Rep Aminu Sulaiman, Chairman, House of Representatives committee on Education recently raised the alarm over the alleged lopsidedness in the selection of the 2014 candidates for the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID). In this interview with Umar Muhammad Puma, the lawmaker insists that the scheme must conform to the provisions of the constitution as it relates to the Federal Character.

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, at the weekend commended a UK-based medical non-governmental organization (NGO), Africa Healthcare Development Trust (AHDT), for offering free medical treatment to over 3,000 patients in his domain.

The Etsu Nupe made the remark in his Wadata palace, Bida, while commenting on the free treatment by medical professionals of Nigeria Diaspora in the United Kingdom who were in his kingdom.

He said the gesture had really helped in improving the health of the less-privileged in the society, saying “the team had brought to the people relief and succour to treat the ailment.

He said the complementary roles of NGOs cannot be overemphasised, as their idea across the globe was borne out of their concerns for the ordinary people, who have no means of getting good medical services.

Abubakar called on other Nupe people in the Diaspora to emulate the medical doctors by contributing their own quota to the development of the Nupe race, the state and indeed Nigeria.

Also Speaking, a spokesman for the group, Dr. Aminu Usman commended Niger state government for funding part of the programme and Bida emirate for providing an enabling environment for the team to offer their services.

“They are coming here and we, in the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, are providing the necessary platform, in collaboration with our own facilities and staff so that they can maximise this benefit to the community”, he said.