• Ramadan begins Monday, Sultan declares

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Monday, March 11, 2024 as the first day of the Ramadan in Nigeria.

His declaration followed the sighting of the new crescent in Sokoto on Sunday in a radio and television broadcast.

The sultan in a broadcast said the new moon was sighted in different parts of the country.

He said: “After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and states committees’ confirmation, as well as routine scrutiny, I hereby announce the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan which signifies the end of Sha’aban 1445 AH.

”In accordance with Islamic law, Muslim Ummah is to commence fasting on Monday the 11th of March 2024 accordingly”.

Adding, he said: “We call on all Nigerians to continue to live peacefully with one another irrespective of religious, ethnic or tribal difference”.

 

• Ramadan: Atiku urges Muslims to seek Allah’s mercy, forgiveness

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has enjoined Muslim faithful in Nigeria to spend more time supplicating to God for His mercy on the country and on individuals and extend their charity to the less privileged as they begin the Ramadan fasting.

Abubakar, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja on Sunday, advised Muslims to assume the month of Ramadan by seeking Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

He said that by the sighting of the Ramadan moon, Muslims across the world, especially in Nigeria,

“The month of Ramadan is a mercy from God upon humanity and all those who partake of the fasting.

“It is for that reason that the Almighty also enjoins us to show more love to one another and deepen our charity in the holy month,” he said.

Abubakar said that this year’s Ramadan was happening at a time when there was hardship in the country.

“It therefore becomes more important for those with means to ensure that they extend their charity far greater than the previous years,” he said.

The former vice president enjoined every Muslim to be steadfast in the requirements of the holy month.

He urged them to pray that the Almighty Allah should shower His mercy and blessings on Nigeria and guide the country to increased prosperity and peace, during and after the Ramadan period.

 

• Tinubu will complete all federal roads in Kogi, Umahi assures

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to ensure that all ongoing federal road projects in the state would be completed on schedule.

Umahi said this while on an inspection tour of federal road projects in Kogi State on Sunday.

According to the Minister, President Tinubu is interested in the early completion of outstanding sections on the Lokoja-Ganaja road which failed due to the impact of flood in the area.

Umahi also revealed sections of the Lokoja-Okene-Auchi-Benin Highway which will now have a flyover bridge around the Obajana junction in Lokoja.

Umahi, who also inspected the Felele and Akpanya sections of the Lokoja-Abuja Highway, assured that work on seven critical points on the road will soon be ramped up.

He advised contractors handling the road projects to stick to the specifications of the project designs and ensure the completion of the projects within the approved time frame.

In his remarks, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo represented by the Deputy Governor, Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu who accompanied the minister on the inspection tour commended the Federal Government for according high priority to federal roads in the state.

The Deputy Governor assured the Minister of the continued cooperation and support of the Kogi State Government towards the completion of all federal road projects in the state.

 

• Culture Minister Musawa visits Soyinka: What they discussed

The Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has sought the support of the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, in promoting the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

Musawa made the call during a courtesy visit to Soyinka, according to a statement issued by Nneka Anibeze, Special Adviser to the Minister.

According to the Minister, the Minister sought the support of Soyinka to provide strategies for the promotion and preservation of literary arts in the country.

She said that the sector needed to tap into the wealth of experience of the literary icon

“It is an honour to share my vision for the development of the arts, culture, and creative economy with the Nobel Laureate.

“The purpose of this visit is to invite you to share your invaluable experience with us, including insights, guidance, and advice on how to add to the development of literary arts in the country.

“This is the first time that we are having a ministry created specifically for this sector which is the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.

“Nigeria has a huge culture content including music, films, fashion and literary arts of which our priorities include the preservation of literary works.

“This, we intend carrying out by formulating policies that will ward off piracy and plagiarism,” she said.

According to Musawa, Nigeria boasts of great writers like Prof. Wole Soyinka, the late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie, Prof. Okey Ndibe and many others.

She said, “We will be happy to see Prof. Soyinka lead the way on these strategies.

“We look unto your antecedents for initiatives to encourage the younger generation to embrace and celebrate their cultural identity.”

The minister also discussed initiatives to encourage the younger generation to embrace and celebrate their cultural identity, artistic and creative development, as well as opportunities for collaboration and innovation in the creative economy.

She said the initiative of cultural diplomacy and utilising arts and culture as tools for international diplomacy and promoting the nation’s cultural diversity on the global stage would also be looked into.

She noted that she eagerly anticipates the opportunity to engage in a meaningful collaboration with Soyinka and look forward to the potential of collaboration for the advancement of arts, culture, and the creative economy.

Responding, Soyinka expressed delight in the visit and described his interest in culture and literary arts as a comparative one.

He called for a conscious effort at preserving the culture and tradition of the Nigerian people.

“Culture is interrelated and inter-connected with different other cultures, so culture is universal.

“Nigerians are faced with diverse issues due to the neglect of heritages and monuments.

“We need to promote indigenous languages and cultures to preserve morals and values across the country.

“The performing artiste is at a disadvantage, as his resources are limited. All an actor can do is join forces. Nigeria boasts of writers, musicians, painters, sculptors and artists who believe in opening up certain horizons for human striving.

“I am an artist and a producer, a creative person and I like to go into galleries, to listen to music and to read books.

“The arts are the material expression of the people’s essence, of their spirituality, and of their dignity. Return the spirituality to Africa by returning all the looted works,” he said.

 

• Tinubu launches student loan Thursday, foreign scholars seek inclusion

President Bola Tinubu will launch the Student Loan Scheme on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, said this on Sunday during TVC’s Politics on Sunday monitored by our correspondent.

On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale highlighted some of the President’s welfare initiatives being implemented at the moment, saying, “Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme.”

“This is a major form of obligation reduction for Nigerians and families and young people at a time when Nigerians are feeling the pinch. We believe this is the way to go,” he added.

Tinubu had on June 12, 2023, signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

The move was in “fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said.

The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which is expected to handle all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

The government initially said it would take effect in September, but it did not. It later shifted the take-off to January but that also did not happen.

The President proposed N50bn for its take-off in the 2024 budget he presented to the National Assembly last November

On February 7, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, exclusively confirmed to our correspondent that the much-awaited scheme would go live on February 21, when President Tinubu launches it at the State House, Abuja.

However, the launch was delayed, with Sawyerr, alongside Presidency sources, explaining that the lag time was to enable the fund to expand its mandate to include students seeking loans for skills development, as directed by the President.

After receiving a briefing from the NELFUND team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the President directed the fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

Tinubu based his decision on the need for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue a university education, noting that skill acquisition is as essential as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas,” he said.

Linking this directive to the delay, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga had told the Newsmen, “Don’t forget that the last time they met, the President asked them to go and expand their mandate to include those who want to learn vocational skills. That could be the reason why the whole thing was delayed; they had to increase the scope.”

On Saturday, Sawyerr also told our correspondent that the delay was due to unperfected backend systems to power the application process as the scheme is “entirely technologically driven.”

He said, “The delay in take-off was basically to enable the agency to put all necessary measures in place as the scheme is entirely technologically driven.”

Meanwhile, members of the Nigerian community in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom have called for the inclusion of students studying abroad in the student loan scheme.

Representing the community members in a meeting with the acting Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Cyprian Heen, on Saturday, Tunmise Ajiboye urged him to advocate the inclusion of students in foreign countries in the government’s loan scheme.

In a statement on Sunday by Ajiboye, he noted that enabling students abroad to participate in the loan scheme would contribute to improving access to higher education for Nigerians studying overseas.

He also urged the government to provide support for students regarding exchange rates and foreign exchange, ensuring that they have access to favourable rates and assistance in managing their financial needs.

He said, “As a representative of Nigerians living here in the United Kingdom, we are gathered here not just as individuals seeking education and economic breakthroughs but as a collective voice demanding support and recognition from our government back home.

“Therefore, today, we stand united in calling upon the Nigerian government to make the following requests:

“Diaspora voting: International passport renewal delivery by post in Nigeria and the diaspora.

“Support for the students in the exchange rate and FX; inclusion of Nigerians studying abroad in the proposed student loan programme of the Federal Government.

“Lastly, provide a platform for Nigerians living abroad who may want their children to get Nigeria’s state of origin.”

 

 

VOICE AIR MEDIA – Osun Online Influencing Platform Of The Year (2023).

FOR your Advert Placement, Press Release, Press Conference, Interviews, Media & Publicity.

Contact: 08072633727 or voiceairmedia@gmail.com