Niger Delta

UNDP, Delta Set July Timeline For Pact On Climate Change

Published

16 years ago

March 28, 2010

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Delta State Government have set a July timeline to sign a pact on measures aimed at combating and mitigating the effect of climate change in the state.

This was part of the outcome of a two-day technical session officials of the UNDP team on Territorial Approach on Climate Change (TACC) and top government officials of the state had together in Asaba.

UNDP team leader from Geneva, Christophe Nuttal, briefing the Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), after the session, observed that the body was pleased that the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was steps ahead of other governments in Africa in the crusade and measures on Climate Change.

A member of the UNDP team from South Africa, Dr. Akiko Yamamoto, informed that the body and the state government have set a July timeline for the signing of a final agreement on measures to address climate change.

Yamamoto explained that under the arrangement, a consultant would come to the state in May to interact with stakeholders and look into documents prepared by the Delta State Government.

“Then in June we will have first draft project document ready for review. We hope by ending of June we have a final document ready for appraisal. Our target is by end of July we have project document signed by Delta State Government, by the Federal Government and the UNDP,” she added.

Utuama, who stood in for the governor, on his part, said “We want to win the battle against the adverse effect of climate change…Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s leadership in the issues of climate change will not only be at the conception stage. It will be carried further to the implementation stage and even much further to the monitoring stage and step further to the conclusion stage.

In all of these, we will partner with you and others wherever it becomes necessary to do so. For us in Delta we are very certain…and will be on top of climate change in Delta State.”

Head of Climate Change Unit in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Victor Fodake on his part, acknowledged that the Delta State Government was taking the lead in the fight against the adverse effect of climate change and expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to collaborate with the state.

The Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Bello Orubebe also noted, “as a ministry we have attempted to frame the climate change. We’ve looked at mediation and we’ve also looked at adoption.

“We are the first in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a programme on climate change. We have submitted this to the stakeholders’ forum in February…We have embarked on consultations and we have been dealing with communities.”

Story 2—

UNIBEN to award degrees for Federal College of Education (Tech), Asaba

*** As College plans Open University education

From Albert Ograka, Asaba

Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba has embarked on the processes of affiliating the College to the University of Benin for its Degree programmes and the full commencement of the National Open University education in the College.

Provost of the College, Dr. Gabriel Iloh disclosed this during the matriculation ceremony for 1,424 students in National Certificate in Education (NCE), Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDE) and Part-time programme for 2009/2010 academic session in Asaba, Delta state capital.

The Provost said the numerous achievements in the College were made possible by the peace and harmonious relationship between staff and management on one hand and among staff, students and unions on the other hand.

The College, according to Dr. Iloh, has produced about 20,000 technical/vocational graduates with NCE certificates, adding that the more academic achievements would be recorded when the affiliation processes with the University of Benin for Degree programmes is completed.

He therefore advised the new students to remain focused and should not attempt to compromise the rules and regulations of the College. “The College does not brook any form of indiscipline, under any guise and name. Please be warned!”

Meanwhile, the Director of Academic Planning and elected member of the College’s Governing Council, Dr. Ignatious Ezoem attributed the successes recorded so far by the College to exemplary leadership potentials of the College’s administrators.

Dr. Ezoem harped on the need for a sustainable commitment from the College’s authority by providing their personal potentials which, according to him, would in turn demand favourable compliance by the students.

“To manage an institution like this College, one requires a participant proficiency to take part in what followers do and be part of the instrument to accomplish the instruction given out. We take pedagogic attainment with aptitude seriously and that is why, by God’s grace there is a cross mutation of peaceful co-existence in this College”, he said.

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

2 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.