• Extra N1million from NELFund

Two students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Adekunle Ayomide and Oladeji Oluwashina, have won the 2024 National Orientation Agency (NOA) campus debate competition.

The competition, organized by the NOA, featured two university representatives from each of the six geopolitical zones, debating the topic “Criticising and dissenting peacefully while maintaining love for one’s country.”

The LAUTECH representatives emerged victorious in the debate, receiving a prize of N20 million.

The students were also awarded an additional N1 million from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).

Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and the University of Ilorin were the first and second runner-ups, winning N750,000 and N500,000, respectively.

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt, Gombe State Polytechnic in Bajoga, and the Institute of Management and Technology in Enugu secured the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions, respectively.

Speaking during the event on Tuesday, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the NOA director-general, stated that the debate aims to engage the youth in governance matters.

Issa-Onilu emphasized that while criticism is essential for nation-building and democracy, it must be constructive to ensure peace and development.

He congratulated the participants for their thoughtful strategies in engaging with the government constructively.

“Constructive criticism is not rebellion; it is a cornerstone of democracy and a vital tool for nation-building,” Issa-Onilu said.

“Patriotism is not silence. Loving your country does not mean turning a blind eye to its shortcomings. It means recognizing those shortcomings, speaking up against them constructively, and working together to find solutions.”

Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director of NELFund, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian students have access to quality tertiary education through its education loans.

The Edo House of Assembly has suspended all the chairpersons and their deputies at the 18 LGAs for two months over allegations of misappropriation of funds.

According to NAN, the decision was made during the plenary on Tuesday following a heated debate.

The heads of the various legislative arms have been directed to oversee the running of the councils for the next two months.

The suspension came after a motion was moved by Isibor Adeh, the member representing Esan North-East I, and seconded by Donald Okogbe, the member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II.

Blessing Agbebaku, the speaker of the house, stated that Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, had written a petition to the assembly regarding the chairmen’s refusal to submit the financial records of their LGAs to the state government.

In the letter, Agbebaku said the governor described the action of the chairmen as an act of insubordination and gross misconduct.

He added that the governor requested the House of Assembly to look into the matter.

When the matter came up for debate, 14 members supported the motion for their suspension, six opposed, while three lawmakers abstained.

The House of Representatives has summoned Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), over the alleged arrest of Bello Bodejo, president of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore.

During Tuesday’s plenary, the parliament instructed Musa and Olufemi to order the “immediate release” of Bodejo from “unlawful detention and apologise to him for infringing on his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights.”

The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Mansur Soro from Bauchi State.

Last week, Bodejo’s family reported that he was arrested and detained by officers of the 117 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Maliya, Nasarawa State.

Suleiman Waziri, Bodejo’s brother, stated that he was arrested over an incident involving some herders and a retired army general in the Tudun Wada area of Nasarawa.

Moving the motion, Soro alleged Bodejo was “arrested in a commando style with no prior invitation or court injunction.”

He further stated that Bodejo has yet to be arraigned in court, one week after his arrest and committal to prison.

The legislator argued that the continued detention of Bodejo constitutes a breach of his fundamental human rights and a violation of sections 34, 35, and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House.

The Army Chief, Chief of Defence Staff, and the commanding officer of the 177 Battalion are to appear before the committees on Army, Human Rights, and Justice on Thursday.