Nation

THE STATES

Published

10 years ago

August 24, 2015

Governor Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi State (left), welcoming the unicef Country Representative to Nigeria and Ecowas, Ms Jean Gough, during her courtesy visit to Government House in Bauchi, recently.

Adamawa

Some staff of Adamawa State University (ADSU), Mubi, have
petitioned the state House of Assembly accusing the Vice Chancellor, Prof Joshua Shall, of misconduct.
The petition, which receipt was acknowledged by the House of Assembly Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, at the plenary was referred to the House Committee on Public Complaint, for consideration and advise.
The petitioners, Dr Umar Jongur, Dr Idris Atadashi, Dr Kamkwis Markus, Mr Moses Mairabo and Mallam Khalid Bello, accused the vice chancellor of some wrongdoings, among which were administrative high handedness and violation of established rules.
Reacting to the development, the vice chancellor, Prof Joshua Shall, said he was just hearing about the petition, and that the petitioners did not give him a copy as expected.

Bauchi

Chairman of the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Dahiru Mohammed, has assumed duty as the new General Manager of Radio Nigeria Globe FM, Bauchi.
Mohammed took over from Malam Aminu Goggo, who acted as the manager of the station, following the redeployment of the substantive General Manager, Malam Zakari Nadabo, to the Presidency.
Until his recent appointment, the new manager was the head of News and Current Affairs Unit of Bauchi State Television (BATV) and currently serving his second term as the chairman of Bauchi Council of the NUJ.
In an interview shortly after assumption of office, Mohammed said that his target was to make the station a “pacesetter among its peers”.

Benue

The Save-Our-Women and Youth Initiative in Benue State, an
NGO, has called for an urgent assessment of the numbers and locations of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The group’s state Coordinator, Mrs Erdoo Iber, said in Makurdi that the group also wants basic social amenities made available in camps when properly identified.
She said the IDPs require clinics, security posts, movable camps or tents, food and water to save lives and make life more meaningful for them in the camps.
Iber appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency to, as a matter of urgency, provide relief materials to such camps.

Ekiti

Ekiti State Government has issued a three-week ultimatum to
contractors handling the 2013 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects to complete and hand over or face the consequences.
The Chairman, MDGs State Implementation Committee, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, gave the ultimatum during a review meeting of the second phase of MDGs projects held with the contractors in Ado-Ekiti.
He warned that government would not hesitate to sanction erring contractors, stressing that the era of abandoned projects was over.
In his remarks, Mr Idowu Popoola Special Assistant to the Governor on MDGs, stressed the importance of quality and timely job delivery by contractors.
Jigawa

The Jahun Local Government Council of Jigawa State, says it has
purchased spare parts worth N2.8 million to repair broken and damaged hand pumps in the area.
The Area’s Information Officer, Malam Muhammad Umar, who made this known in Dutse.
Umar, who said the items had been handed over to the 11 wards of the local government, stressing that the aim was to ensure safe drinking water in the area.
He said that the items were handed over to members of wards committees who would supervise the exercise.

Kaduna

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, has said that
the Air Force Institute of Technology, (AFIT) had been repositioned to contribute more effectively in tackling the current security challenges facing the country.
The Air Cheif, who made the remark at the 44th Convacation Ceremony of the institution in Kaduna, said training of technical personnel would impact positively in dealing with the dreaded Boko Haram and other security challenges facing the nation.
Abubakar said the institution was doing well in research and development and charged them to sustain the effort to enable the country address the current Boko Haram menace.
On his part, the Commandant of AFIT, Air Cmdr Misbau Soladoye, said that the institution had made steady progress in both its academic curricular, research and development.

Kano

The Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board, says
it is ready to begin the conversion of wastes to wealth before the end of 2015.
The Managing Director of the board, Retired Group Capt. Mohammed Kura, said in Kano that investors from England and India had sent proposals to start converting scrap tiles into powder, fabrics and wares.
Kura said the board had sent the organic fertiliser to different laboratories, including Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ibadan where it was tested and confirmed to be good and useful.
He further explained that the state government would also recruit more sanitary inspectors, who would be given the power to enforce and monitor sachet water sellers, biscuit sellers and bottle water traders.

Kebbi

The Kebbi State Committee on Information for the 2015
Hajj is to embark on an awareness campaign to ensure to enlighten the 4,116 intending pilgrims, says the Chairman, Alhaji Umar Babuga.
Babuga told newsmen in Brinin-Kebbi that the essence of the campaign was to ensure effective guidance of the 4,116 intending pilgrims.
He said that pregnant women had been advised to defer undertaking the exercise, to avoid sanctions.
The chairman also requested Journalists to ensure adequate dissemination of information on the 2015 Hajj exercise.

Lagos

Nigerians have urged the Nigeria Police Force to enlist
only men and women of good character when it recruits the 10,000 personnel promised by President Muhammadu Buhari.
They made the call in an interview with newsmen against the backdrop of President Muhammedu Buhari’s promise to offer 10,000 jobs in the force.
The recruitment is to beef up the Police workforce which currently stands at less than 400,000 for a population of 170 million.
The United Nations’ recommendation is a minimum of 222 policemen per 100,000 people, a number that the current 400,000 does not cover.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Government is to use the N25 billion
loan approved by the state House of Assembly in servicing the Contributory Pension Scheme for state civil servants and addressing some development needs.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Tanko Al-makura, Alhaji Ahmed Tukur,who disclosed this in an interview in Lafia, said explaining to the people what the bailout fund would be utilized for, was aimed at ensuring prudence and accountability.
He said that the fund, if accessed from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), would help in the settling some pending issues for the growth of the state.
According to him, the state government will utilise N12 billion while the 13 local government councils in the state will share N13 billion.

Ogun

An Economist, Mr Toyin Taiwo, has urged local manufacturers
to show more commitment in developing their marketing strategies for enduring economic benefits and job creation.
He told newsmen in Ijebu-Ode, that the manufacturers could enhance their businesses by developing their marketing strategies themselves, rather than outsourcing the process.
Taiwo, who is the president, Ijebu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), said this would help them set good records of market penetration and increase the value chain of end products.
The economist, who also operates a food technology consultancy firm, said in order to achieve sustainable success, manufacturers must repeatedly re-examine their company’s sense of purpose.

Oyo

The Oyo State Government would no longer pay the West African
Examinations Council (WAEC) registration fees for students, the state Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade, has said.
Eniade also said that from the 2015/2016 Academic Session, students would pay annual Education Development Levy of N3,000.
In a statement titled: “Efforts of Oyo State Government to Address Poor Performance of Students in Public Secondary Schools,” issued in Ibadan, Eniade said that government took the decision in order to guard against poor performances of students in public schools.
According to the statement, the state government has stopped further payment of WAEC registration fees with effect from 2015/2016 academic session.

Plateau

As the world marks this year’s Mosquito Day, PTA Chairman in
Plateau State, Mr Sylvester Yakubu, has advised governments to provide treated nets to schools to curb the spread of malaria.
The PTA boss said in Jos that the use of treated nets was particularly effective in preventing the spread of mosquitoes, the carriers of the malaria parasite.
He explained that the World Malaria Day was aimed at reminding the public that malaria remained one of the killer diseases in Africa because of the humid condition of its environment.
Yakubu, however, said that guidelines for using the nets must be observed to avoid complications, and advised government to pay more attention to public schools to lessen the burden of less privileged parents.

Yobe

Some women in Yobe State have commended ‘Waka Rural
Development Initiative’’ a Non-Governmenal Organisation (NGO) for restoring their psychological and physical stability after insurgents’ attacks on their communities.
The Internally Displaced women, who made the commendation in interview in Damaturu said that the entrepreneurship programme initiated by the NGO had trained 300 internally displaced women in various trades.
It assists internally displaced women to engage in productive livelihood in their new communities for economic self reliance.
A displaced mother from Gujba, Mrs Aisa Bukar, said the programme had assisted her and other women to look into the future and begin a new life.

Zamfara
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has called on security agencies in the state to intensify efforts to curb cattle rustling and other crimes in the area.
The Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Sunusi Rikiji, made the call in Gusau at the house plenary while reacting to a complaint about cases of cattle rustling.
Rikiji commended the partnership between security agencies and the state government in checking cattle rustling and other criminal activities in the state.
A member representing Anka constituency, Alhaji Bello Sarkin-Fagon (APC) had earlier informed the House about cattle rustling activities in his constituency, adding that gunmen had recently attacked Wuya Ward in Anka Local Government Area and seized 200 cows and 200 sheep.

Nation

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

Published

2 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

3 weeks 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

4 weeks 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