Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Alpha Maidawa

Nigerian-American basketballer, Arike Ogunbowale, says passion, hardwork determine success
US-based Nigerian female professional basketball player, Arike Ogunbowale, says hardwork and passion are major determinants of her successful professional career at Dallas Wings of Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Ogunbowale, the Most Outstanding Player of University of Notre Dame’s 2018 national title run, said this during a virtual programme titled, “Empowering Women and Girls through Sports.”
The programme was hosted by the U.S. Consulate in Lagos on Tuesday, to commemorate Women’s History Month.
According to her, the world has a long way to go in eliminating discrimination and inequality between the male and female gender.
“Personally, I don’t have experiences of discrimination because of my colour.
“I also believe that discrimination is reducing gradually and it all depends on the value you’re bringing to the society,” she said.
The 23-year-old said that her parents were her inspiration to keep getting better.
“My father, a Yoruba man, started from the scratch and built himself up.
“Because of this, I never doubt myself when on the court. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will,” she said.
Ogunbowale further said that her biggest accomplishment so far was winning the women’s national championship in 2018.
The event brought together female student athletes, sports professionals, journalists and sports administrators to hear Ogunbowale discuss her passion for the game.
She admonished young women who had interests in basketball to do whatever they loved, no matter the obstacles.
“You can always do better than you are right now.
“Learn that you’re going to be disappointed once in a while, move on fast from such situations and don’t ever settle for less,” Ogunbowale said.(NAN)
March 18, 2020
Postponement of sports festival will benefit all stakeholders– Oyo Commissioner
Mr Seun Fakorede, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State, says the postponement of the 20th National Sports Festival earlier scheduled for between March 22 and April 1 will benefit all stakeholders.
Fakorede stated this on Tuesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Ibadan.
He said the decision to postpone the festival by the host state, Edo, was rational and timely as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak globally.
The commissioner said the postponement would not diminish the morale and enthusiasm of athletes from the state, adding that the team would sustain the tempo of preparation.
He expressed optimism that the state’s athletes would excel at the competition whenever it held.
232 athletes from Oyo State were billed to participate in 29 sporting events during the festival.
(NAN)
March 18, 2020
COVID-19: Edo Govt. announces postponement of 20th National Sports Festival
The Edo State Government has announced the postponement of the 20th National Sports Festival scheduled for March 22 to April 1.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Philip Shaibu, made the announcement while addressing the media on Tuesday in Benin.
Shaibu who expressed the state government’s regret to announce the postponement, explained that the decision was taken after due consultation with the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and the (LOC).
“The postponement has become necessary as a result of the shutdown of socio-economic activities in various countries across the world, due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
“Although there is no pandemic of the disease in Nigeria, Edo government is fully prepared to host the games and handle eventualities that may arise as a result of outbreak of COVID-19 and other diseases.
“We have decided to err on the side of caution and also show sensitivity to the plights of other countries dealing with the challenge.
“Details of the new date for the national sports festival will be communicated to you after due consultation with the relevant government agencies,” he said.
The chairman, however, gave the assurance that the state had some of the best and sound health workers doing well in tackling Lassa fever and preventing spread of COVID-19.
“We have been on top of our game and our health workers have been trained and are ready to deal with the issues during the games,” Shaibu added.
The deputy governor, however, assured Nigerians that Edo remained safe in terms of security and health. (NAN)
March 18, 2020
FG restates determination to end insurgency in the North East
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has restated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to continue to secure the lives and property of all Nigerians.
Mr Mohammed Manga, Director of Press and Public Relation, Ministry of Interior made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Manga said the minister gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Lake Chad Basin Commission, led by its Executive Secretary and Head of Mission, Multinational Joint Task Force, Amb. Mamman Nuhu and his team.
Aregbesola also reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to ensure the safe return of those who had been displaced from their communities through the activities of insurgents in the North-East.
“Prior to the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration in 2015, the country was at a defining moment in her history, with acts of terrorism perpetrated by Boko Haram insurgents, which constituted an existential threat with the group occupying large swathes of territory in the North East region and was threatening to seize more areas to consolidate its dominance and project its evil ideology.”
“Besides, the economy was not only in a precarious state and soon regressed into recession, but also corruption was subverting our institutions, society, eroding public confidence in government business, thereby leaving the country in despair, bereft of self-confidence and in dire need of repositioning,” the Minister said.
Aregbesola said the Buhari Administration promised to pursue progressive change on three fronts namely : security, economy and the fight against corruption.
The minister said with the strengthening of the nation’s international partnership, participation in the Multinational Joint Task Force, insurgency in the North East, kidnapping, banditry and other acts of criminality would soon be a thing of the past.
Aregbesola gave assurance that his Ministry would continue to collaborate with the Lake Chad Basin Commission in consultation to create awareness on the Regional Stabilisation Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin Region .
He said ”this is with the view to ensuring improved economic development in the sub-region, historically characterised by environmental problems and worsened by repeated violence from terrorist groups.”
Earlier, Nuhu said that the team was on a mission to create awareness among the people of the member countries of the Lake Chad Basin and also to generate support for the stabilisation strategy which was aimed at bringing relief to the people affected by insurgency.
He said that the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) was carrying out an information, awareness and advocacy mission on the Regional Stabilisation Strategy for recovery and resilience in the areas of the Lake Chad Basin affected by the Boko Haram crisis.
Nuhu presented a document entitled, “Regional Stabilisation Strategy for Recovery and Resilience of the Areas of the Lake Chad Basin,” to the Minister.
He said that the AUC, LCBC and partners, in 2017, decided to develop a framework for a stabilisation strategy for the region with the aim of facilitating the transition from active military engagements to addressing the root causes of the crisis and stabilizing the area affected by Boko Haram.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Mrs Georgina Ehuriah, said the ministry and its Agencies would continue to ensure full implementation of the policies and programmes of the present Administration in line with its mandate, which is ensuring internal security and citizenship integrity.(NAN)
March 18, 2020
Zamfara poll: PDP expresses concerns over Supreme Court’s reserve judgment
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concerns over the Supreme Court’s decision to reserve its judgment on the Zamfara governorship election matter in which the All Progressives Congress (APC) was asking the Apex Court to review its judgment.
The party expressed the concern in a press conference addressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan on Tuesday in Abuja.
“Our party is concerned that the surprising decision to reserve this judgment is not in tandem with the established practice of the highest court.
“This was reaffirmed in its judgments on the Bayelsa and Imo governorship elections, where it dismissed the applications for review on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction to review its own judgment,” Ologbondiyan said.
He urged the Supreme Court not to allow itself to be manipulated into a “judicial summersault”.(NAN)
March 18, 2020
Covid-19: Atiku calls for policy measures for Nigerian economy not to return to recession
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for policy measures to protect Nigerian economy and well being of the citizens as Coronavirus ravage many countries across the world.
Abubakar, who was the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, made the call in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
Abubakar said policy measures should be adopted to ensure that Nigerian economy did not return to recession due to effect of corronavirus effects.
Some of the policies recommended by Abubakar include the temporary suspension of Stamp Duty on all types of accounts and reduction in the price of petrol.
“The coronavirus is raging in the world and not just ravaging human beings, it is also affecting economies.
“Nigeria is not an island onto itself, and we must take measures to protect the economic well being of our nation and people.
“Every action that can be taken to ease the cost of doing business in Nigeria and reduce the cost of living, while promoting consumer confidence must be implemented.
“All hands must be on deck in a multi partisan manner to ensure that Nigeria does not return to economic recession. This is possible with decisive leadership and disciplined management.
“As such, I recommend that policies like the stamp duty on all types of accounts be temporarily suspended, until such a time as the nation’s economy has turned the tide in the fight against this virulent scourge.
“Furthermore, as the landing cost of petrol, also known as petrol, has reduced significantly, it is strongly recommended that the government should not absorb the savings.
“It should pass it on to the Nigerian people by way of reducing the pump price of petrol to reflect the current prevailing market costs,” he said.
Abubakar urged the government to request large scale industrialists and employers of labour not to disengage workers.
He said that definitely, the scourge of the virus would affect the companies production and profitability.
“However, if they know that the government is behind them and will do all to support them, they are less likely to disengage workers.
“These are extraordinary times, and we as a nation must take extraordinary measures to protect the entire nation.
“Nigeria is our collective home, as such, we must suppress every partisan disagreement and think and work patriotically to ensure our national survival in the midst of global uncertainty.” (NAN)
March 18, 2020
Suswam suggests politicians, leaders spend time in prison
Sen. Gabriel Suswam (Benue East) has suggested that some leaders and politicians should be allowed to spend a day or two in prison to be better leaders and politicians.
Suswam made this suggestion on Tuesday at the plenary while contributing to a motion moved by Sen. Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) on `The need to upgrade, decongest and disinfect Correctional Centres nationwide.`
Cue in audio (Sen. Suswam on spending time in prison)
“I want to strongly support this motion based on my personal experience of what I saw, and when I left, I recommended that for people to be proper leaders in this country, at least each and every one of us must spend one or two days in prison, we would be better human beings.
“Mr President, they took me there in the night, and the following day, which was morning the entire prison knew that I was there.
“Mr President it might interest you to know that most of the people who spend years in prison are for a misdemeanour that you can even dismiss.
“A young man spent 7years in jail for just a problem of N10, 000, various individuals were there on very minor offences that the police could afford to correct them and send them home.
“I made it a point of duty when I left that place, for the next month, I took close to twenty of those young people out of that place.
“It didn’t take anything, it was just to pay that money and take them back to court.
“I selected about three lawyers, sent them to Kuje prison to go and attend to them, and about 20 of them were taken out.
“So, I think that I want to support the motion, because most of the people who are there do not need to be there, and they unduly congest the place.
Cue out Audio
Suswam decried the poor state of hygiene in the correctional Centres, pointing out that they are breeding grounds for various forms of unthinkable diseases and crimes.
According to him, when it comes to the issue of disinfecting the place, Mr President, God forbid that this COVID-19 infects any of these correctional centres in the country, Mr President it would be a calamity.
“The environment in any of the prisons here, Mr President you would be shocked if you go there; we need to as a matter of urgency ask the authorities responsible to address the issue raised in this motion with the urgency it deserves.
“So, we can be seen as a country ready to correct people rather than sending people to go and die or become more hardened,“he said
The former governor pointed out that in some parts of the world wealthy individuals and companies build correctional centres and work in collaboration with the government.
He said “in developed climes, individuals or companies build prisons and maintain them to the highest standards and government takes care of what is needed to be taken care of.
“So, let us encourage individuals who are wealthy or companies that want to engage in that business to begin to build prisons, and maintain them and give them standards, so, we will not have the situation of congestion.“
News Agency of Nigeria reports that Sen. Suswam, a former governor of Benue is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N3.1 billion fraud and spent 2 days in Kuje prison. (NAN)
March 18, 2020
NGO sensitises Plateau youths on inter-ethnic cooperation, non-violent political participation
Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Right Abuse (YIAVHA), a Non Governmental Organisation has organised a workshop to sensitise youths, secondary school students in Plateau on inter-ethnic cooperation and non-violent political participation.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday in Jos, the Acting Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Jacob Pwakim, said the project is being supported by Local Action Fund.
According to him, the exercise was aimed at promoting pluralism in the society, inter-ethnic harmony and violent-free political participation.
“This workshop covered knowledge on interfaith and inter-ethnic cooperation, community organising, facilitation and differentiating politics from religious relations.
“These youths are expected to champion discussion in their communities on the essence of interfaith, inter-ethnic cooperation and non violent political participation.
“We need an active youth population that will be vanguards of promoting inter-ethnic harmony and educate their peers and to channel effective online communication,” he said.
Pwakim added that elections in the past were characterised by religious and ethnic sentiments, hence undermining good governance and egalitarianism in the society.
He said the participants are expected to become change agents in their communities by changing the narrative for the better.
“Elections have often time not been seperated from public life where people vote those of their religion or ethnicity.
“This has undermined good governance and peace and security.
“So, these young people are to start changing such narrative by organising their peers and having a healthy conversation,” he added.
The workshop drew participants from 10 communities and secondary schools in Jos North local government area of the state.
The communities included Laranto, farin gada/Angwan Jarawa, Tudun wada community, angwan Bala Kaze/Mai damisa, and Ibrahim katsina.
Others are Congo Russia, Angwan Rogo, Angwan Rukuba, Gangare and Jenta Adamu communities (NAN)
March 18, 2020
Gov. Okowa restates his administration’s commitment to fighting human trafficking
The Governor of Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday said the state was not relenting in its avowed commitment to winning the war against human trafficking.
Okowa said this when Dame Julie Okah-Donli, the Director General (DG) of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Asaba.
The governor assured the director general that the Delta Government would do all it could to stamp out the ugly threat.
He also assured the DG that the agency’s request for an office accommodation in the state to enhance its operations, would be met as soon as the new ultra-modern state secretariat complex was completed.
Also, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Commissioner for Information and member, Delta State Task Force on Human Trafficking, said the body would restrategies on effective collaboration with traditional rulers, community leaders and religious organisations on how to end the crime.
Aniagwu advised youths to be weary of the inordinate crave to travel abroad to seek for greener pasture which was non-existent
Okah-Donli had earlier expressed appreciation to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for supporting NAPTIP in the joint effort to eradicate human trafficking in the country.
She said there was need for mobilisation of paramount rulers and the entire traditional institution in the state towards massive anti-human trafficking action and behavioral change communication.
“There should be patnership with all stakeholders towards sensitisation against violations of women/girls and children’s rights, through grassroots sensitisation and mobilisation, especially in Asaba and its vicinities,” she said.
The DG urged parents not to be deceived by those who promised their children of employment opportunities abroad because of the risk involved in such promises.
“It is important that parents and guardians be told the truth about the evils and dangers of human trafficking.
“Rural women should be empowered and when they have enough to take care of their children, they will not allow their children to go abroad.
“There should also be donation of life skill equipment for the empowerment of victims of human trafficking, she said.
Earlier in the day, the director general had paid the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, a courtesy visit in his palace, where she solicited the support of the traditional institution in the fight against the menace.
The monarch called for concerted effort by all stakeholders to combat the evil of human trafficking in the nation.
The Asagba of Asaba who commended the agency for taking on such responsibility, said it was a daunting task for the agency’s personnel, as they were confronting the source of livelihood of those involved in the illicit act.
“We realised that human trafficking is a problem that needs to be tackled.
“We inaugurated some women in the community and my wife (the queen) is their leader; the women in this community will work hand in hand with NAPTIP,” Prof Edozie said. (NAN)
March 18, 2020
Strike: ASUU, FG reaches concrete proposals
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it has reached concrete proposals with the Federal Government on the ongoing warning strike embarked upon by the union.
Mr Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President said this in Abuja while addressing newsmen at the end of a closed door reconciliatory meeting at the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The meeting which began by 3 p.m ended at about 11 p.m on Tuesday.
It would be recalled that ASUU began the warning strike on March 9, 2020 after disagreement with the Federal Government over issues of revitalization of universities, earned academic allowance.
Others are visitation panel, mainstreaming and most importantly Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) always and other issues relating to university funding.
Ogunyemi said that no pronouncement would be made until after presenting the new government proposals to members of the union.
According to Ogunyemi, we had some fruitful discussions, we have improved on where we were last time, we have what we can call concrete proposals and we have what we can take back to our members.
“But as we usually say, those of us here cannot give the final pronouncements on any of the proposals and we have assured the government that we will report faithfully to our principals and get back to government accordingly.
“We want to assure all Nigerians that we are concern on going back to our work like every other person, because we know that is where we find happiness, we are not happy outside our classrooms, our laboratories and our libraries.
” So, in view of this we will do our best to ensure that all concerns have the maximum benefits from this action because it is of national interest.
“If academics do not defend the universities who will defend the academics, ” he said.
Also speaking, Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said both parties had fruitful deliberations on contentious issues, especially the issue of IPPIS.
He said, “the meeting was longer than anticipated because we had to look at all the issues that were in our 2019 Memorandum of Actions, especially those that had not been fully addressed. We made new proposal on behalf of FG to ASUU.
“These issues range from funding, revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, salary shortfalls in Federal University of Akure and the issue of state universities.
“We also addressed payment of earned academic allowances to University of Ilorin.
“On the Nigerian University Pension Commission, certificate was issued last year but operational certificate had not been issued because we do not have a permanent PENCOM board in place.
“We have made proposal on how NUPENCO board will be able to fulfill its obligation, especially in terms of preparation of annual audit reports.
“Issue of visitation panel to the universities has been on the table since last year. The Government side made progress and that approval has been gotten, and we are waiting for the gazette of the membership of the visitation panel. ”
The minister noted that the Issue of IPPIS was also discussed and options and solutions were advanced.
He said that the government had a proposal, which had been given to the ASUU.
According to him, ASUU will take the issues that are outstanding back to its National Executive Council for them to be on the same page before they get back to the government.
“We have agreed on tentative date to get back to government is before the weekend runs out. We expect ASUU to write the government before then to see if there will be need for further meeting,” he added.
Those also present at the meeting were, Minister of State, Labour and Employment Mr, Festus Keyamo (SAN), Executive Secretary of the National University Commission.
Others are Minister of State for Education, Accountant General of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries in the ministries of labour and that of education(NAN).
March 18, 2020