Nation

THE STATES

Published

14 years ago

March 15, 2012

Borno

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has promised to reconstruct public schools destroyed recently by Boko Haram members in Maiduguri metropolis.

The group had taken responsibility for setting ablaze 10 schools in the city last month.

Shettima, who was inspecting one of the schools at Gwange, said the destruction of the schools was a huge set back, but pledged to ensure their quick reconstruction.

“It is hard, it is disturbing that our own sons are busy going about burning schools.

“The burning of schools can not be justified under any guise because the Prophet of Islam during his time urged Muslims to seek knowledge even in far away China.”

Shettima said burning centres of learning was unIslamic and unjustifiable.

“These schools serve many purposes; in the morning pupils take lessons, in the afternoon they serve as adult classses and in the evening women classes are held.

Ekiti

A non-government organisation, Centre for Human Development, has been rallying support for all female candidates ahead of the local government election in Ekiti State.

The executive director of the centre, Prof. Simi Afouda, said this at a meeting with artisans and other segments of the Society at Aramoko-Ekiti last Tuesday.

She urged the electorate to give woman a chance to be elected into political offices, saying that doing so would speed up development especially at the grassroots.

The CHD is being supported by the department for international development, United Nations Development programme to canvass support for more women to take elective positions.

FCT

The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), an NGO, has called for the sensitisation of the public on their fundamental human rights to address insecurity in the country.

Mr Tony Agbor, the Assistant Programmes Coordinator of PRAWA in the FCT Zone, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said it was unfortunate that the security challenge in the country was hindering efforts at growing the economy.

“The issue of insecurity in Nigeria can be looked up from the position of people who are predisposed to violence.

“Government should look at providing basic access to information that will educate people on their rights and how to better exercise their rights.

“Government should take a look at this angle and provide capacity building in this area, creating awareness around laws that are set is vital.”

Gombe

The Magistrates’ Court number one, Kasuwar Shanu Gombe, on Tuesday arraigned one Abubakar Inuwa, 37, of Tudun Wada quarters Gombe, for alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Ibrahim, told the court that on January 23, the accused person collected the sum of N1.5 million from one Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed of Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe.

According to the prosecutor, the accused person was sent with the money to give Alhaji Sadiq Umar, a brother to Ahmed and the accused converted the amount to his own personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 311 and 320 of the Penal Code.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Sunday Akporido, who cited sections 341 and 36 of the Constitution, urged the court to grant the accused person bail.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Fadama III Office says it has so far disbursed N300 million to 17,254 farming groups in the state.

The Project Coordinator, Mr Ishaku Dauda, told newsmen in Kaduna, that the group included 5,496 women.

.Dauda said that the programme had also constructed 30 kms of feeder roads, enabling farmers to transport their produce to the markets.

According to him, 100 stalls were also constructed in selected rural markets in Birnin Gwari, Zaria and Sanga Local Governments areas state.

Dauda said that the programme had also assisted Fadama User Groups with irrigation pumps, processing machines, sprayers, work bull and ox ridges, to boost their productivity.

Kano

Hotel owners in Kano State say there are experiencing low patronage due to the prevailing insecurity in the state.

Some of the operators, who spoke to newsmen in Kano said that the low level of patronage had affected their profits and the cost of maintaining facilities.

The hotel owners said the prevailing situation had prevented many people from coming into the state to do business and that the development had forced many customers to stay away from hotels.

Mr Mike Ado, a Hotel Manager, said that the situation in the state had adversely affected businesses and other social activities.

“Many customers, who come to the state from far and near including neighbouring Niger and Cameroon, for business, have stopped coming here due to the security challenge.’’

Lagos

The Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Ladipo Ajayi, has promised to ensure that unlicensed intermediaries were stopped from selling insurance products.

He told newsmen in Lagos that the association was determined to stamp out quacks.

Ajayi said that some unlicensed intermediaries planned to form a cartel to monopolise products of few insurance companies.

“Now, the NIA is working to stamp out this practice.

“Every insurance company must be able to sell its products anywhere in the county.

“Anyone, who must be involved in the distribution of insurance products, must be licenced by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and be subjected to its control,’’ he said.

Ajayi said that the association was taking the measure to ensure that insurance companies got the commensurate premium to be able to pay claims when they arose.

Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a herdsman with 20 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and one cartridge of a single barrel gun.

The arrest followed repeated attacks on Kadarko town and environ in Keana Local Government Area of the state.

Confirming the arrest the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Cornelius Ocholi, said that the suspect was arrested on Monday evening at Kwarra Village on his way to Giza Development Area.

Ocholi told newsmen that the suspect, in his confessional statement, said, the ammunition were given to him by one ‘Burorno’ now at large, to be taken to their kinsmen who were fighting ‘a war’ in Giza.

He said that the suspect was being detained at state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Lafia, while investigation was on to arrest more suspects following useful information given by the suspect.

Ogun

The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has called on the Federal Government to impose stiffer penalties for rapists to serve as a deterrent to others.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 2012 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abeokuta last Saturday.

NAWOJ also advocated for a legislation to cater for domestic violence as well as protect young girls against harmful traditional practices and molestation.

“NAWOJ is also calling on the Federal Government to domesticate the CEDAW bill and the total elimination of all kinds of violence against women,’’ the communiqué said.

The association urged the Federal Government to fully implement the 35 per cent affirmative action and commended the Inspector-General of Police for the removal of road blocks across the country.

It, however, advocated for the introduction of community policing, vigilante groups and other security structures to assist the police in ensuring the safety of lives and property.

Oyo

The Acting State Librarian in Oyo, Mrs Adetokunbo Adigun, says the State Library Board is to open its e-resource centre in April.

She told newsmen in Ibadan that the move was in line with the governor’s resolve to ensure that the library met world standards.

Adigun, who commended Gov. Abiola Ajimobi for his desire to transform the state, further said:

“The Ajimobi-led government is different. Innovative intellectuals are positioned in key sectors in restoring the state to it previous glory as a pace setter.

“The library itself is already beaming positively as reflected by the improvement in infrastructure and socio-dynamic services, and I must say, the feedback is overwhelming and encouraging.

“The icing on the cake for us will be the inauguration of our e-resource centre later in April by His Excellency, the first of its kind in the history of this state,’’ she said.

Plateau

An optometrist, Dr. Francisa Ekwuribe, has described glaucoma as a major cause of irreversible blindness in humans.

Ekwuribe, who works at the Tadam Medical Centre, Jos, told newsmen that only a few sufferers were, however, aware that they had the disease.

She explained that eye disease lacked early warning signs or symptoms in most people, a situation that usually makes it difficult for such individuals to be aware of what was happening.

“ The Optometrist described glaucoma as an eye disease that damages the optic nerve that is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses to the brain.

Ekwuribe said the damage usually occurs as a result of elevated pressure of the fluid in the eye.

According to her, such pressure is also known as “intraocular pressure’’.

Nation

Accolades, Fanfare As Ogbakor Ikwerre President General Celebrates 80th Birthday

Published

2 weeks ago

September 1, 2025

The Tide

The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide and the Mgboh XIII of the Mgboh Royal Family of Emohua Kingdom in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze (Barrister) Godspower Onuekwa, penultimate Friday celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp, pageantry and fanfare.

The celebration, which commenced with a symposium organised in his honour at Rivers State University on Thursday, August 21,2025, got to a resounding climax on Friday at Suntai Event Centre in Port Harcourt, where people from all walks of life, including business associates, friends, well-wishers, relatives, community folks, traditional rulers, and admirers, gathered to pay glowing tributes to the celebrant.

Before then, a well attended thanksgiving service was held that same Friday at Emmanuel Anglican Church, Okoro-Nu-Odo, to honour him and return gratitude to God Almighty for the fruitful and eventful life and accomplishments of the Emohua leader and icon.

The service which was officiated by Rt Rev Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, Bishop of Niger Delta North had other renowned and respected clerics like Most Rev(Dr) Blessing Enyindah, Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Rt Rev(Dr) Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, Bishop, Diocese of Niger Delta; Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, Bishop, Diocese of Evo; and Ven Solomon Eze Nelson, Archdeacon, Okoro-Nu-Odo; among others lined up as officiating ministers.

The service lived up to its billing, as it featured powerful and soul-lifting praise and worship; point-blank prayers; and beautiful renditions, which electrified the entire atmosphere, essentially packaged to thank God for the life of the celebrant.

However, the crowning moment actually came when the who is who, the crème de la crème of the society, thronged the terraces and fabulously decorated expansive hall of Suntai Event Centre, to celebrate Eze Onuekwa, amid accolades, aplomb and panache, wining and dining, and clinking of glasses with him and all.

The chairman of the colourful ceremony, Chief Evans Woherem, who was represented by Eze(Prof) Christian Akani of the prestigious Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, praised the celebrant for his youthfulness in spite of clocking 80 years, generosity, humility, humaneness and selfless services to the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and called on all and sundry to emulate his good legacies and simple disposition towards life and existence.

Goodwill messages also poured in in torrents to underscore and salute the doggedness, resilience, astuteness and uniqueness of the endearing life of the celebrant, with Prof Emenike Wami, the Ochia Ohna Ikwerre(XIV), taking the lead.

Prof Priye Iyalla, the wife of late renowned writer, novelist and playwright, Dr Elechi Amadi, held the audience spellbound as she masterfully reeled out the profile of the celebrant, amid intermittent applause from the crowd.

The Tiv Community from Benue State, resident in Rivers State, were not left out, as they honoured and decorated Eze Onuekwa in their complete traditional regalia.

Cultural displays from Baptist Church, Rumuowhor; ADNA Wogbuji Dancing Group, Egbeda; Tiv Dancing Group; and Promoter Eze and Rumu-Mgboh Emohua Wrestling Group, equally added colour and grace to the occasion, with the celebrant and his wife, Dame Ann Onuekwa, joining them to wriggle their waists and bodies in ecstasy.

In his response, the highly elated celebrant, Eze Onuekwa thanked all those gathered to celebrate with him, saying, celebrations would never cease in their homes, and attributed everything he represents in life, including his modest accomplishments to God.

Eze Onuekwa, while addressing newsmen, harped on the need for hard work among the youths and members of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, as a way of sustaining and giving meaning to the motto of the organisation, which he noted is anchored on peace, unity and progress.

He specially thanked God for sustaining his life, and for making everything possible for him and his family, saying, he was joyous that he has today become an octogenarian and elder statesman in Rivers State.

His son and medical practitioner, Dr Samuel Chizia Onuekwa expressed delight that people from far and near had come together to celebrate the father, whom he described as a role model and great inspirator.

He said it was a good thing that the children were celebrating their father when he is alive, stressing that the last time Eze Onuekwa was celebrated in such magnitude was 20 years ago, during his 60th birthday celebration, and prayed God to grant him many more years in good health.

Among dignitaries who graced the event were Senator Andrew Uchendu; Chief Sampson Agbaru; Prof Emenike Wami; Dr Peter Didia; Eze(Prof) Samuel Ugo Onyeka; and a host of others. Justice Iche Ndu(rtd); and C O Kattey were among personalities that attended the thanksgiving service, while the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi led the academics who graced the symposium, alongside Eze G A O Omodu.

Nation

Ensure That Ogoni Is Heard In The Right Way, HYPREP Urges Creative Arts Trainees

Published

3 weeks ago

August 22, 2025

The Tide

As the 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts close out their training on Tuesday at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has urged the beneficiaries to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The trainees, who had completed a four- month training in script writing, film production and make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme, aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.

Zabbey described the Creative Arts training as well as other programmes and interventions as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood.

”Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts. Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry”, he said.

While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator noted that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, and enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, and open new doors of opportunities for themselves and their communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.

He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

Other speakers at the event, including the Director of Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi; Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt; Chief Douglas Experience, the Project Coordinator of Halibiz Consult Limited; and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training, and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.

The trainees were later presented certificates of participation.

Visibly elated Ms Lebee Tornwe, one of the beneficiaries, thanked HYPREP and the Project Coordinator for offering the trainees the rare opportunity to acquire skills in the creative arts and entertainment industry, and expressed delight that Dr Ihunwo and Halibiz Consult Limited gave their all in grooming them.

With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training(100), HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets ,viz; seafaring(100); and aviation (30). The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas, including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in five skill sets- fish farming; basic computer skills; photography; fashion and design; and shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.

Nation

NYCOP Urges Stakeholders To Develop, Empower Ogoni Youths

Published

4 weeks ago

August 18, 2025

The Tide

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.

NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.

In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.

It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.

The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.

NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.

In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.

“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:

” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.

“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.

NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.

NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.

According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.

“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.

” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.

NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.

Kiadum Edookor