Our Reporter

To ensure economic growth and promote youth inclusiveness in regional development in the Niger Delta, there is a need to invest in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to create employment and ensure global competitiveness.

This was a position canvassed at the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Summit 2021 at the Aztech Event Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking at the event, the Convener of the Summit and Chairman Mosilo Group,who is also the Founder of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) and Niger Delta Young Professionals, Mr. Moses Siasia noted that the greatest contributory factor to the growth in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a collection of the committed efforts from young people, including youths of the Niger Delta, who are resilient and passionate about building industries and promoting economic prosperity but are most often neglected and denied support by government and relevant agencies.

Siasia noted youths have been at the forefront of pioneering growth and innovations in technology, agriculture, entertainment, and sports which have brought in revenues and boosted the image of the country.

He said the efforts of youths have provided a good international advantage for Nigeria through participation in sports, music, and entertainment as well talent contribution in the areas of medicine, education, engineering, and other aspects of global competitiveness and development.

He, however, regretted that there has not been any concerted effort to harness and grow the potentials of the youths.

Siasia advocated for establishment of a Niger Delta Entrepreneurship Hub, a platform that will bridge the gap currently existing and train, equip and engage teeming Niger Delta youths, thereby creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for them.

According to him, other Initiatives under the Niger Delta Entrepreneurship Hub will include implementation of a workable Niger Delta Entrepreneurship, Dev Fund, which will give life wire to only serious MSME with a genuine need for equipment purchase, expansion, export, technology acquisition, and packaging and to ensure a workable Engagement/ Youth Development Policy, backed by the law of Niger Delta State Houses of Assembly.

“This will enable us to institutionalise proper access to opportunities both at the state and federal level,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitory Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, noted there is an emerging global economic order which the youths should brace up and be a part of its evolution.

He said: “We need to continue with the effort to grow the MSME by challenging young people to engage strategically, to strive, and to compete in the new world economic order”.

He noted that energy transition has become an immediate reality for which everyone interested in economic development should be mindful, especially the youths of the Niger Delta.

Wabote went further to address five fundamental issues that he said were critical to various MSME interventionist efforts.

He said there is a need to acknowledge the steady shift from oil to sustainable energy, noting the MSME is the engine room of the economy, which is why there is a need to address the numerous challenges facing them.

He noted that there have been several interventions by the present administration, which are geared towards enabling the growth of small businesses, including the ease of doing business policy and the other programs such as TraderMoni, and others meant to enable MSME.

He highlighted the NCDMB special interventions on MSME growth to include the deployment of partway to stimulate growth in the areas of enterprise development, funding, and human capital development.

Interim administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr. Efiong Akwa, called for greater investment in MSMEs as a way to create sustainable jobs and to boost the economy of the region.

He said the NDDC is undergoing a crucial transformation by way of the ongoing forensic audit, however, that the agency will continue to support the growth of businesses in the region.

Our Reporter

Barely three days after delivering a keynote address at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) retreat in Calabar, a turnaround expert and immediate past director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, will mount the podium again for another thought-provoking discourse.

Peterside will on Friday deliver a paper titled “Challenging the way we deliver higher education in a changing world” at the First Honour’s Day Lecture of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

A statement from the university by the Registrar, Yousuo Donald Iruo, revealed the event is part of activities marking the send forth of the institution’s 2nd Vice-Chancellor, Professor Seth Accra Jaja.

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A columnist and technocrat, Peterside will share his thoughts on re-engineering the way tertiary education is delivered in an era of globalization and rapid technological disruptions and, the need to be innovation-driven.

According to the university, Honour’s Day Lecture is a unique opportunity for town-gown interaction, which aligns with the desire of the institution to create platforms for academics and society to synergise in finding innovative solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

Federal University Otuoke , Bayelsa State is one of the 12 universities established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2011.

The university, which has over 8,000 students and 200 teaching staff, is fast establishing itself as a force to reckon with in grooming high-level manpower and research.

By Imoh Etimudo

What will you remember Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga for? Many will go for the State Secretariat which is named after him while others will look at his numerous contributions to the development of Akwa Ibom State during and after his administration. Whatever divide one belongs to, the departed leader’s good works have comforted Akwa Ibom. Thus his name,

“Idongesit”, comfort, was not given in error. That is what he has left behind. A good name, they say, is better than riches. Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga had all the opportunities to make wealth but he chose to make name, and spent the whole of his life preserving and guarding his good name jealously.

When destiny thrusted on his lap, the golden opportunity to become the first indigenous military administrator of Akwa Ibom State, he grabbed it with both hands to stencil his name in gold in the hearts of Akwa Ibom people in his life time and even more in death.

The then wing Commander was on the wings to making history from when the aircraft that brought him came to a halt at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Calabar.

The sight of his wings-shaped mustache could have been a pointer that the man in the cockpit of flight Akwa Ibom was set to put the then nascent State on the wings of development. And he spent every day of the less than two years in office working towards the accomplishment of the noble vision for Akwa Ibom State.

Thus, with the transition of His Excellency, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta and indeed, Nigeria will proudly take consolation in the legacy left behind by the proud son of Akwa Ibom State.

Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga belonged to the bright and beautiful generation of the Nigerian Armed Forces, operating from the flank of the Air Force, from where he was under the radar for his distinction in lifting the tyres and lighting the fires.

He was one of the favourite pilots who retained the honour and privilege of flying Nigerian Presidents across the world with dexterity in the skies.

He dominated the firmament of skies across the globe with attendant awards and rewards from the military and society at large.

Air Commodore Nkanga rtd shone like a star and polished a shining career in the Air Force. He was a perfect example of excellence in his different military courses within and outside Nigeria.

This was not unconnected with his being made Commandant of the Presidential Fleet.

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, rtd was later to appoint Nkanga the Military Governor of a barely four-year old Akwa Ibom State.

It was an appointment that that gave him the skies to fly Akwa Ibom State in the highest altitude of development through laying of futuristic foundation.

Then Wing Commander Idongesit took Akwa Ibom State to a high altitude of development in a comparatively short but stunning leadership flight.

He laid a critical part of the foundation for a skyscraper for Akwa Ibom State, building infrastructure germane to the development of the State from the State Secretariat to roads and other structures. This earned him the subrogate, ” Idongesit Akwa Ibom”, and indeed, he was that and more. And in his transition, he has consoled Akwa Ibom with his good works on earth while he lived.

Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga was a true patriot in every sense of the word. He played critical role in the political development of Akwa Ibom State, supporting successive administrations to succeed, after his time was up. He was quoted to have said that he did all that to satisfy his conscience and contribute to the development of Akwa Ibom State. He was a pathfinder, and in a sense, a “bricklayer” for the State.

But his pioneering role defied States’ divides. Beyond Akwa Ibom State,  Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, alongside other prominent and patriotic sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region created a path to the envisaged developed Niger Delta.

He contributed greatly to the vibrancy of groups working towards the welfare and emancipation of the Niger Delta region including the Pan Niger Delta Development Forum, PANDEF.

When the leadership ball of the group was in his leadership court, he never failed or abdicated his leadership responsibilities.

Of the truth, the late Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga was a gift to Akwa Ibom State, a pride to the Niger Delta and an asset to Nigeria.

Hence by his demise, tears will never stain the ornamented decors of his shining legacies. The legacies are rather the source of comfort and consolation on the transition of a great son of Akwa Ibom, Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole! Nkanga has left a good name with us; a name that is better than riches.

Good night good man with a good name!

By Adeola Ogunlade

Chairman and founder of AfroRedFlag White-Collar Protective Shield Limited Dr. Mannixs Paul has called for more collaborative efforts aimed at tackling the menace of white collar crimes and corruption in Africa.

Paul said this at the launching of the AfroRedflag 2021 Innovation Drive for Africa held virtually recently in Abuja, Lagos and Bayelsa.

The event attracted economic experts, government representative and IT experts from the United State of America, Africa, Asia and United Kingdom.

He pointed out based on the report of transparency corruption index reports, most Africa countries, including Nigeria, are regressive in the fight against fraud and corruption.

He noted regardless of the statistical data analysis, which supports the retrogressive outcomes in most African countries, some relevant laws and policies are in place to regulate those shortcomings and deterrence.

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He pointed out based on the forward trend observed it is good to acknowledge that white-collar crimes and corruption are real threats in the developing world.

According to him, nation-building is a shared responsibility for private and public institutions, adding the growing trend of gross deception and dishonesty among business organisations’ stakeholders are undeniable.

Paul, who is a licensed private investigator, said: “With a wide range of collaborative effort, we are introducing Afroredflag as a game-changer to shift the model for the fight against white-collar crimes and corruption to help the business community to achieve sustainability by mitigating the high risk of fraud and corruption in Africa.”

Auditor General, Republic of Ghana, Mr. Daniel Yaw Domelevo, lamented the spate of crimes in work place across Africa, which according to him undermines democracy, violate human rights, exacerbate human insecurity and help the poor disproportionately.

He noted although “there is no one- sized fix in tackling crimes in Africa but we need a critical mass of people who will not take side on moral issue.”

A forensic psychologist, Dr Tersoo Shaapera, said the traditional methods of fighting crime had been “seriously overstretched from arrest, prosecution and then conviction.”

He said that with AfroRedFlag, fight against corruption would be approached from the mind, adding “we begin to fight it there up to the level of organisations as individuals.”

A Technical Consultant with the group, Mrs. Caroline Ndubuisi, called for sustained effort to nip corruption in the bud for a better nation.

By Nsa Gill, Calabar

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Cross River has refuted claims that some members tested positive for coronavirus at the ongoing orientation exercise.

In a statement by Assistant Director Press and Public Relations unit Enuma Peter, the NYSC authorities declared emphatically “there is no COVID-19 positive Corps Members in Cross River State NYSC Orientation Camp.”

The clarification followed reports alleging 13 Corps members undergoing Orientation Course in the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Obubra Local Government Area tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

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The statement reads: “At no time was registered Corps Members tested positive as everyone was tested before admittance to the camp.

The management of the NYSC would also like to use this opportunity to add that all orientation camp officials and visitors to the camp are also continuously tested by officials of the NCDC while the entire camp community ensures strict compliance to all COVID-19 protocols.

“For emphasis, all Corps members undergoing the NYSC Orientation Course in Cross River State tested negative to COVID-19 before they were registered.”

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Elders and leaders from Ogoni Rivers State have dissolved all existing factions in the famous Movement for Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and scheduled a fresh election to rejig the body.

The elders led by Ledum Mitee, the founder of MOSOP, lamented the leadership crisis that had torn it apart and reduced its influence in the country.

A statement signed by Mitee and 21 other elders comprising chiefs, professors and traditional leaders, regretted that the ongoing crisis led to the inability of the organisation to host the popular Ogoni Day for the first time since the celebration started in 1993.

Those, who signed the statement include: Mitee, Dr. Owens Wiwa, Kenneth Kobani, Dr. Olungwe Abraham, Baritor Kpagih, Prof. Don Baridam, Dr. Meshach Karanwi, Prof. Vincent Idemyor and Prof. Ben Naanen among others.

They said: ” In the last couple of days, we have been inundated with calls by well-meaning people within and outside Ogoni, expressing grave concerns about the happenings in MOSOP; the multiple law suits, multiple factions with corresponding claims of multiple elections and proclamations of victories etc. all of which culminated in the inability to host Ogoni Day for the first time this year since we launched the event in 1993.

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“MOSOP is the movement that was our response to the repressive activities of the Nigerian state and its collaborators, including the oil giant, Shell, which almost drove Ogoni to extinction and our activities through MOSOP earned us the respect of the world as we dared successive repressive regimes and in spite of grave sacrifices, we remained unbowed.

“It is against this backdrop that we the undersigned representing MOSOP activists, supporters and concerned MOSOP elders have observed with grave dismay the regrettable leadership crisis that has bedeviled MOSOP recently and threatens its very survival if not checked.

“We have in the recent past been content with working silently at the background to see how the crisis could be resolved through silent diplomacy. Painfully, such interventions have not yielded the desired results as the leadership crisis threatens to sacrifice our collective hope on the altar of unnecessary battle for the soul of our esteemed organisation.

“Driven by our firm belief in the cause for which some of our founding fathers have paid the supreme sacrifice and to ensure that these sacrifices are not in vain, we believe we have some responsibility to intervene to save the organisation.

“It is thus our position, and advise all not to recognize any of the current factions of MOSOP leadership whilst we would immediately commence a process of reconciliation and work with other concerned former MOSOP activists and elders in the coming days to reset the organization by putting in place a process leading to an all-embracing election that would produce a credible MOSOP leadership and a transparent good governance structure and management.

“We hereby call on the disputing parties and their supporters to sheath their swords, discontinue all pending court cases and desist from further press statements capable of further putting MOSOP and our people in disrepute.”

Our Reporter

The South East South South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) has lamented death of Admiral Ndubuisi Kalu, Prof Nick Idoko, Ziggy Azike and Oscar Onwudiwe.

A statement by the group’s spokesman Collins Steve Ugwu described their death as an unkind cut on their icons of integrity.

It also hailed the new leader of Ohanaeze.

The statement reads: “Admiral Ndubuisi Kalu was a master of his military career with historic gallantry at Nigeria’s democratic persistence, Prof Idoko was an invaluable knowledge asset who deployed it to lead, mentor and nurture many.

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“Ziggy Azike and Oscar Onwudiwe were exceptional portraits of leadership talents with depths of legal reserves that were unexhausted and untimely denied a nation that deserves more of them.

“These losses are indeed sad with a cumulative waste of human capital that is tragic to the nation and hurts their families intensely. We deeply mourn them with their families, their states and their governors.”

On Onanaeze’s leader, it said: “We congratulate the new Ohaneze Ndigbo President-General, Prof George Obiozor whom they noted is not just an accomplished professional, but an astute diplomat with quick expectations from the nationality he now leads for results that he cannot defer but build upon.

“We sincerely wish him well and look forward to a fresh synergy that will impact our subregions positively to induce peace and security for our robust regional growth and development.”