Day One at the ongoing South-South Regional Youth Climate Innovation Bootcamp.

This is a four day intensive training event.

Participants watched a video produced by the Yar'dua Foundation and CORE Production titled "No Where To Run To" a documentry that unveiled the ugly realities of the Nigerian Climate and Environmental Crisis, hosted by Ken Saro Wiwa Jnr with inputs from many academia, researchers, active citizens, activists, journalists and other non Nigerians working within the Climate Change and Environment Sector.

* Facilitators at the boot-camp led participants to review the South South Harmonized ideas at the previously held innovation hub in August and urged them to take all sessions during these four days boot camp very seriously.

* Capacity development partners from a social enterprise development firm ' Civic Innovation Lab' were introduced as facilitators for the four days South South Innovation Boot-Camp training.

* With their innovation boot camp training manual, Civic Innovation Lab refreshed participants understandings on, course guidelines; expected outcome; facts on Nigeria's -Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

* Participants were also exposed to Climate Change's mitigation and adaptation sectors, to help innovators broaden and understand how best they can think and fashion out better innovative ideas that will help the Nigerian state achieve her committment at attaining a 20% to 30% emission reduction by 2030, with a focus on the power, oil & gas, agriculture & land use, transport and industry sectors.

* Innovators at the boot camps were given ample time to share concepts and innovative views about their individual ideas that can help reduce emission according to Nigeria's NDC.

* Working in groups, participants brainstormed on the problem and solution statements of their individual innovative ideas and shared same at a post group work plenary session.

* Thank You, UNDP
* Thank You, Federal Ministry Of Environment
* Thank You, Health of Mother Earth Foundation
* Thank You, South South Climate Change Innovators

#YouthClimateActionNG

#Youth4NDCs

#NigeriaNDC

#ClimateHUBSS

@UNDPNigeria

@fmeclimateng

@FMEnvng

@Health_Earth

@civiclab

ALL PHOTO SHOTS BY OKONTA EMEKA OKELUM, Port Harcourt.

WATER SUPPLY: DTHA WATER RESOURCES DEVT C’TTEE VISITS MINISTRY, PLEDGES COLLABORATION

 By Frederick Odu

Water Resources Development Committee of the Delta State House of Assembly has promised to support initiatives for the reactivation of existing water schemes across the state.

The Committee’s chairman, Honourable Peter Uviejitobor, made the promise when he led other members of the committee on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the State Ministry of Water Resources Development in Asaba.


Honourable Uviejitobor and his team, including Honorables Austin Uroye, Charles Onyiyere, Emmanuel Sinebe, Asupa Forteta and Pat Ajudua were received on arrival by the Commissioner in-charge of the ministry, Honourable Martins Okonta.


The Lawmaker said the visit was to familiarize members of the Committee with the officials of the ministry, including Heads of Paraststals under it, ahead of the presentation of the 2020 budget proposals to the State Assembly and budget defence by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.


Honourable Uviejitobor, representing the Udu Constituency in the House, pointed out the need for a robust synergy between the Committee and the Ministry for enhance efficiency in the Ministry

He said the Committee should be properly acquainted with the challenges facing the Ministry to enable it assist in finding solution to them.


The Committee chairman stressed that there was the need to reactivate the water schemes across the state for improved public water supply and that would be possible through effective collaboration of stakeholders.

The Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Honourable Martins Okonta, told the visiting legislators that the Ministry was key to the Stronger Delta vision of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Honourable Okonta, a former Speaker of the State Assembly, acknowledged that the task ahead was enormous, saying that government was doing a lot to ensure adequate water supply in the state as the Governor had declared a state of emergency in the water sector.


The Commissioner said the passage of the Water Bill by the Delta State House of Assembly led to the setting up of an inter ministerial committee and drafting of implementation action plans.

He stated that N13bn had been expended on the Warri/Effurun Water Scheme through a concession arrangement, disclosing that there were over 600 water schemes across the state.


Honourable Okonta also disclosed that Governor Okowa recently approved the installation of treatment plants in public water schemes, saying that the Ministry was seeking the intervention of corporate bodies in public water supply in the state.


He enumerated the challenges facing the Ministry to include inadequate budgetary allocation, poor electricity supply to the water schemes, and obsolete pipes.


The Commissioner solicited the support of the Delta State House of Assembly and thanked members of the Committee  for the visit.

BRIEF REPORT ON THE TWO DAYS WORKSHOP FOR CSOs & COMMUNITIES ON TEXHNOLOGICAL TOOLS TO DEMAND AND TRACK SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS' USE OF EXTRACTIVE REVENUE, HELD AT BENIN CITY.

The workshop witnessed the active participation of participants drawn from Delta, Edo, Imo and Ondo states during a validation workshop for CSOs and communities on technological tools to demand and track subnational government"s use of extractive revenue.

Held between 23-24 October 2019,  at Golden Tulip Hotel, G.R.A- Benin City.

Over the two days workshop, participants learnt and gained various knowledge and gained new insights around the subject matter of the workshop.

Gaining deeper insight into findings from how the FAAC disbursed funds and allocations to state governments, with special focus on Edo, Delta, Imo and Ondo States.

Trained on how oil revenue, state budgets and insight into public financial management of Delta, IMO and Ondo states.

The sections were revealing, an eye opening learning opportunities about realities in most oil and gas host and impacted communities.
The realities about how state agencies within the extractive sector implement her roles as well as realities at hand.

The only opportunities before me and my fellow committed comrades, remains to think out and work strategically with some tireless spirit of solving these horrible realities in the Niger Delta Region amidst all the natural wealth and visible ugly on going realities.

When the total revenue and allocations from the center for these states over a time line of ten years unveal the question of leadership and level of citizens knowledge and engagement into public governance.

Too bad that these states IGR Vs Recurrent Bills shows near zero collapse of state leadership, one begins to question why these states should seek for bail out from the FG.

Why will our states convince me that our mineral revenue is less than recurrent expenditure, how do I believe it that my state's leadership in the past 18 years spent more than we earned from our mineral resources and spent same more on recurrent expenditure more than on capital expenditure.

This trends need not continue henceforth, say beginning from 2020 before the end of the SDGs by 2030.

Too sad at unveiled realities, but we will never curse the now known darkness, but must seek ways and means to light candles and solar lamps\torches.

For all my fellow independent comrades and active citizens, there are lots of work to be done, we must wake up to engage the process in Delta State.

The role of citizens in all of these ugly trends is key to sustainable development.

Soon, these trend will change, only if you (truly independent comrade) will join hands with me as we seek means to strengthen social accountability projects in Delta State.

Towards the end of the workshop, the Delta delegates shared what their post workshop engagements will become and committed to fill those roles between now till December 2019.

One of the major high light of the two days capacity building opportunity were the lessons learnt about Federal Account Allocation disbursement to Delta, Edo, Imo and Ondo States, second was an in sigh into public financial management of oil revenue of these states, lastly was the program's consultant inputs towards a successfully future implementation of the prroject in the mentioned states.

The second day's session had two technical sessions masterfully handled by the dou of Busayo Morakinyo and Mukhtar Halilu Moddibo.

Participants gained deeper insights and knowledge from topics such as "understanding follow the money"; "its advocacy policy and influencing strategies" as we'll as "data mining and approaches of follow the money"

Finally, Dr Dieter Bassi and Dr Dauda Garuba facilitated parts on next steps after the workshop and wrap up session respectively.

We committed to engage the state assembly's committee on Oil and Gas, DESOPADEC, Oil and Gas Commissioner, seek oppourtunities to work with the communities, we had previous engagement with and find opportunities to step down knowledge and insights gained from this workshop with other stakeholders back in our state and engaged state actors and duty bearers in our state via various mail correspondence.

Team Delta State rose from the workshop with a huge sense of gratitude to both NEITI & CODE and look forward to joining hands with them on continous implantation of more future  Social accountability engagement in Delta State and in other Niger Delta States.

Thank You, NEITI
Thank You, CODE

With lots of love from connected development-team delta state, led by Comrade Okonta Emeka Okelum

Uzum Calls For Change Of Attitude To Societal Norms, Values.

By JOHNSON EBIGIDE

Delta State Director-General ( DG) of the Bureau of Orientation, Barrister Eugene Azuka Uzum, has emphazised the need to re-orientate the populace on attitude to societal norms and values.

Barrister Uzum stated this during a media chat at the Pointer Newspaper in Asaba.

He opined that lack of inner perception of the danger inherent in cultism and other social vices was responsible for some people taking cultism and other social vices as a way of life, adding that there was the urgent need to re-orientate the public towards a better synergy between Government and the governed in the country.

Barrister Uzum, who spoke extensively on various issues affecting the relationship between Government and the general public, urged citizens in the country to see themselves as part of Government by giving necessary support to government at all levels towards serving the public well.

While throwing more light on the state government readiness to mitigate the impacts of the impending flood in the state, the orientation boss disclosed that the envisaged displaced persons would be given necessary care and support throughout their stay in camp, adding that the Bureau of Orientation would  carryout major sensitization exercises in the camps.

Meanwhile, Barrister Uzum has enjoined the leadership of alumni associations of tertiary institutions to use their positions to preach against students involvement in cultism and other social vices in the country.

Barrister Uzum made the plead when the leadership of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Alumnus Association, Asaba Branch, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba.

Barrister Uzum, who went down the memory lane to recall his days as students at the institution, maintained that though the menace of cultism was dwindling in the institution, there was still the need to continue to re-orientate students on the inherent danger of getting involved in cultism, adding that so many bright students that could had contributed towards the development of the society had lost their lives to the menace.

While promising to assist the association towards the actualisation of its goals, Barrister Uzum urged for a rejig of the association, saying that the university had produced many notable alumni who are doing very well in different spheres of human endeavours.

Earlier, the Asaba branch of the association, Mr Okey Ifejokwu, congratulated Barrister Uzum on his appointment as the DG of the state Bureau of Orientation, noting that Barrister Uzum's wealth of experience would impact positively on his assignment.

He called on Barrister Uzum to support the association, saying that there was the need to strengthen the association with more members of graduates from the Ambrose Alli University  in Nigeria and diaspora.

Johnson Ebigide,
Public Relations Officer,
Bureau of Orientation,
Delta State.

Use Water From Public Water Supply, Okonta Urges Deltans

DELTA State Commissioner for Water Resources, Rt. Hon. Martins Okonta has urged the people to use water from public water supply for consumption.

According to him, safety of water from private bore holes cannot be guaranteed compared to water from public water supply.

“Most private boreholes does not have treatment plants; they don't have quality control, they just put the boreholes, get water and start using it without treatment; but, the government or public water sector has treatment plants and when treated you will see the difference - there will be no colour, no taste and no odour.

“Water from the public sector has a lot of advantages because, they go through quality control, data control and they have treatment, unlike private boreholes that are usually sunk near soakaways pits, which amount to taking contaminated water into your system.

“I will not subscribe to drinking water from private boreholes, because they are not treated and the siting of the borehole are very close to soakaway pits and even when your own is not very close to soakaway pit, your neighbour sites his soakaway pit close to the borehole; so, water from private bore holes is not healthy for human consumption; government is doing its best to provide for the people,” the Commissioner who spoke in Asaba said.

He continued,  “government has committed over N233 million into the Asaba Regional Water Scheme, while the Ughelli Regional Water Scheme has received N144 million.  

In a bid to get water distributed to homes, the government has also constructed 5km water pipelines each in ten  urban areas of Issele-Uku, Patani, Ogharefe, Ozoro, Kwale, Koko, Orerokpe, Burutu, Obiarukwu and Ogwashi-Uku.

“A lot of money have been committed in ensuring effective distribution of water in these urban areas; recall that the State House of Assembly passed the Delta State Water Bill into law on May 7, 2019 and apart from the fact that we have passed the Water Bill into law, we have also declared a state of emergency in the water sector in Delta State.”

2019 Tribunal Verdicts In Delta: PDP Supremacy And Enduring Songs Of Victory.

By Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq.

The battle for  the soul of Delta State between PDP and APC ended in favour of PDP during the 2019 general elections. It was indeed a superb outing for the party and her governorship candidate, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.

He was genuinely declared winner after results were sorted out and declared by INEC, the electoral umpire for the country. PDP won 23 out of the 25 local government areas losing Ethiope East and Ughelli North respectively.

Ethiope East is known to be the stronghold of the APC guber candidate, Chief Great Ogboru while Ughelli North left the grip of PDP due largely to the combined political influence of Ogboru and Senator Ovie Omo Agege. Agege hails from Orogun Town in Ughelli North.

PDP and APC are currently ensued in a fierce legal battle at the tribunal. The petitioner, APC, is pleading over voting while PDP is urging the tribunal to ignore the prayers of the petitioner on the grounds that the governorship election results as declared by INEC cannot be faulted by the petitioner.

In 2015, same scenario played out when the APC and its candidate, Olorogun Otega Emerhor on the one hand and Labour Party (LP), her governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru on the other hand; approached the 2015 governorship tribunal to quash the victory of PDP and its candidate, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, on the grounds that PDP won based on over voting and other irregularities.

At the end of the 2015 election legal tussle, PDP and its governorship candidate, Gov Okowa, were victorious, and Chief Great Ogboru and his political family immediately defected to APC with the hope that victory will not elude him in 2019 if he eventually emerged as the party's candidate.

He got the slot and behold the 2019 governorship elections in Delta State, turned out to be Ogboru's greatest political nightmare since 1999. He lost big time to PDP and Gov Okowa. It was a complete show of shame which the APC and Ogboru  are struggling to cope with and the beats goes on at the tribunal.

Political observers are quick to point out that Ogboru monumental failure in 2019 was as a result of his rather awkward political leadership style especially his consistent failure to keep the political temple immediately after general elections, only to reappear few months before party primaries. Things are not done that way, our people are now well informed politically.

Others are not comfortable with Ogboru's low academic background  and at the same time not happy with the crash of his fish business empire while majority of Deltans also frowned at the lorry load of bank debts for which Ogboru and his Fiogreat Limited sank billions of Naira of depositors money. The highly distasteful huge debt profile as put out by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), described Ogboru as a chronic debtor and a bad manager of financial resources.

These facts are in public domain and certainly played against APC and Ogboru during 2019 governorship election as can be seen from their abysmal performance at the polls, losing 23 LGAs to PDP and Gov Okowa.

In the light of the above, it is clear that the tribunal verdict will not be a surprise to Deltans when it  eventually come to light. Even babies in their mothers womb during the 2019 general elections can testify that PDP and Gov Okowa worked very hard in terms of massive campaign, grassroots mobilization coupled with town hall meetings and execution of numerous people oriented projects, job and wealth creation that brought about substantial prosperity in the state.

Very soon, APC and Ogboru will realise that going to the tribunal is not just enough but doing the right things before and during elections. Deltans cannot forget in a hurry how Delta APC was engrossed in pitiable infighting and baseless witch hunting among its leaders before and during the 2019 governorship elections in the state.

Delta APC had two major factions namely; Light of APC Delta and Mainstream APC Delta plus other pockets of factions which produced multiple candidates during 2019 elections. Its obvious that election cannot be won on the basis of senseless internal fractionalization and petty squabbles among leaders.

PDP on the other hand was well organised, strategically coordinated and united before, during and after general elections. Her campaign strategies and massive mobilization of the people accounted for the well deserved landslide victory which saw the reelection of the ROAD MASTER, Gov Okowa.

The much expected 2019 governorship tribunal verdict shall justify this piece, Deltans and the entire PDP family in the State, shall in one loud voice sing the victory song once again.

APC and Ogboru should get ready for 2023 governorship election. Gov Okowa shall be in charge of Delta State, till May 29, 2023.

In God we trust!

Youth Matters: Very Important To Gov Okowa...Ogb. Nwanze Oduah

* As Asaba Elite Youth Awake Felicitate With Him Over His New Appointment

* Touching Lives, Community Development Initiatives Are My Highest Priorities Now...Ogb Nwanze Oduah

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

One of the recently appointed aides to the Delta state governor, recently shared his feelings about how the governor feels about youths affairs.

Ogbueshi Nwanze Oduah, executive assistant to the state governor on youth matters, said the state governor takes issues that concern youths of Delta State very seriously.

He said so, when the executive members of Asaba Elite Youth  Awake paid him an advocacy visit to felicitate with him over his recent appointment.

Ogbueshi Nmadu Onwufuju, leader of the delegation, shared why they came.

We are here to felicitate with you over your recent appointment.

To us, we know your appointment is a well deservered, your stood firm for the electoral victory of the governor, Ogbueshi Onwufuju pointed out.

We will always support and work closely with you and the governor, because your new appointment is a huge blessing to us and other young Deltans.

Your capacity to put smiles in the faces of our youth population is never in doubt, you had done it before and doing it again is in your nature, Ogbueshi Nmadu Onwufuju told the governor's aide.

The youth body urged him to always have them in mind whenever goodies will come from the government and also help them solve some of their organization's crippling challenges.

Responding, Ogbueshi Nwanze Oduah, pointed out that he is personally aware about the immense past contributions of the youth body at curbing violent and criminal tendencies of young cultists in Asaba and Oshimili South LGA in general.

I understand all your challenges, in my personal capacity, I will seek proactive means at solving some of the challenges.

On your behalf too, I will reach out to the governor and local government council chairman, hopefully, I am confident that all your needs and challenges will be attended to, Ogbueshi Oduah assured them.

Responding to the youth bodies plan to host a celebration gala night for his new appointment, the governor's aide, declined the offer but told them his current thematic area of focus.

Now, I am deeply concerned about touching lives, impacting the lives of more youths positively and saving as many as possible from the brinks of hopelessness, unemployment,  suscide, crimes, sickness, jail and  death.

When I look around Asaba and Oshimili South Local Government Area, I see alot of need for community development opportunities.

Mind you the governor can't everything, there are some few things I can do, there are also other small things you and your organization can do and together Asaba like you say will be great again, Ogbueshi Nwanze Oduah emphasized.

Other members of the delegation, who spoke stressed the need for the governor's aide to always advocate for their good at all fora and meetings he attends on youth matters

I assure you that I will take your matters and needs as well as that of other youth bodies who believe and support the Stronger Delta Mantran of the governor to him.

Like I said, earlier, we have a governor with listening ears, who has a wonderful youth development programs, Ogbueshi Oduah assured the youth body.

I will also work with all government agencies and functionaries to see that your organization is recognized and you enjoy the fruits of your labours.

It is my prayers that you maintain the peaceful dispositions and the orderliness that till date had defined who you are, keep it up and assure you, more greatness will become your lot, Ogbueshi Oduah encouraged them.

The youth body also expressed their committment to take active part in the forthcoming Eziugbo festival as well as other remaining parts of Asaba  festival's calendar and sought the governor's aide support, guidiance and directive.

Ogbueshi Nwanze Oduah assured them of his unalloyed support but urged them to go fix their budget for their participation in the festival.

SOURCE:ASABA POST NEWS WIRE (ONLINE

Partner With PTAs, CDUs, Ukah Tells Principals, School Heads

Principals and School Heads in public schools in the state have been charged to partner with the Parents Teachers Association (PTAs) and Community Development Unions (CDUs) to ensure that students settle down quickly for the new academic session.


The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, gave the charge during the continuation of his monitoring of resumption of schools in Ika South and Ika North East Local Government Areas yesterday.


Chief Ukah expressed surprise that on the second day of resumption, there was still low turnout of students in some schools even when it had been announced that there would be a welcome back test for the students on the first week of resumption.


He therefore charged the School Heads and Principals to make sure that the welcome back test is administered to the students which should form part of their continuous assessment and should not be doctored by them.


The commissioner asked the Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs), Principals and School Heads to device a means they would use in communicating  with the parents of the students through the PTAs and Community Development Unions so that they can employ the services of town criers in their communities to bring to the awareness of the parents while their children should return quickly back to school.


Chief Ukah said his ministry had lined up a lot of programmes for the 2019/2020 academic session which he said would bring about the continuous development of the basic and secondary education sub sector of the state..


The schools visited by the commissioner are Omumu Mixed Secondary School, Omumu Primary School, Ime-Obi Secondary School, Igumbor Otiku Secondary School, Ogbemudien Model Secondary School, Alasi Primary School, Owa Model Secondary School and Owa Model Primary School all in Ika South and Ika North East Local Government Areas.

Sealed School: Parents, Teachers, Pupil Protest LGA Council Boss's Action

....Took An S.O.S Outcry/Protest To Asagba Of Asaba's Palace

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

Just as the Delta State commissioner for education and the state governor, decried the  low turn out of pupils and student upon school resumption and the need to build more schools in the state, the trend in Oshimili South LGA has nose dived in the opposite direction.

Teachers, parents and pupils of Oshimili South Local Government Nursery & Primary School had their desires to commence studies and academic activities dashed, since yesterday.

Without prior information, they met a sealed school premises.

According to a parent who does not want his name published, told our reporter that the sealed school premises was made possible by Hon Uche Osadebe, Council Chairman, Oshimilli South LGA.

Our source told us that the council boss sealed the premises and embark on an abroad trip to Europe with some councilors of the council.

Some parents our reporter encountered sadly recounted that they were told by some council staff that they had being told by the council boss to tell them to take their children to another school as the premises had being permanently sealed off.

Our sources shared what their responses became after the second day of continous sealed premises.

We have no other option than to take our greviances to the royal father of this land, the Asagba of Asaba.

Upon getting to the palace, we were told that the royal father is busy but our visit was rescheduled to hold later today with him by 1:30pm.

The palace's administrative secretary, Ogbueshi P.N. Ndili received the aggreived delegates, our sources told our reporter.

According to our sources, Ogbueshi Ndili dailed all telephone lines of the executive vice chairman of the council but were switched off.

Same was the case when our reporter called the council's executive vice chairman

When Ogbueshi Ndili dialed the council's secretary, our sources hinted us that the secretary attempted various antics at defending the council chairman's action as well as stressing that the school premises had being relocated.

This response, our sources told us gravely angered Ogbueshi Ndili, who asked, who did the council boss consulted and south his approval before taking such action.

He questioned why the teachers and head teacher were not carried along before the school was sealed off and why no alternative provision was made before school resumption.

Our reporters calls to the council secretary's phone number met a poor response as he turned down his calls with the excuse that he is busy and not ready to speak to our reporter.

Some aggrieved parents who appear to be somewhat conversant with happenings in the council stressed that the council boss's action could be a subtle ploy towards selling off the school premises or converting it to his personal estate.

This they vow to resist, should the palace, commissioner of education and state government did nothing to stop the council chairman's action.

We will keep you all posted with the turn of events at the palace today by 1.30pm, when some lesser delegation of the teachers and parents will reconverge at the palace.

Ukah Calls For Early Resumption As Schools Reopen In Delta

The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has called on parents in the state to ensure that they allow their children resume immediately for the 2019/2020 academic session so that academic activities can kickstart fully.


The commissioner made the call when he monitored the resumption of schools for the 2019/2020 academic session in schools in Asaba yesterday (09/09/2019).


Chief Ukah, who decried the low turnout of students in the schools he visited, urged the students to resume as there would be a welcome back test on Thursday this week which would make up 10 Percent of their continuous assessment for the term.


At Government Model Secondary School, Asaba, the commissioner frowned at the untidy environment of the school and ordered  the Principal of the school to ensure that the school is kept tidy before the end of yesterday.


He warned against illegal collection of unauthorized levies from incoming students while stating that any Principal or School Head caught would be severely punished.


The commissioner also visited Osadenis Mixed Secondary School, Asaba, where he urged  the staff of the school to be committed to their duties at all times as the ministry would no longer tolerate any form of indiscipline among them.


He said as teachers, they should strive to impact positively on the lives of their students which he said would bring about fulfillment in their careers as teachers.


The commissioner charged the  Principal of the school to ensure that he devised means in which he could curb indiscipline in the school.


Other schools visited by the commissioner were Uziogwe Primary School, West End Mixed Secondary School, Zappa Basic Secondary School, Zappa Primary School, Isioma Onyeobi College, and Zappa Mixed Secondary School within the Asaba Capital Territory.


He equally visited two newly established secondary schools located in Oduke community and FSP, Asaba where he said that the schools would start up this week.

OVER 15 KM OF ROAD CONSTRUCTED, SOME ROADS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND MORE ROADS TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY HRM ENYI FRIDAY ABAJA, THE UKWATA 1 OF UMUKWATA KINGDOM.

By Daniel Ogiriki.

The most popular legacy project of HRM Enyi Friday Abaja is the construction of the 7.8 km entrance road to Umukwata-Unor in Ukwuani LGA of Delta State.

Prior to the construction of this road, Umukwata-Unor is a no entry, no exit Community during the raining season due to the flooding of the road by the Okumeshi River.

The few persons that tries to enter and leave Umukwata-Unor during the raining season goes through untold hardship of wading through the flooded part of the road around the Okumeshi River.

HRM Enyi Friday Abaja, came to the rescue of Umukwata-Unor People by constructing this road with two bridges and standard drainage by the side of the road.

If not for HRM Enyi Friday Abaja, only God knows when the Government would have considered to construct this particular road.

Today People have unlimited access to Umukwata-Unor throughout the year.

Part of the road (about 2 km) was constructed with interlocking stones thereby improving the quality of the road and making the road very expensive.

HRM Enyi Friday Abaja, didn't end with the construction of the entrance road to Umukwata-Unor but went further to construct all the major streets in Umukwata-Unor with Interlocking stones and standard drainage.

The cost of constructing these roads runs into billions of naira and bearing in mind that HRM Enyi Friday Abaja bore this whole cost from his personal money.

This and many other of his philanthropic projects running into billions of naira hay made him a living legend and the greatest philanthropist in Delta State as a whole.

Some of the roads that are currently been constructed by HRM Enyi Friday Abaja include: The Umukwata-Unor/Amai-Umuekum road, the 4km road beside the modern market and mordern Estate been constructed by HRM Enyi Friday Abaja.

This 4km road will link the New Sapele/Agbor road to the Utagba-Uno road, just some few kilometer to the Umukwata-Unor entrance road.

His projects are uncountable and he brings up new projects from time to time.

One of the things that wow us most, is the vision of HRM Enyi Friday Abaja the Ukwata 1 of Umukwata Kingdom.

We will continue to celebrate this great man who has impacted on uncountable lives and continues to affects people's lives positively.

I call him the architect of modern Umukwata Kingdom.

Years to come, he will still be remembered as the man that constructed so many roads in Umukwata Kingdom in particular and Ndokwa Nation in general.

His projects and his good deeds speaks for him, he is indeed a philanthropist per excellence with no rival in giving.

Eat to Live Right

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

I love food, I love whatever I eat, but in the end, I just found out that not all I eat is good and great for my health.

There is a unique village in Isreal, of 4,000 population, this village watch what they eat, and maintain a wonderful lifestyle that had kept them healthy and blessed them with long life.

In the village, they over the years had committed to a lifestyle of:
* No meat
* No dairy products
* No chemical additives
* No salt three days per week
* No sugar 4weeks per year
* No smoking
* No alcohol
* Exercise 3 times a week
* Monthly mandatory massage

Their drinks and food types are sourced 100% from plants, vegetables, roots and herbs.

They also observe some strong spiritual code and they lifestyle is captured as enshrined in Gen 1:29.

They are just wonderful and happy folks, enjoying good health and longitivity.

Please eat today to live right, my people.

Condolence: Asaba Elite Youth Awake Visits Red Cap Chief

....Committs To Work For A Better  Secured Asaba, Fight Ills Of Cultism.

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

An Asaba based Youth Led Body, "Asaba Elite Youth Awake" recently paid a condolence visit to an Asaba Red Cap Chief over the demise of his wife.

At the country home of Obi Nduka Sammy Ogochukwu, the group paid their condolence visit, expressed their shock at the demise of his late wife.

Comrade Sunday Oyana, the group's leader, in his remarks, urged Obi Ogochukwu to find solace in the holy words of God Almighty as enshrined in the holy scriptures.

He also prayed that the good Lord will grant Ogochukwu's family the fortitude to bear this loss as he is confident that the late queen is peacefully resting in the Lord's bossom.

In his response, Obi Ogochukwu thanked the delegation for their concern and love for his family.

He also appreciated the group over their numerious pro-security works, service towards the good of Asaba communities and urged them to always keep the tempo above average as they had done before now.

Our reporter shared some one on one media chat with Comrade Oyana as he unveiled some roles Asaba Elite Youth Awake played in the town and their challenges.

One of the major functions of our organization is to fight against youth led crimes, cultism and related social vices.

We have advocacy programs aimed at helping our Asaba youth to begin re-thinking being their brothers keepers, Comrade Oyana said.

Our committment towards making Asaba great again is an issue, we are not joking with, it drives and oils the wheels of our progressive agenda.

Another goal, we hold dear to our hearts is the committment towards drawing government's attention to the needs of our teeming Asaba youths, he stressed.

The group leader also decried cases where criminally minded cultists, they caught in the acts are released from security outfit's custody without due investigations and prosecution, citing such as a huge challenge to their works.

Another challenge we constantly face is that, there are some persons in this town who do not love peace, they felt threathened by our committment and focus at sweeping Asaba off cultists and make Asaba Youths great again, he emphazized.

You see these elements go about spoiling our good works, castigating our good names, but we do not want to join issues with them, we want to remain focused on our works.

We want lasting peace in Asaba, hence, we want to stay focused, mind our business and reach our goals and objectives, Comrade Oyana said.

The leadership of Asaba Elite Youth Awake used the opportunity of the interview to stress that they want the government to know that they are their partners in progress.

Comrade Oyana also thanked the Delta State governor, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa over his developmental strides within Asaba metropolice, infrastructural development works going on at different parts of the town.

He also urged the state government to carry more Asaba youths along in his government in terms of employment, entreprenurial supports and official appointments.

And prayed the state governor to remember their demands communicated via their last corresspondence with his office as they are ever ready to support his government, make Asaba more secured, fight cultism and related criminal acts.

DTSG Set To Verify Cooperative Society's Certificate

Delta State Ministry of Trade and Investment is set to recertify Cooperative Societies Certificate.

The Commissioner, Hon. Chika Ossai, dropped the hint today in his office when he played host to Delta Cooperative Federation Asaba.

Hon. Chika Ossai, averred that recertification of Cooperative Societies in the State has become imperative due to the fact that some Multipurpose Cooperative Societies have outlived their usefulness and have become docile.  

The official records according to the Commissioner showed that about forty thousand Cooperative Societies was registered by the Ministry, adding that not all of these are functional hence the need for the recertification.

On his part, the President of Delta Cooperative Federation, Mr. Larry Egun Onyeche, said the Visit was aimed first, at congratulating the Hon. Commissioner on his appointment.

While thanking the Commissioner for the audience granted them inspite of the short notice.

Mr. Larry Egun, said they came to familiarize themselves with the Commissioner and advocate for the creation of Bureau for Cooperative which will handle the issues relating to Multipurpose Cooperative Societies in the State. According to Mr. Larry Egun, Delta Cooperative Federation is the mouth-piece of non governmental Cooperative Societies.

Commissioner Chika Ossai, while responding assured the Executive members of the group that appropriate steps would be taken alongside government policy in that direction.

RECRUITMENT INTO THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE

PRESS RELEASE


Delta State Police Command wishes to inform the successful candidates in the conducted 2019 Police recruitment examination on Saturday 3rd August, 2019 at the Federal College of Education Technical Asaba permanent site situated along Ibusa express road, that their medical examination for physical fitness and mental stability is scheduled from Wednesday 11th   and Thursday 12thSeptember, 2019 at Magnus Eweka Police Cottage hospital Dennis Osadebey Avenue GRA Benin City.

        The candidates whose name appeared in the published result list are advised to appear in white short and vest; they are also requested to come along to the screening center with the following:

a.)         Candidates online print out forms

b.)        Two passport photographs


DSP ONOME ONOVWAKPOYEYA

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

DELTA STATE COMMAND, ASABA

XENOPHOBIA, NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS.

There is a total difference between Nigeria and Nigerians. Nigeria include all those over the years who have been running this country at the national and state levels. Some shot their way into power while some rigged their way into power. They became the national behemoths. They controlled both the factors of production and selfishly reaped all the products. They made the financial rules and miss-appropriated all the finances. They wrote all the contracts and reaped all the proceeds. They made all regulations. They are the regulators of the operators and they were operating the regulations.

Then there are we the people-Nigerians. We are the oppressed. The abandoned. The unemployed. The underprivileged. The underpaid. The roving youths. The forgotten pensioners. The mentally and physically incapacitated. The unconnected. Nigeria has subjected the Nigerians to xenophobic attacks for many years by denying them share of their natural commonwealth. So many Nigerians went abroad to run away from Nigeria. If Nigeria gave Nigerians equal opportunities, level playing field, good infrastructure, good jobs, good education, health, security, protection of lives and properties, ethnic equality and freedom of movement and association, then Nigerians will not have serious need to be outside their shores.

When Nigerians go abroad they excel in academic and professional and business lives. Only a very negligible few Nigerians ply the vocation of criminality and they learnt it from the xenophobic attitudes of Nigeria on them. When Nigeria even goes abroad, they criminalize Nigerians and talk down on hardworking Nigerians abroad and expose  them to be subjected to inhuman treatments.

The South African xenophobic attacks on Nigerians was not engineered by Pete Botha or Fredrick De-Clerk or Nelson Mandela or Thabo  Mbeki or Jacob Zuma or Cyril Rampahosa. Even when they started new slaughtering of Nigerians and destroying their businesses recently in South Africa, Nigeria turned a deaf ear until the shouts of Nigerians and some other Africans became deafening. The original xenophobe is Nigeria. Nigeria kills Nigerians. Others are just following Nigeria to kill Nigerians. May God save Nigerians from Nigeria the XENOPHOBIC behemoth.

Ike C. Ibe

Now that the South African's have Overdone It

We have continued to receive several verified reports of xenophobic attacks on Nigerian's by South African's. It has become more disheartening with the recent closure of the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa. We might have grievances with our government in our homeland, that's our problem and we shall solve it at home. We might call for foreign investors, our sovereignty remains our strength.

In addition, we have received several reports of how foreign nationals (expatriates) treat our country men roughly working for them especially at home. The working conditions are terrible, the working environment is nothing to write home about, the incentives are meagre, and the retirement benefits is non-existent. I can recall a recent case of a multinational in the oil and gas industry that claims to be distressed. In a bid to reduce overhead, they laid off Nigerians (mostly senior staffs) and retained expatriates (who in most cases received more than x5 of what a Nigerian is paid).

We accept that our labour laws needs to be improved upon by the lawmakers. The cases of victimization and intimidation are unnumbered, unending renewal of contract employment (all to ensure that they have no access to some incentives and a pension when relieved), the absence of a health scheme, provision of low quality safety kits, very low remuneration and more remains a challenge.

The emotional control of Nigerians who have worked under harsh conditions with some of this foreign companies is about outpouring it's bounds, and the resultant effect looks carters trophic. In the last 24 hours, I have received reports that Nigerians are about to react to the situation and a reprisals attacks will not yield anything good for both parties.

I know some foreign nationals in Lagos are witness to the change in the security architecture; they drove themselves everywhere they went without an escort, now they need escorts. They could stop to eat anywhere and take a stroll on the street without any security threats, now that is changing. I heard a uber taxi escaped an attacked because it carried a foreign national.

However, retaliation is never been the best response to the situation. We need to define what Nigerian's want and address the situation once and find a lasting solution before it gets out of hand.

Nigerians wants to be free to do legitimate businesses anywhere in the world. Nigerians want the Federal Government to place a stiff sanction on the South African government. Nigerians want an open apology from the president of South Africa and an immediate sack of her government officials in support of these attacks. Nigerian's want better labour law's and policies that would address issues raised above. Nigerians wants respect and a peaceful working environment. Nigerians want effective and efficient utilization of corporate social responsibility. Nigerians are peace loving people. Good People! Great Nation!

I use this medium to appeal to my countrymen to shun all forms of violence on both Nigerians and foreigners. I can accept a boycotting of products and services of the oppressor. Violence is not an option.

Thank you, and stay blessed.

Aminu Lookman Enitan
4th September, 2019
Deputy Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter,
National Youth Council of Nigeria

@Lukamins on Facebook, twitter, and instagram

#StopXenophobia #YoungLeaders #YoungMPs #YouthInclusion #Lagos #SDGYouth #NigeriaDecides #NoSidonLook #SDG #SDGs #ActiveCitizens #GlobalCitizen #NYCN #NYCNLagos #IYD #IYD2019

t.me/NYCNNational

What My South African Friend Told Her Brothers

The problem South Africa is facing now is not xenophobia... its Illiteracy.

The ANC and South African Education system has failed to educate its youth.

Apartheid didn’t just magically disappear and the struggle was not a sole effort.

Africa as a whole stood by Mzansi to eradicate the oppression that plagued black South Africans which was a result of apartheid.

The leaders of the struggle, the leaders which y’all look up to where on the run, hunted like animals to be executed on site but because of other Countries they got sanctuary.

They lived in other countries, they were provided with documentation, they were given resources and stability so they could liberate this country.

These NIGERIANS you are hunting down took money from their own pockets and took their lunch money while in school to donate to the movement of the ANC.

Don’t be stupid, know ur history.

If not for anything else but for Ubuntu.

Every African is your brother especially Nina South Africans who think this is the USA of Africa, this couldn’t have happened if not for foreigners, their sacrifices and their selflessness. Yazi ni ungrateful.

My Brother do you know how many South Africans are staying in other African countries?

If u have a problem with someone prospering and wakes up at 4am goes out to make a living while you are sleeping comfortably in ur RDP house expecting SASSA money month end to support your kids then u are evil.

U don’t hate foreigners, u hate urself.

U complain that they are taking ur women... no one can take a woman that is loved, protected and provided with all that she needs.

That problem is yours and yours alone.

Don’t they have women?

 If u are men like them why don’t you take their women Nani?

U can burn ur own sister alive because she chose to marry a man who was ready to marry and love her, while in your house right now you are staying with the mother of your kids and haven’t married her for 13years now it’s still a “vat en set”?

Ayy niyanya shem

I DONT LIKE NONSENSE.

 THIS HAS TO STOP COZ OF ALL AFRICAN COUNTRIES, SOUTH AFRICA BELONGS TO ALL AFRICANS COZ THEY WERE WITH US WHEN WE NEEDED THEM THE MOST!

THEY SAW US THROUGH AND WE GOT LIBERATED THROUGH THE EFFORTS AND SACRIFICE OF EVERY AFRICAN COUNTRY!

20 reasons why we lost our freedom since Buhari got into Power

1. Naira lost value
2. Economy in Dispair
3. Insecurity magnified
4. Boko Haram reinforced
5. Killer Herdsmen got Licensed to kill
6. Democracy turned Dictatorship
7. Vote Buying and Vote Selling became magnanimously adopted during election
8. Inflation at it's worst state ever
9. Hunger and starvation like never before
10. Number of IDP refugee camps increased
11. All public sector retrogressed
12. Nigeria's bad image in league of nations magnified
13. Unemployment and joblessness refueled
14. Kidnappings and Fraudulence on the rampage in his "anti-corruption" themed administration
15. Police brutalization of citizens now the order of the day
16. Maltreatment of Nigerians in diaspora like never before
17. Intra-nation and inter-tribal crisis on the increase
18. Nepotism and Favouritism - Empowerment of His Kinsmen, the Fulanis over every other tribe - RUGA
19. Celebration of Terrorists by his government
20. Handling the killing of Nigerians in the Xenophobic attack in South Africa with levity!

Buhari is simply a curse, but more cursed are those who helped him into power!!

*I am Olanrewaju Ojuoluwa, Youth Advocate and Social Reformer.

Like many other reasonable Nigerians, I'm bothered by how badly things are getting out of hand under Buhari's failed administration.

EXPRESSION OF HIGH LEVEL DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE KILLINGS OF NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND A CALL FOR URGENT ACTION.

South African  High Commission
Diplomatic Zone
Plot 371
Central Business District
Abuja.

Sir,


With tears in our eyes, we the Nigerian youths under the umbrella of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative for the Youths CSRIY express our utmost displeasure and disappointment over the incessant carnage and killings of our people in South Africa. South Africa as a country through this show of ingratitude to a nation that played a vital role in your emancipation from the shackles of apartheid, displayed a spirit that is anti-AFRICAN. The killings of Nigerians in South African is a national insult, spite on the face of Nigeria as a
 country and Nigerians in general.

In South African land, Nigerians fall prey to South African police, South African citizens and all of them go scot free. Every Tom, Dick and Harry clamp down on Nigerians with reckless abandon and claim monopoly of violence.

A message to South African Youths: No youths of any nation can claim monopoly of violence or make any significant progress by attacking fellow African brothers. In as much ad we respect you so much, we detest this aspect of your lazy, unproductive attacks on well meaning foreigners. It is rude, lack of civility and an attack of the spirit of your forebears that understand the implications of a nation standing for you when your land is under threat.

 Physically, you recognize the high spirit and agility level of Nigerian youths, but we employ our energy in hardworking and productive living. It takes us nothing to bring down all business and enterprise belonging to South African Nationals  but we refused to tow that evil part knowing fully well that no country can stand or exist in isolation.

On this noble understanding, we the entire Nigerian youths give peace a second and last chance in making the following demands to both the South African government, South African youths, killing Nigerians, vandalizing their businesses and all other stakeholders especially South African business owners in Nigeria:
A public apology in all print and electronic media both in Nigeria and South Africa for the valuable lives of Nigerians killed in South Africa.

A practical and positive approach to redress this ugly situation, arrest the culprits and bring them to justice publicly to serve as a deterrent to others.

To call for a round table discussions of the Youths bodies of our country Nigeria to suggest a way out of this national assault of a peaceful and friendly nation.

The above humble demands should be met before the expiration of seven days or we would throw civility to the wind and defend our brothers to the best we can.

It is quite unfair for us to fold our hands and watch our people being slaughtered daily in cold blood.

Nigerian Youths are angry!

Hope to meet again in peace and not in pieces!

Joel Eze
For and on behalf of over 100 million Nigerian youths of the federation.

CC:
United Nations UN
African Union AU
National Assembly
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chairperson, Nigerian Diaspora Commission

XENOPHOBIA: Unionist Raise Voice Against It

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

An Asaba based Trade Union leader, Comrade Dumebi Eluaka has rasied his voice to condemn the recent killing of Nigerians and other Non South Africans in some cities of South Africa.

He aired his feelings today, Thursday, shortly after his inaurguration as the Delta State Public Relations Officer of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

The Union Leader maintained that there was no reason for South Africans to had shown Nigerians and other African nationals in their country such ill treatment.

Nigeria had in the dark days of South African's oppression under their colonial masters received material and cash supports from Nigeria and other African Nations.

These acts of xenophobia against Africans by South African youths is largely wrong and not acceptable, he said.

Comrade Eluaka also pledged his committment at raising the image of TUC to some enviable height.

I am ready to do every thing within my ability at supporting my state chairman and work hamoniously at making sure that we collectively succeed as an exco.

It is my prayer that we will have smooth working relationship with the Nigerian Labour Congress, other affiliate organizations in the state, Delta State government and our teeming workers, who today, we vow to represent.

I stand here today to share my support for the full implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage agenda of the Federal Government, Comrade Dumebi Eluaka noted.

 Before today's inaurguration, Comrade Dumebi Eluaka is the Delta State Chairman, Union of Tipper & Quarry Employers of Nigeria, a role he will double with his present position as the Delta State Public Relations Officer for Trade Union Congress of Nigeria.

TUC-Delta State Gets New Excutives

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The Delta State Chapter of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), today, Thursday, elected and inaurgurated her new state executive members.

The election and inaurguration took place during the union's 4th triennial state delegate conference held at Asaba.

Comrade Musa Lawal, the union's national secretary general witnessed and presided over the exercise.

Sharing his post inaurguration goodwill message, he expressed his appreciation over the peaceful nature of the electoral process that ushered in the new executive  members and urged them to sustain the tempo.

The union leader also decried the recent reports of attacks by South African youths against Nigerians in their country.

He also pointed out that the Union's National Leadership had in strong terms condemned the attack.

Our national leadership is already engaging the federal government concerning issues confronting our workers and we will not relent to offer quality representation, Comrade Lawal said.

Comrade Mike Okeme, the state governor's aide on labour matters, who represented the state governor, share the governor's goodwill message.

In his goodwill message, the state governor stressed that the government had enjoyed good working relationship with labour and trade union leaders in the state.

We had in recent past witnessed peaceful collaboration with your union and hope it continues to be so sustained, the governor pointed out.

The state government had commenced recruitment of young able Deltans into the state's workforce.

Fifty persons had being recriuted into the Ministry of Agriculture, we have just finished recruitment of One Thousand new teachers, while the state government is reconsidering the re-instatement of one thousand workers previously laid off the state's workforce.

We are going to work round the clock with your union for the betterment of our workers, I also appreciate your union's leadership over the peaceful conduct of this electoral process, the governor said.

Comrade Okeme charged the union leaders to peacefully work with themselve with team spirit and urged them to periodically visit his office for more result driven consultation as his doors are open to them.

One of the highlight of the event was award presentation made to the state governor and received on his behalf by Comrade Mike Okeme.

The 4th triennial state delegate conference witnessed the election and inaruguration of new state executive officers for the union.

Bolum Martins and Yekovie E.O were elected as the union's state chairman and state vice chairman respectively.

Others include, Oyegbanren.E. voted as state secretary; Egbiniyokor Abel as state treasurer; Okoh K.C became the new state assistant secretary.

Igboamaka J.A will serve as the state financial secretary while Dumebi Eluaka will function as the state public relation officer.

Faith Usoroh will serve the union as the state woman leader and Sunny Obozua will fill the role of state auditor.

Sharing his post inaurguration acceptance speech, the union's new state chairman, appreciated all members over their peaceful conduct during the electoral process and assured them quality service and result oriented representation.

We are going to engage and partner with the state government at negotiating better workers welfare.

We are also going to extend our arms of fellowship to other sister related bodies, the chairman stressed.

There is positive and better hope for workers in the state, we will do and put in our very best to ensure our workers get the very best from our service.

I cease this moment to seek for your positive collaboration and smooth working relationship with my leadership, Comrade Bolum Martins charged state executives and union members.

The event was generally peacefull and well attended by a cross section of delegates from the Union's affiliate member organizations.

HOW I SUDDENLY STARTED LOVING IGBO.

By Tyrano Tsunami

THE MYTHS:

As a boy growing up on the street of Port Harcourt, I was told so many horrible things about Igbos. I was told that Igbos were planning to push Rivers people to Abia State for the people of Abia to inhabit Rivers State because of our resources. I was told that Igbo people enslaved and ruled over my people in Bori the traditional headquarters of Ogoni Kingdom. I was told that Odumegwu Ojukwu, Onyeka Onwenu and other prominent Igbos brazenly rejoiced over the execution of my uncle Ken Saro  Wiwa because of the role he played during the Civil War. I was told that it is better to be slaves to Hausas than to be brothers to Igbos because, Igbo are worse than Hausa.

THE EFFECTS:

These things made me to terribly detest Igbos beyond what you can imagine, I was always skeptical, cynical and suspicious while dealing with Igbos. It also affected my friendship with Igbo guys, I was always careful not to be a victim, no matter how they value the friendship, as long as they are Igbos, they were bad eggs to me .

It also severely affected my relationship with Igbo girls, 70% of the girls I have seen are Igbos girls but I have never treated any of my Igbo girlfriends fairly because, I programmed my mind not to be interested in anything beyond the fun attached to the chemistry of boys and girls stuff while dealing with an Igbo girl, I didn't want to make the mistake of dating an Igbo girl to the extent of marrying her.

THE DISCOVERY:

I was posted to Akwa Ibom State for my national youth service in November 2013, there I made so many Igbo friends, almost 60% of Akwa Ibom corps members are from Igbo extraction, mainly from IMSU, FUTO, ABSU, UMUDIKE,  ESUT and IMT. There I saw how determined a typical Igbo youth is, there i saw the natural tendency for economic success in a typical Igbo guy, there I saw the reason why Igbos are entrepreneurs allover the globe, there I saw that God specially gave them the metaphysical eyes to see money in things and where you don't even think of smelling money, there I saw that even though the Igbos have had severe political travails and marginalization, they will forever remain the economic salt of Nigeria, even after the restoration of Biafra.  

While we were serving, those of us who are Port Harcourt breed UNIPORT/RSUST corps members were always complaining that Akwa Ibom is beautiful but not groovy as Port Harcourt, we were always complaining that the town is dry with no night life as Port Harcourt. But our friends from the Igbo extraction were seeing things differently, they saw Akwa Ibom as a beautiful virgin land highly in need of economic exploration, they saw huge business opportunities in where we saw boredom.

We were complaining of the insufficient N19,800 alawi while they were seeing it as potential small scale business capital. We used our alawi to club in one night because, we didn't see it as good enough to help us, while our Igbo friends inject it into their small scale businesses. We were always going to Tropicana to see movies while our Igbo friends are busy going to Lagos to bring wears and jewelries for us to buy.  We were always calling home for money but our Igbo friends were sending money home instead.
At the end of my  service year, I said I was going back to Port Harcourt because I believed Uyo was too dry for me to hustle, but my Igbo friends stayed back because they saw Uyo as a land lacking business and as such, it's good for them to make money through the introduction of different businesses.

THE REVERSAL:

I came back to Port Harcourt then pondered on my experience with these Igbo brains, I then realised why people hate them, I felt bad seriously for wrongly hating them all these while, I decided to love them because, they have the kind of zeal I'd love to emulate.

THE CONVICTION:

When I was fully convinced that the Igbos are not only my role models but my blood was when they went against all odds to make Goodluck Jonathan their own, they loved him even more than some us from the South South, they gave him their full support at the poll not minding the consequences. Ever since, I couldn't stop loving Igbos but to love them even more.

THE RECOMMENDATION:

Igbos drive the economy of every towns and cities in Nigeria, nobody can change that, so instead of hating them for doing business in your place, I'd advise you compete with them even if you know you can't beat them because, it is your land that is benefiting economically and otherwise with such healthy competition, it is a win win situation.

CONCLUSION:

Igbos are subject of hate in this country, apparently due to wrong perception, but I personally think Igbos are cool like any other tribe, and bad like any other tribe too. Though my main problem with them is that, they never admit their flaws no matter how glaring but they are always quick to lampoon the slightest folly of other tribes.

If you want to be successful economically, think like Igbos!

Ps:

Yes , the igbo indomitable spirit.

Ndokwa/Oshimili Communities Protest New NDDC Board Appointment

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The recent Federal Government's appointment of the new board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) ), today, at Asaba recorded a huge minus.

Large number of youths, women and men drawn from communities within Ndokwa and Oshimili Local Government Areas registered their displeasure over the recent appointment.

They took their protest to the state's house of assembly and the government house.

At the state assembly the angry protesters were received by their respective representatives, assured that they understand their grieviances and ready to work round the clock with them at correcting the anomaly.

As contained in an address John Obi, the organising chairman, Ben Elu, Esq and Chuk Ozulu, the protesters rejected in its totality the deliberate marginalization of the entire Delta North Senitorial District in the constitution of the commission's board since 2000.

Part of their address to the state governor, read in part thus; "rather than at least consider we that have never benefited for 19 years, the same Urhobo and Isoko groups that were appointed into the out going board were again rewarded with the Managing Director and Delta State representative positions respectively for an unprecedented two consecutive tenures"

Speaking to our reporter, Chuk Ozulu, pointed out that, among the five oil producing ethnic nationalities in Delta State, it shows that the Urhobos had being appointed five times; the Isokos, Ijaws and Itsekiris had enjoyed appointment at the commission four, four and three times respectively.

He also maintained that the current Deputy Senate President, Minister for State Niger Delta (the only minister from the state, Chairman of the NSITF Board as well as outgoing NDDC Executive Director (Projects), he said are all Urhobos.

The group's leader, John Obi, urged Niger Delta Leaders and Governors to persuade the president to reconsider the list and allow Ndokwa Nation produce the next Managing Director and Delta State representative in the new NDDC board.

Comrade Hero I Hero and Odili Ebere, in their chat with our reporter decried the exclusion of Delta North Senitorial District in the appointment of the commission's board.

They also noted that Ndokwa nation had contributed a lot towards the Indepedent Power Plant (IPP) project of the nation with ten oil companies peacefully operating within their domain but lamented that all that is their lot is no jobs and appointment to their people.

Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, received the angry protesters at government house today, with the assurance that the state government is ready to work with them on this issue.

He also reminded them that their royal fathers had before now paid advocacy visits to his office and their letters to the state governor had equally being sent to the presidency.

Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon thanked them over the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the period of the protest.

S

DTSG Approves Counterpart Funding For UBEC Financing Program

* To Build More Schools In Asaba
* Young Deltans To Gain Entrepreneurial Skills

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

To enhance and strengthen basic and secondary education in Delta State, the state government has approved payment of their counterpart funding for the
Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme

This was made know to joirnalists today, Tuesday, during a post exco press briefing at the Government House by Aniagwu Ehiedu Charles, the Information commissioner.

The executive council today approved the payment of N1.5 billion UBE counterpart fund, he said.

This, he said will enable the state government ensure educational facility upgrade, training and retraining of the workforce and total over hauling of the basic and secondary educational system in the state.

Due to the increasing population within the state's capital city and its environ, the information commissioner announced, the state government's committment to construct one more primary school and one more secondary school in Asaba.


Aniagwu Ehiedu Charles pointed out that the state government has  created public project monitoring unit to ensure that the state government's public projects impact Deltans positively and add value for tax payers money.

This unit will advice the state government on all her ongoing projects, with a view to ensure that an undiluted assessment of all ongoing public project, Aniagwu maintained.

All Ministries, Agencies and Departments in the state are to present to the unit copies of their vital project documents.

His Youth Devellopment counterpart, Ifeanyi Egwunyega,  also pointed out the state government's committment at ensuring that more young Deltans gain more entreprenurial skills.

He shared how the state government had matched their words with action by committing over N1.1Billion into the state's Job and Wealth Creation program.

Students are strategic to SDGs implementation.... Prof. Shehu - VC, KUST.

By Seyifunmi Adebote and Umar Farouk Ahmad, Kano State.


The Vice-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Professor Shehu Musa has underscored the importance of having young people as the drivers of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing not less than 65 students during the SDGs4Universities Workshop hosted by the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil on Thursday, August 22nd, 2019, Professor Shehu said, “You (students) have the strategic position to make a contribution.

You don’t need to have a million naira or be a politician before you start making a difference.

In one way or the other, you all are connected to at least one of these 17 goals and you must know that the realization of this is largely dependent on you.

Reiterating the University’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Professor Shehu expressed his delight to the facilitating organization, International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) for considering Kano State University of Science and Technology and for training the students of the institution on how they can begin to practically take actions towards driving the SDGs in their local communities.

“We are fully receptive to collaborate with stakeholders to see the realization of the SDGs. I hope that students of this institution will put to practice the lessons from this SDGs4Universities workshop,” Shehu said.

The SDGs4Universities workshop is a project by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI).

ICCDI has been taking the knowledge of the SDGs to various tertiary institutions across the country.

According to the Project Coordinator, Seyifunmi Adebote, “this workshop is part of our continued efforts to localize the knowledge and application of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals among university students, as well as, to position them to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

The workshop came to an end with the establishment of the KUST SDGs club in the university.

Though the 6th SDGs4Universities workshop, the Kano State University of Science and Technology is the first in the North-West region of Nigeria.

The facilitators included Umar Farouk and Mufid Muhammad from Green Again Initiative, and Salihu Hamisu and Juwairiyya El-Yakub, alumni of the University.

The workshop was attended by not less than 65 students from different faculties, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu Musa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic, Professor Aminu Umar Fagge; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Administration, Professor Tijjani Saleh Bichi; the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor A. S. Ma’aji and the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Daraja among others.

udents are strategic to SDGs implementation.... Prof. Shehu - VC, KUST.

By Seyifunmi Adebote and Umar Farouk Ahmad, Kano State.


The Vice-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Professor Shehu Musa has underscored the importance of having young people as the drivers of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing not less than 65 students during the SDGs4Universities Workshop hosted by the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil on Thursday, August 22nd, 2019, Professor Shehu said, “You (students) have the strategic position to make a contribution.

You don’t need to have a million naira or be a politician before you start making a difference.

In one way or the other, you all are connected to at least one of these 17 goals and you must know that the realization of this is largely dependent on you.

Reiterating the University’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Professor Shehu expressed his delight to the facilitating organization, International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) for considering Kano State University of Science and Technology and for training the students of the institution on how they can begin to practically take actions towards driving the SDGs in their local communities.

“We are fully receptive to collaborate with stakeholders to see the realization of the SDGs. I hope that students of this institution will put to practice the lessons from this SDGs4Universities workshop,” Shehu said.

The SDGs4Universities workshop is a project by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI).

ICCDI has been taking the knowledge of the SDGs to various tertiary institutions across the country.

According to the Project Coordinator, Seyifunmi Adebote, “this workshop is part of our continued efforts to localize the knowledge and application of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals among university students, as well as, to position them to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

The workshop came to an end with the establishment of the KUST SDGs club in the university.

Though the 6th SDGs4Universities workshop, the Kano State University of Science and Technology is the first in the North-West region of Nigeria.

The facilitators included Umar Farouk and Mufid Muhammad from Green Again Initiative, and Salihu Hamisu and Juwairiyya El-Yakub, alumni of the University.

The workshop was attended by not less than 65 students from different faculties, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu Musa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic, Professor Aminu Umar Fagge; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Administration, Professor Tijjani Saleh Bichi; the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor A. S. Ma’aji and the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Daraja among others.

Communiqué at the End of Two Days Zonal Youth Climate Incubation Hub

Communiqué at the End of Two Days Zonal Youth Climate Incubation Hub held at Port Harcourt, Rivers State

* Preamble

The Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on August 15th -16th hosted a regional Youth Climate Incubation Hub for South-South zone, the first of six zones at the Visa Karina Hotel in Port Harcourt, this is to further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a member country of the United Nations’ Youth Engagement and Public Mobilization track at the Climate Action Summit in September 2019.

The event was facilitated by Health of the Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an environmental think-tank organization and had a total number of 70 participants draw from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers State.

In his remark, Nnimmo Bassey, an Environmental Justice Advocate and Director of HOMEF underscored the importance of the Youth Roundtable on Climate Action, which is to unlock youth innovativeness in Nigeria’s climate action. He further emphasized that young people have the brightest ideas for solving problems of climate change in Nigeria.

While welcoming the participants to the event, the Federal Ministry of Environment through its Department of Climate Change charged the participants on the imperativeness of this event, as climate and climate change have become an issue of global concern particularly in Third World countries like Nigeria.

Sa’adatu Gambo, a Senior Scientific Officer at the Department of Climate Change, who represented the Federal Ministry of Environment also mentioned that the Department of Climate Change is the country’s focal point for the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and are always eager and ready to welcome creative ideas from young people on how to solve problems of climate change which has become a serious global threat to humanity.

* Expectations

It is expected that at the end of the two days event, there will be an acceleration of key improvement on climate change.

Creative ideas that are specific, measurable, achievable, bankable, realistic and time bound which will be harnessed and built from concept stage to actual implementation.

* Observation

Following the foregoing expectations, it was observed that:
 - Issues of  climate change calls for emergency in Nigeria therefore proactive measures must be put in place by the Nigerian government to tackle it;

-The non-implementation of extant environmental laws and policies continue to serve as a major setback in the fight for a safe climate in Nigeria;

-The need to create more awareness among the Nigeria citizenry;

-Financial investment and transfer of technology to build human capacity and groom basic ideas that will mitigate climate crises in Nigeria.

* Recommendations

After series of brain storming and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) among all participants, the following innovative ideas were strongly recommended by the various South-South States that attended the Regional Youth Climate Incubation Hub in Port Harcourt.

- Climate Change Desk Officers at both Federal and State ministries in Nigeria should ensure that participants of this Youth Climate Hub are  further engaged on climate change issues;

- Biogas: generating biogas from household biodegradable waste and biodigester

- Recycling: Effort should be made on recycling as regards plastic bottle collection and reuse and also waste segregation and separation

- Education and Environmental Literacy: Establish environmental clubs and advocacy for target groups and also creating certain social documentaries in local dialects
on climate change;

-Technology: Apps should be available to map vulnerable and non-vulnerable areas to climate change  impact and solar panels should be more affordable for the people;

-Mangrove reclamation and tree planting especially indigenous and economic crops;

-There is need for government at all levels to stop paying lip service and amplify action on climate change policy  implementations;

- There should be a massive advocacy campaigns on the impact of climate change;

- The inclusion of climate change education in our curriculum at the various levels of learning in Nigeria;

- Youths voices should be further amplified and their creative ideas on climate change harnessed.

- The need to strengthen existing structure to integrate women and marginalized groups participation in all levels in climate action in Nigeria.

Skill Acquisition: NGO Kick Off With Orientation Exercise For Participants

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

A Non Government Organisation, has kicked off her youth focused skill acquisition training program with an orientation exercise for participants.

Asaba Home Diaspora Development Initiative (AHDDI) today, Saturday, commenced her six months skill acquisition training program for proactive youths resident within the state capital territory.

Ms Daphne Arafiena, AHDDI's President, while addressing participants stated the training program will last for three to four months for some skills sets.

She said the training program's lifespan will last between 20th July through 20th December, 2019.

The first week is dedicated to paint production, sales and marketing technique, while two weeks later is reserved for classroom training on introduction to concepts, materials and tools around participants core areas of training, she explained.

AHDDI's president informed participants that their apprentiship work would start after the first three weeks at their trainer's workshop, together with field works.

She also urge them to be mindful of weather warnings to minimize field accidents, wear appropriate protective and safety clothings provided for them by AHDDI.

AHDDI expects trainees to put in between 5-8 hours daily during their training period.

Ms Arafiena reminded participants about the importance of discipline, punctuality, cleanliness and respect throughout period of the training.

She challenged the participants to see themselves as AHDDI's Ambassadors and urged them to eschew fighting in public, avoid the temptations of drunkenness, chewing of gum during training sessions and loitering during training hours.

AHDDI has zero tolerance policy for rudeness towards her trainers and AHDDI's team, Ms Arafiena warned.

One of the high point of the six months long training program will be a new concept AHDDI's president unveiled as "AHDDI Give Back To Community Days"

Ms Arafiena noted that while participants are learning new skill sets and are being prepared to become independent entreprenuers, AHDDI wants them to develop a heart and spirit of remebering the less priviledge ones in the society.

AHDDI has set aside Saturday 27th July, Friday 6th September and Friday 11th October, 2019 as      "AHDDI Give Back To Community Days"

AHDDI has also made provisions for participants to enjoy free transportation services to and fro training centers, fix a team rep as well as health and safety reps who will liase skill set trainers and AHDDI team leads.

The NGO had procured basic and essential work tools for training, but trainees will have to sign for tools collected.

Arafiena pointed out that AHDDI does not provide any settlement empowerment scheme, but at its discretion and with the recommendation of the trainers will select some best behaved trainees who will receive gifts to enable them start off on their own.

Finally, Arafiena reminded participants that AHDDI's skills training is an opportunity and not a right, she urged them to take the opportunity seriously.

AHDDI has designed a 4 months training for participants in acting/screenplay writing; cane furniture making; solar PV installation; computer and phone repairs.

Some participants will gain three months trainings in computer graphic designs; baking/decoration and online journalism courses.

Participants will take part in a one week paint production course as well as participate in a two weeks entreprenurual skills on communication/inter-personal skills; financial management; sales and marketing.