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BLACK, WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Former US Diplomat Engages Makoko residents on Voting Rights no

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Chief Dr. Atim Eneida George

In commemoration of the Black and Women’s History Months, Dr. Atim Eneida George, a former Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in Nigeria, has engaged residents of Makoko community in Lagos to sensitize them on their voting rights and women empowerment.

The event, hosted by CEE-HOPE Nigeria, a nongovernmental organization (NGO) working with young people in marginalized communities, and sponsored by the United States of America’s Embassy in Nigeria, attracted several stakeholders from within the community and beyond.

Dr. Eneida George, the celebrated former diplomat of African-American descent and currently living in the USA, recalled the pre-civil rights era in the USA where African Americans were disenfranchised and marginalized from governance and general decision-taking processes in their own country.  According to her, even with the right to vote, the black population in the USA still faced a major huddle due to their then low literacy level. She therefore advised the younger generation present to take governance process.

“Democracy, governance and education are interwoven. To the young ones, your education is your key to anywhere you want to go,’ she said. ‘Regardless of your situation now, focus on your studies, regardless of the barriers, do not be discouraged, you can change the world and you can raise a wonderful institution like CEE-HOPE and make impact in the lives of several others. Especially to the girl child, education is essential because If you educate a boy, you educate an individual, when you educate a woman you educate a nation”, she added.

Dr. George who attracted several awards and recognition in the course of her long duty post in Nigeria including the traditional title of Yeye Araba of Ife, further reiterated that, “governance is too important to be left in the hands of a selected few. All and sundry should play effective roles in governance either by voting or by being voted for.’
Emmanuel Agunze, Founder, Makoko Dream School and a Nelson Mandela Washington Fellow, noted that one of the reasons for the decline in participation in governance at the grassroots levels is because of the challenges that are encountered during the voting process.
He noted that the process of securing voters’ card, poor facilities at voting centers and violence are some of the many reasons people, most especially women have been discouraged to vote.
Dr. Atim Eneida George and some Makoko traditional chiefs, and staff of CEE-HOPE.


A Community Leader, Mr. Agbodemu Ishola Musbau said so many Nigerians are responsible for voting wrong persons into power because they are rather satisfied to vote for persons who would induce them with money and food items than to vote for those who would serve genuinely.

The event attracted several local chiefs from across Makoko as well as women leaders, youth leaders pupils from the Diaspora School and the Makoko Dream School, both in Makoko.

One of the local chiefs, Chief Albert Ayide (aka Baale Jeje), thanked CEE-HOPE for the opportunity of the program which he described as very enlightening and asked for a repeat of such for more enlightenment. He however noted that despite the efforts of their community members to participate in governance by voting for people they believed were suitable, they are not getting the dividends of good governance.  He also pleaded for educational support, lending more support to the ongoing work of CEE-HOPE in Makoko, in addition to programs that would empower women.
Chief Dr. Atim Eneida George and some Makoko women.

Other chiefs present include Alase Agoyon Francis, Baale Shemede Emmanuel, Baale Panke Victor, Oluwo of Makoko Olaiya, Aji Steven and the immediate host, Chief Adewale Akintimehin (aka Alfa). There were also officials from the USA Embassy in Lagos.
Earlier in his opening remarks, a Board of Trustees member of CEE-HOPE Nigeria and veteran journalist, Lekan Otufodunrin appreciated the guest speaker for choosing CEE-HOPE and Makoko as beneficiaries of the event which he described as highly empowering to the participants.

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BSU Student Found Dead Days After Missing

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A 300-level student of Benue State University (BSU), Erekaa Naomi Dooshima, has been found dead few days after she was declared missing.

On Tuesday, Ukan Kurugh, the Benue activist, raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the student.

In a post on his verified Facebook page, Kurugh said her identity card, phone, and blood-stained clothes were found in Markudi, the state capital.

“Missing person: A girl by name Erekaa Naomi Dooshima with her Facebook user name “Affection Erikz” is missing, her clothes stained with blood, her phone, identity card were found around Rahama clinic opposite medical school Makurdi. She is a 300-level mass communication student at the Benue State University,” he wrote.

“If anybody has any useful information about her, please contact the nearest police station or the university authority for immediate action.”

In a follow-up post, the activist said the student had been found dead.

Kurugh said the lady’s corpse was found in a fenced land in Markudi and was exhumed by police operatives.

“The corpse of this young lady by name Erekaa Naomi Dooshima I made a post about her missing yesterday has been found in a fenced land behind Bolek Filling State after medical school and is currently been exhumed by men of the Nigeria Police Force Makurdi Benue state,” he added.

The state police spokesperson, Sewuese Anene confirmed the development.

Anene, however, said there is an ongoing investigation to get more details on the incident.

“Yes, we recovered a lady’s corpse yesterday (Wednesday). But I don’t have much details about her at the moment,” she said.

Source: platformsafrica

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BENUE RESTRICTS COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLISTS

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The Benue State Security Council has restricted the operations of commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada in the state.

Henceforth, commercial motorcycle operators would only be allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm everyday until further notice.

The security council took the decision at its emergency held on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Governor Ortom stated however that the earlier outright ban on the use of motorcycles in the Sankera geopolitical zone comprising Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum still subsists.

He said the decision followed the recent security alarm raised by the Nasarawa State government and what is happening in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and other parts of the country.

The Governor emphasized that the decision to restrict the activities of commercial motorcycles was aimed at nipping in the bud the resurgence of criminal elements suspected to be moving into the state.

The Governor stated that security agencies in the state have been mandated to enforce the new regulations, saying stiff penalties such as arrest and prosecution awaits anyone found flouting the order.

The security council also resolved that all heavy-duty vehicles coming into the state, with covered tarpaulins would be searched at designated checkpoints along routes in and out of the state with the contents thoroughly checked before being allowed to pass.

He also disclosed that the 500 personnel of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, which will be formally launched on Thursday, August 4th, 2022 to complement conventional security agencies in the state have been trained and kitted with an additional five hundred expected to begin training next week.

The Governor who said the Community Volunteer Guards would work with the traditional rulers and other security agencies in fighting crime expressed optimism that being members of the communities, it would be easier for them to fish out criminals.

Governor Ortom noted that the Security Council also approved a committee headed by the SSG, Professor Tony Ijohor to work towards regulating the activities of miners, which he said have been causing environmental hazards.

Other members of the committee include the Commissioner for Lands and Solid Minerals, Hon. Bernard Unenge, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Micheal Gusah and Adviser on Mining, Andrew Kputu as well as the chairmen and second class chiefs of Gboko, Kwande, Ogbadibo and Logo as members.

Nathaniel Ikyur
Chief Press Secretary,
August 3rd, 2022

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67-Year-Old Man Attempts To Jump Into Lagos Lagoon After Losing Job

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A 67-year-old man, Oluwatoye Bamgboye, decided to end it all on his 67th birthday by attempting to jump into the Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.

He was however rescued by officials of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command patrolling the axis on Tuesday afternoon.

Bamgboye, who hails from Oju-Ore in Ogun State, said he was frustrated and wanted to end it all having lost a job he newly secured.

He said he had secured the job only to be told that it had been given to someone else on the day he resumed.

Bamgboye, in a statement by the RRS, said a personal challenge made him sell his house, land and car yet he couldn’t solve the problem.

He added that he obtained a loan but the problem still persisted.

“He explained further that, he secured a job and on the resumption date, he was informed that the job had been given to someone else,” the statement added.

“Today being my birthday, I have decided to end it all. The burden and the frustration is too much for me to bear. My wife has abandoned me in the process,” Bamgboye was quoted in the statement.

The police said he had been conveyed to the Adekunle Police Station, adding that efforts were in progress to contact his family members.

Source: ionigeria

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