Akwa Pluz

Executive Secretary, Benue State Teaching Service Board, Dr. Wilfred Uji, has called on the Federal Government to constitute the National Commission for Secondary Schools. Uji made the call during an advocacy visit by members of the Local Organising Committee for this year’s International Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA). He lamented that the reduction of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) cut-off marks from 180 to 120, clearly shows serithe ous decay in the education system.  If constituted, therefore, the commission would identify numerous challenges confronting post-primary schools with a view to tackling them headlong. Uji challenged the state chapter of ANA to set up reading and writing clubs across secondary schools, adding that he had directed that students in day schools be allowed one hour of reading, while preps be organised for their counterparts in the boarding house. He thanked the ANA local organizing committee members for...

Musical taliban Sound Sultan, Timi Dakolo, Nosa, Soma of Big Brother and comedians Seyi Law, ATM and Ball Joint are among artistes set to grace the Voices of Hope Awards which will hold at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos on Friday, September 29, 2017. The awards which is part of events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dignity For The Helpless Foundation (DHF), a non-governmental organisation, which was founded in 2006 by Samuel Brown, a musician, pastor and author. DHF was set up to care for less privileged members of the society. According to the co-ordinator of the awards, Ebitari David, 50 Nigerians who have showed care to Nigerians would be presented with an Appreciation Award in 12 different categories. DHF organises its activities within five pillars which include Healthcare Assistance, Youth Empowerment, Social Development, Poverty Alleviation and Legal Help Help Support. Through this, the NGO with the slogan, ‘passion to serve,’ has intervened in assisting les...

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (retd), said on Friday the Federal Government would soon introduce a programme aimed at ending gas flaring in the region. Boroh spoke during the inauguration of a water project in Gelegele-Gbene community near Benin in Ovia North East local government area of Edo. Boro said the programme, tagged “National Gas Flaring Commercialization Programme” would generate about 36, 000 direct jobs and 200, 000 indirect jobs in the Niger Delta. He said the gas would be harnessed for cooking, electricity and other industrial uses, adding that government had identified 48 sites for the first phase of the programme. Boroh, who did not give effective date for the commencement of the programme, said the programme had been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). “I want you all to know that the government is quite disturbed about the health and environmental impact of gas flaring and is working hard to put...

•Boroh lists gains of initiative since 2009 Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme,  Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh,  has said over  five million people in Niger Delta have benefited from the initiative  since 2009. Gen. Boroh, who is the special adviser to the President on Niger Delta, spoke in Akure  shortly after receiving an award as Niger Delta Peace Ambassador from the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ), Ondo State council. He said the  programme was initiated in 2009, following conflicts in the region. Boroh said he cannot be specific on the amount the Federal Government spent  in restoring peace in the area. “For all I know, the programme has impacted  on well over five  million people in the region and aided efforts to achieve peace in the Niger Delta,’’ he said. He commended President Muhammadu  Buhari for sustaining the programme, saying this demonstrated  his concern for Niger Delta. Also, speaking at a to...

Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has been commended for setting up a cocoa processing factory in Ikom Local Government Area by Mr. Chris Agara, the Chairman of A.A Universal Agro Industries Limited. Agara told reporters in Calabar that the project, which has reached an advanced stage, would boost cocoa production in the state when completed. According to him, the factory, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2018, would be processing over 30,000 metric tons of cocoa annually. Agara, who said he has been supporting the growth of the project, added that the initiative was borne out of his desire to promote cocoa production in the state.

A new research has proven that having sex could spur some sort of connection with divinity in us as human beings. According to a Semester talk delivered by Christopher West and titled: “God, Sex and The Meaning of Life”, sex releases a chemical that is vital love and affection sharing. The chemical, oxytocin, which plays a crucial role in social bonding, sexual reproduction in both sexes, and during and after childbirth, is also known as the “hug hormone” and “cuddle chemical”. Oxytocin was discovered by an English pharmacologist and physiologist, Sir Henry Dale in 1906. This bonding chemical occurs naturally within us and is stimulated during sex, childbirth, and breastfeeding. For a long time the chemical has been known to promote social bonding, trust, and even altruism. Now, scientists at the North Carolina university in America say it could also incite spirituality in men too.

What makes an Embassy or Consulate reject providing you with a Schengen Visa? This is the question many people ask anytime they are about to apply for such a visa. The fact is that whenever a Schengen visa or any visa gets rejected, there is something UNSATISFACTORY as regards of that visa application. Many visa applicants get confused and unable to exactly understand the reason for their visa refusal. That is why the article will focus on presenting the commonly known reasons for such refusal. A visa application might be considered unsuccessful if the consular officer fails to get from the candidate all the needed information about him/her. Lacking to possess such information, the consular officer will be incapable of deciding if the candidate qualifies to be given a visa. On the other hand, sometimes the consular might get information from the applicant that is unacceptable or beyond the fixed procedures. Sometimes the candidate is prone of illegitimate and/or dishones...

The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the state government to make workers’ welfare a priority and halt the spate of industrial strife in the state. This was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Lokoja by the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bode Ogunmola. The statement was in reaction to the indefinite strike embarked on by the workers in protest against non payment of salary and other related issues. The Director-General on Media and Publicity to the state governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, has, however, described the strike as a failure, insisting that the workers did not comply with labour’s directive. According to Ogunmola: “With the volume of cash inflow to the state through monthly allocations, Paris Club refunds, Bailout Fund, IGR, among others; it (Kogi) shouldn’t have any business with unpaid salaries, if its handlers were prudent. “A situation where the governor and his coterie of largely unproductive political appoi...

Three suspected Boko Haram members on Friday appeared before a Koton-Karfe Chief Magistrate Court in Kogi State for allegedly belonging to the terror sect. Those arraigned were – Abdullahi Audu, Bashiru Yahaya and their spiritual head, Ahmed Momoh. The pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecuting counsel, Mohammed Abaji, told the court that the defendants were arrested in June by security men. Others are at large, he said. Abaji said investigation and analysis of their telephone numbers revealed that they were not only members of the sect but had also carried out repairs of the terrorists’ computers. The prosecutor also said the defendants had carried out repairs of other electronic components owned by the insurgents and used them for their nefarious activities. According to him, the third defendant, Momoh is the spiritual head of the gang mandated to prepare ‘’charms/Ruqya’’ for members of the group and their families, before and during operations. Abaji prayed ...

The separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is now a “militant terrorist organisation” in Nigeria, military authorities declared yesterday. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said in a statement in Abuja that IPOB poses security challenge to the country by clandestinely and actively terrorising the general public. It listed such acts of terrorism as the formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads and extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks. The DHQ therefore urged parents to dissuade their wards from joining the group. The Director, Defence Information (DDI), Maj-Gen. John Enenche, who signed the statement, spoke of the determination of the Armed Forces to confront “all security challenges facing the country.” Enenche also pledged the continued protection of lives and property in all parts of the country by the military. He said: “After due profession...