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UNICEF to establish menstrual banks in Nigerian schools – Official

Banks

By Olaide Ayinde 

Bauchi, July 23, 2022 (NAN) The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, says all is set to establish menstrual banks in some schools in Northern Nigeria.

Mrs Mairama Dikwa, the UNICEF Education Specialist, told the New Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Bauchi on Saturday, that the establishment would begin in November across all the schools with Girls Enrollment Project 3 (GEP3).

She said that the project would be carried out under the Menstrual Hygiene Management of the agency’s Girl Education Project which was introduced to support girls and ensure that they remained in school.

According to her, the gesture was an ideal one toward encouraging and improving  Girls Enrollment in schools as well as ensuring that the girls didn’t break the circle of learning.

She added that, most times, when the girls menstruate, they stayed off school because they didn’t have what it takes to take care of themselves, as well as in some homes because their parents could not afford sanitary pads.

“What we are aiming to do is to make sure that each school where we are intervening has a menstrual bank where some of the pads would be stored and the girls can have access whenever they are menstruating.

“We are working with High Level Women Advocate (HILWA) to create awareness and sensitise most specifically, the policy makers to the need to support some of these schools with the pads.

“This would enable the girls to use and remain in school.

“This will really go a long way in making sure that even when the girls are menstruating, they will feel comfortable to come to school because they know that they would be supported,” Dikwa added.

She added that UNICEF was working to see how it could support the girls with the usage of reusable pads as well as engage their mothers on how to produce the pads so as to be able to contribute their quotas in their children’s menstrual hygiene and education consistency.

The education specialist revealed that the project, at its pilot stage, would commence in 50 Junior Secondary Schools in each of the six states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Kano, Bauchi and Katsina where UNICEF GEP 3 project was implemented.

“We were able to extend it to additional four states where we have a high level of women advocate establishments.

“So, apart from the six states, we have Adamawa, Gombe, Plateau and Borno states that also keyed into the initiative to make sure that they have pad banks in 50 Junior Secondary Schools across their states,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

EED/KOLE/DCU 

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Donald Ugwu 

UNICEF spends $109m on Girl Education in Northern Nigeria – Official

Girls

By Olaide Ayinde 

Bauchi, July 23, 2022 (NAN) Mr Michael Banda, Senior Education Manager, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Kano Field Office, said the agency spent $109 million for the implementation of the Girl Education Project 3 (GEP) in six Northern states of Nigeria.

Banda, who disclosed this during a Media Dialogue on Girls Education in Bauchi on Friday, said the money was expended on the project within a period of 10 years of its existence.

The Education Manager, who stated that the project was carried out under the funding of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom (UK), listed the states to include Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Kano, Bauchi and Katsina.

According to him, the project is aimed at increasing the enrollment of girls in schools and it recorded a tremendous success since its inception in 2012.

He also explained that the total target in terms of getting girls enrolled in schools across the six states within a period of 10 years was 1 million.

“By the end of the project in September 2022, the project would have enrolled 1.4 million. This is 400,000 above the target.

“This means in each headline target, the project has exceeded the expectations and one of those reasons for exceeding the expectation is good collaboration and contribution from the states,” he said.

He also lauded the acceptance of the interventions by the host communities which led to the creation of community structures such as School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) which had expanded beyond the targeted LGAs.

Banda, however, stressed the importance of sustainability, calling on the state governments to take bold steps by taking ownership of the project and allocating funds for its continuation.

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

EED/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Cross section of scavengers to be trained by NEDC on waste to wealth in Bauchi 

Training

By Olaide Ayinde 

Bauchi, July 4, 2022 (NAN) The North-East Development Commission (NEDC), says it has begun a five-day training of 100 youths on waste recycling and enterprising skills in Bauchi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is being conducted in collaboration between the commission and the Bauchi state government through the Ministry of Environment.

NEDC’s Training Adviser, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, stated this at the inauguration of the training exercise on Monday in Bauchi.

He said the exercise designed to build the enterprising skills, empower youths and enhance waste management in the state. 

This, he said, would exposed the trainees to the basic techniques of waste recycling to create wealth.

He said the trainees were expected at the end of the exercise to engage in productive activities to improve their living condition and boost the economy of the state.

Also, Mr Ahmed Sabo, the Lead Consultant of the programme, said the participants were drawn from the environmentalists and youth who engaged in sanitation services.

“We have 50 trainers, these are people who have some high level of training on environmental management. So, we picked them to serve as trainers.

“The trainees are selected among waste collectors with support of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA).

“We have 100 waste collectors and 50 trainers, making a total of 150 participants in the exercise,” he said.

The Director-General of the BASEPA, Mr Ibrahim Kabir, lauded the gesture, adding that about 79 per cent of the solid waste collected in the state could be recycle to produce useful products.

He reiterated government commitment to encourage recycling and effective waste management in the state.

The BASEPA boss expressed readiness of the government to partner with the Commission and stakeholders to address waste and other environmental challenges in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

EED/BRM/ RSA 

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani/Rabiu Sani-Ali

2023: NYSC advises corps members to comply with rules of elections

Election

By Olaide Ayinde

Ganjuwa (Bauchi) July 3, 2022 (NAN) The Director General, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Fadah, has urged corps members participating in the 2023 general elections to play according to the rules of the elections.

Fadah made the call in Bauchi on Sunday during his camp inspection tour to the state’s NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, corps members are expected to be neutral and remain non-partisan in any political activity.

“We are heading to the 2023 general elections and all of you will take part in that election.

“Please, if you happen to be an official in an election or any electioneering programme, play according to the rules of the game.

“You and I are all apolitical, we don’t belong to any political party and the only political party we belong to is Nigeria.

“You may have sympathy or interest in a political party, for this one year that you are serving, please, just keep it to yourselves.

After your service, you are entitled to any political party that you think is worthy for you to be a member. Please, don’t involve yourselves in anything political,” the DG said.

Fadah reminded the corps members that their personal safety was their personal responsibility, both during and after the camp, urging them not to stand by the road side in search of free ride.

He advised them to go to the appropriate motor parks to board vehicles for their journeys, saying “this is because you may end up in a bad place while searching for a free ride”.

“Please avoid night journeys and if you happen to be on transit, once it’s 6 p.m, break that journey and go to the nearest NYSC lodge, police station or police facilities and stay there till the next day.”

Earlier, the state Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Namadi Abubakar, said 1,511 corps members had been registered in the camp for the 2022 Batch B stream II NYSC service.

He said out of the number, 766 were males while 745 were females, adding that they had been conducting themselves maturely and participating in all the camp activities. (NAN)

EED/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

(www.nannews.ng)

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Mr Rabiu Ali, the North-East Zonal Manager NAN (right) and Barrister Jubrin Sa’id, NBA chairman in Bauchi during the courtesy visit 

Judges

By Olaide Ayinde 

Bauchi, July 1, 2022 (NAN) The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bauchi State chapter, has advocated for improved welfare and better working condition of service for judges and judicial workers in the state.

The NBA Chairman in the state, Mr Jubrin Sa’id made the call during a courtesy visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bauchi Zonal Office, on Friday in Bauchi. 

He called for rehabilitation of court rooms across the state, adding that the some of the courts were dilapidated and unfit for human habitation.

The NBA chairman said the association would direct its members in the affected courts to vacate it if no interventions were provided by the government to address the problem.

“Recently, we took a tour of the courts in terms of physical infrastructure, wellbeing and condition of service of judges and other judicial personnel, however, the picture we had was a gory one and not encouraging.

“It is a sad reality of our court system and we have taken it up with the authorities. We are presenting a petition to the Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar and also the state governor.

“Some of the courts like the Shariah Court in Toro LGA, we are issuing ultimatum, and if at the end of it, nothing has been done, we are going to ask our members and the litigating public to stay away from that building because it is 100 per cent at deteriorating level.

“It is not fit for human habitation. We are working with the government towards resolving the problem,” he said.

According to him, the visit is to familiarise with NAN and broaden areas of collaboration with the agency, adding that it has been a critical stakeholder in the dissemination of accurate and factual information for mass consumption.

He said the NBA had earlier strenthened its relationship with the security agencies such as the Police, Department of State Security Services (DSS), Nigeria Seand Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

“We found it necessary to also do the same with the media for a more conducive working environment in the state.

“Recently, we had two of our members who are also indigenes of Bauchi State elevated to the enviable rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

“They are Mr Hassan El-Yakub and Mr Ishaq Magaji,” he said.

Responding, Mr Rabiu Sani-Ali, the Zonal Manager, NAN, expressed readiness of the Agency to collaborate with the association to fast track justice sector reform programme in the state.

He said such collaboration would enhance access to justice service delivery and make positive impact in the society, especially when the country was going through a lot of transformations. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

EED/ RSA 

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Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

NNPC Quiz competition: Bauchi emerges North-East Zonal winner

Quiz

By Olaide Ayinde 

Bauchi, July 1, 2022 (NAN) Bauchi State has emerged the overall North-East zonal winner in the ongoing Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s Zonal annual Science  Quiz Competition.

Announcing the results, Mr Tayo Sanni, the National Consultant for the NNPC competition, said Bauchi state, which was represented in the competition by a 13-year old Mukhtar Abdul-Ghanee of Sunshine International School, became victorious.

He said that the  SS2 science student scored 50 points to defeat his closest contestant, Abdulrahaman Sa’ad from Taraba state who scored 40 points.

Sanni revealed that Borno State took the third position with 35 points while Adamawa and Gombe states emerged the fourth position with both states scoring 30 points each as Yobe got only 20 points.

According to him, Bauchi, Taraba and Borno states would go to Abuja for the finals of the competition, adding that N100,000 grant had been approved by NNPC to all the six participants at the Zonal level.

Earlier, Mr Garba Muhammad, The Ground General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, congratulated the various  schools and their industrious students who represented their states in the zonal contest.

He said over the years, NNPC had made intervention in the education and capacity development areas, adding that with the signing into law, the Petroleum Industry Act by President Muhammadu Buhari, impetus had been given to the corporation to increase its impact in the lives of all Nigerians.

“It has become more important than ever to groom a pool of highly trained youths who will be available to take up key positions in the company and in the Nigerian energy sector in the years to come.

“It is for this reason that NNPC’s commitment to encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, which is the focus of the NNPC National Science Quiz Competition, has become stronger than ever,” he said.

Represented by Mr Aliyu Abdullahi, an Officer from Group Public Affairs Division, NNPP, Muhammad appreciated the Bauchi Government and the teachers of the host school for their commitment and support which made the competition a successful one.

In his address, Bauchi state Commissioner for Education, Mr Aliyu Tilde who was represented by Mrs Wulne Buba, Director, Quality Assurance from the ministry, appreciated NNPC for the sponsorship of the science oriented competition.

He assured that it would encourage students to work hard in science as they now lived in a technological world.

He prayed for the three participants to represent the zone at the national level and come out in flying colours in the finals.

(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

EED/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

My purported resignation exists in writer’s imagination-Bauchi Deputy Governor

Report

By Olaide Ayinde 

Bauchi, July 1,  2022 (NAN) The Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Sen. Baba Tela, says reports on his purported resignation only exists in the writer’s imagination.

This is contained in a issued by Tella’s  Press Secretary, Malam Sani Ilelah, on Thursday in Bauchi.

”Reports on my purported resignation is not only fake, but also the figment of imagination of the writer.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I assure the peace loving and hard-working people of Bauchi State, in particular and the nation in general, that I have not resigned as the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State.

“I reiterate my support and loyalty to Gov. Bala Mohammed. Rumour mongers who are bent on causing disharmony in the state are warned to desist from such acts,” he said.

Tela said he remained committed to the objectives and ideals of the state administration under the leadership of Gov. Mohammed. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

EED/MZA/SH

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Edited by Maharazu Ahmed/Sadiya Hamza 

Roads
By Ayinde Olaide
Warji (Bauchi), Dec. 29, 2020 (NAN) The Bauchi State Government on Tuesday commenced the construction of three strategic roads with the sum of N7.3 billion in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new roads include a 13.5 kilometres road from Warji in the state to Gwaram in Jigawa.

Others are 11.6 kilometres road from Bogoro to Lusa and Malar communities as well as 11.2 kilometres road from Boi to Tapshin, communities in Bogoro LGA bothering Plateau State.

Speaking during the event in Warji Local Government, Gov. Bala Mohammed said the roads were carefully selected in order to deliver a well thought-out project to the teeming populace.

He said the state had already made 30 per cent advance payment and the roads were to be completed within 24 months.

“The roads where constructions are flagged off today were carefully selected in furtherance of our resolve to deliver a well thought-out project to our teeming populace.

“The projects have been awarded to Habibu Engineering Nigeria Ltd at the total cost of N7.3 billion.

“They have a completion period of 24 dry months and already, we have released thirty per cent advance payment after we have secured an advance payment certificate,” he said.

Earlier, Alhaji Abdulkarim Ibrahim, Commissioner for Works and Transport, said the roads had always been the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a very long time.

He noted that roads were products of modern civilisation that brings about rapid, physical, economic and social development that improved people’s lives.

“A responsive government must pay attention to ensure this basic vital infrastructure is effectively and timely provided to unlock the hidden potentials of our state for our common good,” he said.

In his address, former Senate President David Mark, who was also the Special guest of honour, applauded the state governor for ‘doing so much with little resources’.

He called on the people of the state to continue to support and pray for the governor in order to be able to do more for the state.

“The roads will link you with Jigawa state, another one will link you with Plateau State and the third one will ensure easy transportation within the local government,” he said. (NAN)
EED/EOB/ISMA
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Edited by Edith Bolokor/Ismail Abdulaziz

Bauchi govt inherits N27bn retirement arrears, says Gov. Mohammed

Pension

By Ayinde Olaide

Bauchi, Dec. 25, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state on Friday said that his administration inherited the sum of N27bn naira in pension arrears from his predecessors.

Mohammed, who disclosed this in Bauchi when the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), paid him a courtesy visit to mark the 2020 Christmas celebration, explained that despite all the challenges, pensioners were now getting their entitlements ‘as and when due’.

“Unless we are able to free resources, we won’t be able to employ people. We have a prevalence of ghost workers and we are working very hard to make sure we free resources in our personnel emolument within the nominal rolls that have been bastardized.

“Even though we got Paris club funds, we got bailout money, we were not able to settle all  that.

“However, pensioners are getting their money as and when due and in fact, even their retirement benefits, we inherited N27bn naira retirement arrears from the previous administrations,” he said.

Mohammed further revealed that his administration had realised the sum of N500 million naira as a result of the ongoing blocking of leakages and sanitisation of government pay rolls of ghost workers in the state.

He also revealed that no more than 2000 youth had been slated for selection with ‘equity and Justice’ to be trained in agriculture.

“Right now we are doing a programme where we are selecting about 2000 youths to go for agricultural training and they are selected across the 20 local governments with equity and Justice.

“The second batch has finished a course in Abuja and they will be going in succession. We intend to spend a lot of money and to make them look inward to explore their potentials,” he said

Speaking earlier, Rev. Joshua Maina, Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi state chapter, appreciated the state governor for his efforts in handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

“People said he set the pace and others have been following. Our ability to record low mortality is borne out of nothing but sheer sincerity and commitment in handling this pandemic.

“I want to assure you that the work you have done, you have not done it for humanity, you have done it for God and he is going to reward you in due course”. He said. (NAN)

EED/MMA

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Edited by Mouktar Adamu

COVID-19: Foundation donates 3 ambulances, 50,000 face masks to Bauchi State

Donation

By Ayinde Olaide

Bauchi, Dec. 7, 2020 (NAN) BUA Foundation, an NGO, on Monday, donated three new ambulances and 50,000 face masks to the Bauchi State government to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

Mr AbdulSamad Rabiu, the chairman, BUA Foundation, commended the state government in the fight against the pandemic,  saying that the gesture was to support the government’s efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the state ”because we are not out of it yet”.

Rabiu, who was represented by Dr Aliyu Hong, BUA’s Director of Government’s Relations, said that the donation was to cushion the  effect of the pandemic as the country anticipates a second wave of the pandemic.

“The fact is that we are witnessing a new trend again, that is the second wave. Already, in Europe and America, we have seen that the effect of COVID-19 is being felt and even in Nigeria, the number of patients has been increasing.

“Even though the government has done remarkably well in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the state, I want to support your effort and also in all other laudable developmental projects that you have been doing in the state.

The chairman disclosed that the Foundation had donated materials, foods and  infrastructure to the tune of N8 billion in support of states and the federal governments’ fight against COVID-19 across the country.

He pledged his continued support to efforts by governments and institutions aimed at making Nigeria step out of COVID-19.

Receiving the items, Gov. Bala Mohammed appreciated the gesture, saying the donations were testament enough for the people to know that COVID-19 was not yet over.

Mohammed charged his aides to ensure that the materials were judiciously used, saying, “I don’t want to see them in government house, they should be deployed to the health facilities where they are needed. The face masks should also be distributed, local government by local government.”  (NAN)

EED/ KOO/MMA

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Mouktar Adamu