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SPDC Pledges Audit Of Financial Contributions To NDDC

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3 years ago

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Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Osagie Okunbor, says his company will work with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to reconcile its statutory financial contributions to the commission.
This is contained in a statement issued by NDDC Spokesman, Dr Abosede Ibitoye, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Ibitoye quoted Okunbor as stating this when he received a delegation of NDDC in his office.
Okunbor said that in spite of the funding challenges, the oil firm had tried to fulfill its financial contributions to NDDC as and when due.
He said: “NDDC is an important interventionist agency, and we look forward to providing all the support we can toward the execution of your (NDDC) mandate.
“It is in SPDC’s interest that NDDC succeeds. This is because it will make our work easier when NDDC succeeds in achieving its mandate.
“On the issue of statutory contributions to NDDC, we are willing to reconcile the figures,” he stated.
The SPDC managing director said that both organisations had enjoyed a long standing relationship through active collaboration running into several years.
“So, we have partnered with NDDC several times in the past and we look forward to a mutually-beneficial relationship with the current NDDC board.
“The 29-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe road project is one of such partnerships that readily comes to mind,” Okunbor stated.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, underlined the importance of SPDC reconciling its statutory contributions to the commission.
He said that upon his assumption of office recently, the NDDC board found out that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been receiving SPDC’s contributions on behalf of the commission.
“Recently, EFCC wrote to us, stating details of how much they have received so far on our behalf.
“But we need to reconcile those collections because we don’t have records of the contributions.
“We are desirous of maintaining our cordial relationship with SPDC, and looking forward to more fruitful partnerships in future,” he said.
Ogbuku said that there had been mistrust between NDDC and International Oil Companies (IOCs) over time, which gave the IOCs the impression that their contributions were not well utilised.
The NDDC boss assured of the commission readiness to work with stakeholders, including members of the Oil Producers Trade Section, in its budget processes.
According to him, NDDC management is also focused on improving its public-private partnership (PPP) with stakeholders to facilitate sustainable development in the Niger-Delta region.
“We have come in with a new vigour, and we are thinking out of the box to change the narrative in the Niger-Delta region.
‘To this end, we have set up a PPP committee to help us source for other areas of funding for NDDC.
“Our intervention does not end with building roads and bridges but also, to empower young entrepreneurs, with focus on exposing them to the world,” he said.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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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
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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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.

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