June 20, 2022

[GIST] Kaduna College of Education Students Write Governor El-Rufai, Lament High Tuition, Horrible State Of Their School

[GIST] Kaduna College of Education Students Write Governor El-Rufai, Lament High Tuition, Horrible State Of Their School

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Students of the Kaduna State College of Education have cried to the state government over the horrible state of infrastructure, high tuition and inadequacy of lecturers in the school.  
Lamenting the ordeal of the students of the college, the President of the Students' Union, Gidan Waya Chapter, Danladi Louis Ninyio, in a letter to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, which was made available to SaharaReporters, said the institution has no good access Roads.


The students' union leader said many students of the college are on the verge of dropping out as they are finding it extremely difficult to keep up with paying the exorbitant tuition fees of the school while also struggling with the high house rent charged by landlords in the area.
According to him, the high tuition fees coupled with rent are two factors that have succeeded in sending students of the institution back home while the newly admitted students can't even come for registration.
Ninyio maintained that it is unfair for the state government to abandon the college in such a manner despite having the largest community of students in Southern Kaduna and being the highest source of revenue generation for the government in the region.  
The student union president said, “It is with great displeasure that I write this to draw the attention of the Kaduna State Government, necessary stakeholders, NGOs/INGOs and Alumni to the sorry state of the dilapidated infrastructure of the Kaduna State College of Education. 
“It is worthy to note that the college is the largest community of students in  Southern Kaduna. However, we won't be wrong to say it happens to be the most underdeveloped institution despite being the highest source of revenue generation for the government in the region."
"Despite the outrageous amount paid by students as tuition fees compared to other institutions, the sorry state of the institution” is obvious with the lack of good access road to the school environment, he said. 
He noted that the abandoned hostels and road projects were awarded over ten years ago “but the projects have not gone beyond this point since then.” 
Ninyio pointed out that “the hostel is one area that needs urgent attention due to the skyrocketing rent by landlords, making it very difficult for students who could barely afford to pay their tuition fees to raise money for their rent. 
“This is not farfetched from the fact that most of the students are the ones sponsoring themselves in school while the parents of a huge number of the students are peasant farmers who manage to sell their farm produce to send their wards to school despite the high amount they have to pay for tuition fees coupled with the rent. 
“The high tuition fees coupled with rent are two factors that have succeeded in sending students of the institution back home while the newly admitted students can't even come for registration."
He noted that the former South African President and hero, Nelson Mandela once said that "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." 
Also reminding the state government of the need for urgent action on the college and the need to give priority to education in the state, Ninyio quoted Malala Yousafzai, saying, "With guns you can kill a terrorist, with education you can kill terrorism." 
According to him, “If the assertions of these individuals are anything to go by, then the actions and inactions of the government and other relevant bodies are a ticking time bomb capable of not only posing threat to the region alone but to humanity at large.”
He, therefore, lamented that inadequate lecture theatres, laboratories, ICT facilities and equipment and study materials in the libraries cannot be over-emphasised as the ones available are either not functioning or outdated.
“The Union is hereby calling on the state government, stakeholders, noble sons and daughters of the state and especially of Southern Kaduna, NGOs and INGOs to come to the rescue of the institution and its students,” he added. 

 

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[GIST] Oyo Technical Varsity Owes Me 40 Months Salary Arrears — US-based Nigerian Professor, Godwin Sadoh Insists

[GIST] Oyo Technical Varsity Owes Me 40 Months Salary Arrears — US-based Nigerian Professor, Godwin Sadoh Insists

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A Nigerian professor based in the US, Godwin Sadoh has insisted that Prof. Afolabi Oladapo, a former Ag. Pro-Chancellor of the Technical University, Ibadan and the school owe him (Sadoh) 40 months of unpaid salary arrears amid other allegations. 
Recall that Sadoh, in a disclaimer issued some months ago, said he was recruited from the United States under the Nigerians in Diaspora Scheme to assist in creating a music programme that would be rooted in 21st-century music technology, for the university, which was under construction at the time.


He added that Afolabi conscripted him to create the academic programme for all the departments in the College of Agricultural Sciences, from the first year to the fourth year, including the intensive summer curricula.  
 
Sadoh said he was to be paid $10,000 monthly, but this was later reduced to $5,000 monthly in June 2013. He added that Afolabi assured him that the university leadership at the time, would provide him with a suitable accommodation and a new car viz a viz the LEADS Scholar program, and most importantly, as a foundation academic staff member of the university. 
However, Prof. Afolabi allegedly defaulted in the payment of all the salaries, allowances, transportation and accommodation while the National University Commission (NUC) kept to its part of the bargain, Sadoh said.
Reacting in a statement, the University dissociated itself from claims made by Sadoh. Akeem Lasisi, the university's public relations officer debunked the allegations, stating that Sadoh's claims could not be verified.
 
According to the PRO, the US-based professor had earlier sent a letter to the First Technical University, however, a search of the available records did not yield any evidence of his assumption of duty.
In a recent development, Sadoh told SaharaReporters that he was indeed appointed by the NUC as a LEADS Scholar to serve at the University with documents to support his claims. 
Sadoh said all the current members of staff at the University had yet to be recruited into the workforce at the time of his appointment (2013-2016).
The US-based Professor, however, noted that he had expected the university to contact Prof. Afolabi and the NUC to verify that he worked for the school as all the current staff members were employed after he had left.
He said, “I was appointed by NUC as a LEADS Scholar to serve at Tech-U, Ibadan (See the attached first letter of my appointment). 
“Prof. Afolabi was the one who assigned me duties in the capacity of Ag. Pro-Chancellor at the time. All the present staff at the school were not yet hired when I worked there at the advent of the school (2013-2016). 
“They were hired after I had left. When this saga began, the management of the school was supposed to first consult with Prof. Afolabi and NUC for verification of my claims, especially, that I worked for the school and confirmation that NUC issued me three contracts. 
“But the management of Tech-U did not do so before going out to the press. Also, note that my services to the school predate the appointment of all the current staff at the school. 
“Hence, they don't know me. The attached letter of Prof. Afolabi written and signed by him confirms my engagement at the institution."
His appointment as a LEADS Scholar was contained in a letter shared with SaharaReporters dated June 12, 2013, and signed by C.J Maiyaki, the then-Chief of Staff to the Executive Secretary of the Leads Committee.
Another letter dated July 15, 2014, signed by Afolabi and addressed to Julius Okojie, the then Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commissions (NUC), requested the renewal of Sadoh's LEADS Scholar contract. 
When SaharaReporters contacted Professor Afolabi, he explained that he had only helped Professor Sadoh who was recommended by his (Sadoh's) elder sister, a former colleague. 
Afolabi said in a bid to assist the academic, he wrote to the NUC to recruit Sadoh to the new LEADS Scholar's programme for a year and Sadoh was paid accordingly by the Commission. He said for the period of one year, the University had not developed at all and Sadoh never did any work for the institution but was still paid.
He also debunked Sadoh's claims that he promised to make provision for accommodation and transportation, noting that he gave Sadoh his flat to stay and the latter extended his stay as he could not afford to raise the rent. 
Afolabi said, “I only helped Sadoh and he has decided to blackmail me. This boy called Sadoh, I don't know where he is now, he is a fugitive. At the time he was introduced to me, I was then the pro-Chancellor of the Technical University, Ibadan. 
“We had nothing on the ground, all that we had was to come together and have an idea of how to overcome the problems of Nigerian University. It was his elder sister that had worked with me before when I was Director. 
“She said her brother is in Nigeria, has nothing to do and is a professor of music, and we did not check his papers. Based on his sister's good reputation, we said come and be part of what we're doing. 
“We paid him a sitting allowance, many big names were there, many Vice-Chancellors were there, he was not even qualified to be there but we allowed him. 
"At that time, I approached NUC to accept him but they said he must have come from a University that will recommend him for work. I wrote to NUC, and they gave him one year. During the one year, he didn't step on the ground of the University for one day because there was nobody there, NUC was paying $2,500 every month. 
“Nobody promised him any car or anything, he was just dreaming. He has been blackmailing me all over. I was magnanimous enough, I was just pitying him, I gave him a flat to stay in. He refused to leave the flat after five years, I had to sell the flat, and he fought the landlord when he had no money to pay. 
“How can you be so qualified and not have a job? If he was qualified, why does he have no job? Let him show you the music he said he wrote, I didn't use it in the University. 
“I only helped this man and he has been blackmailing me. If he is so aggrieved, let him go to court. Let him go to court, and show all the evidence there. It's not fair, I helped him."

DOCUMNET : Oyo Technical Varsity Owes Me 40 Months Salary Arrears — US-based Nigerian Professor, Godwin S... by Sahara Reporters on Scribd

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[GIST] BREAKING: Two Weeks After Ondo Terrorist Attack, Gunmen Storm Catholic Church In Kaduna, Kill Three Worshippers, Abduct Many

[GIST] BREAKING: Two Weeks After Ondo Terrorist Attack, Gunmen Storm Catholic Church In Kaduna, Kill Three Worshippers, Abduct Many

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Exactly two weeks after terrorists attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State in the Southwest region of Nigeria, terrorists on Sunday attacked another Catholic Church in Kaduna State in the North-West region of the country.
The armed terrorists invaded St. Moses Catholic Church in Robuh, Unguwan Aku, Kajuru Local Government Area of the state as the church was rounding off its first mass. 


The terrorists killed three worshippers and abducted many others. 
Several others sustained various degrees of injuries. 
According to LEADERSHIP, the terrorists stormed the church in large numbers and opened fire on the worshippers, during which three persons were killed before they kidnapped a yet-to-be-confirmed number of worshippers. 
The report noted that one of the victims was rushed to St. Gerald Catholic Hospital in the state.
The Sunday, June 5 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state left no fewer than 40 congregants dead and several others injured.
Similarly, many communities in Kaduna state, especially in Kaduna South have been under recurring attacks, killings, abduction of persons and cattle rustling. 

ASP Mohammed Jalige, the spokesperson for the state police command told SaharaReporters he would confirm and get back to our correspondent. However, he had not done so at the time of filing this report and he did not reply to a reminder sent to him. 
 

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June 19, 2022

[GIST] APC Wins Ikere, Oye Local Government Areas, PDP Clinches Efon

[GIST] APC Wins Ikere, Oye Local Government Areas, PDP Clinches Efon

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The All Progressives Congress won in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State in Saturday's governorship election. 
The party's candidate, Biodun Oyebanji won with a large margin after securing 13,399 votes.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabisi Kolawole had 4,122 while the Social Democratic Party whose candidate is Segun Oni got 5,391 votes.

APC also won in the Ikere Local Government Area with 12,086 votes, while PDP secured 3,789 votes. 
The ADC followed closely with 3,764 votes while the SDP secured 1,943 votes. 
However, the PDP won in Efon Local Government Area with 6,303 votes. The APC came second with 4,012 votes while the SDP garnered 339 votes. 
The Action Democratic Party had 77 votes while the People's Redemption Party had 20 votes.
Sixteen candidates were on the ballot at 2,445 polling units. They included Oluwole Oluyede of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Kemi Elebute Halle of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); former Governor Oni, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Ranti Ajayi from the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
 

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[GIST] #EkitiDecides: APC Wins At Polling Unit Of PDP House Of Reps Candidate, Lere Olayinka

[GIST] #EkitiDecides: APC Wins At Polling Unit Of PDP House Of Reps Candidate, Lere Olayinka

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Lere Olayinka, the Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives candidate for Ekiti federal constituency 2 lost his polling unit at Okemesi-Ekiti to the All Progressives Congress in Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti. 
Olayinka was the Special Assistant to former Governor of the state, Ayo Fayose, on Public Communications and New Media. 

At the polling unit, the APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji had 44 votes while the PDP candidate, Bisi Kolawole had 20 votes. 
The candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Segun Oni had 21 votes. 
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Kolawole won in his polling unit. 
Results from polling unit 1, Ward 8 in Efon local government area showed that Kolawole had 98 votes out of the 116 votes recorded there. 
The APC secured 13 votes and the SDP had 2 votes. 

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[GIST] #Ekiti Decides: Vote-buying Not Peculiar To Ruling APC – Buhari’s Minister, Keyamo Defends Party

[GIST] #Ekiti Decides: Vote-buying Not Peculiar To Ruling APC – Buhari’s Minister, Keyamo Defends Party

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The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has defended the vote-buying practice allegedly embarked on by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties in the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State.
Keyamo made the statement on his verified Twitter page, @fkeyamo, while reacting to reports that his political party, the APC, was involved in mass vote-buying.


He argued that vote-buying was not common with only the ruling party.
According to the minister, the reports are mere subtle messages being circulated by opposition parties just to discredit the ruling party and make it lose the election.
He wrote, “Incidences of vote-buying can’t be synonymous only with the ruling party, but the subtle message the other parties try to pass to the gullible is that only the ruling party engages in illegalities & that the only way an election can be deemed credible is if the ruling party loses.”
Whereas the ongoing Ekiti State gubernatorial election has been reported to be peaceful, there have been massive reports of vote-buying and selling and bribing of security officers mostly by the APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There have also been some reports of violence, harassment of election observers by security personnel and party agents and a few cases of ballot snatching.
Also, it was reported that some APC agents were arrested by the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for alleged vote-buying.
SaharaReporters reported that some of the arrested party agents were paraded at the Oke Ori Omi Area Police Division.
The agents were agents reportedly caught with monies allegedly used to give voters in exchange for their votes.
It was also reported that the EFCC operatives also bursted a residence where some persons were caught with a book containing details of voters of some polling units and wards.

 
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[GIST] #Ekiti Decides: Avoid Actions That Will Implicate You – Nigerian Agency, NYSC Warns Participating Corps Members

[GIST] #Ekiti Decides: Avoid Actions That Will Implicate You – Nigerian Agency, NYSC Warns Participating Corps Members

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The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig Gen Muhammad Fadah, has advised corps members in Ekiti State to avoid actions that can implicate them, even as they serve as ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the ongoing gubernatorial election.
He noted this during his visit to Emure-Ekiti.


He urged the corps members participating in the election to abide by the electoral laws and avoid any action that could tarnish their image and that of the scheme.
"Play by the rules and remember that you are serving as good ambassadors of your institutions, families and the Scheme,” he said, in a statement by Eddy Megwa, the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations.
While addressing those at the orientation camp, Fadah urged the corps members to be security conscious warning them against embarking on unauthorised journeys.
He urged them to shun vices adding that violators of NYSC laws would be sanctioned.
Fadah called on the corps members to embrace the dignity of labour through hard work, selfless service and strong determination.
General Fadah also appealed to them to apply the lessons of the three weeks Orientation Course to cultivate a long-lasting relationship that will enhance nation-building.

 
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[GIST] Father Mbaka Obeys Diocesan Order, Shuts Down Adoration Ministry Over ‘Stingy’ Comments On Peter Obi

[GIST] Father Mbaka Obeys Diocesan Order, Shuts Down Adoration Ministry Over ‘Stingy’ Comments On Peter Obi

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The Enugu Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has obeyed the order of the Bishop of the Diocese compelling him to shut down his Adoration Ministry over his comments against Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The cleric published a statement to his followers, notifying them that programmes would no longer hold in the Ministry via the official Facebook page of the Ministry.

Rev Father Ejike Mbaka
The statement reads: “Dear Adorers, there will be no programme starting from tomorrow being 19th June 2022 at Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria Amen, Umuchigbo Emene, Enugu State.
"Sunday Mass, Wednesday (E No Dey) And Night Programs will not hold till further notice.
“God bless Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria Amen and God Bless Our Spiritual Director, Rev Fr, Ejike Mbaka. Keep praying for Our Daddy and may God bless you.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga, banned the Catholic faithful from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry.
This comes following Mbaka’s recent comments against the Labour Party's Presidential candidate, Obi, whom he called a “stingy man.” 

 

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[GIST] Media Group, ICIR Hosts African Experts To Discuss Sustainability, Financial Growth

[GIST] Media Group, ICIR Hosts African Experts To Discuss Sustainability, Financial Growth

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A media organisation, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), has said it will on Wednesday, June 22, hold a conference on media sustainability. 
The conference, according to a press release by the ICIR’s Managing Editor, Ajibola Hamzat, is part of the Centre’s 10th anniversary celebration.


Hanzat noted that the issue of financial viability and sustainability has become a major concern for media organisations around the world.
According to him, “This challenge is exacerbated by the erosion of advertising revenues through the rise of technology platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and several others, leaving the media business in a fragile condition.”
This, he said, has been worsened in the last two years by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
 He noted that whereas the Western Media could to a large extent be said to have found winning formulae to do media business profitably, the case is different with the media in the Global South, particularly Africa countries, which are still struggling to stay afloat.
“It is in view of these multiple challenges that the ICIR is inviting media practitioners and other stakeholders to a conference on media sustainability in Nigeria,” he stated.
Similarly, the Executive Director and Founder of the Centre, Dayo Aiyetan, emphasised that “The time is now to have a conversation on the future of the media in Africa, particularly its viability and profitability.
“Many news organisations are not profitable because of dwindling sales and ad revenue, many media companies cannot pay salaries and are laying off staff. The media in Nigeria is hemorrhaging.”
The Executive Director added that “Industry leaders must discuss how to find profitable ways of running media businesses.”
Expected at the conference which will be held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, include Tshepo Mahloele, Chairperson of Arena Holdings, one of Africa’s largest English newspaper publishers in South Africa, who will deliver a keynote address on Sustainability Imperatives for African Media.
Others who will be discussants during panel discussion are; Chairman of Thisday Newspapers,  Chief Nduka Obaigbena; Chief Executive Officer of Hot FM, Ms Chris Anyanwu; Chief Executive Officer of Daily Trust Newspapers, Mallam Kabir Yusuf; Chief Executive Officer of RadioNow, Ms Kadaria Ahmed and the Ndisika of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Abigail Ogwezzy.
While the Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper Limited, Martins Oloja, will moderate the conversation a high profile TV personality, Euginia Abu, would compère the event.

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[GIST] US President, Biden Got His Foot Caught In Pedal – White House Reacts To Bike Accident

[GIST] US President, Biden Got His Foot Caught In Pedal – White House Reacts To Bike Accident

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President Joe Biden is “fine” after falling off his bike Saturday during a ride in a state park near his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, a White House official has said.
No medical attention is needed, the official added in a statement released to reporters travelling with the President.


"As the President said, his foot got caught on the pedal while dismounting and he is fine. No medical attention is needed. The President looks forward to spending the rest of the day with his family," the official said.
Biden took a tumble when he was finishing a bike ride alongside first lady, Jill Biden. The President deviated from the group as he biked over to a crowd that had gathered nearby.
Biden came to a stop and appeared to get his foot caught on the pedal while trying to dismount.
"I got my foot caught" on the toe cage, Biden told reporters travelling with him later. "I'm good."
US Secret Service agents quickly helped the President up after his fall.
The crowd clapped when the President, who turns 80 in November, got back on his feet. Biden then chatted with the crowd for several minutes, bringing one onlooker over to meet his dog commander.
Asked by a child in the crowd what it was like to run the country, Biden joked, "Oh, it's like any other job."
"Some parts are easy, some parts are hard," he added.
The Bidens are spending the long weekend at their home in Rehoboth Beach, in part to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary.

 
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