NEWS
Foundation Empowers 17 Year-old Mechanic to Pursue Education

From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
Gobir Foundation, has empowered a 17-year old road side female mechanic with funds to pursue her formal secondary school education in the state.
The teenager, Miss Oluwatoyin Ganiyu, an SS1 student of Chapel Secondary School, Tanke, Ilorin, said she inherited the knowledge and expertise from her late father since she was six years old.
Speaking during the presentation of N100,000 empowerment to the young girl in the Hero of the month Award, the Head, Media and Publicity of Gobir Foundation, Mrs Eyitanwa Lawal said that the foundation designed the programme purposely to reward hard-work towards increased productivity and taking the state to the next level of development.
“We are here to celebrate diligence and hard-work in the young professional. We’ve been watching her doing her job well. The recognition programme by the foundation is aimed at celebrating hard-working people. We want people to know that the foundation is watching you and ready to compensate you for job well done. We are on the lookout for every other person doing well; be it in public or private business. We urge our people to keep up good work to make the state greater”.
Also speaking, the beneficiary, Toyin, as she is determined to become an auto mobile engineer and be a manufacturer of auto Vehicles.
She said that she understudied her late father who was a motorcycle mechanic to learn repair of motorcycles adding that her future plan is to use it as a means of livelihood and to sponsor her education.
She also said that she was determined to take up her father’s job because while her father was alive, he trained, fed, and sheltered her and other members of the family with meager money he got from being a mechanic.
“To be a mechanic is my dream and I have planned and I am working hard to be a mechanical engineer in future. I want to be able to build machines on my own,” she said.
Toyin’s guardian, Mrs Hannah Esho said that she took up the responsibility to train her through school and see her succeed as a mechanic even before and after Toyin’s father’s demise.
“We were neighbours. When she was six, I saw her taking interest in mechanic work which her father said she was the only child that was interested in learning. Toyin has over the years proved to be productive, industrious and well-disciplined ever since I have known her.
Her colleagues in the trade, neighbours and relations, as well as commercial motorcycle riders and tricycle operators, testified to her diligence and hard-work, saying she had potential to go far in the profession.
NEWS
Nigeria Condoles India over Tragic Plane Crash

The Federal Government on Thursday condoled the Indian government over the tragic crash of Air India Flight-171 in Ahmedabad.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this in a statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesperson of theMinistry.Tuggar said, “Nigeria expresses profound sorrow and extends its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India over the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
“This devastating incident which claimed the lives of over 290 individuals has left the global community in mourning. “Nigeria stands in solidarity with India during this period of immense grief and unfortunate loss.“While initial reports indicate no Nigerian citizen was aboard the flight, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi remains in close contact with Indian authorities to verify this information and provide consular assistance where necessary.“In this moment of shared sorrow, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to global aviation safety and supports the call for thorough investigation into the crash with a view to preventing such tragedies in the future.”The minister further commiserated with the families of the bereaved and all those affected by this tragic incident. (NAN)NEWS
Benue Speaker Advises Youth to Participate Actively in Politics

The Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, has advised youths in the state to participate actively in the economic and political development of the country.Dajoh gave the advice in his Democracy Day message issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Terver Zamber, in Makurdi.
The speaker urged youths to show more interest in the economic and political development of the country. He said that they had the required education, exposure, and numerical strength to make a positive impact on both the economy and governance. Dajoh assured the youths that the assembly under his leadership would continue to enact laws to protect democracy and the rule of law.The speaker urged Nigerians to be more determined in ensuring that democracy worked in the country.He said that democracy remained the best option for the country.The speaker added that through the determination of the citizens and their active participation in the democratic process, Nigeria would be a great country.He saluted the heroic deeds of patriots who worked assiduously to actualise democratic rule in the country, especially the symbol of the June 12 struggle, the late M.K.O. Abiola.According to him, only a truly great, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria could be a befitting compensation for their sacrifices.He commended President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue for their roles in upholding democratic principles.Dajoh said that more sacrifices were required from the citizens to ensure that the country got the best of democracy. (NAN)NEWS
Cross River Communities Resume Hostility with More Casualties

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
There is another round of hostility arising from communal skirmishes between two brotherly communities of Etono 2 and Biakpan in Biased Local Government Are of Cross River State.The resumption of hostilities happened some days ago when youths from Etono 2 were alleged to have attacked and killed a visitor to Biakpan and another youth whose identity was not immediately known.
Before then there were reports that nearly 50 persons had been killed on both sides. In the latest resurgence, a source said, “Sporadic shootings were heard on Monday and Tuesday inside Biakpan. A few persons have been killed.”State security adviser Southern district, Patrick Odion told our correspondent that he has his men on ground to calm the situation.Recall that about three weeks ago, Commissioner of Police in the state, Olusegun Omosanyin summoned the two sides to his Headquarters in Calabar and cautioned them.The police commissioner had disclosed how there was massive arms buildup by the two communities and said he would launch police action to retrieve the arms from them.He had expressed anger that the two sides had earlier refused to appear before him three times when he summoned them, adding that he had also dispatched his key officers to the two communities.Following the resumption of the hostilities, the police commissioner again met with the leadership of Biase LGA in his office.He assured that he would mobilize his men today to Biakpan and Etono 2 to quell the uprising.When DAILY ASSET spoke with some concerned stakeholders from the two communities they lamented that often when police and soldiers sent to douse tensions would leave, hostilities would resume soon after.A youth leader from Etono 2 who gave his name as Egwu Jerry, lamented, “The presence of the security men usually give us confidence but once they leave, our safety is no longer guaranteed. We’re few compared with those from Biakpan.”He also lamented that they do not have access road elsewhere than the one into Biakpan which reason, their adversaries usually encircle and easily attack and kill them.But a chief from Biakpan who gave his name as Onun Ekpezu alleged that Etono people were too aggressive and violent, and have destroyed their important properties and farms, and have killed their people and visitors.”Because of these, our youths have positioned themselves to defend our women and properties”, Ekpezu said.