Niger Delta
A’Ibom Coconut Refinery To Create Multiple Jobs – Gov
A coconut refining factory in Akwa Ibom State will create 1,300 direct jobs when completed in September, the state governor, Udom Emmanuel has said.
Also, more than 3,000 people would be employed indirectly by the factory, according to Mr Emmanuel.
The governor disclosed this while inspecting the St. Gabriel Coconut Factory in Mkpat Enin.
The factory is owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
He expressed satisfaction with the project and said it would help in technology transfer to people in the state and also help to boost the state economy.
Mr Emmanuel, according to a Government House statement, blamed the delay in the completion of the project on the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
He, however, called on youths of the area to support the government’s industrialisation programmes and protect the facility from being vandalised by hoodlums.
“If you check some of these units, there is a combination of Asian and European technology.
“We still need those Indians because a lot of them will take up training our locals and they will also take part in technology transfer to our locals. So our prayer is that the (COVID-19) situation in Indian improves so they can be allowed to travel and interact with other people.
“We should be able to troubleshoot certain things, for example once we are not processing coconut, we should also have a production line that can process palm kernel oil without changing a pan because we are very rich in palm kernels in this region,” Mr Emmanuel said.
Meanwhile, the project’s consultant of the project, Francis Uwah, who conducted the governor round different units in the factory said the by-products from the factory like oil would be further repackaged and sold in shops and supermarkets.
He said other companies would be attracted to handle the packaging.
The factory has the capacity of processing 300,000 coconuts per shift which will produce 66 tons in a day from the three shifts, said Ganze Aydingenc, an architect with VKS Company which is handling the construction of the factory.
Akwa Ibom, like several other states in Nigeria, is grappling with a high rate of unemployment.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
