Niger Delta

Mothering Sunday: Be Humble Servants, Akah’s Wife Tells Christian Women

Published

4 years ago

March 28, 2022

As Christians the world over, especially the Anglican faithful marked Mothering Sunday, yesterday, Chair Lady of Lynn Chances and Tower Mission, Woji in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mrs Joyce Nchelem Fyne Akah, has called on women to exhibit the character of humility in service, saying that the call of motherhood is service-oriented.
Fyne Akah also advised women to desist from the tendency of exhibiting superiority and rilvary with their husbands at home but to see themselves as servants to their families and the society at large, adding that women who see themselves as servants and humble themselves would make good leaders and receive the reward inherent in humility.
She made this call while speaking at the Mothering Church Service, held at the Lynn Chances & Tower Mission, Woji in Port Harcourt yesterday with theme, “Christian Mother, The Servant of the Church”, adding that it is worthy and commendable for the commemoration of womanhood based on the invaluable contributions of women to the betterment and development of homes and the society at large.
According to her, women of the mission joined other women across the globe to mark the service in order to reciprocate the immense contributions of women to the society, describing them as the chief servants of the society.
“ Women are like servants to the families and the society at large and only those women that see themselves as servants and not as bosses and humble themselves in humility can make good home and leadership.
“ Women should ask for God’s grace while seeking for greater leadership roles, and be humble because that is where we find ourselves,” she said.
Akah, who is the wife of the Executive Chairman of RSUBEB, while responding to the issue of women working for the upkeep of their families, said there was nothing wrong for women to work or look for money but advised that in doing so, women should realise that their first primary duty is to see that their homefront is right.
“I can not discourage any woman from working or looking for money but in doing so, they should know that their families and homes are adequately taken care”, she stated.
Also speaking, the wife of the ArchDeacon of Okporo Arch Deanary, Mrs Happiness Chidi Worgu said the theme for this year’s Mothering Sunday celebration, “Christian Woman, The Servant of the Church” is taken from the Book of Romans 16:1-2.
According to her, a Christian mother and a woman should be a servant and a helper to the needy and poor in the society, adding that women who serve diligently in the service of God always have bountiful reward from God.
Worgu used the opportunity to call on women not to neglect the responsibilities of motherhood, which, according to her, is to take care of their husbands, children and the society at large, adding that the first primary duty of a woman is to take care of the husband, children and the home before the society.
“ Live up to your responsibilities as mothers and don’t neglect your husbands, children, the church and the society at large. Any position you find yourself in the society, please, serve with diligence and faithfulness and bring out your talents because there is a reward”, she stated.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Niger Delta

850-bed UCTH overstretched, services 5m patients – CMD

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.

He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.

The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.

According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.

“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.

“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.

He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.

According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.

Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.

He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.

The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.

“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.

“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said

In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.

He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.

The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.

He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.

According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.

The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.

The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.

Niger Delta

Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.

She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.

The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.

AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.

“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.

“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.

According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.

Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.

“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.

He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.

“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.

Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.

CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.

The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.

Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.