News

One Year In Office: ‘We’ve Made Tremendous Progress On Governance’ …As PDP Scores Opobo/Nkoro LG Council Boss High

Published

3 years ago

June 27, 2022

The Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has declared that the six-point development agenda of his administration have received tremendous attention with measured successes over the last one year of his administration.
The six-point agenda include security, infrastructure, economy, education, agriculture, healthcare of the people, among others.
Cookey-Gam, who stated this, last Saturday, at Opobo Town while commissioning numerous projects executed by the administration to mark his one-year in office, vowed to build bridges of transformation, especially at the satellite communities with the electrification of the area, provision of more empowerment and welfare programmes for the rural folks and the promotion of peace, security and progress of the people.
He called on the people to support his government to give the people better opportunities to prosper, stressing that government would continue to provide people-oriented projects, if the relative peace enjoyed by the people was sustained.
Also commissioned as part of the event, was a remodelled office to accommodate the DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA and Nigeria Immigration Service, among others.
According to him, “We were able to, apart from the office complex; complete a police station building at Nkoro Town, security post at Opobo New Layout, Opobo/Nkoro Council Staff Quarters, the procurement of office furniture for the LGA, the establishment of Opobo/Nkoro educational reading centre, and the sponsorship of capacity building for Opobo/Nkoro indigenes.
Cookey-Gam used the opportunity to appeal to faithful of PDP in the area to support his leadership.
Also speaking while performing the commissioning of the projects, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deacon Clapton Ogolo, commended the giant strides of the Chairman of Opobo/NkoroLGA, Hon Enyiada Copkey-Gam,describing his feat in the past one year as remarkable.
Ogolo stressed that the provision of office complex for the accommodation needs of government agencies in the area, among other projects, would go along way to alleviate the challenges they were facing while urging the agenciesto utilise and protect the facilities from theft and vandalisation.
The former commissioner further described the performance of the chairman as good omen for the electorate in the area, adding that,”We should support the administration of the chairman to enable him and his team perform creditably and deliver victory for the PDP in the 2023 general election”.
He admonished the electorate to ensure that they vote PDP candidates to victory, warning that any attempt to vote in another party would be disastrous for them.
In his remark, the PDP House of Assembly hopeful in 2023 for Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency, Hon Adolphus Orubienimigha, lauded the efforts of the chairman on projects delivery, describing him as doyen of quality governance.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro chapter, Mr Godwin Manfred Pepple, said that Cookey-Gam has performed fantastically well, rating his delivery of projects and people-oriented programmes very high.
Pepple said, “As we gather here today for the commissioning of the DSS, Immigration, Civil Defense, Road Safety Corp Office Complex in Opobo Town which is one of the impactful projects of the Chairman of our LGA, Hon Enyiada Cookey-Gam, I’m so delighted to be present on this great day, not only the commissioning of this beautiful structure, but also a beautiful one year anniversary of this administration”.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party, Opobo/Nkoro LGA, is proud of the achievements of Cookey-Ga in the last one year in office.
He listed some of the projects to include enrolment of 20 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students on scholarship into Nigeria Teachers Institution (NTI), Opobo chapter; re-established of two GCE centres in Opobo and Nkoro Town; sponsorship of 100 Opobo/Nkoro indigent students for the Nov/Dec 2021 GCE examination; re-opening of marriage registry and sponsorship for training of personnel from the LGA; sponsorship of members of Opobo/Nkoro 7th Legislative Assembly for training, retreats and seminar; procurement of executive office desks, file cabinets and chairs for council staff; and renovation of the chairman’s official lodge.
Other projects are the total renovation and refurbishment of Opubo Hotel and Resorts in Opobo Town; reticulation of water supply in the LGA Council Secretariat; procurement of security gadgets for all security units and personnel for enhancement of security architecture in the area; refurbishing of security outboard boats for Marine Police patrol; planting of about 800 Royal Palm trees along the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Unity Road, from Nkoro entrance to Opobo waterfront; completion of the abandoned Senior Civil Servants Staff Quarters; building and commissioning of Security Checkpoint at Opobo New Layout of the Opobo/Nkoro axis of the Unity Road within 12 days; Completion of the Nkoro Police Station, Nkoro Town; the ongoing building of the Multi-Purpose Hall/Museum in Opobo Town; and procurement of five Sienna buses and two mini buses, among other projects.
Pepple also passed a vote of confidence on the impactful performance of Cookey-Gam as he celebrates his one year anniversary as the council boss.

By: Bethel Toby

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.