News

2000, N’ Delta Communities Get EU Projects

Published

13 years ago

April 5, 2013

A total of 2,000 Niger Delta communities are currently benefiting from the European Union (EU) supported Micro Projects Programme in the nine states of the area (MPP9),

The Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, Dr Usman Shamsuddeen, disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt during the launching of the implementation of MPP9 in Rivers State.

Dr Shamsuddeen, who was represented by the secretary, National Planning Commission, Mr Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, said the EU-supported programmes had successfully provided some communities with socially and economically relevant micro-projects that had contributed to the reduction of poverty in the states, thereby assisted in curtailing restiveness.

He explained that the MPP9 was designed to work with reform – minded local government areas where the authorities are ready and willing to cooperate in implementing micro-projects in a transparent manner.

According to him, the Financing Agreement for the MPP9 was signed in 2008 with a total budgetary allocation of €71.5 million (Euros).

Out of the amount, the EU is to provide €45.5 million while the beneficiaries are to provide the balance of €26 million as a mark of commitment and ownership.

The minister said the lessons learnt in the implementation of the MPP3 and MPP6 projects were brought to bear in the articulation of the MPP9 to attain greater service delivery.

The EU Ambassardor, Dr David Macrae said the launching of 100 micro projects in Rivers State alone covered water projects, educational blocks, civic centres, open and locked up markets, cassava and palm oil processing mills.

Dr Macrae explained that the European Development Fund (EDF) contribution to the construction of these projects was estimated at over N500 million while the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP) would be coming soon to inject about N9.23 billion to the region with Rivers State as major beneficiary.

“The progress we are recording has been made possible through the support and commitment of the state and local governments in Rivers State, and we look forward to this fruitful relationship as we move to the future”, EU Ambassador said.

He noted that interactions with stakeholders at various stages of the project had led to deep cross fertilization of ideas that would strengthen the sustainability of the projects.

According to him, the progress towards good governance and democracy was encouraging, and we hope that working with the state and local government administrations will continue far into the future.

bringing along it mutual benefits.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Gogo Levi Charles, said the MPP9 programme is a development strategy aimed at transforming the rural communities in line with developmental aspirations of the rural people.

Mr Levi Charles said a total of 100 projects have been earmarked for implementation in 13 local government area of the state with 44 projects at advanced stages of completion while work on the remaining 56 projects will commence soon.

The Commissioner lauded the Governor for allowing fruitful collaboration between the state and its development partners as it jointly delivers development to the people of the state.

Launching the programme, the State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, represented by his Deputy, Tele Ikuru, said the State government had made giant strides in education and would soon achieve uninterrupted power supply.

He urged the operators of the programme to ensure that the projects meet standards, saying that the State government’s Primary Schools are of internationals standard.

John Bibor

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

22 hours 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

22 hours 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

22 hours 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.