The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Terseer Ugbor

  • Rep. Ugbor champions establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo

    Rep. Ugbor champions establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo

    The Member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in Benue State, Terseer Ugbor, has passionately appealed to his colleagues and stakeholders to support the bill for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo. 

    His appeal came during a public hearing on February 27, 2025.

    Rep. Ugbor, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the project’s historical foundation, noting that Senator Barnabas Gemade had initiated the groundwork during the 8th National Assembly. 

    “The community demonstrated its unwavering commitment by donating 110 hectares of land and constructing initial infrastructure in anticipation of the polytechnic’s establishment,” he stated.

    Read Also: Troops kill 217 terrorists, arrest 122 oil thieves in February

    However, the bill failed to pass at the time, leaving the community’s hopes dashed and the completed buildings standing idle. 

    “This setback has been deeply emotional for my constituents,” Rep. Ugbor explained, highlighting the tangible reminder of their unrealized aspirations.

    He further underscored the stark educational imbalance within Benue State.

    “My senatorial district, Benue North-East, with over a million residents, lacks any federal institution of higher learning—no polytechnic, no university, no college. This is despite our local government producing five vice chancellors,” he lamented.

    Rep. Ugbor contrasted this situation with the abundance of federal institutions in other zones: Benue North-West boasts five, including Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University and the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, while Benue South has four, including the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo. 

    “This disparity is not only unjust but also severely disadvantages our youth’s educational and economic development,” he asserted.

    He pointed to Kwande Local Government’s high concentration of secondary schools, arguing that a polytechnic is essential to provide a pathway for further education and contribute to national progress. 

    The proposed polytechnic would offer programs in high-demand fields such as information technology, engineering, healthcare, and entrepreneurship—empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds and breaking the cycle of poverty.

    “Establishing the Federal Polytechnic, Adikpo, will address the educational imbalance in Benue State and unlock the potential of our youth,” Rep. Ugbor concluded, urging his colleagues to support the bill and enable students to benefit from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

    Hon. Isiaka Nasiru Adegboyega, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education, affirmed the importance of technical education for national development. 

    He emphasized the House’s commitment to reforming and modernizing technical education to equip young people with practical skills for a competitive global economy. 

    “The establishment of these institutions is a crucial step in bridging the gap between knowledge and employment,” he stated, highlighting the House’s broader efforts to improve the education sector.

  • Benue Rep commences rehabilitation of abandoned borehole projects

    Benue Rep commences rehabilitation of abandoned borehole projects

    Member representing Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Terseer Ugbor, has commenced the repair and rehabilitation of 50 abandoned boreholes in the Kwande Ushongo Federal constituency of Benue State.

    The lawmaker said this initiative aims to provide clean water and prevent the spread of deadly diseases resulting from the consumption of contaminated water within the Constituency.

    Ugbor said he decided to repair and restore the abandoned water boreholes to provide clean water to thousands of his constituents within the shortest period at an effective and affordable cost. 

    The lawmaker said he sought no personal glory but the betterment of the lives of the people, which is why he opted for a pragmatic approach to the water situation in his constituency.

    He said the project has commenced at various locations across the constituency. 

    The Assistant on Projects Monitoring for Kwande, Hon. Fabian Yaga, led a team of engineers to Boaugundu, the headquarters of the Mbadura council ward, where an abandoned borehole was outfitted with new accessories to restore its functionality.

    Similarly, the Project Monitoring Team in Ushongo Local Government, led by Hon. Terungwa Torluam visited the Community Health Centre in Ushongo Town, where they replaced an abandoned borehole with new accessories, ensuring its immediate usability.

    Hon. Ugbor said he is also dedicated to the installation of new boreholes in the next few months. 

    The rehabilitation of abandoned boreholes, he said, also aims to provide access to water for constituents who are currently experiencing difficulties during this dry season.

    He said, additionally, some strategic locations may be transformed into motorized boreholes.

    The communities collectively expressed their gratitude to the lawmaker for addressing the issue of water scarcity. 

  • Experts mull renewable energy as major revenue stream

    Aside checkmating environmental hazards, wastes recycling and energy storage can raise the bar of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in Nigeria if properly harnessed.

    While speaking relevant to this, the Chief Executive Officer, Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of Nigeria, REDIN, Terseer Ugbor, expressed that e-waste recycling can be a lucrative business, but this requires knowledge and the skills to efficiently recycle profitably.

    Ugbor, who spoke alongside other energy experts in Lagos during a Renewable Energy seminar tagged: “Energy Storage,” noted that, most recycling activities require subsidies and incentives because the costs of recycling usually supersede the cost of most waste products and that is why extended producers responsibility model has grown in popularity globally.”

    According to him, “the major challenge for waste recyclers relate to financing for recycling equipment and technologies.”

    While fielding question on how government can contribute to making the sector relevant, he said, “government has developed regulations for management of certain waste in Nigeria and has designed the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines, but higher enforcement will go a long way for achieving our environmental goals as a nation. We also think a well-managed green fund targeted at supporting clean energy access for underserved people and communities must be encouraged, while subsidies for recycling will go a long way for profitability and success of the sector.”

    Speaking on responsibility of end-users in recycling and waste management, he said, “Under the product stewardship and economy concepts, consumers or end-users of products must act responsibly by insisting on products made from recycled materials and are easily recyclable.

    “End-users must also separate and dispose waste appropriately, especially wastes considered hazardous to human health and environment. Examples of such waste are plastics, batteries, electronics and biomedical waste.”

    In his remarks, the Head, Energy and Environment Desk, AHK, Nigeria, Godwin Aigbokhan said, one of the greatest challenges that Nigeria could encounter with batteries after their shelf-life is inadequate collection and improper recycling.

    Speaking in the same vein, Helmut Kulitz, Deputy Head of Mission, The German Embassy, Abuja, noted that the continued development of dynamic storage systems is proving to be vital to sustaining renewable energy growth.

    Speaking on the 19th edition of the seminar series, the Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Alexandra Herr emphasised that, “the seminar series was not just an information hub but much more a platform for bilateral trade promotion.