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YMCA organises debate on climate change, to establish club in Nasarawa secondary schools
Solomon Attah,Lafia
A faith based Non-governmental Organization, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), in collaboration with the Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria says, it would establish climate change club in some secondary schools in Nasarawa State.
Ango Adamu, the Executive Secretary YMCA, Mada Hills disclosed this during inter-schools debate on impacts of climate change in Lafia.
Adamu said that, the establishment of the club would increase climate change campaign in the state.
According to him, the campaign against climate change in the secondary schools will disabuse the contrary perceptions among the students and the teachers as to whether or not climate change is real.
“Today, we are in the Nasarawa south senatorial zone in continuation of the school debate on climate change to expose ignorance and myth people have about climate change.
“We want the people of the state to be aware especially those who have some believes and myths that the climate change does not exist to know that is real.
“We count on you to step down this awareness in your schools. We also want to establish climate change club in these two schools for a start.
“The schools are Aunty Dele College, Shinge, Lafia and ERCC Calvary Secondary School, Bukan Sidi, Lafia.
“We will continue to collaborate and work with you in our next year programmes as we continue in the fight against climate change,” he said.
He said that the YMCA had organised similar inter-school debate in the west and north senatorial zones where students and teachers alike turned out in large numbers to witness.
He explained that, the school debate programme was part of activities of the African Activists for Climate Justice Project (AACJ) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and carried out by OXFAM through the YMCA.
Adamu said, AACJ is a Pan Africa project that is being implemented in Nigeria of which Nassarawa State is a beneficiary.
“The goal of the project is to amplify and unite the voices of Africans, demanding that the most vulnerable groups; women, youths and local indigenous communities in the target countries have the capacity to defend and realise their human rights.
“And also live a decent and dignify life in a healthy and sustainable environment within the context of climate emergency,” he said.
Ephraim Agbashim, Principal, Aunty Dele College, Shinge, Lafia thanked the YMCA for organising the debate, adding that it would enlighten students more about the climate change.
Also speaking, Obadiah-Ewuga Akpu, Principal, ERCC Calvary Secondary School, Bukan Sidi, Lafia, appreciated the YMCA and partners for sustaining effort in combating climate change and noted that the debate would equip students and teachers with more knowledge on climate change.
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.