The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), yesterday, inducted 70 pioneer graduates of its Department of Nursing Sciences into the nursing profession.

The induction ceremony was conducted by the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Alhaji Alhassan Ndagi, formally ushering the graduates into the noble healthcare profession.

This was even as the elated inductees, who began their academic journey in 2018 without accreditation for the programme, heaped praises on the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for the decisive action and strategic intervention, acknowledging that without the governor’s timely support and provision of the facilities necessary for accreditation, their dreams might have ended in frustration.

The Chairman of the occasion and Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Yomi Jaye, described the event as a celebration of vision, resilience, and political will.

He recounted how the students had been plunged into despair following years of delay due to the lack of accreditation until Mbah assumed office and swiftly ensured the programme met the standards required by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the NMCN.

He said: “At the beginning of this administration, we were saddled with the task of strengthening our nursing and medical education.

We carried out a baseline assessment of all the institutions and discovered there was no accreditation for 19 years. We approached the NUC and the Nursing Council.

The governor backed us with all the necessary resources, and we worked alongside the university day and night. They didn’t just accredit them, they also indexed the backlog.”

‎The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State Chapter, is prepared to convene a youth-led peace and reconciliation summit, bringing together young stakeholders, community leaders, and civil society actors, to develop homegrown solutions that can restore calm and foster a new culture of peace and mutual respect.

NYCN Chairman, Comr, Gift Dandison Jumbo, disclosed this in a press statement on Tuesday.

It reads: “‎In the spirit of patriotism and responsibility, the Youth Leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State Chapter, stands as an independent and neutral voice committed to peace, unity, and the progress of our dear state.
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‎We have watched with deep concern the unfolding political crisis in Rivers State and its potential to disrupt the social and economic fabric that binds us as a people.

At this crucial moment, we reaffirm our unalloyed belief that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, dialogue, and reconciliation.
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‎As the Apex  and most vibrant youth platform in the state, we recognize our duty to serve as bridge builders and not tools in the hands of any political divide.

We categorically state that the youths of Rivers State shall not be used as instruments of political violence or manipulation.

We must be partners in peace, not pawns in conflict.
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‎We therefore call on all political actors, traditional institutions, and stakeholders in Rivers State to place the interest of the people above partisan considerations, as demonstrated by the Minister of FCT Nyesom Ezewon Wike and the Gov of River’s State, Sir, Siminialayi Fubara.

We commend these two state actors for giving peace a chance, just as it’s said when two brothers fight strangers inherit their wealth.

Let us maintain the peace with dialogue, humility, honesty, and the collective will to heal the land.
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‎History will judge us not by the noise of division but by the courage we showed to build bridges across troubled waters.
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‎We stand for peace.
‎We stand for reconciliation.
‎We stand for Rivers State.”

We categorically state that the youths of Rivers State shall not be used as instruments of political violence or manipulation.
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The strategic economic and fiscal reforms of the Kogi State Government have begun to yield fruitful results, with the state now ranked as having the 5th lowest domestic debt among the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) as of March 31, 2025.

The report shows that Kogi State’s domestic debt stands at ₦20.38 billion, marking a significant drop from the ₦121.81 billion recorded in Q4 of 2023, when the state ranked 18th lowest in the country.

This reflects a remarkable debt reduction of over ₦101.43 billion in just over one fiscal quarter.

Speaking on the achievement, the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, attributed the success to the state’s aggressive implementation of global best practices in financial management, including prudent borrowing, enhanced revenue performance, and strategic expenditure control.

“We are deliberate in our financial approach, cutting waste and focusing on impactful spending. This improvement is not accidental; it is the result of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s transparent , accountable and reform-minded leadership,” he said.

Also speaking, the Auditor General of the State, Alhaji Yakubu Okala, said Kogi’s improved debt standing is evidence of transparency and effective oversight.

“We ensure that all government funds are deployed strictly for their intended purposes. His Excellency’s accounting background has brought a culture of accountability and efficiency to every level of government. Our systems now deliver more results with fewer resources,” he said.

Alhaji Okala commended Governor Ododo’s unwavering support for fiscal institutions, saying the Governor has not only backed reforms but insisted on compliance and value-for-money across all MDAs.

Both the Commissioner of Finance and the Auditor General of the State agreed that the results are products of the hard work by the finance team in the last administration and the consolidation of the present administration in the State to ensure that the resources of the state serve for the people of the State.

They also attribute improved revenue to the reduced need for domestic borrowing, saying the State Government is conveniently funding a good number of capital projects in the State.

In a related development, the Kogi State Government says it has acquired licenses to fully participate in solid minerals mining in the State in a bold move to diversify the state’s economy and expand its revenue base.

The State Government confirmed that it has acquired 15 mining licenses to begin strategic participation in the nation’s solid minerals sector.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, who said the move was driven by the government’s resolve to ensure that Kogites benefit directly from the natural resources on their land.

“With these licenses, Kogi will now take its rightful place in the mining sector, not just as a host but as an active operator. This will unlock value, create jobs for our teeming youth, and grow our internally generated revenue,” Fanwo stated.

He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s support and the policy framework that now enables subnational entities to participate more directly in mining and resource development.

“This is a major economic breakthrough for our state. We thank Mr. President for enabling states like Kogi to take charge of their destiny. Governor Ododo’s leadership is positioning Kogi not just for today, but for a prosperous, resource-driven future,” Fanwo added.

He assured that the licenses would be put to use through environmentally responsible and community-focused mining initiatives that will stimulate industrial growth and promote local content development.

With the twin achievements of improved debt ranking and entry into strategic mining operations, Kogi State is fast becoming a national model in fiscal sustainability and economic diversification.