BRIEFS
From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
TRAGEDY occurred in Enugu, yesterday, when an 18-year-old girl, Juliet Ihechi Bernards Osuagwu, hung herself at the premises of the Christ Anglican Church, Uwani.
She had left a note on a table in her room before heading to one of the farmlands in the church compound where she took her own life.
Juliet, an indigene of Nsirimo, Umuahia South Council of Abia State and an SSS 3 student of the Idaw River Girls Secondary School, Enugu, was billed to write her secondary school certificate examination this year.
Juliet was said to have abandoned school on Friday on the pretext that she wanted opportunity to do some chores.
No sooner had The Guardian visited the scene of the tragedy yesterday noon than the police from Uwani arrived and took away the corpse to the morgue of Eastern Nigeria Medical centre.
State Warns Council Chairmen On Graft
From Njadvara Musa, Damaturu
GOVERNOR Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has warned Local Government Caretaker Committee chairmen against graft and “other acts or behaviours” that could keep dividends of democracy from reaching people at the grassroots.
“To further demonstrate government’s commitments to ensure transparency in
the conduct of its business, we would monitor, very closely, the way you run the affairs of the councils. Anyone found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties would be shown the way out and handed over to law enforcement agents for appropriate action,” the governor said.
He gave the warning on Thursday at Government House, while swearing in 17 caretaker committee chairmen at the Wawa Hall, Damaturu.
The governor noted that the appointments were based on previous performances, good character and hard work.
Gaidam urged the chairmen to exhibit “exemplary conduct” by upholding the principles of accountability, transparency, probity and due process, and also ensure good governance in their respective councils.
Yabatech Refutes Story On Disrepair
THE management of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) maintains that facilities of the institution are not in a state of disrepair, as reported recently.
A release by the management faulted the report, saying it is not a true reflection of the state of facilities. It said the report undermined ongoing maintenance activities in the institution.
The management argued that structures constructed in 1930s and 1940s, as in the case of Yabatech, should be regularly maintained (just as it is doing) to remain in good condition.
It noted that the school was under renovation when the report was published, and that observations raised were not signs of neglect but indications of ongoing construction.
“The reporter’s interpretation of the studio environment in the pictures published, depicts that he is ignorant of the operations of art studios worldwide, particularly in a learning environment like ours. The pictures of the sculpture studio he published reflect the typical look of a functional art studio that is maximally utilised.
“It is not unusual to find scrap materials, waste moulds and other related objects used when work is in progress, as they serve as raw materials and elements that assist the artist in the production process,” it stated.
Despite its age, the statement continued, the institution maintains its academic excellence, especially in art. Its claims, it said, are accentuated by its awards and recognitions since 1960.