A socio-political group in Cross River State, the Liberation Team, has passed a vote of confidence in the state’s National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal to deliver fair judgment.
Its Coordinator, Bassey Ekpo Eyo, noted that despite the fears in some quarters that the tribunal may have been compromised, the group had confidence in the judges to ensure justice.
The activist is a supporter of the Labour Party (LP) candidate for Cross River Southern Senatorial District in the April 11 elections, Prince Bassey Otu.
The LP candidate had filed a suit at the tribunal against Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) candidate Gershom Bassey for alleged irregularities in the April 11 National Assembly poll.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Calabar, Eyo said: “We, the Liberation Team supporters of Prince Otu, were shocked when we heard some supporters of the other camp boasting that the tribunal would truncate the proceedings in their favour due to influence and money.
“This, if viewed carefully, may be a setup to tarnish the image of the tribunal’s chairman. We have unflinching confidence in the tribunal to deliver justice in their judgment.”
It was a poignant sight as children of some primary schools in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State trooped through the streets to protest deprivation of their rights, especially the issue of early marriage for girls.
•The children and adults protesting against child marriage in Cross River.
The pupils who were drawn from St Pearse’s Primary School, Government Primary Ofelekan, Presbyterian Primary School, and St Joseph Primary School bore placards to drive home their grouse as they insisted their voices must be heard in matters that concern them.
The occasion was the Day of the African Child with a theme that focused on the problem of early marriages, but the pupils said it was a matter that affects them directly and the programme to mark it was organized by the European Union (EU) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the state government.
Stakeholders also joined the voices in the call to intensify the fight against early marriage.
UNICEF consultant, Mr James Beesah, condemned the discrimination between the girl and boy child, female genital mutilation, child labour as well as other forms of child abuse.
He said all children irrespective of gender have a right to proper education, good water and sanitation, and a good environment to grow among others.
Programme Manager of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA), Mr Patrick Emori also called for a synergy among relevant stakeholders to fight against child marriage.
He said child marriage is a complex issue that has devastating and long term effects on the life of girls, who are always victims.
The issue, he said, was a human rights, gender, health, cultural and developmental one and hence should be tackled on all fronts.
He said children should take an active part in the fight by speaking against it wherever they find the problem. He encouraged them to talk to their parents, Government and leaders in the society about the issue.
The wife of the chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, Mrs Ekaette Akpama, said the days when girls were left behind in terms of Education and other developmental issues, are gone.
She urged male and female children to take their education seriously to ensure a better future for themselves.
The Coordinator for the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in Yakurr, Comrade Onun Omini Usani, said the issue of child marriage in the area was still quite high and urged that efforts be concerted to reduce it as in other communities in the country.
He said: “What we see for the young ones is either they are impregnated or because of poverty their parents force them to early marriage or to raise money to support the male child. At the end of the day you discover that the female child would not have a future. They just bring them as young as they are into bearing children and taking them to hard labour in the farm. If this is checked, we will now be able to have more of the female children in schools.
“Apart from this day of the African Child, where I know we had a good rally and creating public awareness, I think the level of awareness in terms of this activity is very low. Even at school, curriculum does not even capture some of these social vices. Organisations, agencies and government need to work together to tackle this. We don’t need to depend on yearly events so everybody should be aware that it is an evil to the girl child and it should not be. The fight should be more consistent.
“My advice is that children should be given the opportunity to express themselves, especially the opportunity of the right of education and the enabling environment to develop themselves.
“Parents should known that is their responsibility to train the children, especially the girl child. So parents should stop encouraging child marriage and create other avenues to get resources to help their children. I also want to advise government that parents who indulge in that kind of practice should be persecuted as a deterrent to those who don’t want to change from this activity. Parents should stop it and it should be discouraged.
“Parents should bear children they can take care of, because part of the problem we are talking is this issue of child spacing. You have so many children within a very limited time without adequate resources to take care of them. So they should have children they can take care of because when the burden is too much, they do these things and the effect is on the children who are always at the receiving end.”
A teacher at St Pearse’s Primary School, Mrs Nkoyo Mbang, who also doubles as the Coordinator of Environmental Health Club described child marriage as a bad culture which brings a lot of hazard to the woman.
“The problem before now was elaborate. Only that now parents are trying to train their girl children so it is a bit reduced. Before now a girl child was not sent to school. The parents would say “I don’t want to send you to school because if I do it is your husband and husband’s people that would enjoy you.” The awareness is growing now that if the girl child is educated, it is the whole nation that is being educated. My advise to parents is that the girl child is not a slave, but should be seen as the boy child. She ought to be taken as important as the boy child.
“We should continue to talk about it so that people who indulge in this vice would desist. When we had the day of the African Child, it is just once a year. Efforts should be made all year round by relevant stakeholders to ensure that the problem is tackled. So those in charge and policy lawmakers should put more effort in tackling this issue of child marriage.”
A parent from the area, Mr Ikpi Eyong, said: “Early marriage poses severe health threats to the victims, some even leading to death. It can lead to vesicovaginal fistula which is a major health problem for the girl. Also it causes dropout from school which in turn would lead to a low literacy among the women folk. I would advise other parents as myself to please don’t allow their young girls to get married off as children.”
And in Bayelsa
Unicef and the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Bayelsa State were recently preoccupied with the protection of child’s rights in the state. Even the Glory FM 97.1 joined in the partnership to seek an end to various practices that violate the rights of a child.
The institutions were no doubt bothered by early marriages, sexual abuses especially rape, physical abuses, lack of access to education and other abuses militating against the development and maturity of children in the state.
As part of the activities to celebrate the day of the African Child, UNICEF and its partners relocated to Kaiama, the headquarters of Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state. They invited pupils of different schools in the area and involved them in the celebration.
This year’s celebration of the African child by UNICEF is attached to the Soweto killing,the 1979 South African experience where some students carrying out a peaceful protest were murdered by the police. June 16 was set aside by UNICEF to honour the departed students.
First, the pupils were given a task that exposed them to their rights as contained in the African Children’s Charter. They were asked to engage in a competitive creative drawing with a theme, “25 years after the adoption of the African Charter, accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in Africa”.
Pupils from Okoro Primary School; Imgbela Primary School,Odi; Igbeta Primary School,Odi; King Bolou Primary School; Amasian Primary School,Odi; Group School 1,Okpokuma; Reverend Proctor Memorial School 1 and 2, Kaiama, participated in the competition.
The pupils busied themselves creating images in their heads and also putting lines together to make the images real. The event attracted many dignitaries who watched as the pupils engaged in the competition.
The Project Manager, RUWASSA, Mrs. Wini Asingbe; Head of Nutrition, Mrs. Felicia Afenfia and the Kolokuma-Opokuma Education Secretary, Mr. John Appah were all in attendance.
Afenfia said it was necessary to instill creativity in the minds of the young ones. “Creativity should be instilled in our children at a very young age. Some are born artists while others are trained.
“Engaging them in this kind of competition sharpens their skill. Teaching them healthy competition is very important for a healthy future”, she said.
After the competition, the children sat to listen to instructors who spoke on various issues bordering on their rights. One of the resources persons, Dr. Bodies re Teibowei, appealed the female children not to allow anybody take advantage of them sexually
She asked them to stop keeping secrets and to expose anybody attempting to abuse them sexually by touching their breast and waist. Addressing them she said: “Say no to bad people.”
She further encouraged the children to be serious with their studies and to use their talents to attain greatness.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Glory FM, Mr. Lawson Harford who was represented by ?the Deputy Controller Programmes, Mrs. Biboera Adobeni said the theme for this year’s celebration was apt. He called on the children to be responsible useful to their families and the society at large.
Ashingbe demonstrated to the children the benefit of washing their hands before and after meals and after using the toilet. She urged them not to drink river water and also encouraged them to ensure they drink clean water always.
Apah appreciated UNICEF for choosing Kolokuma/Opokuma out of the eight local government areas in the state saying that the exercise was a success. He enjoined the children not to disappoint their parents and the society at large.
The pupils held a community awareness rally and presented of short drama. Prizes were also given to the winners of the art competition.
The popular Most Bautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant has found a new home in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The annual pageant, which is being produced by Silverbird Group, will be hosted for the next for years, at the prestigious five thousand seat capacity Calabar Int’l Convention Centre (CICC).
The agreement which was reached on Thursday, between Cross River State Government and Silverbird Group, will also have the later manage another show, the Miss Africa Beauty Pageant, owned by the Cross River State Government.
While MBGN is scheduled for October, Miss Africa Beauty Pageant will be held in December.
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony at the CICC, Calabar, the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade noted that “Silverbird has the capacity and expertise to manage the Center as well as organise the pageants because they are the nation’s number one in the entertainment industry.”
According to the governor, “It is a four-year contract subject to renewal, but I know they have all it takes to manage the edifice as well as organise the pageants.”
He added that by this vista of opportunities, “Calabar has taken its place as the destination for tourism and entertainment.”
Ayade further stated that, “With the hosting of the two pageant shows in October and December respectively, Cross Riverians and indeed Nigerians should key into it and make the best use of it because they will attract the whole world to the state.”
Group Vice President, Silverbird Group, Mr. Guy Murrày-Bruce, who was overwhelmed by the architectural masterpiece, described the CICC as the best of its kind in Africa. “This is second to none. This is terrific!” he said.
Murray-Bruce said the pageants would enable the state showcase its enormous tourism potentials to the world with the view to attracting tourists for economic gains.
“I am not only impressed about what I have seen today, but overwhelmed for Calabar and Africa for this is the best destination to be and one has to travel wide to know. It is beautiful and scenic, I must confess.”
He observed that though work is still in progress at the site, the facility will be ready for MBGN in October, as assured by the contractors who were busy putting finishing touches on the massive convention center.
The Federal Government has pledged its readiness to partner Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, on his signature projects to ensure their realisation.
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo stated this on Thursday while fielding questions from press men during a private visit to Governor Ben Ayade at his residence, shortly after delivering a key note address at the 10th P.O.E. Bassey Memorial Anniversary Lecture, held at University of Calabar.
Osinbajo disclosed that he had strong belief that the signature projects initiated by the governor, which include; the dual carriage super highway from Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja and Obudu, as well as the state deep seaport, have a turnaround effect not only the economy of the state, but the nation as a whole.
He described them as projects with strong economic potentials, which “the federal government will lend its support to ensure they succeed,” because according to him, “they will create employment, create wealth, attract more development as well as attract both local and foreign investors to the country.”
The Vice President commended Prof Ayade for his vision to open up the state and develop its economy in order to improve on the wellbeing of its citizenry.
Osinbajo said the lofty initiative will definitely take the state to enviable heights, as he intends to record a lot of achievements during his (Ayade) reign.
In his words: “Having listened to the governor on his plans for the state, I am confident that he has the capacity and commitment to bring developments to the state. His vision for the state will certainly impact on the people as well as take it to greater heights.”
The Vice President, who described Cross River as home of hospitality and centre of tourism in the country, restated that the Federal Government will partner it to ensure that all undeveloped and other untapped tourism potentials are fully harnessed and repositioned to attract more visitors for socio-economic economy gains.
there is no military expedition or bombardment in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the government said yesterday.
Christian Ita, the chief press secretary to Governor Ben Ayade, said the report of a bombardment in Calabar was “unfounded and untrue, fabricated by twisted minds for devious purposes”.
In a statement in Calabar, the spokesman said there was no basis for such incident.
He said: “There is no military raid going on in Calabar. There has been no bomb attack in the state capital. The only military expedition that took place sometime last week was an operation undertaken by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to flush out criminals on the Cross River/Akwa Ibom waterways, which is far removed from towns and civilian population.”
Ita added that the military exercise only lasted a day.
He said: “As long as we cannot dissuade or prevent anybody from pursuing any course they deem fit, they should leave Cross River State out of their clandestine campaign and look elsewhere. All pictures purportedly showing places that were bombed were all simulated; they are products of photoshop.”
The Anti-Deforestation Task Force, an arm of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, has been enmeshed in allegations of illegality and fraud perpetrated by a cartel in the force and has been a matter of public concern in the state for some time.
The recent disbandment of the force and arrest of some of its top officials on the order of the new governor, Prof Ben Ayade, over allegations of mismanagement of the forest for personal gains, has generated a lot of strong feelings about what may have been going since they were inaugurated by the former governor of the state.
A press release from the Ministry of Information signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Freedom Ejom, made available to The Nation in Calabar, stated that offenders are to be prosecuted without delay.
The rate of alleged allegations of extortion and other unwholesome practices by the Task Force by members of the Public and concerned citizens of Cross River State it is believed may have fueled the governor’s decision.
Members of the public had been complaining that people who refused to play ball have fallen victims. They complained that people most times timber are seized without following due process and auctioned without recourse to the huge investment by their owners who are businessmen.
•Okon
For Chief Ededem Okon Ayito, who said he is a victim, life has become a living nightmare for him as he alleged that all the timber he legally harvested from a protected area he acquired at Ekpri Ibami Community in Akampka Local Government Area was unduly auctioned without fair hearing and no opportunity given to him to make his case.
Ayito alleged, “I acquired that place from the Village, Head of Ekpri Ibam Community for planting of plantain, cocoa and oil palm and other cash crops. But with the trees in the location my plantain and other things will not do well, so I had to fell the trees with proper approval from the forestry people.
“In the process of perfecting the documents and waiting for a final charting to come from them they confiscated my 7950 pieces of timber. I am baffled that they declared only 2,147 in the Order. Also, while the courts were still on strike, they got an Order to sell 2,147peices of timber while the courts were still on strike”
“I wrote to them (Anti Deforestation Task Force) through my lawyer Barr Orchardson Umoh that the wood belongs to me and all necessary documentation is being processed and that I copied the governor too. But to my greatest surprise within one week they started selling the wood which is contrary to the CRSF law in section 68 (subsection 4) states that the commission may dispose of any items and forest produce, which the owner might have abandoned to escape arrest and it is not found, and remains unclaimed for 60 days.”
“They did not even get to Calabar nor did they wait for the sixty days to elapse before selling. Not only that they also got an order while the courts were still on strike.
“They have turned my life into a living hell, the banks are after me I am selling off most of my properties at auction price just to meet up with my responsibilities. My family is suffering. My children are almost out of school. I really could not believe that such a thing is happening in Cross River state,” Edem lamented.
•Ako
When our reporter visited the Village Head of Ekpri Ibam, Chief Michael Bassey Ako, he said the land that was given to Chief Edem Ayito was not under reserve but in the protected area, hence he had the right to fell the trees and harvest timber.
In 2014 a Court Order (MSC.NO.FC/CA/MSC./6/2014) was issued for the sale (auction) of 2,147 Pieces of timber during the period in which the courts were on strike (the first warning strike by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Secretary of JUSUN, Cross River State Branch, Comrade Ogboni Adjah said the courts were on strike at the time and it was called of in August.
But according to the lawyer of the Anti-deforestation Task Force, Barr U.A Ibitam said that the courts were not on strike that it was JUSUN that was on strike.
He said, “The courts were not on strike and are not and the only people on strike are JUSUN. Judges and Magistrates have never been on strike because they are not members of JUSUN. The only thing is that some judiciary staff that is affected would not be there to assist them (Judges and Magistrates)
“That is why you still you still see Judges performing swearing in and other official judicial functions every magistrate and Judges is at liberty to perform judicial functions. That is the point I just wanted to clarify. Apart from this I will not go further to comment because this subject matter is before Justice Ebuta”. He stated.
•Umoh
But Ayito’s lawyer, Mr Umoh Orchardson said the finality of the Order was quite questionable and given in bad faith. “An exparte application cannot be used to sell off someone property without even hearing from the person,” he said.
He continued, “The Forestry court is under the Cross River State Judiciary. The Order which authorized the auction of the timber could not have sat because there was a strike which affected all the courts in the country. No court in Nigeria was sitting no matter how important your matter was.
“The judiciary headquarters was also under lock and key from 11th of July till the 8th of August 2014, because the entire place was locked. The question remains, where did they sit and how did they get the registrar to sign? The same court had other cases on its list that were listed from the time the strike started and none of them was sat upon neither did they take a new case.
According to Chief Ayito, there was there was no order for the Anti-deforestation Task Force to confiscate the 7,950 pieces from his farm in Ekpri Ibami Community in the first place, but alleged they “manufactured” an order for a public auction of only 2,147.
“They never gave an order for the 7,950 rather they got an order for only 2,147. Where is the remaining 5,803 pieces of timber, which has not been accounted for till date? Also how did a Magistrate give an order within 24 hours that a motion was filled to sell a property without giving time to the owner to be heard? It is quite ridiculous and highly questionable”
“I am really surprised that a motion filed on 22nd of July was granted on the 23rd to sell 2,147 instead of all the pieces (7950) which was confiscated by the ATF.”
Another timber dealer at Akim Timber market who said he was also a victim, Mr. Bassey Akpan, alleged: “This cartel has been in existence for a long time, they have been doing their dirty deals since 2009. I have lost a lot. I sold my house and my only truck. My children are not even going to school; I am now living on good will from friends.
“I have left everything in the hands of God, since they collected my money and gave me documents yet they still came back and seized my wood running into 14.2million naira, how can I ever recover from this.”
Chief Magistrate, Emeng Edogi admitted that the Order (MSC.NO.FC/CA/MSC./6/2014) emanated from his court on the said date.
But he said that the Cross River State Forestry court is a mobile court and was not affected by the JUSUN strike as he is also not a member of JUSUN and he acted based on the facts that were presented before him, before giving the Order (MSC.NO.FC/CA/MSC./6/2014) which he gave in good faith.
Following the disbanded of the task force there seems to be a tangible feeling of relief among timber dealers in the state.
Some dealers from Akim market, Akai Effa ,Edide Edibe expressed happiness over the decision of the governor to dissolve the Task force which they alleged was monster used by some nefarious minded people to defraud unsuspecting businessmen.
A timber dealer at Edibe Edibe Timber Market, Mr Promise Eso, said the development was timely
He said: “They have been using the Task Force as their personal business. When they arrest you they sell the timber without following due process. Even if you have the necessary documents they still confiscate your timber illegally and that has been happening since 2009. They have been doing it with impunity.
Another timber dealer at Akai Effa market, Mr. Victor Bassey alleged, “I had to start from the scratch because of what they took from me. I lost everything to their fraudulent activities.”
Fresh facts have emerged on why a first-time lawmaker, Aniekan Ukoh, was elected Speaker of the sixth House of Assembly of Akwa Ibom State.
Ukoh’s emergence has been generating negative reactions after the Assembly failed to agree on two other lawmakers with requisite experience for the position.
But one of them, Imeh Okon, has said the emergence of Ukoh, who represents Ibesikpo Asutan, was for political exigencies.
Okon said: “Myself and another person were interested in being the Speaker. But at the end of the day, someone, who wasn’t in the picture, was picked as the Speaker. That’s because of the exigencies of the time. We were all satisfied.
“The important thing is that we want the Assembly to be stable; we wanted a House that will serve the people, not necessarily who the Speaker or his deputy is.
“Order 6, Rule 2 (1) of the Standing Order of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly provides that preference shall be given to members with cognitive legislative experience. It is a parliamentarian convention all over the world because, for one to perform effectively, he must have experience.
“But then, there was a clamour for Uyo Federal Constituency that, even though the speakership was zoned to Uyo Senatorial District, that within Uyo Senatorial District, you have some federal other state constituencies.
“There was a clamour for sub-zoning, like Itu Federal Constituency has a serving senator and Etinan Federal Constituency has a party chairman. But there was nothing for Uyo Federal Constituency.
“There was the clamour that what was left for Uyo Senatorial District should be given to Uyo Federal Constituency. So, we had to agree so that we could move forward.”
The lawmaker also disagreed with the insinuations that the new Speaker lacks the capacity and experience to lead the Assembly.
Okon noted that since Ukoh had served as a lawmaker at the local government level, he had acquired enough legislative experience to succeed as Speaker.
He assured that the older members of the Assembly would support him to ensure that the House remains focused and independent.
On the allegation that former Governor Godswill Akpabio bribed some lawmakers to elect Ukoh, Okon said the insinuation was laughable.
Unlike Simeon the God-Receiver who was visited by the Holy Spirit and told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord Jesus Christ, the immediate past Obol Lopol of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Late Obol Ujong Inah, had vowed during his 80th birthday in 2010 that even at that age, he would never see death until Ugep had an institution of higher learning.
Immediately after his 80th anniversary, death had several times come knocking, and several times too, he stubbornly refused to yield to its cold hands, until he had his wish fulfilled.
Even if death had had its way with the late monarch, it is difficult to tell if he would have been resting peacefully with his ancestors today had his request not been met.
Exactly five years ago, the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who was the Chief Guest of Honour at the monarch’s 80thh birthday, had asked what he wanted done for him. The then Octogenarian had responded that at his age, what could he be asking for when he was already in the midnight of his life.
But then, he made a passionate plea to the governor, which was to help ensure that Ugep had a tertiary institution, a plea Governor Imoke graciously granted with the establishment of Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep, a first class institution, not only modelled after the prestigious Highbury College, United Kingdom, but equally affiliated to the upscale institution.
And sometime last year, when the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM) was commissioned and officially opened for academic activities, the monarch, elated that Imoke gave him what he ultimately asked for, declared: “I can now go and join my ancestors.” And in March this year, he breathed his last, having had his wish fulfilled.
As the most populated indigenous community in West Africa, Ugep had for so long been without any tertiary institution, let alone an iconic one like the ITM. Worried by this basic desideratum, Governor Imoke, in his ever burning desire to boost human capacity, ensured that it was not just enough to establish a higher institution of learning in Ugep, but a world-class entrepreneurial Institute, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
In going into partnership with Highbury College, the governor considered international rating of UK-based institution as a grade one outstanding college in the UK and the need to develop a world-class entrepreneurial technology Institute in Nigeria.
In terms of vision, mission and core values, ITM, a Technical, Vocational, Educational and Training (TVET) institute, shares the same ideals virtually with Highbury College.
Speaking on the ideals of the institution, the Rector, Dr. Williams Pedley said: “Our goal is to develop a world-class entrepreneurial Institute, the first of its kind in Nigeria. The Institute will provide students a unique opportunity to be taught in a learning environment with state of the art facilities that represent international best practices in the educational industry. The school currently offers full time Ordinary National Diploma Programs and will in no distant time offer full courses in Higher National Diploma.”
Furthermore, as an incentive to students studying at ITM, he disclosed: “We provide an opportunity for successful students to progress to higher level programmes at Highbury College, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
The Institution has well-seasoned lecturers from the United Kingdom and Nigeria. With their wealth of experience, they are duty bound to provide high quality teaching and learning opportunities that meet the needs of individual students and groups in line with its strategic goals.”
The school which currently runs courses in Computing, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, Leisure & Tourism Management is preparing its pioneer students for their second semester examination.
Expressing her joy at her enlisting at ITM, Joy Eko, studying computing said: “My experience has been very wonderful and awesome, I must say. I am completely transformed both in character and learning. I now speak as an entrepreneur, reason like an innovator and most importantly, work and express myself freely at any gathering as guided by our code of conduct. One good thing about this school is that we live as a family.”
One of the cardinal principles of the school which is pioneering innovative approaches to education and training is already manifesting, judging from testimonies from the students during their respective interactive classes.
For Miss Abodunrin Seun, an ND 1 student in Computing: “You must wonder why I came all the way from Lagos to Ugep. I have visited so many schools round the country and I can tell you what they offer, but my experience here has given me a different assessment of other schools. For me, others are like glorified secondary schools. This school has brought out so many things in me. I will not be far from the truth if I say that ITM is first IT supported learning environment in Nigeria today.”
The story is not different with Mr. Richard Etim, who is studying Leisure and Tourism in the institution. For him ITM is the best thing that has ever happened to him, even as he calls on other youth to join him. “ITM is a world -class institute and it is known for its uniqueness in Cross River State and in the UK. In ITM, you are taught among other things, to be a critical thinker, exposed to problem solving, time management skill, which is critical for a successful business, team-work skills and applying the lessons to real life situations. So if you have a child and you believe in them and want them to get the best in life and qualitative education that is entrepreneurial-based, then ITM should be your next stop.”
As expected, take off of the school has come with its attendant socio-economic spin-offs. Already, locals are taking advantage of the opportunities of the presence of the institution by opening shops and building hostels and hotels around the school.
Not to be left out of the imminent boom, most traders in Abakiliki, in neighbouring state of Ebonyi are beginning to relocate their businesses to Ugep.
According to Mr. Tony Otuokoro, from Ebonyi State, who runs a provision store, “The establishment of this school has really brought a very big change to this environment. If you look around, you will notice it is a new site. People have started building around here. Even though the population is not much, business life has started and more people have approached me to secure spaces for them, which are now becoming expensive.”
Monday Ichie, who runs a cyber cafe, one of the businesses in the institution, spoke of his joy at the establishment of the institution.
The Rector of the institution, William Pedley said apart from the world-class curriculum adopted for the school, to achieve the main goal of ensuring that between 90 and 100 percent of its graduates are gainfully employed upon graduation, he will not relent, given the progress already made and the kind of response gotten from their staff.
“I’m confident that we will get there. Our intension is to be international leader in vocational education and we are confident that with the foundation we have laid, we are not far from achieving that.”
He said: “Highbury was selected from a rigorous process by the state government.
That was after assessment by the government that Highbury College matched the requirement of the state after proper examination of our track records in entrepreneurship development in the UK and outside the UK. So we were contracted to keep the institution up and running for five years and thereafter hand it over to an indigenous Nigerian management which we have already started training in line with current realities and according to our standards.
“Here in Cross River State, there has been a great welcome, and fantastic support. The academic institutions we came across have been very supportive and we have recruited young and energetic Nigerians who have come to realise that truly, this is the right place to be and they are doing their work effectively as expected. From the state government, I will affirm that so far, the support has been firm and constant and that has kept us up and running.”
The Cross River State Elections Petitions Tribunal will start sitting today.
The tribunal’s Secretary John Tsok said the inaugural sitting for the National and State Assemblies’ petitions would hold today at the National Industrial Court in Calabar, the state capital.
The sitting on the governorship election would tomorrow at the Federal High Court, also in Calabar.
The tribunal has received 26 petitions from aggrieved politicians and parties on the March 28 National Assembly and April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Tsok said: “The tribunal has received four petitions on senatorial election; nine on House of Representatives; two on governorship and 11 on the House of Assembly elections.”
The Cross River State Elections Tribunal has received 26 petitions from aggrieved politicians and political parties in the March 28 National Assembly and April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The tribunal’s Secretary John Tsok addressed reporters yesterday in Calabar, the state capital.
He said: “As we speak, the tribunal has received four petitions on senatorial election, nine on the House of Representatives, two on the governorship and 11 on the House of Assembly elections.
“The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Fidelis Ugbo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have filed their petitions against Governor-elect Ben Ayade.”
For the Senate, Senator Bassey Otu of the LP, representing Cross River South, filed a petition against Gershom Bassey of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
For Cross River North, Julius Okputu (LP) and Anthony Kanjal-Oko, of APC, filed their petitions against Dr Rose Okoh of the PDP, challenging her victory at the polls.
Tsok also said in Cross River Central, Dr Sandy Onor (LP) filed a petition against John Owan-Enoh of the PDP.
