NEWS
Plateau Violence: West African URI Interfaces with Muslim/Christian Leaders
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The West African regional interfaith organization United Religion Initiative (URI) has engaged Muslim and Christian leaders as well as head of security agencies across Jos South local government area of Plateau State as part of its efforts in stepping down the health approaches to violence prevention projects in the State.
The West African Regional Coordinator of United Religions Initiative (URI) Dr.
Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba noted that URI is a global interfaith initiative working across the Economic Community of West African member states committed to addressing violence at the grassroot towards achieving total peace in the sub Region.Declaring the one day training workshop open for religious leaders and security agencies at Yelwa Club in Jos the Plateau State Capital. Ivorgba noted that violence outbreak is equivalent to epidemic outbreak in society as such a healthy approach to all kinds of violence saved it from spreading to other places and causing unimaginable havoc to lives and properties.
According to him, “Violence is the biggest threat to the continued existence of our world today; the more there are problems, the more potential for crisis. Russia/Ukraine war, Hamas/Israel war Terror war in nigeria, Violence is a multi-billion dollar business. There are people that make profit from people’s problems.
“Ammunition is sold, millions are acquired in kidnapping, resources are secured through terror. For example; gold up North, crude bunkering in South-South. The problem is that if we allow violence to continue it will eventually consume us all.
“The 2020 Global Peace Index ranked Nigeria 147th out of 163 countries in the world and 40th out of 44th in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),” hence the need for deliberate efforts to handle violent indicators in the society.
The Project Coordinator Pastor Daniel Ajang said the choice of religious leaders in the implementation of the project at the grassroots is born out of the fact that citizens listened to their religious leaders more than political leaders and such they are key in driving the new concept of handling violence in the state
He noted that the project in partnership with Kazatsi Reconciliation Centre is aimed at building mutual understanding and religious tolerance at the grassroot who are often at the receiving end of every violent outbreak in the society.
Religious Leaders command respect and are listened to by their followers, they have an important role in changing the social-security trajectory of any society, imparting in the soul of the communities value for love, unity, understanding and peaceful coexistence.”
Some of the participants Musa Bashir Umar the organizing Secretary Jos South and Pastor Abraham Philip both expressed their readiness to make good use of the knowledge acquired at the workshop to further educate their host communities and followers on the healthy approach to preventing violence in their respective communities towards the sustainability of peaceful coexistence in the locality and the state in general.
NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)