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  • Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene @60: Akpabio unveils plans for church

    Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene @60: Akpabio unveils plans for church

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday, unveiled his future plans aimed at promoting the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene.

     Speaking during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene,  Akpabio exalted God for upholding the diocese since its inception and for constantly blessing the church.

    Akpabio, who was accompanied by his wife, Unoma, Senator Eteng Williams, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, among numerous others, expressed admiration for the accomplishments of the diocese, highlighting the establishment and growth of numerous schools and organisations within the diocese.

    He commended the diocese for its achievements in the area of spreading the word of God, saying, “We have collectively achieved a lot. I pray the Lord keeps all of us to continue winning more souls into the Catholic fold.

    “I will like to see more young people in the church than elders, so we can be sure of a secure future for the church.”

    According to a statement by his media office, Akpabio emphasised the importance of nurturing the next generation and ensuring they are actively involved in the church’s mission.

    He acknowledged the blessings bestowed upon the diocese over the past 60 years, highlighting specifically, his rise as an ambassador of the church, who became the governor of the state, leading to significant transformations in Ikot Ekpene, including the creation of essential roads and now the number three citizen of Nigeria.

    “We have brought a hospitality center called Four Points by Sheraton to Ikot Ekpene. Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo, the first minister of Gas Resources, from the area, also hails from the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene. This can only be God,” he said.

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    He assured the congregation of his commitment to transforming lives and announced plans to invest in the Catholic Pastoral Training Centre, Nko in Obot Akara LGA.

    “I will send engineers on Monday  to fence the whole place; no matter how large it is, we will ensure we do internal roads,” he promised.

    The high point of the event was the presentation of award plaques to the President of the Senate and his wife, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio.

    The event was graced by the Akwa Ibom State Governor,  Pastor Umo Eno, represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; the Minister of Gas Resources, Obong Ekperikpe Ekpo, among others.

    Meanwhile, the Senate President has reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly under his leadership  to continue to partner with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration in the provision of infrastructure for the people and the improvement of the economy.

    Akpabio stated this while commissioning some urban and farm roads in Ikot Ekpene and Essien Udim Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District on Friday.

    A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted him as saying, “the commissioning of these roads today, is a clear demonstration of the fulfillment of the campaign promises of this current administration to our people that their lives would be bettered through the provision of physical infrastructure like good road networks, hospitals, water and empowerment of our youths and women.

    “The Senate under my leadership will continue to support and collaborate with the current administration to ensure that our people at the grassroots enjoy the dividends of democracy and that is exactly what we are doing here today.

  • Hospitality: Firm to open ninth property in Nigeria

    Multinational hotel brand Marriott International, Inc. said it is on track to open the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, this year. It will be its ninth property in Nigeria.

    Marriott International, based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, encompasses a portfolio of more than 6, 900 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 130 countries and territories.

    The company, which operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world, said it expects to grow its current footprint in West Africa by 75 per cent with the addition of nine new hotels and more than 1, 800 rooms by the end of 2023.

    Currently operating 12 properties across Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Guinea, Marriott International plans to enter Benin and Ivory Coast as a part of its development pipeline.

    In 2019, the company said it is on-track to open the Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, its ninth property in Nigeria, and the Protea Hotel by Marriott Accra Kotoka Airport in Ghana.

    This announcement came as the international hotel brand said it continues with its expansion across Africa with three new deal signings across North and West Africa, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its presence across the continent.

    The company in a statement made available to The Nation during the weekend said the new deal signings highlight its growth in Morocco and Ghana, while marking its debut in Liberia.

    The signings were announced during the Forum de l’Investissement Hôtelier Africain in Marrakech, Morocco. The Forum unites North and West African countries in a bid to develop their economies and support hospitality investment.

    The Forum connects business leaders from international and local markets – driving investment into tourism projects, infrastructure, entertainment and hotel development across the region.

    “New and established markets across North and West Africa continue to present us with immence opportunities to further enhance and diversify our portfolio in the continent,” Chief Development Officer, Middle East & Africa at Marriott International, Jerome Briet, said.

    Briet further said: “The new deal signings further strengthen our robust development pipeline, which is a result of our long-established presence in Africa and the trust owners have in Marriott International and our compelling portfolio of diverse brands.”

    The three new hotel signings announced during the Forum de l’Investissement Hôtelier Africain include Four Points by Sheraton Monrovia, Residence Inn by Marriott Accra Kotoka Airport, The St. Regis Marrakech Resort.

    Marriott International, which targets strong growth momentum across North and West Africa, said it is on track to expand its footprint in Africa to 200 hotels by the end of 2023. The North and West African regions play a pivotal role in the company’s overall growth strategy for the continent.

    The company specifically said in West Africa, it expects to grow its current footprint by 75 per cent with the addition of nine new hotels and more than 1,800 rooms by the end of 2023.

  • Udom, APC clash over Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene

    Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were yesterday locked in a verbal war over ” Four Points by Sheraton ” , Ikot Ekpene , a state-owned luxury hotel started by the Godswill Akpabio government but which has allegedly been abandoned by the present administration.

    At his declaration for a second term yesterday at Uyo, the governor accused his predecessor,  Akpabio of unilaterally naming the hotel ‘Four Points by Sheraton’

    Udom claimed that no formal application  or contact was made to Sheraton before the name ‘Four Points by Sheraton’ was chosen by Akpabio.

    But from the APC came a swift response in defence of Akpabio,who recently defected from the PDP, Udom Emmanuel’s party. The party branded the governor’s claim  a lie.

    The APC,in its reaction, , cited  a  September  29,2014 statement issued by Starwood Hotels/Resort Worldwide “announcing  the establishment of Four Points by Sheraton in Ikot Ekpene.”

    The party alleged that the Governor Emmanuel was supposed to pay the fees when “it fell due in 2015 shortly after he took over” but failed to do so..

    The APC said the hotel , at the time Akpabio left office was ” 98 percent completed “but that the Udom Emmanuel government abandoned it for reasons best known to it. The APC attached a statement by Starwood Resort, released on September 29, 2014.

     The statement reads :

    “The 146-room Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene Will Open in 2015 in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria

    “September 29, 2014 – IKOT EKPENE – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene, a new hotel scheduled to debut in 2015. Owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene marks Starwood’s 10th hotel in Nigeria and second hotel in the state of Akwa Ibom, after Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort.

    “Looking back to when we first opened Le Meridien Ibom in 2007, we saw an opportunity in a city with limited infrastructure, today the state of Akwa Ibom has been transformed and modernised with new highways and a local airport, while the hotel was recently selected as an SPG® Members’ Favourite,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

    “Our experience and shared successes with the government of Akwa Ibom lead us to believe that Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene is another milestone in the development of the state and we embark on this second joint venture with great confidence.

    “This agreement is another milestone for the people of Akwa Ibom and the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene will strengthen the hospitality sector in the state,” Governor Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State Government commented.

    Starwood’s Four Points brand and its ‘best for business’ approach provides travellers with everything that matters the most including timeless design, uncomplicated comfort and a genuine and friendly approach to hospitality and service.

    “Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene will feature 146 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby bar, 814 square metres of meeting and event space, as well as a fitness centre and an outdoor pool.

    “Located at the crossroad between two major highways with easy airport access, Four Points by Sheraton Ikot Ekpene will be the first high-rise tower in Ikot Ekpene as well as the first purpose-built internationally branded hotel in the iconic town.

    ” Reflecting the brand’s promise and insight into the needs of today’s traveller, the hotel will also offer all of the brand’s defining elements, including the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort bed and free bottled water in the room, complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas, a delicious breakfast with great coffee and refreshing local beer with Best Brews, helping guests to start and end the day right.

    “Nigeria remains to be an important growth market for Starwood and we see a significant opportunity in growing our mid-market brands in the country and throughout all of Africa,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.

    “With one of the strongest pipelines in the Starwood portfolio, Four Points by Sheraton offers a compelling blend of comfort, style and affordability, making it an increasingly attractive choice for owners and developers across the world.”

    Also at yesterday’s rally,the governor said “Akpabio is no God and is not in a position ” to stop him from a second term in   office.

    “No man is God”, he said , adding: “I submit myself for consideration to continue with the good works that I have done and I seek your support for my candidature as governor for second term.”

    The governor said he was banking on his superior performance to return to the Government House, Uyo, in 2019.

    He listed  industrialization as a major plank of his achievements in the last three years, pointing out that the establishment of   toothpick, pencil, syringe, electric metre , coconut, paint and  fertilizer factories in the state as well as the construction of  and hundreds of  kilometres of roads, would recommend him for re-election.

    He vowed that any attempt to capture the state in next year’s election as insinuated by Akpabio would be resisted by the people.

    Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Onofiok Luke; a former Military Governor of the State, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga, who chairs the governor’s re-election committee and the State PDP chair, Obong Paul Ekpo, charged supporters and stakeholders of the PDP to work towards ensuring the PDP retains Akwa Ibom with Udom Emmanuel, in 2019.

  • Udom declares for second term

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Friday, declared his intention to seek re-election, saying his current performance would return him to the Government House.

    Emmanuel made the declaration in Uyo and said that his industrialisation efforts in the state was part of his major achievements since his inauguration in 2015.

    His achievements, according to him, include the conglomeration of industrial clusters, which houses toothpick, pencil, syringe, electric metres and coconut factories as well as Peacock Paint, fertilizer firms and many kilometres of roads.

    “No man is God. I submit myself for consideration to continue with the good work that I have done and I seek your support for my candidature as governor for second term,” he said.

    The governor urged the people to support his aspiration for second term for the sustenance of the tempo of good governance he had introduced in the state.

    He said that his predecessor left behind some uncompleted projects, including the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel at Ikot Ekpene and the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road project.

    He said that his administration had been working hard to ensure the completion of the projects and others begun by the former administration.

    “Who said they had completed the Sheraton by Four Points Hotel?

    “It is only today that we are negotiating with Starwood Group for the retaining of the name, which some people surreptitiously put up on a building,” he said.

    Read Also: Akpabio is not God, he can’t stop me – Udom

    In a remark, the Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke, charged members and supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to work towards the party’s victory at the polls in 2019.

    Chairman of Emmanuel’s Re-election Committee and former military administrator of the state, Mr Idongesit Nkanga, also appeal to the people to support the governor for a second term.

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers in his solidarity message, assured Gov. Emmanuel that he would be returned based on track record of his quality works in the state in the last three years.

    He urged the people not to allow external influence to alter “the political arrangement ably directed by the PDP since 1999 in Akwa Ibom.’’

  • Why I defected to APC – Akpabio

    Former Senate minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday pledged to take the people of Akwa Ibom state and the South South to the centre for meaningful visibilty.

    The 55-year-old former governor of Akwa Ibom formally defected from  the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) at a mega rally held at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium.

    He told the huge crowd that he decided to join APC because he discovered that President Muhammadu Buhari “is a man of integrity and a nationalist’’.

    Akpabio said that he decided to join a party that would sweep away poverty and impunity.

    He said that he joined APC to help salvage the country.

     

    Read Also: The many battles of Godswill Akpabio

     

    “The country is at war and all the hands must be on deck to salvage the situation and not to aggravate it.

    “As keepers of national emergency, everyone should put heads together. I decided to join to emancipate the people and provide succour for the people.’’

    He said that the PDP of today has no vision and  the leadership is replete with arrogance.

    Earlier, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere, said that change had come to Akwa Ibom and SouthSouth.

    He said that Akwa Ibom has joined the progressive states because the people were dissatisfied with the long misrule of the PDP.

    He said that Akpabio built the people and provided them with infrastructure but the present PDP government was a failure.

    Ekere said that the people have agreed to re-elect  President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

  • Akpabio is an ‘uncommon defector’ – Oshiomhole

    National chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole stirred the huge crowd at Ikot Ekpene Stadium in Akwa Ibom State, with his fiery speech and dance steps.

    Oshiomhole,former governor of Edo state, joined party big wigs, including the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to formally receive defecting ex-senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio.

    Akpabio and his wife, Ekaette, and others senators that attended the ceremony displayed their dancing prowess, gyrating to the melodious music, “Shekem’’.

    Oshiomhole described the event as the reception for “an uncommon defector and a man of honour’’.

    He described Akpabio as a symbol of unity who would lead Akwa Ibom to join Edo as APC states in the South South in 2019.

    He explained that opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deceived the people for 16 years and Nigerians were no longer ready for to embrace the party.

    The chairman of APC challenged Senate President Bukola Saraki to emulate Akpabio by relinquishing his seat.

    “Senator Akpabio has demonstrated what the people of South South stand for by quitting the seat of senate minority leader.

    “It is the turn of Saraki to vacate his seat as President of the senate.’’

    Oshiomhole, said Akpabio was joining APC to solidify his position as the former minority leader of the senate.

    Akpabio, he said, has demonstrated that he meant good for the people of South South.

    He urged the people to appreciate Akpabio for his role as a builder,

    “I feel extremely proud of Akpabio and humble also with the kind of crowd that I have seen in Ikot Ekpene today.

    “I am happy I came here today to see the bond that exists between Akpabio and the people of Akwa Ibom and I deeply appreciate this,’’ Oshiomhole said..

  • EEDC loses N15m to Aba power outage

    EEDC loses N15m to Aba power outage

     Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has lost over N15million to power outage, following equipment failure at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which has thrown Aba, Abia into darkness.

    Chukwuemeka Eze, Head, Communications, EEDC, made this known in an interview with the Newsmen in Aba on Thursday.

    He explained that the blackout happened on Saturday, February 10, following a Circuit Breaker failure at TCN, Aba station.

    He said that the Circuit Breaker failure had caused the disconnection of some EEDC feeders in Aba resulting in the blackout being experienced in most parts of the commercial city since Saturday.

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    Eze said that the failure affected 91 transformers causing power outage in most parts of Aba for more than a week now.

    He noted that the affected transformers were located in areas within Aba North, Aba South and Obingwa Local Government Areas.

    According to him, areas most affected were Ogbor Hill, Housing Estate, Ehere, Akwarandu, Ikot Ekpene road and New Phase of Umuobe.

    Eze noted that all the affected customers being served from the EEDC’s IGI 33KV and Opobo Road 11KV Feeders are out of supply now.

    He, however, said the Circuit Breaker failure was getting urgent attention to ensure timely restoration of electricity to the affected customers.

    Eze said the company regretted the inconveniences the disruption had caused its customers and assured them of speedy re-connection once the problem was solved.

    NAN

     

  • Don’t ask students for Christmas gifts, VC warns staff

    Don’t ask students for Christmas gifts, VC warns staff

    Vice-Chancellor of Ritman University (RU) in Ikot Ekpene Prof Celestine Ntuen has warned the teaching staff against asking students for gifts during the Christmas period. The VC said no lecturer was permitted to collect any gift from students under any guise.

    Prof Ntuen made spoke during an interactive session with students in the school chapel. He said the school expected students to be above board by discouraging the urge to engage in misconduct with any lecturer.

    He reiterated that the university has zero tolerance for cultism, indecent dressing and bribery. The VC noted that payment for projects and handouts remained prohibited in the school, while lecturers were not allowed to accept gifts from students or demand payment for services rendered.

    Prof Ntuen restated that lecture attendance was compulsory, while advising the students to aim for the best in their studies.

    Aiming for the best academic performance, the VC said, will help improve the students’ determination to succeed, adding that those unwilling to make extra efforts would end up with poor results.

    Prof Ntuen urged the students to register for free at the school medical centre, which, he said, is well-equipped with a resident doctor and nurses as well as ambulance service in case of emergencies.

    Meanwhile, the school is bubbling with social events as students organise a beauty pageant, where winners will go home with prizes, including laptops and iPhones. Marketing personnel of a foremost telecommunications giant – Globacom – are expected on the campus to provide free Internet service for two weeks and also give away SIM Cards.

  • Ritman varsity students visit slave trade site

    Students of Ritman University (RU) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, broke down with emotions during their excursion to Old Residency and Slave History Museum in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to see artefacts and simulations reminiscent of the slave trade era.

    The undergraduates, who were drawn from the Department of History and International Studies, took a guided tour round the museum which has become a tourist site. They were led by a lecturer, Mr. Kenneth Oforji, to the museum, which is located on the spot where captured slaves were shipped off to Europe during Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

    Mmenyene Silas and Grace Umanah, while reliving their experience, said the artefacts they saw  brought to their consciousness some of the historical incidents they were taught in class.

    The Old Residency, a colonial structure built in 1884, was the official house of British administrators from where they administered the Niger Coast territories. On exhibition were a dining table, ceramic plates, jugs and other items used by Lord Frederick Lugard and other colonial rulers.

    According to report, the Old Residency building was prefabricated in Britain and shipped to Calabar in 1884. Its ground floor served as headquarters of the British Protectorate that would eventually become the Southern part of British colony of Nigeria.

    During the slave trade era, Europeans shipped millions of Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to sell as slaves in Europe and America. Calabar used to be Britain’s busiest slave trading post. About one-third of Africans abducted before the abolition of slave trade in 1807 was shipped from the spot. When the colonial rulers left, Old Residency was declared a national monument, but turned to a museum in 1986.

    The students were shown a soap and bottles of alcoholic drinks, which were some of the items the white slave traders used to deceive the natives in exchange for their people. The slave traders were said to have been told that this soap would make them light-complexioned. The drinks, according to the tour guide, were given out as medicinal liquor but made the natives intoxicated enough to give in to the slave bargain.

    The students were also shown chains used on slaves as well as pictures of anti-slave trade fighters, including William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp and John Clarkson. There were also audios and video recordings of slave transactions complete with pathetic sounds of crying and lamenting slaves who were being branded with hot irons for identification as they were snatched from their loved ones.

    Other artefacts seen at the museum include items from ancient Nok, Benin, Igbo Ukwu, Calabar and Ife cultures. The students were also shown a spinning wheel and boat in which the late Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor – the woman credited to have stopped the killing of twins – was brought back to Calabar.

  • Akwa Ibom Speaker calls for prosecution of fraudulent leaders

    The Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr Onofiok Luke, has called for the prosecution of community leaders and government officials who divert public funds through fraudulent companies.

    Luke made the call while delivering a lecture on Wednesday, at the second public lecture of Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, on “Good Governance: A Panacea to Community Development’’.

    He said that community development effort must be devoid of white elephant projects to showcase massive buildings and attract praises, but sincere initiative and effort toward addressing the actual need of the people.

    He decried that community leaders in the Niger Delta have failed in their little way to be accountable to the grassroots and engage in cases of brazen thievery.

    The speaker pointed out that most leaders in the country and indeed Africa have failed in their responsibilities, adding that leadership was a social contract.

    “It is also a fact that most leaders have failed their respective communities. Leaders have abandoned the oath of office and put their selfish interest above the communal interest.

    `Some of these leaders are not altruistic but deploy the common wealth for their selfish gains”.

    “The need for attitudinal re-orientation cannot be over emphasised. Altruism shall be the guiding principle if our leaders must deliver the dividend of good governance to the people who elected them. We must return to the team spirit,” Luke said.

    The speaker stressed the need for leaders to think more of building an efficient and empowered community rather than building personal empires from the common wealth.

    He said that government must be seen to be participatory, transparent, accountable, equitable and respect for the rule of law.

    He said that leaders whether those voted or appointed into leadership positions must have genuine desire to serve the people than overbearing quest for personal aggrandizement.

    The speaker recommended that priority must be placed on provision of basic social amenities to make quality of life meaningful in communities across Africa.

    Luke also challenged religious leaders, family heads and leaders of various units of communities to preach and act towards unity and not division, and to avoid taking undue advantage of the vulnerable populace through deceit and false prophesies.

    He stressed the need for academic institutions to be fair and disciplined, even as he expected students to work hard in their academic pursuits.

    Besides, the speaker challenged the youths to rise above ethnic bigotry, vagaries of the past and positioned themselves for good leadership.

    The Vice Chancellor, Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Prof. Celestine Ntuen, said that youths hold the ace in developing the communities and the nation at large.

    Ntuen said that youths were the most potent and most viable among the resource that the country was blessed with.

    He lamented some greedy politicians who drained the nation dry were able to succeed with their nefarious act because youths complicit with them.