Gombe United FC has defeated visiting Remo Stars FC by a lone goal (1-0) at the Pantami township Stadium.
Remo Star FC which occupies the third (3) spot on the league table is tasting defeat for the first time after winning its last 11 matches.
However through the artistic display the state darling team, Gombe united FC was to break the jinx by putting one pass the visitors.
Gombe United scored the only goal of the match in less than 20 minutes of play through Ibrahim Yahaya bringing an end to Remo Stars unbeaten streak.
Many sports enthusiast in interviewed hail the performance of the team noting that the boosting of the team’s moral as well as the continued support by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa as well as the determination of both players and management is gradually but steadily making the difference.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya ( Dan Majen Gombe) has received with sadness the news of the demise of former clerk to the Gombe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammad Garba Wala whose sad event occurred yesterday in Gombe.
In a condolence message, Governor Inuwa described the late Garba Wala as a seasoned bureaucrat, experienced administrator and resourceful legislative officer who gave his very best for the progress and development of democracy, Gombe State and Nigeria.
He said his death was a huge loss, not only to his immediate family or community, but the state and the nation in general
The Governor, on behalf of the government and people of Gombe State conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and relations of the deceased, the entire people of Balanga Local Government Area as well as the membership and management of the Gombe State House of Assembly where he last worked until his retirement, praying Almighty Allah to grant him Aljannat Firdaus.
Ismaila Uba Misilli Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House Gombe
Gombe, the Jewel in the Savannah, has recorded another first, as the state received two separate awards in recognition of its exceptional performance and outstanding commitment to excellence as well as its contribution to the success of the implementation of the Pooled Fund project Window 2.
The two awards were presented by the National Secretariat of Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) through the Coordinator of the CS-SUNN coalition of Gombe State during the end of project meeting in Abuja.
The CS-SUNN coalition had impleted the project with support from the National Secretariat in the areas of capacity building of community based organisations, CBOs, health workers, staff of line MDAs, media, religious and traditional leaders on importance of exclusive breastfeeding.
Other areas were town hall meetings, house hold economy training for women in communities and nutrition education and food demonstration during ante natal cares, ANCs.
The programme also carried out support to SCFN meetings, development of sermon notes on nutrition from the islamic and christian perspectives.
Recall that, last year, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya received the NUTRITION CHAMPION FOR THE NIGERIAN CHILD Award by the International Society of Media in Public Health in recognition of his administration’s disposition towards tackling the manace of malnutrition among children in the State.
Until recently, malnutrition was a major health concern in Gombe State with the attendant classification of the state as one with a high record of children not being able to grow to their potentials.
However, with multi-sectoral approach to addressing the problem instituted by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe is now leading the way.
The present administration has gone into partnership with UNICEF and relevant partners to provide nutritious food to children through the timely payment of counterpart funding in order to ensure that children in the State do not suffer the needless health challenges associated with malnutrition.
As directed by the Governor, the state’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has developed a formula and is now producing Ready to Use Therapeutic food locally as a way of ensuring permanent solution to the malnutrition challenges in the State.
Ismaila Uba Misilli Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House Gombe
…As Governor Inuwa Stresses Resolve To Safeguard Rights, Welfare Of Vulnerable Children, Youths
Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has commended Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for taking the lead in keying into and implementating the Federal Government’s At- Risk- Risk-Children Programme, ARC-P.
The Vice President stated this during the national stakeholders’ summit and formal launch of the ARC-P held at the Banquet hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where Governor Inuwa was specially invited to share the experience of Gombe in the implementation of the ARC-P, especially being the first state in the Federation to pilot the implementation of the programme.
The VP also lauded Sokoto, Ekiti and Kaduna states for keying into the programme, calling on other States of the federation to take advantage of it towards improving the lives of vulnerables in their respective states.
He said aside from the FG’s initiative of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, enforcement of compulsory compliance in ensuring the implementation of basic education in Nigeria, ARC-P is the next most important human development initiative that complimented the government’s effort of securing a fruitful future for the Nigerian youth.
“Youths constitute about 65% of the Nigeria’s population as such human development policies by government, private sector and well meaning citizens need to be given the desired priorities so that Nigeria can have a better and reliable future leaders.
Speaking at the event, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said his administration will continue to make good use of the opportunities offered by ARC-P to safeguard the rights, welfare and wellbeing of vulnerable children and youths in the state.
He told the participants that for Gombe state government and its people, the ARC-P programme came at the right time, considering the magnitude of disruption to lives and livelihoods caused by the boko haram insurgency in the North-East Sub-region.
He said under the programme, Gombe State has so far completed the recruitment and training of 500 youths facilitators across various skills around the 7 pillars of ARC-P.
He added that the government also commenced stakeholders’ engagement in Tsangaya Schools and orphanages across 25 Communities to be launched as temporary community hubs for the commencement of skill acquisition training.
Governor Inuwa also told the gathering that just last week, he flagged-off the training of the first batch of 500 youths under Gombe State Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps (GoSTEC) to be trained on different categories in the areas of security, traffic and environmental tasks in close collaboration with statutory security agencies.
He noted that all the highlighted achievements could not have been achieved within the shortest period without the support from the presidency.
“When our administration came on board in 2019, it was discovered that Gombe State has one of the highest rates of out of school children with over 700.000 children (Seven hundred thousand) roaming the streets and these children face uncertain future due to exposure to all forms of risks and vulnerabilities which if neglected will not only deny them participating actively in socioeconomic life of the society but will also jeopardise the peace ans security of the country”, he added.
He said hence the large number of the out of school children are associated with the Almajiri system of education his administration made concerted effort to secure the cooperation of Tsangaya School owners and practitioners in expanding access to early-grade education to all Almajiri children.
Governor Inuwa said soon after the introduction of ARC-P, his government liased with the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Hajiya Maryam Uwais to see how Gombe state would key into the initiative.
“Having signed the MoU, an advisory committee was set up, led by my wife the first lady who is a passionate advocate of child right, I also appointed a project lead with a portfolio of Special Adviser on human capital development to expand the scope of the office to accommodate our State’s peculiarities to ensure full and unhindered implementation of advisory Committee’s directives and policies for the programme”.
He said hence the large number of the out of school children are associated with the Almajiri system of education his administration made concerted effort to secure the cooperation of Tsangaya School owners and practitioners in expanding access to early-grade education to all Almajiri children.
Governor Inuwa believes children and young adults, especially girls are disproportionately affected by natural and man made disasters such as the brutal insurgency that bedevilled the northeast region for the past decade, noting that in many conflict situations, thousands of children in the six States of the Northeast have become victims of forced displacement, kidnapping, maiming, child soldier syndrome, sexual molestation and forced labor among similar others
“Although Gombe is not the epicentre of the Boko Haram conflict but its geographical location in the centre of the northeast has made it a regional shock-absorber as can be seen most vividly in the influx over the years of internally displaced persons from the frontline States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
He said the highlighted developments overstretched the State’s basic infrastructural Services, especially Schools, health and Social care facilities due to these demographic changes that necessitated the introduction of new and varied measures to provide for the educational, health and other needs of large number of vulnerable Children and Youths.
In her brief remark, the Special adviser Hajiya Maryam Uwais gave an overview of the ARC-P programme, the gains made, challenges encountered and the recommended measures to improve the program in the Country.
The event was attended by governors of Ekiti and Nasarawa States, Ministers, members of the National Assembly as well members of the diplomatic corps and development partners.
Ismaila Uba Misilli Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House Gombe
…Targets 20,000 Youths, Women On Various Empowerment Programmes
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has flagged off training for the first batch of 500 youths under Gombe State Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps, GOSTEC Programme.
In his address at the induction ceremony held at the NYSC temporary orientation camp, Amada, Governor Inuwa Yahaya described GOSTEC as a home grown innovation aimed at harnessing the potentials of youths in state which is one of his administration’s priorities towards human capital development.
He disclosed that 2,000 youths across the 11 Local Government areas of Gombe State will be engaged under the programme in Collaboration with At Risk Children Project, ARC-P office in Abuja.
“GOSTEC was designed to mobilise youths across the 11 Local Government areas of Gombe State with a view to giving them appropriate training that will enable them shoulder the responsibility of enforcing the relevant traffic, security and environmental laws in close collaboration with the statutory security agencies so as to ensure a safe, secure and clean environment for all people of Gombe State in accordance with the dictates of the law”, the governor said.
“With the launching of this nobel corps in our state, we are yet again fulfilling one of our campaign promises by uplifting the living standard of our youths through the creation of decent employment opportunities and engaging them positively in the overall development of Gombe State”, he added.
Governor Inuwa described the induction as just the beginning of youth friendly initiatives of his administration, confirming that many people-oriented programmes of his administration are on the queue.
“Our goverment has started taking delivery of 2,000 tricycles, which we ordered as well as 1,000 light vehicles to be distributed to another set of at least 3,000 youths across the entire state in our bid to provide jobs to this important demographic group.
“in the same vein, the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa which is under construction will employ not less than 50,000 youths when completed insha Allah”, Governor Inuwa noted.
The governor reiterated his commitment and determination to end youth restiveness and political thuggery in Gombe State, saying, “the menace of using our youths in political thuggery and criminality for the selfish interest of politicians will not be condoned by this administration. We remain determined to end the Kalare syndrome in Gombe State”.
Unveiling his plans on women and other vulnerable groups, Gov. Yahaya said, “Our initiatives are not unmindful of the vulnerability of our women folk. It is in this regard that we are equally working to commence another initiative that will empower not less than 5000 women across the 114 political wards of Gombe State with various entrepreneurial skills and starter packs, so that they can earn a living for themselves to support their families and the society at large”.
He lauded the commitment of the project advisory committee, project implementation committee, and all other stakeholders who worked towards the success of the programme.
“Without doubt the success of our youth-friendly activities in the state could not have been attained without dedication and perseverance of all stakeholders”, he remarked.
Governor Inuwa urged the trainees to work hard, uphold all the knowledge, skills and experience they will get during the training for good practice and be good ambassadors of his administration.
Speaking earlier, the Coordinator of At- Risk Children Programme, ARC-P and Special Adviser to the Governor on Human Capital Development, Barrister Sani Ahmed Haruna appreciated the support and encouragement by Governor Yahaya, saying that security, good accommodation, nutritious food, kits, and other welfare packages have all been provided for the success of the training.
Barrister Sani added that, there are 38 females among the 500 trainees and over 80% of the facilitators are from Gombe, the gesture he described as a good foresight of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.
In his remark, the Managing Director,.Good work Solutions and Allied Services, the consultant for the induction training, Wing Commander Ibrahim Sarki (rtd) said he was impressed by the landmark achievements of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, adding that the training will focus on four main areas, traffic regulation management, security and protection of high value assets, environmental monitoring and protection, general safety on health, fire and emergency response.
When the training is completed, the 500 youths will be deployed to various places in the state to serve at different capacities of human development and will also be placed on monthly allowance.
Ismaila Uba Misilli Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House Gombe.
… As BudgIT Lauds Governor Inuwa’s Rigorous Economic Policies, Programmes
In its 2021 State-of-the-states Report released recently which reflected on the states’ performance in the year 2020, Gombe State, the Jewel in the Savannah ranked 7th out of the 36 states of the country by getting higher score points in the fiscal performance index owing to sound economic policies and good governance of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Dan Majen Gombe).
Gombe State beat all Northern states with the exception of Kebbi and Kaduna which came 5th and 6th respectively. Where Rivers, Ebonyi, Anambra and Lagos topped the list.
The report said, “despite the distortion of COVID-19 pandemic to local economies and government revenues worldwide, Gombe State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) witnessed a +25.50% year-on-year increase from N6.80 billion in 2019 to N8.54 billion in 2020”.
BudgIT noted that Gombe State pruned its operating expenses by -22.8% from N42.88 billion in 2019 to N32.62 billion in 2020, with its overhead cost component experiencing the greatest cut of -47.16% from N9.89 billion in 2019 to N18.72 billion in 2020. This, the report said, has contributed immensely to the State’s improvement in fiscal performance in the 2021 Report.
Recall that the Inuwa Yahaya administration came to power when Gombe State was overwhelmed with debt to the tune of about N119 billion comprising of bonds, external and internal debt which the state government services every month despite the meager allocation it gets from the federation account. BudgIT revealed that, “as at December 31st 2020, Gombe’s total debt stock was N98.86 billion, making it the 25th most indebted in the country; with N84.97 billion Naira domestic and $36.55m foreign debt.
“The state spent N13.92bn on servicing internal loans and N616.68 million on servicing external loans in the 2020 fiscal year”, the report affirmed.
Despite the economic downturn and the debt burden, the organisation expressed confidence in the economic policies of the incumbent administration in Gombe State under Governor Inuwa Yahaya, asserting that “Gombe state is moving in the right direction when it comes to blocking leakages of government revenues.
“In 2019, the state recorded improvement in 3 critical disbursement linked results under the SFTAS programme indicators (TSA, Biometric data capture for state payroll and BVN), the state can go even further by implementing a procurement law recommended by SFTAS to improve procurement practices”, the report maintained.
Agriculture value chain, mineral exploitation, industrialisation and Public-Private Partnership, which Governor Yahaya give more credence to have also been identified by BudgIT as sectors capable of sustaining Gombe State on the right tract of economic development.
BudgIT is an independent civic organisation driven to make Nigerian Budget and public data more accessible and understandable across every literacy span. The organisation releases State-of-the-states Report annually to give accurate and reliable information about the true fiscal conditions of all the states in the federation.
Ismaila Uba Misilli Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House Gombe
The meeting of the North East Secretaries to the State Government Forum has ended in Gombe with a far reaching resolutions aimed at minimizing the inflow of drugs to the region and its effect thereof.
The resolutions which comes in the form of a communique was presented to the newsmen by the Chairman of the Forum and Secretary to the Gombe State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi.
Below is the full text of the communique.
Preamble The meeting held in order to comply with the directives of the North East Governor’s forum at their meeting held in Damaturu held on 14th December, 2022.
This stakeholder meeting is to enable a robust region-wide response to the menace of Drugs and Narcotics which is very prevalent among our young people and is at the heart of threatening the future of the region due to their role in aiding Insurgency, banditry, violence and other social vices.
Context
(i) The Statistics is glaring for Nigeria and the region. A United Nations office of Drugs and Narcotics (UNODN) Nigeria Drug Use survey in 2018 revealed that;
One in 4 drug Users is a woman; One in 7 persons aged 15-64 years had used drug other than tobacco and alcohol.
Highest levels of drug use is among those aged 25-39years.
1 in 5 persons who had used drugs is suffering from drug use disorder.
In the north, the North East has the highest prevalence rate of 13.6% ( over 3 million people) which is disturbing and we have to note that this is in 2018! It is not in doubt that the figure may have increased significantly.
Proceedings.
The meeting comprised heads of Security Agencies from all the States of the region comprising the following heads of commands: DSS Police NSCDC NDLEA Security Advisers to Governors and Commissioners
Deliberations were undertaken with a view to finding lasting and holistic solution to this clear issue which portends a clear and present danger to the survival and development of our dear region. Key Issues Discussed
The meeting examined the issues along the following themes:
The Adequacy of our policies to deal with the issue of Narcotics and drugs abuse.
How the inflow of narcotics and drugs into the North-East can be disrupted; The roles our traditional institutions are expected to play.
Strengthening the investigative and prosecutorial abilities of law enforcement.
Capacity of our judicial system to deal with the issue.
Issues of rehabilitation and empowerment.
Recommendations were made for the consideration of the Governors at their next meeting in March in Gombe.
Few days ago, media outlets were awash with the news of the triumphant return of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to Gombe after a 3-week long working vacation overseas.
Perhaps, this media hype became necessary and unavoidable because since coming into office about three years ago, the Governor had never travelled this long. However like a typical leader with an inductive sense of reasoning; enmeshed in the unquenchable thirst for developing his State, the Governor’s 3 weeks sojourn was not only for a rest but was designed to market the Gombe’s abundant human and natural resources and to woo potential investors along the process. This is not forgetting the fact that Gombe State still ranks number one in the ease of doing business in the country due to favourable policies, programmes and infrastructural development initiated by the Governor among which is the multi billion naira Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park currently under construction within the vicinity of the already completed 40 megawatts Dadinkowa Hydro power plant.
And so, like a father, which indeed he is, the Governor’s return was greeted with pop and pageantry beginning from the Gombe International Airport to the State capital. The record number of supporters that trooped to the Airport and those along the way to welcome the Governor was incredibly massive and security personnel had a hectic time controlling the jubilant crowd who wanted to catch a glimpse of the Governor.
As usual, Governor Inuwa did not stop short from waving back and exchanging pleasantries with them. Irrespective of age and social status, the theme song for the reception was “Inuwa Oyoyo”. At the city centre, it was a battle for the strong and the brave to catch a glimpse of the ever smiling Governor. Businesses, particularly those of trcycles and motorcycles riders, commercial transport drivers and roadside traders temporarily came to a halt as most of them joined in the reception to welcome a man they said brought sanity and decorum into their businesses through the provision of enabling environment. The time of the Governor’s arrival equally coincided with the closing time of most schools in Gombe metropolis and the students could not stay aloof on seeing their Governor who has done much to reposition the education sector.
At the Government House it was entirely a different ball game as the ecstasy that enveloped the atmosphere is better seen than imagined. The aged who could not make it through the rigours of the Governor’s motorcade took vantage positions at the Government House in order not to be left behind.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, an elated Governor Inuwa Yahaya thanked them for coming out in en masse to welcome him back to the State inspite of the long distant travel from Gombe to the Airport and restated his commitment to champion their course as he pilots the affairs of the state.
The rapturous reception accorded to the Governor, is indeed an attestation to the fact that Inuwa is fully on ground and enjoys the support of not only for the ordinary masses but all and sundry.
Coming to the bountiful harvest from the journey, Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s epoch making trip, though for vacation, provided ample opportunity for engagement with development partners and foreign investors in furtherance of his continuous drive to transform his beloved Gombe State into the economic, industrial and infrastructural hub of the North East.
Presently, Gombe State is working with numerous development partners, including the Qatar Foundation, UNICEF, WHO, USAID(SENSE),SEPIP, IDEAS ,the Norwegian government amongst others and this solid partnerships have been pivotal in advancing the sustainable development agenda of the State government. With the high level of infrastructural development of this state that is boasting of a sophisticated road network, modernised urban and rural infrastructure, eco-friendly facilities, literate and ICT savvy workforce, state of the art health facilities, international standard Airport as well as its centrality and peaceful atmosphere, Gombe is indeed an investor’s paradise. Little wonder, Governor Inuwa, the prolific Dan Majen Gombe visited several destinations to woo investors and undoubtedly, he received warm reception as many of the prospective investors he met were dutifully impressed with his giant strides in Gombe State and therefore pledged their readiness to forge a partnership that would mutually benefit both sides.
As part of his tightly packed itinerary, Governor Inuwa visited the Nigerian Pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 in the United Arab Emirates where over 20 mineral resources and agricultural produces from the state were on display. He also interacted with numerous investors, exciting his audience with the state’s agro-entrepreneurship, agro-allied and agro-processing potentials which will be adequately harnessed with the completion of the 1,000 hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park with the complement of the 40 MW of electricity to be supplied by the adjacent Dadinkowa Hydro-Electric Power Station. The industrial park is meant to camp hundreds of firms, companies, industries and is projected to create over a 100,000 jobs for the teeming youths of the state.
Indeed the Dan Maje’s overseas trip will undoubtedly translate into a positive outcome for the State to further bolster his administration’s remarkable achievements and the untiring efforts of same towards putting the state on the trajectory of sustainable socio-economic development in line with his campaign promises.
Misilli is Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House, Gombe
As a way of welcoming Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya from his oversea trip, Gombe United FC have today Thursday at the Pantami township stadium walloped visiting Mountain of Fire Ministry FC by 3 goals to nil.
The State darling team overcame their opponent in the presence of records crowd to clinch all three points in match day ten of the Nigeria National Football League.
Two First half goals from Yusuf Abdullazeez 9’42’ and Mohammed Aminu in 41′ ensured comprehensive win for the Gombe base team.
The home team was spurred on to victory by hundreds of cheering supporters from within and outside the State capital.
Gombe State Government has condole with the family of Malam A. A. Haruna over the death of his son Babangida A.A Haruna who died recently, at the Age of 58.
Conveying the State Government condolence message, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi describe the death of Babangida as painful and devastating not only to members of his family but to the State and the nation at large.
The SSG reminded the family of the deceased that death is inavitable end to all mortal and therefore enjoin them to take solace prayed Allah to forgive his short comings and grant him aljantul firdausi.
Responding on behalf of the family, Ibrahim Kawule appreciated the Gombe State Government under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for sending such a Delegation to Commiserate with them in their moment of grief.
The delegation comprise of the Chief of Staff Government House Honourable Commissioners of Justice, Rural Development, Water resources and the principal Private Secretary (PPS).
Also in the delegation are; Special Advisers, Directors Generals, Senior Special Assistants and Chairman Gombe Local Government.
It will be recalled that, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa had earlier issued a statement through the Director General Press Affairs Ismailia Uba Missilli where his expressed his deepest sympathy to the deceased family over the loss of Late Babangida Haruna.
Special prayers were offered for the repose of the deceased by an APC chieftain Buba Sheru during the Condolence visit.
Joshua Danmalam Information Officer SSGs office. 31/1/22
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