Niger Delta
Groups Trains 1,220 Youths, Women In Agribusiness In Delta
The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) has empowered no fewer than 1, 220 unemployed young men and women (incubatees) in various agricultural programmes in Delta.
The Tide reports that LIFE-ND project, is assisted by the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the South -South region state governments.
The Delta Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Godfrey Enita, on yesterday in Ibusa, flagged off the distribution of agricultural items at the second series of establishing 300 LIFE-ND incubatees in poultry, fisheries, cassava and oil palm value chain in the state.
Enita lauded the sponsors and the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration for keying into the LIFE-ND project among its numerous youths, women and girl child empowerment and development programmes established to grow the state economy, create jobs and income for participants.
According to Enita, the first series has graduated and established 320 incubatees in their own enterprises.
“I understand that the over 900 participating incubatees have successfully been trained in the second series and today is another testament of this novel concept of the incubation model.
“To the beneficiaries (incubatees), the development operation and success of your agribusiness investment depends on your attitude, passion, determination and the zeal to succeed.
“To the incubators (trainers), I must say that the position and status of a mentor no doubt placed enormous responsibilities and challenges on you because it calls for proactive actions in order to succeed,” Enita said.
Enita warned that a monitoring and supervision strategies had been put in place to ensure that the items were put to use for their purpose, adding that the essence was to enable them generate income and grow their enterprises.
On his part, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Collins Ashoro, said that the project which began in the state since 2020, had trained 1,220 incubatees in three batches.
He said that LIFE-ND project adopted the incubator (Trainer) and Incubatee (Trainee) model in the four priority commodities to train and equip the carefully selected beneficiaries from 100 communities in 10 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the first and second batches resulted in the graduation of 320 incubatees who have been established to own their enterprises in the four priority commodities.
“This third batch totalling 900 incubatees were selected across the participating communities in the state and have undergone orientation training on records keeping, agribusiness plan development, nutrition and financial inclusion and environment and climate change.
“Their capacity have equally been built in their various incubation centers on the rudiments of agricultural best practices in the enterprise they are into following well structure curriculum.
“Today, a total of 300 in the first instance out of the 900 will benefit from the project agricultural items that cuts across the various value chains in the priority commodities; poultry, fisheries, cassava and oil palm.”
Ashoro said that the LIFE-ND project was programmed to run for six years and possibly to 12 years cycle, had as its goal to transform rural economy to which rural population could drive prosperity and equal benefit at the end.
“It is also targeted at creating 4,250 direct beneficiaries of 50:50 ratio of male and females within the age bracket of 18 and 35 years and women headed household with children not older than 15 years,” he said.
In his remarks, LIFE-ND National Coordinator, Sani Abiodun, represented by his Technical Assistant, Mr Bumi Ogunleye, lauded the sponsors and the state government’s support that had ensured the level of progress achieved in Delta.
He, however, urged the beneficiaries to maximise the resources and ensure they utilised them for the purpose they were meant to grow their income and businesses, reduce poverty and ensure food security in the country.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Mrs Joy Ossai and Mr Emmanuel Ugbeze, thanked the sponsors, the state government, the trainers and the facilitators of the project, while pledging their resolve to effectively utilise the items to develop their businesses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agricultural items worth millions of Naira were distributed to the 300 beneficiaries.
These included, 120 agrochemicals, 10 power tillers and accessories, poultry processing (de-feathering machine, generators, deep freezers), five haulage tricycles, oil palm marketing gallons, artisinal fishing wood boat and outboard engine, others.
Niger Delta
Diri Appoints New SSG, CoS, Retains CPS
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has approved the appointment of the serving Executive Chairman of the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue(BIRB), Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The state’s Chief Executive also has appointed his former Acting Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Pereotubo Akpe as his new Chief of Staff (CoS) in his second tenure in office.
The Tide also learnt that the Governor has approved the retention of Mr Daniel Alabrah as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS).
A statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah noted that Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo has been appointed as the new Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS), Government House.
Alabrah in his statement stated that the appointments take immediate effect.
The Tide learnt that until this new appointment, the new SSG, Ayawei, is a Professor of Analytical Chemistry, technocrat, public servant and university lecturer.
He has also held the position of the Executive Chairman of the State’s board of internal revenue since 2016.
A further profile of the new appointees made available to newsmen by Governor Diri’s CPS says that Prof. Ayawei is also a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
The statement noted that the new SSG started his working career at the state’s Ministry of Environment before his appointment as member of the State Scholarship Board in 2001.
In 2002, he was appointed Chairman, Bassan-Koluama Rural Development Authority. While in 2003, he was elected to represent Southern Ijaw Constituency four in the state legislature, after which he became General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Bayelsa State Housing and Property Development Authority in 2012.
He has also been Commissioner for Housing and Rural Development in 2014.
Ayawei bagged a Bachelor of Education degree in Chemistry in 1995 at the then Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt (which was then an affiliate of the University of Ibadan) before obtaining a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry in 2008 at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and later a Doctor of Philosophy in Analytical/Environmental Chemistry at the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma.
He was the first PhD graduate of the NDU in 2016.
He also took up appointment as lecturer in the university’s Department of Chemical Sciences in 2016 and is currently a Professor of Analytical Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, Bayelsa State Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa.
On the other hand, the new Chief of Staff(CoS) Government House, Dr. Pereotubo Akpe, who was the immediate past Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff is a 1991 graduate of the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (now Rivers State University) where he obtained a B.Sc. in Technical Education, specialising in Electrical/Electronics.
He also holds a Master degree in Administration and Planning from the same university and a Ph.D. in same discipline from the University of Port Harcourt.
Akpe worked in both the Rivers and Bayelsa States Civil Service for over 20 years and retired as Assistant Director.
He also served as Head of Administration, Office of the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State (2006–2007), Commissioner with the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Service Commission (2008–2011), a two-term member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and was Leader of the House between 2011 and 2019.
He equally held other offices as Commissioner and member of the State Executive Council in 2020, Deputy Chief of Staff (2020–2023) and Acting Chief of Staff (2023–February 14, 2024).
Dr Akpe whom many have described as an astute administrator is a fellow of several professional bodies, a 5th Degree Black Belter and Certified Kukiwon Coach in Taekwondo, and is currently the Pastor-in-Charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bayelsa Province one, and a part-time Lecturer with the Redeemed Christian Bible College, University of Ede, Osun State.
Meanwhile, until his new appointment, the new Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Irorodamie Komonibo was the Principal Secretary to the Governor until February 14, 2024.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
Niger Delta
C’River, Ebonyi Govts Resolve Boundary Dispute
In a bid to end the persistent border disputes between Cross River and Ebonyi States, the two States have resolved to unite and work for peace on the border corridor of Ndiagu Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama, in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The resolution was contained in a five-point communiqué issued after a meeting of officials of the two States on the inter-state boundary, held at Ebonyi State deputy governor’s office, Abakaliki, yesterday.
In a communiqué adopted by officials from both parties and signed by the Deputy Governors of Cross River and Ebonyi States, the meeting resolved to embark on sensitisation of the affected communities to desist from all forms of encroachment while waiting for the delineation of the boundaries by the National Boundary Commission (NBC).
It also added that the two States put in place modalities for joint security teams to patrol the affected areas.
The members agreed that the deputy governors of both States, who are also chairmen of state boundary committee are to reach out to the NBC to expedite action on boundary delineation, so as to restore peace and ensure that no further lives are lost and properties destroyed in these communities.
It also called for the revitalisation of Adadama-Amagu Development Association (ADAMADA), a group that had contributed to peace in the region.
The meeting, presided over by the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Patricia Obila and attended by the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Peter Odey and chairman, State Boundary Committee, represented by the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the State, Ededem Ani, was attended by a high profile delegation from Cross River State, including the State Security Adviser (SSA), Major-General Okoi Ubi Obono (retd), Head of Personal Staff to the Deputy Governor, Dr Chris Ojikpong; the Director-General of Border Communities Development Commission (BORDERCOM), Ngim Okpo.
Others were Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Relations, Chief Ada Charles Egwu; Head of Local Government Administration, Abi Local Government Area, Cross River State, Mrs. Eke Ani and traditional rulers from the affected local government area of the State as well as other relevant government officials.
The Ebonyi State delegation to the meeting had the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area, as well as traditional rulers, among other top government officials.
Niger Delta
Cross River Commissioner Threatens School Principals With Sack Over Illegal Levies
The Commissioner for Education in Cross River State, Senator Stephen Odey, has threatened to sack any school principal caught in any illegality, including imposing an unapproved levy on pupils or students.
Odey spoke during a reception to mark the conferment of a second doctorate on him and the launch of his new book, titled “Oil and Gas Pollution Abatement and Legislation in Nigeria.”
The commissioner, who said he had received reports of illegal charges and was investigating their veracity, affirmed that the various reforms introduced in the education sector were necessitated by the need for change.
“I am not tough but I am doing things differently; the old style is gone. One thing that is permanent in life is change and when people resist change, it means that something is wrong,” he said.
He further said that his doctorate in philosophy and law will help him to discharge his duties, while also declaring that there is a need for upgrading academic attainments and diversification.
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