Supreme Corner

  By Nneka Nwogwugwu, Abuja The Federal government has addressed acceptable modalities and possible ways of ensuring better post-harvest in Shea production. These modalities were discussed at the two-day Shea capacity building/training on best practices in post-harvest handling of Shea held in Minna, Niger state. Speaking in his opening address, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, said that the laid down modalities will ensure domestication of Shea seedlings, processing and packaging of Shea products to meet international standards. Nanono also noted that these practices will also address the problems of the industry along the supply chain to meet international standard. The minister who was represented by the Deputy Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Mr Bernard Ukattah,   noted that the training which was held from 15th – 16th December, is coming at a very crucial moment of some countries recovery from COVID -19 pandemic. At

By Nneka Nwogwugwu, Abuja The Former Senate President and Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim has revealed some strategies the Igbos can adopt to actualize 2023 presidency. Anyim revealed this while giving a lecture on the topic “Identifying the Political Interest of the Igbos of the South-East Geo-Political Zone in Nigeria and Strategies for its actualisation’’ at Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State. He said that presently, the political interest of the Igbos of the South-East geo-political zone is to attain the Presidency of Nigeria in 2023. Speaking at the summit organized by the World Igbo Summit Group and the GUU Igbo Renaissance Centre of the University from 18th – 19 th December, 2020, Anyim said that the Igbos of the South-East geo-political zone is in continuous search of a system, a polity that guarantees and secures social, political and economic interest based on equality of citizenship, equity and justice.   He said, ‘’

  By Nneka Nwogwugwu, Abuja Production of Food and cash crops in Nigeria have not only been a sole responsibility of the Federal government because of some positive contributions by private businesses owned by prominent Nigerians. Unaware to some Nigerians, different foods, livestock and sea foods are being produced by most of these farms which are owned by prominent Nigerians who have aided in local production of foods, thus contributing to Nigeria’s food security. These farms include: Ebele Integrated Farms Limited, Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Ltd, Atiku Abubakar Farms, Maizube Farms, Dangote farms Limited, Anadariye farms, Sebore farms, Kereksuk Rice Farm, Nagari Group and Adapalm mills Nigeria limited. Below is a compilation by Naturenews, of 10 biggest farms and owners who have contributed to Nigeria’s food sufficiency. 1.Ebele Integrated farms Limited is a farm owned by the Former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. It was founded in 2015 and located at Aviation Village,

By Nneka Nwogwugwu, Abuja The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Abdulkadir Mu’azu, has encouraged the adoption of the reward system in Nigeria’s civil service to ensure effective and efficient performance of duties. Mu’azu stated this during the 3rd edition of the annual Best staff Award for Deserving staff on Tuesday, December 15, held at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training institute (ARMTI) in Abuja. Mu’azu, who presented the awards to 62 staff of the Ministry, noted that employee recognition is one of the key points that determine growth and productivity in an organization. He said that the award ceremony was aimed at appreciating, encouraging and motivating hard working officers in the Ministry. He said, ‘’ If the public service must continue to be at its best in delivering effective and efficient services, we must continue to encourage reward systems for outstanding performance. ‘’The Federal Ministry of Agri

    By Nneka Nwogwugwu, Abuja The Twins and Multiple Births Care Foundation has written to the United Nations to declare December 2, as a day to remember Mary Mitchell Slessor, the Scottish missionary to Nigeria who fought for the survival of twins babies. The Foundation made this known in a statement on Tuesday, December 8, by Mr Nonso Ezeaka, the vision bearer of the Foundation and Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the 2020 Twins National Convention held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. The Foundation which recently held a convention to celebrate the humanitarian works of Mary Slessor and survival of twins in Nigeria, reminiscenced how Twins and Multiple Births Heritage evoked bipolar reactions in different ethnic groups. Ezeaka said that ‘’The Hausa and Yoruba welcomed, accepted and celebrated twins as blessings, but the Southern and Eastern regions rejected them and saw them as curses meant to be thrown away in the evil forests.’’ He said, ‘’So many years back, Twin and

  The Federal Government has launched a Transport Track Fund which seeks to give N30, 000 grants to commercial drivers including bus drivers, taxi drivers, motorcycle riders and operators of ride-hailing cabs such as Bolt and Uber. The Spokesman for the Vice-President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said in a statement on Sunday that the new initiative is a component of the Survival Fund which is under the Federal Government’s Economic Sustainability Plan put in place to support small businesses and cushion the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said Nigerians should apply for grants through their registered associations such as the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, Keke Riders’ Association, Okada Riders’ Associations and Unions, among others. “The MSME Survival Fund, a component under the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan is designed to support vulnerable Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in meeting their payroll obligations and safeguard jobs in the MSMEs sector. The

  Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has suspended his chief of staff, Anthony Agbazuere. This was announced in a press statement on Sunday. The statement was signed by the secretary to the state government, Chris Ezem. It noted that Agbazuere’s suspension takes immediate effect. ”Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the immediate suspension from office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr ACB Agbazuere,” the short statement read. The suspension was announced a few hours after a video surfaced online showing Agbazuere spraying money in his office on Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje. The CoS had since the video surfaced online become the target of public outrage on social media. Apart from the video trending online, ‘Indaboski’ and ‘Abia’ were among the Nigerian trends on Twitter. The video showed Agbazuere spraying naira notes on a dancing Odumeje in a place believed to be his (CoS) office. Odumeje is a popular and cont

  By Nneka Nwogwugwu, Abuja The Former president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has expressed displeasure over the state of Nigeria’s security and unity. Jonathan who spoke on Friday, December 4 at a carol organised by the Commonwealth Community Choir in Abuja, stated that the unity of Nigeria is questionable. While speaking on the theme ‘’Peace for all Nations’’, the former president said, ‘’ For me as a former president who has also served as the former governor of Bayelsa state in the swamps of Niger Delta, I know what peace means. ‘’It worries me every day when I look at the issues bordering us as a Nation. In Nigeria we don’t have a strong national youth body. The regional youth body is stronger than the National youth body. ‘’For example the Ijaw Youth Council and Arewa youth council feel superior to the National youth body. That shows clearly that as a Nation, we are in trouble and the unity of the country is questionable.’’ Jonathan commended the choir for p

  Popular Nigerian actress, Regina Daniels and her husband, Ned Nwoko, have reacted to the reports of being married to a seventh wife. Recall that Ned Nwoko was reported to have allegedly engaged to a UK-based lady who will reportedly become his 7th wife. In a recent video interview by BBC Igbo, Nwoko stated that he can marry another wife and all his wives including Daniels is aware. He further shared his love story stating that he married the actress three weeks after they met. “I met her and I liked her. We got married within three weeks. I married all my wives within the same period. I don’t believe in dating anybody to marry them.  ''Don’t date anybody you want to marry. When you marry them, you begin to fall in love within the marriage. Even in my culture, as it were as a kid in the 60s, people were not dating.  ''They arranged marriages from family to family; they choose a wife. Most girls were expected to be virgins when they get married and they build a fa

  An electrician, Bright Odi (33), has died after he was allegedly kicked on the scrotum by Victor Iwu at Umueje Obinze, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. Iwu and Odi were allegedly quarrelling on how to share the bride price of their sister who got married on Sunday. It was gathered that the victim fell and started writhing in pains after the kick. He was rushed to the hospital where he died the following day. Angry youths yesterday besieged Iwu’s family home and set it ablaze when they didn’t meet him there The interim Chairman of Owerri West, Okechukwu Enyioha, said he has called security agencies to take over the matter. Police spokesman Orlando Ikeokwu said the Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal and Intelligence Department for investigation.

  A police inspector attached to the Agbado Police Station, Lagos State Police Command, Adelakun Amubieya, has been arrested for allegedly raping an undergraduate, Joy (not real name), in the Ipaja area of the state. The suspect and the victim lived in the same compound at Abesan Estate, the Punch gathered. The cop and his wife were said to have promised to teach the teenager how to make money with an application on her phone. The 18-year-old, who went to the couple’s apartment on November 15, reportedly met Amubieya alone. The policeman allegedly forced her into the bedroom and raped her. Narrating her ordeal, Joy said, “Sometime in October, I came downstairs to receive a call due to bad network and I overheard the policeman and his wife talking about something, but I didn’t pay attention. “When I was done with the call, his wife said their discussion was about a betting site and all I needed to do was to drop my details and I would be receiving N2,000 every three days. Th

The Kano State Hisbah Board, which is tasked with the duty of enforcing Sharia law in Kano State, has written a letter to a radio station, in Kano State, 96.9 Cool FM, for using the term ‘Black Friday’. Black Friday is an informal name for the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The term is used worldwide to mean a day for promotional sales where goods are sold at discounted prices. However, in a letter signed by Principal Executive Officer II, Abubakar Ali, on behalf of the Commander-General, Hisbah stated that Friday is regarded as a holy day in Islam and tagging it as ‘black’ is derogatory and would not be condoned. The letter titled, ‘Letter of Introduction’ reads in part, “I am directed to write and notify you that the office is in receipt of a complaint for the conduct of ‘Black Friday Sales’ on November 27, 2020. “Accordingly, we wish to express our concern on the tagging of Friday as ‘Black Frid

  Diego Maradona has died at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest, according to reports in Argentina.  The World Cup winner passed away at his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier this month, Maradona was hospitalised and required surgery after suffering a blood clot on his brain.  Details shortly...

  The Federal government has commenced a reality show called ‘’Naija Farmer’’ aimed principally to transform unemployed Nigeria youths to Employers of labour. This was made known in a statement on Monday, November 23, signed by the Chief Information Officer of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ezeaja Ikemefuna. According to the statement, the Ministry collaborated with Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Startimes, Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) and other Stakeholders. ‘’The project would create over 1 Million Agribusiness owners within 10 years and by extension lift over 20 Million youths out of poverty in the next decade, pursuant to the President Muhammadu Buhari’s pledge to lift Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. ‘’All participants would receive Seed Capital from Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and other financial institutions to establish Smallholder Agribusiness after extensive training on television. Beneficiaries wi

  Law Students Association of Nigeria has dragged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), before the Federal High Court Abuja, challenging what it described as the incessant strikes of the union. In the suit which was filed at the court on Friday, the association is seeking   an order to compel ASUU to return   to the classroom as well as an order of perpetual injunction to restrain   ASUU   from embarking on further strikes. The suit which was filed by the President of the association, Mr Blessing Agbomhere on behalf of his members is also asking the court to compel ASUU to pay N10 billion compensation to Nigerian students. This, the association claims is for allegedly infringing   on the right of the students to education as    guaranteed    by Section 18 of the 1999 Constitution and Article   17 of   African   Charter on Human   and Peoples Rights. The association   is   further asking the court   to order   ASUU to pay damages   to all Nigerian   students   for the

  President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella Heavily-polluted Milan metropolis, Italy’s business and fashion capital, has decided to ban smoking at bus stops and other public places, with effect from Jan. 1, 2021. The measure is part of the clean air bill that aims to curb Milan’s chronically high emission levels of carcinogenic PM10 fine dust particles. Milan municipality in a statement on Friday said from Jan. 1, 2021 people were not allowed to smoke unless they could stand at least 10 metres apart from other people. This will mean no more smoking in open air sports stadiums, cemeteries and parks, as well as at bus stops, the city said. Outdoor smoking, even in isolated areas, is to be prohibited completely from Jan. 1, 2025. Italy was last week reprimanded by the European Court of Justice for “systematically and persistently” breaching EU rules against PM10 pollution in large parts of the country, including Milan. The city said it would progressively tighten traffic restricti

  Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed identity of a security detail attached to his convoy who shot an Abuja vendor, Ifeanyi Okereke dead on Thursday at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja. The Speaker identified the security detail as Abdullahi Hassan. Hassan, he said, has been handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation as well as administrative and judicial actions. Okereke’s was shot at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3pm on Thursday. The victim, Okereke, was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he reportedly died. It was learnt that the shooting happened when Okereke and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari Way, Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the Speaker, who was said to be in the habit of giving out money anytime he passed them. The Speaker, in a statement today, condemned the shooting, saying he was distraught by the incident. He also said the matter has been re

The Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia suspended two judges for issuing controversial rulings, prohibiting mu’assel (shisha tobacco) and shaving, online Saudi Arabian news outlet Sabq reported on Monday. According to Sabq, the two judges are currently under investigation and appropriate penalties will be given. The judges cited Islam in their rulings, saying it was prohibited for men to shave their beards and smoking shisha tobacco was forbidden. Sabq added that judicial work is an institutional act that leaves no room for the individual’s opinion regarding the direction of the institutional system, which is based on the country’s legislation, principles and decisions, and it rejects rulings by individuals, such as prohibiting tobacco and shaving. “The two cases are currently being reviewed, because the commercial activity in the two deliberated cases is legally authorized, and the role of the judiciary is to enforce regulations,” the newspaper said. Earlier in July, Saudi Arabia

  Beginning from next year, only qualified teachers will be allowed in the classrooms, the Federal Government has said. The government said the decision to regulate the teaching profession is to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Nigerian schools. It also stated that only persons with a minimum of Second Class Upper (2/1), would be engaged as teachers in government schools. The National Council on Education had set December 31, 2019, as the deadline for all teachers in the country to register and be certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). But the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to the closure of schools for months nationwide meant the government couldn’t enforce the regulation. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echonu stated this after monitoring the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), organised by the TRCN on Saturday in Abuja. 17, 602 teachers from across 34 states and the Federal Capital Te

  One of President Muhammadu Buhari's   supporter, Dahiru Buba, who trekked from Gombe to Abuja for 15 days to celebrate Muhammadu Buhari’s win in the 2015 polls, has appealed to the general public for medical assistance. The native of Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State said, he has serious limb pains. He revealed that.the trekking when Governor   Mai Mala Buni was the party’s National Secretary fetched him nothing but a certificate. He appealed to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and the party’s stakeholders to come to his aid. Buba said: “Since the time I conducted the trekking, the limb pain is growing by the day. “I am appealing to my governor, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and the party leadership to help me look for medical assistance.”   Buba pointed out how life is becoming unbearable for him as the join pain persists, saying that he cannot even pay his children’s school fees.