By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Government has concluded an arrangement to partner the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to attract private capital investments to the state.
This was the outcome of the visit of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, to the Director-General of the BPE, Alex Oko recently at his office in Abuja.
The governor observed that the BPE has the ability and capacity to guide the state in attracting meaningful investment that would engender socio-economic development and bring prosperity to the state.
Governor Umaru Bago who was in the company of some commissioners and heads of relevant agencies on investment and economy, explained that his visit was to learn and seek the assistance of BPE on how best to benefit from the numerous potentials the BPE can offer the state.
"We understand the ability of BPE to deliver and we have come for tutelage, to develop proposals that are bankable and a model to prosperity. We need to attract investments to Niger State", he said.
In a statement made available to Newsline by his Chief Press Secretary, Mal. Bologi Ibrahim, the governor was said to have enumerated some comparative advantages of the state, especially on power and arable land for agriculture. The statement also disclosed that the state has indicated interest to do a nursery for 1 billion trees that would be cultivated.
To further actualise its Green Economy initiative, the governor announced that the state government has written to the federal government, to allow it to take ownership of the Kainji Lake National Park even on a lease, with the view to aggregating the trees, replanting cash crops and economic trees as well as create effective ways of monitoring the Park for the economic benefit of the state.
The Director-General, BPE, Alex Okoh, pledged to support the Niger state government in optimizing its assets and reforming the power, agricultural and tourism sectors.
He acknowledged that the federal allocation alone cannot drive development at the sub-national territories hence the need for states to begin to translate their potentials to actual benefits.
While describing Niger state as an energy hub as it hosts four hydro dams and generates the cheapest energy consumed in the country, Okoh said the BPE will assist to structure the power and agricultural potentials of the state to attract valuable private capital investments, build its capacity to articulate and structure transactions that would attract development partners.
He said the bureau will also help the state to develop a comprehensive assets register for effective PPP engagements, adding that he will work with the relevant stakeholders in investments to see how capital investments would be attracted to the state by the first quarter of next year.
On the Kainji National Park, Okoh said the bureau will ensure its resuscitation as it will benefit the state..

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Centre For Ethics And Self Value Orientation (CESVO), has presented an Award of Ambassador of Ethics and Conscience (AEC), to the Chief Judge of Niger State Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik.
The award which was presented to her by the Executive Director, Centre For Ethics And Self Value Orientation (CESVO), Prince Salihu Musa Yakubu, stated that the award was in recognition of the chief Judge's commitment in her fight against corruption.
Also, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in Niger State, has been presented with Ethics and Leadership Award in recognition of their concerns for violence against women and girl child.
Presenting the awards at the High court Complex in Minna recently, the Executive Director of CESVO a Non-Govermental Organization, based in Lokoja, Kogi State, Prince Salihu Musa Yakubu, stated that the organization under his leadership was committed to reward a corrupt free individuals and organizations, and that the Chief Judge of Niger State was identified to be one of the finest and a corrupt free Jurist.
He stated that the Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation, has beem in the forefront of exposing corruption and corrupt leadership, as well as identifying ethical values and integrity, and reward those that meet the needed recognition.
He stated further that CESVO independently carried out a descreet investigation on the Chief Judge of Niger State and found her worthy for the prestigious award.
According to him, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), in Niger State under the leadership of Barr. Bilkisu Labaran Kago, could best be described as the first to be presented with the Ethics and Leadership Award in the North Central State and the first 10 in the country, to received the award.
He explained that FIDA in Niger state, was selected among the best integrity and ethical compliance organizations and number one in the North Central State pointing out that CESVO will continued to partner with FIDA in Niger and any other organizations that has proved to be corrupt free in its course.
He emphasize that the chairperson of FIDA in Niger state was awarded the certificate of public conduct after she passed the ethical conduct and leadership integrity and listed among the most ethically upright in the country.
Receiving the certificate on behalf of the Chief Judge, the Deputy Chief Registrar Administration, in the Niger State High court Hajiya Maryam Daso Jibo, appreciated CESVO for finding the Chief Judge of Niger State worthy for the presentation of the certificate.
She said Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has on assumption in office, put in place an ethical conduct to all the staff of the state judiciary which has put all the staff on their toes in discharging their duties effectively.
She posited that the award will spur the Chief Judge to continue to ensure that the workers in the judiciary will live up to their responsibilities in the discharge of their duties, noting that the award means a lot to the entire staff of judiciary.
Responding, the Chairperson of FIDA in Niger State, Chief Magistrate Bilkisu Labaran Kago, expressed gratitude to the selection committee for acknowledging the importance of ethics and leadership in our endeavors.
She said that in a world where values were often tested, the award will serves as a reminder that integrity and principled leadership were the cornerstone of thriving and sustainable society.
In her own remarks, the Secretary FIDA in Niger State Senior Magistrate Sahura Abdulkareem, explained that when she was informed of the award to be presented to FIDA, she was having a mixed feeling, not until she made her own independent findings before she finally communicated to the chairperson.
She commended the management team of CESVO for selecting FIDA Niger State for the award, assuring that the it will spur them to perform their duties and be more committed to their service to humanity, particularly on the fight against violence on girl child and the vulnerable in the society.