Niger Delta

22 Bag First Class In UNICAL

Published

9 years ago

March 15, 2017

Twenty Two out of 13,347 graduands of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) billed for convocation next Saturday have bagged first class degrees.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Zana Akpagu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen last Thursday on the 30th convocation ceremony of the institution scheduled to hold on the 11th of March.
Akpagu said 11,910 out of the 13,347 were first degree holders while 1,437 were in the post graduate category adding that 22 bagged first class,2,408 came out with first class upper 5, 980 others Second Class lower while 2900 others came out with a Third Class with the remaining 1000 had pass.
According to him: ” In the last one year we have put a mechanism in place to clear the backlog of students and that is the reason we have the huge number of them graduating at this time because we do not intend to keep anybody for any reason.”
According to him, the university had embarked on 37 projects including construction of hostels, office complex, classrooms, lecture pavilion, lawn tennis court and so on, adding that many of them have been 100 percent completed while some of them are near completion
He also disclosed that there will be a ground breaking ceremony for an ultra modern medical centre which he described as the legacy project of his administration.
“We feel it is an embarrassment for an institution of this magnitude to continue to use a facility that was built since 1978 at this age. We shall finance it from our meager internally generated revenue which currently stands at 1.2billion naira,” he stated.
He, however, bemoaned a situation where the university has to spend over 500 million for energy generation when only a paltry sum of 39 million naira was budgeted for it.
The Vice Chancellor said: “we just have 39 million naira for the whole year in the budget while we are giving a whooping sum of 18 million naira as monthly bill by Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) .A truck load of Diesel cost over 10 million naira and we use three trucks every month when you calculate what we spend on energy you will discover its well above 500 million naira annually,” he decried.
Our Correspondent learnt that those to be awarded with Honorary degree include Alhaji Umaru Kwabo (Jamar Sokoto), Sir Daniel Chukwudozie (Dozie Oil) and Brig-Gen Anthony Ukpo (Rtd.) a former Military Administrator of Rivers State, while the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saadu Abubakar III, are among dignitaries expected to grace the occasion.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

NPC Unveils Digital Registration System In Delta

Published

15 hours ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday, launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (eCRVS) in Delta State, designed to strengthen data generation and vital statistics management.

The Tide’s source reports that the system was launched by the Delta Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, at a news briefing in Asaba.

Brume-Ataguba recalled that President Bola Tinubu formally launched the eCRVS in November 2023 as part of the efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration process.

She said the initiative followed resolutions reached at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Addis Ababa in 2022.

According to her, African ministers urged member states to automate civil registration processes and implement the UN Legal Identity Agenda.

“Nigeria responded by developing an electronic, technology-driven system to enhance data generation and improve civil statistics nationwide,” Brume-Ataguba said.

She said NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced an eCRVS Operational Readiness Assessment Report to guide implementation.

She explained that the partnership aims to establish a fully digital civil registration system that converts records of vital events into reliable statistics for effective planning and decision-making.

Brume-Ataguba described the initiative as a complete shift from paper-based documentation to a modern digital platform aligned with international best practices.

She said the system would transform the way births and deaths were recorded, tracked and analysed across the country.

“This process marks a complete departure from the traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices.

“This eCRVS promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded, tracked and analysed in the country.

“This will ensure commitments, and a sustained national, international financial and political investment for birth registration within the CVRS in Nigeria, ” Brume-Ataguba said.

She also said the launch demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening civil registration data capture and processing.

She further said improved vital statistics would support national development planning and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Brume-Ataguba continued that the state-level launch was necessary to sensitise the media and the public on the significance of the digital registration system.

She described the media as a vital partner in informing and educating citizens about the importance of registering vital events electronically.

She further assured residents that competent ICT personnel were available at the state level to address technical challenges and provide support.

The NPC commissioner emphasised that the eCRVS would overhaul the registration of births and deaths in the country and lay a solid foundation for efficient civil statistics management.

She urged stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to realise its goal of providing accurate and timely vital registration data.

She announced that the current phase of the e-CRVS programme would be concluded in March.

In her remark, the NPC State Director, Mrs. Jane Odigwe, appealed to the Delta Government to support the implementation of the system in the state.

“Your partnership is vital in helping us to reach this goal,” Odigwe said.

She also urged parents to register their children, saying that a birth certificate is essential for access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.

She said that registering children today would secure their identity and future participation in Nigeria’s development.

“To every parent in Delta, I urge you to bring your children forward for birth registration.

“A birth certificate is not just a document but your child’s key to education, healthcare and global opportunities.

“By registering your child today, you are giving them a voice in Nigeria of tomorrow,” Odigwe said.

Niger Delta

Police Uncover Suspects’ Armoury … Recover Weapons In Delta

Published

15 hours ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has recovered assorted weapons from a criminal hideout in the state.

Spokesman for the Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen, who on Friday in Warri, said the weapons were recovered on Thursday by the operatives of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson.

He said the feat was achieved following a confession by a suspect handed over to the police team by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe Division, for further interrogation.

Edafe said the suspect was alleged to be a member of a criminal syndicate terrorising commuters and residents on the Warri/Sapele Road.

“On February 19, acting on information obtained during interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to a concealed armoury located on the Sapele/Warri Road by the Adheje Community axis.

“A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of a locally made long gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun.

“Also recovered were a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a dagger,” he said.

Edafe stated that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He, however, quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, to have reiterated the command’s resolve in dismantling criminal networks, and mopping up illegal firearms, among others, in the state.

Niger Delta

Police Caution On Lawless Protests On Court Matters In A’Ibom

Published

15 hours ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has cautioned on threats of lawless protests by some members of the public over matters that are already before the courts.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, told newsmen in Uyo on Friday that illegal protests could undermine public peace and order.

“When matters are already in court, let’s follow legal and civil means to seek redress. That is how a civilised society works.

“Although we recognise the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, illegal protests are not allowed,” he said.

Azare said the Command would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, and disruption of government, economic or social activities.

He said anyone found culpable of engaging in acts or threats of illegal protests would be prosecuted in line with the law.

“As a Command, we are committed to the maintenance of law and order, we are also committed to protecting lives and property”, he stated.