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Gov Mbah Inaugurates State Human Capital Development Council

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Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has constituted the Enugu State Human Development Council, stressing that human capital remains the true wealth of any nation.

The Council, which has the Deputy Governor, Barr. Peter Ossai, as the Chairman, comprises several members of the State Executive Council, heads of MDAs, and representatives of the legislature, Local Governments, traditional institutions, the Church, and the civil society.

Inaugurating the Council at the Government House on Thursday, Mbah said that the setting up of the Council was in line with the premium, which his administration places on human capital development. He, therefore, urged members to brace up for the task ahead.

“From the onset, we outlined three major transformational agenda for Enugu State and one of them is to eradicate poverty, to reduce our poverty head count to zero. What that essentially means is that our government philosophy is one that puts a premium on human capital development.

“We understand that the true wealth of any nation is not measured by the value of what they have beneath their soils. It is based on the quality of human resources, which is why, if you look at our budget in the last two budget cycles – 2024 and 2025 – you would notice that social services took over 50% of our expenditure.

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This is largely responsible for the huge investment we have done in education, the human skills and enhancement programmes and, of course, healthcare.

“Because you can hardly be interested in anything that you cannot measure, the importance of the Council we are inaugurating here today is for us to be able to track the activities in these various sectors -education, skills development, health care.

“So, across these various sectors, we have our baseline data of what we inherited and we are monitoring that. The essence of this Council is also to entrench that monitoring scheme to ensure that we are closely monitoring the growth and the rate at which we are performing across these sectors,” he stated.

Responding, Chairman of the Council, Barr. Ossai, assured governor of the members’ total commitment to delivering on the Council’s terms of reference, noting that the imperativeness of the Council was underscored by the fact that everything the government was doing, from Green Smart Schools to the Primary Healthcare Centres, Transport Terminals, Farm Estates, roads, among others, were all about human beings.

“The whole programmes we are running are actually geared towards our people and if you isolate each and everyone of them, you will find the direct link on how they directly link to our people. So, the opportunity for us as members of this Council is to track what we have been doing and to keep data because they enable us to measure our progress,” he stated.

Meanwhile, fielding questions from Government House correspondents, a member of the Council and the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Sameul Asadu, described the Council as a game-changing initiative.

“I always say, this governor is a game-changer. I was excited when the governor was inaugurating us today. It is something we have to take home. What he brings to the table is a lot. He brought a lot in education, human capital development.

“As traditional rulers, we work with the communities and the feedback we we are already havingis that Governor Peter Mbah is doing well. But he always has a way to measure the success in whatever he is doing in agriculture, healthcare. That is the hallmark of governance,” he stated.

Other members of the Council are the State Focal Person on Human Capital Development/Secretary of Council, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodu and the Deputy Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ezenta Ezeani.

Other members drawn from the State Assembly are Hon. Iloabuchi Aniagu, Hon. Okey Mbah, Hon. Jane Eneh, and Hon. Chukwuma Ekwueme.

Those drawn from the State Executive Council are Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubeuze Mbah; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Obi; Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Hon. Chika Ugwuoke; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr. Chris Ozongwu; Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Nathaniel Urama; Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Ngozi Enih; and the Hon. Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Malachy Agbo.

Other members are Chairman, Enugu State Local Government Service Commission, Barr. Nana Ogbodo; Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Enugu State, Hon. Okechukwu Edeh; Special Adviser to the Governor on MSME and Digital Economy, Arinze Chilo-Offia; Executive Secretary, Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, Dan Onyishi; and Assistant State Focal Person, Human Capital Development, Queen Ugwu.

Also, on the Council are Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ike and the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Calistus Onaga as well as the representative of Enugu civil society organisations, Mr. Ozo Ugo.

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2027 Election: Yilwatda apologises to aggrieved Oyo APC members, seeks unity

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Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has apologised to aggrieved members over perceived wrongs during the party’s internal primaries, saying the National Working Committee (NWC) takes responsibility for such actions.

Yilwatda, who made the disclosure on Thursday in Ibadan during the launch of the APC governorship candidate campaign office in Ibadan, appealed to members who felt hurt, injured, prevented or excluded in any form to forgive the party and remain united ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the responsibility extended beyond Oyo State, stressing that the committee that conducted the party’s primaries was constituted by the national leadership and therefore, any mistake committed by it amounted to a mistake by the party.

“This is not for Oyo State alone. Anywhere anybody made a mistake in a state, it is our mistake because the committee was set up by us and they are representing us.

“If anybody is hurt, if anybody is injured, if anybody is prevented or excluded in any form or the other, we take responsibility. On TV, before Nigerians, we take responsibility of all that has happened. I appeal to everybody that we are sorry,” he said.

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The APC national chairman urged members at polling units, wards and local government areas across the country to regard the matter as an internal family affair.

Yilwatda assured that the party was taking Oyo State seriously because of its strategic importance and large voting population, second only to Lagos.

Speaking, the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, commended the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for fulfilling his promises to the state within two days.

Alli expressed appreciation to Yilwatda for honouring the invitation to meet with governorship aspirants and stakeholders, saying the achievements recorded within the period surpassed what the stakeholders had been able to accomplish.

He said the promises made when the national chairman invited the aspirants had now been fulfilled.

“We cannot thank you enough for what you have come to do. What you have achieved successfully in two days, we have not been able to accomplish,” Alli said.

He assured the national chairman that the party in Oyo would continue to do the needful.

Earlier, mammoth crowd of members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered in Ibadan on Thursday as the party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, officially inaugurated the party’s governorship campaign office in Dandaru, along the Total Garden-Mokola Road, Ibadan.

The inauguration formed part of activities marking the APC National Chairman’s two-day official visit to Oyo State, which commenced on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Party members from across the 33 local government areas of the state converged on the venue to witness the official inauguration of the campaign office and welcome the national chairman.

The campaign office will serve as the secretariat of the APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli.

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AFRAA welcomes Enugu Air, strengthens Nigeria’s Domestic Aviation growth

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The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has admitted Enugu Air as Member, extending the Association’s membership base in Nigeria’s fast-growing domestic aviation market and reaffirming AFRAA’s commitment to supporting the continued development of African carriers across the continent.

This was announced by AFRAA in Nairobi on Wednesday, making Enugu Air the 50th Member of the association, joining the AFRAA airline fraternity, collectively representing more than 85 per cent of total international traffic carried by African airlines.

Speaking on the occasion, AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, said, “We are delighted to welcome Enugu Air into the AFRAA fraternity.

“As a state-backed carrier serving Nigeria’s rapidly expanding domestic market, Enugu Air represents the kind of homegrown investment that is vital to building resilient air connectivity across our continent.

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“We look forward to supporting the airline through the IOSA certification process and to its continued growth within the AFRAA membership, as we work together to advance the cause of unified African skies.”

Reacting to the development, the CEO of Enugu, Capt Tolu Ita, described the admission into AFRAA as a major milestone in the airline’s short history.

“We are honoured to join the AFRAA fraternity. This membership underscores Enugu Air’s commitment to safe, reliable, and affordable air travel for Nigerians while contributing to the vision of a unified African aviation market.

“We look forward to collaborating with fellow AFRAA members and leveraging the association’s support as we grow our network and pursue IOSA certification,” Tolu stated.

Founded on July 7, 2025, Enugu Air commenced commercial operations with a fleet of Embraer E170/E190/E195 aircraft.

The airline, which has its headquarters in Enugu and operates from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, currently serves nine domestic destinations including Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Benin City.

As part of the airline’s growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

As part of its growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

The admission of Enugu Air aligns with AFRAA’s strategic priorities and strengthens the voice of the association. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies, remains central to the realization of a truly integrated African aviation market.

Meanwhile, founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry.

The association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable air transport industry in Africa, where African airlines become key players and drivers of African economic development.

AFRAA membership cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators.

The association’s members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines.

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Aiyedatiwa appoints 1,004 aides, picks commissioner, three advisers

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Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa
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Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved a fresh round of appointments involving a commissioner, three Special Advisers and 1,000 other aides.

The appointments comprise 90 Senior Special Assistants and 910 Special Assistants, with the governor saying the move is intended to reinforce his administration and improve its reach across the state.

Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba, from Akoko North-West Local Government Area, has been nominated as Commissioner for Special Duties. Her nomination has been transmitted to the state House of Assembly for consideration and confirmation.

The governor also appointed Hon. Abimbola Fajolu as Special Adviser on Environment, Chief Ade Adeniyi as Special Adviser on Rural and Community Development, and Mr Muyiwa Ogunyemi as Special Adviser on Transport.

Among those named as Senior Special Assistants are Erelu Toyin Ogungbure, Women Mobilisation (South); Bidemi Obayangbon, Forestry; Gboluge Olufunmi Alex, Community Engagement (South); Hon. Akin Adeniyi, Community Engagement (Central); and Obayan Theophilus Ayodeji, Community Engagement (North).

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Others include Kelvin Solomon, Students Affairs; Adeolu Iwakun, Volunteer Services; Samson Job Bazuaye, Oil and Gas; Fade Ojamomi, Youth Empowerment and Job Creation; Sam Adepoju, Public Engagement; and Alhaji Samad Orijeminiyi, Scholarship.

Also appointed are Victor Omodara, Grassroots Mobilisation; Abayomi Adefolalu, Photography; and Alhaji Abdukadiri Adenoyi, Prince Nzuoma Egbulefu and Alhaji Garba Goni, all for Non-Indigenes.

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