City Crime

Maintain Sanctity Of Marriage, Cleric Advises New Couple…As RSNC GM Gives Out Daughter In Marriage

Published

7 years ago

November 5, 2018

A cleric in Rivers State has admonished newly wedded couples not to relent in efforts to maintain the sanctity of marriage as a union ordained by God to unite a man and woman from two separate families as one.
Speaking as one of the officiating ministers at the wedding ceremony of daughter of Mr Vincent Ake, the General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Miss Ijeoma Ake and Mr Solomon Amuda at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Mile three, Diobu, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Pastor Richard Woke, urged couples, particularly the newly wed to always put on their wedding garment which symbolises the righteousness of Jesus Christ for their marriage to be worthy of emulation.
Focusing his sermon on the topic: “Put On Your Wedding Garment”, and reading from Matthew 22:11-12, Woke explained that marriage was a holy union instituted by God, and therefore, meant for serious-minded men and women, who have the fear of God in them.
Woke wondered why unrighteous people should dare go into marriage, when God had said He instituted it for those who fear Him, and warned the couple never to behave like those that entered into marriage without following God’s principles of marriage, as according to him, such people have incurred the wrath of God.
He stressed that the wedding garment represented the righteousness of God, insisting that only those who obeyed God’s instruction by getting married in the church have the right to wear Christ’s garment.
Woke advised the couple to remain immersed in their wedding garment always, adding that by so doing, their union would remain in the righteousness of Christ.
Speaking with The Tide shortly after the official solemnization of holy matrimony between the newest couple, the bride’s father, Mr Vincent Ake said it was a thing of joy to have nursed, groomed and witnessed the marriage of Ijeoma into her new home.
Ake expressed hope that the couple would forever be blessed with all they desire as both families’ foundations were built on Christ’s principles, while praying that God’s love, blessings, wisdom, peace and joy abide with them in their marriage to eternity.
Also speaking, the groom’s mother, Mrs Patience Amuda said she was excited that her son got wedded to the most precious gift she was not able to have biologically, adding that with the coming of Ijeoma, she has become mother to two lovely daughters-in-law.
The groom’s mother advised those believing God for a son to put their hope and trust in God, adding that in due season, God would grant them their hearts’ desires.
In her remarks, the bride’s mother, Mrs Irene Ake hoped that a few months from now, God would visit the couple with the “fruits of the womb”.
In their separate responses, the groom and the bride expressed joy for being married to each other on November 4, 2018.
According to Mr Solomon Amuda; “marriage is something a lot of people look up to. I count myself lucky to have been married to this lovely, beautiful and most cautious lady, my wife, Mrs Ijeoma Amuda.”
Solomon advised bachelors out there to know what they want in a girl, and go for her once they have been convinced, adding that “no one can get a complete perfect girl, but in love and care, you can make her what you want her to be for you”.
The bride, Ijeoma Amuda described her husband as a caring, loving, understanding companion, remarking that she made the right choice by choosing Solomon to be her husband.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

City Crime

RSG Ready For 2030 Digital Transformation

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2025

The Tide

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department, Mrs. Elizabeth Akani, has said the State Government was set to meet up the 2030 target of the Federal Government towards the actualization of digital economy.

Akani said this at the Rivers State Sensitization Workshops on The Adoption of Nigeria Start-up Act and National Digital Literacy framework (NDLF), in Port Harcourt, weekend.

She noted that the State was ready for both the adoption and domestication of the Act.

According to her, up to 90-95% preparation have been fully covered by the state in readiness to welcoming the digital economy Act.

“Stakeholders talked about adoption and domestication of the Act, it was fruitful. The draft has been sent to the government”, she said.

She also noted that the move was in line with the digital transformation plan of the state and the country at large.

The Convener, Start South, Mr. Uche Aniche, who made case for full ICT Ministry for the state, said such will command the needed growth in the system.

Aniche stated that until they attained the lofty height, all about Tech-knowledge and growth may not fall in place as expected.

Other tech-operators, such as the Code Garden Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wilfred Wegwu, who welcomed the idea, said it must be done in the nearest future.

Wegwu noted that technology has taken over the world at present, adding that government at all levels needed to key into the system.

He also stated that the system play major roles in various spheres of life, including relationships and collaboration.

He also revealed that the system now was up to forth Industrial Revolution (4IR), according to global shift ranking.

It will be recalled that the State Government has recently ordered to construct ICT centres across the 23 Local Government Area of the state in order to meet up the yearnings of the technology world.

By: King Onunwor

City Crime

Industry Braces For Glut And Investor Demands

Published

1 month ago

September 29, 2025

The Tide

The oil and gas industry is in for a tough year ahead, as it must balance financial discipline, shareholder returns, and long-term investments in the sustainability of the business—while navigating a hypothetical glut.

The warning comes from Wood Mackenzie, which said in a new report that the industry was faced with conflicting trends over the next year that would make decision-making challenging. Among these is an expectation that the market would tip into an oversupply, pressuring prices, while the demand outlook for oil over the long term brightens up, motivating more investments.

“Oil and gas companies are caught between competing pressures as they plan for 2026. Near-term price downside risks clash with the need to extend hydrocarbon portfolios into the next decade. Meanwhile, shareholder return of capital and balance sheet discipline will constrain reinvestment rates,” Wood Mackenzie’s senior vice president of corporate research, Tom Ellacott, said.

The executive added that investors would also influence decisions, as they continue to prioritize short-term returns over long-term investments. This last part, at least, is not unusual in the current investment environment across industries. It could, however, make life even more difficult for oil and gas companies for a while.

The glut that Wood Mackenzie analysts expect is the same glut that the International Energy Agency has been expecting for a while now. Yet that very same International Energy Agency earlier this month issued a warning on the longer-term security of global oil supply, saying the industry needed to step up investment in new production because natural depletion at mature fields was progressing faster than previously assumed.

Per the report, if the industry has to maintain current levels of oil and gas production, more than 45 million barrels per day of oil and around 2,000 billion cu m of natural gas would be needed in 2050 from new conventional fields. It’s worth noting that this is maintenance of current production levels, assuming demand will not rise, which is a risky assumption.

Even with projects ramping up and new ones approved for development and not yet in production, a large gap still exists “that would need to be filled by new conventional oil and gas projects to maintain production at current levels, although the amounts needed could be reduced if oil and gas demand were to come down,” the IEA said.

However, demand could just as well increase, heightening the degree of uncertainty in the industry and making long-term planning even more challenging—especially for companies with higher debt-to-equity ratios. Wood Mackenzie expects those with gearing of above 35% would prioritise resilience over long-term growth, while those with better debt positions would turn to divestments and asset acquisitions to improve the quality of their portfolio.

Share buybacks will also remain on the oil industry’s table as a favorite tool for making shareholders happy, although, Wood Mac notes, these tend to dry up when oil slips below $50 per barrel. Interestingly, the analytics company does not seem to factor into its analysis a scenario where prices might go up instead of down, especially now that President Trump has signaled he would be willing to step up pressure on Russia to bring a swifter end to the war in Ukraine.

If prices do rise, for whatever reason, including failure of the massive 3-million-bpd glut that the IEA predicted to materialize, then the immediate outlook for the oil and gas industry becomes different—but not too different. Companies have already demonstrated they would not return to their old ways of splurging when times were good and tightening belts when times were bad. They would likely stick to spending caution and shareholder return prioritization, regardless of prices.

By Irina Slav

City Crime

ECN Commences 7MW Solar Power Project In AKTH

Published

2 months ago

September 22, 2025

The Tide

As a landmark intervention designed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), has commenced a 7MW solar power project at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH)

The project is the outcome of ECN’s comprehensive energy audit and strategic planning, which exposed the unsustainable cost of diesel and the risks associated with AKTH’s dependence on the national grid.

Working in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology under the coordinating leadership of Chief Uche Nnaji, the ECN planned and executed this critical project to secure the hospital’s energy future.

The Director – General, ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abullahi, said “the timing of this intervention could not be more crucial” recalling that only days ago, AKTH suffered prolonged power outages that tragically claimed lives in its Intensive Care Unit.

“That painful incident has strengthened our resolve. With this solar installation, we are ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future and that critical medical services can operate without fear of disruption”.

Abdullahi stated that the project is a clear demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in action and reflects ECN’s commitment to making Nigeria’s energy transition people-centered, where hospitals, schools, and other essential institutions thrive on reliable, clean, and sustainable power.

The ECN boss further reaffirmed ECN’s commitment to continued deployment of innovative energy solutions across the nation.

“This is not just about powering institutions; it is about saving lives, restoring confidence, and securing a brighter future for Nigerians”, he stated.