The holocaust in the North that has claim a number of lives is a pogram of the highest order. This is a reminiscent of the 1966 kilings of people in the north which resulted in people especially the Igbo fleeing from the North and the Hausa's leaving the East.
Bomb blast
This is a callous butchering of our kinsmen and fellow Nigerians, The government of the day must rise up ...to this crime against humanity and wield its big stick on the culprit of this destitute acts.
we must not allow this to get out of hand because Nigeria belongs to me and you. This group of people wants the country to become ungovernable for the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's led Administration. It is time to act.
5th Young Journalist Awards
Call For Entries
Nominations are invited for the 5th Nigeria Young Journalist Awards 2011 from media organisations and individuals. The award, initiated by media career services, a media training and consultancy outfit dedicated to the development of the career of journalists in Nigeria, is to recognise and encourage young journalists in the country.
A judging board made up of top media professionals will choose winners of the awards who will get media career enhancing prizes.
Awards Categories For The Year 2011 Are:
A. Young Journalist of the year 2011.
B. Student Journalist of the year 2011.
C. Mass Communication Department Journal of the year 2011.
Submission Of Entries
Interested journalists for category (A) should have a maximum of three (3) years journalism experience and must not be older than 30 by December 2011.
They must submit three (3) of their published or broadcast work between January and December 2011. For entries for the print category, entrants should photocopy their works into four (4) sets while entrants from the broadcast should also submit three duplicates of their works on compact disk, the synopsis of such works should also come in four (4) sets.
Such entries must be supported with a nomination letter from the journalist’s editor or supervisor and curriculum vitae (also in 4 set).
For category B, entries must be a student of a tertiary institution with active participation in campus journalism. He or she must have at least three published or broadcast work in campus or other medium focusing on campus issues between January and December 2011. Sample of the published works should be photocopied into four (4) places.
A nomination letter by relevant authorities and curriculum vitae is required. These should also come in four (4) places.
For category C, submitted training newspaper/magazines of Mass Communication departments will be assessed on the basis of content and production quality. A nomination letter by Editorial Advisers will be required. Samples should be in four (4) sets.
ENTRIES SHOULD BE SENT TO:
The programme coordinator,
Young Journalist Awards 2011,
Media Career Services,
C/O International Press Centre,
11, Dideolu Court, Dideolu Estate,
Off Ijaiye Road, by Sweet Sensation,
Ogba, Lagos.
Tell: 08033374017, 08023000621, 08023626281
Closing date:
All entries must be received on or before Friday 17th February 2012.
Organised by:
Media Career Services
Publishers of Stop Press, the career moulding newsletter for journalists.
Obafemi Awolowo University has been ranked second in research-oriented universities in Africa.
In his reaction to the ranking by the SCimago Institutions Ranking World Reports for 2011 released by SCimago Laboratory in Spain, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Bamitale Omole, said it would further strengthen the commitment of his administration to deepen academic research in the university.
Although delighted, the Vice-Chancellor appealed to the Federal Government to increase the funding of research activities in universities in the country. This, he noted, became necessary because investment in research development in universities would enhance the nation’s development.
IGP, Ringim Booted out
·Jonathan uses Ringim as scapegoat for Police inefficiency
By Damilola Towobola
Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim Ringim was last week resigned from office alongside seven other Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGs) who were retired from active service by President Goodluck Jonathan and subsequently replaced by AIG Mohammed Dikko Abubakar. Ringim was given 24 hours to re-arrest Kabiru Sokoto; nearly one week later, the high profile suspect is still at large.
Ringim
Spaizmedia also learned that Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim has been ordered to go into mandatory retirement by the following a series of bomb attacks launched in various northern cities by members of the Islamist movement Boko Haram was due for retirement in March 2012.the president had during the summon of the IG asked the Police helmsman to resign.
Under Ringim’s watch, Boko Haram has enjoyed an almost unchecked run in the country. Mr. Ringim’s incompetence was highlighted by the recent escape from police custody of Kabiru Sokoto, a suspect in the Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State. The attack claimed scores of lives and caused many injuries.
‘Apo Six’ lawyer, Amobi Nzelu reacting to the escape of the Boko Haram suspected likened the case to that of the Apo Six killing in 2005 when a police officer was alleged to have killed six Igbo youths coming back from a party in Abuja and the police officer was allowed to escape from custody and a police constable who was crucial to the case was allegedly poisoned.
M.D Abubakar
He criticised the escape from custody of a Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto, who allegedly masterminded the Christmas Day bombing at St Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.
President Goodluck Jonathan, as the Chief Security Officer of the nation, had issued presidential pronouncements on several occasions on the preparedness of government to deal with the menace of the insurgents.
Last year, the sect claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Police Headquarters in Abuja and the United Nations Building in Abuja, killing no fewer than 20 persons and wounding scores of people who were in the building at the time of the incident.
Bui and Ringim
There have been subsequent incidents of bombings in the northern part of the country specifically in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna and Niger. On Friday, January 20, there were reported coordinated bomb explosions in different parts of Kano.The Police Headquarters in Kano was affected and the casualty figure was said to be high. Insecurity and terrorist attacks reached their worst levels in Nigeria under Mr. Ringim's watch.
It was learned that Ringim made desperate efforts to save his job by lobbying influential emirs and leaders to intervene and prevail on the President to keep him despite the disgrace the Police under him has brought on Nigeria’s security profile locally and globally.
A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati stated that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed D. Abubakar as Acting Inspector General of Police as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganization and repositioning of the Nigeria Police Force to make it more effective and capable of meeting emerging internal security challenges.
Mr. Abubakar who is currently an Assistant Inspector General of Police replaces Mr. Hafiz Ringim who proceeds on terminal leave with effect from 25th of January 2012 was born on May 5, 1958; Mr. Abubakar enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979. He holds a Diploma in Public Admin/Criminal Justice and was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi, before his new appointment.
President Jonathan has also approved the retirement of all Deputy Inspectors General of Police with immediate effect. These are: Mrs. Ivy Uche Okoronkwo, DIG POL 2i/c Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Azubuko J. Udah, DIG Administration (“A” Dept), Mr. Sardauna Abubukar, DIG Training (“E” Dept.); Mr. Audu Abubakar, DIG Operations (“B” Dept); Mr. Saleh Abubakar, DIG Works (“C” Dept.) and Mr. Mohammed A. Yesufu, DIG Planning and Info-Tech (“F” Dept.).
The President has also established a Special Committee to oversee the urgent reorganization of the Nigeria Police Force. The committee is to be chaired by the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mr. Parry B.O Osayande, DIG (rtd) and Other Members of the Committee include; Mr. Casimir T. Akagbosu, AIG (rtd.), mni; Mr. Bashir A. Albasu, AIG (rtd.), fwc, Major Gen. S.N. Chikwe, rtd, Prof. S.D. Mukoro, Dr. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Aisha Larai Tukur, Solicitor General of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary, SSO, Office of the SGF to serve as the Secretary to the Committee.
The Committee’s Terms of Reference is to identify the challenges and factors militating against effective performance in the Nigeria Police Force and make recommendations for addressing the challenges; examine the scope and standard of training and other personnel development activities in the Police to determine their adequacy or otherwise; determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution; examine records of performance of Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force with a view to identifying those that can no longer fit into the system due to declining productivity, age, indiscipline, corruption and/or disloyalty and make any other recommendations for the improvement of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Committee’s recommendations shall be implemented along with those by previous committees set up by Government on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force.
Meanwhile, the trial of Police commissioner, Zakari Biu, and some of his subordinates over the recent escape of Kabiru Sokoto, a suspected leader of boko Haram, began last week in the scorpion mess of the WU Bassey Military Barracks in Asokoro Districts of the Federal Capital territory.
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO SMILE SOON
ASUU and FG enter negotiations
NANS urges for resolutions
Damilola Towobola
Speculations that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would call off its strike was dashed lastweek as the aggrevied Union continued talks with the Federal Government inorder “to iron out a few outstanding issues”. The strike embarked upon on Monday December 5th, 2011, by the Union was aimed at forcing the FGN to fully implement the agreement it freely entered into with our Union in September 2009.
ASUU as stated that there is no retreat, no surrender, until the FGN do the needful with regards to the implementation of that agreement. ASUU won’t call off its strike so long as government shies away from the issue of effective funding of the universities.
“We are talking about one thing: the good of the education sector in Nigeria. There are no adversaries in this matter. There are no winners. There are no losers. That is why we should work together.”
The state of facilities and equipments in our universities calls for urgent attention from the government. A student who spoke with Insider stated that the equipments in the Engineering departments of his university are an eyesore, some aren’t working yet we make use of them in examinations. He further engaged ASUU not to compromise standard but see to changes and effectiveness in the educational sector.
ASUU also commended the National Assembly for its role in the passage of the 70 year retirement age for academics in the Professorial cadre.
ASUU stated that “the Union is aware of the passage of the 70 years retirement age by the two houses of the National Assembly. However, we are quick to point out that a bill becomes a law only when it is accented to by the President. Our Union is still awaiting the law”
“That apart from the retirement age, other issues outstanding include: University autonomy (presently Governing Councils of all Federal universities have been dissolved), Funding of Universities – this is of very serious concern to our Union due to the level of degradation in those Universities, payment of earned allowances and other welfare matters to our members. Government needs to show seriousness with regards to the above outstanding issues.”
The Minister of Education Professor Ruqqayyatu also debunked reports that she had promised an end to the strike on Monday saying she was misquoted. “What I said is that it is our hope and desire that based on what we were doing so far, the strike would be called off. But if it doesn’t, I didn’t say that it will. I am not ASUU; I am not representing ASUU in any way.”
National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has also urged the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the demands of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and its sister unions.
The students’ umbrella body decried the effects of ASUU’s prolonged strike on Nigerian students. It said giving close attention to the various academic unions would alleviate the interruption of the academic calendar and sustain the confidence of the student community in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
National President of NANS, Adakole Ochai also appealed to ASUU to always consider the effects of their action on Nigerian students.
He said: “We wish to appeal to ASUU to consider the impending doom on the successor-generation and make sacrifice where necessary to avail the Nigerian students the opportunity of getting back to school within the shortest possible time.
“We are aware that this strike action is to emancipate the academic community, but desired change is a process”
“We appeal to the Federal Government to put into consideration our tertiary institutions and the national secretariat of NANS, in the distribution provided by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the pressure.”
Meanwhile the President of Asuu, Awuzie stated that the issue will be resolved very soon. He expressed satisfaction over the level of Federal Government’s commitment to the contending issues saying that, “If we fought there, you won’t see us smiling. All of us are patriots. We are talking about one thing: the good of the education sector in Nigeria. There are no adversaries in this matter. There are no winners. There are no losers. That is why we should work together.”
