Niger Delta
Bayelsa Honours Jonathan, Diri, Others … Empowers 2850 Skill Graduands
The Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (ETDF) has awarded former President Goodluck Jonathan and the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, as honorary Ambassadors of Education in the State.
Also awarded were former Governor of the State, and now Senator representing the State’s Western Senatorial district, Seriake Dickson, former Senator Emmanuel Paulker, and the member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Dr. Fred Agbedi.
The awardees also included a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, Maj. Gen. Allison Isaiah Allison, Arc. Reuben Okoya, and a retired Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Diseye Nsirim.
The Tide reports that the event was held as part of activities marking the continuation of the fifth year in office anniversary celebration of the Governor Diri-led “Assured Prosperity” administration.
In her opening speech, the Executive Secretary, EDTF, Dr. Alice Atuwo, said the Fund was established in 2017 and took over the sponsorship of students in five model secondary schools, noting that presently the model schools have increased to 11.
She thanked the State Governor and all those who have made impact and contributed to adequate deployment of the Fund for their support and commitment.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Dr. Jonathan, represented by a former Commissioner for Education in the State, Mr. Tobias James, described the award as recognition of contributions to the growth and development of education in the state, pledging to continue the advocacy for accessible and inclusive education for all.
In his remarks, the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, while paying tribute to his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, for establishing the EDTF, said his administration continued with some of the policies of his predecessor to enhance development of the state.
He noted that policy, such as the EDTF, was visionary and deserved to be retained and expanded in the overall interest of the state, promising to continue investing in human capacity building to develop a viable private sector in the state that is independent of government.
Tagged “Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) Interventions/Graduation Ceremony of the Diri Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Programme”, the programme held at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa, the State capital.
Meanwhile, 2,850 graduands of the third batch of the Diri skills acquisition programme have been presented with starter packs and other tools by the State Government.
The Tide learnt that the beneficiaries were trained for five months in paint making, solar installation and electrical works, shoe making, soap making, cosmetology, fashion and design, catering, pastries and others.
“I consider this empowerment scheme as one aspect of this administration that we will continue to do so that our people will not be government-dependent. We’ll have a state that the private sector can develop and you are those that will develop the private sector”, the Governor said.
“I implore you, the graduands of this skill acquisition training, not to sell your starter packs, but rather put into practice the skills acquired to improve your lives and actualise government’s vision of building a sustainable future for you.
“You’re the ones carrying our dreams. So do not disappoint us. Out of 9,000 applicants, you succeeded. You’re building yourselves and equally building Bayelsa”, Diri added.
Directing the Technical Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development to conduct key performance index (KPI) on beneficiaries of the scheme, Diri appreciated the EDTF Executive Secretary, Dr. Alice Atuwo, members of the board, and those that have supported the fund for the feat achieved.
He stated that his administration has expanded the fund beyond the full scholarship for students in the model schools to now accommodate the technical colleges.
He also directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that the technical colleges in Southern-Ijaw and Nembe Local Government Areas were built and completed this year.
In the same vein, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entrepreneurship Development and Coordinator of the Diri Skills Acquisition Training Programme, Mrs. Charity Ken-Godwins, stated that since 2021, the Diri administration had been transforming the lives of the youths through various empowerment programmes.
“In 2021, 814 students graduated from the skills acquisition programme. In 2022, another 815 benefitted and today we are celebrating the graduation of 2,850 trainees who acquired skills in leather works, fashion design, cosmetology and other areas.These skills will instill in them a sense of self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
“In 2023, the Governor directed that an additional 800 Bayelsans be trained but over 9,000 persons applied and that 3,500 were eventually selected and trained”, She said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.
He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.
The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.
He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.
According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.
“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.
“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.
He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.
According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.
Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.
He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.
The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.
“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.
“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said
In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.
He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.
The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.
He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.
According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.
The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.
The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.
The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.
She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.
“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.
She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.
The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.
The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.
AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.
“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.
“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.
According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.
Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.
“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.
He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.
“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.
Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.
CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.
The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.
Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.
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