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Mbah, Obi, Etiaba to Attend as Jands Travel Business School holds Domestic Tourism Conference in Enugu

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Chairman, Board of Trustees, Jands Travel Business School (JTBS), Enugu, Chief Ben Etiaba, has announced that the 2025 edition of the business school’s annual domestic tourism conference will be held in Enugu slated for September 5-6 this year.

Chief Ben Etiaba FCA who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the inauguration of the committee ahead of the conference, told journalists that the idea of the event is to promote tourism in the Southeast geo-political zone and Nigeria at large, pointing out that the theme of the conference is apt and timely.

“The conference coming up in September will be a huge success, bigger than that of last year,” he stated.

Also speaking, Monsignor Professor Obiora Ike, Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of University of Jos and a Professor of Ethics and Intercultural Studies at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu and the Jands Board of Trustees Advisor, said that the conference is in line with the Jands efforts in repositioning tourism as a tool for economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and youth development.

Monsignor Professor Ike who is also the founder of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), inaugurated the conference committee held at Ofu Obi Africa Centre, Enugu yesterday.

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Earlier, Mrs. Chioma Obi,
Director, Jands Travel Business School, briefed members of the Board of Trustees on the planning and progress on the forthcoming conference.

Mrs Obi noted that the highly anticipated event will bring together key stakeholders from across Nigeria and beyond, to engage in conversations and actions that deepen the appreciation, investment and structure of domestic tourism in our country.

She disclosed that the theme of this year’s conference is, “The Future of Domestic Tourism in Nigeria: Celebrating Our Arts and Culture”, stressing that the theme was chosen to focus on deepening cultural tourism and positioning Nigeria’s rich artistic heritage and local experiences as core drivers of travel and entrepreneurship across communities.

According to her, “Objectives of the 2025 Conference are to promote domestic tourism as a sustainable economic driver for youth and women as well as provide a platform for policy engagement, creative industry synergy, and destination branding.”

Others, she stated, are to showcase cultural assets, indigenous cuisines, and creative expressions from across Nigeria.

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“To provide industry-focused training and masterclasses for emerging tourism entrepreneurs.

“To encourage investment in local tourism ventures through partnerships and exposure.

Mrs Obi further said that among the key speakers and top dignitaries expected at the event are: Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Mr. Peter Obi CON, Chief Ben Etiaba FCA – Board Chairman JTBS, Monsignor Prof. Obiora Ike, Founder, CIDJAP, Dr. Gabe Onah – Chairman Calabar Carnival, Dame Elizabeth Oyibo Agu – Rtd Director, Pioneer Branch Controller, CBN, Asaba, Engr Emeka Sibeudu – Secretary General, Ohaneze Ndigbo.

Also expected are a host of other firebrand Panelists and Masterclass Speakers.

“We are confident that the 2025 edition of the Domestic Tourism Conference will elevate the brand and impact of JTBS, reinforce its leadership in tourism education, and catalyze opportunities for youth, culture, and regional growth”, she said.

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The JTBS Director also reviewed the 2024 Domestic Tourism Conference, whose theme was: “Exploring Synergies to Boost Business and Entrepreneurship through Domestic Tourism”.

She recalled that the conference which was held at ECCIMA Secretariat in Enugu was a groundbreaking success.

“Over 300 participants, including tour operators, travel consultants, students, creatives, and policymakers were in attendance. Panel sessions, a Palmwine Tasting Competition, Local Cuisine Display, and a guided tour of Enugu. We had collaborators NANTA, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, and several local brands.

“The conference sparked interest in community tourism development and inspired 15+ new tour startup ideas. It also created a good measure of awareness for Jands Travel Business School. This set the stage for a bigger and more impactful 2025 edition, “she remarked.

On Jands Travel Business School, Mrs Obi recalled that it was conceived out of a long-standing vision to bridge the professional knowledge gap in Nigeria’s fast-growing but under-skilled travel, tourism, and hospitality sector.

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“Officially launched in 2023, the school began as a series of training sessions and short-term programs offered to aspiring travel consultants and tour operators in Enugu and its environs.

“Our work gained momentum during the post-COVID tourism recovery period, where we provided accessible training for both start-ups and existing practitioners eager to realign with international best practices and ethics of the profession. From then until now, the school has gradually evolved into a recognized capacity-building hub for tourism entrepreneurship, travel agency operations, digital tourism marketing, and destination management.

She explained that the vision and mission of the school are to be the power house of travel, tourism and hospitality industry knowledge and skills acquisition in the south-eastern Nigeria and the nation as a whole.

“We are on a mission to be a training institute that will produce travel professionals who will be bonded and powerful enough to give the sector the needed voice, as well as grow the industry to be the driving economic force in Nigeria.

“JTBS is anchored on the following objectives:

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To equip young Nigerians with hands-on skills in travel operations, tour packaging, hospitality business, and tourism marketing.

To promote ethical and sustainable practices in the Nigerian tourism industry.

To foster entrepreneurship and job creation through tourism-based enterprise development.

To create a platform for collaboration between the public and private sectors in tourism capacity building.

“Services and Programs
Our core services are enclosed around Trainings, Mentorship & Advisory. Currently, we offer:
Certificate and Diploma Programs in Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Short Courses in Ticketing, Reservations, Tour Packaging, and Visa Consulting
Corporate Training for Travel Agencies and Hospitality Businesses Internship and Job Placement Services
Digital Travel and Tourism Innovations Training
Consulting Services for Tourism Development
Tourism related programs, seminars, workshops, and conferences.

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Three Dead as Warri-Itakpe Train Derails in Delta, NRC Confirms

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The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of three persons following the derailment of the Warri-Itakpe train in Agbor, Delta State.
The corporation disclosed that four coaches left the rail track during the incident, which occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026.
In a statement, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said emergency response teams and other relevant authorities were immediately mobilised to the scene to manage the situation and provide assistance to affected passengers.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed a serious train accident involving the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor at Agbor, Delta State,” the statement said.
According to Opeifa, rescue and emergency response operations were activated immediately after the accident, and all passengers on board have since been accounted for.
“Sadly, three fatalities have been confirmed at this time,” he stated.
He added that relevant authorities are continuing to assess the full circumstances surrounding the incident, while support is being provided to injured and affected passengers.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this difficult time,” Opeifa said.
The NRC urged members of the public to rely only on verified information and official updates from the corporation as investigations into the cause of the derailment continue.

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Newlywed Woman Disappears After Discovering Husband Had Two Children

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A newly married Nigerian woman who was recently declared missing by her family in Abuja has reportedly left her matrimonial home after discovering that her husband allegedly had two children with different women.

The woman, from Mbabum Community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, had been the subject of a public appeal by her family, who sought assistance in locating her after she allegedly left her husband’s residence in Abuja.

According to a statement attributed to a family representative, Hon. Goshi Peter, the woman married Goshi Bem in March 2026 but left her matrimonial home about two weeks ago and had not returned.

However, in an update shared on Saturday, June 6, 2026, a Facebook user, Tyom Alexander, claimed she had spoken with the woman by phone.

According to Alexander, the woman said she left her husband’s home after discovering that he had two children from different women, information she alleged was not disclosed to her before their marriage.

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“I have been able to speak with this woman through the phone number provided by the whistleblower,” Alexander wrote.

“She said her husband didn’t tell her that he had children before their marriage. She only discovered this after they relocated to Abuja.

“The first child is five years old, while the second child is two years old, both from different mothers.”

Alexander further claimed that the woman stated she was safe and still in Abuja, and reportedly warned her husband not to bother searching for her.

“According to her, the man should not bother looking for her as she is doing fine in Abuja,” Alexander added.

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“If this is true, then the man has disappointed me. I wait to hear the man’s side of the story.”

As of the time of filing this report, the husband’s response to the allegations had not been made public.

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Consultant Laments Fate Of 200,000 kms Of Nigerian Roads

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By Okey Maduforo Awka

The fate of Nigerian roads especially the highways appears to be under threat of this year’s rainy season following fears by professionals that the over 200,000 kilometers of roads may collapse by the end of the year .

Deepening this apprehension is the lack of maintenance of those roads which have yearly carried loafs above it’s capacity occasioned by heavy duty trucks and tankers .

Expressing these fears , Consultant Engineer to the Federal government Patience Aningo noted that if urgent steps are not taken this year’s rainy season would spell doom for motorists and other road users across the country.

“Without consistent enforcement of axle load limits, and steady maintenance of our federal highways there strong indications that the country is at the risk of loosing over 200,000 kilometers of roads ”

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“Roads require precision from proper compaction to correct layer thickness”

“By then, what could have been addressed with minor engineering challenges would become a huge cost of maintenance”

“The frustrations lies a deeper issue and the persistent failure of roads that should last far longer is compromised by laxity on the part of the authorities concerned”

“The outcomes are sometimes undermined by weak supervision, inconsistent material quality, and cost”

She observed that poor drainage system has also been the bane of the Federal roads in the country.

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“Nigeria has one of the largest road networks in Africa estimated at over 200,000 kilometers yet a
One major factor is inadequate drainage”

“Roads are not just paved surfaces; they are engineered drainage
systems, sealing cracks, and timely patching remains underutilized, despite its proven
underlying soil, and accelerates structural deterioration”

“In a country with intense seasonal rainfall, neglecting drainage is one
of the fastest ways to shorten a road’s lifespan.’

“Regulations must be enforced consistently to protect infrastructure investments”

“Similarly, the Abuja–Kaduna Highway remains a critical but vulnerable route, where
pavement distress and operational challenges continue to highlight the strain placed on key compromise
during construction directly reduces durability and increases long-term costs”

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“Drainage must be treated as a core design element, not an afterthought which affects Axle load against
what they were originally designed for”

“Heavy-duty trucks often overloaded introduce stresses that affect the roads ”

“Many Nigerian roads now carry traffic volumes and axle loads far beyond routes in the country
and despite ongoing reconstruction efforts, sections have deteriorated quickly ”

“When water is not properly managed, it penetrates the pavement layers, weakens the
This pattern is evident on major corridors such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of the busiest in the country “she stated.

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Enugu Govt Dismisses Viral UNN Attack Alert, Moves to Track Perpetrators

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Enugu Govt Dismisses Viral UNN Attack Alert, Moves to Track Perpetrator
The Enugu State Government has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media post alleging an imminent terrorist attack on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), assuring students, staff, and residents that there is no credible security threat to the institution.
The government described the post as the handiwork of criminal elements seeking to create panic, fear, and confusion within the university community and across the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, said the government had taken note of the viral message warning of a possible attack by individuals described as terrorists and jihadists.
According to him, investigations indicate that the alarm is false and part of a deliberate attempt by criminal elements and their collaborators to undermine public confidence in the state’s security efforts.
Agbo recalled that similar false alerts had been circulated in the past concerning locations such as Holy Ghost, Obollo Afor, Opi, Nsukka, Gariki, Awgu, and other parts of the state. He noted that those behind previous misinformation campaigns often operated anonymously and recycled old videos to create the impression of ongoing attacks.
He added that many of the perpetrators of the earlier false alarms were eventually identified and apprehended by security agencies.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government is already working closely with security agencies to track down those responsible for the latest viral post and ensure they face the consequences of their actions.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to public safety, Agbo said the government had continued to invest heavily in modern security infrastructure and technology to strengthen security operations across the state.
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains a top priority of the administration of Peter Mbah, noting that recent investments have significantly improved the capacity and responsiveness of security agencies operating in the state.
The government therefore urged members of the UNN community, residents of Nsukka, and the general public to remain calm and continue their lawful activities without fear, assuring them that adequate measures are in place to guarantee their safety.
It further reiterated its resolve to sustain efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security across Enugu State while taking decisive action against individuals who spread false information capable of causing public panic.

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METHODIST CHURCH HONOURS MONDAY DIAMOND ANI WITH “APOSTLE OF FAITH” AWARD

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The Methodist Church Nigeria has honoured the General Manager of the Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), Hon. Monday Diamond Ani, with the prestigious “Apostle of Faith Award” in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian services and contributions to community development.
The award was presented by the Methodist Diocese of Akegbe, Aninri and Awgu Archdiocese (AAA) under the leadership of Rt. Rev. C. Orji, the Methodist Bishop of AAA Diocese, Enugu.
According to the Church, the honour was bestowed on Hon. Ani in acknowledgment of his selfless commitment to community development, social welfare, and humanitarian service over the years. The Church noted that his contributions have transcended political considerations and have positively impacted countless lives across communities.
His consistent humanitarian interventions have earned him the popular title “Odoziobodo”, meaning “one who builds and restores communities.”
Hon. Ani is widely regarded as a passionate advocate for community service, driven by a desire to improve living standards and promote love, unity, and a sense of belonging among the people. His dedication reflects Christ’s teaching on the greatest commandment—love for God and love for one’s neighbour—placing service to humanity at the centre of purposeful living.
Due to his unavoidable absence, the award was received on his behalf and later presented to him at his office by Dr. Okechukwu Animba, Vice President (South-East) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
Responding to the honour, Hon. Ani expressed profound gratitude to Rt. Rev. C. Orji and the entire Methodist Diocese for recognising his humanitarian efforts. He prayed for God’s continued grace and strength to serve humanity and touch more lives through his work.
He also appreciated his principal, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for appointing him to lead the CSDA, an agency charged with driving community interventions and sustainable development across the state.

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