By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Nasarawa State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Aliyu Bello, has urged women in Karu Local Government Area to support political leaders who recognise their contributions to society and are committed to improving their livelihoods.

Bello made the call on Monday in Karu while speaking at an empowerment programme organised by Hon.

Daniel Ogah Ogazi, APC candidate for the Keffi, Karu and Kokona Federal Constituency, where 600 women received N20,000 each as financial support.

The programme was organised as part of Ogazi’s efforts to empower women across the constituency and improve their economic well-being.

Bello commended Ogazi for his commitment to women empowerment, describing him as an inclusive leader whose activities transcend religious and ethnic boundaries.

“Ogazi is not a religious person; he is an inclusive builder who believes in bringing everybody together for development,” Bello said.

He urged the beneficiaries and other women across the constituency to assess political leaders based on their records of service and contributions to society, rather than allowing religious or ethnic sentiments to influence their political choices.

According to him, women should support leaders who have demonstrated genuine concern for their welfare and are willing to create opportunities that can enable them to become economically self-reliant.

Bello also highlighted what he described as developmental strides recorded in Nasarawa State under the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

He cited the Mararaba flyover in Karu Local Government Area as one of the major infrastructure projects which, according to him, had contributed to development and increased economic activities in the area.

The APC chairman said the state had witnessed considerable development under the present administration, stressing the need to sustain leadership that had contributed to such projects.

On political rotation, Bello noted that the Lafia zone had produced two governors and suggested that the governorship position should now be considered for the Keffi zone.

He appealed to residents of Karu and other parts of the constituency to reject politics based on religion and ethnicity, stressing that people from different backgrounds had made Nasarawa State their home.

Bello called for unity and peaceful coexistence among the people, saying collective efforts were essential for sustainable development.

In his address, Hon. Ogazi expressed gratitude to God for the success of the programme and thanked his supporters for standing by him during the APC primaries.

He said the initiative was designed to provide financial assistance to 600 women to strengthen their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Ogazi explained that his decision to focus on women empowerment was partly inspired by his upbringing, recalling that his mother sustained the family through small-scale business.

“I gave this from my heart. My mother raised us through this kind of small-scale business, and I understand the importance of supporting women to become economically independent,” he said.

He prayed for the success of the beneficiaries and appealed to those who were not included in the current programme to remain patient, assuring them that there would be opportunities for others in the future.

Ogazi also expressed confidence in his chances of winning the Keffi, Karu and Kokona Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election, promising to provide effective representation if elected.

He said his 11 years of experience in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly had given him a deep understanding of the political landscape and the needs of the people.

“I have been in the State Assembly for 11 years, and I understand the politics and the needs of our people. If elected, I will represent you well and continue to advocate for development,” Ogazi said.

The APC candidate also expressed concern over what he described as the failure of the current federal representative to adequately meet the expectations of constituents.

He urged voters to elect a representative who would prioritise their interests and speak boldly on issues affecting the constituency.

Ogazi further stressed the importance of Karu’s large voting population, urging residents to use their numerical strength to elect a representative capable of attracting meaningful projects, development and economic opportunities to the area.

He called for greater unity among residents of Keffi, Karu and Kokona, stressing that sustainable development could only be achieved when citizens put aside religious and ethnic differences and work together for the common good.

South Korean and US troops will begin their annual exercises next week to beef up readiness against North Korean threats, the allies announced Monday, days after North Korea resumed ballistic missile testing activities that are banned by the UN

The Ulchi Freedom Shield is to begin next Monday for a 11-day run and its scale will be similar to previous years with about 18,000 South Korean soldiers participating in it, South Korean military spokesperson Jang Do-young told reporters.

Speaking at the same news conference, US military spokesperson Ryan Donald said by incorporating realistic threats including “lessons from recent conflicts,” the exercise will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen the alliance’s readiness and capabilities through combined, joint, all-domain operations.

He cited North Korea’s dispatch of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine in recent years.

“DPRK soldiers have been deployed and fought in Ukraine and they’ve taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea,” Donald said, using the abbreviation for North Korea’s full name. “That changes the DPRK capability and our training accounts for that threat.”

The upcoming summertime drill is one of the two main combined exercises conducted by South Korea and US militaries annually, along with their springtime training. The US military said the Ulchi Freedom Shield features “live, virtual, constructive and field-based training.”

North Korea had no immediate comments. But it has steadfastly described any major US-South Korean military drills as a practice to invade North Korea and responded with provocative weapons tests and fiery rhetoric. South Korean and US officials have said their joint exercises are defensive in nature.

On Thursday, South Korea, the US and Japan detected the launch of a short-range ballistic missile from North Korea in what was the North’s first ballistic weapons testing activity since late June. The missile landed in the waters of North Korea’s east coast.

South Korea and Japan condemned the launch as a provocation or a threat because multiple UN Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from engaging in any ballistic activities. The US Pacific Command said the US remains committed to the defense of the US homeland and its allies in the region.

North Korea has been pushing hard to enlarge its nuclear and missile arsenals since leader Kim Jong Un’s high-stakes diplomacy with US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Experts say Kim likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase his chances for wresting more concessions from the US in future negotiations.

North Korea’s supply of troops and ammunition to Russia has raised concerns among South Korea, the US and others that Russia might have transferred North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. Experts have assessed North Korea’s troop dispatch has given it crucial battlefield experience as well.

The Nigerian Army has commenced the 2026 Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination (SSCQE) for 274 officers at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State.

The examination, being conducted at the Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji, is a major requirement for admission into the Senior Command and Staff Course.

Addressing the participants at the commencement of the examination on Sunday in Jaji, the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command, Nigerian Army (TRADOC NA), Maj.

-Gen. Peter Malla, urged the candidates to remain focused, confident and committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity throughout the five-day exercise.

Malla who is the President of the Examination Board said the examination was crucial to the career progression of the candidates and an important requirement for attending the Senior Command and Staff Course.

The commander said the examination was being conducted in line with the current syllabus approved by the Nigerian Army, with emphasis on subjects designed to enhance military leadership and professional competence.

Malla said the ongoing transformation in the Nigerian Army, particularly in professional military education, required candidates to demonstrate a high level of competence.

He expressed optimism that the candidates would perform excellently, adding that he expected nothing short of a 100 per cent pass rate.

The examination president also charged members of the Directing Staff to remain objective and professional in their assessments and strictly adhere to the rules and regulations governing the examination.

He urged the candidates to uphold discipline and integrity in line with the core values of the Nigerian Army.

Malla assured the candidates that the assessment would be objective, transparent and accountable, while urging them to put in their best.

He warned that any form of examination malpractice would attract disqualification and possible prosecution in accordance with the Nigerian Army Charter for Promotion Examinations (Revised) 2022 and the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The commander said the Chief of Army Staff would sustain the practice of rewarding the first, second and third best overall candidates with Certificates of Excellence, Letters of Commendation and cash gifts.

He added that best performers in individual subjects would also be rewarded in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy of rewarding excellence and sanctioning incompetence.

Earlier, the Commander, Infantry Corps, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, welcomed the candidates to Jaji and assured them that necessary arrangements had been made for a smooth conduct of the five-day exercise.

The event was attended by senior officers from Army Headquarters and formations across the Nigerian Army.