News

Yakowa For Burial ‘Morrow …Bayelsa Holds Valedictory Session

Published

13 years ago

December 19, 2012

Governor Patrick Yakowa who died along with General Patrick Azazi and others in an helicopter crash in Bayelsa, Saturday will be buried tomorrow in his hometown Fadan Kagoma in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The remains of former Governor Patrick Yakowa arrived Kaduna yesterday amidst tears by thousands of sympathisers that thronged the Kaduna Airport.

The corpse and that of Dauda Tsoho arrived the airport at 2:45pm accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Rear Admiral John Jonah. Jonah expressed sympathy with the family and the people of the state.

He said the Bayelsa Government had held a Valedictory Executive Session in memory of the late governor, and described Yakowa as a bridge builder, whose career was dedicated to ensuring peace and development.

He urged the people in the state to support the new governor to enable the state forge ahead.

Receiving the remains of the late governor, Governor Mukhtar Yero expressed appreciation to the government and people of Bayelsa for their support and prayers.

Yero assured the people that he would continue with the foundation laid by the late governor for the sustenance of peace, unity and progress in the state.

Archbishop Mathew Ndagoso of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocess, Bishop George Dodo (Zaria Diocess) and Bishop Mathew Kiakh (Sokoto Diocess) led prayers at the airport.

The usual praises, hails and songs of supports from bystanders that usually accompany the late governor’s convoy was missing as solemn residents in clusters gathered by the road side to bid farewell to the deceased.

The late governor left behind a wife, Mrs Amina Yakowa and four children: Peter, Kyola, Rose and Benedicta.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government yesterday held a valedictory session in honour of the former governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa who along with former National Security Adviser, Gen. Andrew Owoye Azazi including four others died in a Navy helicopter on Saturday.

The corpse was brought to Banquet Hall at about 8.30am for the ceremony and for onward journey to Kaduna State for burial tomorrow.

The Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and other eminent Nigerians in their separate speeches extolled the virtues of Late Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, describing him as a bridge builder and true democrat.

Late Yakowa and five others lost their lives in a Naval Helicopter crash on Saturday in Tombi community, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State while returning from the funeral ceremony of the father of the Special Adviser to the President on Research and Documentation, Late Pa Tamuno Obebera Douglas in Okoroba community.

In attendance, at the valedictory session were the wife of the Governor, Mrs Rachael Dickson, the Service Chiefs, traditional rulers, representatives of the Kaduna State government and others.

Describing the death of Late Yakowa as shocking, Hon. Dickson said the deceased contributed in no small measure to the unity of the country.

His words: “we have lost a great friend, a great leader and a great patriot who believed in the possibilities of a united Nigeria. He came building the bonds of unity and fraternity in our country. He was a bridge builder in life and died doing so. May his death motivate us all to do more to unite this country and its people.

With his untimely and unfortunate demise, our nation has lost a servant and patriot. The good people of Kaduna have lost a great leader and Governor. The family has lost a great husband, father, grandfather and a patriarch. Bayelsa State has lost a great friend and I have personally lost an elder brother, colleague and friend.”

The governor assured the immediate family of the deceased of the support of the government, stating, “Bayelsa will always be there for you now and in the future and you can call it your home too. Here in Bayelsa, we do not forget our friends.”

In his tribute, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha described Kaduna State as the epi-centre of Northern Nigeria politics, adding that during his life time, the former governor was able to unite Northern and Southern Kaduna.

According to him, he was a celebrated democrat who believed strongly in his people and was a pillar of trust and support to President Goodluck Jonathan, adding “let his departure be a source of encouragement to those who value peace, justice and equity.”

Also, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Edmund Allison-Oguru said the names of the late Governor truly reflects the various ethno-religious groups in the country, adding that he had successfully built bridges linking Northern and Southern parts of the country.

News

Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama

Published

1 hour ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.

According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.

He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.

According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.

He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.

“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.

Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.

“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.

“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.

“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.

“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.

In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.

He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.

While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.

Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.

He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community

Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.

Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.

She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.

Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.

Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.

She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.

By: John Bibor

News

Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants

Published

1 hour ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.

The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.

He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.

The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.

He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.

He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.

Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.

According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.

News

NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

Published

1 hour ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.

Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.

Dr. Ogbuku represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.

He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.

“ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.

when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated

He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.

Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.

In his keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,

Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.

The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.

By: Akujobi Amadi