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NCC Receives International Awards
Nasiru Yusuf
The contributions of the the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to the fight against insecurity in the country has received global endorsement with the Commission bagging two prestigious international awards at the weekend.
Leading the pack is the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA) 2020 won by the Commission for its harmonized emergency number, 112 and the construction of Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) in 36 states of the Federation and the FCT with 19 states already operational and additional 5 ready for activation.
The presentation of the IPRA Golden Global Awards (GGA) 2020 to the Commission had been scheduled to hold earlier this year in Germany but could not hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NCC also received the African Public Relations Association’s (APRA) Certificate of Excellence for its efforts in “leveraging the emergency communication centres for national security.”
However, at the Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA) 2020, where the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Malam Mukhtar Sirajo, handed over the coveted trophies to the Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu, the NCC was declared Winner of ‘Emergency Management Security and Emergency Management Award.
The NIPR President commended the NCC for a culture of professionalism in the management of its corporate communications and public relations, noting that ‘this has been largely responsible its enviable corporate image and the many awards it had attracted over the years.’
In the same vein, the NCC was also presented with a Certificate of Excellence for ‘Outstanding Accomplishments in Category of Emergency Management’ at the award.
Speaking at the event, Yushau Sh’uaibu of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, lauded the NCC for launching an impressive campaign on its emergency communications project.
“The ECCs were activated as a one-stop shop for receiving distress calls from the public and dispatching same to appropriate Emergency Response Agencies (ERAs) for timely response and resolution of the distress.
“The ECC project had been in limbo until a new management under the leadership of Danbatta, embarked on the construction and operationalisation of the ECCs across states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) till date,” he explained.
At the maiden edition in 2019, the Executive Vice Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, Umar Garba Danbatta was recognised as ‘Nigeria’s Goodwill Ambassador for Security and Emergency Management in Nigeria’ while the NCC, as a corporate organisation, was given with the ‘Corporate Social responsibility Award in Security and Emergency Management in the country.’
Nasiru Yusuf
The Federal High Court Kano presided over by Lewis Allagoa has convicted one Maryam Abu Shinga on one count amended charge of retention of proceeds of crime. She was also ordered to pay the sum of N110, 000,000 in restitution to victims
Kano Focus reports that the convict was said to have lured her victims into a phony gold mining investment where she represented that the investor stands to earn 300% profit.
She claimed that when an investor invests N500, 000, such investor could earn one million five hundred thousand Naira as returns on investment over a period of four weeks.
Investigation, however, revealed that the convict was never into gold mining or any such investment. It was also discovered that even though Shinga was able to pay some early investors with funds taken from later investors, she allegedly diverted three hundred and ninety-four million, five hundred and forty-one thousand, nine Hundred and ten Naira belonging to other investors.
Upon arraignment, Shinga pleaded ‘not guilty’ thereby setting the stage for trial.
During the trial which commenced on January 23, 2020, the prosecution called five witnesses and tendered several documents in evidence. However, before the prosecution could close its case, the convict opted for a plea bargain.
In his judgment, Allagoa accepted the terms of a plea bargain agreement, convicted and sentenced the defendant to restitute the complainants in the sum of N110, 000,000.
Aminu Abdullahi
A Non Governmental organization ‘Say No Campaign organization’ has tasked Nigerians on monitoring local governments’ infrastructural projects in their respective areas.
Kano Focus reports that the convener of the group Ezenwa Nwagwu made the call at a public discussion on budget tracking at grassroot level.
He said although local government councils prepare budget annually in their areas, the communities pay less attention to ensure implementation.
According to him people pay more attention to federal government projects and neglect states and local governments programme.
Mr Nwagwu attributed the high rate of corrupt practices in local government administration to lack of citizens participation in monitoring implementation.
He said every citizen has the right to seek information from any government agency in line with 2011 Freedom of Information Act.
Nasiru Yusuf
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has approved the recruitment of over 500 medical doctors, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, laboratory technicians and other allied health professionals.
Kano Focus reports that the state commissioner for health, Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, announced this on Tuesday at the presentation of certificates to 103 medical doctors who were sponsored by the state government to undergone medicine training in Sudanese universities.
The medical doctors graduated from Al-Ahfad University for Women, El-Razi University, Omdurman Islamic University and Sudan International University.
Mr Tsanyawa added that, “In his effort to see to continued progress of the health sector, governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has directed us to go round to all the 484 Wards in the state and asses the state of being of their health facilities.”
The commissioner said that, governor Ganduje also gave another approval for the employment of 1,500 other sets of health care workers, who would be posted to 484 health care facilities.
In his remarks, Mr Ganduje said that the occasion was another graduation ceremony, as he was presenting certificates to the graduates.
“Our population feels safe, especially for the fact that most of you who graduated from Sudan Universities are female. These means a lot, as far as our culture and religion are concerned. Women will feel more comfortable to be treated in hospital by their female folks.”
“We are not done with you till when we give you your appointment letters,” Mr Ganduje said.
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