Girl-Child’s Day: NNPP Chieftain, Ajadi Urges Parents To Give Female Child Quality Education, Stop Genital Mutilation

A South West Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has used the occasion of this year’s International Day of the Girl Child to counsel parents on the need to stop female genital mutilation and make provision of quality education to girl child.

The International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl. October 11, 2012, was the first Day of the Girl Child.

The observation supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide based upon their gender.

Ajadi in a statement on Saturday to mark this year’s edition of the Girl- Child Day, made available to Journalists congratulated all the girl-children as they celebrated their day.

Ajadi also urged parents not to discriminate against the interest of girl-child by providing them with quality education.

He cried out against the bad practice of girl-child genital mutilation, saying this practice is outdated and should be stopped.

Ajadi who is also a Philanthropist and a supporter of the youth, said there is nothing that makes Girl – Child inferior to their boys counterpart.

He particularly commended the giant steps being taken by the womenfolk in different fields of human endeavours.

According to the statement, “I used this year’s occasion of the International girl-child day to rejoice and congratulate our female children on their day today, Saturday October 11, 2025.

“Let me use this occasion to appeal to the parents to stop the bad practice of genital mutilation. They should also not discriminate against girl child by providing them with quality education.

“My experience in life has shown that the girl-child should be given equal right with their boys counterpart.

“Once again I call on all the parents to celebrate their Girl – Child and make their day a fulfilled one”.

Zamfara: PDP Assembly Candidate Kurya Defects to APC, Cites Security Failures Under Gov Lawal

In a significant political shift in Zamfara State, Hon. Muhammad Lawal Kuryar Madaro, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who woefully lost the Kaura Namoda South State House of Assembly election, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The move was announced today at a high-profile gathering organised by Hon. Yazeed Shehu Danfulani Projects at the Taula Arena in Gusau.

The defection comes just months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s Kamilu Sa’idu the victor in the August supplementary election for the Kaura Namoda South constituency.

Returning Officer Lawal Sa’adu from the Federal University Gusau confirmed Sa’idu’s triumph, with the APC candidate securing 1,181 votes against Kurya’s 194 in the runoff.

Overall, across the constituency, the APC amassed 8,182 votes to the PDP’s 5,544, highlighting the APC’s strong grip despite the high-stakes contest reportedly backed by a multi-billion naira war chest from PDP Governor Dauda Lawal.

Kurya was reportedly sponsored with billions at the last election by Governor Dauda Lawal, yet faced rejection over the governor’s failures.

Having switched to the APC, he expressed disillusionment with his former party’s direction and the leadership of Governor Lawal.

He lambasted the Lawal administration for losing focus, particularly on security, which he blamed for his electoral defeat and the broader instability plaguing Zamfara.

However, he urged his followers to unite behind APC leader Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, in efforts to restore peace and progress.

The timing of Kurya’s switch could signal further defections in Zamfara’s polarised political landscape, where banditry and inter-party rivalries continue to dominate.

Zamfara State records N358.9 billion revenue in 2024

The Zamfara State Government has announced a total revenue generation of N358.9 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, representing 82 percent performance of its approved revenue target of N437 billion.

The disclosure was made by the State Auditor-General, Abubakar Danmaliki, on Thursday in Gusau, during the official presentation of the state’s 2024 Citizens Accountability Report.

Danmaliki explained that the revenue performance reflected steady improvement in the state’s Value Added Tax (VAT), Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and federal statutory allocations, alongside aids and grants from development partners.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Finance, Bello Auta said that the report’s presentation was the maiden edition.

He disclosed that nominated projects by citizens amounted to N105 billion, adding that the projects were properly executed and completed across the state, including those nominated by GESI (Gender Equity and Social Inclusion).

Auta noted that before the present administration in the state, Zamfara grappled with non-retirement of advances; IGR spent at source when generated and improper payment documentations.

“The aggregate revenue performance for the year was 82 per cent of the budgeted N437 billion amounting to N358.9 billion for the year,” the commissioner explained.

He noted that the revenue received was below the budget by 18 per cent and stood at N79 billion.

“The capital expenditure had a 55 per cent performance rate of the Budget of N292 billion, while the recurrent expenditure for personnel for the year was below the budget by 16 per cent,” he added.

According to him, the other recurrent expenditure was within the limit at 63 per cent respectively.

Administrative sector expended highest revenue

Auta further said that the administrative sector expended the highest proportion of recurrent expenditure, representing 74 per cent.

“While the economic sector expended the highest proportion of capital expenditure at 41 per cent in the year.

“The top 10 value projects of the state for year ended Dec. 31, 2024, being the second year of the present administration are nearing completion”, he further said.

In his remarks, Governor Dauda Lawal represented by the state Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Haidara, said the event was in line with his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen participation in governance.

The governor noted that the issue of governance was not a closed-door affair but a collective responsibility, where people must feel the impact of government policies and understand how public funds are being utilised.

“As we all know, the citizens accountability and financial report provide a transparent summary of how the state’s resources are mobilised and spent to deliver services and infrastructure to the residents.

“I want to assure the good people of Zamfara that my administration will continue to keep the residents informed about the financial commitments, performance and utilisation of public funds,” Lawal said.

What you should know

In the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) generated a combined N3.63 trillion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2024.

The data showed that Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) rose to a cumulative N10.88 trillion between 2021 and 2024.