Buni Approves Law School Scholarships for 148 Indigent Yobe Students

Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved immediate scholarships for 148 indigent students from Yobe State to study at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos campus, for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The approval, aimed at easing the financial burden on the beneficiaries, was disclosed in Damaturu during the disbursement of funds to the selected students drawn from the 17 local government areas of the state.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Bello Kawuwa, said the decision followed a joint meeting of the Yobe State Scholarships Board and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

Kawuwa explained that the administration remains committed to expanding access to quality education, particularly for students pursuing professional careers.

“The approval was granted during a joint session of the Scholarships Board and the Ministry. This intervention is to ensure that our students proceed to the Law School without financial constraints,” he said.

He added that the state government would continue to prioritise education service delivery by supporting Yobe indigenes in higher institutions across the country.

“The Buni administration is determined to invest in our human capital. We will continue to support every qualified student from the state in their academic pursuit,” Kawuwa stated.

The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to remain focused and disciplined throughout their programme at the Law School, noting that the gesture reflects the government’s broader commitment to strengthening education, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) development.

He emphasised that the students’ success would justify the state’s sustained investments in education and professional training.

Fintiri’s Cabinet Swings Behind Him as 22 Commissioners, Advisers Dump PDP for APC

By Jamila Muhammad

A major political realignment unfolded in Adamawa State on Friday as 22 commissioners and special advisers formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring unwavering support for Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s new political direction.

The mass defection came shortly after Governor Fintiri officially registered with the APC, signalling a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

Chairman of the Commissioners’ Forum, Mr Alloucious Babadoke, announced that members of the State Executive Council had collectively resolved to follow the governor into the ruling party.

“On behalf of the 22 executive council members, we affirm our total loyalty and commitment to the administration’s vision by aligning with the APC,” Babadoke stated. “We believe the governor’s leadership has steadily transformed Adamawa into a reference point for development, and we stand firmly behind his political decisions.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Commissioner for Information Mr James Iliya pledged to galvanise widespread support for the party across the state. He said efforts were already underway to mobilise residents at the grassroots level to register and actively participate in the APC’s activities.

In a related development, the governor’s special advisers also announced their collective resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and subsequent defection to the APC.

The Forum of Special Advisers, through a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Bala Jada, explained that the decision followed broad consultations with critical stakeholders, including traditional leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups, and professional associations.

According to Jada, the move was driven by conviction rather than conflict.

“Our decision is not rooted in bitterness or division,” he said. “It is a carefully considered step taken after deep reflection and wide consultations with key segments of our society.”

The defectors expressed appreciation to the people of Adamawa for their continued trust and support, assuring them of intensified mobilisation efforts to strengthen the APC’s base throughout the state.

They further noted that the new political alignment would position Adamawa more strategically at the national level, enhancing the state’s ability to attract opportunities and effectively advance its interests within the federal structure.

UNICEF Raises Alarm as 1,120 Children Recruited by Armed Groups in Northeast

By  Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that more than 1,120 children were recruited by three armed groups operating in Nigeria’s Northeast in 2024 alone.

According to the agency, the affected children, 525 boys and 595 girls, were unlawfully enlisted as fighters and forced into sexual exploitation across Borno State, Adamawa State and Yobe State.

UNICEF’s Child Protection Manager, Tarek Akkad, revealed the figures on Wednesday in Maiduguri while commemorating the 2026 Red Alert Day, also known globally as the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers.

He described the observance as part of a worldwide effort to renew commitment toward safeguarding vulnerable children, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

Akkad stressed the need for Nigeria to fully adopt and implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) concerning the involvement of children in armed conflict. He warned that despite progress recorded in recent years, the recruitment and use of minors in hostilities remain a serious breach of international law.

Quoting the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, Akkad noted that the enlistment of children by armed actors continues to rank among the most persistent and widespread violations against children globally.

“In the Northeast, armed groups continue to exploit boys and girls in different but equally devastating ways,” he said, adding that ongoing support from government authorities, UNICEF and development partners has enabled many rescued children to begin rebuilding their lives.

He called on government representatives, civil society organisations and international partners to intensify preventive measures, strengthen accountability systems and ensure the full implementation of action plans aimed at ending child recruitment.

Akkad further emphasised that children formerly associated with armed groups must be treated primarily as victims and handed over safely to civilian child protection authorities for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The renewed call comes amid continued security challenges in parts of the Northeast, underscoring the urgency of collective action to protect children from the horrors of armed conflict.