An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 26-year-old Omodara Dada to seven years imprisonment for burglary.

Dada was convicted of stealing a N64,000 Infinix Hot 8 phone and N8,000 cash while armed with a knife during a February 2022 incident.

The hotel manager victim testified that Dada threatened him with a knife during the burglary but was overpowered and apprehended with assistance from others.

Justice Lekan Ogunmoye ruled that while evidence did not support armed robbery, it substantiated the charge of burglary under Section 323 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2011.

The sentence will commence from the date of Dada’s detention.

The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and Intel Corporation, has launched a free Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy to equip Nigerian youths with advanced technology skills.

The Academy offers free self-paced courses on AI fundamentals, ethics, tools, and applications. Participants will also compete for AI ambassadorial roles and internships with Intel Corporation, gaining valuable global experience.

This initiative aims to prepare Nigerian youths for leadership roles in the digital economy, boost their global job market competitiveness, and foster innovation.

Applications close on January 30, 2025. Register now at scienceandtech.gov.ng/academy.

Tension gripped Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Thursday when members of the Oodua People Congress (OPC) and motorcycle riders clashed violently over the death of a motorcycle ticketing officer.

The altercation escalated with both groups wielding dangerous weapons such as cutlasses and knives, resulting in multiple injuries.

According to an eyewitness, trouble began when the motorcycle riders accused an OPC member of being responsible for the officer’s death, which occurred near the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti.

The situation was brought under control after the timely intervention of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Ekiti State Police Command.

Ekiti police spokesperson, CSP Abutu Sunday, confirmed that six suspects were arrested in connection with the violence.

He stated, “Today, January 9, 2025, at about 11:20 AM, we received a distress call reporting that hoodlums were attacking and robbing innocent people in the Atikankan area.

Our operatives responded swiftly and arrested six suspects. They are currently under investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend others involved.”

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has disclosed that about 80 percent of the illegally recruited secondary school teachers in the state are unable to write an acceptance letter, highlighting concerns over their qualifications.

During a meeting with a coalition of Christian denominations under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Government House, Governor Sule firmly rejected the request by the CAN’s Nasarawa State Chairman, Very Reverend Dr. Sunday Emma, to absorb the teachers into the state’s education system. He emphasized that many of these teachers lack the necessary credentials for effective teaching.

The governor cited reports indicating that many of the individuals who paid for the positions, which amounted to significant sums ranging from N600,000 to N700,000, were ill-equipped to perform their duties. He questioned the feasibility of hiring such individuals, stating, “These are people who would be paid less than 100,000 naira. I was told 80 percent of them could not even write acceptance letters. If we are helping them, we are not helping our educational system.”

Governor Sule further shared insights into the condition of the state’s educational sector, revealing that upon his assumption of office in 2019, he commissioned experts to conduct a baseline survey. The survey, which identified major gaps in infrastructure, curriculum, and teacher qualifications, led to the approval of the recruitment of 1000 teachers.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction with the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) for exceeding the approved number, employing over 1000 teachers without proper authorization. The governor also condemned the practice of recruiting individuals based on political connections, emphasizing that only qualified teachers should be hired for the benefit of the state’s education system.

Governor Sule also pointed out that many of the recruited teachers showed reluctance to work in rural areas, preferring urban centers instead. He underscored the importance of deploying teachers where they are most needed, such as in remote towns like Toto and Gudi.

In conclusion, the governor announced plans to conduct a fresh interview process for all recruited teachers, including those previously approved, to ensure that only the most qualified candidates are retained. He reiterated his commitment to reforming the education system, stressing that, “My dream is to get it right in Nasarawa State. But we can’t get it right except if we are honest with ourselves.”