His Majesty, Nde Jika Golit, the Ngolong Ngas, has described the appointment of the Emir of Keffi, Alhaji Dr Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, as the Grand Patron of Pankshin Old Boys Association (POBA) as apt, signifying the potentials in him as a Traditional Ruler who had served at different levels of responsibilities.
This came in a press statement signed by the Media Officer to the Ngolong Ngas, Wukaska Bako Gowon, and made available to newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital recently.
While congratulating him on his investiture, the Ngolong Ngas hailed the Emir for his brilliant Academic background and influential leadership expressing optimism that he would thrive the activities of the school towards maintaining it’s academic and moral standards.
The statement states, “on behalf of my Family, members of Pankshin/Kanke Traditional Council, the entire citizens of the Chiefdom, and the Executive Governors of Plateau State,
Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, welcome you and the Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule and other prominent Nigerians to the history making ceremony”.
The Monarch, therefore, complimented the POBA National President, Kenzy Gupar and members of his team for their quality leadership and wished them successful celebration.
Ambassador Nanpon Danjuma Sheni, the PIDAN President
Lift up the weak, inspire the ignorant, rescue the failures, encourage the deprived.Reach out to those who think that all hope is lost and show them the reason to live again.
The struggle you are in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. One cannot get through life without challenges.
What one can do is to choose how to use those challenges life presents to us to our advantage.
Don’t give up, fix the roof while the sun is still shining. Begin to weave and God will give the thread.
Take necessary steps, God is waiting.Accurate information is a key part of motivation.
“The LORD empowers. Good morning and a blessed Wednesday….
Dr Jacob Tsado, the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Nigeria
By Ezekiel Dontinna
The Prison Fellowship Nigeria (PF Nigeria), has organised Restorative Justice Sensitization Workshops to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of restorative justice (RJ) as an alternative to traditional punitive approaches in the criminal justice system.
The Executive Director, Prison Fellowship Nigeria, Dr. Jacob Tsado, disclosed this yesterday, while addressing Journalists at the press briefing organised by the Organisation at the NUJ Secretariat in Jos, the Plateau State capital
He said, “the focus and objectives of the Restorative Justice Sensitization Workshops is designed to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of restorative justice (RJ) as an alternative to traditional punitive approaches in the criminal justice system”.
Dr. Tsado explained that the training sessions for stakeholders, including legal practitioners, law enforcement, social workers and community leaders, is on the principles and practice of RJ.
He disclosed further that, the establishment of RJ Centers was aimed at Supporting the creation of Restorative Justice Centers within designated courts to facilitate pre-diversion programs and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
According to the PF Nigeria Executive Director, the rehabilitation and reintegration support was empower ex-offenders through skill development and community reintegration initiatives.
He highlighted more that the restorative justice emphasized on accountability, healing and reconciliation between offenders, victims, and affected communities.
Tsoda, however, disclosed that the PF Nigeria has been at the forefront of RJ advocacy since 2016, beginning with a collaboration with the Lagos State Government which led to the establishment of a Restorative Justice Center at the Samuel Ilori Court House, Ogba.
It is difficult to know and describe him in one or two paragraphs. Thus, what you read here, may have been picked from snippets of what he has done since he arrived Jos on his tour of duty as Lead Pastor, COCIN Headquarters Church.
There are reasons to believe that, if God had not called him into ministry, he probably would have been an activist. Many of what he does, apart from preaching from the pulpit, points to a direction of a servant of God who is at home, making friends with people.
Except you are one who is fond of disparaging the clergy, any meeting with Rev Aaron Ndirmbita is likely to change your disposition. If you ever did, perhaps you may vouchsafe for what you are reading.
His training as an agriculturist notwithstanding has, nonetheless, not limited his foray into other areas; inputting as much ideas as to be able to turn things around for the good of the society.
In the years that followed after his arrival in 2006 until 2013, the COCIN Headquarters Church in Jos, became a familiar turf for him; building new friends and ingratiating himself into the hearts of the congregation. But above all, focus his attention on the word.
Indeed, before long, the man many may have considered as a ‘local pastor’ from far away Chibok, Borno State was at home, with the congregation.
He superintended over the poor, rich and mighty, and his two colleagues; Rev Amos Tang’an and Rev John Haruna. Before long, he had spent some time in this assembly. It was not the number of years that matter, but the friendship, he, together with the Church Council ensured it lasted in the church.
Rev Aaron Ndirmbita has been a recurring decimal on a number of media handles expressing his opinions that may not necessarily be the views of the church; but are not in any way contradictory to what should be from the holy books.
On Nigeria’s democracy, he reckons that it is a bad model. For him, ‘it is characterized by imposition of candidates on the electorate, rigging of elections, winner takes all (that’s nepotism) in governance and corruption at all levels. Except we change the narrative, we cannot move forward’.
He is very much concerned about the treatment minorities get in Borno State. Aware of that background, his voice is consistent in the avalanche of how they deserve to be treated in the area of appointments and services for southern Borno.
Justice is the essence of being together. He is aware, and truly so, he knows as many do; ‘someone has succeeded in dividing the country along regional, ethnic and religious lines’.
Despite the injustices in his home state; which affects him directly, he bleeds to his marrows when calamity strikes in Borno. The Monday Market, Maiduguri fire incident, Chibok school girls’ abduction and the recent flood in the state. His pains are indeed palpable.
During the 2023 general elections, the palpable frustration under INEC where some results were majorly inconclusive; it earned the organisation’s chairman a sobriquet of ‘Inconclusive Chairman’.
However, he had raised a concern about what some religious leaders who, while expecting the result of the election at the center to favour a particular candidate; had engaged in religious politics.
Writing a congratulatory message on the centenary celebrations of the Church of the Brethren (EYN), he remembers with nostalgia the impact of the church in the north east. Recalling several names such as: ‘Baba Ibrahim, Baba Dauda, Baba Yohanna and many others, God helping them, were used to sustain the church’.
It is interesting to note that apart from the gospel, ‘EYN has touched, impacted and improved our lives in many ways within 100 years. Many of us wouldn’t have been what we are without the CBM coming to establish the EYN’.
His transfer to Abuja in 2013 may have woken him up to the reality of uncomfortable traffic holdups in the Federal Capital Territory. He is forced to ask, when it happens: Is it true that there’s nothing the government can do about the traffic holdup alone the Keffi-Abuja road?’
Jocularly, he provides an advice: ‘If you are coming to Abuja form the keffi axis, please avoid the major road or relax somewhere, maybe it’ll open up later’. That happens everyday, thus, it calls for interventions to open more roads coming into the capital city.
If you live in Nigeria and worried about education, the war between university teachers and the federal government, one would understand the pains of parents over time.
It is in this regard, that during the past administration, he called on Muhammadu Buhari ‘to call Minister Ngige and his collaborators to order. They are trying to bastardize our university system by paying university lecturers salaries that are unjustifiable and worse unimaginable.
‘That our public universities remained closed for almost eight months is due to the arrogance and insensitivity of some of such leaders, simply because it doesn’t affect them directly. It is now left for Mr. President to order the likes of Ngige to do the right thing to save our university system.
‘If in the 21st century, politicians are still toying and playing with our university system, then we’re in a big trouble. We cannot move forward like this’.
In 2022 while celebrating Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary, he offered a few notes on how to make Nigeria a better place: ‘Let’s solve our problems as they come and not pile them. The energy, time, resources etc that ought to be used for development are wasted in solving problems.
‘Today, we are faced with Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, banditry, kidnaping, corruption, poverty, inflation, bad roads, ASSU strike, etc are all looking for solutions.
Over the years, Nigerians were told of the ‘impenetrable’ Sambisa forest, which had hindered military operations. It is unimaginable, according to him to convince Nigerians we have a forest in the north so thick that the military cannot penetrate to flush out these miscreants and killers. Anything short of it, they’ll continue to come out of their hiding places and kill our people.
‘Appointment into offices should be done purely on merit, while at the same time putting into consideration the Federal Character as enshrined in the Nation’s Constitution and the diverse nature of our country. Our leaders should be just to all irrespective of tribe, region or religion in their appointments.
‘Those who are given the opportunity to serve and are not performing should be sacked and replaced with more capable hands. If they fail too, they should be removed from office.
Today, there are some office holders who have no reason being in government because they have failed woefully. For example, security, education (ASUU strike), economy, bad roads, why are the officials in these sectors still in power in spite of ttheir colossal failure?
‘We have never been so divided as a nation and that’s why some sections of the country are involved in agitations. It is possible to love, respect and treat each other with equity and we’ll all have a sense of belonging and contribute towards the progress and development of’ Nigeria.
Rev Aaron Ndirmbita is convinced if a census of some political office holders is taken, they may regret their entrance into the political landscape to contest for any elective position. He is quick to give a reason: Many of them have exposed their weaknesses and lost their integrity due to abysmal performance.
Being a minority Christian from Borno, he should know better how Christians are being treated in the state. It is a big phenomenon which cannot be swept away easily: They are marginalised in the north and seen as incompetent by the south. Where do we go from here?’
The COCIN has a transfer policy which takes its clergy round several cities and villages in Nigeria and abroad on account of its mission work in nations.
It is only Rev Aaron Ndirmbita himself who can say if his transfer to Gwagwalada in the FCT, Abuja given him a wider range of what working for COCIN entails.
It has, given the comments one is privy to assessing about his tour of duty to this part of the world.
Whatever it is that comes from the lips of any assembly reflects the quality of service through the word and action rendered to them by their Man of God.
Thank God, he has been defended; even to the point of an alleged protest, when it was contemplated he was being moved out of FCT, where he had served as Chairman of RCC Gwagwalada and Chairman PCC Abuja.
It does happen sometimes. Know it, when such takes place: He must have served well, perhaps it is the fear of the unknown that often overwhelms such assembly. Assemblies don’t choose their shepherds, the call is God’s and only him is able to equip them for the journey.
Rightly or wrongly, they say, the end of the matter is better than its beginning. The gratitude of the family is not hidden: As he is being pulled out today, December 1, 2024, they can only take a look at what has happened in the past; and remain on their knees, thanking God for the future.
I have often wondered if there is retirement in this work. Whether there is or not, wherever he chooses to settle, I am sure he will be ready to say: Lord, only speak, your servant is ready to go the extra mile.
Ambassador Nanpon Danjuma Sheni, the PIDAN President
Oh! What a beautiful thing to behold in the month of December 2024! God deserves our appreciation.
Thank God for all the blessings and all the danger that He caused you and your family to escape from January till date!
It’s been God all the way! Joy and happiness belong to those who are sufficient unto themselves and full of praises to God!
For all external sources of happiness and pleasure are, by their very nature, highly uncertain, precarious, ephemeral and subject to change that you can’t control, but you can control what happens within you!!
Choose to be happy and thank God for the gift of the beautiful month of December! The Lord remembers.
Ambassador Nanpon Danjuma Sheni, the PIDAN President
As the year is coming to an end, it’s time for sober reflection. It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.
You will know your path by the way you feel right now for conscience don’t lie. No relationship is ever a waste of time, if it didn’t bring you what you want, it taught you what you need to know.
Being scared and brave is part of being alive, accept it, walk through it.
Things change, friends leave and friends come, life doesn’t stop for anybody. Life is meant for service to God and humanity, play your part consciously.
From their errors and mistakes, the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.
Audacity has made kings and queens, be one of them. The Lord relieves…
Ambassador Nanpon Danjuma Sheni, the PIDAN President
Practice gratitude. Gratitude multiplies your blessings, it turns barely enough into plenty, it turns denial into acceptance, it uncovers hidden blessings, and it can turn a crawler into a high flyer.
When you start to feel anxious, make a mental note of all the good things God has done in your life and thank him for them.
Thanksgiving is an application for more blessings. The Lord demands your appreciation.
Good morning and have a blessed Thanksgiving Saturday…
Professor Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, presenting Certificates to Dr. Anathiosio Paul Leventis
By Ezekiel Dontinna
In recognition of the significant contributions in research and development as far as biodiversity is concerned in the last 20 yrs, the Senate of the University of Jos, has upgraded the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute to the Centre of Excellence (APLORI Centre of Excellence).
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, disclosed this when he received in audience the Team led by Dr Anathiosio Paul Leventis, on a courtesy visit to the University Management in Jos, the Plateau State capital Friday.
While congratulating the Management of the Centre, the Vice Chancellor, said, “when we came on board, having seen the kind of strides that the Institute actually made over 20 years, we felt that it is time now to allow it to grow.
“And that was the reason why we made a proposal to the Senate of the University of Jos to say that, having worked for 20 years as an Institute, it is now time for it to become a Centre of Excellence.
“Indeed, we believe that it is a centre of excellence because of what it has produced. Whenever I think about AP Leventis’ 20th, I think about the likes of Dr. Paul here today, and many other people.
“So we took that on board, and today we are happy to say that the AP Leventis, I mean the APLORI, which is the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, is now a Centre of Excellence excellence”, he enthused.
Earlier, the Sole Benefactor of APLORI Centre of Excellence, Dr. Anathiosio Paul Leventis, expressed satisfaction that their institute has formed an integral part of the University of Jos.
This, according to him, was to everybody’s satisfaction and success in terms of its work, research and impact on the biological sciences within the university and in Nigeria as a whole.
“So, none of this could have happened without the leadership and the collaboration and the support that you give to their work and the fact that you manage the institute through its operating officers to allow them to exercise it as a degree of independence, which closely integrated within the university and supports everything it does.
“So it’s a very good and a healthy combination that you allows them to work within the university with all of the departments of the university appropriately. Of course, but also with external technical parties that it has to collaborate in terms of its specialization.
“The reason for the recognition as a Center of Excellence is to add factor in the University’s operation in the way that it reflects itself and to the country and internationally, because, this institute, of course, has links all over the world in the area of ornithology and biological sciences”, he reiterated.
Leventis, therefore, noted that it would be a system in tackling problems that affects the world now in terms of global warming and other aspects and loss of biodiversity in all and the university had to take a lead on.
On his part, the Board Chairman, APLORI Centre of Excellence, Sir Philip Hall, thanked the University of Jos for the long partnership saying, “whenever we have had some small problems, the University of Jos has always been there to support us, giving us all the assurances, all the support that we have ever needed.
“We have come a long way in those 20 years and it was wonderful to celebrate it earlier this year. For those that don’t know, over the 20 years we have graduated 177 Master’s students.
“Out of these Master’s students, over 50%, that’s over 80 of them, have gone on to get PhDs and that is all over the world I might add. We have a APLORI graduates now in prominent positions literally throughout Africa, and worldwide as far as New Zealand working now and of course in the UK and in Scandinavia”, he disclosed .
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Jos, Professor Rahila Gowon, appreciated the symbiotic relationship the University has with Dr. Levertis adding that, the symbiotic accepted the nuances of the university working in Nigeria, to subject the center into source verification.
Professor Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos Professor Rahila Gowon, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, University of Jos
“It’s a beautiful idea of such a relationship. We are grateful. I’m in the humanities by profession, but I have a passion for conservation.
“I have a hobby and I have a passion for conservation. APLORI does not only affect us in the University, it also enhances and affects us in various individual ways in the families”, she assured.
Professor Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor, University of Jos
By Ezekiel Dontinna
The Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya, has commended the Executive of Unijos Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society limited (UJSMCSL), for erecting a gigantic shopping and office complex at the Naraguta Campus of the Institution.
He gave the commendation Thursday, while playing host to the UJSMCSL Executive Members who paid him a courtesy call in his office in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The Vice Chancellor in a warm handshake with the UJSMCSL President, Mr Ukpo Aondohemba, KSM,
The Vice Chancellor, who was flagged up by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Rahila Gowon, encouraged the EXCO to support the incoming leadership as only a true leader could claim being successful when his or her successor succeed in office.
Professor Ishaya, however, praised the outgoing executives for the automation of its system which was said be at 85% completion phase, where members could check their balances, get monthly updates and other activities on the platform.
He also rated high the infrastructural contributions of UJSMCSL particularly, the construction of office and shopping complex, housing two ware houses, ten shops, two restaurants, cooperative offices, a chips factory and a banking Hall.
The VC, therefore, solicited for more interventions in the area of hostel accommodation for students on Campus, wishing that the cooperatives hostel comprising of several rooms along Bauchi Ring road was located within the Campus.
Prof. Ishaya, recalled how he had benefited personally from the cooperative and admonished the leaders of the cooperative to sustain its purpose and mission.
“We recall that this set of executives under the leadership of Ukpo Aondohemba emerged during the enrollment of tertiary institutions in Nigeria into the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System(IPPIS) payment platform characterized by delayed, third party remittances, long striking period and the dwindling economic reality in the country”, he observed.
Earlier, the UJSMCSL President, who described himself as the most criticised President of the cooperative said, as a leader, he had remained focused on the goal and team work despite the criticism to achieve this historic feat.
Aondohemba who has served in different capacities in the cooperative, remained one of the longest serving EXCO Members that has write his name and those of other exco members in gold by leaving Indelible footprint and creating a track record in the history of any cooperative in the University.
He, therefore, called on the incoming EXCO Members to be focused as more grounds need to be covered, assuring them of his unalloyed commitment to offer advisory role always.
The UniJos Staff Multipurpose Cooperative society (UJSMCS), has concluded plans to hold its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) come Saturday November 30, 2024.
This came in press statement signed by the UJSMCS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Juliana Olajide, and made available to newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State recently.
According to the statement, the Unijos Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited (UJSMCSL)14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) would be under the leadership of Mr Ukpo Aondohemba, KSM,
“It will be held at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Indoor Theatre, Faculty of Arts, Naraguta Campus, University of Jos by 11am
“All cooperators are expected to be seated on time as there will be commissioning of the Ultra Modern UJSMCSL Office Complex and Swearing in of new Executive Committee”, it announced.
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