The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Imo disburses N270m to boost food production

    Imo State government has begun the disbursement of N270 million grants to the departments of agriculture across the 27 local governments, to boost food production.

    The Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Mathew Nworgu, a lawyer, who spoke with reporters in Owerri, said the  Integrated Agric Farm Programme was conceived to revive agric departments and attain food security, especially in the rural communities.

    He said under the programme, each of the 27 councils would receive N10 million, which would be managed by the heads of the agric departments for livestock and crop production, adding that the project recorded over 90 per cent success after the first evaluation.

    Nworgu said: “We’ve just concluded a monitoring tour of the local governments to evaluate the success of the programme. It has recorded over 98.9 per cent success. The agric departments are alive with activities. The poultry and piggery departments are thriving. We are satisfied with their output.

    “When the governor announced the plan to disburse the money, we  moved in to ensure it was not diverted or wasted. We made sure that it was managed by the heads of the agric departments. Today it is a success, it will boost food production.”

  • Abia POWA remembers officers’ widows

    Abia POWA remembers officers’ widows

    It was a day of shedding tears of joy as the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) of the Abia State command for the first time in the history of the association remembered the wives of the fallen police men who died in active service.

    It was the day 64 wives of police officers of the Abia State command who died in active service were empowered by POWA at the Police Officers mess, Umuahia, where several items were given to the women to help them be self-sustaining.

    The empowerment items, which included sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dressing equipments and cash were presented to them by the POWA chairperson in the state, Hajia, Khadija Ibrahim Adamu.

    Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu, said the gesture was the command’s way of assisting the widows and advised them to make good use of the empowerment items.

    Adamu said the empowerment was a legacy of police to empower POWA and help them uplift the standard of living of their colleagues who lost their husbands in the line of duty so that they would not be begging for help all through their lives.

    He said that this is the first time the empowerment programme is happening in the command, stressing that many of the widows have suffered since the death of their bread winners while serving their father land.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Evelyn Onyike Aja, who was giving a sewing machine, said her husband died in 2012, in active duty. She explained that since her husband’s death taking care of the three children has not been easy for her.

    She said that her the husband died in FMC Umuahia, after he was rushed there from his duty post and since then the husband’s family abandoned her and the children, stressing that it was a great relief to her that the sewing machine was given to her as it will help her to start life anew.

    Mrs. Aja said, she was already sewing before her husband died but did not have her own sewing machine, but with the machine that has been given to me today, I am going to start sewing again with ease.”

    She said that her husband was preparing to buy a sewing machine for her when he died. “Since his death life has been very difficult for us the members of his immediate family, so you can imagine what this sewing machine means to me and my children.”

    Mrs Aja said, “I learnt how to sew before my husband died. He was about to buy machine for me before she died. The sewing machine will help me to earn income and take care of the three children my husband left for me.

    His family abandoned us, so this will help me to take care of the children he left behind, I am grateful to the CP and POWA leadership for including me in the programme our children are in primary school aged between seven to four years, since his death we have been surviving through the help of God.”

  • Fed Govt trains Abia technicians

    Fed Govt trains Abia technicians

    It was a three-week intensive practical and theoretical training for selected members of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) in Abia State. Our Aba correspondent, SUNNY NWANKWO who was part of the training reports

    They may not have the academic qualifications that certify them as professionals, and you don’t expect them to start writing examinations for admission into universities to pursue a four or five years’ rigorous academic process and training.

    Also, they may not have hand outs or textbooks in engineering courses to catch the eyes of the global village, yet their natural skills and abilities to fix and keep industrial machines and automobiles working have saved most companies from being comatose.

    Companies within the Southeast and Southsouth are running their services, not because of cheap labour, but because they have much confidence in the services rendered by the unskilled auto-mechanics and electricians, who have displayed great skills in fixing various mechanical and electrical faults.

    Just like their counterparts in the business sector, automobile electrical and mechanical engineers help to keep companies in oil and gas, agricultural and industrial sectors functioning.

    Most companies that do not have the financial capacity to hire the services of expatriates or whose machines may have been caught up with technological innovation rely on their services to still be in production.

    To improve their skills in auto repairs, management of finances and customer services, the Federal Government, through the National Automotive Council (NAC), SURE-P and SMEDAN organised a three-week intensive training workshop for them.

    The exercise, which was well attended by members of the association in Abia State, featured lectured tutorials on the use of modern electronic device for easy test and identification of faults in cars.

    The participants were equally trained on the management of their resources and how and where they can go as small and medium-scale entrepreneurs to access funds.

    In a chat with reporters, Abel Onuma, the supervisor of the training from Bascom Motor Skills Agency Nigeria, said: “The training is being organised by the National Automotive Council (NAC), Sure-P and SMEDAN and it is aimed at upgrading the skill and competency of Nigerian auto-technicians on how to fix challenges associated with modern vehicles, especially the new generation cars. “We consult with the Federal Government, especially NAC as a government body to train and re-train automobile mechanics and electricians. Our mandate is to train trainees in automotive sector as regards technological advancement in new modern vehicles.

    ”We have 27 participants who were being trained by the Federal Government to expose them to the modern method of fixing modern vehicles. The three weeks training has enhanced their skills on how to fix modern vehicles. In these 15 days training, we can attest that they are professionals in the areas they have been tutored.

    “We have very few universities that offer courses on automotive-mechatronics. They have been the people who have learned this skill over the years. Even though prior to this time there has never been curriculum on how they should follow as it should be done in school, they are the one fixing the issue now.

    “Our university to a large extent has not been able to produce competent and skillful engineers after graduation. We have seen a number of graduates who are just engineers on paper and cannot do what these set of people are doing even without being to formal school.

    “We have taught them the theoretical and practical aspect of automotive-mechatronics and that makes them to be very competent. The common people you see when fixing vehicles on the streets are these technicians.

    “They are the best people for us at the moment to approach to begin to solve the problem associated with repairing of new model vehicles in our society and that is why Federal Government is much more interested in them. The Federal Government has also empowered them. The OBD2 scanning machine which has market value of over N100, 000 has been offered free of charge.

    “We went ahead to offer them 12 volt battery tester, multi-meter free of charge as well to empower them to fit in and be able to not only diagnose a vehicle, but to fix the challenges that is related to these vehicle.

    “The training has been certificated by the Federal Government. Their participation has been very impressive and don’t forget that It is a pan-Nigerian programme.

    In a chat with another resource person from Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Onyezonwu Allwell added “We are here to train the NATA people on entrepreneurship. Actually, we came from small and medium enterprises development agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). You actually know that as the name implies, it’s just an association but these are entrepreneurs who are doing various businesses in the automobile industry. They are rendering services and may be they have been doing it in an informal or crude way and you see that in the automobile industry these days you have a lot of challenges. The industry is growing. There are a lot of new automobiles in sophisticated gadgets that are coming up every now and then. And they need to know what and what they should do to actually remain in business.

    “If you see in Nigeria, in terms of industrialisation, we are backward because in the past this opportunity of training entrepreneurs was not there or was  not properly done. People did business haphazardly; they did it the way they choose and not the way the customers wanted.

    “This time we are trying to let them know that the customer is the key. You don’t do things the way you like. You do what the customers want. If  you want to produce  goods or render services, you find out what will meet  the need of the customer so that, you don’t come out to say you are doing business and nobody patronises  you. Of course with the seriousness and time they have put into this programme, you don’t expect them to go and start looking for work in companies or elsewhere and which is not even the best. So, we want to empower them to enhance their entrepreneurial skills; let them know what they are supposed to do to make sure that they can compete with others/counterparts in the same field.

    ”SMEDAN is exposing them on customer relationship, how to manage their resources, study their target market and also to build the confidence that they can compete favourably with their counterparts.

    “Actually, by the law or edict establishing SMEDAM, MEDAN doesn’t have the powers to give out loans. We are just facilitators. We facilitate the access to finances for these entrepreneurs. If at the end of this training, finance becomes their problem, they can approach the agency.

    “We have what we call business clinic. First of all, we will put the business in the clinic, test run it, find out actually if finance is what they need for the business to grow. The agency is patterning with Bank of Industry (BOI) and some other lending institutions. We can mediate between them just like we have been doing in the time past. So, it all depends on what they want.”

    On ways to monitor loans borrowed to ensure that they were used for the purpose it was meant for, Allwell added “Currently, there is this programme, we call it NEDEP  programme. There is a particular amount of money the Federal Government has voted  for Small scale businesses , the money is being channeled through the Bank of Industry and  this has been like that  over the years. Some entrepreneurs as I speak with you are at the verge of getting theirs.

    “So, we want to encourage them to form themselves into cooperatives. Forms are already available and once they meet the criteria that are required, the funds will be made available to them. The Bank of Industry has what it takes to checkmate that,” he assured

    Elder Reginald Umeike, Abia State Chairman NATA, Okechukwu Ike and Engineer Eusebius Obimkpu in separate interviews at the end of the training/workshop thanked the Federal Government for such gestures and stated that the training have opened their eyes and widened their knowledge, adding that the training was going to make them function well and better in their job as technicians and mechanics.

    According to NATA state chairman, the exercise should be made yearly and extended to their members who were not accommodated in the exercise.

    He said that they are going to take what they were taught into practice and called for more or a related exercise to be extended to them anytime the need be.

    Highlight of the event was the presentation of electronic devices purchased for members of the group by the federal government through the SURE-P project.

  • Imo APC gets Working Committee

    Imo APC gets Working Committee

    It was a gathering of political heavyweights in Imo State and beyond at the International Conference Centre in Owerri, the Imo State capital, when the elected members of the State Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were inaugurated.

    The 10,000 capacity hall was filled to capacity with party faithful who thronged the venue as early as 7:00 am.

    Cultural dances and acrobatic displays by youths added colour to the occasion described by political observers as the largest political rally in the state in recent time.

    Addressing the crowd shortly after inauguration, Governor Rochas Okorocha said if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government at the federal and state levels had done well, APC would not have come on board, adding that the APC came up because of the failure of the PDP to move the country and the states in particular forward.

    He said in Imo State, the PDP leaders had fed largely on the common treasury of the state at the expense of the masses, insisting that there is no basis of comparison between his three-year-old administration and the 12 years spent in the state by the PDP.

    He further noted that the 2015 elections will be like a contest between light which APC represents, and darkness which the PDP represents, he said.

    His words:: “The PDP leaders in the state had fed on the economy or common purse of the state. The APC is a new party for a new Nigeria. If you believe that Imo State has been transformed in three years, then APC is the party good for the people of the state. PDP should also allow the APC to govern the state for 12 years so that Imo people can give their verdict.

    “They said PDP is an Igbo party. How is it an Igbo party?  Is the National Chairman or National Secretary or the President or the Vice-President or the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives an Igbo? The answer is no.

    “Don’t forget that Boko Haram began several years before the formation of the APC. The PDP has only succeeded in lining their pockets with money from the public treasury and nothing more.”

    Okorocha also stated that “the Imo PDP had left nothing behind in the Government House, Owerri for the 12 years they occupied it as to come back in 2015 to take it.  When the time comes, the chaff will be separated from the wheat.”

    He, however, urged the APC leaders and members to be united, stressing that the victory of the party depended largely on how united the members are and the ability of the new state executive committee to carry everybody along.

    Some of the party leaders who spoke earlier, including the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, Chief P. C. Onuoha, Dr. E. J. K. Onyewuchi, among others, stressed the need for unity of purpose among the party leaders and members.

    The deputy governor charged the party officials to put the overall interest of the party above personal or selfish interest and ensure internal democracy at all levels.

    He said with the unprecedented achievements recorded by the APC-led administration in the state, the duty of expanding the membership base or acceptability of the party had been made easy, noting that the APC has become a household name.

    He said: “Today, we are proud to be associated with the performing party because of the achievements of the Rescue Mission Agenda. Your duty, therefore, is to take the message of free education, youth-must-work programme, free maternal care and massive road infrastructure, among many others, to the people.  You should avoid any attitude that will cast doubt on the integrity of the party.”

    Those inaugurated included the state Chairman, Dr. Hilary Ekeh, the Secretary, Barr. Emma Ibediro, Hon. Ugochukwu Nzekwe (Deputy-Chairman), Ifeanyi Onwueyiagba (Vice Chairman), Chief Christian Ogoma, (Vice-Chairman), G. N. Asika (Vice Chairman), Akubueze Batholomew (youth leader), Mrs. Theresa Ohanugba (women leader), among others.  They were urged to unite and strengthen the party.

    In his acceptance speech, Ekeh assured that the team will work hard to win more people into the party and win all the elective offices in the 2015 general elections. He added. “We are, indeed, proud to be members of the State Executive Committee of our great party and we will do everything possible to ensure that we do not, at any time, betray the confidence reposed in us by the party leaders.”

    Highlight of the event was the distribution of over 40 APC branded vehicles to the executives, including local government chairmen of the party across the state.

     

  • A widow’s reward for constituents

    A widow’s reward for constituents

    Widows are considered to be among the less-privileged in the society. They, therefore, attract sympathy from well-meaning individuals. Nobody expects anything worthwhile from them; rather, they receive from people who are moved by their plights as they have lost their husbands who should take care of them.

    However, it is unusual for a widow to give  back to the society to the tune of millions of Naira.

    This was case in Anambra North Senatorial Zone where Margery Okadigbo, wife of former Senate President, the late Senator Chuba Okadigbo, gave a lift to members of her constituency.

    It was surprising to most of her constituents, who believed she had not done enough for the people of the zone which she represents at the Senate.

    Recently, she presented several empowerment items worth N100 million to some members of her constituency.

    Senator Okadigbo, at Nteje, the headquarters of Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, gave out 200 deep freezers, 100 grinding machines, 200 sewing machines, 120 motor cycles, three ambulances and seven vehicles to the people.

    Those who benefitted were mainly her campaign coordinators from ward to local government, widows and other less-privileged individuals.

    Each widow received a cooler while ward chairmen received a motorcycle each. The seven cars were for her campaign coordinators. Some less-privileged received deep freezers and sewing machines, among other items.

    The Senate President, David Mark, who received a chieftaincy title of Dikeora from Ogbunike during the event, was accompanied by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

    Also in his company were Senators Nuru Dim from Kogi, Paulinus Igwe from Ebonyi, Esuene from Akwa-Ibom State and former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih.

    Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters and former Commissioner for Information and Culture, Chief Joe-Martins Uzodike.

    The traditional ruler of Umunya, Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje, and other monarchs were present at the event.

    Giving the car keys to the beneficiaries, Senator Mark urged them to use the vehicles judiciously to serve the purpose for which they were procured, advising those who did not get not to despair. He promised that they would benefit from such gesture in future.

    Noting that they were at the event to honour and support a colleague and not for a campaign, he reminded the people of Anambra North Senatorial zone of the need to continually support a winning team.

    Governor Obiano said through Uzodike that what Senator Okadigbo did was part of the state government’s programme of empowering the youth, widows and the less-privileged people.

    He said despite Senator Okadigbo belonging to another party, she would receive the support of the state government in such event because it tilts towards eradication of poverty in the society.

    Uchenna Okafor, who is the chairman of Oyi Local Government Area and a member of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), praised Senator Okadigbo for empowering some members of her constituency.

    He described the empowerment programme of Okadigbo as the first of its kind in the area.

    In a chat with our correspondent, Senator Okadigbo said it was her own little way of saying thank you to her constituents for standing by her during all those years of trauma when she lost her husband and during the legal battle to reclaim her mandate.

    She said: “This is a tip of the iceberg. Before now, I believe I have done a lot to all the seven local government areas under my constituency and more empowerment programmes are coming.

    “I do not care what some people, especially those who are not members of my party, are saying. But if you move around in Anambra North Senatorial zone and ask questions, people will tell you the truth and you will see things for yourself.

    “Politics is not about talking or praising oneself, it is a ground where your works speak for one. The people of the zone know that I have served them well within the two years I have been in the Senate.”

    For Innocent Nwanta from Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area who received a motorcycle, it was a dream come true and only God would reward the Senator.

    Also, Josephine Ayadiuno from Anaku in Ayamelum Local Government Area who received a sewing machine, praised Senator Okadigbo, saying her empowerment programme was the best thing that has ever happened to them.

    Amechi Obi from Umueze-Anam in Anambra West who received a generating set and a clipper, the people of the zone would continue to support Senator Okadigbo.

    Others who spoke in like manner were Angelina Modu from Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area and Nwagu Chika from Fegge in Onitsha South Local Government Area, among other beneficiaries.

  • ‘Conflicts,same sex marriage, signs of end-time’

    Increase in conflicts and terrorism among nations and the ordination of gay men as bishops are some of the signs predicted in the Bible as an indication of the end-time.

    That was the view of the founder of Chapel of Faith Bible Assembly International, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, who spoke yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    He was addressing the congregation at a two-day programme for women expecting the fruit of the womb titled: “For the fruit of the womb”.

    Nwankpa said the signs that the world was ending had become convincing, as gay men, who flouted God’s injunction, were ordained as bishops in Western countries, making a mockery of Christianity.

    He urged women to abstain from lesbianism and other immoralities, as they are sinful.

    Over 700 women across the state testified at the programme, organised every three months.

  • ‘We want worthy successor’

    A group, the Akwa Ibom Professionals in Lagos, has urged Governor Godswill Akpabio  to ensure he has a worthy successor

    Members of the group spoke when they visited the governor in Uyo.

    The group president, Mr. Udeme Ufot, hailed Akpabio for transforming the state.

    He said: “The transformation witnessed in the state has not only changed the physical infrastructure, but it has also affected the people’s mindset.”

    Ufot said the giant strides resulted in a sense of pride and fulfillment in an average Akwa Ibom indigene.

    He enjoined the governor to ensure that the development is sustained by his successor.

    Akpabio thanked the delegation for the visit. He lauded them for their support and encouragement.

    The governor recalled his earlier meeting with the professionals and advised them to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

    “We require your expertise to move Akwa Ibom forward in hospitality, education, banking, publishing and the like,” he said.

    The Akwa Ibom Professionals in Lagos is an umbrella organisation of Akwa Ibom indigenes, who live and have distinguished themselves in professions in Lagos State.

  • 33 Immigration officers promoted in Enugu

    The Nigerian Immigration Service, Enugu State command has decorated 33 newly promoted officers of the command.

    The comptroller, Enugu State Command, Ibrahim Bashiru Ismail while speaking at the event, said that the 33 officers were among the over 700 officers that were recently promoted nationwide by the Nigerian Immigration Service.

    The comptroller stated that the promotion of these officers was based on merit, effectiveness, loyalty and hardwork.

    He praised the present administration for its spirited efforts to encourage officers who work hard by the promotion, even as he advised the promoted officers to justify the promotions by working harder.

    He told the decorated officers that: “to whom much is given, much is expected; now you need to do more as gallant officers”.

    He went further to advice other officers who were not among the promoted ones to keep working hard and waits for their time, which he said would come at the appointed time.

    The Enugu State Director of State Security Mr. Victor Duru who was in attendance congratulated the newly promoted and decorated officers and urged them to give their all to the command.

    He stated that both the promoted officers and those that were yet to be promoted should ensure they work selflessly to support the Nigerian Immigration and the country especially now that the country has numerous security challenges.

    The Enugu State Commissioner of Police Mohammed Adamu Abubakar who also spoke at the event, stated that “this occasion is very great, it is something to celebrate.  Officers are always encouraged to do more by promotion, and I advice them not to relax, now is when they are expected to even work harder”.

    The Commissioner of Police also said that promotion which is based on merit and performance is done cadre by cadre and no officer can be promoted above his seniors or when it’s not yet their turn and therefore urge the yet to be promoted officers to exercise patience keep working hard and wait for their time.

    One of the newly promoted officers Mrs. Chinenye Emelemmadu, who was promoted from the rank of Chief Superintendent of Immigration to the rank of Assistant Comptroller of Immigration while expressing her joy thanked the immigration service for what she called an honour, and promised to work as hard as her new rank requires.

     

  • N2m for 12 Abia graduates

    No fewer than 12 unemployed graduates in Abia State have got N2m from the state government with a view to helping them set up a business of their own.

    The empowerment programme also witnessed the giving out of 200 cars to other youths from the zone which comprises Ohafia, Bende and Arochukwu, apart from the 2500 cars already given to the youths across the state in the past three years.

    Speaking while giving out the empowerment items to the youths, Governor Theodore Orji said that the era when the people of the state were empowered with shovels, head-pans, wheel-barrows and palm seedlings are gone.

    Orji said that empowerment programme is aimed at the suffering masses of the state to help them in starting something that they could rely upon to fend for themselves and stop being liabilities to their people, friends and state government.

    The governor said that the empowerment programme is part of his campaign promises to the people when he was seeking their mandate for the second term, adding that he is determined to touch the lives of the people of the state in a very positive way.

    He said that the empowerment programme is not mainly to give out money and cars, “But we have gone up to distribution of other items to help them to improve their lives and make them comfortable and help their families.”

    Orji noted that various youths from across the state have been trained in different types of vocation and trade, stressing that the aim is to ensure that they have something to fall back upon when they finish learning their trade in the various skill acquisitions centres scattered across the state.

    The governor said, “Our skill acquisition centres in the state capital under the office of Her Excellency my wife has trained over 800 youths at their six months intensive training in the area of tailoring, fashion and designing, fish farming, photography, GSM operators, interior decoration among others.”

    Orji said that those who have been trained in the various skills have also been equipped to enable them to be self sufficient, “Like barbing salon and hair dressing salon items with generators to make them work even when there is no electricity in their areas of operation”.

    He said that the empowerment programme which he described as a huge success has given the youths of the state voice and has also helped to deepen democracy in the state, “As they are now strong forces to be reckoned with in any political setting in the country”.

    The governor said, “I am proud to say that this youth empowerment is one legacy project of change that my administration will be leaving for the people of the state, as empowering the youths is a persona dream which has come to be a reality.

    Those who were criticizing the programme before now have come to realise that the project is part of the means of stemming youth restiveness, as it has made the beneficiaries to become responsible citizens and contributing to the development of the state and sustaining the peace we fought hard to achieve.”

  • ‘Be fair to all political parties,Okorocha tells NTA

    The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) has been urged to provide a level-playing ground for all political parties and their candidates to air their views, programmes and vision in the run-up to the 2015 general election.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha made the call when the management team of the station led  by the General Manager of NTA Channel 12 Owerri, Mr. Leyi Nwinyode paid him a courtesy visit at the State Government House, Owerri.

    Okorocha said that the nation has come to a critical moment when those aspiring to rule the country would be judged on what they can offer to the people rather than by the political party they belong.

    The governor made it clear that his administration has instructed all the political parties to make use of all the government facilities such as the stadium, international conference centre, including the state radio station and its Television to enable them showcase their vision.

    He said that he has raised the bar of governance in Imo state and reminded them that those aspiring to contest for governorship election must have a blueprint on what they have in mind for the masses.

    He called for a synergy between the Imo state government and NTA and stressed the need for them to embark on investigative journalism and be independent in their reportage.

    Owelle Okorocha also advised them to always portray the image of the nation with programmes and stories that will tell well of the nation rather than carrying negative stories.

    The General Manager NTA, Mr. Leyi Nwinyode expressed gratitude for the relationship existing between Imo state government and NTA Owerri, pointing out that it is because of the relationship that made the station to introduce a programme for the state government christened “Rescue Mission in Action” without charging any fund.

    Mr. Nwinyode appealed to the state government to assist the station with some of the basic amenities especially by stabilizing the power supply and allowing the station to carry the programmes, projects, policies of the present administration.