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August Meeting: Gov. Nwifuru tasks stakeholders, women to guard against abuse

Published

2 months ago

August 8, 2023

The Ebonyi Governor, Mr Francis Nwifuru, has called on Chairpersons of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state to use lessons learnt from the annual August Meeting of women to the well-being of women in their rural communities.

The August meeting is an annual congress held by Igbo women in the month of August. It is a massive homecoming whereby Igbo women in the diaspora and the cities travel back to their matrimonial villages to meet with their local counterparts to discuss matters about community development, Conflict Management, and human development.

Gov. Nwifuru, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Patricia Obila, gave the charge during the 2023 Ebonyi Women August Meeting, held at Pa-Ngele Oruta Township stadium, Abakaliki.

Nwifuru urged the stakeholders to educate people on the ills of human trafficking, gender-based violence, give positive ideas, as they go home for the annual event.

He commended his wife’s efforts so far in curbing youth restiveness and saving lives of Ebonyi children outside the state, used as househelps.

He advised women to contribute positively at home and in the society for the growth and development of the state.

The Wife of the Governor, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, tasked women to monitor activities of their wards and children to prevent any form of social vices and abuse.

She noted that women had played critical roles in sharping society with their compassion, wisdom and determination.

She added that the assembly, with the theme: “Mother, where is your child”, was a call to action for mothers to be vigilant and proactive in save guarding the welfare of children.

She harped on the need for women to be committed in training their children to reap the benefits.

“As the first lady, it has been my massage to all others to train their children themselves and not send them outside for others to train.

“Ebonyi children need to be saved from abuse and trafficking,” Nwifuru said.

Mrs Josephine Elechi, Chairman of the Occasion and Wife of the Former governor of the state, urged traditional institution and other critical stakeholders to increase actions to add moral values to the society.

Meanwhile, Mrs Felicia Nwankpum, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, expressed confident that the assembly would instill passion for mothers to be responsive to children and families.

“The administration has the mandate for the realisation of the needs of people in the state,” Nwankpuma said.

The convention was inaugurated by Mrs Nwifuru.

NAN also gathered that the state government, through Mrs Nwifuru, empowered about 2,000 widows and youths with grinding, sowing and water pumping machines and food items to boost their sources of livelihood.

Also, the event featured lectures on breastfeeding, ills of human trafficking, gender-based violence, among others by resource persons.

Related Topics:Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru

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Navy disowns list of successful candidate for Batch 35 recruitment

Published

6 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Alero Danjuma

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has disowned the purported list of successful candidate for its Basic Training School (NNBTS) Batch 35 Recruitment, saying it is fake.

Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the Director of Naval Information, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Ayo-Vaughan said the exercise was conducted in three centres across the country, namely; Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna States.

He described the information, being circulated recently as fake, and handiwork of fraudulent miscreants who were trying to dupe some unsuspecting applicants.

He said the list of successful candidates had not been released and that no form of invitation for training, via text message had also been disseminated by the Nigerian Navy.

‘’The alarming rate of circulation of fake information by unscrupulous individuals, regarding enlistment or recruitment into Navy is quite worrisome.

‘’Efforts are on to track and arrest the miscreants.

“Members of the public especially prospecting applicants who participated in the said recruitment are strongly enjoined to always authenticate information from the NN official website, https://www.navy.mil.ng, and other official social media handles, as well as other credible mainstream media platforms.

“Similarly, miscreants and mischief makers are warned to desist from this unwholesome practice, otherwise they will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Ayo-Vaughan said the text message, had invited unsuspecting applicants to report for military training at NNBTS Onne, Rivers, following their purported selection.

He said the criminals further claimed in the text message that the exercise would commence on Oct. 6.

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Gov. Alia condemns kidnapping of commissioner, one other

Published

6 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

Gov. Hyacinth Alia has strongly condemned the kidnaping of Mr. Matthew Abo, his Commissioner for Information, culture and Tourism, and former Chairman Ukum Local Government Area (LGA), Mr. Iorwashima Erukaa.

This is contained in a press statement on Monday, signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

According to the statement, while Mr Abo was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his Sankara home at about 8pm on Sunday, September 24, Mr. Erukaa was taken away by a yet-to-be identified gunmen on Saturday, September 23.

The Governor, who described the act as barbaric and unacceptable, has directed security agencies to immediately commence operations to ensure the safe release of the duo.

He called on the people of the State to remain calm, as his administration would do everything possible to make the State safe for all.

“The kidnappers have made contacts with the family of Mr Erukaa but are yet to contact Mr Abo’s family,” the statement stated

Several gunmen had stormed the the commissioner’s residence in Zaki-Biam, Ukum LGA and kidnapped him.

Eyewitnesses who spoke to NAN, said that the kidnappers who came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house, including the his wife and children, to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination.

The witnesses said the abductors compelled the commissioner at gun point to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwitched him.

Mr Abo was sworn in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29.

He hails from Ukum Local Government Area of Sankera axis, a major flashpoint of criminal activities with rampant killings and kidnappings for years now.