News
Nsirim Tasks Churches On Life-Changing Initiatives
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, has expressed the need for churches to engage in complimentary roles with the state governments for more holistic programmes that would play significant roles in the lives of citizens and the society.
Nsirim made the call, last Saturday, in his address presented at the official launch of a special cable television network, “Life Centre Network” of Gateway International Church in Port Harcourt.
The commissioner, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Barrister Ibiwari Clapton-Ogolo, also tasked and challenged them to initiate programmes that would develop people’s minds, attitudes and value system.
He said, “While the church’s primary concern is the spiritual wellbeing, the state takes care of the physical side of things.”
The commissioner commended the Gateway International Church for the conceptualization and subsequent take-off of the television network, saying that the project would create positive impact on the church and the global community.
“Indeed, the conceptualization and take-off of this project is worth celebrating as its impact on the church and global community would be monumental.
“We all know the church plays a significant role in the life of the people. It is also true that churches are traditionally occupied with spiritual development of the people.
“The church and the state play complimentary roles in the lives of individuals and the society”, he said.
Nsirim said there was need for the church and residents of the state to thank the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for working tirelessly to bring development to every part of the state, with life-changing infrastructural projects and sponsoring of boisterous security regimes.
In his speech, the General Overseer, Gateway International Church, Pastor George Izunwa, said the vision and mission of the new television network of the church was to influence the culture of people worldwide for Christ.
He said the television station was to feature the words of Jesus Christ and other activities of the church that would change the lives of people and the society at large.
The cleric said the project was launched as a new concept to change lives of people around the world.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Life Centre Network of the church, Mr Tony Adokiye, had said that the television network was a cable infrastructure like GOtv, DStv, MTV that can feature different church-related programmes designed to change lives.
The coordinator said the network would transmit programmes across over 195 nations in the world, including African countries.
He said “though the platform was launched to spread the word of God, but nevertheless, the network will also feature different programmes like Soccer, Drama, Music, Geographic World, among others.
Adokiye, who further explained the role of the new platform, said the Life Centre Network was a platform designed to feature live events, including government programmes to the rest of the world.
He said the cable television network would feature subsidized programmes, at least, for some months running.
By: Enoch Epelle
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.