Niger Delta

Akwa Ibom Gov Tasks Corps Members Against Social Vices

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2024

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno has urged corps members deployed to the state to shun vices that have tendency of truncating the lives of the youth, during their service year.
Eno said this during the official opening/swearing-in ceremony for 2024 Batch A Stream 1 corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, in Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai, Akwa Ibom State.
The governor, represented by Mr Monday Uko, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, said that they should stay away from use of hard drugs and cult activities, to avoid destroying their future.
“You should concern yourselves with those virtues that will stand you out as outstanding individuals in this camp and throughout the service year,” Eno said.
He assured corps members that the state government had taken necessary measures to ensure the safety of their lives and property.
The governor said that he was aware of the needs of the camp, assuring the corps members of improved facilities during their stay.
Eno called on corps members to take the orientation course seriously and internalise the lessons, being as an integral part of the service year.
Earlier in her remarks, the state coordinator of NYSC in Akwa Ibom, Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, informed the corps members that the orientation course was designed to instil the spirit of perseverance, discipline and resilience to adequately overcome the challenges of the service year.
Ekwe disclosed that 1, 846 corps members, comprising 975 male and 871 female, were deployed to the state for the mandatory one year service.
She urged the corps members to take the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme seriously, as it was packaged to provide them with veritable platform to overcome challenges of unemployment.
She commended the state government for their unflinching support to the development of facilities in the orientation camp for the welfare of corps members.
She, however, reminded the state government of the NYSC Camp was in dire need of renovation as it lacked light, not being connected to the national grid, and needed perimeter fence to ensure adequate security of the camp facilities.
The state coordinator admonished the corps members to be of exemplary conduct and internalise the ideals of national service as enshrined in the oath of allegiance.
The Tide source reports that highpoint of the event was the administration of Oath of Allegiance on the corps members by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaete Obot, represented by Justice Nkereuwem Obot.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

16 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

16 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

16 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.