South East

‘41% Of Ebonyi Children Can’t Access Basic Education’

Published

9 years ago

August 26, 2015

L-R: Representatives of the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), Mr Major Eze, Enugu State Government, Chief Joe Offor and General Officer Commanding, 82 Divisional Nigerian Army, Maj. Etim Ukpanyang, during an awareness seminar on waste management and flood disaster in Enugu yesterday

The United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has in Abaklaiki said 41 per cent of children in Ebonyi State cannot access basic education.
The organisation’s Education Specialist, Dr Agatha Nzeribe, made the disclosure during a ‘State level preparatory meeting of critical stakeholders for school enrolment campaign in Ebonyi’.
According to her, between 16 and 24 per cent of the percentage are girls, hence the need for concerted efforts by relevant stakeholders to reverse the regrettable trend.
“This development necessitated the convening of the meeting by UNICEF, as it also seeks increased collaboration with the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) to solve the problem.
“This meeting is a gathering of basic education researchers, directors and stakeholders, especially at the local government area level, who will make adequate recommendations to solve the problem.
“The recommendations provided at the end of the meeting will indicate the extent of resource sourcing for Ebonyi from UNICEF and other donor agencies.
“At the end of the meeting, UNICEF will leave Ebonyi with two documents: Ebonyi guideline for school enrolment and a framework for implementation of activities,’’ she said.
Nzeribe said that Ebonyi was selected by the organisation’s national and zonal offices as one of the pilot states for the basic education enrolment drive, to ensure that children in the state enrol into schools.
“The visit of the state governor’s wife to the UN Office in Abuja has attracted lots of interventions for Ebonyi; she has also gave maximum support for the school enrolment campaign,’’ Nzeribe said.
State UBEB Chairman, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, who was represented by Mr Nwanne Onu, a board member, commended UNICEF for the intervention, describing it as timely and pivotal.
“It is both timely and pivotal and it will complement the state government’s efforts to articulate a more formidable blueprint for the attainment of its educational goals, especially basic education,’’ he said.
Ikpor noted that the state government had instituted a 91-man committee to evaluate primary and secondary school education in the state and evolve ways to ensure that they meet acceptable standards.
“Statistics show that Ebonyi has 1,295 schools of which 1,064 are primary, while 231 are secondary schools.
“The primary schools have 344,732 pupils, of which 174,371 are males, while 170,361 are females.
“The secondary schools have 101,250 students of which 48,110 are males, while 53,140 are females; this survey shows that Ebonyi has more males in primary schools and more females in secondary schools,” he said.
He noted that the board presently has required data to push the enrolment programme further, to achieve all set objectives.
“The Multiplier Cluster Indicator Survey (MCIS 2011) rated Ebonyi, all time low in the South East geo political zone, in net attendance Ratio of school-age children, early childhood centres‘ enrolment, primary school entry and literacy among women.

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.