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Tag: inaugurates

  • Sambo inaugurates Tompolo Foundation

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo has urged critics of former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo) to look beyond his role as a freedom fighter and emulate his gestures in giving back to the society.

    Sambo spoke yesterday in Warri, Delta State, during the inauguration of the Tompolo Foundation at the Hotel Excel.

    Minister of Education Nyesom Wike, who represented Sambo, said it was encouraging that the former freedom fighter was giving back to the society.

    He said: “People should look at the society and contribute. Tompolo has done so much, not just as a freedom fighter, but in giving back to the society. We will identify with him and see how we can partner.”

    The minister refused to announce the Vice-President’s donation to the foundation, saying: “If we announce anything now, it will appear on the front page of the newspapers tomorrow.”

    Wike pledged to donate his six months’ salary to the foundation.

    He accused governors of frustrating the Federal Government’s education initiatives, especially the State Universal Basic Education.

    The minister said many states refused to access billions of naira from the fund because of their unwillingness to contribute their 50 per cent quota.

    He raised questions about the N5 billion given to governors for the training of teachers and urged guests to go back and ask their governors “how many teachers are being trained”.

    Wike said: “Not less than N7 billion worth of textbooks were given to states for our children. When the books get to the states, they do not get to the children.”

    About N100 million was realised at the fund-raising. An indigenous oil services company, FENOG Nigeria Limited, made the highest donation of N30 million.

    Other donors included Igho Charles Shanomi and Chief Ayiri Emami, who gave N10 million each. Tony Uranta pledged to raise N10 million through his goodwill. Skyebank Managing Director T. Ayeni and a friend donated N10 million.

    Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark sent a N500,000 donation.

  • Fed Govt inaugurates community service scheme

    •Says it ‘ll employ 320,000 unskilled, physically- challenged people

     

    The Federal Government has reassured that it was committed to delivering the dividends of the partial subsidy removal to Nigerians.

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo said this at the inauguration of a community service programme under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), which is designed to employ 320,000 unskilled youths, women and the physical-challenged annually.

    He said government has challenged members of the community service programme to take steps to meet the target set for 2012 deliverables for women and youth employment, as defined for the project.

    Sambo said the Goodluck Jonathan administration has evolved innovation to tackle employment.

    While noting that there is a global youth unemployment, he said the administration is not comfortable with a high number of unemployed youths, which he attributed to the failures of the past efforts to tackle the problem.

    He said: “Like every other nation, Nigeria, for decades, has been faced with a high unemployment rate among our youths. Since independence, several strategies and institutional mechanisms have been put in place to address unemployment and the attendant poverty among our youths. These efforts to solve unemployment and create wealth have not yielded the desired results given that we still face high rate of youth unemployment.

    “While unemployment, especially among the youth, is currently a global phenomenon, with about 50 per cent youth unemployment rate in several countries, it is not acceptable to this administration that a high percentage of our youths remain unemployed and underemployed. This is why our administration has evolved innovative methods of tackling unemployment.”

    Vice-President Sambo said the present effort under the SURE-P is to build partnership between the tiers of government on the one hand and across sectors on the other.

    He added: “It is imperative for us as a nation to appreciate that no one tier of government can address unemployment, hence the need to build stronger partnerships in this regard.

    “This administration remains committed to delivering the dividends of the partial oil subsidy removal to Nigerians. I urge you to take steps to meet the target set for 2012 deliverables for women and youth employment as defined for this project.”

    The Vice-President said: “Each sector in our national economy has a role to play in contributing to job creation. It is in this regard that an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been set up at the federal level to guide the implementation of the community services, women and youth employment component, and to strengthen linkages between sectors and among the relevant ministries, departments and agencies at the federal level.”

    He said: “State Implementation Committees (SICs) have been established in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, not only to guide the implementation at the state level, but to serve as a platform for strengthening partnerships with states and local governments on employment creation. In order to achieve this, SICs will have community participants, civil society organisations and federal MDAs as may be required from time to time.”

    Explaining further, he said the administration’s present efforts “is matching words with action.”

    Sambo explained that a major lesson emerging from the pilot scheme is the need to establish state-level structures to facilitate delivery while also ensuring that the guidelines are followed.

    “Consequently, having an institutional platform has become imperative, hence the constitution of these committees. We are here today for the inauguration of the SICs to be tasked with oversight and management of the programme across the country,” he added.

    He urged members of the SICs to help deliver on community expectations of the SURE-P programme.

    While noting that members of the committee were carefully selected to ensure that they were people of high integrity, Sambo tasked them to “live up to the expectations of government and justify the confidence reposed in them. I need not remind members that they have to be above board at all times. We are the examples Nigerians look up to and we cannot but reflect those expectations. Let me also stress that government will not tolerate any act of wrongdoing or corruption.”

     

  • Uduaghan inaugurates 160 buses

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has inaugurated 50 Marcopolo buses, 100 Toyota Hiace buses and 10 Tata buses to enhance transportation in the state.

    At the ceremony in Asaba, the state capital, Uduaghan said the investment would make transportation cheaper and comfortable.

    He said the investment is part of his Human Capital Development agenda to touch lives in rural areas.

    Uduaghan said: “Every Deltan deserves to move around in a good and affordable vehicle. These buses will get Deltans to their destinations comfortably and at a reduced cost.”

    He said majority of the Marcopolo and TaTa buses would be run by Agofure Transport Company.

    The governor said 50 of the Toyota buses would be operated by the National Union of Road Transport Workers, adding that both organisations have performed satisfactorily.

    Uduaghan said the buses would be used within major cities in the state.

    He urged the end users of the vehicles to maintain them.

    Commissioner for Transport Benson Igbakpa said the investment will create jobs and make transportation easier.

    Igbakpa assured the governor that his Directorate will monitor the operators of the vehicles.

  • Osun inaugurates 10,000-capacity cattle ranch

    The Osun State Government at the weekend inaugurated a 10,000-capacity cattle ranch.

    The ranch is called Osun Beef (O’Beef).

    The ceremony was held in the ranch at Oloba Farm Settlement in Iwo.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the ranch would boost food production and ensure food security.

    Aregbesola said with the huge market for cattle in the Southwest, the ranch would improve the state’s economy.

    He said Lagos State consumes 6,000 cattle daily and none of it is supplied from the Southwest.

    The governor decried the heavy dependence on food importation.

    He said: “As a government, we must be able to produce the food we eat. A government cannot be said to be good if it is incapable of feeding its people.

    “This is why we promised to focus on animal rearing and food production, which are paramount to our development. In Lagos alone, 6,000 cows are slaughtered daily and they all come from the North.

    “Our target is just 10 per cent of the Lagos market. This will certainly boost the economy, as well as agro-based industry of our state.”

    The ranch is on 78.4 hectares of land. It is expected to supply the Southwest when it becomes fully operational.

    Aregbesola said more ranches would be established in Ede and Ejigbo.

    The ranch is being managed by a South African expert, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

    For now, it has 1,500 cattle, which were sourced locally.

    The governor said 30 foreign species, called the Zambian Boran, would be bought and crossbred with the local cattle.

    The ranch will be run on a public private partnership basis.

    When fully operational, it will have an abattoir, which will offer services to the public at a low rate.

  • Fayemi inaugurates multi-million naira ward, ambulances

    Fayemi inaugurates multi-million naira ward, ambulances

    •Assures residents of improved health care 

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday inaugurated a multi-million naira Accident and Emergency Ward, a Laboratory and a Male Surgical Ward at the State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    He also inaugurated seven ambulances purchased for some secondary health facilities.

    The ambulances were handed over to the officials of the health facilities and the representatives of the communities.

    Fayemi said the projects would improve health care delivery, adding that the ambulances would ensure prompt responses during emergencies.

    Restating his administration’s determination to deliver high quality health care and provide standard health facilities for the people, the governor said the funding of health facilities would be increased.

    Fayemi said N12,082,859.64 has been released for the re-roofing of the State Teaching Hospital’s Theatre Complex.

    He said earlier in the year, the government paid the N69,980,083 hospital bill of 94 indigent residents and bought equipment worth over N130 million for health facilities.

    These, Fayemi said, were aimed at providing efficient services at the 35 selected primary health facilities rendering free services to vulnerable groups.

    The Accident and Emergency Ward and the Laboratory, which are fully equipped, cost N190,534,025.60.

    The newly renovated Male Surgical Ward cost N51,543,757.04 while the seven ambulances, which have state-of-the-art intensive care gadgets, cost N119,000,000.

  • Lagos inaugurates Fela’s museum today

    Living up to its promise to upgrade Fela’s Shrine into an international museum, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, in collaboration with members of the Ransome-Kuti’s family, have concluded plans to inaugurate the monument today.

    The government had earlier in the year promised that the late musician’s residence at 7, Gbemisola Street, off Allen Aveue, Ikeja, will be rehabilitated and upgraded into an international museum.

    According to a press statement from the ministry of tourism, the inauguration of the Museum will coincide with the opening of ‘Felabration,’ a yearly festival held in commemoration of the late Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

    Reiterating the present administration’s determination to immortalise deserving Nigerians, the ministry assured that the essence and content of the ‘Kalakuta Republic’ remains intact, after the rehabilitation.

    Stressing that the Museum will serve as a storehouse and database for the late icon’s lifetime, the statement said the provision of a terrace for drinks would be an added attraction.

    The ministry urged all lovers of the late Afro-beat king to attend the inauguration and the celebration of ‘Felabration’ as a way of immortalising Fela – the philosopher and social critic.

  • Uduaghan inaugurates committee to manage N500 million grant

    Uduaghan inaugurates committee to manage N500 million grant

    Delta State government plans a committee manage the 500 million naira flood disaster fund grand it by the Federal government.

    Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, who announced this at a meeting with political appointees and House of Assembly members in Asaba, said the committee would decide how to utilise the fund to resettle flood victims.

    He said he would appoint men of integrity to manage the fund.

    The governor said: “I will not meddle in the committee’s work. I will not disburse this money and definitely will not be part of what they shall do. Whatever decision they take on how to disburse the fund shall be well with me. Let members of the committee decide what to do with the money.

    “This is not the time to quarrel and create tension. We should be our brother’s keeper. People are going through trauma and need to be comforted.”

    He cautioned against playing politics with the disaster.

    His words: “I have short term plan, middle and long term plans for the flood issue and we are very serious and not playing politics. When politics come, we play it but not with flood issue where our people are suffering.”

    The governor directed the flood control management committee not to allow more than 800 flood victims in one camp.

    The chairman of the state committee on the management of flood disaster and Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Amos Utuamah (SAN), said more than twelve local governments areas have been submerged by flood.

    Anambra State government has concluded arrangements to build temporary structures for pupils whose schools have been flooded.

    The temporary structures would serve as their makeshift classrooms until the flood receded.

    Education Commissioner Dr Uju Okeke, who made the announcement, told The Nation the constructing of the structure became imminent sequel to the inability of the pupils and students to adapt to the new schools they were relocated to.

    She said: “We are feeding them and all other victims of the flooding in the various camps but the main reason why we are erecting temporary batchers to accommodate the pupils and the students in camps was because many of them could not cope with the situation and psychology in the new school environment.”

    Also, the displaced Nupe indigenes of Niger State yesterday sent a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) message to their home government.

    The more than 400 displaced residents, taking refuge in several camps in Edo State, urged the administration of Governor Babangida Aliyu to come to their aid.

    A leader of the displaced Nupe residents, Jibrin Mohammed, who spoke from one of the camps at Ogozima Osukpo Primary School, said the call became necessary following the plight of the victims.

    Mohammed lamented the attitude of the government to their plights.

    Lamenting the psychological trauma to which the victims have been subjected, Mohammed appealed to the government in Niger to intervene.

    He identified women and children as those mostly affected and said that efforts should be made by the government to relocate them from the camps to Niger.

    His words: “We are so shocked that since this flood sacked our homes, livestock and farmland, including all of our belongings, our state government has not come to see how we are doing or what has happened to us.”

    “If not for the Edo people, just look at our women and children here in their numbers what do you think would have happened to them?”

    The Council’s Secretary Dr. Adams Ojor urged the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to deploy psychologists and social workers to the various camps created in the three local government areas of Edo State.

    Ojor said this has become imperatives due to the trauma being suffered by many of the victims.

    He said: “I am appealing that psychologist be deployed to counsel these people because our medical records from the various camps show that many of them are traumatised.

    “There are reports of high blood pressure and this can lead to cardiac arrest and stroke. This is as result of their thinking; they don’t do what they used to do before. They are completely detached from their ancestral homes. So, their psyche needs to be worked on to prevent the breakdown of their nervous system.”

  • Fayemi inaugurates 10 roads, five water treatment plants

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday inaugurated 10 major roads and five water treatment plants.

    The ceremonies were part of activities marking the administration’s second anniversary.

    The roads are located in Ekiti Central Senatorial District. They include the Erijinyan-Ilawe Road (14.3km), Odo Owa-Oke Ila Road (12km), Awo-Iyin Road (6.25km), Ikogosi-Efon Road (24km), Ado-Ilawe Road (11.5km) and Fajuyi- Basiri- Police Headquarters Road (5km).

    Others are the Fajuyi-Teaching Hospital Road (1.65km), Ado-Afao Road (10.75km), Ijigbo-Isato Road (2km) and Osun-Iloro Road (13km).

    Fayemi said the roads were built/repaired to end the harrowing experiences of commuters.

    He said the Fajuyi–Teaching Hospital Road was planned to link the on-going Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road with Fajuyi Park.

    The governor said 16 road projects are ongoing in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    While inaugurating the Ado-Afao Road, he said the road was built by ousted Governor Ayodele Fayose in 2005 but it did not last.

    Fayemi said the roads would boost economic activities in the state.

    The five water treatment plants and reservoir are located at Ipole Iloro, Efon, Ido Ile, Okemesi and Mary Hill in Ado Ekiti.

    Fayemi said his administration is determined to provide potable water for, at least 80 per cent of the state’s population by 2014.

    He said the government is working towards repairing the four dams in the state, adding that a major part of the 2013 budget would be expended on water.

    The governor also inaugurated the rural electrification project at Odo Uro, a communtiy in Iyin Ekiti.

    The scope of work done involved about 0.1km Inter Town Connection (ITC), 1.8km Township Distribution Network (TDN), a 300KVA transformer and street lighting.

    A health centre at Ido Ile and a Skills Acquisition Centre at Iropora Ekiti, built by the State Community and Social Development Agency, were also inaugurated.

    Praising Fayemi’s achievements, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, urged the governor not to be discouraged by criticisms, but to see them as a “tonic” that would spur him to do more.

    He said the governor has touched every community in the state within his short time in office.

  • Dept honours head, inaugurates leaders

    Dept honours head, inaugurates leaders

    The National Association of Quantity Surveying Students (NAQSS), Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) chapter, has honoured the Head of the Department (HOD), Mallam Adamu Mudi. Also honoured was the president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution, Hammed Omuiyadun.

    The programme took place at the newly-reconstructed Stella Obasanjo Lecture Theatre on the mini campus of the institution.

    The Dean, School of Environmental Studies, Mr Anthony Otunola, while delivering his lecture titled Life after graduation, thanked God for the lives of the outgoing executive members who were graduating. He encouraged them not to influence their national service posting, explaining that God has plans for every one of them.

    While presenting the award, the outgoing president, Kazeem Olorunosebi, said: “We are presenting the award to our HOD for his undiluted support, courage and fatherly role towards achieving success in our department. During your short tenure, through your effort and commitment, we had six different courses accredited under your leadership and three different presidents in SUG, faculty and department. It is happening for the first time in the history this department.”

    Adamu, after receiving the award, said: “I am the happiest person on earth today. I appreciate all my students for this laudable honour. I pray that God grant you success in all your endeavors.”

    NAQSS also inaugurated new leaders for the 2012/2013 academic session. The new leaders included Babatunde Oludare, President, Bashir Muktar, General Secretary and Sunday Olaoye, Public Relations Officer.

  • Sambo inaugurates various projects in Akwa Ibom

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the weekend inaugurated various projects across Akwa Ibom State.

    They included the new Accountant-General’s office, the third Ring Road and the Fourth Flyover in Uyo, the Second Underground Drainage in Abak and the Ikot Ekpene City Centre Plaza.

    Sambo praised Governor Godswill Akpabio for giving the state a face-lift.

    He restated the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering the state.

    Sambo said the Federal Government has approved the building of Ibaka Deep Seaport.

    At the Accountant-General’s office, Akpabio said the new building would create a conducive working environment for workers and encourage improved productivity.

    He thanked the civil service for collaborating with the government in the implementation of policies and programmes.

    Akpabio urged the Vice-President to ensure that the Federal Government refunds the money spent on repairing the Abak-Uyo Federal Road.

    He said the Fourth Flyover in Uyo, which has 150 metres dual-carriage way with pedestrian walkways, was to divert traffic to Airport Road.

    Akpabio said the state government is negotiating with the Ministry of Interior for the demolition and rebuilding of Abak Prisons.

    The State Accountant-General, Mr. Udo Isobara, said the project cost N250 million.

    He said the building has five open apartments; 16 offices, each of which had its own toilet, air conditioners, computers, scanners, cameras and round-the clock internet facility.

    Isobara said 15 new sub-treasury offices have been completed in Ikono, Ini, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Ibom, Obot Akara, Okobo, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Ika, Urue Offong/Oruko, Onna, Itu, Oruk Anam and Nsit Atai local government areas.