Folarin Kehinde

The seventh regional edition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) endorsed spelling and thrill has come to an end with Saviour Onazi of Trophies International School, Minna, Niger State and Nwannadi Precious Chizaram of NUT Endwell Model Science School, Minna, Niger State.

The spelling competition which took place at Government Junior Secondary School, Jabi, Abuja, had student competitors from about 10 schools across North Central and North East come together for the competition.

The students who won were rigorously tested, particularly on their ability to correctly spell and pronounce certain English words with British style, leading to a cash prize of about 150, 000 Naira and several other scholarship opportunities for the secondary category, and winners at the primary category would go home with the sum of 100, 000 naira among other opportunities.

Then, at the national level, the secondary category winners would leave with a cash prize of one million Naira, while the primary category would leave with the sum of 750, 000 Naira.

Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the event, the President, Educand Education Initiative and initiator, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Spelling & Thrill Competition, Ayotunde Ikulamberu, said that the competition geared towards promoting the culture of spelling and re-engineering the educational system of the country.

According to him, the education system around the country has nosedived. Educational prowess, diligence in terms of educational pursuits, and also reward for students outside of the classroom environment has actually nosedived.

“This initiative offers the platform to reengineer and to refocus on bringing upon students; both primary or secondary school to be able to showcase the level of their hard-work and diligence outside of the classroom environment”.

Stating that the Spelling & Thrills competition has been going on for the past 10 years, he said that the initiative was endorsed by UNESCO in 2017 and has a series of scholarship prizes for the winners.

On her part, a female participant, Madu Cynthia, stated that the competition has been revealing to her as she had lost touch with certain words as a result of flooding in Logo state which kept her away from school for a long time.

Her words: “I have never done this before, today is my first time doing this competition. Since it has been a long time since I left my spelling due to the flood in Kogi state, I was not sure of myself that I was going to make it. I appreciate the organisers of this program because for me to be here today, it is a great opportunity.”

One of the teachers who spoke to journalists, Ambrose Madu, said:

“The competition is an interesting one and the way I look at it, it will help the students and it is encouraging for the schools. Infact, many schools need to come and learn from it. Although it is not easy, it’s something manageable for every school as I am looking at it now because it will catapult them internationally and to many places because the way I am looking at it spelling is on the decline as a result of computer and this is a very good avenue to bring back the culture of spelling.”

The family of a young woman in Gbako LGA of Niger State has asked the family of her suitor to take back the old N1,000 and N500 notes they gave as bride price.

It was gathered that the family of the suitor took an undisclosed amount to the family of the woman as bride price and money for other stuff in preparation for the wedding.

Though the wedding was not postponed, guardians of the girl were said to have noted that with the CBN deadline of January 31, they were not ready to buy some things needed for the ceremony and that they did not have a bank account to deposit the money, hence their demand for the new notes.

A family member of the male suitor explained that, “We took money to the family of the girl we want to marry. They called me on Sunday to come and take the old currency notes back pending when we have the new naira notes. They said they don’t have anywhere to change the old notes. So, I want to take it to the bank pending when we get the new notes.”

He further said that many people were scared of collecting the old notes for fear that they would not be able to spend them before the January 31, deadline.

Investigations revealed that rural traders in the state have started rejecting the old notes or shutting their businesses as commercial banks have continued to give out old notes.

According to report, some rural communities and semi-urban areas in the state reported that most of the communities had no access to banks.

In the ancient town of Zungeru, Wushishi LGA of the state, residents said there was only one commercial bank despite the population and huge business activities in the town, especially during Sunday and Wednesday market days.

Marketers told our correspondent that many farmers had stopped bringing out their farm produce to Zungeru market on Wednesdays and Sundays for fear that they would be given old naira notes.

Mohammed Sani, the chairman, Amana Farmers and Grain Suppliers Association, Wushishi Local Government Chapter, said “Right now rural farmers have stopped bringing out their farm produce to the market since last week because they are afraid that they would be given old naira notes and they don’t have bank accounts.”

He said most rural dwellers have postponed their wedding and child naming ceremonies because it is when they sell their farm produce that they get cash to buy things for such ceremonies.

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, Sunday unveiled the state’s anthem.

Mr Ganduje said the anthem is meant to inculcate patriotism and to highlight Kano as a major commercial centre, its rich culture and leadership, among other virtues.

In a statement released by Abba Anwar, the governor’s spokesperson, Mr Ganduje assured that his administration would do everything possible to continue preserving the history, culture and business excellence of the state, for the overall development of the country.

The unveiling ceremony took place at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

The governor commended his wife, Hafsat Ganduje, a professor, for her ingenuity in initiating the process that resulted in the composition of the anthem, Mr Anwar said.

“I am glad to see that, what Her Excellency my dear wife, Hafsat Ganduje thought of, in developing the state’s anthem, has come to fruition. She did well and she deserves our commendation”

“We are here to show love for our state, our culture, our costumes, our history and to appreciate our state in general.”

“Ours is to promote love, a deep sense of responsibility and to also show the greatness of our dear state. As our national Anthem is bringing us together for the service and unity of our motherland, so also this state Anthem will follow the same pattern at the state level”.

“We are taking this Anthem to the State House of Assembly for legislation. That whenever we have any public function, after singing the national anthem, the state’s anthem will always follow.”

“The anthem showcases how the state excels in commerce, traditional leadership, scholarship, agriculture and hospitality, which stem from rich culture and history,” Mr Ganduje said.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said the country will witness flood this year.

Though the level of the flood and locations to be affected is yet to be ascertained, the agency said early preparation would mitigate the likely impact.

Last year, the country witnessed a flood, which led to the deaths and displacement of many people across the country.

To however mitigate the impact, some staff of NEMA and other critical stakeholders in disaster management are undergoing training to aid their preparedness and response during emergencies.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed stated this in Abuja on Monday at a seminar organised for NEMA stakeholders.

Speaking on floods and efforts made to mitigate its impact, Ahmed said: “Records indicate that 662 persons have lost their lives, 3,174 others have suffered injuries and 2,430,445 individuals have been displaced by the floods. Thousands of houses, hectares of farmlands, and several critical national assets were destroyed by the raging floods.

“It is going to flood again this year, there is no doubt about it but how severe it going to be is what we don’t know for now but it is going to flood again”.

On how to mitigate the impact of the flood, he said: “After this training and the release of the Seasonal Climate Prediction by NiMet and the release of the flood outlook by NIHSA, we will gather stakeholders to analyse and interpret them and then attach vulnerable areas mapping and send it out to States. We will write to the governors.

“We have seen one or two mistakes from our engagement last year. We have to collaborate with all the States and we cannot work if NEMA is moving on one side and the States are moving on another side. We have to collectively work together.

“So, we will identify areas and show them (governors) the areas that will be affected.”

He also said NEMA in collaboration with State governments and other partners are currently working towards the long-term recovery of impacted communities across the nation.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has apologised for the delay in Abuja-Kaduna train movement on Monday.

Pascal Nnorli, Manager, Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) issued a statement after complaints by passengers.

Nnorli explained that the delay was due to a shortage in the supply of diesel.

He said the AGO received fell short of the standard required and was outrightly rejected after a statutory laboratory test.

The manager said the test is carried out on all liquid “used on the rolling stock, locomotives inclusive, to ensure that the right specifications are utilised”.

The statement assured that operations would normalise as the management was on top of the situation.

The Abuja-Kaduna train service resumed on December 5, 2022, after more than eight months of lull following a terrorist attack.

About 14 persons were killed and at least 63 abducted on March 28, 2022, at Katari in Kaduna State. The last batch of 23 captives were freed in October after the release of 7 in July.

Following the rising case of insecurity in the country, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is not left out as 2 students of the University got missing within a week.

Investigations revealed that the University was once a safe space for students but this has changed due to the alarming rate of missing students on the campus.

One of the students who preferred anonymity disclosed to this news medium stated that “since the beginning of the year 2023, UNN Students now go missing on weekly basis”.

“Last week Friday, a UNN Student whose name is Asogwa Adams was declared missing after he left to see someone inside the campus”.

“He was later found dead where his body was dumped at an uncompleted building at the outskirt of the campus”.

“Reports allege that he was murdered and his body dragged to the site”.

“Just Yesterday, another student, this time a lady has been declared missing”.

“Her name is Ejim Blessing Ijeoma, student of the department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Meanwhile, the school authority has kept mum over this worrisome incidences as effort to reach the Dean of Students Affairs proved abortive as at press time.