The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obudu

  • NiMet predicts thunderstorms, rains, cloudy weather for Monday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted morning thunderstorms over cities in the Central States of the country such as Ilorin, Minna, Abuja, Jos, Lafia and Bauchi on Monday morning.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday also predicted day and night temperatures in the range of 25 to 33 and 18 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

    It added that there were chances of thunderstorms over Gombe, Lafia, Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Makurdi and Lokoja axis later in the day.

    The agency predicted that southern states would experience prospect of cloudy morning with chances of rains over places like Awka, Ikom, Abakaliki, Obudu, Ogoja, Port Harcourt, Eket, Warri, Calabar, Ijebu-Ode and Lagos.

    It also predicted chances of thunderstorms and rains over most parts of the region with day and night temperatures of 27 to 31 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, Northern States will experience cloudy condition over the Inland of the south west with possibility of light rains over the remaining parts of the region in the morning.

    It also predicted thunderstorms and rains over the entire region with day and night temperatures in the range of 27 to 32 and 20 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “Cloudy conditions with prospects of thunderstorms and rain in varying intensities are anticipated over the country within the next 24 hours” NiMet predicts.

  • ‘Cross River to employ foreign teachers for Obudu Model School’

    ‘Cross River to employ foreign teachers for Obudu Model School’

    Cross River Government says it will recruit foreign qualified teachers to teach in the British Canadian International Model School, Obudu in Obudu Local Government Area.

    Dr Stephen Odey, the Chairman, State Universal Basic Education ( SUEBEB ), made this known on Thursday in Obudu, while inspecting the ongoing construction work at the school.

    Odey said that the school modelled along those in Great Britain and Canada, would rank among the best in the country, in the areas of infrastructure and education curriculum.

    “Here, they are not going to be ordinary teachers within the locality; we are bringing teachers from abroad.

    “The concept is that the school will not only be for formal education; as part of extracurricular activities, students will learn music and engage in other activities,” he said.

    Odey said that between now and next September, education in the state would take a new dimension.

    The SUEBEB chairman said that the school would be equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities, competent staff and conducive learning environment in line with the global best practices.

    He described the school as one of the signature projects of the present administration in the state.

    Odey said that it would take basic education to the next level, not only in the state, but in Nigeria at large.

    He said that the state government chose to locate the school in Obudu, close to the Obudu Ranch Resort, so that the foreign students coming to the school would take advantage of the ranch.

    “Remember that this school is not only for people of Cross River; it is an international school; even those outside Cross River and Nigeria can bring their wards here,” Odey said.

    He expressed satisfaction with the level of works done by the contractor, urging him to speed up the process so as to complete the job on time.

    Also, Mr Kanayo Okoye, the Managing Director, Jukok International Ltd., the construction company handling the project, commended the state government for living up to expectations.

    Okoye assured the board chairman that the project would be completed within the stipulated time.

    “The job is being well funded and the governor is living up to expectations. The work is going on well.

    “We are hoping to deliver the project within the time frame the government has given us.

    “This is a massive project, we will not compromise on standards,’’ Okoye said.

    NAN

  • FCE Obudu gets new provost

    FCE Obudu gets new provost

    The Federal Government has appointed Dr James Bassey Ejue as the new Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Obudu, Cross River State.

    Until his appointment, Ejue was the Provost of the College of Education (COE), Akamkpa where he is reputed to have made immense contributions to the growth and development of the institution.

    Dr Ejue, who is from Idum-Mbube in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, had his first discipline in English Education from the University of Calabar in 1987. He obtained his M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling in 1992 and a Ph.D. in 2003.

    A pioneer lecturer of COE, Akamkpa, Ejue taught at Cross River University of Technology where he attained the status of associate professor between 2002 and 2009. He was the Head, Special Education Unit of the university between 2003 and 2004.

    Ejue was appointed deputy provost of COE, Akamkpa, in 2011 and in 2014 he became substantive provost. Besides, he is a prolific writer with prominent books to his credit.

    He is happily married with three children.

  • Aero begins commercial flight to Obudu

    Aero begins commercial flight to Obudu

    Aero Contractors has commenced commercial flights to Obudu ranch resort.

    Speaking after touching down on a return flight to Calabar on a Dash 8300 Series, 5N-BJO, a 5o-seater aircraft, former Special Adviser to Governor Liyel Imoke on Tourism, Mr. Wilfred Usani expressed delight at the commencement of flights, saying it was long overdue.

    Mr. Usani said the flight was imperative, adding that “the Cross River State Government has acquired an aircraft which will be managed on behalf of the government by Aero Contractors.”

    According to Usani: “Aero Contractors is carrying out maintenance on the aircraft which would be delivered to the government in June. “Based on the agreement, the company was to begin a maiden flight today (yesterday). The commencement of the commercial flight is expected to open up bi-weekly flights from Calabar to Bebi. Part of the partnership is to ensure that flighs from Calabar to Obudu becomes regular and on schedule.

    “For us, the significance of the partnership is tremendous as we plan to bring about additional value to our tourism offering.

    “For long, we have been challenged by access to the Obudu Mountain Resort, which is one of our important tourist sites.”

    “What we have achieved with the partnership also is that we have been able to kill travel time, usually expended on road to the ranch. The flight we embarked on today (yesterday) took 35 minutes. There is no doubt it will significantly improve access to the resort. For us, it is a major achievement in our tourism drive”.

    “The feat recorded by the state is a testimony to Imoke’s passion in entrenching the state in global tourism map”.

  • Imoke electrification project

    Imoke electrification project

    Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke accompanied by DG State Electricity Agency project Mrs. Rosemary Asu, as the Governor inspects the switching unit of the Obudu Ranch Resort electrification project shortly after the commissioning ceremony
    Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke accompanied by DG State Electricity Agency project Mrs. Rosemary Asu, as the Governor inspects the switching unit of the Obudu Ranch Resort electrification project shortly after the commissioning ceremony
  • Obudu will still host world championships

    Obudu will still host world championships

    MRA president,Bruno Gozzelino says he is determined to ensure the beautiful and serene resort in Obudu plays host to the flagship event of the governing body for mountain running in the world.

    Gozzelino, whose tenure as World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) president has been extended till 2017, expressed disappointment that Obudu will not host the 30th edition of the WMRA Championships next year but believes the event has only been postponed.

    ‘I am confident the Obudu Ranch Resort will host our championships soon, say in 2016 or 2018. I am seriously working towards it,” says Gozzelino who believes that the organisers of the annual Obudu International Mountain Race and the African Mountain Running Championships have made the event one of the most eargerly anticipated events in the calendar of the World Mountain Running Championships.

    Gozzelino also praised Senator Liyel Imoke, the executive governor of Cross River State for his support for the race. The WMRA president also revealed he will be Obudu next month for the 9th Obudu International Mountain Race to offer technical and administrative support. The 2-in-1 race is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 23 at the Obudu Ranch Resort.

    The Obudu International Mountain Race is organised by the Cross River State Government, in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). It enjoys tremendous support from the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), the World Mountain Running Association, (WMRA) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

    It has the largest total prize-money available of any mountain race and is known as “the world’s richest mountain race”. The men’s and women’s competition winners receive US$50,000 each, and there is a total prize pot of around $270,000.

    The combination of the distance of the race and the rewards on offer means that it attracts world-class road running athletes as well as mountain running athletes. It is an associate member race of the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and is also endorsed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

  • Obudu: Dinkesa speaks on toughest race yet

    Obudu: Dinkesa speaks on toughest race yet

    ABEBE DINKESA says his historic win of the Obudu International Mountain Race men`s title last Saturday at the Obudu Ranch Resort is the most challenging of his three titles at the event.

    The Ethiopian made history on Saturday when he became the first man to win the men`s individual title three times.

    “This is the toughest of the three Obudu Races I have won,” starts Dinkesa . “The first kilometer was relatively flat. The toughest and most demanding part of the race was between two and eight kilometers,” Dinkesa recalls.

    “Once I got past the 8km mark I was sure I could hold onto the lead ahead of the Kenyans and win the race,” says Dinkesa.

    Kenyans MacDonald Ondara (1:02) and Robert Chemosin (1:03) followed ahead of Uganda’s Phillip Kiplimo (1:04).

    “I was not prepared for this new course when I came. I thought we would run more on the asphalted road like we used to do in past editions. Next year I will come better prepared,” Dinkesa assured.

    Meanwhile, Patrick Ugbe, Cross River State Commissioner for Sports and Youth says he is more than convinced the state is ready to host the World Mountain Running Championships in 2014 following Saturday`s successful hosting of the 8th Obudu International Mountain Race.

    ”I am delighted this year`s race ended without any technical hitch. Virtually everybody connected with the race had grins of satisfaction on their cheeks after the race in spite of the fact that we dealt with new challenges this time round’, said Ugbe, adding that the new course and transportation arrangements were part of the requirements set out by the WMRA while granting the state the right to host its flagship event in two year’s time.