The Nation Newspaper

Tag: serve

  • We’ll serve you sincerely

    The Lagos branch of Egbelu Progressive Union (EPU); a socio-cultural group that seeks to promote peace, co-operation, unity and general well-being among communities in Amaimo Ancient Kingdom, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has elected new members of executive to pilot its affairs in the next three years.

    Swearing in the newly elected officers, Pastor Thaddeus Onyejiuwa reminded them of the need to work hard for the development of the town, which he described as one of the largest and most progressive towns in the local government area.

    The former banker with the Union Bank noted that the current socio-economic changes being witnessed in several communities are driven by members of those communities, saying he was optimistic that “with the caliber of members elected, I am sure that the ongoing development initiatives being carried out in the town would receive great boost. Leadership could be taxing, but with determination and commitment to rendering selfless service to the people, great achievements would be attained.”

    Pastor Onyejiuwa therefore urged members of the newly elected executive to regard their election as call to service, without minding the hassles they may encounter while discharging their respective duties.

    In his acceptance speech on behalf of other members, the newly elected President, Chief Ikechukwu Madu promised that his executive would work hard to justify the confidence the people reposed in them. He urged all members of the group to join hands with the executive to engender the much-needed development of the community.

    He noted that time has come for concerted efforts towards building and enhancing the society that has given every individual great opportunity to excel in life, even as he enjoined every resident of the area; whether at home or in the Diaspora, to be preoccupied with lively sentiments of how to move the community forward.

    Noting that the group had always been in the forefront of socio-economic development of the town, Chief Madu said he was proud of members of the group whom, he said, are always responsive to issues and calls pertaining to the development of the community. He pledged the commitment of the executive to fast-track socio-economic and political development of Egbelu town in particular and Amaimo Ancient Kingdom in general.

    He said: “Government alone cannot provide all that the people need. It is in realisation of this fact most of our members who are imbued with the spirit of charity and benevolence always come forward to assist in the development of the town.

    “The inability of government and policy makers to provide the needs of the people due to dwindling economic fortunes paved the way for our patriotic members to pool resources to embark on self-help projects such as rural electrification, among others,” he said.

    Admonishing members of the group not to rest on their oars in making life more meaningful for people at home, the President reminded that: “Life will begin to change the moment we begin to think of changing the lives of the less-privileged people to the better. Situations will become better when we purge ourselves of greed, selfishness, man’s inhumanity to man and embrace a life of being more interested in the happiness of the next person and help in enhancing individual and community development.”

    Other members elected were Messrs Moses Okoro, Vice-President; Louis Osuji, Secretary-General; Chidi Anyanwu, Financial Secretary; Hyginus Okoro, Treasurer; Ikechukwu Okoro, Chief Provost and George Anyanwu as Assistant Provost.

  • First Class graduates to serve in higher institutions, says NYSC

    First Class graduates to serve in higher institutions, says NYSC

    Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi has said First Class graduates and their counterparts, who graduated with distinction from the polytechnics, will now be posted only to tertiary institutions for their primary assignment.

    He said universities have been banned from offering post-graduate admission to serving corps members, as doing so have been in violation of the NYSC Act.

    Brig-Gen. Johnson spoke in Kaduna yesterday at the opening ceremony of 2015 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop.

    Addressing participants of the workshop, tagged, “ICT and NYSC Mobilization Process: Towards Eliminating Identified Challenges”, the NYSC boss emphasised that henceforth, “all First Class graduates will be posted to the universities for their primary assignments” and appealed to the Vice-Chancellors to retain them after their NYSC programme.

    NYSC’s Director of Corps Mobilisation Mr. Anthony Ani said the workshop would “look at the data entry used for the exercise for the Senate Approved list, the list of Approved Corps Producing Institutions and the list of accredited courses”.

    Brig-Gen. Olawumi, who enumerated his reform programmes aimed at improving service delivery and efficiency by the NYSC, stated thaat, if fully implemented, the scheme would add value to young Nigerian graduates.

    Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai,  who was represented by  Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe Musa, applauded the decision of NYSC to post First Class graduate corps members to tertiary institutions, adding that with the paucity of lecturers in such institutions, it was an encouraging decision of the NYSC to do so.

  • I’m in this race to serve, says Ambode

    I’m in this race to serve, says Ambode

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, has said he is in the race to serve humanity.

    The APC candidate, at the weekend, reassured supporters and stakeholders that he was in the race to serve and lead by example.

    In a statement by his Director of Media and Communications, Steve Ayorinde, Ambode said Lagos had a record of “excellent service” in the past 15 years and the more than 17 million people living and working in Africa’s largest city-state “deserved a tested hand who would continue in that tradition of excellence”.

    The APC candidate said: “The governor that Lagos State deserves at this period of our continued growth and development is a man with a track record of performance and excellence; a man who is tested, who understands governance and is an experienced administrator who will not experiment with the resources and growth template of this state. I, Akinwunmi, Ambode, is that man.”

    Speaking at the third Annual Lecture of the January 9 Collective (J9C), where he spoke on the topic of the lecture, 2015 General Polls: Beyond the Rhetoric of Credible Elections, which was delivered by Prof. Anthony Kila.

    According to Ambode, who is a Fulbright scholar, selfless service and leadership by example should be the hallmark of an elected official, who is desirous of making a meaningful change and lasting impression in the lives of the electorate.

    “Selfless service becomes non-negotiable if the process that brought elected leaders into office is free, fair and credible. But often, we see leaders who derail and abandon their promises to the electorate because the process that brought them to office is flawed. They feel they do not owe the voters.

    “This is why we in APC have been very vocal about the need to have a credible election; to have a process that is fair and transparent and to have an election that does not seek to systematically disenfranchise the electorate.”

    He added that APC would continue to urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that all the eligible six million registered voters in Lagos State get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “This is the only way to ensure that INEC’s preparedness is beyond rhetorics so that next month’s elections can produce leaders that the people want.”

    Ambode met with the Zonal Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Lagos Zone, Comrade Tokunbo Korodo; the National Coordinator of the Civil Society Club of Nigeria (CISOCON), Comrade Babatunde Ashafa; the chairman of the Council of Arewa Chiefs, Alhaji Sani Kabiru and a group of senior citizens representing retired civil servants at his Gbagada campaign office.

    The APC candidate also reiterated his plans for sports development when he spoke at a charity football match in Ikorodu yesterday, organised to drum up support for his ambition.

    He used the occasion to explain his T.H.E.S.E plan which, as part of his campaign manifesto, emphasises the harnessing of Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment, Sports and Excellence to get the youth of Lagos State engaged in those areas.

    “Our vision is clear about the direction that Lagos State should face after 15 years of solid foundation and progress. And this is what our campaign is all about. We must consolidate and build on the achievements of the past administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the incumbent actualiser, Babatunde Fashola.

    “Lagos deserves excellence through a combination of requisite experience and selfless service. Lagos does not depend on sharing of oil revenue any longer.

    “The state is creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and for citizens and corporate sector to pay their taxes. Sports, entertainment and tourism are goldmines waiting to be tapped. This is no time to experiment with the future of our state and we are convinced that the majority of Lagosians appreciate that fact.”

  • ‘I’ll serve the country the best way possible’

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed at President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that he has not resigned or considered resigning, contrary to speculations.

    Senator Mohammed spoke during a meeting with some community leaders from the FCT.

    He said: “If President Goodluck Jonathan says I should continue and stay here, of course, I will do so. Any assignment the President gives me, I will carry out according to the will of Almighty Allah.”

    The meeting, Mohammed said, was convened to sensitise the people on the deepening the democratic process in the FCT.

    Speakers at the meeting commended the minister on his good administrative style, describing him as a true democrat.

    Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo representing Abuja North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives said they were grateful for the assistance being extended to the party and the area councils by the minister.

    He advised chairmen of the area council to complement the efforts of the minister in mobilising and sensitising the people.

    Contributing, the member representing Abuja South Federal Constituency, Hon. Isah Ega Dobi, also spoke.

    He said residents of the FCT appreciated Senator Mohammed’s efforts.

    According to him, since the minister’s assumption of office, things have been functioning in the FCT.

    He said: “We want you to continue here with us so that you will continue the laudable service you have been rendering to us all in the FCT.”

    Dobi vowed to continue to explain the various programmes and policies of the Mohammed administration to the people at the grassroots.

    “We will do so because all he has been doing is for the development and well-being of the people,” he said.

    The Commissioner representing the FCT at the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, Danjuma Busa, said the minister had brought new impetus to development in Abuja.

    He described the minister as a leader who cares for the welfare and future well-being of the people indigenous to the FCT, stressing that he has done more than any other minister of the FCT.

    He said the people would wish he continues to actualise his initiatives, such as the land swap programme.

    The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the FCT, Senator Yunusa Suleiman, also commended the minister for his contributions in advancing the fortunes of the party at all levels.

    He recalled that under the minister, the party has gained control of five out of six area councils in the FCT contrary to the situation in the past when PDP was in control of between three and four area councils in the territory.

    Others present at the meeting included the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide, members of National Assembly representing the FCT, chairmen of area councils, Ward chairmen, women leaders and other stakeholders of the party from the six area councils that make up the territory.

     

  • Serve God, humanity, cleric tells Fayose

    The General Overseer of Rapture Assurance Ministry (RAM) Lagos, Pastor Daniel Ikpe, has urged Ekiti State governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, to remember his vows to God and serve humanity in his second-coming.

    He reminded him that God played His part in bringing him back to power against all odds.

    Ikpe recalled how he met Fayose in 2006 at the peak of the impeachment plot through a domestic aide attending the church.

    He claimed that God told him then that Fayose would be impeached but restored if he retraced his steps.

    “When the impeachment issue was on, this man introduced Fayose to me and we were invited to Ado Ekiti. I and five other pastors in the ministry went to see him.

    “After seven days of prayers, God told me he would be impeached but that He, God, will bring him back to power,” he recalled.

    He stated that many doubted the prophesied impeachment because several other men of God were making pronouncements to the contrary.

    Ikpe called on political leaders to dissect prophecies by men of God through discernment, saying many of such prophecies are fuelled by greed.

  • Youths urged to serve God

    Youths urged to serve God

    It was an awesome worship experience last weekend at the 2013 Youth Concert of the Apostolic Faith Church.

    The concert tagged “the fruitfulness of the righteous” held at the church’s camp city in Igbesa, Ogun State.

    The orchestra choir made up of youths drawn across the country delighted the audience with the violin.

    The District Superintendent of the Apostolic Faith West and Central Africa, Rev Emmanuel Adeniran, urged the church as well as families to manage youths effectively so they don’t derail or fall into trauma.

    He said trauma can be engaged at the family, religious level and governmental level.

    Emphasising the role of the church in curbing the situation, he urged all stakeholders to brace up to the responsibility of providing youths with spiritual, psychological, educational and economic resources to cope with their challenges.

    According to him: “I want to say that all stakeholders should not leave the responsibility to the government alone. The press, teachers, and the parents have a role to play by creating the right environment around so that we eliminate trauma amongst the youth.”

    He urged youths to make use of their God- given talents in singing and playing of instruments.

  • A call to serve

    Their emergence is perceived as a new beginning by students. The executive of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), University of Calabar (UNICAL), was inaugurated at a colourful ceremony at the old Senate Building

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof James Epoke, led some senior staff members, including the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Eyong Eyong, Information Officer Mr Eyo Effiong and Chairman of Calabar University Electoral Dr Idaka Idaka, to the ceremony.

    The outgoing SUG president, Ayi Ekpenyong, and Speaker of the parliament Emmanuel Olayi led students to the event.

    Prof Eyong congratulated the incoming officers, promising them the management’s support. Dr Idaka presented the union officials for oath taking. The president was sworn in, after which he administrated the oath on other executive members.

    Prof Epoke said the management was interested in union leaders that would bring the ethics of leadership to bear in leading students. He said if union leaders resided with students in hostels, they would understand the plight of their colleagues better and discharge their duties diligently.

    He urged the leaders to work with the DSA, who he said is responsible for students’ matters. While commending the outgoing union leaders for maintaining peace during their tenure, the VC charged the incoming ones to adopt new method of leadership to improve on students’ welfare.

    The union president, Bassey Eka, pledged that the SUG under his watch would promote the vision of the university and also contribute to building a strong culture in the institution. He urged his opponents to join hands with him in the union’s interest.

    Bassey, 200-Level Curriculum and Teaching, who obtained his first degree in Political Science, said his administration would streamline his objectives with the VC’s agenda for the institution.

    He charged other officers to live among students and advised them not to allow their personal interest to override the general wellbeing of their colleagues, who voted for them.

    Michael Sifon, a student of Faculty of Social Science, told CAMPUSLIFE that he was convinced that Bassey would restore the spirit of unionism among students.

    “Our major plight remains the issue of fees, prices of commodities in hostels, transportation and accommodation. If the president can tackle these problems, I will be very happy,” Blessing Okon, a female student of the Faculty of Management Science said.

  • A call to serve

    A call to serve

    Many in attendance were well-heeled members of the society.The arrival of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Prof Charles Soludo; former House of Representatives member Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu; former Deputy Governor of Anambra State Dr Okey Udeh; former Chairman of Police Service Commission , Chief Simon Okeke, among others indicated that it was a big event.

    Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor, the Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese presided. He was assisted by other priests.

    No fewer than 4,300 people attended the service where three priests were elevated to Canons. Also, 70 people were made diocesan Lay Readers. The Lay Readers stole the show when they came out in their dazzling white.

    Very early that Sunday, the Cathedral Church of St Andrew’s, Amichi had started filling up with people. By 10am, the bishop, his wife, Dame Nkem Ikeakor led the procession to the altar. They were followed by over 40 priests, lay readers and the choir. Some of the awardees were already seated adjacent to the sanctuary.

    The day was set aside for the promotion of Revd Samson Chukwudi Ikedinma, Revd Kenechukwu Anyakaoha and Revd Oliver Chugbo to Canons in the order of the church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

    There was joy in the archdeaconries in Amichi Diocese as over 70 new lay leaders were also admitted in the diocese. The lay readers were drawn from Osumenyi Archdeaconry, Cathedral Deanery, Ezinifite Archdeaconry, Amichi Archdeaconry, Amichi West Archdeaconry, Ekwulumili Archdeaconry and Ebenato Archdeaconry.

    In his homily, the Bishop, Ikeakor congratulated the celebrators on their elevation.

    The cathedral also served as the venue of the award. It was filled to capacity as Soludo, Udeh, Ukachukwu and Okeke among others, bagged awards. It was in recognition of their contributions to the growth and development of the church and humanity in their various fields of endevour.

    The Prelate also appraised the Sure Anchor Newspaper awardees for their immense contributions in the society emphasising that the award is not for fund raising but for their contributions to better the lots of mankind. He urged every Christian to ensure that they fulfill the ministry God assigned to them before death. “Every position occupied by any person has a pre-determined agenda that must be accomplished,” he noted.

    Bishop Ikeakor further explained that Sure Anchor Newspaper was floated to take the gospel to the nooks and crannies of the country and beyond. On the content of the paper, he assured that the publication is not political and will not engage in publishing controversial issues. “We will furnish the people with information based on truth,” he assured.

    Governor of Anambra State Mr Peter Obi, who was the special guest of Honour at the occasion said that the government in the spirit of ANIDS shall aid in circulation of the paper in all the ministries within the state.

    Obi, represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Mr. Okoli Akirika, noted that the importance of the paper in the dissemination of the gospel cannot be overstressed and advised the editorial team to ensure that their information is anchored on truth before publication.

    Earlier in his address, the Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper, Reverend Canon Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka, said the paper is committed to the demonstration of journalistic best practice from a Christian perspective as their slogan is “journalism anchored on truth.”

    “As a faith based media organisation, it is top priority for us to put the gospel on the newsstand, through a professionally balanced editorial content…”

    Canon Chukwuebuka, therefore, solicited for the support of everyone through advert subscription which he said will sustain the paper.

    Soludo, who was given an Integrity and Visionary leadership award thanked the Amichi Diocese for recognising him and charged the newly appointed canons to stay steadfast to the oath they have taken and serve God and humanity.

    Other awardees include: Dr Chidi Anyaegbu, Dr Dan Chukwudozie and Prince Nicolas Ukachukwu who got Great Achiever award. For the merit award of excellence, Chief Leo Okoye, Sir Okey Udeh, Sir Emma Okoli, Chief Tony Okoye, Igwe Kenneth Orizu, Igwe G.O Ezechukwu, Simon Okeke, Michael Agazie and Sir Levi Chidolue.

    Also awarded were Chief Sir S.N Ukachukwu, Igwe Wisdom Onebunne, Igwe John Nwosu, Sir Ben Emeka, Dr Eddy Agbasimelo, Engr Chike Emenike and Paul Owulu.