EFS inaugurates Taraba office, donates sanitary pads, and adolescent girls

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Environmentally Friendly Share bicycle (EFS), an online platform inaugurated an office on Saturday and distributed sanitary pads to adolescent girls in the state.

Speaking at the event, Taraba State EFS Coordinator, Amb. Boniface Koson, said the platform had distinguished itself by delivering consistent rewards and support to members since it began operations in Nigeria in 2023.

According to Koson, the platform was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and SCUML in January 2026, and since then many members in Taraba have benefited from gifts ranging from power banks and water flasks to Android phones, bicycles, gas cookers, bags of rice, stabilisers, freezers, and Bluetooth headphones.

"EFS has distinguished itself from many unstable online platforms by proving to be reliable, rewarding, and genuinely committed to the welfare of its members," he said.

He said that EFS had sponsored social events such as Sallah and Easter dinners to promote unity and a sense of belonging among members.

Correspondent reports that the event also marked the symbolic celebration of EFS reaching one million registered members in Nigeria, represented by the cakes sponsored by the platform.

He noted that as part of its outreach, EFS distributed sanitary pads to adolescent girls in the community. 

"EFS has provided sanitary pads for adolescent girls, particularly those who have begun their menstrual cycle. This thoughtful gesture reflects EFS’s concern not only for financial empowerment but also for health, dignity, and hygiene management within our communities," Koson added.

He emphasised that while the new Shavoh office was a temporary location, plans were underway to move to a larger space to accommodate the platform’s growing membership.

Koson urged guests who were not yet members to join, stressing that EFS offers a platform to improve financial stability and is part of a supportive community.

Also speaking at the commissioning ceremony, chairman of the occasion, Prof. Othaniel Mnyina commended the effort of the platform noting that it is genius and urged nonmembers to key in to it.

"This platform now has an office where you can run to whenever you have an issue, that's to tell you how genius it is," he said.

2027: Taraba North senatorial Aspirant Bandawaire rejects consensus, demands direct APC primaries

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Senatorial aspirant for Taraba North, Hon. Kabiru Bello Bandawaire, has rejected moves toward consensus in the All Progressives Congress primaries, insisting on a direct and transparent process.

Bandawaire made this known on Friday in Jalingo while interacting with newsmen, noted that his priority is representing the people, not the government, and argued that consensus undermines democratic choice. 

Bandawaire questioned why a three-term senator would push for consensus instead of primaries, asking, "What is the fear about? If you opt for consensus in the primary election, what about the general elections? That is not democracy.

"First and foremost, it is not about the government, it is about the people. I am representing the interest of the people, on this issue of consensus, I am not consenting to it at all. All I want is direct primaries, and direct primaries should be under a transparent process. The beauty of democracy is that the majority is always welcome.

"The fillers I am getting are that the governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, needs to do more homework. People are digging a grave for him. I am begging him to please allow direct primaries to go on seamlessly. He should not interfere, because interference will have a negative effect," he said.

Bandawaire while reacting to comments at a recent stakeholders’ meeting that primaries waste resources, he explained that it is the party, not the state government should fund the process. 

He challenged the governor to test his own stance on consensus by asking the incumbent northern senator to step down for him. 

"The party sold forms, we purchased forms. I purchased a form for N20,000,000, likewise other people, so the party has the responsibility to fund its activities, not the state government.

"Since I am not consenting to consensus, let the governor try whether the northern senator will consent to consensus by choosing me, and see whether he will agree. If he is not going to agree, why should I agree?" he said.

Jalingo Catholic Diocese Begins Communication Week with Call for Responsible Media Use

Catholic Church of Jalingo Diocese Rev. Charles Hammawa (photo source: Unitatis Media)

 By Thomas Samuel 

The Catholic Bishop of Jalingo Diocese, Charles Hammawa, has urged Christians to use technological advancement to propagate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Bishop made the call during the opening session of a week-long activity marking this year’s Communication Week.

Bishop Charles said communication is integral to human existence and that its application could either make or mar harmonious coexistence in society.

He said modern-day technology has changed the manner in which communication is created, shared, and consumed, hence the decision by the mother church to set aside a period to reflect and chart a course toward making effective use of available platforms to promote peace, love, and combat hate and misinformation.

In his speech, the Director of Communications of Jalingo Diocese, Abraham Sauman, said the Diocese was observing the week for the first time.

Director communication father Abraham Sauman (photo source: Unitatis Media)

He explained that in the past, the communication unit organized activities to mark the day, but this year the invitation was extended to communication professionals as part of efforts to strengthen the church’s media communication.

“It is within this understanding that the Catholic Church annually celebrates World Communications Day. Instituted by the Second Vatican Council through the decree "Inter Mirifica", World Communications Day invites the faithful to reflect on the role of communication and the media in the mission of the Church and in human society. The Church recognizes that communication is not secondary to evangelization; rather, it is at the heart of the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations,” he added.

Father Abraham further said: “The Holy Father (Pope Leo) reminds us that communication is deeply human and sacred. In his message, he writes: ‘Faces and voices are sacred.’ He further explains that every human face and voice reveals the unique dignity and identity of the person created in the image of God .”

He encouraged parishioners to use the week as an opportunity for renewed commitment to evangelization through communication, adding that: “Through our parish activities, media engagements, workshops, publications, broadcasts, and digital platforms, we must make Christ known to our world.”

Don warns against eroding University standards in Teacher Education Reform

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

A Professor of Mathematics Education at the Taraba State University, John Tyavbee Ajai, has cautioned the Federal Government against reforms that could erode the integrity of university degrees in Nigeria by expanding the scope of degree-awarding roles to Colleges of Education.

In an open letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr Draruf Tunji Alausa on Sunday, Ajai said the debate around the proposed Continuous Five-Year NCE Degree structure highlights deeper questions about the future of Nigeria’s tertiary education system, Argued that policy changes must preserve institutional coherence and academic credibility.

He noted that Nigeria’s higher education system was historically built on clear differentiation, where Universities handled advanced scholarship and research, polytechnics focused on technical training, and colleges of Education concentrated on pedagogical preparation through the Nigeria Certificate in Education framework.

"Over time, however, those distinctions have steadily weakened," Ajai wrote. He pointed out that polytechnics now seek conversion into universities, while Colleges of Education run degree programs through affiliation arrangements with universities, blurring institutional mandates.

Ajai stressed that a university degree derives its legitimacy from more than classroom instruction,  andtressed that it reflects participation in a scholarly ecosystem marked by research culture, postgraduate engagement, peer review, and professorial leadership.

"What is less common in mature higher education systems is the long-term dependence on affiliation arrangements in which non-university institutions administer university degree programmes without full institutional integration.

"The deeper challenge confronting teacher education in Nigeria is the need to strengthen the attractiveness and professional standing of teaching itself," he said.

He warned that parallel pathways producing identical degrees under unequal academic cultures could weaken public trust.

Don added that accreditation processes often emphasise procedural compliance over deeper indicators of academic culture such as research vitality, scholarly engagement, and postgraduate activity. This, he said, creates a gap between certificate equivalence and academic equivalence.

He urged the government to strengthen Colleges of Education as centres of pedagogical excellence rather than expand degree pathways without corresponding investment in research capacity, staffing, and governance.

Ajai recommended a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s tertiary education philosophy to restore clearer roles for universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education. 

He also called for stricter joint quality assurance frameworks between the NUC and NCCE for institutions running affiliation programs, urged the ministry to initiate a national stakeholder dialogue to develop a coherent long-term framework for tertiary education reform.

"Educational systems are not strengthened merely by expanding access to credentials. They are strengthened through institutional coherence, quality assurance, scholarly credibility, and public trust," he concluded.