The presidency source noted that the upcoming G-20 Summit in South Africa is being considered for Tinubu’s attendance and as the viable opportunity for the Nigerian president to have talks with President Trump. ArticlesRead More
The presidency source noted that the upcoming G-20 Summit in South Africa is being considered for Tinubu’s attendance and as the viable opportunity for the Nigerian president to have talks with President Trump. ArticlesRead More
Katsina, UNICEF Train Adolescent Girls to Champion Peace in Communities
Francis Sardauna in Katsina
The Katsina State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commenced the training of 50 adolescent girls on resilience and peace-building to become peace ambassadors in their communities.
The prospective peace ambassadors, selected across the 10 bandits-infested local government areas of the state, are expected to develop peace action plans for their local governments after the two-day training.
The training, which began in Katsina on Monday, was organised by the state’s Development Management Board in partnership with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Universal Basic Education Board, with support from UNICEF.
Addressing the participants, the UNICEF Adolescent Development Specialist, Mrs Ngozi Izuora-Songu, said the training aimed to empower the adolescent girls with relevant skills to influence peace in their communities when there is conflict.
She explained that most victims of conflict are women and children, hence the need to equip them with the requisite knowledge to contribute towards sustainable peace in their respective communities.
She said: “So, you have been brought here today, not just to get trained, not just to become ambassadors, but also in your different localities, your different LGAs, contribute your voice in ensuring that where there is conflict, you influence peace.
“We are hoping that as you get trained today, you will also be empowered to be able to raise your voices within your communities and say, no, can we stop doing this so that we can get a better result.
“We are hoping that at the end of these two days’ engagement, you will come up with your LGA plans on how you think you can contribute in ensuring that peace is sustained within your locality.”
In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of the state’s development management board, Dr Mustapha Shehu, urged the participants to pay attention to acquire the needed knowledge.
He said the training will give the adolescent girls the opportunity to be able to also support the school enrollment, retention and completion in their respective communities.
Speaking on the objectives of the training, a facilitator, Halima Dimis, said the training will strengthen leadership, advocacy and communication skills of the adolescent girls.
She added that it will also promote gender equality and awareness on ending gender-based violence (GBV), understanding of peacebuilding, conflict resolution and social cohesion.
“At the end of this exercise, the training is expected to support adolescent-led peace action plans across the participants’ LGAs,” the facilitator said.
On his part, the UNICEF focal person at the ministry of education, Mr Kabir Nadada, called on the participants to pay attention, as they are expected to become peace ambassadors.
The UNICEF focal person further urged them to ensure that at the end of the training, they are able to step it down to their communities.
Francis Sardauna in Katsina The Katsina State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commenced the training of 50 adolescent girls on resilience and peace-building to become
Al-Makura: Late Deputy Gov Ewuga Dedicated His Life to God and Humanity
Igbawase Ukumba in lafia
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Sule Al-Makura, has described the late former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Solomon Ewuga, as a man who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.
Speaking at Ewuga’s funeral in Alushi community of Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, the governor stated that the deceased was a global citizen who related with everyone freely, irrespective of religion or tribal affiliations, and who believed in mentoring the younger generation.
“Whenever Ewuga visited me was to ask for one thing or the other for others or a community and not for himself,” Sule said.
Aged 70, Ewuga died after a prolonged illness in an Egyptian hospital on September 24 where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Ewuga was also a Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, and a senator who represented Nasarawa North in the 7th Senate.
Amongst the dignitaries that attended the funeral prayers were Governor Sule; the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi; the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; a former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; and Senator Umaru Al-Makura.
Also in attendance were religious and traditional leaders, all former deputy governors of the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Joshua Dariye; Mrs Josephine Piyo, the Deputy Governor of Plateau State; and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo.
Friends and associates of the former minister, present and former state and National Assembly members from Nasarawa and Plateau States, among others, were also on ground to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Also, Maku who spoke on behalf of the former deputy governors of the state, described the death as a personal loss, that of the Eggon nation, the state and the entire country.
He called on leaders to be united and prioritise the interests of the state and the people and desist from politics that could bring destruction and division.
“This is the third former deputy governor we are burying, and I pray that this one will teach us something, to know the emptiness of life, to unite and develop the state for the sake of our people,” he said.
Earlier, Josephine Dokotri-Ewuga, wife of the deceased, described him as a lovely husband and father who always wanted to help the vulnerable in society to make their lives worthwhile.
She stated that her husband was paying school fees for a lot of children at various levels of education, adding that he would do everything possible to ensure that he helped the children whose parents did not have anything to be something in life.
The late deputy governor’s wife said that her husband lived a good life, adding that she was sure he is resting at the bosom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Igbawase Ukumba in lafia The Governor of Nasarawa State, Sule Al-Makura, has described the late former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Solomon Ewuga, as a man who dedicated his

