Niger Delta

Bayelsa Lawmaker Empowers Youths, Solicits Support

Published

4 years ago

April 27, 2022

Lawmaker representing Ogbia Constituency One, Bayelsa State House in the Assembly and House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for Ogbia Federal Constituency of the state, Hon.Chief Mitema Obordor as part of measures towards fulfilling his electioneering campaign promises has organised an Agro/Entrepreneurship Skills acquisition training for no fewer than156 youths of his Constituency.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the programme which held in Yenagoa, the state capital, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ngobere commended the organiser of the empowerment programme for the initiative.
The Speaker added that the training would equip youths with necessary skills to become self reliant and employers of labour, just as he encouraged participants to take the training seriously so as to maximise its benefits.
This Agro/entrepreneurship training will help participants to live above the current economic challenges facing the nation. The empowerment training will also divert the attention of the teeming youths from engaging in cult activities and other related social vices in the society”, he said.
In his goodwill message, the Bayelsa state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, David Alagoa advised the trainees to partake in the programme with all form of seriousness,just as he added that the programme is a veritable platform to redefine the future of Ogbia youths.
“This programme defines the future of Ogbia youths. You have lost and sold your future if you sell your starter pack. Take this opportunity as a life time empowerment”, the Commissioner said.
In his welcome address, the organizer of the programme, appreciated the participants for honouring his invitation, saying the training was part of a series of events he started in fulfillment of his campaign promises during the last House of Assembly elections .
“Some electoral promises which I made amongst others were capacity building and empowerment of youths, where I have ploughed back the limited resources at my disposal as a legislator to train Ogbia youths in various skills acquisition programmes, depending on available opportunities and resources”, he said.
Obordor noted that he started the empowerment programme in 2015 when he was first elected into the House of Assembly, stressing that the skills acquisition was born out of his dedication and commitment to deliver the dividends of Democracy to his constituents.
“For the records, this empowerment scheme is born out of dedication and commitment to the very reasons why I decided to seek for your mandate in governance. And I’ve been organizing programmes of similar nature aimed at positively touching the lives of our youths for sustainable development.
“The present scheme is aimed at building capacity amongst youths in Agro skills and entrepreneurship, with a view to providing empowerment in the form of miniature. I call on all participants to support the Prosperity Administration led by Senator Douye Diri to move Bayelsa State to the next level of development.
“Let me also reiterate here, that this programme is not done in isolation, but as part of my little contribution to complement what the prosperity government of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri is doing at the State level on Agricultural skills acquisition and development in Bayelsa State”, Obordor said.
The Tide reports that the training include, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, fish farming, rice farming, poultry and cassava farming, while participants were also taken on escortion to a standard poultry farm for practical field experience.
In an interview with Newsmen shortly after the programme, a participant, Miss Florence Agala said she had gained valuable knowledge from the programme, adding that the training has equipped her with skills to become self reliant.
High points of the event was the presentation of cash to the participants by the organizer and his appeal to the PDP delegates to vote for him at the forthcoming, primaries to enable him fly the party’s flag at the 2023 Ogbia Federal House of Representatives Election.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

3 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.