News

FG Set To Appeal Bakassi Ruling …As Jonathan Names New Service Chiefs

Published

13 years ago

October 5, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan has set up a committee to look
at the option of appealing the judgment of the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) on the Bakassi peninsula.

The decision was reached at a meeting between the President,
the leadership of the National Assembly and other stakeholders at the State
House in Abuja.

Our correspondent reports that the meeting which started
late Wednesday night ended in the early hours yesterday.

Cross River Governor, Liyel Imoke, told State House
correspondents after the meeting that the committee would also consider how to
take care of the displaced people of Bakassi.

Imoke who did not disclose the composition of the committee
said it would work within a specified time.

Our correspondent reports that Nigeria has an October 9
deadline to appeal the ICJ ruling which ceded the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula to
neighbouring Cameroon. The judgement was
delivered on October 10, 2002.

Imoke said Jonathan had shown great leadership quality by
convening the meeting and standing firm on some of the decisions taken.

Speaking also, the Senate President, Senator David Mark,
said the executive arm of government and the lawmakers were now on the same
page on the Bakassi issue.

He said they would work together to achieve results.

A former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince
Bola Ajibola who was at the meeting, said the Federal Government had shown
candid concern on the Bakassi issue.

He commended the move by government to follow dialogue, the
rule of law and diplomacy in ensuring that Nigeria gets justice and the people
were not wrongly dealt with.

Ajibola expressed optimism that the committee would handle
the matter accordingly and in good time.

Our correspondent reports that the meeting was attended by
Vice President Namadi Sambo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.
Aminu Tambuwal, and other principal officers of the National Assembly.

Also in attendance were Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill
Akpabio, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius
Anyim, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation
(AGF), Mohammed Adoke.

Some leaders and representatives of selected groups from
Bakassi, as well as presidential aides, were also in attendance.

Our correspondent recalls that the Senate had last week
unanimously passed a resolution mandating the Federal Government to appeal the
ICJ ruling because of the new facts which had emerged over the matter.

Meanwhile, President Jonathan yesterday in Abuja approved
the appointment of Vice Admiral Ola Ibrahim from Kwara State as the new Chief
of Defence Staff.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said Rear Admiral Dele J. Ezeoba from
Delta State was appointed as the new Chief of Naval Staff.

The statement said that Air Vice Marshall A.S. Badeh, from
Adamawa, was also appointed as Chief of Air Staff.

“The incumbent Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike
Ihejirika, retained his position.”

The statement said Jonathan thanked the outgoing service
chiefs for their meritorious and commendable service to the nation, and wished
them well in their future endeavours.

Ihejirika and the three retired service chiefs were
appointed by Jonathan on September 8, 2010.

The retired service chiefs are former Chief of Defence
Staff, Air Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall
Mohammed Umar.

Before his new appointment, Ibrahim was Chief of Naval
Staff.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.