Nigeria Elected ATAF President,

Nigeria Elected ATAF President, Defeats Togo 13-4 Nigeria was, yesterday evening, elected President of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), defeating Togo by 13 votes to four in the Forum's elections held in Pretoria, South Africa. Nigeria's representative in ATAF is Mr. Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman, and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Launched in November 2009 in Kampala, Uganda, ATAF‘s mission is to provide a platform to improve the capacity, capability and performance of tax administrations in Africa. ATAF has, in the five years, made tremendous progress. Mauritius was voted Vice President. Also elected into the 10-country council were South Africa, Ghana, Burundi, Uganda and Liberia. The 36 member-forum is made up of tax collecting agencies across Africa. In his acceptance speech on behalf of Nigeria, Fowler pledged to expand the membership of the Forum for the continent's development and he said the forum goal shall be shall be to aid the generation of revenue efficiently and sufficiently for the growth of all members.

SWEET BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FROM NIGERIA TO ACTRESS OKPE SUSAN IN GHANA

A Poem BY SUNNY GREEN

STANZA (1) In Nigeria are mine on a bay (a) When a bird from Ghana whispered into my ears it's your birthday (a) The red cock crowed (b) And I quickly roared (b) Happy birthday! (a) STANZA (2) I look through the window (a) I see the sun in the snow (a) I see the blue sky (b) And how I wish I have a skit (b) I will fly with a red rose (b) To Ghana close to your shadow (a) STANZA (3) I couldn’t take a flight (a) Because of Nigeria's economy’s fight (a) So I decided to pen this down to you at that end (b) I write; "To a sister and friend" (b) To a beauty of thousands (c) To Okpe Susan (c) Toast to Manex Productions' mega-star (d) Toast to Ogbadibo Carnival model-gear (d) Toast to an epitome of beauty (e) And a symbol of equity (e) HAPPY BIRTHDAY S U S AN!

BENUE STATE GOVERNMENT ENDORSES OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL

Upon the registration of the carnival and it approval by the Federal Ministry of Culture and letter of partnership from the Government of Benue state, The Founder/President of Ogbadibo Cultural Carnival Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson began a Consultation/Endorsement Tour that saw almost all the who-is-whos in Idomaland and beyond endorsing the carnival. From the Och'Otukpa Chief.Olema Sunday Ekele, to the Och'Orokam/Ad'Ogbadibo Chief.D.E Enenche, to the Och'Owukpa Chief.Onomo Emmanuel Ujah, to Sen.David Mark, to Hon. Mrs.Ada Mark Ogbole, to Chief.Audu Ogbe, to Chief.Steven Lawani, to Hon.Christain Adaba Abah, to Gen.Chris Garuba, to Dr.Mathias Oyigeya, to Prof.Jerry Agada, to Hon.Hassan Saleh and others too numerous to mention. Like Nency Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom", the dream of Ogbadibo Cultural Carnival is fast becoming a reality! Come December 26-28 2016 Otukpa will be agog for Benue's biggest street cultural carnival, a must see street OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL.

THE SUCCESS STORY OF OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL IN IDOMALAND OF BENUE STATE

BY SUNNY GREEN ITODO

Just like it is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with just a step, so is the story of OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL. Sunny Green Itodo According to the P.A on Social media to the President/CEO of the organizer of the carnival, Sunny Green Itodo who stated this recently said the concept started as an idea of one man (Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson) who have become a household name not just only in Benue state-Nigeria but the globe. The calls and messages that have being coming in respect of the carnival from overseas is a crystal-clear testimony to this. Like the biblical Joseph, the Dreamer and the former American President J.F Kennedy of the famous speech "I have a dream", Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson had a clear-vision and that vision is Ogbadibo Cultural Carnival. He (Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson) told the world his dream. Some heard it from him (Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson), some heard from friends, some saw it on Social media and others saw it on Newspapers. The news of the carnival came to me (Sunny Green Itodo) from Ghana. Sometime in the near-middle of this year, I received a call from Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson who was then in Ghana) telling me of his plan to organize a cultural carnival in small Ogbadibo. It takes a man of great and uncommon courage to conceive such an idea. I said, no problem, your idea is good but questions must crop in and you must be ready to answer questions and I told him, must question will be, why Otukpa. Otukpa is too small to host such an event, Ogbadibo is not yet ripe for it and Ogbadibo don't deserve it so why not Makurdi or even Otukpo? And the second question will be, there is recession, considering the present national economic situation, where will you get fund from to project such multi-million naira event? And why you comrade Agada? why not all those our big men (politicians)? But against all odds he said, we shall conquer! And we will succeed, I have never met a man like him, if anyone ever demonstrated true courage and Faith (the envidence of things not see but things hope for), then that man is Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson. Like Whistine Churchhill of wartime Britain he hit the ground rolling. Comrade Agada Manex Johnson is a man who needs no introduction, his track-records in the nation's film industry (Nollywood) and his tremendous contributions to the entertainment sector of Idomaland and Benue state at large speaks for him. His engagement in the entertainment industry (movie productions, music labelling, event organizing and beauty pageants) for over seventeen (17) years is enough scorecard for him, even some Nollywood finest cannot speak of their success without mentioning Manex, the likes of stars (Mercy Johnson, Mike Ezeounye, and celebrated Idoma born filmmaker Sunny Okwori and host of others). Through his famous MANEX PRODUCTIONS Cmr.Agada Manex Johnson established the Idoma film industry (IDOMAWOOD) and single-handedly founded the CONFERENCE OF IDOMA FILM PRODUCERS (C.I.F.P) He directed the legendary Idoma movie "IHOTU K'IJE" (The Love of Money) staring popular Idoma born Nollywood actress Ada Ameh. Some of Manex Nollywood movies are DEATH IS A WOMAN (Base on a true life story in Idomaland), HOT STRIKER, PAINFUL WORLD and endless list of fantastic Nollywood movies to his credit. His Manex Productions have successfully organized MISS NORTH CENTRAL and MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN ALIMOSHO (the largest LGA in Lagos) BEAUTY PAGEANTS in the past. CEO of Lagos based MANEX FILM ACCADEMY is an actor of goodwill Like a bush fire in the hammatan so is his consuming love for his fatherland, he is so passionate about Idoma people! Little or no wonder why he brought to the Idoma nation yet another enviable pride project (OGBADIBO CULTURAL CARNIVAL: Benue's Biggest Cultural Event) that will be a digital cultural preservative of Idoma's rich cultural heritage for generations yet unborn and it’s going to be a grand-style to the outside world.

Groundnut farming going into extinction in Benue

Many years ago, groundnut was produced in commercial quantity in Benue State but the situation is no longer the same in recent times. Cultivation of the crop has gradually dropped. Farmers fear that groundnut production may soon stop if government fails to take any measure to revive its production. A groundnut farmer, Saa Gbue, cultivates five hectares of groundnut each year but he gets far less than his expectation during harvest, reaping between 150 and 180 bags only. Gbue, the state’s chairman of the National Groundnut Producers, Processors and Marketing Association (NGPPMA), blames his losses on poor yielding seed variety, lack of modern equipment and inability to control diseases affecting the crop. He laments that there are hardly any incentives to groundnut farmers in the state to boost their production, stressing that the present state government fails to recognise its importance. He said: “Even when we were using local implements to farm groundnut, at least, fertiliser was readily available for us to apply to get moderate harvest. But now, we have no implements or fertiliser. The biggest problem militating against the successful production of the crop is non-availability of good seedlings.” Another farmer in Oju Local Government Area of the state, Genesis Odey, says that the challenges affecting the production of the crop are enormous, listing the inability of the farmers to access good seedlings and control of groundnut disease as crucial problems. The disease, Odey says, results in poor harvest and affects value chain of the crop, pointing out that a hectare of farmland which is supposed to produce between 30 and 35 bags now produces only seven bags after harvest. To overcome the challenges, Gbue urges the government to revive groundnut production in the state and, by so doing, rekindle the lost hope of farmers. The disease, says Gbue, changes the colour of the crop’s seed, and makes it bitter and rotten soon after harvest, thus, reducing its market value and decreasing profit margin for the owner. He expressed confidence that if the federal government’s initiative to introduce science-based innovations to revive the groundnut industry in Nigeria is successful, it would rapidly increase production of export quantity in places such as Kwande, Konshisha, Ukum, Oju and Obi local government areas of the state, notable for producing the crop in commercial quantity. Meanwhile, the Benue State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Comrade Aondona Kuhe, has attributed the drop in production partially to climate changes and mainly due to lack of incentives to farmers.

Stop stigmatizing women with infertility problem – Aisha Buhari

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has expressed dismay over the level of stigmatization faced by women living with infertility in Nigeria. Mrs Buhari made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja at an event organised MERCK Pharmaceutical Company in partnership with her pet project “Future Assured’ Initiative.” She said that the ways to address the problem was through increased awareness and empowering women with infertility problem. Mrs Buhari, who was represented by Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Vice President, said that there was a need to educate pregnant women to avoid maternal death. She said that female genital mutilation was another problem faced by expectant mothers. According to her, infertility in Africa is largely caused by preventable infections and expressed her determination to lead the campaign against stigmatization of persons living with infertility in Nigeria. She stressed the need for women to get access to healthcare facilities especially at the local level where cases infections are more prevalence. She said that women who were not infected require information more than medication. She stressed the need for government at all levels to acquire equipment needed to cater for patient mothers and pregnant women. “Financial assistance is key to empowering women with infertility to boost their economic activities” she said. The first lady assured the MERCK group of the cooperation of her pet project, “Future Assured Initiative’ to eradicate the stigma faced by women suffering from infertility.

Enugu police rescue kidnap victims, arrest three

An 84-year-old woman, Mrs. Roseline Odoh, and her daughter, Josephine Odoh, who were kidnapped at Ogbelle Ohullur in Udenu Local Council of Enugu State have been rescued by the police. Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, said that the duo, who were kidnapped last Friday were rescued from their captives at Orokam in Benue state. A statement by Amaraizu said the Odohs were kidnapped at their home in Ogbelle Ohullor by gun wielding kidnappers and taken to their destination. According to him, Police operatives on receiving the information, swung into action. They traced the kidnappers to their hideout, stressing that one of the suspected kidnappers, Nnabuike Ukwueze who received gunshot wounds, died in the hospital. Before his death however, Ukwueze, revealed the three other gang members, namely: Ernest Ikeani of Awgu, Sunday Asogwa of Ohullor Obolloafor Udenu Local Council and Nonso Nwude of Njikoka in Anambra State, who were promptly arrested by the police. Amaraizu said that a Renault car with Registration Number UWN991LN allegedly used by the hoodlums was recovered, adding that mother and daughter, who have been re-united with their family, were rescued unhurt.