News
Deputy Speaker Lays Foundation of UNICAL Convocation Pavilion
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG-20250323-WA0027-1000x600.jpg&description=Deputy Speaker Lays Foundation of UNICAL Convocation Pavilion', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG-20250323-WA0027-1000x600.jpg&description=Deputy Speaker Lays Foundation of UNICAL Convocation Pavilion', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Gloria Ikibah
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has reiterated his commitment to building a pavillion for purposes of convocation ceremonies and other important functions in university of Calabar, Cross River State.
Kalu expressed displeasure that a university of 50 years old is still holding its convocation ceremonies under the canopies.
Kalu made the remarks during a novelty walk, football match and mock lecture with his former classmates on the heels of the 37th convocation ceremony and 50th anniversary of the university for which the Deputy Speaker delivered the lecture in Calabar on Thursday.
At the foundation laying ceremony, the Deputy Speaker said frantic plans have been concluded to start off the construction of the pavilion, calling on all graduates of the university to make valuable contributions.
Kalu who is of the class of ’98, faculty of law of the university, however charged the council and management of the university to ensure that the contractor will do a quality work.
He said: “At year 50, we’ve matured as one of the best citadels of learning in the country. It is not right that we do our convocation under canopies, therefore something is needed to be done. So, when they presented this before me, I said yes, for the image and dignity of the university, this is necessary. I chose to partner with the university to fix this convocation arena.
“I pray that the contractor won’t do the kind of job I’m seeing in some of the buildings here, because we’ll be supervising from my office and the committee of the House of Representatives in charge of university education will pay special attention.
“All we want is let it be done well. We’ll scrutize from quality to the aesthetics for it to be fit for purpose so that when I come again with our people to have our reunion, we’ll do it inside that hall.
“Please, choose the people that will do a good job. To sustain this citadel of learning, it needs our attention as private individuals to come back and add value, it doesn’t have to be big as this centre. It could be one form of assistance to another so that you will leave a good legacy.
“I urge all malabites to remember Unical that formed our character. I whispered to the vice Chancellor, when we were walking around I saw a lot of developments. I commend you for the good work. This is kind of energy we need from the women, to add value to governance. You are a role model to young people who wants to be in power”.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Obi told Kalu that the school is holding its convocation ceremonies under the canopies.
She expressed gratitude to the Deputy Speaker for his benevolence and kind gestures toward his alma mater.
“We don’t have a convocation centre. When we visited him, I told him a story about the first convocation I had here, just when we were about to move to the field, the rains came down and blew up everything. We couldn’t start that convocation for the 10 o’clock it was earmarked for.
“His Excellency chose to support the university to leave a legacy, a building that will be named after him which is the university of Calabar convocation and event centre. We are standing in the area where we will have the event centre. It will be two floors building that will house up to 6000 people. We will also have another hall for theatre arts performance.
“On behalf of the council, management, staff and students of unical, we say thank you very much Your Excellency for all you are doing for this alma mater of yours”, she said.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Suspected bandits have kidnapped retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, and his wife on Matazu Road in Katsina State.
Security sources told PRNigeria that the couple was ambushed on Saturday morning, May 30, 2026, while travelling in a red Peugeot 504 saloon car.
The gunmen intercepted the vehicle and whisked the retired officer and his wife to an unknown location.
The driver escaped with gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, a security source said.
The former DDI and his wife were waylaid by armed men on the route. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and is receiving medical attention,” the source stated.
Security forces have launched search-and-rescue operations and deployed intelligence assets to track the abductors, according to the source. Official confirmation from the military was still pending at press time.
—Rising concern in Katsina—
The abduction comes amid persistent insecurity in parts of Katsina despite ongoing military operations against bandit groups in the North-West.
In recent years, several serving and retired security personnel have been targeted on highways linking Katsina to neighbouring states. PRNigeria reports that criminal groups now see high-profile individuals, including retired military officers, as lucrative targets.
Maj-Gen Abubakar served as Director of Defence Information and was one of the Nigerian military’s most visible spokespersons during the counterinsurgency campaign against Boko Haram.
The incident is expected to renew calls for stronger security along major highways and rural communities in Katsina, where residents continue to face kidnapping and banditry.
Credit :PRNigeria
Abia State Police Command has nabbed two suspects for conspiracy, attempted child theft and possession of hard drugs.
The Command which made this known on Saturday, named the suspects as Nzubechi Chinagorom and Chinonso Chibundu, indigenes of Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA of the Abia State.
In a statement signed by DSP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer, the Command said its officers apprehended the suspects through actionable intelligence, in collaboration with Olokoro vigilante personnel.
She stated that the suspects went to the residence of one Miss Amarachi Chinyereugo and attempted to forcibly take away her two-week-old baby girl.
DSP Chinaka said that the Nzubechi Chinagorom allegedly stabbed the nursing mother with a kitchen knife during a struggle, causing the baby to fall and hit her head on ground.
The police spokesperson said that the two suspects fled from the scene and ran into a nearby bush on realizing that the nursing mother, Miss Amarachi Chinyereugo cried out for help.
She added that the suspects were later apprehended at a bus stop
where they had reportedly gone to take hard drugs.
“The mother and child were immediately rushed to the hospital, where they received treatment and have since recovered.
“The suspects were apprehended, exhibits were recovered and investigation has been conducted at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). Suspects will be charged to court on 2/06/2026,” Chinaka said.
Ex-Minister of Labour and Productivity, SellJoel Ikenya, has been declared winner of the governorship primaries conducted by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Taraba State.
Mr Felix Hyat, the chairman of the election committee, who announced the results in Jalingo on Saturday, said Ikenya scored 34,173, to defeat Mr Dinshiya Usman, who polled 4,853.
Hyat, who described the exercise as free, fair and transparent, commended the state working committee of the party for the peaceful conduct.
Ikenya, in his acceptance speech, pledged to revive Taraba to her days of glory if elected governor in 2027.
“I will transform Taraba; I will change the state from salary base, to an industrialised state.
“My desire is to also revive the state infrastructure and attract more investors to boost the economy,” he said.
The governorship candidate, however, denied the allegations of factional PDP in Taraba.
“There is no factional PDP in Taraba; I don’t know where the other people are coming from.
“PDP in Taraba is one, and we do not have any faction in the state. We are working as one united family to reclaim our mandate from Gov. Agbu Kefas of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the Nyesom Wike led faction of the party had recently declared senator Emmanuel Bwacha as its governorship candidate in Taraba.
NAN
Insecurity: Gunmen abduct ex-Defence spokesperson Maj-Gen Rabe Abubakar, wife in Katsina
Breaking: PSG rule Europe again defeat Arsenal via penalty shootout
Police nab two for attempted theft of two-week-old baby in Abia
-
Metro19 hours agoPolice Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged ₦18m Romance Scam Targeting Malta-Based Victim
-
Politics19 hours agoNollywood Actress Gets 2027 Presidential Ticket
-
News19 hours agoThe Politics Of Maturity: Why Rivers May Need Healing More Than Victory
-
News19 hours agoAkpabio Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Endorses Re-Election as President Marks Three Years in Office
-
News19 hours agoNigerian Governors Propose ₦100,000 New Minimum Wage
-
News19 hours agoLawyer Petitions NBC, Seeks Suspension of BBNaija Over Alleged Indecent Content
-
News19 hours agoSouth African Lawmaker, MK Party Chief Whip Arrested Over Alleged R233,000 Salary Fraud
-
News19 hours agoTroops Rescue 31 Kidnap Victims In Zamfara, Katsina, Kill Five Terrorists
Warning: Undefined variable $user_ID in /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/themes/zox-news/comments.php on line 49
You must be logged in to post a comment Login