The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • Edo production centre opens for business

    The building was derelict. It used to house the Edo State Printing Press. But for many years, the place was locked. Edo government had to look elsewhere for its printing job.

    Today the building located inside the Edo Magistrate Court’s complex on Sapele Road is wearing a new look. It was renovated not to be used as a printing press but to be the first production and processing centre for artisans, micro, small and medium enterprises as envisioned by Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    The Edo Production Centre would be a multipurpose, one-stop-shop for small businesses. share support infrastructure such as 24 hours electricity, security and low-cost financing to help boost economic growth in the state. The centre is being built in partnership with the Market Development for the Niger Delta (MADE) II programme, Benson Idahosa University (BIU) and the Des Moines Area Community College in Iowa, the United States of America.

    The 24-hour electricity supply will be provided from the Ossiomo power plant following the power purchase agreement with the Edo State government.

    Already, over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have written letters of interest to establish their businesses at the Edo Production Centre. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Physical Plan-ning and Urban  Development, Edorodion Oye Erimona, at a stakeholders meeting with MSME operators in the state.

    Erimona assured interested business owners that the centre would be a one-stop-shop for MSMEs to enjoy economies of scale and low cost of production.

    Those that have indicated interested in the centre, according to Erimona, are furniture makers, cobblers, welders, bakers, polythene makers and a number of other interested small business owners.

    According to him, “This centre will accommodate MSMEs while the Benin Industrial Park will host big industries. The electricity for the center will be drawn from the Ossiomo Power Purchase Arrangement. Pollution in the environment will be minimal as the businesses will be MSMEs.”

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said major renovation work has been done ate centre which necessitated the meeting with stakeholder to keep them abreast of the progress on the project so that they can key into it.

    She said there would be live-in desks for relevant government agencies to engage, support and provide services to small businesses at the centre, noting that the agencies to be hosted are the Bank of Industry (BoI), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), among others.

    According to her, “A month ago, the governor came to inspect this facility, which will be used as a multi-purpose production centre. We have commenced renovation of the facility. We have done the electrical work and we are working to make this place habitable. The idea is to make sure that by the time the project is completed, it will be used by everyone in the target group.

    “The Edo Production Centre is a space where small manufacturing and production businesses can take advantage of constant power supply, advanced training facilities and a space to do their business.

    “We realised that typical skills acquisition programmes need to be revamped to create lasting impact and provide viable paths to prosperity for youths. So, skills acquisition in Edo is currently delivered alongside entrepreneurship and business management, start-up acceleration, digital marketing and branding programmes.

    “Artisan groups to benefit from the project include welders, furniture makers, tailors, aluminium fabricators, shoe manufacturers, wood processors and so on,” she added.

    A member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Comrade Valentine Asuen, said the incentives which the Edo Production Centre offers will enable businesses run at minimal cost adding that what discourages small business operators in most cases is the cost of rent and power.

    “We are confident that when the centre starts taking in people in the next few weeks, things will turn for the better for entrepreneurs in the state. The centre will run on power that is independent of the national grid. The stable power will spur expansion of businesses.

    “At the last meeting we held with the representatives of the state government, we were assured that the centre will host different businesses such as furniture makers, cobblers, welders, bakers, polythene makers and a number of other interested small business owners. In a matter of weeks, it will become easier for customers to have access to different products to be manufactured at the centre.”

    Governor Obaseki on his part said several production and processing centres would be set up across the state. He said the second processing centre which is located inside the Government Science and Technical College, formerly Benin Technical College (BTC), would be launch in September.

    Obaseki explained that arrangements have been completed to get uninterrupted power supply to the facility while the Magistrate Court within the premises would be relocated.

    “The power contractor has assured that within the next fortnight, they will provide electricity for the Production Centre.  We should be relocating the court houses to the various local government councils,” he said.

    “I am looking for other facilities in Irrua and Auchi to create more processing centres. The centre will have facilities that artisans and small and medium scale enterprises will utilise to grow their businesses.

    “We are reviewing the companies and we are making arrangement on how people from the state can be trained to provide the needed skills for the companies that will operate at the park.

    “We are encouraging people to invest in the state so that your skills will be in high demand.”

    Obaseki further assured that efforts are being made to “expand opportunities for micro-credit of single-digit interest rate for women to encourage entrepreneurship and boost disposable income while improving the quality of lives of the beneficiaries.”

  • Okowa urges security agencies to go after human trafficking syndicates

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has urged security agencies to track, arrest and prosecute syndicates of irregular migrations in the country.

    The governor stated this yesterday when the Director-General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.

    He said that the way to stem the surge in irregular migration and human trafficking was for the security agencies to go after those who spread deceitful stories to lure innocent Nigerians.

    “We are very disturbed with the number of persons involved in irregular migration; most of them travel oversea because they have been told stories how rosy it is out there.

    “In most cases, these persons find themselves in countries where their economies are not better than that of Nigeria.

    “Security agencies should look out for those who are carrying out the deceitful messages. They may be operating as cartels or what do you call it?

    “When they stop deceiving people, irregular migration will reduce,” he said.

    Okowa said: “As a state government, we will carry out enlightenment campaigns because if you do not take enough time to get our people properly informed, they will enter wrong hands.

    “We have a lot of youth engagement programmes, training and empowering our youths but it is unfortunate that the number of people who want to seek greener pastures abroad is still high.

    “We want to appreciate you, NAPTIP for what you are doing. We want to assure you of our cooperation for irregular migration to be reduced.’’

    Earlier, Okah-Donli said that the problem of human trafficking and irregular migration had become of great national concern to the government.

    She said that the particular concern was with the large number of Nigerians trapped in sexual and labour exploitation in various African and European countries.

    Okah-Donli said that hundreds of them continued to die in the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea.

    She said her visit was to solicit assistance of the Delta Government to curb the twin menace of human trafficking and irregular migration.

  • Akwa Ibom govt urges communities to protect projects against vandalism

    The Akwa Ibom State government has advised indigenes of Onna, Mkpat Enin and Okobo Local Government Areas of the state to protect completed government projects in their communities against vandalism.

    Commissioner for Economic Development Ekong Sampson gave the advice while speaking with newsmen after the facilities tour of some of the completed projects in the communities yesterday.

    The commissioner, who was represented by the Head of Department, International Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Development, Mrs Uduak Ekong, said that the projects were aimed at enhancing the living standards of the benefiting communities.

    He said the government through its agencies and World Bank spent a lot of its lean resources to provide the projects, therefore, benefiting communities should protect them from vandals.

    “We are here to inspect the completed projects. These projects are for the benefit of the people. These projects have enhanced the living standards of the people.

    “Since the people are the direct beneficiaries of these projects, communities where they are sited should protect them,” he said.

    Also, speaking with reporters, the Village Head of Atiamkpat community in Onna LGA, Eteidung Victor Attah, disclosed that three projects have been completed since June 2018.

    He listed the completed projects as: renovation of civic centre, motorised borehole and electricity extension.

    The village head expressed appreciation to the World Bank, Akwa Ibom government and Community and Social Development Agency for rendering assistance to Atiamkpat community.

    He assured the donor partner, government and its agency of adequate protection of the facilities against vandalism.

    “We are grateful to God for using World Bank, Akwa Ibom government and Community and Social Development Agency to assist our community and I can assure you that the completed projects would not be damaged,” he said.

    Also in Nung Ikono community in Mkpat Enin LGA, the Village Head, Obong Saviour Etukudoh, disclosed that in September 2018, the community was offered a cheque of N2.06 million for the completion of motorised borehole.

    Etukudoh said that the project had been completed and being put to use by the community.

    He solicited for more projects such as renovation of civic centre and extension of electricity supply to the community.

    “We are grateful to the World bank, Akwa Ibom State government and CSDP for helping us in completing our motorised borehole,” he said.

    Meanwhile in Afaha Akai, Okobo LGA, one out of three projects was completed while others are still ongoing.

    The Clan Head of Afaha Akai in Okobo LGA, Chief Ofong Asuquo Okwong thanked the World Bank, Akwa Ibom State government and CSDP for choosing Afaha Akai as one of the beneficiary communities.

    He said the completed project in the area was the construction of market stalls, while the provision of motorised borehole and construction of health centre projects were ongoing.

  • We will complete N50bn bond repayment in June, says Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State Government has said it would complete repayment of the N50bn bond facility obtained by the former administration of Chief Timipre Sylva by June this year.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in Yenagoa that it was part of the major resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting.

    In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, the Commissioner noted that, when completed, funds currently being used to service the bond would be channelled towards finishing key ongoing projects in the state.

    Iworiso-Markson who listed the priority projects to include the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, Yenagoa-Oporoma Road and Ayama/Ogbia-Okodi Road, said government had already worked out funding modalities in its bid to expedite work on the projects.

    Read also: FOBTOB institutes empowerment scheme for members’ children

    According to the commissioner, the council reaffirmed the present administration’s resolve to bequeath legacies for successive governments to build on, for sustainable development of the state.

    He said: “We are determined as a government to finish well and strong. Going by the resolutions reached in Council, it is clear that this government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we deliver optimally to Bayelsans.

    “Our resolve is that Bayelsans at the end of the day will judge this government by the footprint we’ve been able to establish. Everything we’ve done from day one to this moment is a testament to our resolve to leave lasting legacy that even successive governments will follow.”

    Expatiating on the funding modalities, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Maxwell Ebibai, noted that the state government was expanding the “Contractor Infrastructure Development Finance Scheme”, a model which was used in financing other critical infrastructural projects in the state.

    Under the scheme, he said contractors were empowered to borrow funds from financial institutions to execute projects and present their certificates of work done for government to pay.

    Ebibai pointed out that the model helped to check the issue of slow pace or outright abandonment in the execution of government projects.

    He said: “The Contractor Infrastructure Development Scheme is essentially to ensure that contractors have unhindered access to funds. Under the scheme, the state does not borrow but the contractors may borrow to execute government jobs so that the projects will not slow down or stop.

    “The state government only guarantees for payment for jobs already done. It is some kind of public private partnership arrangement between the state, contractors and banks. In this scheme, we are considering projects that we cannot manage from our monthly cash flow.”

  • NDDC, EU partner on project

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is collaborating with the European Union to complete abandoned water projects in nine states of the Niger Delta region.

    Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, NDDC’s Managing Director, disclosed this in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Charles Odili, in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    According to the statement, Brambaifa gave the hint when he addressed a delegation from the EU-funded Niger Delta Support Programme 3 (NDSP3) on a visit to the NDDC in Port Harcourt.

    Brambaifa was quoted as saying that the NDDC was passionate to institutionalise community-based management structure for the maintenance and sustainability of basic infrastructure in the region.

    “We need to develop a framework to ensure community ownership of water projects in the region. This is because water is life.

    “We are looking forward to strengthening the collaboration with the EU to resuscitate abandoned water infrastructure in the region,” he said.

    Brambaifa said that in spite of abundance of groundwater in the Niger Delta, the region still lacked access to potable drinking water due to pollution.

    The NDDC boss said the region needed water project that would be sustainable to the satisfaction of inhabitants of the region.

    According to him, it is one thing to organise a project like this; but another to ensure its sustainability.

    “We don’t just start a water project and two months later it is vandalised.

    “So, we are committed to this partnership with the EU. We will work out modalities to ensure that any water project we commission would stand the test of time.

    “Also, we must find ways to safeguard our projects because it is one of our core mandates to bring sustainable development to people of the Niger Delta,” he said.

    The NDDC boss also urged the EU to commit more funds to the project with focus to tackling the menace of water-borne diseases in the region.

    Mr Albert Achten, Team Leader of the EU-NDSP3, said the body was ready to fast track completion of the 45 water projects in the region on or before end of May.

    Achten urged NDDC to release its counterpart fund early, especially as an existing contract between EU and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning would terminate in few months.

    “We enjoin our partners to push for an effective and timely implementation of the EU and NDDC-NDSP3 pilot project.

    “In the last two years, synergy had been developed between the EU-funded NDSP and NDDC towards reviving 45 abandoned water schemes in the nine Niger Delta states.

    “The NDSP part of the project is financed by the EU, but the logistics for some of the activities are expected to be taken care of by NDDC,” he said.

  • Ayade woos opposition governorship candidates in Cross River

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has called on other candidates who contested the 2019 governorship election in the state to align with his administration for the progress of the state.

    Ayade who made the call yesterday in Calabar after a meeting with some stakeholders said that the candidates’ ideas would be critical in making the state better.

    “Cross River is refocused on creating a prosperity agenda to take her from third world to first world under my administration.

    “I want every single Cross Riverian, particularly those who ran the election against me to recognise the fact that, I’m ready to provide a platform for us to work together.

    “Some of them have great ideas; some of them are very intellectually brilliant and I have respect for all those who ran against me.

    “I’m in a haste to have them all come together so that we can work and build the Cross River of our great dream and expectation,” Ayade said.

    He expressed delight over the credibility of the election across the state, describing the process as peaceful.

    The governor reiterated his desire to take the state to greater heights in the next four years.

    “The election was adjudged to be the most peaceful election so far across the country, particularly in Cross River.

    “This is creditably so because we focused on politics with ethics. Cross River was at peace because of the consistency in salary, commitment and industrialisation.

    The governor added that he was committed to delivering on his signature projects for the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 26 candidate’s parties contested the governorship election under different parties and was won by Ayade under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the second time.

  • The problem with Bayelsa, by Keniebi Okoko

    Keniebi Okoko is one of the wealthiest persons in Bayelsa State. As a successful entrepreneur, Okoko, who hails from Gbarain, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has been nursing the ambition to become the governor of the oil-rich state.

    In the 2015 governorship election, Okoko, who is the son of Prof. Kimse Okoko, a notable Ijaw scholar and leader, made efforts to clinch the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but the party favoured the second term bid of the incumbent Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The philanthropist has, however, continued to identify the potential of Bayelsa and the state’s economic advantage. Speaking to the Niger Delta Report in Yenagoa recently, he tries to juxtapose the state with Singapore. He wonders why Bayelsa is still struggling with development despite its huge resources while Singapore is far ahead with less resources.

    “If you go to Singapore, I have been to Singapore at least six times in my life. If you go to Singapore, it is more or less a small island surrounded by water. Singapore has no oil, but has refineries. Singapore exports a lot of fish products and Singapore is doing extremely well economically.

    “Bayelsa on the contrary has oil which is called black gold. Bayelsa has vegetation for rice farming; I can use the Peremabiri Rice Farm as an example. We have a good texture of soil to grow crops. Bayelsa is bigger than Singapore in size and in population if am not mistaken.  What is so difficult in developing Bayelsa? That was why I made that comparison. We have more resources.”

    What is the problem with Bayelsa? Okoko traces the problem to lack of education.

    “Well, I believe that Bayelsa as a whole needs to focus on education. Mental poverty is worse than financial poverty. If a mind is not developed and equipped, a man cannot give what he does not have,” he says.

    He adds: “Our people are not completely exposed to good education systems. Our people are not well travelled like other tribes. The Ijaw man is determined to succeed, if you give the Ijaw man the right playing ground, he will perform, I can assure you. So I believe that what we should do as a people is to focus on education.”

    In his assertions, the billionaire businessman said emphasis should not be placed on classroom education. Bayelsa needs to blend theory with practical. The state needs to harp on skill acquisition. “Classroom education is one aspect, and outside classroom education is another aspect,” he says.

    He continues: “Not everybody can experience education in the classroom or to the university level.  There is a proverbial saying that all fingers are not equal. But you can balance the gap of the fingers. Creating skill acquisitions with the right personnel to man them give you the opportunity to train the less privileged on the skills that can develop them.

    “For example if you go to China, you have where they train people on ICT, you have where they train people on bricklaying, you have where they train people on every artisan job you can think of. When the Amnesty Programme was going on, I was privileged to try to get something for some of the people, so I went to China to look at some of the schools in Wanzu.

    “I was amazed, it was almost like a university of any magnitude, but it was just a skill center. If we have three in the three senatorial districts that are of high class, it will help to reduce the number of children that are not equipped to fend for themselves, or not equipped to face the future.

    “On the other side, classroom education, in the universities today, I don’t know what is happening. You hear stories of lecturers abusing students; you hear stories of excessive selling of handouts. The educational system has gone down the drain.

    “We need to refocus on the educational system, encourage our people with scholarships to go to school. Sign a contract with the schools that the certificates will be returned to you based on the fact that they will come and work for four, five years, and then you release them so they put what they have learnt back into the system.”

    Okoko acknowledges the efforts of Governor Dickson in developing the educational system of the school. He says the governor has done his best. He says his duty as a leader is to add to what the governor has done in the sector.

    He says: “I think the governor has given it a good try. I think that the intentions are good. I believe that he has genuine intentions for the job, and I believe he has tried his best.

    “My duty as a leader is to try and add to what he has done, to build in any way we can help the government to improve where they have stopped in any capacity we find ourselves with good suggestions, and trying to develop a good road map to drive the Ministry of Education, to push his policies forward and help him being that I am in the same party with him.”

    Okoko urged youths in the state to have role models and stopped being used by politicians as thugs. He appeals to leaders to take responsibility in shaping the future of the youths in the state. He laments the condition of the youths in the state saying they lack hope.

    He says: “If a man does not understand the good around him and what it is for, he doesn’t value it. If a man is not part of a project, he cannot value the project. If a community does not understand why this will develop them, over and over again they will do it. That’s mental poverty. What will develop you is what you are killing, that is the mental poverty.

    “Hope is dead in Bayelsa. The young people don’t have hope so they are looking for any means. Give them back hope. Sell leadership through qualities, be transparent, and open to them. Take them through processes of trainings. Mentorship, who is your mentor or who are you mentoring?

    “Who are you looking up to? Why do you wake up in the morning? What is the core reason for your existence? Have someone you look up to. I have someone I look up to everyday. I have three people I look up to – Professor Kimse Okoko, Pastor David Ibiyomie and Bishop (David) Oyedepo.

    “By any standard, these are men to look up to. So I aspire to want to be like them. Who are these young men looking up to? What are we selling to them as leaders and parents? When I was growing up, Prof. Okoko will always tell me, ‘my son a good name is better than riches’. ‘My son I don’t have money, but nobody can insult me in Nigeria’. He is going to be 80 with diabetes but he is looking younger than people that are in power. Healthy, strong, vibrant and sometimes driving himself. These are the things we should be asking ourselves if we want to be true; if we are not going to be political about everything.

    “What are we giving the youths, what are we selling to them? I come to the village, young men come and be chanting Keniebi slogans and I say ‘shut up, what’s that nonsense about?’ I say ‘stop it and don’t vote for me if that is what you will be doing’. I tell them ‘what do you want for your future?’ You say you want to support me for governor, what am I doing for you?

    “They were quiet because they have nothing else to trade on. With one thousand naira, they start carrying guns and shoot themselves.  What are we teaching the young ones? So let’s be true to ourselves. The reason those things were stolen is because they didn’t have the reason and the value those things were there for.”

  • How Niger Delta marked International Women’s Day

    The Queen Mother of Egiland in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Her Royal Majesty Grace Nwokoma, believes women must be able to balance work with family.

    This, she feels, should be done in such a way that one does not suffer for the other.

    She expressed her mind on March 12 in Port Harcourt at a capacity development workshop for women from host and neighbouring communities of Total Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Limited in Rivers.

    The workshop was to commemorate the United Nations International Women’s Day, with the theme: “Balance for Better.”

    The Queen Mother also stated that women should multitask and balance all the tasks without getting tired, but she admonished the women to always take good care of their husbands and children, for peace to reign in their homes and the society.

    She said: “Women are blessed. I do not believe in gender equality. I do not believe that women are equal to men. I believe in inclusiveness. We (women) should be asking for inclusiveness, especially to be included in decision-making processes/activities and to be considered for appointments/elective positions and leadership roles.

    “Women will always have problems, when they feel that they are equal to men, especially their husbands, who may opt to beat them, either physically or with their attitude. Women must be submissive to their husbands. Do not neglect your husbands and children for professional lives or careers. Women must be helpers to their husbands, not competitors.”

    HRM Nwokoma also admonished women to support and give their money to their husbands, stressing that by empowering women, many persons would be liberated from poverty and the world would be a better place to live, work and do business.

    While also speaking, the Ada (Princess) Ekpeyelogbo of Ekpeye Kingdom, comprising Ahoada East and Ahoada West LGAs of Rivers State, Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, noted that she would continue to advocate gender main-streaming, not fighting for equality or competing with men.

    Dr. Ogbonnaya described men as the head and women as the neck holding/supporting the head, with women having potential and they should be encouraged, especially in their areas of comparative advantage, where they would do much better, stressing that women could now do better than men in various fields, with women now flying commercial aircraft and warplanes.

    One of the resource persons, Chief Magistrate Helen Umanah, who is the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of African Women in Leadership Organisations, urged women to always think out of the box, think smart and innovate for change, stressing that being women is a blessing.

    Umanah, who represented the organisation’s Chief Executive, Emem Ette, said: “Women must place emphasis on economic and family balance. Not everybody is gifted to go to school. You can acquire skills to support yourselves and your families.  Start something today, no matter how little. Connect and network with other women. Ensure your businesses are visible to the world, through effective use of the Internet and social media.

    “Leave your comfort zones. Do other things to make your businesses more viable. Break out. Break barriers. Learn new skills. Put your minds and brains to work. Take risks and venture into new areas, for your lives to be better. There is also the need for mentorship. Be focused. Regularly go for training and retraining. Stay in your areas of interest/specialisation and be prayerful.

    “Take care of your health. Avoid junk and regularly visit your doctors. Do not let anybody mess up with your emotions. Stop competing, but be the best that you can. Think of fresh ideas. Build smart and innovate for change. Give vital parts of your lives to your families.”

    The chief magistrate also urged women to always harness their resources and not be careless or stupid, but to be better persons.

    Another resource person, Dr. Charles Apoki, 60, who is into private medical practice, a pastor, motivational speaker, an entrepreneur, capacity builder and has been married for 34 years, while addressing the teeming women, admonished them to always harness their potential and never to limit womanhood to marriage and childbearing, but to continually trust in the Lord for progress and success.

    He urged husbands to always listen to and respect their wives, compartmentalise their minds and balance their activities, stressing that with technology, women are no longer weaker vessels.

    The medical doctor, who is an indigene of Delta State in the Niger Delta, said: “Give women the same opportunities and training as men, but women must be outstanding in their fields. Women should not be confined to the other room or the kitchen. Women must be confident, courageous and competent. Parents should always strive to give their daughters quality education and good home training.

    “Women also need to develop good character, be smart, have charisma and chemistry. Build/develop capacity and have time for self-development. Do not be inferior to men or you should not be lazy. Breasts, buttocks and fine faces have expiry dates. Love does not keep marriage. It is responsibility that keeps marriage. It is difficult for women to marry into a lower class and be tolerated. Always take the right decisions, by God’s grace.

    “Men should not look at the mistakes of women, but to always encourage and nurture them. Cherish and love women. Value women and treat them with respect. Do not underrate women. Women must also be nice to their husbands, children and they should not be rebellious. Women must be neat at all times and they should place emphasis on cleanliness, because dirty wives can put off their husbands.”

    Apoki also admonished men over 40 to write their wills and they should let their wives know the codes of their bank accounts, if they are not operating joint accounts, stressing that men should live their lives as if they would die tomorrow or live forever.

    The medical doctor urged women to also be speaking for women and be supporting mostly contesting women during elections, describing women as their enemies, because of envy.

    The Manager, Community Affairs, Offshore and Port Harcourt of Total, Mr. Okechukwu Obara, added that no group had been empowered by the oil giant more than women, stressing that women had been getting 60 per cent in Total’s microcredit schemes and skills’ acquisition programmes.

    Total’s Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District, Mr. Francios Le Cocq, in his keynote address, stressed that balance for better was what the world would be looking forward to, noting that the expectation would not be only for gender balance, but also for gender balance in wealth creation.

    The deputy managing director, who was represented by the oil company’s Deputy General Manager, Community Affairs and Development, James Uroh, pointed out that the international women’s day was to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

    He said: “It has been noted that balance drives a better working world and we all know that gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive all around us. This year’s celebration is focused on ways in which innovations and technology can provide opportunities for gender parity and enhance the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure.

    “Our passion is to assist women through networking opportunities, development programmes and enlightenment. So that they not only aspire, but also achieve their aspirations. In doing all this, we try to understand your perspectives and align them with societal, economic and business opportunities that exist for you. We believe that once these aspirations are achieved, society would be better for it.

    “Total E&P Nigeria Limited has for the past few years been actively involved in the promotion of programmes aimed at recognising the achievements of women, building sustainable support for women’s rights and participation in the socio-political arena. Our drive is to unleash the potential that women have in all things that they can do and will do.”

    Le Cocq also urged everybody to join hands with the world and the United Nations’ women to seize the moment, celebrate, take action and transform women’s lives everywhere.

    Women must be enterprising and creative, not becoming full housewives or liabilities, in order to be respected and celebrated.

  • Army renovates Bayelsa school

    King George Lawson was skeptical when the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army was sited in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was uncomfortable at the presence of the army in his neighbourhood.

    The Obanobhan 1 of Emeyal Clan stated reasons for his initial fears. “I used to know the army for guns and intimidation only. I had very negative impression about the army. So, I was afraid when they came to our neighbourhood. I thought bad things would begin to happen in our communities because of their presence.”

    But the king confessed recently that the leadership of the 16th Brigade changed his perception about the army. He said the brigade led by Brigadier-General Kelvin Aligbe made him and his communities fall in love with the army.

    “We have since changed our negative impressions. Since the coming of the army, we have only witnesses’ adequate security and infrastructural development. The army is the simplest security outfit. I told our governor recently about the good things we have witnessed in these communities because of the presence of the army,” he said.

    King George was right and he spoke out of experience as he stood with other stakeholders to receive 100 desks and sporting items including football kits donated by the army to the pupils of Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele.

    The king also saw how General Aligbe renovated a dilapidated Elebele Primary School 2 in his neighborhood. The school had leaking roofs, cracked and washed off walls. But the army gave it a facelift by changing the roof and repainting the blocks. The school environment became  neater, cleaner and more conducive for learning.

    The Obanobhan further saw the grin faces of the benefitting pupils. Their physiognomical countenances spoke volumes. Many of them indicated interests to join the army after their studies. They viewed Aligbe and his soldiers as their role models.

    Besides, George, the Paramount Ruler of Elebele community, His Royal Highness, King Osene Osene extolled the virtues of the General Aligbe-led Brigade. “It is examplary”, he said. “ This brigade has proved me wrong. I thought the army only carried gun to intimidate people. We were afraid when the entered our community, but now we can’t do without them. They have performed beyond our expectations,” he said.

    With the performance of the brigade in the community, Osene said he would never talk about the army as a force of intimidation. He said he never thought that the army could think along the line of developing its host communities.

    He said it was unimaginable that the army was carrying out projects they hitherto believed could only come from the government.

    The Principal of the Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, Nanigha Asara, was also overwhelmed. She described the gesture as a big surprise from the army. She said the army showed due diligence by conducting need assessment of the school before making their donations.

    She said: “I learnt that they initially came during one of our brief breaks to carry out an inspection of the school infrastructure. I believe it was based on this they came to overwhelm us with these various gifts.

    “The action so far has gone a long way to show that they believe in education, which we know remains the bedrock of every nation. Their action also has shown that they believe in the future of every one of our students.

    “I am deeply shocked to the bone marrow by such magnanimity and kind gestures showcased by kind soldiers. Since they believe in us, we will prove their belief right by working very hard.”

    The Prefect (Boy) of the school, Osuma Mannesah, captured the feelings of his colleagues. He said: “ It is a great thing of joy and we are actually excited to see the desire and the zeal of the Nigerian Army to facilitate the learning process in this great school.

    “It will help to give the students more zeal to pursue their academic goals. We want to say thank you to the brigade and the brigade-general and we pray God to give them more grace.”

    Aligbe encouraged the students to take their studies seriously and aspire to be the best in the world. He advised them against crime and company and urged them not to engage in exam malpractices.

    Stating reasons for the gesture, he said: “We are here to make donation to facilitate learning. This is recognising the fact that education and sports and veritable means of bridging gaps that we have identified in the Niger Delta region.

    “With this gesture we hope we have inspired these young students to know that there are alternatives to violence and we expect this kind of interactions will subsequently engender the kind of calmness we want in all the communities in the Niger Delta region beginning with Elebele communities where 16th Brigade is domiciled.”

  • Poll: Group alleges presence of killer squad in Southsouth, Bayelsa

    The Niger Delta Peace Movement (NDPM) has alleged suspicious presence of special gunmen in uniform with resemblance of special killer squad in the six states òf the South-South geopolitical zone including Bayelsa State ahead of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    The Secretary-General of the NDPM, Jephtah Akedi, said that the suspected killer squad could be working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate the electorate and deliver the geopolitical zone to the party.

    Akedi alleged that the deadly squad comprising 130 men was in a mission to execute acts of repression against the citizens during the period.

    The NDPM Scribe stated further that his organisation got reports that some military officers had displayed unprofessional conducts and could be working with the suspected killer squad.

    Read also: Man accuses landlady’s son of causing wife’s miscarriage

    He said that the NDPM was worried that the some military officers were planning to execute a special election game plan in the South-South.

    Akedi added that since the deployment of a particular senior military officer in the region, he had issued unlawful orders to his subordinates to compromise the election in favour of the APC.

    He stressed that it was important to remind the Nigerian public that some military officers played illegal roles in Bayelsa killings.

    Akedi called on the Chief òf Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to check the activities of his officers on election duties to avoid tainting the service with political bias during elections.

    He said that it would be wrong for the Army to be dragged into the political dispute through the collusion of men in the corridors of power and senior officials of the service.