South East

Chime Commends Women For Resilience, Industry

Published

15 years ago

June 26, 2009

The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Sullivan I. Chime has commended Nigerian women for their resilience and industry in the face of constraints which inhibit the optimal utilization of their capacities to contribute meaningfully to the growth of agriculture in the country.

Chime who made the commendation Monday on the occasion of the official flag off and launching of the 2009 cropping season for the Nigerian women in agriculture in the Southern states of Nigeria held at Okpara Square, Enugu, noted that it is a wellknown fact that women contribute about 65 to 75 per cent of farmers engaged in subsistent agricultural activities ranging from production to processing and marketing. His words: “Yet, their greatest hindrance to participating in such lofty programmes is lack of encouragement and economic power. We have gathered here this day as witnesses to the Federal Government’s empowerment of Nigerian women to play active roles in agriculture”, he regretted.

Continuing, Governor Chime further said: “Although this is a programme of the Federal Government, it is, however, being championed by the First Lady of Nigeria and that clearly explains her esteemed presence here today. We thank Her Excellency, Hajiya Yar’ Adua most sincerely for leading this programme to empower our women in agriculture. I urge the wives of Governors to borrow a leaf therefrom and help replicate this in their respective states”.

He, therefore, expressed happiness with the presence, at this occasion, of such agricultural inputs and agro-processing equipment which will be distributed to women groups, ranging from tractors to improved assorted seeds, fertilizers, cassava-processing machines and fish smoking kilns, adding that they will, no doubt, help women farmers in the Southern part of the country to maximize their outputs.

Governor Chime also expressed satisfaction that the Federal Government has graciously subsidized these farming inputs to the tune of 25 per cent while the states will pay 15 per cent, pointing out that women groups that shall benefit from the programme are expected to make a 15 per cent down payment while the remaining 45 per cent will be paid by these beneficiaries over a period of three years.

“I am quite confident that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, through the National Food Reserve Agency and working in collaboration with the states will make this project a huge success. With the FADAMA programme in place now, I know it will be used as the vehicle to implement this initiative and to ensure that the rural women benefit fully from it. I expect that very soon, the Local Government Councils in the country will be involved in this programme”.

According to him, this is a clear manifestation of the Federal and State Governments’ determination to embrace mechanized farming and thereby ensuring food security and improved productivity in agriculture, and called on his colleagues and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the project because if the economic base of the woman is improved, the family welfare is guaranteed.

“Here in Enugu State, our Government acquired and distributed a good number of tractors to our rural farmers while we are in the process of procuring more that will be given to co-operative groups including the women farmers. This is only in keeping with our Government’s policy of maximizing our potentials for sustainable food production which falls within the second thrust of our Four-point agenda that deals with economic expansion and employment. This is our objective which, coincidentally, agrees with the goal of this programme that seeks to empower our women farmers in both urban and rural areas”.

He used the occasion to pay tributes to the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Dr.. Sayyadi Abba Ruma as well as the Minister of State, Mrs. Fidelia Akuabata Njeze for their genuine efforts to take agriculture to the next level in Nigeria.

Also in her brief speech, the wife of the Enugu state governor , Mrs Clara Chime, regretted that despite the tremendous role played by women in the agricultural sector, they continue to face a number of obstacles especially in Southern states such as ineligibility to claim land from their deceased husbands, allocation of marginal lands to women while better ones are reserved for men, as well as lack of access to better technology of production and processing, among others.

“We are happy that the Federal Government of Nigeria and in particular the First Lady, Her Excellency, Hajiya (Dr.) Turai Umaru Yar’Adua has since recognised some of these challenges, hence the launching of the Women in Agriculture Programme here in Enugu”

First Lady of Nigeria and the wife of the president, Hajiya [Dr] Turai Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua flagged off/launching of the 2009 cropping season at Okpara Square, Enugu.

South East

Corpse Of Woman Found In Ebonyi Hotel Room

Published

5 years ago

December 17, 2018

The Tide

The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”

South East

Senate Passes S’East Dev Commission Bill

Published

5 years ago

December 13, 2018

The Tide

The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.

South East

2019: Oyedepo Predicts Peace In Nigeria

Published

5 years ago

December 10, 2018

The Tide

Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.