NEWS
Kukah Warns Against ‘anti-Fulani’ Campaign

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has warned against blanket demonisation of herdsmen, especially of the Fulani stock, warning that such actions could be preamble to a breakout of violent confrontation.
The bishop said hate speech often precedes any genocide experienced in history.
Speaking yesterday at a colloquium on fake news and hate speech organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for African Studies, an arm of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), he said Nigerians “have to be very careful” before the situation degenerates beyond control.
He likened the uproar and profiling of the Fulani to what happened to the Igbo leading up to the Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970.
“If it is Fulani today, yesterday it was the Igbos,” he said.
Reacting to the recent controversy on the use of picture of a herdsman on the Nigerian passport booklet, Kukah said he was almost swayed by the fake news, before he got a copy of the passport himself.
The cleric displayed his passport to illustrate the content and debunk the insinuations that it carried only a picture of a herdsman.
“When I look at my passport, it has the coat of arm and map of Nigeria. Then right in front of the data page where all my information is, I have the Bini. I am not a Bini man, but I am eminently proud of this. I didn’t even know it was here, because I had to go through the passport page by page.
“When I opened the passport the first thing I saw was Zuma Rock, then I see Tiv dancers. Who gave them permission to put Tiv dancers? Then I got to next page, before I came to this poor Fulani man who is standing with his cows. Suddenly, this is the only thing we have chosen.
“Why is it exciting? It is exciting because this is the time for us to ‘hate’, literally tag every Fulani as a herdsman. We are on a very dangerous precipice,” he said.
Kukah said it was time for those in the position of leadership to tame the situation.
“Those who lead us should better stand up and tell us where we are going,” he said.
In his opening remarks, NOUN’s vice chancellor, Abdalla Adamu, said liberalisation of the media space by technology provided opportunity for easy spread of fake news and hate speech.
He lamented increase in hate speech in the polity which, he said, will not augur well for the society.
“What we see are labels over crimes. The moment you start talking about labels, you are breeding hate speech,” Adamu said.
In her contribution, former journalist and politician, Chris Anyanwu, also bemoaned “too much of this hate and bile stuff” warning that it could consume the country if not properly tackled.
“We have to be careful not to use our own hands to set our own house on fire and someone will sit there in Russia laughing,” she said.
NEWS
Tinubu Renames Kano University after Yusuf Maitama Sule

President Bola Tinubu has renamed the Federal University of Education, Kano, to Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education.
The late Alhaji Sule (1929–2017) made significant contributions to Nigeria’s socio-political development throughout his distinguished career.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President highlighted Sule’s roles, including his tenure as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, where he chaired the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid.
Sule also served as Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives (1954–1959), Leader of Nigeria’s Delegation to the 1960 Conference of Independent States, First Federal Commissioner of Public Complaints (1976), and Minister of Mines and Power.
Tinubu emphasised that immortalising Amb. Sule’s legacy would inspire younger generations to uphold values like integrity, patriotism, character, and nationalism.
He added that as a federal university of education, the institution would continue to play a pivotal role in training teachers and strengthening Nigeria’s education sector.
The Federal University of Education, Kano, is one of seven specialised universities of education under the Federal Government, originally owned by the Kano State government.(NAN)
NEWS
Alia Appoints Iorpev as Benue Signage, Advertising Agency DG

From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia on Monday announced the appointment of his Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication, Solomon Iorpev, as Director General, Benue State Signage and Advertising Agency.
Alia enjoined Iorpev to uphold the highest standards of safety and aesthetics that will bequeath a responsible environment in the state.
He said that the agency is saddled with the responsibility of managing and controlling all outdoor advertisements and signages across Benue State.
The Governor congratulated Iorpev and encouraged him to see the new feather to his cap as a call to give more to his motherland.
Iorpev, among other qualifications, holds a Masters Degree in Public Relations and Advertising.
Meanwhile, the new Director General of the Benue State Signage and Advertising Agency, Solomon Iorpev, has warned against indiscriminate placement of billboards and other advertising platforms within and outside city centres across the state.
He said there is no room for improper placements deface the city centres, adding that the public must follow due process by obtaining permits from the Urban Development Board before placing adverts.
He encouraged those who owe payments of Signages and Advertisements to proceed with payments as enforcement will soon enter top gear.
NEWS
Fire Outbreak at Technology Incubation Centre Minna Destroys Goods

From Dan Amasingha, Minna
An early morning inferno at the Technology Incubation Centre in Minna has resulted in the total loss of the Ebonext Foods and More business unit, valued at over twenty Million Naira, owned by entrepreneur Ogochukwu Tosin Juliana.
The fire which erupted in the early morning hours, obliterated equipment, production machines and goods leaving the entrepreneur to assess her devastating losses.
Upon receiving multiple missed calls from the centre, Juliana rushed to the scene to find her workspace completely engulfed in flames.
“When I woke up this morning and saw the missed calls, I immediately contacted the centre to find out what had happened.“Upon arrival, I was heartbroken to see everything in my unit reduced to ashes.
The late response from the fire service men could not salvage anything, she recounted, the devastating loss.
Security personnel on duty, Shittu Ladan, reported observing smoke during their night patrol and promptly raised the alarm.
However, delays in fire service response hampered efforts to control the flames quickly.
“We initially contacted the Federal Fire Service, but they claimed it was outside their jurisdiction. It was only after reaching out to the State Fire Service that the blaze was eventually extinguished, but not before it had caused considerable damage,” he stated.
Nathaniel Kojoko from the centre’s technical department confirmed that preliminary investigations indicate an electrical spark may have triggered the fire.
He expressed concern about the extent of the damage, noting, “This unprecedented incident is a significant loss for the centre, and we must escalate the matter to higher authorities for possible assistance.”
In light of this tragedy, the centre’s management appeals for support from the federal government and the community to assist Mrs. Juliana in rebuilding her business.
“The aim of our centre is to empower entrepreneurs, and it is vital that we rally together to help her recover from this unfortunate event,” they emphasized.
Juliana, despite her sorrow, holds onto hope for recovery and assistance. “I believe that God will provide support for me, and I sincerely hope the government and the incubation centre will aid me in starting anew,” she stated, her voice filled with emotion.