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Parents in Kano State have lamented the failure of the Kano Educational Resource Department Qualifying Unit to refund the qualifying examination fees of their children.. The fees, put at ₦26,500 for the 2024 WAEC and NECO examinations, had earlier been paid by the parents but were supposed to be refunded upon payment by the state government.. Muhammad Bello Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the parents, said: “To the best of our knowledge, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had graciously paid the examination fees for all eligible students in the state. Yet KERD has not refunded the fees we had previously paid.. Yusuf further cited the financial squeeze many families were facing. “Parents are already struggling with the harsh economic conditions. We expected the refund to alleviate some of our burdens, but after seven months, there has been no response from KERD,” he added.. Ado Muhammad Tiga, a father of two, equally expressed his worries, calling on the state government to intervene and ensure the quick processing of their refunds. “I have two children, and I struggled to pay their fees. We’re grateful the state governor paid for our children’s exams, but KERD has not refunded the amount we paid, even after seven months,” he said. “This is about accountability. We trust the government to act in our best interest, and we hope this issue is resolved soon.”. In June last year, the Kano State Government released ₦2,910,682,780 for the payment of examination fees for 119,903 indigent students to enable them to sit for the 2024 NECO and NBAIS examinations. This was confirmed by the then-Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, who said such students must have attained a minimum of four credits in mock examinations.. The Qualifying Examination Coordinator at KERD, Malam Lawan Kibiya, reacted to the issue, asking parents who were yet to be refunded to ask for their money from the secondary schools where the registration fees were paid, adding that the problem may not be from KERD. “I can confirm that KERD has refunded 100% of the qualifying exam fees. If the parents have not received their refund, the problem may be at the school or delayed because of the recent upgrades in commercial bank systems,” Malam Lawan explained.. He said the parents who did not get their refunds should continue complaining to the KERD Qualifying Unit. “We are still receiving complaints, and our doors are still open for any parent who has not received their refund,” he said.

The investigation into the interception of 59 minors suspected of being trafficked from Kano to Nasarawa State has taken an unexpected turn as Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South Senatorial District, intervened to halt the probe.. The minors, aged between four and 12, were intercepted on January 6 by police operatives along the Abuja-Kano route. They were being transported in a cramped 15-seater Peugeot J5 bus with registration number KMC 283 ZJ by a driver, Idris Usman, and his assistant, Al Hassan Ibrahim. The children were reportedly en route to a male resident in Nasarawa State under unclear circumstances.. FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, had earlier described the incident as a suspected case of child abuse and trafficking due to the lack of parental consent and proper documentation.. However, the investigation was disrupted when Senator Kawu appeared at the FCT Police Command, requesting custody of the minors. The lawmaker argued that the movement was part of the almajiri system, a cultural practice where children migrate to other regions for Islamic education. Kawu promised to return the children to their families in Kano and criticized the police for mischaracterizing the situation.. “The almajiri system is a legitimate educational tradition within Islam. While it requires regulation, we must avoid misinterpreting such practices as trafficking,” Kawu said. The FCT Police command has not revealed whether they will adhere to the senators request and release the children to his custody or not.

An activist lawyer from Rivers State, Uche Nnam Okwukwu, has emerged as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide at the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization’s ongoing convention in Port-Harcourt.. The General Assembly of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, according to a statement by the returning officer, Dr. Achi Achi, said the new President General, Okwukwu, was returned unopposed at the the convention, which began on Thursday and is expected to end on Friday.. The returning officer said Okwukwu was elected by the progressive movement in Igboland, expressing appreciation to the national delegates who stormed Port Harcourt for the exercise, even as he noted that they were the true members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for finding the new helmsman worthy.. He said the new leader had pledged to defend the interest of all Igbos and uphold the tenets of the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.. Okwukwu, in his acceptance speech, thanked the delegates, saying that he humbly accepted the enormous responsibility imposed on him to lead the Igbo race “at this moment in our history”.. The newly elected President General. said his top priorities include engaging the Federal Government on the unconditional release of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and restructuring Nigeria.. Besides, he promised to “unite fractured nerves and bring the Igbo together as one indivisible family,” saying that he was fully aware of the unprecedented trust reposed in him and his capacity to do so.. He equally pledged defend the Igbo nation, adding: “I shall live up to their high expectations.”. Okwukwu thanked all members of the Electoral Committee, the elders, members of the press and the general Igbo public, for all the joint efforts that contributed to a successful convention.. The newly elected President General, while noting that the Igbo nation had gone through unprecedented travails, assured that he would waste no time in engaging the federal and state governments, businessmen, politicians, youths and the intelligentsia, to address the problems facing the Igbo.. He said he would meet President Bola Tinubu to work for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and other political prisoners, and ensure de-criminalization of political exiles to enable they return home to join the process of reconstruction.. “We shall encourage the federal and state governments to engage all agitators to address grievances so as to bring a just closure to issues,” Okwukwu said.. Speaking further, he said he would also engage the Federal Government in dredging, modernization and restoration of the Igweocha/Port-Harcourt and other coastal ports for the Igbo/East and others, together with the dredging of the Azumini to Opobo Imo River basin to the coast, in order to recreate a pole of export-import industrialization and development in Igboland/East, down to the Middle-Belt and Maiduguri.. “I will work for the creation of the Anioma State as an equalization state for the Igbo, and for additional Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orlu or other states in case the balance is further disrupted,” he said.. On restructuring, Okwukwu promised to mobilise the Igbo for the agenda, noting that all other ethnic nationalities had ready templates, but no recent Ohanaeze leadership had had any courage to address the issue.. “I will work hand in hand with critical Igbo stakeholders to advance the unity of the Igbo nation, and ensure that Igbo communities in Benue, Edo etc, are fully incorporated into the Ohanaeze family memberships, modernize the Igbo language as one of the major languages of global commerce, culture, science and technology,” he said.. Okwukwu, it was gathered, emerged as the consensus candidate having been identified as the only independent contestant among more than four aspirants that sought to lead the Igbo socio-cultural organisation.. The election attended by several people was held in Port-Harcourt, with delegates from the South-East and the Diaspora in attendance, while more than 200 social and cultural groups were also present at the event.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has sanctioned the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises for qualifying civil/public servants in the state. Approximately 26,764 civil/public servants from junior, senior, and management levels across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are anticipated to take part in these exercises, which will solely utilize oral interviews for assessment. A statement from the State’s Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, indicated that the approved promotion activities, which also include upgrades and transfers, apply to eligible civil/public servants in the core civil service, government secondary school staff, primary school teachers, and employees of state-owned boards, corporations, and agencies, including the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH). Onasanya noted that the Governor also authorized the December 2024 edition of the combined confirmation/promotion tests and mandatory public service exams for officers in the senior and junior categories, typically conducted by the Bureau of Establishments and Training within the Office of the Head of Service to aid the career advancement of eligible officers. He emphasized the state government’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its workers as part of its “Building Our Future Together” initiative, highlighting that the Governor’s approval for the promotion exercises reflects his dedication to enhancing the welfare, morale, and professional development of the workforce. The Head of Service expressed appreciation to Governor Abiodun for his various commendable and employee-friendly policies that have significantly improved workers’ well-being and career progression, urging them to fully commit to their responsibilities.

FIFA council member Amaju Pinnick has supported the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to appoint Eric Chelle as the new head coach of the Super Eagles. The NFF announced Chelle’s appointment on Tuesday.

Despite facing significant criticism for their choice, Pinnick maintained that the 47-year-old is capable of handling the Super Eagles. “I received many calls when he was announced,” he said.

“I shook my head because I had already done my research on Eric and discovered that many people are not familiar with him,” Pinnick told Arise News. “They are forming their opinions solely based on his skin color.”

They are being critical of his skin color because he is a black man, rather than focusing on the content of his goals and what he has achieved. Chelle is anticipated to arrive in Nigeria on Sunday to finalize his contract.

The Ogun State Government has initiated measures to address insecurity in the state due to reports of suspected bandit invasions in the South-West Geo-political zone. This was stated in a release signed by the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media & Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade stated on Friday that the government is effectively managing its security framework through strong cooperation among security agencies and local security forces. The announcement highlighted that a key part of the strategy to safeguard farmlands includes the significant deployment of armed security personnel at the local level to protect farmers and ongoing security patrols. It emphasized that the current security measures in the state are reflected in the peaceful environment experienced throughout the area during the festive season. The statement also mentioned that the recent influx of bandits from the North into the South-West coincided with a recent security meeting involving the heads of security agencies in Ogun State. After thoroughly assessing the security situation in the state, the agencies decided to enhance their efforts to maintain the exceptional peace and calm experienced in recent months, particularly during the recent Christmas and New Year celebrations, preventing any destabilizing infiltration by bandits from anywhere in the country. “Our security agencies have revitalized their successful strategies, which include increased visibility throughout the state, patrols, securing key and vulnerable locations, addressing hotspots, conducting intelligence-led operations, fostering community partnerships, and promoting inter-agency collaboration.” Additionally, residents have been informed and reminded of their civic duty to collaborate with the police in tackling the threat of armed banditry by remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activities, especially unfamiliar individuals in their communities. Commercial farmers have been advised to continue using armed security guards and escorts to reach their farms. Additionally, local personnel have been assigned to monitor their farms and ensure safe entry and exit, while efforts are being made to improve visibility around the farms through lighting and the installation of security towers. The statement also recognized the ongoing collaboration between the state and Oyo State for sharing intelligence about the activities of suspected bandits in the area. Furthermore, it emphasized that they have developed effective strategies to eliminate bandits if they enter Ogun State. To achieve this legitimate objective, all ethnic groups in Ogun State, including the Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos, Fulanis, Edos, Igalas, Urohbos, Ebiras, and many others, are united in their effort to combat anyone who threatens the peaceful atmosphere in Ogun State. The State government also emphasizes the need to take strong action against anyone who facilitates or shelters bandits from any ethnic background in Ogun State. That individual will encounter the consequences of the law.

The rapper keeps on rolling. And we cherish that in so many ways. The” Squabble Up” rapper is gearing up to perform his entire catalog and newest anthem” Not Like Us” in stadiums across the country andamp, Toronto, in the spring, and he named SZA, his former TDE labelmate, as the perfect tour partner, who will appear on his new song “luther.” Before Kendrick left the brand in 2022 and called it house for 18 years, the pair were both on TDE. Their music” All the Celebrities” is Academy Award, Grammy and Golden Globe nominated, and they performed it up at Coachella in 2018. K-Dot and SZA kick off the 19-city” Grand National Tour” in April in Minneapolis, hitting venues in Houston, NY/NJ, his rival Drake’s house of Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta and, of course, many times in L. A. The Cali King is about to include the wackiest 2025 since he performs the Halftime show at the Super Bowl in New Orleans in February. With his new shock cut of his new song, GNX, he landed his 5th No. 1 song on the Billboard 200 next week. Very few performers are capable of staging their individual stadium tour. This is about to have additional ( sold out ) dates and will be a MOVEMENT, according to information. You going?! Photo: Getty Images for Coachella 

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