Niger Delta

Obaseki Advocates Technical, Vocational Education System

Published

3 years ago

November 8, 2022

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has advocated the need for technical and vocational educational system in the country for human capital development.
Obaseki made the call at the 4th Convocation ceremony of Edo State University, Uzairue, weekend.
“As a Government, we prioritise technical and vocational education. Because we believe to build our country, our educational system must now focus on building people who can use their hands and skills in the work place.
“As a government we have in the last six years placed premium on education. We have continued to implement transformational reforms in our basic educational sector, because we believe that the foundation in which education rests must be a solid one,” he said.
The Governor said there was need to strengthen the basic foundation of education in the country for human capital development.
“Unless we strengthen the foundation of education in this country by strengthening basic education and promoting technical education, we will not have strong human capital base which we require to transform our country.
“As a government we are doing all of this because we want to ensure we train and prepare students like Damola you saw today winning all the prizes for the university system.
“Am sure Damola did not learn everything in your school in the last four to five years but it was because of the very solid basic foundation he received which he has been able to build up in this university.
“Our vision for higher education learning in Edo state is that we should be able to compete with the best in the world, offering education that is relevant,” Obaseki said.
He commended the Vice Chancellor and manyagement of the institution for the growth so far attained in the university and urged them to continue to sustain the record.
“It is such a delight that Edo University Uzairue is working assiduously toward meeting this target and today we proudly host scholars and academics that proffer solutions to our societies’ problems.
“This university has continued to record impressive milestone in its self-reliance and sustainability.
“We are impressed with the growth so far attained and we believe that you still have a long way to go. So, therefore, do not rest on your oars.
“I want to congratulate our chancellor, vice chancellor and management of this university for another successful academic year. This academic year has been one in which our education system has been highly challenged.
“It is remarkable that why most public universities have not operated this academic yea, here we are in our own university graduating our first set of post graduate students” he said.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, said the institution graduated 318 students in this year’s convocation ceremony.
Aluyor said, “In this year convocation ceremony, a total of 26 Masters, nine Post Graduate Diploma and 283 undergraduate students were found worthy in character and learning to be awarded Edo University Uzairue degrees in their various disciplines.
“Among our graduands, 15 graduated with first class honours; 120 students with second class honours (upper division); 102 students with second class honours (lower division); while 11 students graduated with third class honours,’’
The vice chancellor said the university had made remarkable achievements since inception in 2006.
Aluyor said that with the notable achievements, management would ever be committed to the advancement of the institution and to maintain the highest standard of delivering quality education to Nigerians.
Highpoint of the ceremony was the conferment of Honorary Doctorate degree of Business Administration on Chief Abu Inu-Umoru, Chairman Setraco Nigeria Ltd. and Hartland Construction Company; while Seyi Agbooro of the Department of Civil Engineering graduated as the best student with 4.94 CGPA.

Niger Delta

Navy Pledges Improved Patrols, Welfare Boost For Personnel

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has pledged to ensure improved welfare for personnel and more patrols on the maritime corridors of the nation.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment of things at the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Calabar, on Wednesday.

According to him, there is the need for officers to always be ready, by improving on their welfare, in a bid to keep the country secured.

“I am here for an on the spot assessment of our operations and like you have seen, I have also gone round to check the ongoing buildings.

”These are welfare issues and for us to be able to have our men ready and keep us secured, their welfare needs to be catered for.

“So, we are here to kill two birds with one stone, which are basically operations and welfare issues.

”I am happy with what the command is doing; it is doing well in terms of keeping the maritime environment safe.

“We will continue doing what we are doing and improve on that, which is patrol of the waters and increase in the area of surveillance”, he stated.

As part of his visit, Abbas commissioned the 12×1 Junior Rates Accommodation Block A and B, at the Navy Barracks at Atimbo in Calabar.

The naval chief also inspected other ongoing projects in the Akim Barracks, 1006 flats and the Navy hotel, all within Calabar.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.