₦airaland Forum

Turaki of Ilorin hails Kashim Shettima on 56th birthday 

The Turaki of Ilorin, Mallam Saliu Mustapha has felicitated with Senator Kashim Shettima, APC vice-presidential candidate, on the occasion of his 56th birthday.

In a message on Friday, Mr. Mustapha who is the APC Senatorial candidate for Kwara Central, said "Senator Kashim Shettima needs no introduction nationally. Regarded as the star-boy from the North, our quintessential incoming Vice President has gained admiration with his dynamic personality and force of credibility.

"A refined intellectual, a relentless achiever, and an eloquent speaker, this detribalized and distinguished Senator rose through the corporate ladder in the banking industry for the same sterling leadership qualities which make him a model thinker.

"A walking encyclopedia whose understanding of national and economic issues, coupled with his educational background as an agricultural economist, position him as an ideal copilot to direct, manage, and safeguard our national patrimony.

"On this occasion of his birthday, I join his family and supporters to wish him a Happy Birthday and many more years in good health and service to humanity," he added.

CISLAC SENSITIZES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON ELECTION ETHICS IN KANO

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for law enforcement officials in Kano State to prioritize the security of the electorate and uphold election ethics and integrity in view of the upcoming 2023 general elections.

This call was made by the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) during a training for Law Enforcement Officers in Kano state organized by CISLAC in collaboration with Women in Media (WIM) on ethics and integrity” with support from MacArthur Foundation. Rafsanjani said the training was designed to sensitize law enforcement officials on how to demonstrate a high level of ethics and integrity while they ensure the maintenance of law and order during the upcoming elections.

He stressed that more needs to be done in safeguarding the security of the electorate because there are politicians who seek to use the youth to exercise violent acts in manipulating and deterring the electoral process.

In her remarks, the executive director WiM, Hajiya Halima Be Umar noted that it is time that we as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should elect the right people into office. She also commended the law enforcement agencies for their efforts especially considering the challenges they face in carrying out their duties.

During the presentation of the project overview, the Programme Lead for the Anti-Corruption Department CISLAC, Nigeria, Samuel Asimi stated that unlike previously, votes count, so desperate Politicians have resorted to the “do or die” affair tactics which has led to vote trading. Therefore, there is need to uphold election ethics and integrity to encourage citizens in exercising their right to vote.

Also, the training included lecture presentations on the importance of ethics and integrity in law enforcement and interactive group work sessions on how to navigate ethics and integrity related challenges faced by law enforcement officials as they carry out their mandate.

TMG condemns nomination of APC members as INEC Commissioners

By Reginald Tobin

The Transformation Monitoring Group, TMG, has kicked against the alleged nomination of members of the All Progressive Congress, into key positions of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The Group which made its position known in a statement signed by its Chairman, Auwal Ibrahima Musa Rafsanjani, on Saturday, described the move as a strategy to influence the process and outcome of the election in favour of the APC.

The group, while expressing displeasure on the appointment of card carrying party members as INEC Commissioners and State Resident Electoral Commissioners, noted that the constitution of the Federal Republic is clear on the composition and structure of the electoral body.

The group said “While the provisions of 1999 Constitution are clear on the compositions, and major appointments into structure of the Electoral Body, we are displeased by the apparent partisanship and favouritism reported through the nominations of the party’s card-carrying members as INEC Commissioners and State Resident Electoral Commissioners.

“Some Nigerians alleged that the recent unmerited promotions and strategic deployments across the country initiated within the Commission was to upturn votes or create inconclusive situations that will be exploited by unscrupulous politicians in forcing or rigging their way into power.

“We are more concerned by the potential impact of such a major push from the Presidency on the overall credibility, transparency and integrity of the upcoming elections in 2023. Just as we condemn in totality the appointments of card-carrying members of any political party as a controlling strategy that can compromise the competence and objectivity of INEC, under which the independence and integrity of the Commission cannot be guaranteed to deliver free, fair and credible elections.”

The group called on President Buhari to uphold the commitment of his administration's fight against corruption, by withdrawing the names of party members and Chieftains nominated for key positions in the electoral body, replacing their names with people of integrity and unquestionable character.

The TMG also tasked the National Assembly to uphold democratic values and electoral integrity by rejecting the nomination of party Chieftains.

“TMG on this note call on President Muhammadu Buhari to in the spirit of his administration’s commitment to anti-corruption and transparency, withdraw all names of political party chieftains or card-carrying members contained in the nominations; and consider for immediate replacements, persons of integrity and unquestionable character, to demonstrate non-partisanship in the selections and nominations.

“We call on the National Assembly to reject confirmation of all nominated party chieftains and insist on transparency and non-partisanship in the selections, to uphold democratic value and electoral integrity, while proving respect for the sanity and sanctity of the rule of law.

“We also call on INEC to give detailed and verifiable positions of the nominated persons and rationale for their selections as well as prerequisite for the recent adjustments in the Commission’s structure and compositions at all levels,” The group said.

Civil leader, Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, said on Friday that the botched anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari presidency can be traced to a lack of concrete ideas and strategies on how to fight corruption.

Rafsanjani, who is the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, said his organization had always held doubt about the president’s willingness and capacity to fight corruption because he had refused to galvanize support from the tiers of government.

Now into the final ten months of Mr Buhari’s 8 years as President, corruption continues to be a prominent part of the political space and the civil service despite riding to the seat of President with an “anti-corruption mandate” as one of his cardinal projects back in 2015.

“The government has not been able to block the leakages, especially the revenue leakages,” said Rafsanjani, who is also the Chairman of Transformation Monitoring Group, TMG.

Despite initiatives like the Treasury Single Account, which was fully implemented by Mr Buhari’s office, Rafsanjani finds that there has been an uncontrolled diversion of public funds in Mr Buhari’s administration, to his discredit as President.

Only recently, the former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, was arrested by the EFCC for compromising the TSA and IPPIS in a N109 billion fraud.

“This is why the country is facing serious economic challenges,” he said.

According to Rafsanjani, there are traces of corruption across most government initiatives: the fuel subsidy, public procurement and recovery of looted funds.

In an interview with the Daily Nigerian, Mr Rafsanjani said of Mr Buhari’s anti-corruption rhetoric: “Right now, we are borrowing money to finance even payment of salary, to finance payment of subsidies which many people see as payment of fraud because we cannot be spending N4 Trillion on the so-called subsidy that Nigerians are not benefitting from

“The government under Muhammadu Buhari cannot account for the recoveries [of looted funds] both local and international. In all honesty and sincerity, Nigerians have not seen the impact of these recoveries.

“There is [also] corruption in defence procurement. Every day, you would hear a huge amount of money being spent yet insecurity is on the increase. The National Assembly is also increasing more funds for security, yet nobody is seeing any improvement.”

President Buhari is also faulted for failing to consolidate the anti-corruption charges of previous administrations.

“Take for example the public procurement law which was signed by Late President Yar’adua, it has been extremely disregarded by the officials of this regime,” he said. “The Freedom of Information Bill that was signed under President Goodluck Jonathan is completely disregarded.”

Rafsanjani added that the shrinking of the civil space and the unabated disobedience of court orders are not incidents that should occur in an administration keen on fighting corruption.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the plan of the Nigerian Governors' Forum to the federal government to offer Federal Civil Servants above 50 years of age, a one-off retirement package to exit the Service.

In a statement by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Rafsajani, he described the plan as an "unrealistic and lopsided proposal."

Part of the statement read, "...Such proposal was tendered in view of reducing overbearing cost of governance that has hitherto rendered Nigeria financially incapacitated to adequately finance the ailing critical sector of the economy, we cannot conceal the fact that it mirrors lop-sidedness, insincerity and lack of readiness by all levels of government to holistically address the contending issues backpedalling country’s socio-economic development."

While calling on the government to be vigilant matters irking governance and socio-economic inequalities in Nigeria, it noted that 85 percent of reform efforts have failed since independence.

Some of its concerns include the needless fuel subsidy regime, which serves as a major contributory challenge to the high cost of governance in Nigeria; unchecked inflated budget-line items, non-existed projects, and the over-costed public contracts that permeates budgetary and procurement processes at all levels; non-existent projects worth N4 billion which was reportedly discovered in the 2020 budget proposal of the National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA); Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) allegedly spent over N65 billion for the silting and clearing of water hyacinth against the 2.5 billion budgeted for the activity.

It further condemned the proposal by the NGF over unjustified huge salaries, allowances, benefits, and public-paid expenses enjoyed by the governors, their deputies, former speakers, and their deputies throughout and after their tenures.

Rafsanjani said, "We are also worried by the increasing clamours for life-time pensions and benefits accrued to public office holders across the states, constituting a major component of the rising cost of governance."

However, while urging all levels of government to give serious consideration to economic diversification to agricultural and industrial sectors through targeted public-private partnerships to discourage mono-economy, CISLAC advised President Muhammadu Buhari to be more proactive by addressing corruption, mismanagement of resources, and excessive çumulation of debts.

The centre also recommends immediate removal of the needless subsidies on petroleum, among many others.

CISLAC Urges EFCC, ICPC To Apprehend Masterminds of Vote-buying

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has advocated for the enforcement of laws governing the financing of political parties in the country.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, disclosed this on Thursday, during the working group meeting on the Strengthening Accountability Networks Among Civil Society (SANCUS) project held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The project, which is the first working group meeting of the centre was implemented by the Transparency International Secretariat (TIS) through its chapters in 21 countries, supported by the European Commission.

Rafsanjani noted that anti-grafts agencies have more work to do by not just apprehending vote buyers but also the masterminds of such illegal act.

Taking the recent Osun election as a case study where he commended efforts of the anti-graft commission, he, however, call upon relevant agencies to be activated in ensuring political parties involved in electoral offences are not spared.

He said, “We need to see prosecutions and conviction of those offenders as well as the politicians sending these individuals on these errands. The funds use to buy votes are moved through our financial institutions, and it is important for the anti-graft agencies to target the “big fishes”.

The Centre noted that alongside other civil society organizations, it had advocated and marched for the passage and assent of the electoral legal framework, and it is important for the society to enlighten the working group on the provisions so that it can all collectively utilize it from an informed position.

Rafsanjani, in his address was bothered on the crisis at the leadership of the country which has resulted to robbery, bandits, vote-buying, amongst others.

“Corruption is not just a threat but an enabler of other illicit conducts. Consequently, the motivation for corruption is more widespread during the period leading to elections. Therefore, all stakeholders must be alert to this and collaborate in ways that will mitigate these illicit flows,” he said.

However, he urged stakeholders to monitor compliance, monitor campaign, political spendings, follow up money in politics, press for the fulfillment of anti-corruption pledges, educate the public about political integrity, expose unexpected wealth of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), and mobilize critical mass of people to reject dirty money politics.

The SANCUS project has the aim to improve the democratic accountability of public institutions globally by empowering CSOs to demand for systemic change to address accountability and anti-corruption deficits.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate for Kwara Central Mallam Saliu Mustapha has expressed sympathy with traders at Alanamu Market, Ilorin in the aftermath of a fire incident that ravaged the market.

The inferno which was said to have occurred at midnight, destroyed many shops and properties worth millions of Naira.

According to a statement he personally signed, Mustapha who is also the Turaki of Ilorin commiserated with the Balogun of Alanamu, Dr Usman Abubakar Jos and the entire people of the community over the sad event.

"May Allah repay all the good people of Alanamu, who have suffered some levels of damages during the fire incident.

"I am saddened by the news of the inferno and and the amount of set-back for the victims who have lost what they laboured for.

"I pray Allah guide them to bear the loss and bless their lives," he said.

Zinger Wallet, a financial technology startup has launched a payment platform, aimed at addressing problems with payment methods in Africa’s biggest economy.

According to a statement from the company, the payment platform allows businesses to receive payments in a reliable, quick, and cheap manner through their in-app free data analytics dashboard while providing easy management of staff, departments, and customers.

“Zinger was built with the aim of making the payment collection process seamless and hassle-free,” David Edijala, the CEO and Co-Founder of Zinger Wallet said in a statement.

He added, “when we combined the concept of a unified payments system with a management system for individuals and businesses, we realized we had a powerful innovation”.

For the launch of the Zinger wallet, Zinger says it collaborated with the notable CEOs Network Africa, a platform known over the years to organize and galvanize professionals to intellectually stimulating events like the Under30CEOs Dinner Award & Cocktail, The CEOs Leadership Masterclass, and other world-class events.

“We believe that more focus should be placed on the actual transaction, rather than the process of making the payment which is why we designed our platform in such a simple manner. Over the next few years, we aim to be the major payment platform for all kinds of businesses in Nigeria as well as the major wallet platform for everyday users,” Edijala explained.

Alli-Bob, the Founder of CEOs Network Africa, expressed his delight in the Zinger Wallet project and in the team being part of the network.

Speaking at the event, he said, “our network will continue to support innovative and especially indigenous ideas like this that have the potential of bridging serious gaps in society.”

TMG Expresses Worry over Extension of Party Primaries' Deadline, Knocks INEC

The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for extending the deadline for the conduct of primary elections and submission of the list of nominated candidates for the 2023 general elections, from 4th to 9th of June 2022.

Chairman of the foremost election monitoring group, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in a statement on Friday, lamented the extension noting that the group received the news with great worries and concerns.

He said that at a time when Nigerians are beginning to have confidence in the electoral umpire some powerful forces are trying to undermine and pressurise it to doing their biddings.

Comrade Rafsanjani stated that: “A lot of political parties have made efforts in conducting their primaries and if the ruling party is still uncertain about the day to conduct its presidential primary elections that shouldn’t be the basis for the extension.”

The Group also condemned the vote-buying incidents in the ongoing political party primaries across the country, stating that “any financial inducements on delegates were tantamount to the mortgaging of the country’s future.”

Mr Rafsanjani said: “We are appalled by the incidents of vote-buying and sundry financial inducements on the delegates in the ongoing political party primaries across the country.

“Delegates should note that they don’t have to go to the extent of mortgaging Nigeria’s future on the altar of ephemeral financial gratifications. They should think of Nigeria first before any other considerations.

“Our observers reported that aspirants’ agents were largely involved in coordinating vote-buying for various persons seeking political offices, which is unfortunate.

“It should be noted that the influence of money in an election has far-reaching implications in Nigerian politics because any politician that spends to be voted for will surely work towards recouping the money at the end of the day, and it is still the voters that will be at the receiving end.”

Mr Rafsanjani, lamented the incident that has led to an alarming increase in the rate of foreign exchange, saying that the Nigerian Naira has now reached an all-time high of N610 to a dollar.

“As the country is witnessing various economic challenges it is worrisome to see that the amount of money that is exchanging hands in this period has led to the sky-rocketing of the Naira, it is at its all-time high of N610 to a dollar in the country,” he stressed.

The TMG boss, therefore, noted that the group will continue to monitor the electoral processes with a view to ascertaining the level of transparency and fairness in the process and report the same to Nigerians in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

The group, however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for ensuring the smooth conduct of the party primaries across the country.

Despite S/Court's Ruling, Ahmed Lawan Refuses to Swear in Cross River Senator-Elect

President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, is yet to swear in Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, 3 months after the Appal Court ruled that he should be issued a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Supreme Court also upheld the Judgment of the Appeal Court, as it Struck Out the Appeal of Stephen Odey.

Recalled that on February 25th, the legal battle over the Cross River North Senate seat was put to rest by the Supreme Court which ruled in favour of Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.

In a split decision of four to three, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Stephen Odey challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which declared Jarigbe as the valid candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP won the December 5, 2020, rescheduled elections held in the state.

The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal had in its judgment declared Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as the duly nominated candidate of the PDP and the rightful winner of the election against Dr Odey, who was declared by INEC and sworn in by the Senate.

The Court also ordered the INEC to immediately issue a Certificate of Return to Hon Jarigbe and withdraw the one earlier issued to Dr. Stephen Odey.

But over a month since the Apex Court gave its ruling, this newspaper gathered that the Senate President 'flagrantly disregarded' the verdict, even as he refused to allow Jarigbe take his oath as a Senator-elect.

Credible sources in the National Assembly believe that Jarigbe is yet to be sworn in as a result of the local and national politics being played by some influential Cross River politicians.

Meanwhile, Jarigbe, a Member of the House of Representatives, had before now, expressed confidence in Lawan to comply with the judgment of the Apex Court and inaugurate him as the Senator-Elect for Cross River North Senatorial District.

Speaking with Journalists in Abuja, Jarigbe, a two-term member of the House, representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency of the State, said that even though his election into the Senate had witnessed serious opposition, the supreme court ruling on the matter put an end to all the dissenting issues.

He said that his opponent, Stephen Odey, has been occupying the seat illegally, praying the Senate President to stop him from attending plenary, stressing he was no more a member of the National Assembly.

Ramadan: Kwara PDP Assembly candidate feeds 5,000 Muslims

Honourable Abdulmajeed Olanrewaju-Oba, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Kwara Assembly in the 2019 elections, has fed over 5, 000 Muslims in Ilorin and Surulere local government areas of Kwara and Lagos States respectively.

The News Digest reports that under the Olanrewaju Oba Foundation, TOOF, the philanthropist had been providing free meal packs to thousands of Muslims since the commencement of the month Ramadan.

Speaking during one of the Iftar (fast-breaking) food distribution sessions, Mr Olanrewaju-Oba disclosed that before the end of the Ramadan month he hoped to feed over 10,000 Muslims.

According to him, the decision to provide free meals to Ilorin and Surulere residents stemmed from a realisation that many families were undergoing serious economic hardship in the country.

He noted that the feeding exercise would also help to provide soothing relief to those who were finding it difficult to feed during fasting and, at the same time, feed their families.

Honourable Olanrewaju-Oba said: “The religion of Al-Islam exhorts the rich to always assist the needy, especially during the month of Ramadan, because of the immense spiritual benefits that will accrue to them.

“Those who are blessed financially should know that assisting the needy and catering for the less privileged in this great month will attract massive reward for them.”

Ganduje assents to controversial bill reducing Emir Sanusi’s influence

NEWS DIGEST - Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday assented to a controversial bill approving the creation of four additional emirates in the state, effectively reducing the influence of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.

With the new Emirates, the governor said: “the traditional institution will now go closer to the people in all nooks and crannies of the state. We are about to make history today and in the Holy Month of Ramadhan.”

The newly created emirate councils are Gaya, Rano, Karaye, and Bichi.Kano now has five independent emirate councils, including the Kano Emirate Council headed by the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr Sanusi.

Inside sources said that the law was initiated by the governor but presented to the House by proxy.

According to the final amended copy of the law, Emir of Kano was allocated Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Dala, Nassarawa, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso and Ungogo Local Government Areas.

Click link to read more to see the control of LGAs by the new emirs: https://newsdigest.ng/featured/2019/05/08/ganduje-assents-controversial-bill/

Can Plateau North Clinch Ministerial Position?

NAIRA LAND - The 2019 General Elections has come and gone, leaving behind tales of woes from the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State. However, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is battle ready to assemble competent personnel to fill in political appointments that President Muhammadu Buhari is going to offer the state.

The quest for political appointments, particularly the Ministerial position which is done based on Federal character has generated heated debate among citizens of the State.

The question on the lips of many Plateau indigenes is: Which Senatorial District should produce the next Minister?

Many believed that in the spirit of fair play, Plateau North Senatorial District should be considered for the Ministerial appointment since the Governor, Simon Bako Lalong hails from Plateau South while the Deputy Governor comes from Plateau Central.

Currently, Hon. Solomon Dalung is occupying the plumb seat. He was single-handedly appointed in 2015 by President Buhari without seeking inputs of political stakeholders from the state. Dalung is jostling to retain his seat in the next cabinet.

Political pundits from the state believe that competent hands like Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Lumumba Dah-Adeh and Ambassador Chris Giwa, who have fair knowledge in the world of sports should be considered for Sports Minister if the position will be retained for Plateau State.

The cream of personalities all hail from Plateau where the masses are drumming support for the Ministerial appointment for political balancing and fair play.

Hon. Solomon Dalung is the current Minister of Sports and Youth Development. He was a chieftain of the APC and a die-hard supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari before his appointment in 2015.

Dalung hails from Langtang South Local Government Area in Plateau South where Buhari and APC got 11, 000 votes while Atiku and PDP polled 18,000 votes.

Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande is a current and two term serving member of the House of Representatives for Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State.

He was elected under the Platform of Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in 2011 and defected to APC to support President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 where he secured his second tenure.

Yahaya-Kwande contested the House of Reps party primaries under APC and lost narrowly to Alh. Haruna Maitala.

It was believed that Kwande lost the party primaries due to political narrative that his father, who was former Ambassador of Nigeria to Switzerland and member of APC Board of Trustees was working for Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of PDP.

But the lawmaker refused to align with his father in the PDP, instead remained focus and steady in pursuing victory for President Buhari, Governor Lalong and other APC candidates during the polls by providing campaign vehicles and mobilising grassroots support for the party.

In his Jos North constituency, Buhari polled 93, 800 votes to beat Atiku and PDP who scored 53,277 votes. Honourable Kwande is the youngest football administrator among all the Ministerial contenders in Plateau.

Hon. Lumumba Dah-Adeh is a former member of the House of Representatives and ex-adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He is the Acting Chairman of Former APC members of the House of Representatives.

Dah-Adeh who hails from Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State in the Northern zone has been a loyal and committed member of the APC.

Ambassador Chris Giwa is a peace Ambassador and ex-embattled President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He contested the position in 2014 and lost in a controversial circumstance to the current President, Amaju Pinnick.

He battled through legal means to retrieve his mandate but couldn’t succeed. He was restored to the Glass House at some point through the court but lost the position through appeal.

Chris Giwa delivered 25,574 votes to Buhari in his Jos South Local Government Area while Atiku polled 106,574 votes in the LGA.

Other prominent APC stakeholders in the zone who are interested in the Ministerial appointments includes, Ex-Nigeria Ambassador to Ukraine, Ibrahim Kasai, Director General of Lalong/Tyoden Campaign organisation, Arch. Pam Dung Gyang, former Minister of Information, Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande and former Secretary to Government of Plateau State, Hon. Rufus Bature among others.

Eighteen-year-old student of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Fateemah Garba has aptly answered the name of her university, “Hikmah” (wisdom) by designing a fashionable scarf (Hijab) endeared by both Muslims and Christians.

When Miss Garba launched a hijab making brand labelled “Pink Dust Hijab” from the little startup capital she go from her mother, little did she know that her ingenuity would project her to limelight.

The 200-Level student who also trains and empowers young teenage girls in the art of hijab making for all occasions, said she designs georgettes Hijabs both plain and patterned.

Speaking to Youths’ Digest on what motivated her to design Hijab for both Muslims and Christians, she said, ‘’I see Hijab from different perspectives, while others strictly see it as a symbol of a particular religion.”

“Hijab can be worn not only for religious purposes but also for fashion. There is beauty, prestige and responsibility attached to it,” she added.
She said what inspired her was the fact that one could cover up and still look good.

Miss Garba said it is not all about profit-making but fulfilling dreams. “Designing Hijab to be accepted worldwide is my ambition. So I don’t bother giving reasonable discounts to my clients,” she said.

The teenager said her future plan is to produce different types of Hijabs and own the best hijab selling company.

She said with adequate publicity for her work, creating awareness and removing stereotype about Hijab, her labels can become global hit.
She attracts her customers through social media and referrals.

Ramadan with all of its numerous blessings presents the youth with some productivity challenges. One such challenge is trying to maximise time while engaging in productive activities that will bring the best rewards from this special month. With these Ramadan activities, you will find simple ways of leveraging fulfilling activities to help you grow spiritually, mentally, socially and physically as a productive youth and leader in the Ummah.

Read at: http://youthsdigest.com/ramadan-50-productive-activities-for-youth/

The details came as Ali’s family revealed plans for a Friday funeral in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, a daylong affair that will include a procession through the streets where the 74-year-old world champion grew up and learned to box. His body is expected to be returned to the city within two days.
Source: http://youthsdigest.com/revealed-killed-muhammad-ali/

...Youths Recover, Return Missing Riffle to Nigerian Army
A soldier attached to the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta escorting oil workers from an oil spill site drowned and died at Taylor Creek near an oilfield operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Okordia, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa.

Read more at: http://youthsdigest.com/youths-nigerian-army/

The Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Affairs, Nasir Sai’du Adhama has commended Nigerian troops for their successful operations in the rescue of two Chibok girls, Amina Ali and Serah Luka.

Adhama who made the commendation at the State House, Abuja said the development opens new vista of hope in the ongoing efforts to rescue the rest of abducted Chibok girls.

“We celebrate with the families of the rescued girls, and commend the gallantry of the Nigerian Troops and the Civilian Joint Task Force in trying to end the insurgency in the North east of Nigeria", he said.

In a release sent by his Media Aide, Gidado Yushau Shuaib, Adhama called on Nigerians to continue to give their support to the troops as government has intensified the search and rescue of the remaining girls.

He said that his office strongly warns against stigma or discrimination against the Chibok girls when they return.

Adhama also assured Nigerians of the federal government’s support to ensure the safety and rehabilitation of the rescued girls.

He said; "The continuation of education of the rescued and freed captives, which has been disrupted, will definitely be a priority. They must be enabled to go back to school and this will be some of the majority priorities.”

He joined Nigerians and well-wishers in the international community to pray for the safe return of other abducted women and children.

Adhama added that the development "would strengthen our collective belief that our missing Chibok girls that are still held hostage will eventually be rescued".
Source: http://youthsdigest.com/

Ace rapper, Ice Prince, has said that he is no longer signed as an artiste under the umbrella of Chocolate City.
Read what actually happened: http://youthsdigest.com/10042-2/

Residents in Amarata area of Yenagoa, were thrown into pandemonium on Tuesday evening following the brutal murder of an Assistant Superintendent of Police and a woman hit by stray bullet.

Read more at: http://youthsdigest.com/bayelsa-police/

“A national survey by the National Population Commission, supported by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF, launched in September 2015, found that six in 10 children suffer one or more types of violence before they reach the age of 18 years.

“Also, one in two suffers physical violence, one in four girls and one in 10 boys suffer sexual violence and one in five boys and one in six girls suffer emotional violence.

Read More at: http://youthsdigest.com/unicef-decries-violence-children-nigeria/

Six in Every 10 Nigerian Children Suffer Violence- UNICEF
United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) says about 60 per cent of children, representing six in 10 children, suffer one or more types of violence before they reach the age of 18 years in Nigeria.

Source: http://youthsdigest.com/unicef-decries-violence-children-nigeria/

Revealed! Serah Luka 2nd Chibok Girl Rescued
Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls.She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka. During debriefing the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted. She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State.


Source: http://youthsdigest.com/serah-luka/

Revealed! Serah Luka 2nd Chibok Girl Rescued
She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka. During debriefing the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted. She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State.

Read more at: http://youthsdigest.com/serah-luka/