The Nation Newspaper

Tag: welcomes

  • Oyo State welcomes 11 Libya returnees

    Oyo State welcomes 11 Libya returnees

    The Oyo State government yesterday welcomed 11 indigenes who were repatriated from Libya.

    It is expecting eight others from the last batch that arrived the Port Harcourt Air Port yesterday.

    The 11 returnees comprise six females and five males.

    They were conveyed by the State Emergency Management Agency and received in Ibadan, the state capital, Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo at the Governor’s Office.

    Some of the returnees blamed the bad economic situation in the country for their plight in seeking greener pastures in Libya en route Europe.

    Adeyemo urged the returnees to seek positive means of livelihood and productive engagements in the country, adding that the government had approved N10,000 for each of them to enable them settle down.

    He said: “We thank God that you all arrived safely. When people complain about how bad Nigeria is, is it as worse as where you are coming from? Now, you can see that all it takes is that if someone is ready to use his strength and power, he or she could be meaningfully engaged. But when people run away from the country and end up in suffering and pain, it is still unfortunate.

    “We want you to go back home and be gainfully engaged. You must get a means of positive engagement, even if it requires that you learn a trade or business. Don’t mind starting afresh. We are happy to have you back alive and well.

    “The governor has approved that you get N10,000 each. It will get to you soon. Please, you might need to do a medical check-up to know your state of health. Those of you who have got certificates, it is just an avenue of learning something, in addition to your academic qualifications.

    “Nowadays, you know the number of tertiary institutions in the country – private and public – and the number of graduates they are churning out.

    “The most important thing for all of us nowadays, particularly parents, is to ensure that our wards and children learn something, apart from their academics. The youths must learn something else, apart from the search for white collar jobs. I am not saying people should not be educated, as education is the best legacy for anybody. If you have a degree, you can still learn a trade, and if you are unable to get a white-collar job, you can still keep body and soul together.”

  • Glo welcomes stakeholders to new season

    Glo welcomes stakeholders to new season

    Title sponsor of the Glo Premier League, Globacom, has sent a welcome message to all the clubs in the Premier League, their management, the League Management Company, fans and the Nigeria Football Federation as the new premier league season formally kicks off on Saturday.

    “Last season was wonderful and the memory lingers. The entire stakeholders contributed positively towards the success. We look forward to an interesting 2014/2015 League season,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    It is a thing of joy to see that the Glo Premier league is growing in leaps and bounds and gradually working its way to become the number one in Africa,” Globacom added.

    The telecommunications company enjoined the management of Clubs to institutionalise training workshops for both the players and their coaches in order to keep them abreast of new rules and regulations governing the game.

    The company also commends football fans for the complementary roles they played last season and urged them to do more and troop out in large numbers to the venues of league matches in order to keep the stadia alive.

    “We also request the clubs to keep educating the fans on the need to shun violence at all times.  We urge them to provide adequate security for all stakeholders at the different stadia across the country,” Glo stated further.

    The season’s fixtures drawn recently pitched Heartland FC against the reigning League Champions’ Pillars FC of Kano in the Opening Day game billed for Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri (now postponed) while new entrants into the elite league, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, Kwara United FC of Ilorin, Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Gabros FC of Nnewi will seek to get results on their return to the premiership.

    Globacom also congratulated the four Nigerian club sides participating in the 2015 CAF Continental Championships for their impressive results last weekend. The quartet of Enyimba of Aba, Warri Wolves, Kano Pillars and Dolphin of Port Harcourt all qualified for the next round of their various competitions.

  • Ado welcomes Udiroko

    Ado welcomes Udiroko

    The people of Ado-Ekiti, the Ondo State capital, last Saturday celebrated this year’s Udiroko, the traditional “New Year Day” of the people.

    It was the finale of a weeklong activities involving rites meant to sanctify the town afresh for its indigenes and residents.

    The festival, a yearly event, is usually held inside the sprawling precincts of the Palace of Ewi (the monarch) of the town.

    It is a customary event for many dignitaries and residents who normally turn-out in their bests to grace the event.

    As early as 11a.m last Saturday, residents and other participants started streaming into the palace in groups of two and more.

    By 3p.m, all that could be distinguished as space in the vast and high walled enclosure had been filled to capacity.

    Amid intermittent booming of canons were chants of rich Ekiti dialect songs from the now familiar Aluluogo band, including various dance forms and songs.

    Prayers and benedictions were copiously offered by the monarch, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III, for obedient subjects, who took turns to pay homage, kneeling, prostrating, assuming whatever form and shape that lent eloquent reverence to the revered ancestry of the town, as symbolised by the monarch.

    People of other tribes also showed appreciation to the traditional ruler.

  • Excitement as Akwa Ibom welcomes Richard King

    Akwa Ibom indigenes organised a resounding reception for Prof. Richard King in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, reports Kazeem Ibrahym.

    It was a carnival of sort last Friday when a socio-political organisation in Akwa Ibom state called the Divine Mandate Organisation at their secretariat on Ikot Ekpene Road hosted presidential aide and governorship hopeful in Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Richard King.

    While the reception was going on, there was gridlock at Ikot Ekpene Road, making it difficult for vehicular movement for some hours. The residents came out in their large numbers to receive the Okuku of Idua Clan in Eket and Obong Ikkike of Uyo, Prof. King has it is fondly called.

    Prof. King, who was a member of the 2007 and 2011 Presidential Campaign Team that produced President Goodluck Jonathan, arrived the venue with his wife, Lady Laurel King acknowledging cheers from members of the public.

    The youths, market women, elders and political stalwarts also came out in their large numbers to pay homage to one of their own. Different political groups such as Akwa Ibom Redemption Movement (ARM); Akwa Ibom Frontline Youth Movement (AYFM); Prof. King Solidarity Group (PKSG); King Vision Project and Ibom Advancement Forum for Prof. King, all stormed the venue to welcome Prof. King whom they described as the man of the people.

    Even though political campaigns have not started nationwide, some of the youths carried placards with Prof. King’s name boldly written on it while urging him to heed the clarion call of the youths by contesting the 2015 governorship seat in the state.

    As one speaker spoke after the other, the situation was not different. They all pleaded with the presidential aide not to disappoint the Akwa Ibom people by not contesting the 2015 governorship election.

    The don, who is the authorized author of Presidential Campaign materials viz: (1) The Dr. Goodluck Jonathan That I Know (2007); and (2) Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan: A Personality Profile (2011), first point of call on arrival was the commissioning of Divide Mandate Organisation House.

    The Coordinator of the organisation, Chief C. H Isong, in his speech stated that the people of the state were proud to welcome home an illustrious son who had answered the call to serve the nation in many capacities at the national level.

    He commended Prof. King for being a good ambassador of the state and thanked him for all the benevolent works and goodwill he extended to the people of the state in Abuja.

    Prof. King in his remarks thanked the people for the honour done him and his wife Laurel. The don said he was overwhelmed and encourage by the remarkable reception.

    He pledged that he would continue to serve the people no matter where he finds himself.

    The don noted that the period of his absence was a period he used to gather more inspirations as to how best to keep contributing to the welfare and development of the state.

    His words: “In spite of our impressive developmental journey and the far-reaching achievements made, there is need for us to address some pertinent issues that are indices of the remaining accomplishments.

    “There is therefore an urgent need for us to reorder our stance in the very near future especially as the political climate is gradually changing ahead of the 2015 elections. Akwa Ibom state belongs to the people.

    “Consequently, the people are at liberty to take decisions that are for the overall interest of the state. I am here today to inform you that there is a forthcoming Era of New Hope in the state and I am inviting you to key into it.

    “Henceforth, you will have no reasons to compromise the strength of this coalition. Let us remain united and focused in all things including socio-economic development and politics.

    “We must be resolute in taking decisions that will positively affect us and generations yet unborn. God is with us and the platform has been set. Nothing stops us from forging ahead and achieving our goals.”

    Prof. King who later addressed reporters at his Osong Ama residence, cleared the air on the much talked about issue of his state of origin.

    The state of origin of Prof. King has been debated widely in the media. It was alleged his father hails from Delta-Igbo but the don dismissed such claims with the wave of hands, saying he was not perturbed when “outsiders” say he was not from Eket.

    He noted that no Eket man had joined to say he is not from Eket because they know where he comes from.

    His words: “Nobody from Eket has ever said that I am not from Eket. You don’t go to another person’s place and determine the citizenship of the people there. The people carrying the propaganda are people from outside Eket.

    “There is no other indigene of Eket that is more Eket than myself. I am the son of Chief John King Usoro and I am Professor Richard King. I am from Oton Awo of Ikot Ebok in Idua Clan. I am a title holder in Idua clan.

    “I am a title holder in Eket. What else do you want to hear? Do you want me to take you to where my father was buried? Maybe you would like to see the grave of some of my ancestors; maybe you may have the ability to speak with them.”

  • Cross River welcomes Eaglets home

    Cross River welcomes Eaglets home

    The Golden Eaglets were formally welcomed back home to Calabar by the government and people of Cross River State on Friday.

    Messages of goodwill from the Executive Governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke who is presently holidaying in the USA as well as that of Acting Governor, Barrister Efiok Cobham, were delivered to the team by Hon. Patrick Ugbe, the state’s Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development.

    The National Under-17 team who returned this week to their camp base in Calabar to prepare ahead of the 10th African Cadet Championship to be hosted by Morocco in April, have been enjoined to concentrate fully on the task at hand in order to give Nigerians something to cheer as the country celebrates the centenary anniversary of its amalgamation.

    Ugbe quoted the Excellencies as saying that they expect the Golden Eaglets to go all the way and bring the trophy home for the first time since 2007, adding that the success of the Super Eagles at the 2013 AFCON has justified the huge support of the state to the national teams.

    “We are very happy to have you back in Calabar and I’m happier to convey to you the best wishes of Senator Imoke and Barrister Cobham,” Ugbe told players and officials at their Princeville Hotel Camp shortly after breakfast.” We have so much faith in you and Nigerian football in general; and that is why we have spared nothing towards your welfare and that of the Super Eagles since you started camping in Calabar.”

    He further implored the Golden Eaglets to draw inspiration from the Super Eagles’ impressive performance at 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying both teams are now on the threshold of history.

    “We are expecting the Super Eagles as well as you to bring the African trophies here to Calabar for huge celebration,” said Ugbe, a seasoned broadcaster before his foray into public service, even as he prayed for the quick recovery of Eaglets’ duo of Adamu Abubakar and Friday Njengo who were involved in an auto-crash last Sunday on their way to Calabar.

  • President Traore welcomes dialogue

    President Traore welcomes dialogue

    INTERIM President Dioncounda Traore has ruled out negotiations with any of the Islamist groups that are being chased from the North of the country with the help of French forces.

    In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI) Traore said he “initially thought we could negotiate with groups that were essentially composed of Malians.”

    “But almost all these groups have disqualified themselves, except maybe the MNLA,” he said, referring to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, a secular Tuareg nationalist movement that initially joined forces with the fundamentalists and later fell out with them.

    The “disqualified”groups included Ansar Dine, a Malian Islamist group led by a former Tuareg independence fighter, Iyad ag Ghali, who allied himself with two al-Qaeda-linked groups.

    The three groups that took control of Northern Mali last year are now on the run from French and Malian forces.

    President Traore gave a condition for the open dialogue with the autonomy-seeking Tuareg MNLA. He said they must dropped any claim for independence.

    “Today, the only group that we could think of negotiating with is certainly the MNLA. But, of course, on condition that the MNLA drops any pretence to a territorial claim,” Traore told French Radio International (RFI).

    “For Ansar Dine, I think the only solution for them is to formally announce that they are rejecting the application of the Sharia Law,’’ Traore said.

    Asked about the whereabout of Ansar Dine’s leader, Traore said he heard the rebel leader had retreated into the Tirarar mountains, near the Algerian border.

    A rebellion started in the North last year by the Tuaregs was hijacked by Islamist radicals, who seized two-thirds of the Sahel nation, following a military coup in the capital, Bamako.

    A three-week ground and air offensive by French and Malian forces has broken the 10-month grip of the Islamist alliance — grouping Ansar Dine, MUJWA and al Qaeda’s in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) — over the cities in the North of Mali.

    The MNLA said this week that they had taken control of Kidal, the last of the Islamist strongholds after the militants abandoned the town.

  • Ikidi welcomes Ordega to Swedish club

    Ikidi welcomes Ordega to Swedish club

    Super Falcons attacker Francesca Ordega has left Russian side Rossiyanka to join compatriot Faith Ikidi in Swedish top football club Pitea.

    Ordega is the name of Piteå’s latest acquisition. A talented forward with the merits of the Nigerian national team, and Russian grand Rossiyanka.

    ‘Like most Nigerians, she is a technical footballer, also, she is fast and there are two characteristics of a forward who we searched for,’ says sports director Leif Strandh.

    Francisca is a talented football player who represented Nigeria in both the U17 World Championship (2010) and U20 World Cup (2012). Additionally, she was the age of 17 with the National Team at the 2011 World Cup in Germany, where she made two appearances.

    After her success in the U20 World Cup, she was recruited last fall to Rossiyanka for the Champions League. Unfortunately, she was injured almost immediately and chose to go home to rehab workout.

    ‘Francisca has already come a long way in her football development. She is young, and we are confident that she will take even greater strides with us. We are obviously delighted that she has signed for us,’ Strandh said on the club’s official website.

  • Tambuwal welcomes lawmakers

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal yesterday welcomed lawmakers from the Christmas and New Year break.

    He said: “It is my great pleasure to welcome you back after the Christmas and New Year break. I hope the holiday, though pretty short, has been invigorating because there is so much work to do.

    “As we begin the New Year, we hope to improve on the modest efforts we have made towards raising the quality of legislation in this country and the way we have handled issues arising from our oversight functions.

    “Fellow lawmakers, this Honourable House has a contract with the Nigerian people to make sure they reap from the gains of our hard-earned democracy. As you know our goal has always been to fulfil that mandate to the best of our capacity.

    “When we came in, we promised to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda that would reposition this House not just as a key branch of government determined to deliver on its mandate, but as a veritable defender of the rights of the people. These include their right to life wherever they choose to live. Their right to employment. Their right to quality education and medical care and their right to worship without fear or recrimination.

    “Fellow members, let me again thank you all for your sacrifice and dogged determination to render excellent service to our fatherland. I wish you all God’s guidance.

    “Once again, Happy New Year. I thank you all.”