Gov Kefas tasks corps members on jobs, wealth creation for teaming youths in Taraba

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

    The Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu kefas has on Friday tasked the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) posted to serve in the State to creating wealth through Entrepreneurship.

     Kefas disclosed this during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2024 batch 'C' stream 1 set, deployed to Taraba State for the one-year mandatory national service at the NYSC orientation camp in Sibere, Ardo-kola local government area of the State.

    Represented by the Chief of Staff government house, , Dr jeji Williams, Kefas urged the newly sworn-in corps members to participate in all the activities in the camp to have a knowledge of any given skills to be safe-employ after their service year and as well train others.

   "The Moving Forward policy initiative of the State Government is on course and has started yielding dividends in all the vital sectors of the state. We have made painstaking efforts to rejuvenate some of the private and public businesses and job-creating enterprises in the state. This move is geared towards providing them with the needed support to produce more and create wealth and jobs for our teeming youths.

     "Tere is no gainsaying the fact that the youths play a pivotal role in the growth of any Nation. I must add that we recognize this very fact in the state. We have made giant strides in this respect by incorporating a lot of youths into our administration. We enjoin you all to partner with them to galvanize ideas on how to play a role and contribute to the development of the Educational, Agricultural, Healthcare, Tech and ICT, Environmental Sanitation, Green and Clean Energy, and Tourism sectors of the state's economy", he said.

     Earlier, Taraba State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Ella Aji Williams noted that the orientation exercise would provide them with the opportunity to learn vocational skills and set up business of their own instead of searching for jobs after they one-year national service.

The coordinator commended the State Governor, Dr Agbu kefas for his continuous assistance to the NYSC scheme in the State.

    "I consider it important to remind you that the orientation course encompasses Para-military Drills, Socials, Sanitation, Lectures, Sports, and noble self-developing Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programs amongst others. You are required to actively participate in the scheduled programs of the orientation course as it would increasingly prepare and equip you physically and mentally to face the rigor and challenges of the service year" he said.

Four killed in fresh farmer/Herder's clash in Taraba

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

No fewer than four persons have been reported dead following a fresh conflict that erupted between herders and farmers in Karim-Lamido LGA of Taraba State.

The violence which occurred in Bambur community of the council, was reported to have started on Thursday after a heated argument over farmland escalated, resulting in fatalities and injuries of varying degrees.

Confirming the incident, the council chairman, Bitrus Danjos, stated that measures have been implemented to prevent further loss of lives and property.

He disclosed that security personnel have been deployed to the affected areas to restore normalcy.

"When the issue arose, the council acted swiftly by collaborating with security agencies to bring the situation under control," Danjos said. 

Though he could not give the exact figure of those who sustained injuries, he confirmed that those injured are currently receiving medical attention at Bambur General Hospital and Zailani Dispensary.

He urged the warring parties to embrace peace, assuring the community that efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter amicably through dialogue and other measures.

"The council is committed to ensuring a peaceful resolution and has taken various steps to engage stakeholders in meaningful discussions," Danjos emphasized.

When contacted, the Taraba State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Usman Abubakar, said heavily armed anti riot policemen have been drafted to the area, and that normalcy had been restored.

While residents of the community claimed that four deaths were recorded, Police sources told our reporter that only one person was killed, and two others injured

ANI Expresses Concern Over Activities of Illegal Miners in National Park

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

A non-governmental organization, Africa Nature Investors (ANI), on Thursday expressed concern over the activities of illegal miners who they said are gradually taking over the northern part of Gashaka-Gumti National Park.

The organisation called on the state and federal governments to address this concern before it gets out of hand.

The Executive Director of Africa Nature Investors, Mr. Morakinyo Tunde, disclosed this during the commissioning of the Gumti outpost of the Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Mr. Morakinyo noted that illegal mining poses a significant challenge to ANI's core mission of developing and protecting Gashaka-Gumti National Park, aiming to make it a hub of development in Nigeria.

"The northern part of the national park still faces threats ranging from logging, farm encroachment, illegal cattle grazing, and illegal mining," he said.

"The problem with illegal mining is that it attracts criminals from across the country, which creates a new problem not only for the park but also for surrounding communities. I call on the state and federal governments to support us in closing down these illegal mining operations to ensure that visitors to the park are not faced with the threat of criminality, as seen in other parts of the country. This park has been one of the most peaceful in Nigeria, and we want it to remain so."

Mr. Morakinyo explained that establishing an outpost in the northern part of the park was aimed at tackling insecurity and creating more job opportunities for the youth in nearby communities.

"For many years, the northern Gashaka-Gumti sector faced serious security challenges, and there were no permanent rangers stationed in this part of the park. So, we collaborated with the National Park Service to build this Gumti outpost. I am pleased to say that, thanks to the partnership between the ANI Foundation and the National Park Service, we now have a presence in an area that once faced major security issues."

"This outpost permanently houses over 50 rangers and support staff, has 24-hour electricity, year-round water supply, continuous internet access, and is a testament to our commitment to make this park a catalyst for development in Nigeria, contributing to better livelihoods," he added.

In his address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, thanked the ANI Foundation for its dedication to preserving the country's natural heritage for tourism purposes.

Represented by the Conservator General of the National Park Service, Ibrahim Goni, Balarabe reaffirmed the Federal Government's support for ANI's projects and programs aimed at developing and promoting Nigeria’s natural heritage through the Federal Ministry of Environment.

"The strategic collaboration between the National Park Service and Africa Nature Investors began in November 2017 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which has yielded positive outcomes, as witnessed today. This partnership aims to provide technical and financial support to the service in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, enhancing park protection, policing, and management," he said.

Responding, the Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, represented by the Council Chairman of Toungo Local Government Area, Mr. Ahmed Sule, pledged to provide a conducive environment for the National Park Service and ANI Foundation to operate without hindrance.

CJ launches digitisation of court proceedings in Taraba

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

Justice Joel Agya, Chief Judge of Taraba on Wednesday commenced  the digitisation of court proceedings.

Agya, during a court sitting at the Court One,  state High Court Jalingo,  said that all  courts would eventually be digitstized after the pilot programme.

He expressed satisfaction with the application of the new technology, confirming that it had  fastracted  court proceedings.

Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer, Comprehensive Software Solutions Nigeria Ltd, the firm handling the installation of the e-court, said that the digitisation  was in line with the global best practices.

Ibrahim said that the process has limited challenges as it fastracted speedy dispensation of sound judgments.

He added that the firm was training staff of the court on technical process in the handling the technology.

"You can see it by your self how fast e-court can enable judges in speedy handling of cases.

"Court proceedings that can take up to six hours today took  one and half  hours,” Ibrahim said.

Mr Micheal Angwe, one of the counsels in the court congratulated the CJ  on the installation of e-court.

Angwe said that the electronic proceedings would go along way in  enthronement of speedy dispensation of justice.

Our correspondent reports that the court, which commenced it sitting at 9 am closed at 11 am after hearing eight cases.

Society for Family Health moves to train 1,111 teachers on student’s health, and wellbeing

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

Society for Family Health in collaboration with the Taraba State Ministry of Education funded by the UNESCO is set to train 1,111 teachers on Education for health and wellbeing of students in Taraba state

This was disclosed at an advocacy and sensitisation meeting on Education for Health and Wellbeing (EHW) organized by the Society for Family Health in Jalingo.

Speaking during the advocacy, Aisha Dadi, Programme Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH), presented the goals and objective of the project which is funded by UNESCO to the participants.

She further said that the Ministers of education and health made the commitment for education, healthy and thriving adolescents and young people in Kintele, Republic of Congo, on April 6, 2023. The commitment known as the West and Central Africa (WCA) commitment aims to promote education, healthy, and resilient adolescents and young people across 25 countries of the region.  

She said with a growing population of adolescents and youth in WCA, there is an opportunity to reap an unprecedented demographic dividend if they are educated, healthy and employed.

"However, some challenges have to be overcome to be able to achieve this which includes; School completion rate, New HIV infection and knowledge of HIV, Risk associated with the use of internet, social norms and gender based violence, unmet needs for family planning, menstrual hygiene, early and unintended pregnancies, Drug abuse amongst many others.

"The UNESCO O3 project (“Our Rights, Our Lives Our Future”) which focuses on enhancing education, health and wellbeing for adolescents will be addressing some of the challenges in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Education.

"In Taraba State, Society for Family Health (SFH) will support the Taraba State Ministry of Education to implement in the project in selected schools across three local governments areas; Jalingo, Gassol and Wukari. 

"A total of 1, 111 teachers will be trained to enhance the wellbeing of the students in Primary and secondary schools in the state. SFH also requested that the Ministry of Education should collaborate with other stakeholders with the support of the office of the first lady to scale up the training to the remaining LGAs with strong supervision of the quality assurance directorate of the ministry", she said.

She also emphasized on the important role of parents, religious and traditional leaders to provide all the enabling environment for the success of the project in their various localities.

In her addressed, the Taraba State Commissioner for Education, Dr Augustina Godwin stated that the aim of the meeting was to intensify the implementation of the Policy of Education for Health and Wellbeing (EHW)/Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE).

Represented by the Permanent Secretary ministry of Education, Alhaji Idris Goje, Augustina urged the participants to provide all the support needed to ensure the success of the programme in their various ministries and communities.

She emphasized that the success of the project will be in-line with the efforts of Governor Agbu's free education policy.

The occasion also feature interactive session where stakeholders made their contributions on the way forward to ensure quality learning, health and wellbeing among learners in the State.

Global Warming: How illegal miners wreaks havoc in Taraba -Taskforce Boss

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

 Taskforce Committee Chairman on Suspension of Mining and Deforestation Activities, Retired General Jeremiah Faransa has Wednesday say that the activities of illegal miners have cause a lot of havoc ushering in global warming and climate change in the State.

Faransa stated this while briefing Newsmen in Jalingo, where he said that, the activities of miners has stated manifesting by the long draught experienced in August this year.

He stressed that if measures are not properly taken, Taraba State would experience desert encroachment more than Borno State.

General Faransa also disclosed that the global warming is right here at the nose and the need to send packing the illegal miners.

He stated that numerous arrests have been made since the coming on board of Taraba special taskforce, even as he said all miners in Taraba State are defaulters.

"We have gone round the mining sites in the 16 local government areas of the State, and I want to State categorically that the level of destruction done in this state can never be imagine, the State have been destroy by the illegal miners.

"We arrested so many people including foreigners with expired visa within the State. 

"Taraba State have 22 over forest reserve but on the very sad note, all those forest reserved have been destroyed, some of them has turn to farmlands, some turn to mining sites", he said.