their voices were heard, their pain acknowledged, and justice served as perpetrators would face the full weight of the law.

She called on governments, civil society, and traditional leaders to act now to  dismantle the intergenerational chains of trauma,strengthen laws, fund survivor support programmes, and hold perpetrators accountable.

“Let us unite communities, faith groups, youths to break this cycle of violence.

“Let us replace silence with solidarity, shame with justice, and despair with healing and together , we can build a Plateau, where no one lives in fear of such brutality,” she added.

Speaking also during the event, the Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Caroline Dafur , said this was the first time the state was commemorating the International Day of Sexual Violence in Conflict  with the rest of the world.

Dafur thanked the state government for supporting women in the state. (NAN)

 President Bola Tinubu on Thursday inaugurated the Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development in Kaduna, marking a major step towards youths empowerment and workforce development in the state.

The initiative, strongly aligned with Gov. Uba Sani’s vision for economic inclusion and human capital growth, was aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills for self-reliance and employment.

While at the Murtala Mohammed Square,  Tinubu also unveiled 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, part of the state government’s efforts to modernise public transportation and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The projects are part of the broader agenda of both the Federal and Kaduna State Governments, focusing on infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, youths empowerment, and economic growth.

In his remarks, former Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to witness the inauguration of various projects in Kaduna, particularly the 300-bed Specialist Hospital named after Tinubu.

Sambo described the hospital’s inauguration as the fulfilment of a vision that began in 2009 during his tenure as the Governor of the state.

“Today, we celebrate the realisation of a project that was conceived over 16 years ago. It is a dream come true for the people of Kaduna,” he said.

Sambo recalled that as Governor, he was confronted with a painful healthcare reality fewer than 3,000 hospital beds were available for a population exceeding six million.

Sambo added that the situation worsened when Kaduna metropolis lost its 800-bed hospital following the relocation of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital to Shika, Zaria.

“Many families were forced to travel outside the state in search of specialist medical care. Our goal was to reverse health tourism and provide world-class medical services at home,” he said.

“The newly inaugurated 300-bed specialist hospital is expected to significantly boost healthcare delivery in the state and reduce the pressure on tertiary medical centres.”

Also speaking at the event, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, commended Tinubu for what she described as a focused leadership that was “refocusing the country and renewing citizens’ hope in governance.”

She said that the president’s commitment to resilience and sustainable development had laid a solid foundation for national progress.

According to her, the vocational institute is a component of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to create jobs, drive economic development, and improve the quality of life for Nigerians.

She also praised Gov. Uba Sani for running an inclusive and people-centered administration.

In his remarks, Prof. Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), described Kaduna as a growing hub for skills development in Nigeria.

He stated that while the state faced significant challenges related to youths unemployment and economic diversification, vocational training presented a viable solution.

“Vocational training and skills development are widely recognised as a pathway to empower individuals with practical knowledge, enhance self-reliance, and ensure gainful employment,” Bugaje said.

Speaking also ,the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu-Bamali, commended Tinubu for his visit to Kaduna and his continued support in inaugurating the legacy projects across the state.

The emir, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers’ council, described the projects as impactful and unforgettable contributions to the state’s development.

He also appreciated the collaboration between Tinubu and Sani, particularly in the area of security management.

“We are witnessing the return of peace to various parts of the state, especially in Giwa and Igabi local government areas, as well as the southern zone of Kaduna,” he said.

The royal father reaffirmed the support of the traditional institution for the government’s efforts towards lasting peace and development.

Dignitaries present at the epochal visit included the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; and the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu-Bamalli, among others.

The project is part of a broader effort to improve health infrastructure and service delivery in the state. (NAN)