Nation

THE STATES

Published

16 years ago

November 9, 2009

Osun
Osun State government has set N4.5 billion aside, to ensure adequate development of technical and vocational education in the state.
The Osun State Commission for education, Science and Technology Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, said this at a speech presentation organized for schools and colleges in the state.
Adesiyan said already, about nine technical colleges in the state would be used as Attest case for various vocational educational advancement for total emancipation of the youths, adding that the state government is committed to the advancement, development of vocational and technical education in the state, in order to put the unemployed youths on a sound
footing.

Zamfara
Zamfara state special Adviser, Directorate for Rural Electrification, Alhaji Sani Rawayya, Wednesday said government has so far spent about N500 million on the purchase of transformers to boost power supply in the state.
Rawayya said the amount was used to acquire 100 units of transformers, saying the directorate has already received 50 units from the contractors and were distributed to various communities in the state.
He said already, the directorate has installed the transformers at Tsafe, Samaru, Filindem, Munehi, Tudun Wada, Unguwar Yarima, Gadabiyu while others areas will receive similar treatment adding that about 44 other electrification projects were in progress and have reached advanced level of completion.

Kaduna
Judicial workers in Kaduna State had their deplorable plight brought to the fare by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which declared them as the least paid in the country.
The association said the poor conditions of service of magistrates in the Kaduna State judiciary was unacceptable and urged Governor Namadi Sambo to redress their plight by increasing their salaries and other benefits.
NBA president, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), stated this recently as the Association national officers converged in Kaduna to consider vexed issues such as the professional fees charged by lawyers in the country.
At the opening of the third yearly conference of the legal practice section of the NBA tagged “legal practice changing times, changing strategies, “Akeredolu said it was not an enviable position for Kaduna state to be the least in the federation in terms of remunerations for its judicial workers, particularly magistrates.
To Samdo, Akeredolu said. “Our magistrates here are happy with you, but they want to be happier, I tried to collect data when I am coming to a particular state, and I found out that your magistrates are not well paid whether you like it or not, Kaduna is the capital of the North this is where the north started, so don’t lag behind.
“Do well for your magistrates and let other states copy you; you must show the light and let others now follow illuminate the path and let others follow you. I can assure them (the magistrates) that they will smile after his NBA conference.”

Taraba
At least one person have been reportedly killed and several others hospitalised following the protests that erupted in Ibi Local Council Area of Taraba over the non-payment of workers’ salaries.
The local council employees were said to have also accused the council chairman, Yakubu Agbaizo, of staying away from the council in Jalingo, the state capital or Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.
Apart from the death and injuries, property worth millions of naira, including a church was said to have been razed by the protesting workers.
The anger of the workers, it was leant, was ignited when the chairman, instead of payng the entire salaries owned them decided to pay only half of the salaries for the month of August.
On sensing danger, the chairman was said to have taken to his heels but was cornered by the workers, prompting sporadic shooting by policemen attached to the council headquarters.
The chairman, who at the time of filing this report was taking refuge at the nearby local council or Wukari police station, was said to have had a narrow escape.
Protests and complaint have recently emanated from many local councils in the state about the refusal of the council chairmen to pay workers’ salaries for over there months.

Ekiti
Following the ultimatum given by the Ekiti State of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the state government to pay September and October salaries of its workers or face industrial action, the state government has said that all allowances of the workers have been paid including their October salary.
The state government in a statement said all local government workers and primary school teachers were paid October salary last week.
The state commissioner for local government, Mr Femi Ige, who issued the statement, said the salaries of the council workers and primary school teachers paid gulped a total sum of N1.024 billion.
The commissioner described as self-serving the 14-day ultimatum issued to the government by the NLC for the payment of September and October salary of public servants in the state, saying; issuing an ultimatum salary already paid is not only ridiculous but self-serving.”
Ige said all local government workers and primary school teachers in the state have been paid up to October adding that, “the government will continue to take welfare of the workers and the entire people of the state as priority.”
The commissioner urged leaders of the NLC in the state to emulate the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) by assisting the government in realising its developmental goals instead of issuing ultimatum to the government on the payment of just one month salary arrear.

Abuja
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five suspected drug traffickers for allegedly swallowing 410 wraps of powering narcotic substances at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Interational Aiport (NAIA) Abuja.
According to a statement by the Head Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, yesterday in Lagos, four the suspects ingested 385 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine with a weight of 5.750kg, while one suspect ingested 75 wraps of substances that tested positive for heroin with a weight of 1.3kg. All the suspects were caught attempting to extort the illicit drugs out of the country at the airport.

Benue
The Benue state university, Makurdi, has cancelled the aptitude test it conducted for the faculty of social sciences last weekend.
Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Paul Sorkaa, stated that the university management resolved to cancel the test for all prospective students of the faculty of social sciences, because the tests were marred by irregularities.
Sorkana has reiterated the determination of the university to, at all times, maintain high standards, stressing that it would not condone any attempt at fraud.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the cancellation at an interview recently.

Ogun
The Nigerian Union of Teachers, Ogun State wing, has suspended its seven week-old strike for two weeks, pending the outcome of the negotiation between the State Government and the Union.
The teachers had embarked on the action because of the inability of the state government to implement the 27.5 per cent new Teachers Salary Scale.
Also, government promised not to penalize any teacher(s) in the state for the role (s) played while the strike lasted. In a statement signed by Modupe Idowu, Information Officer, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made available on Saturday said, “consequent upon meeting held between the state government led by the Head of Service, Chief Dipo Odulate and NUT representatives, it was unanimously agreed to suspend the strike action for two weeks with effect from Monday, 9th November, to allow for the conclusion of the negotiation.
“That government will not penalize any teachers for their roles in the cause of the strike.”
Meanwhile the Chairman of the Union, Comrade Sam Idowu, had since directed that teachers in both primary and secondary schools in the state to return to classrooms with immediate effect.

Ibadan
What could have been a bloody weekend for the people of of Molete in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was divinely averted on Friday when a trailer carrying full load of sand rammed into a storey building, however, killing nobody.
The trailer, with registration number EDO XC 123 AUC, working for a construction firm handling the construction work on Queen Cinema — Molete Road avoided running over vehicles, traders and scores of passersby at Bode Market, in Molete, and instead, diverted to a building serving as vocational centre for the Nigeria Prison Services.
Mr. Okuwobi Oyekanmi Oluwafolajimi, a Senior Prison Assistant, who was on duty at the time of the accident, said it happened at 10.45 a.m. The vehicle, which had a brake failure, was coming from Challenge Area and when it was descending the Molete flyover, the driver, Mr. Gbolahan Timilehin, who was conscious of not running over the people and vehicles at the end of the flyover, swerved left and entered into the hall of the building used as tailoring workshop .
The building, serving as vocational centre, is used by the prisons for reformation of inmates that have served or serving their jail terms. The sewing machines in the hall were damaged and a staff the trailer met in the hall escaped unhurt. The driver, who afterwards became unconscious due to shock, was taken to Prospect Medical Centre and Maternity Clinic at Eyin Grammar in Molete.
Speaking on the hospital bed, the driver said it was God who helped him because the fear that he would run over the people gripped him and he had to divert the vehicle to the house which he saw was empty.

Taraba
The recent suspension of three government House workers for failing to attend the mandatory daily prayers for a period of time instituted by Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba sate has continued to raise dust in the state.
The workers, who included two female journalists from the state-owned media and an aide to the governor’s special adviser on security, were last week suspended for refusing to be part of the mandatory daily prayers initiated by the governor for both Christians and Moslems workers working in the Government House.
Suntai was said to have ordered their immediate suspension after going through attendant register for the Christians at the Government House Unity Chapel during one of the prayer sessions. Immediately after his assumption of office on May 2007, the governor enacted compulsory prayers for workers attached to the Government House to be observe by 8.00a.m, 12.00 noon and 4.00p.m. daily.
The mandatory daily exercise stressed that both faiths must strictly adhere to the policy by patronizing the Unity Chapel or the mosque both of which are situated in the Government House from Mondays to Fridays.

Nation

Accolades, Fanfare As Ogbakor Ikwerre President General Celebrates 80th Birthday

Published

3 weeks ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.

The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.

Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.

The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.

The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.

However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.

The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.

Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.

Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.

The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.

Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.

In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.

Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.

He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.

His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.

He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.

Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.

Nation

Ensure That Ogoni Is Heard In The Right Way, HYPREP Urges Creative Arts Trainees

Published

4 weeks ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.

Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.

”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.

While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.

He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.

The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.

Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.

With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.

Nation

NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2025

The Tide

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.

NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.

In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.

It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.

The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.

NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.

In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.

“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:

” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.

“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.

NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.

NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.

According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.

“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.

” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.

NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.

Kiadum Edookor