South-South
Obiano Presents N11m Scholarship Cheques To Students, Widows
No fewer than 82 students and pupils of Anambra origin have received scholarship and incentives of about N11 million from Gov. Willie Obiano.
Obiano while presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, said that the state government was consolidating on the gains already recorded in the education sector to break new grounds.
He said that the beneficiaries were students and pupils who had distinguished themselves in various academic fields, competitions and in discipline as well as physically-challenged students from special schools in the state.
Others who benefited from the scholarship were children orphaned in the 2012 Boko Haram killings in Mubi, Adamawa state as well as those whose parents died in active service.
He said that the money giving to those children who lost their parents would be in keeps for them.
He said that his administration had resolved to always remain sensitive to the pulse of the people and to ensure that no Anambra child would be denied education on the basis of their inability to afford such.
“I am very proud that for the past three years, Anambra has remained tops in both WAEC and NECO exams. We shall continue to build solid foundations for such progress to continue.
“It is also an opportunity to sympathise with the citizens that were forced to come down here.
“This is because of the challenges we are having in the North-East geopolitical zone of the country. This gesture is to show them that we also share in their loss.
“Before now, we have been distributing food items to them and this largesse is to tell them that we are not going to leave them’’, Obiano said.
Earlier, Prof. Kate Omenugha, the state Commissioner for Education, said that the education sector was able to register numerous landmarks in the state.
Omenugha said that this was not only because the governor had remained committed to the academic development of the students but also to the welfare of the teachers.
“Since this administration came into office, it has distributed over N30 million in scholarships. Some of these scholarships were inherited from the past administration and in the light of continuity, it upheld them while others it instituted through the ministry.
“This edition is unique in that, it encompasses special students.
“This is keeping to the present administration’s commitment to ensure that the learning needs of all are met irrespective of status’’, Omenugha said.
A beneficiary, Chiagozie Udorji, an SS1 student of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, who was part of Nigeria’s contingent to the 2015 World School’s Debate in Singapore, thanked the government for the encouragement.
Kelvin Anozie, a student on scholarship for emerging the overall best Igbo student in the 2008 WAEC Exam, said that the investments made in the education sector was the driving factor behind their successes.
He assured that they would continue to utilise the scholarship to make the state proud.
Mrs Agatha Aghachi, one of the widows from Adazi-Nnukwu who received incentives on behalf of her five children, said that the fund would go a long way in supporting her children’s education.
She described the governor as God-sent, adding that life had been hard for her since she lost her husband.
South-South
Group Takes Disease Control Campaign To C’ River LG
In its determined efforts to take a stand and demand more committed action in the fight against pneumonia, Society for Health Enlightenment Initiative (SO-HEALTHI), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), took its enlightenment and advocacy campaign to IkotOffiongAmbai in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
The event which held at Saint Peter’s Primary School, Ikot Offiong Ambai, to mark the World Pneumonia Day, saw a contingent of six selected primary schools take part in lecture sessions on pneumonia awareness by experts from the SOHEALTHI Team, climaxing with a spelling competition where winners were given pneumonia-crested exercise books and cash prizes.
At the end of the spelling competition, Amicable Ebrigor Offu and Martha Joseph Aya, both of St. Peter’s Primary School, Ikot Offiong Ambai, emerged joint best performing students, scoring 100 percent, Godsfavour Okon Eyo and Abigail Godwin Anthony, also of St. Peter’s Primary School, came second, scoring 90% apiece, while Victoria Asuquo Okon of St. Peter’s Primary School and Wendy Edet Ekpo of Jehovah Shalom Primary School, clinched third position, scoring 80percent respectively.
In her remarks, the Founder and Team Lead of the NGO, Mrs Rosemary Archibong, stated that SOHEALTHI, founded in 2006, was saddled with the responsibility of creating awareness and advocating for a pneumonia-free world in accordance with this year’s Theme: ‘Keep the Promise; Stop Pneumonia Now.’
Mrs Archibong noted that, according to global indices, the disease sickens 155 million children under five years and kills 1.6 million each year, it has become pertinent to bring this health crisis to public’s attention, encourage policy makers and grassroot organizers alike to combat the disease.
South-South
SUBEB Boss Urges Staff To Support Ayade
The Executive Chairman, Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Stephen Odey has enjoined staff of the board to complement Governor Ben Ayade’s efforts in the basic education sub-sector by supporting him to realise his lofty programmes for the State.
He made this known in a meeting to mark his three years in office as Executive Chairman of SUBEB. Dr Odey said in spite of the financial status of the State, Governor Ayade had made remarkable impact across sectors in the State, especially in the Basic Education sub-sector.
According to Dr Odey, “he is a young man that has a lot of energy, and with ambitious plans for the state, but he is being frustrated by lack of funds”.
Speaking on the achievements recorded in the basic education sub-sector, he thanked Governor Ayade and staff of SUBEB for their support, adding that these feats could not have been achieved without the support of the Governor and hard work of Staff.
He urged staff to remain committed to their responsibilities, stating that “hard work, dedication and loyalty pays in the long run.”
Speaking earlier, the Director of Administration, Emmanuel Ojong, commended Dr Odey for the giant strides recorded in the board within this short time in Office.
He recalled the massive infrastructural developments in schools across the State, and the sanitisation of SUBEB work force to eliminate ghost workers and track down staff without requisite teaching qualifications. Ojong also poured encomiums on the Board Chairman for placing staff welfare at the forefront of his administration.
By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar.
South-South
INEC Discovers 22 Polling Booths In Politicians’ Homes In Akwa Ibom
Ahead of the 2019 general election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Mike Igini has disclosed that no fewer than 22 polling booths have been discovered in the homes of politicians and other private residences in the state.
Speaking in an interview in Uyo, the state capital, Igini explained that “the polling booths are not illegal, but are located at improper places”, adding that such polling booths had been relocated to public places where voters can easily access.
“We have relocated such polling booths to proper places where the people can have access to them. Elections will hold in Akwa Ibom State and votes will count,” Igini assured, even as he warned desperate politicians against hate speeches that could inflame the polity.
He said he was on a mission to Akwa Ibom to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent exercise in line with the relevant sections of the Electoral Act and enjoined eligible voters, party agents and other stakeholders to join hands with INEC to deliver hitch-free polls which outcome would not be disputed.
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