NEWS
Prioritising Interests of Citizens Will Help Nigeria Attain China’s feat – China

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Zhou Pingjian, says the African country can achieve the same feat as China if its government can prioritise the interests of its citizens and open itself up to the world.
Zhou expressed this thought on Wednesday 28th August 2019 in Abuja at a ceremony to honour outstanding Nigerian advocates of China-Nigeria relations.
The event was also in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of China on Oct. 1.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 48 recipients of the China Alumni Association of Nigeria were honoured for their contributions to strengthening China-Nigeria bilateral relations in different sectors.
Zhou said China was able to attain greatness and success because the government considered the interests of its people first before any other thing.
He also attributed China’s successes to the strong leadership provided by its founding political party and its openness to the world.
The envoy urged Nigeria to emulate China.
According to him, at the founding of China in 1949, it could not produce anything significant, but 70 years after, it became a global force with every household across the world using “made in China” products.
Zhou, who said that sharing the same independence date with Nigeria was significant, urged the award recipients to continue their good works in different sectors in order to strengthen the bilateral relations between both countries.
“A lot of things have contributed to the achievements of China in the past 70 years and another one is, we have friends like Nigeria and the world and China pursues an opened policy.
“Putting people first, strong leadership of the political party, and openness to the world have helped us make great strides in the economic and social development in China.
“In 1950, the first year after the founding of the People’s Republic, the trade value between China and the world was only 1.13 billion U.S. dollars, but last year trade value hit 4.6 trillion U.S. dollars.
“In 1978, there was almost no Foreign Direct Investment in China and in 40 years, we attracted more than two trillion dollars in Foreign Direct Investment.
“In 1949, there were no Nigerian students in China but today, there are more than 7,000 students pursuing higher learning in China.
“We are opened to the world and that is a key element to understand why China can achieve something in 70 years.
“Mutual understanding and friendship between two countries is the foundation of a successful bilateral relation,” Zhou said.
The Chinese envoy further called on the award recipients to continue to promote relations between both countries which he described as very strategic and important.
He added that as one of the largest economies in the world, China valued its relationship with Nigeria, which he described as the largest developing country in Africa.
Also speaking, Hon. Buba Yakub, Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs lauded Nigeria-China cordial relations which he said was evident in so many laudable developments in Nigeria.
Congratulating the award recepients, Yakub urged them to take up the challenge to evolve strategies that would take the bilateral relations to a higher level.
“As the year 2019 marks the 48th year of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, both countries have thus far enjoyed a cordial relationship.
“As evidence of the deepening economic and socio-cultural integration today, China-Nigeria relations are regarded as a pace-setter for not only Africa, but within the global economic community.
“The history of this relation has become a reference point to so many countries especially in the areas of Trade and Investment.
“The highlight of the recent decade involving Nigeria-China relations is the massive inflow of Foreign investment to address critical infrastructural gaps in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is poised to be the next viable destination for China’s Foreign investments in view of its economic potentials.
“This significant feet have been realized by determined efforts of both countries and also the advocates of China-Nigeria relations of which we are here to celebrate today,” Yakub said.
Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, Dr. Sheriff Ghali called on fellow awardees not to forget the reasons why they were honored and keep working to build the unity of both nations.
Ghali urged them to work towards changing the negative misunderstandings of other countries to the China-Africa-Nigeria relations which is perceived as imperialism.
He urged them not to relent in the already good works of strengthening bilateral ties which they already started. (NAN)
NEWS
Bello Forwards Three Commissionership Nominees to Kogi Assembly for Confirmation

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has forwarded names of three Commissionership nominees to Kogi State House of Assembly for confirmation
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onogwu Muhammed disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Lokoja on Tuesday.
He said that the nominees are; former Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, (Kogi West); Dr.
Zakeri Usman and Engr. Mohammed Abdulmutalab from Dekina and Okene Local Government Areas respectively.The Information Commissioner, Fanwo had resigned his appointment to contest the Yagba West House of Representatives ticket of the All Progressives Congress but lost.
It was also gathered that Dr. Usman if confirmed by the assembly, will replace the former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Saka Haruna Audu who was sacked by the Governor from office in April 2022, over allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Meanwhile, Abdulmutalab will also replace Engr. Abubakar Ohere who resigned to pursue his senatorial ambition.
Ohere emerged the Senatorial candidate of the APC for Kogi Central Senatorial seat, and would be slugging it out with Barr. Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, the candidate of the main opposition- Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
Education
Education Minister Promises Equity, Fairness over Unity Colleges Admissions

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By Evelyn Terseer, Abuja.
As Principals of the Nation’s 110 Unity Colleges converge on Benin city, the Edo State capital to kick-start this year’s admission, Education Minister, Adamu Adamu has directed that they must be guided by the principles of fairness,equity and good conscience in the conduct of the admission exercise.
In a message to the body of Principals handling the exercise, the Minister emphasized that every part of the country must be given a sense of belonging in the admission exercise, adding that the process must reflect the ideals of the founding fathers of unity colleges as centers of academic excellence and models for states and private schools as well as instruments for National integration and unity.
In a message delivered at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Minister, the Director Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir said that; if we are to produce responsible citizens, we must stick to the rules in order to make the right choices of qualified candidates as a foundation for future academic excellence.
The Minister reminded the principals that they should stick to the National policy of the ratio of one teacher to forty students per class in line with UNESCO regulations, adding that carrying capacity must be adhered to.
Adamu Adamu emphasized that candidates who have applied for admission into Unity schools outside of their immediate communities should be given Priority.
The Minister directed Principals to adhere strictly to the criteria for the selection which is 60percent National merit, 30percent equality of states and 10percent exigency.
Earlier in her welcome address , the Chairperson of Principals of Federal Unity colleges who is also the Principal of Queens Collage Lagos,Dr T. F. O Yakubu-Oyinloye said government’s guidelines on merit and equality of states will be followed strictly so as to get the best candidates for the Nation’s Unity Colleges.
One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was a guided tour of the host college, Federal Government Girls College Benin, which is wearing a brand new look, more like a University campus than a secondary school.
The Principal of the collage Mrs Aghedo Osamediame who led her colleagues on the guided tour said, the brand new look of the college has been made possible courtesy of the intervention of the Ministry.
Education
NECO Declares Sallah Day Exams Free

By Evelyn Terseer, Abuja
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has stated that it has not scheduled any examination for Saturday 9th July, 2022.
This is contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the Council has scheduled examination for 9th July, 2022, which is Sallah Day (Eid- Adha).
The Council emphasised it consciousness of the importance of religious festivals, and they always make adequate provision for such in fixing examination dates.
In the statement by the Head of Information and Public Relations Division, Azeez Sani, the Council has given a whole examination free week, beginning from Friday, 8th July to Wednesday, 13th July, 2022 in the On-going Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for School based candidates to enable Muslim faithful have enough time to celebrate the festival.
It would be recalled that the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for School based Candidates commenced on 27th June, and will end on 12th August, 2022.