By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Misilli Community Development Foundation (MCDF) is set to hold the fourth edition of its annual school enrolment programme for out-of-school and vulnerable children in Gombe State.

The initiative, scheduled for Sunday, September 20, 2026, is aimed at helping children facing financial and social challenges gain access to formal education and remain in school.

The programme, which has grown into a yearly intervention by the foundation, is designed to complement government efforts to reduce the number of children excluded from the education system.

Since its launch, the initiative has supported beneficiaries with school enrolment and essential learning materials, including uniforms, school bags and books. The foundation has also introduced measures aimed at easing the financial burden on vulnerable families and encouraging regular school attendance.

The intervention aligns with ongoing efforts by the Gombe State Government to tackle the out-of-school children challenge through programmes implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), with support from organisations including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and UNICEF.

Beyond enrolment, MCDF said its intervention is focused on helping children stay in school and benefit from education irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances.

The fourth edition is expected to bring together beneficiaries, parents, community leaders, education stakeholders, partners and other supporters of the initiative.

The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the residence of the late Alhaji Uba Misilli in Dawaki Quarters, Gombe.

The foundation called on individuals, organisations and community stakeholders to support efforts to identify and enrol children who are out of school, while urging parents and guardians to ensure that enrolled children attend school regularly.

According to the foundation, access to education should not end with admission into a classroom but should provide children with the knowledge and opportunities needed to improve their future.

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

Women Community in Africa (WCA), Gombe State Chapter, has urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of giving, saying charity can help transform lives and strengthen communities.

The organisation made the call on Saturday during activities marking the UN Day of Charity in Shongo Dirago Community, Gombe State, with the theme, “In Giving We Receive.”

The event, organised in collaboration with the Adamu Yola Foundation and Voice of Women for Peace and Development Initiative, sought to encourage people to support others irrespective of their social or economic circumstances.

Speaking at the event, WCA Gombe State Commissioner, Hon. Ruth Abner, said charity should go beyond material donations to include kindness, compassion and efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable people.

Represented at the event, Ms Abner said empowering women to contribute to their communities could create a wider impact on families and future generations.

“When we feed one, we feed many. When we touch one life, we change a generation,” she said.

She urged residents of Shongo Dirago to sustain the culture of generosity, stressing that acts of giving could promote peace, unity and community development.

Ms Abner also commended the WCA executive, volunteers, community leaders and partner organisations for supporting the programme.

She said the initiative would be followed by a virtual engagement at 7:30 p.m. to broaden discussions on charity and encourage more people to participate in acts of kindness.

She thanked the traditional and community leaders for hosting the event and urged participants to continue supporting people in need beyond the commemoration.

“Give with love, touch a life and make a difference,” she said.

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Politics Shouldn’t Divide Gombe: CSOs Sound Alarm Over Rising Hate Speech Ahead of Governorship Election

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

The Gombe Network of Civil Society Organizations (GONET) has warned that the increasing use of hate speech, online attacks and inflammatory political rhetoric by supporters of governorship aspirants could undermine the peace and unity Gombe State has enjoyed over the years.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Amb. Ibrahim Yusuf, and Secretary, Dr Benjamin Maina, the coalition expressed concern that political engagement in the state was rapidly shifting from healthy democratic competition to personal insults, cyberbullying, character assassination and dangerous incitement.

The organisation said the trend, if left unchecked, could threaten the peaceful coexistence for which Gombe, popularly known as the “Jewel in the Savannah”, is recognised.

According to GONET, elections should be fought on the strength of ideas, policies and leadership competence rather than through campaigns of hatred and misinformation.

“Politics should never become a licence for hatred. Every aspirant is a son of Gombe whose dignity deserves respect, irrespective of political affiliation. Citizens should debate policies and programmes instead of spreading abuse and false narratives,” the statement said.

The coalition warned that political violence often begins with reckless words, noting that history has repeatedly shown that inflammatory language, misinformation and sustained verbal attacks frequently precede physical violence.

It therefore urged all governorship aspirants and political leaders to publicly caution their supporters against hate speech, threats and provocative online conduct.

“True leadership is demonstrated not only by the size of one’s political following but by the discipline and restraint exhibited by supporters,” it added.

GONET also appealed to residents not to sacrifice personal relationships or divide communities over politics, reminding citizens that today’s political rivals could become tomorrow’s allies.

The group called on security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering to identify and address deliberate incitement and cyber harassment while enforcing the law professionally, impartially and without political interference.

It further urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, community leaders, civil society organisations and the media to promote issue-based campaigns and discourage extremist political narratives throughout the electoral season.

Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful elections, GONET stressed that while political offices are temporary, the people of Gombe would continue to live together after the elections.

It urged all stakeholders to allow campaigns to remain competitive without sacrificing mutual respect, expressing hope that wisdom would prevail over provocation and peace over political bitterness.