The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Go Get Your Own Broom BY Lovendah OTACHE

     

    In one certain Parish, the late Bishop Michael Eneja of Nsukka Catholic Diocese was on a Pastoral visit. That faithful late afternoon, the weather was very hot, such that staying inside the Church or Hall was not an option at all. The Saintly Bishop decided to have his teaching outside, under the avocado pea tree at the center of Church premises.

    This impromptu change of arrangement caused a stir, occasioning a lot of running around for the Parish PRIEST and other key officers of the Parish council.

    The major drama happened when the Parish PRIEST returned with a conference table and discovered that the Bishop had already picked up a broom at the front of the Church and started sweeping.

    On sighting the Bishop bending down with a broom in his hand sweeping, the Parish PRIEST shouted “My Lord, please don’t do that to me! Give me the broom, let me do the sweeping myself!”
    Despite the Priest’s insistence, the Bishop refused to allow him. On the contrary, he said to the priest, “Go and get your own broom.”

    In obedience, the Parish PRIEST went and picked up his own broom and started sweeping. It did not take long before the catechist arrived at the scene and saw both His Lordship and the Parish PRIEST sweeping, and he nearly fainted!

    The catechist rushed the Parish priest to collect the broom from him but the PRIEST told him, “Go and get your own broom.”

    The same continued until everyone who came for the conference got their own broom. Just within minutes the whole compound was clean and the Bishop continued with his catechetical instruction.

    I think Nigeria’s problem can be solved with all of us g”our own brooms” and joining in the sweeping of the mess we found ourselves.

    If everybody is to sweep their corner, the whole nation would be sparkling clean within minutes. It is all about starting small and starting it by yourself now. We can still do it. Let’s do it!. Together, we can!
    Criticism without working out solutions to our problems will not get us anywhere!

    ‘Building a Greater Nation Start with me”

    Written by Lovendah Otache

  • Business Is Hard: This Is The Part Many Coaches Do Not Tell Us BY TINA JB OFEM

     

    That part where you’ve exhausted all proven strategies yet no results.

    That part where you have the ideas and startup skills, yet no capital.

    That part where you started successfully then because they said business is risk, you got involved in one investment hoping for the best and unfortunately you lost everything.

    These are the parts no one, absolutely no one tells us about.

    But we are still hopeful, we wouldn’t give up.

    We are going to keep pushing, if this is you too.

    Hang in there.
    I’m rooting for you 💕

    #tjsvendor

  • Nigeria Breaks A Record By Defeating Egypt 1-0 In The AFCON Opening.

     

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Egypt in their group stage match at the ongoing 33rd Africa Cup of Nations in Garoua, Cameron on Tuesday.

     

    The Super Eagles, who won to top Group D, were powerful and spectacular throughout the game.

     

    Nigeria’s victory today ended Egypt’s unbeaten streak. 
    At the Africa Cup of Nations, the Pharaohs went undefeated in their last 16 group matches

  • Hon. Mike Etaba’s 3rd Term Ambition: Hope His Excellency Is Aware? – BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    I had elected not to start the new year discussing Politics, especially as it concern my immediate Constituency, Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, but I feel constrained as a matter of utmost importance and urgency to draw the attention of His Excellency, the Governor, to an imminent political kamikaze, should he decide to handle the issue of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency with kid’s glove.

    Aware that -barring any last minute change and unforeseen circumstance- the Governor, reportedly, has settled in his heart to compensate Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba with a 3rd Term Ticket, as a way of repaying him for his loyalty and refusal to remain in PDP, despite all entreaties and alluring enticement made to him by PDP bigwigs. Knowing the Governor for who he is, I am obviously not surprise that the Governor is allegedly keen on reciprocating Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba’s loyalty to him, with a 3rd ticket, as the Governor has a nice penchant for rewarding not a few that have remain loyal to him. Some of the samplers to underscore my assertion includes, but not limited to, the Governor’ support for Chief Barr. Alphonsus Eba (Okadigbo) emergence as APC Chairman-elect, his unflinching Support to Dr. Steve Odey- who obviously holds the Guinness book of records as one of the most loyal ally of the Governor. Moreso, is his commitment to ensuring that Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbor returns to the green chambers for the 3rd time and his rumoured commitment to settle some of his A-list Commissioners and Chairmen with juicy House of Reps and House of Assembly tickets.

    Without equivocation, I honestly do admire the Governor’s sense of commitment to rewarding loyalty and I pray to have a friend like him who can readily reward loyalty and respect friendship. But while this gesture may appear applaudable, methinks that the Governor needs to be more circumspect in throwing his weight behind some persons, as such may amount to political suicide.

    Is the Governor aware that the Politics of 2023, belongs to the masses and as such, must support only aspirants with grassroot appeal? Performance-wise and realistically speaking, I honestly do think that Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba does not deserve a 3rd term. Unlike, his counterpart, Rt. Hon Legor Idagbor, who is also gunning for a 3rd term, Mike Etaba has performed abysmally and elusively in the House of Reps. He has no grassroot appeal and has lost touch with the people whose mandate he enjoys. As a way of saving face, he hurriedly coupled few abandoned cars and “dashed” them to selected APC Leaders in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency as Empowerment Scheme. As at the time of writing this article, I can authoritatively confirm that some of the cars used for Empowerment are currently languishing in Mechanic workshops and the beneficiaries of the Empowerment Scheme are obviously not happy. Isn’t it insulting that after enjoying close to 7years in the National Assembly, all we can boast of as empowerment Scheme is the gifting of rickety, dangerous-looking, push and Start Buses and Motorcycles.

    I hope the Governor is also aware that in 2019, the people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency voted against Mike Etaba? To put it in better perspective, Mike Etaba lost the election apparently, but was smuggled back into the House through the instrumentality of the Governor. I hope His Excellency is aware that the people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency are determine to resist any attempt to foist Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba on the people again, as once beaten, twice shy.

    Lastly, I hope His Excellency Is aware that he will be having too many battles in his hands to win come 2023, and the best way to ease the job is to support a candidate that can garner massive support from the grassroot and then concretize it with the blessing and goodwill of the Governor, and Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba is obviously not that Candidate.

    While, I anticipate that His Excellency takes an introspective consideration of the concerns raised herein, I wish to suggest that the Governor go to war in 2023, with Generals and Veterans of Political Wars and not Politicians waiting to be spoon-feed as the Politics of 2023, will not be business as usual. Every Political Party is expected to field in her best and Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency shouldn’t be an exception.

    God bless Cross River State.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ, and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Zoning Of Governorship Position Has Never Been Practiced In Cross River State – DG Caterpillar Movement

    The Director General of the Caterpillar Movement, Chief Joe Bisong has statedtstated zoning, as it concerns the Governorship, has never been practised in our dear state and is clearly not part of our political history.

    The DG made this assertion in Press Release and made available to TheLumineNews.

    The release reads in full:

    CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

    PRESS RELEASE

    OUR POSITION ON THE 2023 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN CROSS RIVER STATE

    Over the past one year, the public space of both electronic and print media has been saturated with seemingly unending discussions, arguments and submissions on the topic of Zoning with regards to which senatorial district should produce the elected Governor of Cross River State, come 2023.
    The Caterpillar Movement has been consistent in its incontrovertibleassertion that zoning, as it concerns the Governorship, has never been practised in our dear state and is clearly not part of our political history  thus far. To that extent, let us for the umpteenth time state, that zoning as currently canvassed,is clearly a devious attempt to disenfranchise eligible aspirants from genuine and healthy competition for the highest office in the land. Even more, it is trite that the constitutional and inalienable right to contest or be voted for in any election, so long as such an aspirant is qualified within the templates of the Nigerian Constitution, is guaranteed. Accordingly, nobody can zone out the right of another person and in this particular regard of the cross River situation,it remains so, whether viewed from the prism of the law or from the perspective of our political history as a people. This explains why the zoning argument could not have been sustained and has indeed,for all practical purposes, died. Our conclusion therefore ,is that even the ghost of the issue of zoning of Governorship in cross river state has since been laid to rest.

    Accordingly, the Caterpillar Movement urges its supporters to forthwith, desist from any arguments relating to zoning of the governorship position, since such matters have crumbled into obsolescence. Conversely, we ask our supporters to instead, channel their intellectual resources in helping to profer solutions on how to redeem the state, moving forward.

    The position of our Principal is clear and emphatic. Competence must be emphasized over zoning,especially at this critical period in our political history and all three Senatorial zones have a fair share of competent men and women that Cross Riverians can choose from to lead them. Let the ultimate choice be that of the people and let all who are interested in leading the state, hit the ground and canvass the support of our people across the three senatorial zones.

    Our principal,
    Senator Sandy Onor has indeed just recently concluded a tour of the state with resounding success and huge acceptance across the three Senatorial zones and it is our belief that we shall not only clinch the party ticket but shall ultimately emerge victorious at the general elections, come 2023 through the overwhelming support of the people and the special grace of God.

    Let us at this juncture, state categorically,that the attempt to browbeat our Principal,Professor Sandy Onor from contesting the Governorship election, simply based on the concept of geo-ethnicity was untenable ab initio. For someone who spent the best part of his youth working for the unity of the state by supporting candidates from the south in the persons of Prof Eyo Etim Nyong and Mr Donald Duke,to the extent where the latter emerged Governor; this new and pernicious wave of geo-ethnicity is to say the least,deeply regrettable and worrisome.

    What our state requires now is a man of courage,
    confidence and humility who understands the history,culture and geography of our state; a man with the right intellect and experience; a man tested and proven enough to speak and act for all of cross river state without the odious emphasis on a single geo-political zone. Put differently, this is the time when our commonalities rather than our divisions ought to be emphasized. Our state,before our own eyes, is fast sliding into the abyss and this therefore, can not be the time to play to the gallery with provocative geo-ethnic sensibilities.

    We thank our teeming supporters across the state for their unflinching encouragement even as we beseech more well- meaning Cross Riverians to join us in this quest to restore our floundering State to its former heights of both Regional and National Pre-eminence. Infact,our dream is to take our state to higher levels of inclusiveness,productivity, peace,progress and development.

    Once again, Happy New Year and May God bless us all.

    Joe Obi Bisong ( Hon. Chief)
    Director General
    Caterpillar movement

  • CROWEI/Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation Provides N50,000 Micro Grants For 1,000 Women In Cross River

     

    No fewer than 1,000 women active in micro and small businesses have received a grant of N50,000 each from a collaborative scheme of the Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative (CROWEI) and Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation (AEF).

    At the launch of the scheme for 2022 in the commercial city of Ikom, the Wife of Cross River State Governor, Her Excellency, Dr Linda Ayade, who was full of enthusiasm for the training and support of women in business to boost their productivity commended the Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation for partnering with CROWEI to empower women across the 196 wards of Cross River State.

    She disclosed that “CROWEI will continue to stand firm with women in all their endeavours while calling for more participation of women in leadership/business positions that would grow the local economy”.

    The Founder of the Foundation, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong disclosed at the event that he was motivated to inaugurate the project designed to support 1,000 micro & small business women across the state by the challenges businesses were going through.

    “A wise man taught me that ‘we don’t give because we have enough, we give because we care enough.’ We must find ways to alleviate the suffering of our people. I am convinced that one of the ways to do this is through supporting our women. As primary caregivers in the home, uplifting women will uplift entire families because they extend those resources across the members of the home.

    “In my experience, people do not want to be given fish. They want to be taught how to fish. They want to be given the tools to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

    “Therefore, it is highly imperative that businesses become more sustainable as well as scalable in order to drive growth in the local economy,” he said.

    “At the height of the lockdown in 2020, CROWEI was very instrumental in alleviating the hardship women faced across Cross River State. During the lockdown, Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation also supported the State Government with a donation of N25 million in cash and medical supplies to assist in its welfare interventions.

    “Today, we go a step further. The Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation has trained 1,000 women who are currently engaged in micro & small business on financial management to enable them access loans and grow their businesses. We carefully selected these women who are resident and doing business across the 196 administrative wards of Cross River to ensure that we develop a model case”, he said.

    He noted that at the end of the training programme, the Foundation disbursed N50,000,000 in Micro Grants of N50,000 each to all 1,000 beneficiaries to scale up their working capital.

    He concluded by saying “In all, I am very excited to begin 2022 on this note. Our disbursement partner is Ekondo Microfinance Bank, and it occurred to me that Ekondo is the Efik word for universe. Women make up more than half of our universe. If they don’t prosper, we can’t thrive.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Nkoyo Okon from Akparabong Ward but married from Calabar, said the grant would help her to expand and meet up with the demands of the season, especially her yam trading business.

    Another young lady Ms Favour Ushie, from Bekwarra, expressed gratitude to CROWEI and the Foundation for the financial assistance at a time like this. According to her, the Coronavirus has been a big setback to businesses, saying the financial aid was what she needed to relaunch her business.

  • NMDPRA Inspects Safety, Operational Facilities At Calabar Depot

     

    The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has undertaken an inspection visit to the depot in Calabar with a view to ensure that the safety and operational facilities are up to date.

    Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage, Retail and Infrastructure of the Authority, was accompanied on the inspection tour by the Operations Controller, Calabar Field Office of NMDPRA, Mr George Ene-Ita, and other staff.

    The team inspected the Dozzy oil and Gas depot, Ammasco petroleum chemicals company, Hyde tanks and terminals, North West Petroleum, Fynfield Petroleum, Sobaz oil, Alkanes Petroleum and Gas, jetties among others.

    Speaking to newsmen after the tour, Ukoha said that one of the concerns of the marketers was the dredging of the Calabar channel.

    The Executive Director said that the dredging would allow for bigger vessels to berth with petroleum product with a view to meet the storage capacity of the depot.

    According to him, the oil marketers have identified dredging as one of their major concerns limitating the supply of petroleum product to their facilities at the jetty.

    He disclosed that the peak consumption period for petroleum product in Nigeria was between November to January, hence the need to stabilise and ensure a seamless supply and distribution of the product.

    “The draft of the Calabar channel was one of the concerns raised by oil marketers; due to this, they have to wait for the tide to come high before bringing in their vessels.

    “With dredging, we can do more so that bigger vessels can come in because they have the capacity for storage.

    “The oil marketers have also raised the issue of multiple regulation by different agencies; we will look into the issues and engage with other stakeholders because the Petroleum Industry Act is very clear, we are domiciled as the priority.

    “It is very important that we do this and be mindful of the outcome of the pump price on the end users,” he said.

  • UNICAL Management Announces Shift In Examination Date

     

    The Management of the University of Calabar has announced a new date for the commencement of examination as well as closure of the school charges payment and course registration portals.

    Examination will now commence from Wednesday 19th of January, 2022 and the Fee and Course Registration Portals will be closed on midnight of Saturday 15th January, 2022.

    A release issued by the University Management and made available to the Public Relations Unit has accordingly called on students to ensure that payment of School Charges and relevant dues are observed before the portals are closed

    The release which stated that students must register courses before exams, added that registration is per course. Examination attendance list will be generated only for the students who have duly registered their courses.

    The release further reminded students that registration is done essentially online using the link http://unicalexams.edu.ng/login and not with lecturers or by cash payment as online registration of courses offered by the students is FREE.
    Students are advised for their own interest to make good use of the magnanimity of extension by the administration arising from the plea of the President of SUG to complete the registration of their courses.
    The release equally directed that Heads of Departments and Course Coordinators should upload all outstanding results of students to enable them register or risk being sanctioned.

    According to the release, students who fail to meet the deadline for registration will have to defer their admission for the session.

     

     

    PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT.

  • Asuquo Ekpe, The Scorer Of Nigeria’s First Ever Goal At The Africa Cup of Nations.

    Culled from Official Sport Chronicles

    Since Nigeria made her debut in the 1963 AFCON in Ghana, there have been a number of memorable moments. However, one of such moments was Nigeria’s first ever goal in the competition. This feat was achieved by Asuquo Ekpe, earning him a place forever in the history books.

    Asuquo Ekpe made his international debut for Nigeria on 6 Oct,1956 against Togo. He played his club football with Welch XI, Lagos Railways, Secretariat FC, Ibadan Lions, and Western Rovers during his active footballing career.

    Asuquo became the first Nigerian to score in the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring on the 73rd minute in a 6-3 defeat to United Arab Republic (Egypt). Nigeria also lost her second game four nil to Sudan a result that confirmed Nigeria’s elimination from the 1963 Afcon in Ghana.

    The Nigerian eighteen-man player to the 1963 Afcon was led by Brazilian Jorge Augusto Pena who was the head coach of the Green Eagles as they were then called.

    Asuquo Ekpe won “24 caps,14 goals”for Green Eagles during his career that lasted from 1956 to 1963.

    He was the older sibling of another Green Eagles star Effiong Ekpe and nephew of the famous Etim Henshaw, Who played for Duke Town Primary & Secondary Schools in the 1940s-1950s and was captain of the first national team that tour UK in 1949. In the match against Dahomey on 2 Feb,1963, they ( Asuquo & Effiong Ekpe) became the first siblings to play for Nigeria in the same game. The went on to play together for Nigeria a number of times. This earned him the nickname “Ekpe Senior”.

    Asuquo Ekpe died on 30th of January 2016 in calabar.

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  • When/If You Come Across Creativity, Please Do well To Applaud It, It Wouldn’t Take Anything From You – BY ODENKE-ODEMONKE IBIANG

    When/if you come across creativity, please do well to applaud it, it wouldn’t take anything from you.

    If someone is good, they’re good, not being appreciative of their talent doesn’t change the fact that they’re gifted in that area, everyone has an area they’ll be celebrated if they make good use of such a talent or platform including you.

    I have lots of you who openly and secretly tell me “you’re doing well” in your blogging/media profession and Humanitarian services and believe me, that means a whole lot to me and I don’t take those appraisals for granted.

    Appraisal is a key performance index tool used by cooperate organizations to reward, promote, recommend, encourage or even demote etc it’s workforce and for many, a good appraisal figure helps in boosting their self eficacy and raises their morale to do more.

    So learn to appreciate people when they perform excellently or are good with what they do, it isn’t going to diminish your self worth.

    I am Realtalkwithody
    I must applaud this sculptured watermelon work.