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Renowned #EndSARS activist Rinu Oduala has been nominated for the prestigious 2024 Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award.

The organisers said the nomination is a recognition of Oduala’s impactful contributions and achievements in youth-focused affairs in Nigeria.

Known for her dedication to social justice causes, Oduala has been at the forefront of advocating for positive change and accountability.

Her activism gained prominence, particularly during the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, where she played a significant role in mobilizing and voicing the concerns of the youth.

Reacting to the nomination, Oduala wrote on X: ”I was nominated for 2024 Forbes Woman Africa Young Achiever Award.

”Thank you, Forbes Women Africa for the recognition.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled Hon Achor Nna, former leader of the Obio/Akpor legislative council, for declaring his support for Governor Sim Fubara.

Politics Nigeria reports that barely a week ago, Nna, an ally of FCT minister Nyesom Wike, resigned his position to support Fubara.

In a letter titled ‘RE: EXPULSION OF HON ACHOR NNA’ dated 9th March 2024 and signed by the PDP Ward 9 Chairman in Obio/Akpor LGA, Collins Chukwu, the ward accused the lawmaker of failing to defend himself from allegations of misconduct and misappropriation despite receiving multiple invitations to do so.

The letter which reads:

“The Ward 9 PDP executive under the able Chairmanship of Chukwu Collins Wobo, JP on the 10th day of February 2024 received from the Elioparanwo PDP chapter the suspension of Hon Achor Nna the former leader of OBIO/AKPOR LGA council legislative arm.

“In view of the above the chairman of Ward 9 acting in compliance with chapter 10, section 57 (1) of the party constitution set up a disciplinary committee purposely to ascertain the veracity of the allegations against Hon. Achor Nna.

“The disciplinary committee headed by Chief Solomon Chime Esq invited him (Achor Nna) severally and repeatedly to appear before the committee to defend himself of the grievous allegations (misappropriation of funds and misconduct) against him which invitations were utterly turned down.

“In view of this, the committee recommended that he (Hon Achor Nna) be expelled from the party and the fact that Hon Achor Nna was unable to defend himself, he was expelled from the party, we had no option but to take this decision as the ward cannot condole his unwarranted acts and indiscipline.

“So, the resignation of Hon Achor Nna from his position as the leader of OBIO AKPOR legislative council and as councillor Ward 9 didn’t come to us a surprise because he couldn’t defend himself from the allegations against him which led to his expulsion from the Party.

“Apparently, the political crisis in Rivers state is far from resolution as both sides continue jostling for control of the political structure in the state.”

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have declared a 7-day warning strike over federal government’s delay to pay their salaries.

The decision to embark on a warning strike was part of the resolution of the joint action committee of the two unions, after a meeting held in Akure at the weekend.

President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim disclosed this while reading the Communiqué of the meeting to journalists in Abuja on Monday.

According to both him, the demand for the payment of their four months of withheld salaries of their members, after the 2022 nationwide strike, have not been met.

Ibrahim noted that the decision to embark on the warning strike was taken as a last resort since several protest letters and other communications with the federal government, did not result in the payment of the withheld salaries.

The development comes on the heels of recent nationwide protests by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over current economic hardship, which had led to skyrocketing costs of living across the country.

Details shortly…

The Oyo State Government has joined its counterparts in Lagos to issue a ban on the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage and other purposes.

The state Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed on Monday at the Food Safety Stakeholders Forum and the inauguration of the task force.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Akintunde Ayinde, Ajetunmobi said the ban was necessary to guarantee food standards in the state.

“The directorate of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services is saddled with the responsibility to regulate food business operations to ensure the presentation of wholesome edibles for public consumption in the state and planned to double her efforts to monitor/inspect food business premises in the state.

“Consequently, the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage, and other related usage in the state is also banned.” She declared.

LeadingReporters recalls that on January 21, the Lagos State Government banned using and distributing Styrofoam and other single-use plastics within the state.

The Executive Director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, has revealed that the Nigerian government is indebted to about N100 billion in outstanding electricity bills.

Oduntan emphasized the need for the government to create an enabling environment for energy distributors and fulfil its financial obligations.

In an interview with Arise TV, Oduntan disclosed that the debt owed by Ministries, Agencies, and Departments (MDAs) amounts to N100 billion.

He pointed out that the government’s timely payment of electricity bills could have prevented recent situations, such as the presidential villa’s outstanding bill to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

The executive director highlighted the recent payment made by President Bola Tinubu to clear the N342.3 million electricity bill owed by the presidential villa stressing the importance of government agencies, including ministries, in fulfilling their financial obligations to electricity distribution companies.

He called for an effective resolution to address outstanding debts and ensure a conducive business environment for energy distributors.

“You will be surprised to find some ministries that are owing Abuja Disco. The ministries, departments and agencies are owing in essence N100 billion. We’ve been saying this for a long time. They didn’t start owing from May 2023. So there is no politics or mischief here. We are talking facts and how we can solve problems,” he said.

… Nigerians to begin fasting Monday

The Sultanate has confirmed sighting of new crescent of Ramadan.

This was confirmed by the Sultane on its Twitter page @moonsightingng in the evening of Sunday, March 10.

The statement said that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar will make official announcement soon.

The tweet read: “The Sultanate has confirmed a single sighting claim and His Eminence the Sultan will soon make an announcement. Ramadan Mubarak.”

…as Nigerians await Sultan’s declaration

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the sighting of the lunar month of Ramadan, which signals the beginning of the Islamic lengthy fasting.

The Kingdom announced its Twitter platform, @Haramaininfo, on Sunday, March 10.

The tweets partly read: “Crescent of Ramadan 1445/2024 has been sighted in Saudi Arabia!

“Subsequently, Ramadan 1445/2024 begins tomorrow, 11 March 2024.

“Taraweeh Prayers will begin in the Two Holy Mosques after Isha Prayers.”

However, Nigerins Muslims await the announcement of the moon sighting by the Sultan of Sokoto, HRM, Saad Abubakar for the commencement of the 1445 AH Ramadan.

In a bid to enhance Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, especially among girls, the TechWomen Nigeria Alumni Association and Fellows has trained 50 secondary school girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on various aspect of STEM education to boost their technological capacity.

The President, TechWomen Nigeria Alumni Association, Carolyn Seaman while speaking over the weekend in Abuja at the climax of the 2024 Tech Community Impact Week stated that the students have been introduced to physical computing with excellent and instructive materials and tools with which they are able to test first-hand the whole process of physical computing.

According to Seaman, the training process was an engaging and enriching experience for them, adding that the girls were able to learn on the board and actually practice a hands-on impact of what they were taught.

She noted that the TechWomen alumni and fellows were also able to learn and see first-hand how this is implemented and they can take it further to ensure sustainability of the impact.

U.S. Department of State Tech Women Program, volunteer and mentor, Kathy Giori noted that they aim to empower girls on how to understand how they can use little tiny sensors, instrument the world, take actions upon it, and then make the world a better place.

Giori explained that her dream as an electrical engineer is to get more students into STEM technology, and particularly for girls, who are majorly stigmatized, adding that apart from her passion, the training is about bringing physical computing to the world, especially Nigeria being super welcoming place for her to leverage her passion.

“So we want kids to engage in physical computing, and that’s why I’m here is I volunteer for Microblocks, the URL microblocks.fun.

“So when I did the workshop today at the Fab Lab in Abuja, the children coded their examples, brought them up to show the rest of the students, and you just plug in from board, I can see their code.

“And then I gave them a few tips on
updating their code. They go back, and they have the code with my updates. Now, the reason I’m so
passionate about physical computing is these are tiny little microcontrollers that cost,
you know, less than a dollar sometimes.

“And if children only need the opportunity to learn about inputs and outputs in the physical world, to take actions such as a motion
sensor detecting no motion would turn off the lights automatically, would turn off the air conditioning automatically.” She added.

United State Exchange Alumni Stella Uzochukwu on her part noted that they aim to ensure that students not just learn micro beads but are exposed to the fab lab space.

“We want to ensure that almost everybody is a thinker, because this is about problem solving.

“So what they did today was about problem solving. We want them to also learn how to problem solve and also be able to say things, solve problems within their community, basically, that’s what we want them to do.”

A recipient of the training, Olubayife Simisola expressed delight on the knowledge acquired and a dream fulfilled adding that the use of Microblogs for computing is really amazing.

“Microblogs is really
amazing. Before, I only thought you could use JavaScript, Python to do coding and invent stuff. But
now, Microblogs, you can also use Microblogs to make things, like send stuff for security purposes.”

Simisola explained that the training has been an eye opener and an opportunity to learn new computer inventions, adding that the knowledge acquired would be replicated among colleagues.

“It is encouraging me more to go deeper into what I believe is to be true. And I also say, with what I’ve learned from here, I’m going back to my school and I’m going to tell all the students, not just the girls in my school. I’m going to tell both girls and boys about what I’ve learned here.”

The remains of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba and son, Chizi have been buried in his hometown of Omueke, Isiokpo in Rivers State.

The 57-year-old banker Plc, his wife and his son were laid to rest in a private interment following a funeral service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Naija News reports that their burial followed a week-long funeral rites to celebrate the life of the founder of Wigwe University.

Several business leaders, friends, captains of industry, family members and associates had paid tributes to the late banking guru at the events held in Lagos.

The funeral service for the esteemed banker and philanthropist commenced promptly at 11:00 AM today, with friends, associates, and well-wishers from both local and international communities, gathered to pay their final respects.

Present at the service include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Governor Sim Fubara, State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, business leader Aliko Dangote, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Governor Alex Otti, and Governor Dapo Abiodun.

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