Niger Delta

Reps Laud Ayade On Basic Education Milestones

Published

9 years ago

July 26, 2017

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education have commended Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State for the achievements recorded in the basic education sub-sector and efforts geared towards improving the standard of education in the State.
The committee made this known during a 2-day visit to monitor the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) projects, as part of its oversight function.
The team leader, Hon. Istifanus Dung Gyang said that one of the objectives of the exercise was to ensure that there is efficiency and effectiveness in the management and execution of government programmes and projects, as well as promote public accountability.
According to Gyang, “we are here on one of the critical tripod functions of the National Assembly, which is the oversight function. The objective of this visit is to ensure compliance of MDAs by legislative intent as captured in the appropriation act. It is also an opportunity to evaluate programmes and projects performance implementation to check waste and ensure cost effectiveness.”
He said the committee would also focus on the utilization of counterpart funds under basic education, saying; “We are here to see what Cross River State has done so far with the counterpart funds you have assessed and to see how we can assist you to do more.”
Commending the governor’s efforts in providing counterpart funds to enable the state access matching grant for five years (2012 – 2016), Hon Gyang said this laudable gesture was highly commendable and goes to demonstrate the passion Governor Ben Ayade has for the Basic Education sub-sector.
According to him, “we appreciate the passion of the governor in being up to date in accessing the matching grants and deploying funds appropriately,” adding that “some states are in arrears of over 2-4years, but Cross River State is different. We are impressed with what we have seen on ground, the standard of work is something that is commendable and exemplary.”
“We have seen the investment in infrastructure, we have seen the customised plastic tables and chairs the environment is conducive for learning, so we urge you to do more to develop the capacity of your teachers to enable them live up to their responsibilities,” he stated.
Responding, the Executive Chairman, SUBEB, Dr Stephen Odey noted that the board through the instrumentality of Governor Ben Ayade has been able to assess its matching grant from 2012-2015, and that of 2016 has also been accessed and awaiting procurement process
“We came on board to take charge of this office based on the fact that Governor Ben Ayade who is passionate about education charged us to leave no stone unturned in improving the Basic Education sector. When we came on board on October 12th, 2015, we discovered that Cross River State was unable to access its matching grant from 2012 – 2015, without hesitation His Excellency released funds to the Board and we were able to access the backlog of 2012-2015 matching grant,” he maintained
“Consequently, 237 projects were awarded in December 2016, 27 of which have been completed and handed over to the Board; 51,600 customized plastic tables and chairs have also been purchased and distributed, we have also tried to phase out the use of chalk boards by introducing magnetic boards through the purchase of 778 magnetic boards,” he said.
Continung, he stressed, “in order to boost our project monitoring team, we have been able to purchase 4 Hilux vehicles and 1 Prado Jeep to enable us monitor projects. We are also working on a world class British-Canadian International Model School in Obudu and the groundbreaking ceremony will be done by the governor and the Executive Secretary of UBEC soon,” he added.
He said; “When we came on board, 2011 matching grant had been accessed, procurement was done by the previous administration, award letters were issued but it was not implemented. So we came in to implement what was awarded, 97 projects were awarded under 2011 UBE Intervention, excluding plastic table and chairs, 76 of those projects have been completed and handed over to the board.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

7 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.