Author: nationalpoint

BY SAM MEDNICK (AP) OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Africa’s largest film festival kicks off Saturday in Burkina Faso amid both the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing jihadi insurgency in the West African nation that has killed thousands of people and displaced more than 1 million in recent years.Alex Moussa Sawadogo, head of the Pan-African Film and TV Festival of Ouagadougou said organizers wanted to go ahead with the event known by its French acronym, FESPACO in spite of the challenges to show Burkina Faso can still “inspire imagination through cinema.”“This event will be a FESPACO of resistance because it is…

Matt Hancock has lost his new job at the United Nations just four days after being appointed, following outrage from figures who condemned the “jaw dropping” decision to appoint him as a special envoy for Covid recovery in Africa.The UN’s Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said his appointment was “not being taken forward,” following days of criticism.Mr Hancock, who resigned his job as Health Secretary in June after he was pictured on CCTV kissing an aide, had said he was “honoured” to take up the role of Special Representative for Financial Innovation and Climate Change.The Telegraph understands Mr Hancock was told by…

The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, is advising and cautioning politicians from the North, seeking to run for the Presidency, to wait till 2031, for the sake of national harmony and peace.Everyone has the right to take part in the governance of his/her Country; to vote and be voted for. But, it’s equally fundamental to uphold the indispensable principles of fairness, equity, and justice. Noting that without these, there can be no overall peace and progress.PANDEF avers that it should be, therefore, unthinkable that the North should contemplate clutching onto the Presidential Seat, in 2023, at the end of President…

Girls at an anti-gender based violence enlightenment campaignIn commemoration of the 2021 International Day for the Girl Child, a traditional ruler from Ogoni land has called for onward review of digital technological implements on ground for the development of girls in our society.Mene Ambassador Magnus Edooh, paramount ruler, Dee Eewa village in Kwawa community said in a press statement issued by his media team on his behalf, that girls as future leaders, need to be integrated into the digital world as the current world is a digital generation.“Girls are leaders, let’s implement this step in our daily business, mostly at…

The International food Day is celebrated yearly on October 16. Food is an energy resource and an indispensable sustainer of human life. The 2021 World Food Day is titled, “Safe Food Today for a Healthy Tomorrow”.Food as we know it, is any substance consumed by humans; such foods may be of animal or plant origin. Food variants may contain nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat, proteins, vitamins, minerals, etc. Sadly enough, food as a major sustainer of life meant to provide nutritional as well as health sustaining needs of the human body, has become a poison.Food crops cultivation and subsequent utilization…

Delta State Executive Council has approved the 2021 supplementary budget draft of N66billion.This was disclosed to newsmen by the commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu on Thursday, September 30 shortly after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at Government House, Asaba.He stated that Exco also considered key areas in the 2022 Appropriation Bill and called on MDAs to reorder their estimates in line with the critical focus of the proposed budget.“Today at Exco we considered the 2021 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of the state and we are proposing N66 billion to augment the 2021 budget.“Now that…

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has granted amnesty to nine inmates at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Okaka in Yenagoa.Governor Diri made the pronouncement on Tuesday when he visited the centre.Addressing the freed inmates, the governor advised them to change their ways and become responsible members of society.He expressed displeasure over the number of inmates in custody, saying that the only way the centre can be decongested was through reduction in crime in the state.He said it was his constitutional duty to grant amnesty to inmates based on recommendations from the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.He said: “Whereas you have…

Frontline Rivers State Pentecostal leader Apostle Zilly Aggrey has joined concerned Niger Deltans demanding attention to the menace of soot especially in Port Harcourt.Apostle Zilly Aggrey , general overseer of Graceland Church raised the concern over the increasing menace of soot in Port Harcourt on September 19, 2021, while speaking as an inducted honourary Rotarian at the installation of a deaconess in his church, Obonganwan Emem Okon as charter president of the Rotary Club of Port-Harcourt Eco.Highlighting the dangerous consequence of the environmental pollution from soot, the church founder and general overseer said he came in recently from London where…

By Clifford Christopher SolomonA fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Ene Benibo, has been admitted into the prestigious Hall of Fame of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers. The event took place at Hago Height Event Centre on Thursday September 16,2021.Speaking to National Point on the sideline of the event, Benibo said the award came at the peak of his career, as an engineer.“We have worked hard without recognition as the engineering profession is not quite appreciated in this country but I stand to say this, in the development of a nation the engineers are…

Dr. Patience Osaro-Ejiji and members of other CSOs at the eventOgoni Women Development Initiative in collaboration with Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center in association with other development partners including WANEP, CEMEDEC, Pius Dukor Foundation, held a peace forum on Tuesday September 28, 2021 at the Council Hall of Tai Local Government Area, Sapenwa.Welcoming guests to the event, Dr. Patience Osaro-Ejiji, president of the coalition said Ogoni women were no longer comfortable with happenings in the ethnic nationality stressing that heightened insecurity is destroying the dreams and lives of the people.Said she:“The matter before us is grave-the high state of…