Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

August 28, 2015

L-R: Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina,Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (Nan), Mr Ima Niboro and Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, during a Guild of Editors’ Dinner in honour of two media icons, Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu in Abuja recently

Ekiti
An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, has remanded one
Solomon Edward in prison custody over alleged defilement of a 10-year-old girl.
Chief Magistrate, Idowu Ayenimo, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case till October 16.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Bankole Olasunkanmi had told the court that the accused committed the offence on August 18 at Iye-Ekiti.
The plea of the accused was not taken, but his counsel urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms.
The prosecutor, however, objected to the bail application, saying the act of defilement is now alarming.

FCT

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has asked the
National Assembly to initiate a legislation that will collapse the Federal Government-corruption agencies into a single formidable institution.
The group also said the agency which must be adequately funded, should have a department which would be responsible for tracking and verifying source of income of Nigerians living above their means.
National President of the NYCN, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, stated this in Abuja at the official opening of registers to collect signatures in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.
Ugochinyere, said the registers would be opened in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory and Nigerian embassies in the United Kingdom, the United States and China for interested youth willing to support the Federal Government graft crusade.
He said the group will on September 17, mobilise thousands of Nigerian youth to stage a mass rally to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; the National Assembly and Presidential Villa, to assure Buhari of the youth’s commitment to his anti-graft crusade.

Gombe

The Senate of the University of Maiduguri (UNMAID), says it
has approved the establishment of its first Distance Learning Outreach Center in Gombe.
The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit on the Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, in Gombe.
Njodi called on the state government to provide a befitting place for the immediate take-off of the centre.
He said that the approval of the programme by the Senate had made the university an institution that provided both conventional academic programmes and the Distance Learning.
Jigawa

The Jigawa State Special Worker Verification Committee has
said it screened 1169 of 1206 teaching and non-teaching staff in Malammadori Local Government Area.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the area, Malam Aliyu Balarabe, who made this know to newsmen in Malammadori, Jigawa, said the exercise was conducted smoothly in all public primary and junior secondary schools.
It will be recalled that the state government had embarked on verification of pensioners, teachers and workers of the 27 local government areas of the state.
The council’s Education Secretary, Mukhtar Mukaddiri, said the exercise would enable the government to make proper planning toward improving the welfare of teachers.

Kaduna

Some Kaduna-based lawyers have urged their colleagues to
support President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.
The lawyers spoke in separate interviews in Kaduna, while reacting to Buhari’s call on lawyers to desist from protecting crooks.
One of the lawyers, Mr Pascal Nickaf, said the call was timely and even long overdue.
He, however, said that the fight was not a one-man battle but a battle that required the support of all stakeholders.

Kano

The Kano State Agency for the Control of Aids (KSACA),
has asked stakeholders to collaborate with it to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly mother to child transmission of the disease.
The Director General of the agency Dr Sa’adatu Bala, made the call when she paid an advocacy visit to Hasiya Bayero Paediatrics Hospital in Kano.
She said the call was necessary in order to ensure continued support and stronger collaboration between the agency and the hospital to achieve the desired objective.
Responding, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Hafsat Kabir, said that the hospital needed assistance to install some laboratory equipment donated to it by a donor agency, FH1360.
Katsina
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in
Daura, Katsina State, has distributed relief materials to no fewer than 2,000 flood-disaster victims.
The NEMA Director-General, Mr Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who handed over the materials to the victims, said the flood had affected seven local government areas of the state.
According to him, the major cause of the flooding was the blocking of drains with refuse and building of houses on water ways.
He said that the intervention was sequel to the receipt of the report of the disaster and subsequent needs assessment from conducted by the State Emergency Management Agency.

Kebbi

Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has pledged to im
prove girl-child education in the state.
This is contained in statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the governor Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, in Birnin Kebbi.
The statement stated that the governor made the pledge when he received a delegation of a non-governmental organisation, Voices of the Girl-Child Education.
Bagudu described female education as vital to human resource and social development, stressing that education could be conveniently combined with motherhood.
The wife of the governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu, who accompanied the group during the visit, said female education was paramount in building a virile society.
Kogi

The Catholic Bishop of Lokoja, Dada Olorunmolu, has reiter
ated Catholic church’s position against gay marriage, saying it was unequivocal and the church would not compromise on it.
The Bishop who made this known in an interview in Lokoja , said that approving gay union would amount to standing the Bible on its head.
According to him, the issue is against the teachings of the church and the Bible; it will amount to bending its teachings, its injunctions, just to accommodate what is unnatural.
The bishop prayed for those who indulged in the act, asking God to give them the grace to understand what was right.

Lagos

A coalition of civil society organisations in the country, has
alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan, deliberately embarked on policies that directly promoted corruption and impunity in public offices during the six years that he administered the affairs of the country.
They, therefore, said it would be a great disservice to the entire Nigerian populace if his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, heeded the advice of those asking that Jonathan should not be probed and brought to book.
The CSOs, which jointly addressed a press conference in Lagos, admitted that corruption in public offices did not begin under Jonathan, but they described the Jonathan’s era as one during which “Nigeria literally became a looting field; where big thieves became bigger; where new and powerful thieves were created; and where big, destructive ‘rats’ and ‘termites’.

Nasarawa

A 21-year-old bus conductor, Shedrach Ezekiel of Mararaba,
has been sentenced to18 months in prison by a Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court for stealing a phone valued at N11,000.
The presiding judge, Albert Maga, convicted Ezekiel after he pleaded guilty for the offence of conspiracy and theft.
Earlier the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji told the court that the convict was first arraigned on August 14 but remanded in custody for his accomplice to be arrested.
Niger

Ward Head, Nuatuko, in Bosso Local Government Area of
Niger State, Malam Usman Aliyu, has, implored the state government to provide the community with potable water and access roads.
Aliyu who made the appeal during interview in Nuatuko, said the only source of water in the community was from Dagbai stream, three kilometres away from the village.
The ward head said the immediate past administration in the state had promised the community a borehole on four different occasions but could not fulfill the promise.
He added that the main road linking the village with Bosso was in a deplorable condition, adding that, “right now, it is not passable, especially in this rainy season.

Ogun

The Ogun State Judiciary has commenced series of refresher
courses for Magistrates, Judicial Assistants, Secretaries, Court Registrars, Clerks and Bailiffs across the state, the Chief Judge, Mrs Olatokunbo Olopade, has said.
Olopade, who made the statement in Abeokuta while speaking with newsmen, said the four-day training was organised in partnership with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja.
She said the training was organised to improve the standard and quality of the state judicial system and judiciary staff.
The Director of Studies, NJI, Mr Cyprain Ajah, said the training, which includes Information Communication Technology (ICT), became imperative because of the need to build the capacity of judicial officers and staff.

Ondo

A commercial motorcyclist, Kamil Ibrahim, 25, was arraigned
in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly assaulting a salesgirl who refused him N200 worth of cigarette on credit.
The prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the accused, on July 6 around 7:00 a.m. at Okitipupa market, beat up Bolaji Kusoro, and inflicted injuries on her.
Orogbemi added that the accused was still owing Kusoro N1,000, which made her to refuse further credit facility.
Magistrate Banji Ayeomoni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N20,000 and a surety in like sum, and adjourned the case till September 2 for further hearing.

Oyo

Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital
(UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge, has said that the hospital will extend its ongoing Human Papillo Virus (HPV) vaccination to rural areas.
Alonge made this disclosure on the sideline of the ongoing 9th Annual Scientific Conference with the theme “The Role of Pathologists in Oncologic Diagnosis and Management”, in Ibadan.
The five-day conference was organised by the West African Division International Academy of Pathology in conjunction with United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.
Alonge said cervical cancer was the second silent killer in women, noted that vaccination against the virus was the surest way of preventing cervical cancer in Nigerian women.

Nation

Accolades, Fanfare As Ogbakor Ikwerre President General Celebrates 80th Birthday

Published

3 weeks ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.

The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.

Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.

The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.

The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.

However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.

The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.

Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.

Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.

The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.

Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.

In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.

Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.

He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.

His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.

He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.

Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.

Nation

Ensure That Ogoni Is Heard In The Right Way, HYPREP Urges Creative Arts Trainees

Published

1 month ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.

Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.

”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.

While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.

He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.

The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.

Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.

With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.

Nation

NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

Published

1 month ago

August 18, 2025

The Tide

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.

NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.

In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.

It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.

The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.

NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.

In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.

“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:

” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.

“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.

NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.

NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.

According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.

“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.

” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.

NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.

Kiadum Edookor