Nation

THE STATES

Published

8 years ago

July 17, 2017

Adamawa
The Adamawa State Government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) last Thursday, launched the rehabilitation of some block of classrooms destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in seven local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the launching ceremony in Balwhona Primary School in Gombi Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, said the work that was being supported by UNICEF would be handled by members of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) of the benefiting schools.
Farauta, who was represented by the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Francis Pius, said 40 schools were selected to benefit from the support in Gombi, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Hong, Michika and Madagali local government areas.
The Director, Social Mobilisation of Adamawa State Universal Education Board (ADSUBEB), Mrs Fadimatu Alfa, said the UNICEF package was N25 million shared among the SBMCs in the 40 benefiting schools with different amounts depending on the rehabilitation work needed.

Benue
The Benue State Police Command last Wednesday, arraigned Mrs. Queen Akwaza, wife of a wanted criminal suspect, Terwase Akwaza, over alleged refusal to disclose her husband’s whereabouts.
Mrs. Akwaza, who appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court, was charged with criminal conspiracy, screening of armed robbery and kidnapping suspects and acts of terrorism.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr Hyacinth Gbakor, are punishable under sections 1(2)(b), 6(a)(b)(c) of the robbery and firearms acts, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 1(2) of Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Gbakor told the court that on June 15, 2017, a team of Police Joint Task Force Patrol, led by Mr Simon Majinga, arrested eight persons, who were arraigned in the same court, on July 7, for the same crimes.

Ekiti
The Ekiti State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Dayo Famosaya, last Wednesday urged Nigerians to embrace the practice of hand washing in order to prevent epidemics.
Famosaya made the call at a sensitisation programme organised for community leaders and heads of worship houses in Ilupeju-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The programme was organised by the Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF).
The Health Educator for Ekiti State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Mrs Abimbola Adeyemi, on her part, urged participants and voluntary mobilisers to diligently disseminate the information they had learnt to residents.

Kaduna
No fewer than 81 students displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are studying under the Safe School Initiative in Kaduna State.
Vice Chairman, Presidential Committee on North East Initiative, Tijjani Tumsah, made this known during a routine evaluation and monitoring of students under the Initiative in Kaduna.
According to him, the students were making progress and should be encouraged to be useful to themselves and the society.
He said five of the students had passed their JAMB and had written the West African School CertificateExamination (WASC) and were now waiting for the NECO examination.

Katsina
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdulmanaf Daura, has called on government to deploy police and military personnel to border communities to stem cross-border crimes.
The chieftain, who is also the APC North West Organising Secretary, said criminals were taking advantage of the country’s porous borders to terrorise border communities.
Daura told newsmen last Thursday, that recent attack on border communities by bandits in Sandamu and Mai’adua Local Governments in Katsina State, was worrisome and requires reinforcement of security to the borders.
The armed bandits attacked Rijiyar Tsamiya village in Sandamu Local Government, killing a businessman, Alhaji Ado Kero, a week ago.

Kogi
Ijumu Local Government Administrator, Alhaji Taufiq Isa, standing trial over alleged assassination attempt on Sen. Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) said he never sent anybody to attack the Senator.
Isa disclosed this in his written statement tendered before Justice Aromeh Akogwu, Resident High Court Judge, Kabba, sitting in Lokoja at the resumed hearing of the case last Thursday.
The prosecution tendered the statement as exhibit at the resumed hearing of the case of culpable homicide and conspiracy preferred against the accused and four others.
The council boss said he did not send anybody and neither knew the people that allegedly attacked the senator.

Kwara
The management of the University of Ilorin, last Thursday, warned students of the institution, particularly female students, against walking alone in dark alleys at night.
The Registrar of the University, Mr Dada Obafemi, said the management had observed that many students were not careful enough about their personal security and safety rules while on the campus.
“Reports reaching management indicate that students, particularly female students, walk alone at night and in the early hours of the day between 12.00 midnight and 4.00 a.m.
“Many students have been seen walking alone in dark alleys, through the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Works Department to the road linking the Bank area at night, not minding the risks involved”, he added.

Lagos
The police have arraigned a 25 year -old man, Leonard Akoji , who allegedly stole a laptop worth N180,000 from one Mr Benjamin Nwobi, his friend.
The accused, whose address is unknown, was docked in a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, where he is facing a charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Akpan Ikem, told the court that the accused committed the offence at No 6, Hundeyin Street, Badagry on July 4.
He said the Apple laptop belonged to his friend, who is the complainant.

Nasarawa
A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State, last Thursday, sentenced an 18-year-old man, Victor Yakubu, to 18 months imprisonment for stealing a cell phone valued at N27,500.
The convict, who is a generator repairer, was sentenced as he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The judge, Ibrahim Shekarau, however, gave the convict, an option of N8, 000 fine, and warned him to be of good behaviour.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Hamen Donald, told the court that the matter was reported at‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, by one Atiku Ibrahim on June 28.

Osun
The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, says the electoral defeat suffered by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 8 senatorial bye-election will not affect the fortunes of the party.
Salaam, in a statement issued last Thursday in Osogbo by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Goke Butika, described the defeat as an electoral set back and a wake-up call.
The speaker, who said the development would strengthen the APC for future elections, promised that all the loopholes identified during the poll would be critically addressed.
The APC caucus in the assembly, he said, however, passed a vote of confidence on Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Salaam said the enduring achievements of the governor in the areas of education, security, infrastructure and health could not be ignored.

Oyo
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Oyo State has appealed to all members irrespective of factional affiliation to unite and work towards the success of the party in future elections.
The Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr Ismaila Asipa, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He was reacting to the Supreme Court judgment which declared Sen. Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic National Chairman of the party.
Asipa urged all PDP members to see the judgment as a victory for all.

Plateau
The Plateau State Government announced last Thursday that appointed local government councillors would only be entitled to sitting allowances.
“Appointed local government councillors will only be entitled to sitting allowances; they will sit just once in a week and be paid the allowances for that sitting. No more salaries,” Governor Simon Lalong stated in Jos.
The governor, who spoke at an APC stakeholders meeting in Mangu, said that the step was part of measures to cut the cost of governance in view of the current economic recession.
Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, the governor confirmed that interim management committees would soon be appointed for the 17 local governments to replace those sacked on June 29.

Sokoto
Councillors in Sokoto North Local Government of Sokoto State have denied plotting to impeach the Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim.
The councillors made the denial when they spoke to newsmen in Sokoto, last Thursday, while reacting to social media posts on the alleged impeachment plot.
Postings in the social media alleged that eight out of the 11 councillors had signed impeachment notice to remove the chairman.
Speaking on the matter, the Councillor representing Sarkin Musulmi, “B” ward, Alhaji Abdullahi Sidi, said,” there was never any plan to impeach the chairman.

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