Connect with us

News

FG, GE Seal $1bn Dev Deal …Rivers, C’River To Benefit

Published

13 years ago

on

The Federal Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with General Electric Company to invest $1billion (N158 billion) in assembly and manufacturing facilities in Nigeria.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga,  signed on behalf of Nigeria while, GE Chairman and global CEO,  Jeff Immelt, signed on behalf of the company.

General Electric , a United States Company, is a global leader in energy, health and rail transportation.

The facility is to be located in Calabar, Cross River State with service workshops at Port Harcourt and Onne, Rivers State.

The investment plan, according to Aganga, would have an initial $250 million capital expenditure and over $800 million incremental spending for the next five years and  is expected to create 2,300 jobs.

“GE’s size of investment, which is $250 million, for the outset, and $1 bilion over the next five years, is significant in every respect.

“It is far more important because the investment is in critical areas of our economy, which is power infrastructure.

“This investment will support our Industrial Revolution Plan, which is based on the areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage,” he stated.

Aganga commended GE for its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation plan and vision 202020 of making the country one of the top twenty best performing economies by year 2020.

He said “the key socio-economic imperatives that will be delivered by this investment are numerous such as job creation, skill development.

“Also, technology transfer and local content generation are at the core of the government’s economic development strategy“.

GE Chairman and global CEO, Jeff Immelt, in his remarks said “the planned investment will make Nigeria hub for manufacturing, service and innovation.

He said it would create an improved ability to support a broader range of product lines in power generation as well as oil and gas exploration and production“.

The investment is expected to create 2300 jobs, 300 of which will be direct GE hires and the remaining 2000 indirect jobs created through suppliers that will support the expanded programme.

He said Nigeria will make up 90 per cent of the staff and management of the planned manufacturing facility, while local supplier base is expected to increase 100.

The company spending on locally sourced goods and services according to him “ is expected to increase from $4 million to over $60 million“

The CEO said “GE also plans to build a training facility on its manufacturing site to ensure ongoing employee development.

“ The company will provide one year to four year training programmes locally and internationally for repair engineers, welders, fabricators, machinists and special processing.

Acting Governor of Cross River State, Mr Effiok Cobham, who described the investment plan as a welcome development, said the state would do everything possible to ensure its sustainability.

He said the plan was part of government efforts in attracting foreign investors to the country.

“We shall continue to make Cross River a safe state for investors”, he added.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

5 days ago

on

November 24, 2025

By

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
Continue Reading

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

5 days ago

on

November 24, 2025

By

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
Continue Reading

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

5 days ago

on

November 24, 2025

By

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

Continue Reading

Trending