Deny Boko Haram oxygen of publicity, support troops to defeat insurgency, theater commander urges journalists

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

The theater Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Faruk Yahaya has urged the media to support the military to collectively defeat insurgency in the Northeast and the country at large and deny the Boko Haram insurgents and other adversaries the oxygen of publicity they need to survive.

General Faruk Yahaya who made the call when he host the media community in Borno state to a luncheon, held at the Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri yesterday said ” I urge you all to continue to support our gallant troops and deny the criminals what they need the most, which is publicity. This can be acheived through our interactions, where new knowledge could be shared and disseminated in line with the best practices of your professional calling”.

He said ” we in the Operation Lafiya Dole recognise and appreciate the critical role of media in supporting and enhancing our operations and other activities . The media is indeed one of the lines of our non kinetic operations. I am particularly pleased to host the Borno state media community today for a luncheon in Maimalari cantonment Officers Mess. This event is organised to dine and interact with you under informal setting in order to boost the already existing and cordial relationship between the media and Operation Lafiya Dole with a view to enhancing synergy in the fight against Boko Haram”.

” The media is indeed one of the lines of operation alternatives of non kinetics operations which could be harnessed to among other things increase public awareness and persuasions geared towards appealing to the conscience of the masses from which terrorists often draw their recruit and support. The masses are also often exposed to mischievous media message and propaganda from terrorist groups which our media can effectively counter when well deployed”,” General Yahaya further stressed.

The theater commander said ” I therefore urge you not to relent in that efforts, as the contemporary challenges facing our country requires military Civil cooperation of highest standard. Consequently, I charge you all to continue to be our partner in this fight against insurgency by effectively deploy your professional skills and competence in support of our operations and for good of our beloved country. “

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ), Borno state council, Comrade Bulama Talba thanked the theater command for organising the luncheon and interaction, which according to him, will further deepen the existing relationship between the media, the theater and the military at large.

The NUJ chairman who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Gwamna said “journalist in Borno state are alive to their responsibilities, up and doing and one of the best journalists we could have in this country . I want to assure you of our continued support and cooperation to the theater and the Nigerian military at large, so that together we will defeat our common enemy the Boko Haram insurgents and other adversaries”..

We trained over 30,000 academic staffs of public tertiary institutions from 2008 to date across the country – TETFUND

By Madu Mohammed Maiduguri

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has said that since its inception in 2008 it has expended N120 billion on training and Development of over 30,000 academic Staffs of over 230 public tertiary institutions across the nation, in addition to the the training of over 68,000 on conferences and workshops

The chairman of the TETfUND, Alhaji Kashim Imam who disclosed while assessment visits to the University of Maiduguri on Monday said “since the inception of the Fund in 2008 we have expended N120 billion on the Academic staffs training and development of over 30,000 academic staffs, in addition to over 68,000 academic and non academic staffs on workshops and conferences abroad.”

“Many universities and tertiary institutions have benefited from funds Academic staff training and Development scholarships amounting to N20 billion, and in 2021 the TETFUND has set aside N25 billion making the total of N150 billion From the 2008 to date. We are here on a assessment visit to ascertain the impact of our investment and to also know the success, challenges of the scheme and proffer solution.”, imam added

He said “the intervention in 2021 is the highest the Fund ever had but also the lowest due to exchange rate, which had reduced the number o scholars to be sponsored, University of Maiduguri alone has N150 million to spend in 2021 on staff training and development, so we are here to find out whether we are having value for our money”.

The chairman said ” due to corruption and other infringements, the TETFUND has suspended conferences and workshops training outside the country. I urge the institutions to come up with suggestions to see how we can properly utilize the the funds.*

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, Professor Aliyu Shugaba said, University of Maiduguri has benefited a lot from the Fund and if not for the TETFUND tertiary institutions in Nigeria will be glorified secondary schools.

“The TETFUND has approved the sum of N750 million for the upgrade of kidney centre at the UMTH and with that development very soon we don’t need to go abroad or else where for kidney transplant. The Fund has also approved for the upgrade of Trans Sahara studies

Also speaking, the Director Academic Staff training and Development of the TETFUND, Mal. Mohammed Suleiman said “the fund has expanded huge sum of fund on academic training and development, as such, we need to assess and know whether we are getting value for our money, what are the challenges and proffer solutions”

He said ” a total 30,000 academic staff have benefited from training and Development and 68,000 academic and non academic staffs attended conferences and workshops. So we are here to look back in the last 12 years to assess our performance”..

While at the UNIMAID one of the benefitting scholars, Dr. Mustapha Isa said the major challenges of the foreign scholars is the issue of foreign exchange.

The chairman was also at the Ranat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Kashim Imam College of Education and Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education science and technology Bama for the same mission where he interacted with the management and benefitting scholars in the institutions.

CAS celebrates Easter with troops, urges them not to be deterred by propaganda

By Musa Askira, Maiduguri

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao,on Sunday marked Easter celebration having launch with troops of Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri.

Addressing the troops, Amao urged them to sustain the fight against insurgents and not to be deterred by propaganda, particularly regarding the recent crash of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jet.

“On the issue of crashed NAF Alpha jet, which was declared missing on 31 March 2021 after losing radar contact, let me state clearly that the videos being circulated on social media alluding that the aircraft was shot down are false.

“Let us not be deterred by propaganda. From critical analysis of all available evidence, it is obvious that the air accident was caused by other factors which will soon be made public.

“You are all aware of efforts we are making to rescue our pilots and recover crashed aircrafts. We will continue to sustain the efforts.

“The sad situation notwithstanding, now more than ever before is the time NAF must show strength, determination, be undeterred and unrelenting until the entire North East is rid of terrorists and criminal elements, ” Alao said.

He urged the troops remain focused while assuring that the nation is not only proud of them but supportive of their efforts.

The CAS lauded the President and Commander in Chief for his sustain support to NAF and military in general, adding that his celebration of Easter with the troops is not only an opportunity bond them but also to promote comradeship and regimentation in service.