The Maitumbi residence of Niger State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, overflowed with mourners as thousands of sympathisers gathered to console him following the passing of his wife, Hajiya Zaynab Yakubu Garba.
Hajiya Zaynab Garba, aged 39, succumbed to a brief illness and was confirmed dead at Standard Hospital in Minna on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. She leaves behind her husband, two children, and grieving relatives.
Among those paying their respects were State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and Secretary to the State Government Abubakar Usman Gawu, who received other well- wishes on behalf of the bereaved family.
Notable figures, including the First Lady of the State, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago; Chief Judge Justice Halima Abdulmalik; and former Niger State Deputy Governor Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, also joined the early sympathisers at Comrade Yakubu Garba's residence along FM station in the Maitumbi area.
The gathering extended beyond political circles. Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Niger State Chapter, led by Chairman Comrade Abdulkarim Lafene, as well as representatives from the Traders Association of Nigeria, Islamic Groups, and various NGOs across the state, expressed their condolences. State and national assembly members, along with state executive council members, also stood in solidarity.
Islamic scholars from both within and outside the state took turns offering special prayers for the repose of the deceased's soul. They emphasised the need for self-reflection and unwavering submission to Allah.
The three-day Fidda'u prayer for the Deputy Governor's late wife has been announced. Press Secretary Ummikhaltume Abdullahi Kuta stated that it will take place on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 4 p.m. in Emir's Palace, Minna.
In this time of grief, the statement extends gratitude to the public, friends, relatives, and associates for their condolences and prayers. May Almighty Allah grant her eternal rest, and may the family find strength to bear this irreparable loss.
There was wild jubilation yesterday in the Minna National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp when the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, announced lavish gifts to 2024 batch B, stream one corps members, including the construction of a N5 billion new orientation camp.
Among the largesse was a N200,000 gift to each of the 1,301 corps members, one trailer load of rice, and 20 cows to be delivered to the camp for the corps three-week orientation exercise.
The governor said his gesture was to demonstrate that Niger was an agrarian state that could feed the nation.
The visibly ecstatic governor also announced automatic employment for all medical and health graduates in the state civil service and called on the youths to key into his agriculture for wealth initiative. He described agriculture as a rich venture that brings prosperity, which was why the state government was investing heavily in the sector.
Governor Bago announced this when he declared open the 2024 NYSC Orientation Course for Batch B, stream one, at the NYSC temporary camp in Paiko.
"Farming is a rich business. To give you N5b to build a new camp is through agriculture; to give you N200,000 each as a token is through agriculture; to give you a trailer load of rice is through agriculture; and to give you 20 heads of cattle is through agriculture. It means there's prosperity in agriculture," Governor Bago announced enthusiastically.
He told the youth that Niger State was poised to feed the nation and revealed that the state had already cleared over 1 million hectares of land and promised more lands would be cleared. He said the state had entered into partnerships with many high-profile organisations and assured them that embracing farming would pay them more money than civil service work.
While reassuring that the government will ensure the security and well-being of the Corps members, the governor used the medium to call on them to work for a better future for themselves and the country, adding that his administration will support anyone who is willing to engage in farming through Niger Foods Limited.
Minister for Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, disclosed that the federal government has announced a groundbreaking initiative to empower at least 5,000 NYSC members with N10 million each for entrepreneurial ventures upon completion of their service year.
Dr. Bio Ibrahim also said her ministry was launching the National Youth Skills Programme (NYSP) this month with the aim of training over one million young Nigerians across diverse fields such as technology, agriculture, and many other fields, as it will offer them a remarkable opportunity to prepare them for a successful career.
She said the government was committed to introducing significant reforms designed to make the NYSC experience a period of national service and an avenue to gain valuable skills and knowledge.
The Minister further revealed that the restructured Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) will start accepting applications this month following dedicated efforts to simplify the application process and enable more young entrepreneurs to access financial support for their innovative ideas.
Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the Niger State NYSC Governing Board, Alh. Abubakar Usman, in his remarks, called on the Corps members to be patriotic, disciplined, and cautious of the cultures and traditions of their host communities as they embark on their crucial role of nation-building, as well as use the NYSC platform to generate positive ideas for development.
