Category: World News

The Edo Beads Basketball team which has qualified in the national premier league has commended the Edo State Government for the investments in sports development in the state.

Speaking during a courtesy call at the government house in Benin City, the coach of the Edo Beads Basketball team, Victor Umoru who led a delegation of basketball players and other coaches told the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu that for the past 23 years the basketball team has not been in any of the national league.

According to him, there has been no deliberate attempt by past administrations to improve the development of sports until this present administration came into power.

“We are very grateful that sports in the state have received massive facelift which has contributed to the impressive performance of the basketball team as well as hosting various sporting events including   the hand ball federation tournament in the state recently.

“Edo State has also made significant impact in sports with the hosting of the 2020 national sports festival in the state which attracted participants from across the country.

“We have come to show our appreciation to the state government through the Deputy Governor and the chairman of the basketball association, Mr. Michael Gaius-Obaseki for giving us this great opportunity to show cases our talents,” he noted.

The Coach further disclosed that the Edo Beads Basketball team played eleven games and won seven, lost four, adding that the “team placed 3^rd in our conference. We are looking forward to better premier league come next season.

While making a presentation of Edo Beads Jersey to the sport loving Deputy Governor,  the coach thanked the state government for repositioning sports and providing world class facilities for sports in the state.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor reassured the commitment of the state government towards the development of sports, noting that the state is determined to reclaim its lost glory in sports in the country.

“The state will continue to use sports  as means of creating jobs for the teeming youths of the state and engaging them to shun vices such as crime.

Greater Students’ participation in decision-making which includes paying more attention to their voices is one way to promote a harmonious learning environment and enhance students-management relationship in Nigerian campuses.

Iyeomoan Emmanuel Ehizogie, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin and currently a Law Student at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpom Edo State, gave this indication while blaming the incessant and prolonged strike actions by workers in academic institutions on the failure to involve students at every level from policy conception, to planning and execution.

Ehizogie, who is also a student journalist and publisher of the Mexodus Magazine of the Ambrose All University, said having worked with students extensively with his NGO, Thinking Tomorrow Africa Initiative, he sees a brighter future ahead of tertiary education in the country with the inclusion of Students Union governments by relevant authorities.

He said this is what informed his desire to preside over the Student Union Government, of the University if only to help initiate a more robust and active relationship with the University authorities so that the voices of students can be be heard and their needs met.

“We can’t assume that students will like a particular change or project; we need to ask them first and then make changes or redevelop plans and policies with their interests in mind. I want to be able to communicate the opinions of students to the management which is making their voices heard.”

He added that, “Paying attention to student voices is at the crux of a successful management by my estimates. At the same time, authorities need get on board their vision for it to be successful. And I can tell you, this has been lacking in this University’s Student Union government. I intend to change that”.

Promising not to be a cog in the way of Management’s efforts to rebrand AAU, Ekpoma he said his coming as SUG President will not only restore the beauty of student unionism but help to mobilize the about 35,000 students of the University to support the success of student-centred Management actions.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has confirmed the death of five prospective corps members who lost their lives in a fatal accident at about 2 am on Wednesday, along Abaji/Kwali Expressway.

“The Director-General and Management condole with the governments and people of Akwa-Ibom and Imo States over the tragic incident that has left the Scheme devastated,” NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, said in a statement.

“Indeed, it has been a black Wednesday for the NYSC Family,” She said.

“May God grant the families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May their souls rest in peace.”