By Suleiman Yakubu

The Permanent Secretary of the Niger Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Hadiza Mohammed Shiru, has called on Information Officers and Civil Servants in general to have an attitude change at work.
Mrs. Hadiza disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a two-day capacity building training organized by the ministry in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held at the IBB Pen House, Minna, on Tuesday.
She said that the attitude of information officers and civil servants left much to be desired, hence the need to organize frequent training on capacity building to bring about the desired changes in the civil service.
According to her, despite the economic downturn, the potential of the information officers and civil servants should be made to reach its optimum, hence the need to organize such continuous exercises.
The Permanent Secretary added that Ministries, Agencies and Departments must think outside the box to organize such events since resources are not easy to come by and assured that such capacity training will be replicated amongst the ministry's agencies.
Mrs. Hadiza said that proper training will help guide information officers in carrying out their functions, especially since social media was full of fake news capable of breaching peace.
She appreciated the facilitators for agreeing to attend the programme even at short notice and without any gratification.
In his remarks, the Head of Service (HOS), Engr. Abubakar Salisu, represented by Dr. Idris Abdullahi Legbo, the Permanent Secretary, Planning, Research, and Documentation, who declared the occasion open, said that strategic information was a basic ingredient for the nascent democracy of the country.
He urged the participants to be attentive and make the best use of the training to gain new knowledge, as he appreciated the organizers and facilitators who would train the information officers.
Also in his remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ Niger State Council, Comrade Abu Nmodu, showered encomiums on the immediate past permanent secretary of the Ministry, Hon. Ilyasu Zakari, as he promised to support the present permanent Secretary.
He urged journalists to take advantage of the training and called on other chapels to emulate the State Ministry of Information Chapel.
Other speakers at the occasion included the immediate past permanent secretary of the Ministry and Chairman Agwara Local Government, Hon. Ilyasu Zakari, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Isah, Permanent Secretary Tertiary Education, Commissioner of Police, represented by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wasiu Abiodun, Director Information Services, Mrs. Hassana Joan Kpetu; heads of media organizations in the state; as well as management and staff of the state ministry of information and strategy, Minna.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Government and France have reaffirmed the commitment of their governments to improve their existing relationship for mutual benefit.
This was the outcome of the meeting between Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the French Ambassador to Nigeria yesterday in Abuja.
In a press statement made available to newsmen by his Chief Press Secretary, Mal. Bologi Ibrahim, the governor disclosed that the diplomatic ties will focus on education, agriculture, energy, investment, job creation, tourism, and culture, among others.
Governor Umaru Bago, who highlighted the natural resources that abound in the state, emphasized that the state has a comparative advantage in food and cash crops. He explained that strengthening the relationship will no doubt create job opportunities for youth and improve the socio-economic status of the state.
The governor further stated that the policy thrust of his administration covers infrastructure, health, education, and renewable energy, among others.
He disclosed that his administration intends to create jobs for about 400,000 women through shea butter processing and other cash crops, explaining that a state-of-the-art garment factory for mass production of school, military, and vigilante uniforms will be established.
Governor Umaru Bago told the French ambassador about the intention of his administration to cultivate the habit of planting ten million trees in the next four years as part of an effort to mitigate climate change and address global warming.
The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Emmanuelle Blatmann, said France was looking forward to strengthening its bilateral relationship with Nigeria, especially with the Niger State Government, for mutual benefits.
She said the French government was committed to ensuring the success of the partnership and, consequently, providing advanced technology and scholarships for the people.
The Ambassador noted that over three billion Euros had been expended on rural electrification in Northern Nigeria by the French government.