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ITF arrests fraudster for selling fake skills acquisition forms in Jos
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has on Friday advised Nigerians to be aware of fraudsters selling fake 2022 skills and empowerment forms even when the ITF has not embarked on any recruitment exercise.
Director of Administration and Human Resource of the Industrial Training Fund Mr Tajudeen Ishola gave the warning while speaking with Journalists at the ITF Headquarters in Jos on Friday when the agency discovered a 22 years man, Alamba Dennis who printed fake forms selling to mostly women and youths at the cost ranging from N700 to N1500.
“We got a report that our intervention program forms are being sold to general public and we set the machinery in motion and in the process we discover one Alamba Dennis with forms selling to the public attaching the trade and fees on it, but ITF forms are free and secondly ITF has not started any recruitment or issuing forms for skills acquisition”.
Ishola advised Nigerians to be aware that ITF doesn’t attached a fee on its skills acquisition forms or recruitment, saying every form is free and shouldn’t be sold and without collaboration with any group as seen in the fake form.
He reiterated that in the event that the ITF plans for skills acquisition program or to recruit, it will be in line with the extant Federal Civil Service Commission’s regulations guiding the operations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which are strictly adhered to by the ITF, that all vacancies shall be advertised in at least two newspapers circulating nationally, giving prospective candidates a minimum of six weeks within which to apply.
The suspect a 22-year-old student of Jos ECWA Theological Seminary (JETS), identified as Dennis who was arrested by the Nigeria Police, Anglo-Jos Division, Plateau State for alleged forgery confessed to have printed ITF skills acquisition forms in December 2021, and was selling them to members of the public at N700 and 1500.
He noted that he had engaged the service of two innocent women who were photocopying the forged forms and selling them to women and youths in some parts of Plateau State.
The theology student said the women had sold several number of forms amounting to N85,000 between December, 2021 and now.
He confessed that he printed the form showing ITF in collaboration with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), offering skills acquisition programme to members of the public to enable him attract attention of Christian youths and women.
While speaking to Journalists in Jos before being handed over to the Anglo-Jos Police Division for prosecution, he said: “I am a student of Jos Theological Seminary (JETS), I forged ITF form for skills acquisition programme and I am selling it to members of the public.
“I forged the form in December 2021 because I was sent away from school for lack of payment of tuition fee and I had nobody to assist me that was why I forge the form and I am selling them to pay my school fee.
“I printed the original copy and I gave two women who are photocopying and selling to people. The women have realized N85,000 from selling the forms and they have handed over the money to me.”
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
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