The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Obudu Council Boss, Bonny Ewhe Takes The Lead Flags Off Covid 19 Awareness Campaign/Sensitization, Distributes Infrared Thermometers, Face Masks, Sanitizers And Tap Tanks

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of Obudu local government council, Hon. Boniface Eraye Ewhe has taken the lead ahead of his colleagues as he flagged off an awareness/sensitization campaign to cushion the spread and effect of the ravaging pandemic, COVID 19 in Obudu local government area.

    The event took placed today, 8th August, 2020 at the Obudu main motor park.

    Hon. Ewhe admonished the crowd that turned out on COVID 19 precautionary measures, and advised the people to ensure effective personal hygiene at all times as the pandemic is no respecter of anyone.

    The Chairman used the occasion to commend the deliberate efforts of the Governor, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade as well as all front liners in the fight against the dreaded virus, COVID 19 especially health workers and maintained that it is not over until it is over.

    He appealed to health workers to be more committed in the discharge of their duties as the call to action would not have come at a better time than now.

    Hon. Ewhe used the opportunity to call on health workers in the local government area, traditional rulers, parents, Civil Society Organizations, leaders of thoughts and religious leaders to rise to the challenge of sensitizing the public given the available opportunity to ensure strict compliance with COVID 19 preventive protocols.

    The Chairman donated and distributed nose masks, sanitizers, infrared thermometers and other Personal Protective Equipments PPEs.

    With this development, the Obudu local government Chairman becomes the first to kick start the awareness/sensitization at the local government level in line with the call by the state COVID 19 Taskforce Chairman and commissioner for health, Dr. Betta Edu to decentralize COVID 19 response to local government areas during the JACC meeting held recently at the conference room of the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in Calabar.

    The Chairman while declaring the exercise open charged the Director of Primary Health Care and her team to take the message and relief materials to the nooks and crannies of the LGA.

    In his words “I deem it necessary to carry out this exercise following the decision of the Cross River State Ministry of Health to decentralize the COVID-19 Taskforce to LGA’s; I have provided infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers, nose masks and other Personal Protective Equipments (PPE’s) to be distributed to health centers for our people at the local communities”

    The exercise is to be extended to all the 10 political wards of the LGA and all health centers.

    Commending the governor, the council Chairman noted that “Cross River State was the last state in the Country to record COVID-19 positive cases, thanks to the expertise of our Governor who became the first to enforce the ‘no mask no movement’ policy; I want to reciprocate that in our LGA so that we can continue to be COVID-19 free”

    The exercise had in attendance traditional rulers, Civil Society Organizations, health practitioners and a large crowd of on lookers.

     

  • If Track Records And Competence Is Anything To Go By, UNICAL Governing Council Need Not Search Further With Prof. Offiong E. Offiong

    By Admin

    Professor Offiong E. Offiong is a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry who is purpose driven to build on the legacies of past Vice Chancellors of the University of Calabar.

    Prof. Offiong is poised to strengthen areas that may not have been given priority and adequate attention in the past.

    University of Calabar, like some other varsities have other businesses which implies that the institution does not only teach Entrepreneurship education in theory, but the students have the opportunity to practice what they learn.

    The University of Calabar currently produce UNICAL table water as a means of income generation. However, there are several ventures that have remained untapped and unexplored within the university system despite the available market opportunities.

    Apart from the university’s core mandate of Academics, UNICAL houses several investments which can be liken to a jewel in her crown.

    The University of Calabar is however in dare need of that leader who sees the multi-sectoral opportunities and has the the goodwill to explore and harness these opportunities to boost the internally generated revenue IGR to change the narratives of over-dependence on subvention from the federal government.

    Prof Offiong is an Entrepreneur per excellent, and has prior to his ambition to serve the university in the position of Vice Chancellor, laid down plans to revamp UNICAL businesses.

    It is imperative to note that this erudite Professor is integrity and humility personified, he is a man of his words, a trail blazer, a pathfinder, a social engineer and mobilizer of very high repute.

    Prof. Offiong has all it takes to build, expand, sustain and reinvigorates university of Calabar ventures.

    If competence, experience, track records and merit is anything to go by in the circumstance of the Vice Chancellorship appointment, the Governing Council of the University does not need to search further, as the quintessential Prof. Offiong’s intimidating CV and achievements which are visible and speaks volume and  has eased the work for the Council.

    Prof. Offiong is vested with the capacity, zeal, content, managerial, influential and managerial skills to consolidate on the virtues and gains of the past Vice Chancellor to move the University of Calabar to the next level.

    We can only pray the Governing Council saddled with the onerous responsibility of appointing a Vice Chancellor, finds a trust worthy servant-leader, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, the substantive 11th Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar.

  • Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, 14 Others Make List Of Most Cited university Of Calabar Scholars

    By Admin

    The enigmantic Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), a front line contender for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, as well as fourteen other eminent Nigerian academics are among the most academically cited and referenced researchers and teachers in the University of Calabar TheLumineNews can report authoritatively.

    Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) identified fifteen most cited UNICAL researchers, teachers and academics. The list goes thus in no particular order:
    1. Offiong Efanga Offiong is a professor of Coordination/Inorganic Chemistry with 1576 citations
    2. Martin Meremikwu is a Professor of Paediatrics with 4517 citations
    3. Peter C. Okafor is a Professor of Physical and Materials Chemistry with 4200 citations
    4. Hannah B. Faal is a Professor of International Eye Health with 3518 citations
    5. Saturday J. Etuk is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology with 1630 citations
    6. Sunday W. Petters is a Professor of Geology with 2661 citations
    7. Udofot J. Ekpe is a Professor in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry with 2266 citations
    8. Benedict Ita is a Professor of Chemistry, with 1958 citations
    9. Angela E. Oyo-Ita is a Professor of Community Medicine with 1924 citations
    10. Patrick Ebong is a Professor of Biochemistry, with 2365 citations
    11. Aniekan Edet is a Professor of Hydrogeology with 1895 citations
    12. Eyong U. Eyong is a Professor of Biochemistry with 1850 citations
    13. Marian G. Solomon is a Professor of Soil Microbiology with 1722 citations
    14. Eme E. Osim is a Professor of Physiology with 1616 citations and
    15. Sylvester P. Antai is a Professor of Microbiology with 1582 citations.

    The University of Calabar which is a second generation Nigerian tertiary academic institution founded in 1975 and has a academic staff strength of between 3,000 and 3,499 persons is acknowledged according to a ranking as the 53rd university in the country as well as the 8, 170 worldwide.

    Being in the list of 15 most cited scholars enrols one into the category of elite scholars in the University of Calabar community.

    As the University of Calabar Senate officially declared the Office of Vice Chancellor vacant, Prof. Offiong had indicated interest to serve the University community in the eminent position of Vice Chancellor.

    Google Scholar Citations provide a simple way for authors to keep track of citations to their researched articles.

  • Infrastructure Update: Construction & Fabrication Academy of West Africa, Graduates Will Assess Soft Loan To Start Up Businesses

    By Admin

    In pursuance of the industrialisation agenda coupled with the pressing need to create employment avenues for the youthful population in the state and sub-region, the Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prof (Sir) Ben Ayade, last January, established the Construction and Fabrication Academy of West Africa.

    The three-structured edifice, which has a combined collection of 140 rooms, located along Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar, is designed to accommodate a variety of skilled courses for creative and vocational training in various areas of interests for wealth creation.

    The facility will play host to a total of 54 highly practical, industry related courses specifically drawn from the sciences, arts and mechanical fields and anchored in the creative industry. The variety of choices to make from will include POP works technology, visual arts & design, conduit wiring, civil engineering/Mason works, electrical fabrication, scaffolding, interior decoration, physical planning, event management and catering services, hat and beads making, fashion design, bakery and confectionery, metal works, furniture/upholstery, shoe making, truck mechanic training, tiling, driving, alumaco/aluminum making, phone/computer repairs amongst others when fully delivered.

    Other special training will include e-commerce, information marketing and other online learning programs and a number of others.

    Disclosing the project, Commissioner for Youth & Skills Acquisition, Hon. (Signor) Omang Idiege intimated the project is a brainchild of Governor Ben Ayade, initiated to address skilled acquisition concerns in the state and will admit trainees across Nigeria and the West African sub-region due to its vast collection of programs.

    Expatriates will be brought in to liaise with local resource persons to train students after which graduates will proceed to receive soft credit facilities to further their causes. Depending on the area of specialization, training sessions will last between six months and two years, after which graduands will be awarded certificates or diplomas as the case may be and recommended to higher areas of endeavor.

    To ensure sustainability, the center is backed by an executive bill which has already been transmitted to the state Assembly. This is to give the citadel legality in line with best practices.

    The facility will accommodate several departments coordinating the various organs, some of which are the Department of Vocational Training, Department of Metallurgy and the Department of Forensic Studies. The project is the first of its kind in Nigeria and west Africa.

    ©Eugene Upah is the Snr Special Assistant on Public Communications to Cross River Governor Ben Ayade.

    info@eugene-ssapc.com.ng

  • C’River North :Who is Afraid of Zana Akpagu, By Z – Media

    By Admin

    Professor Zana Akpagu a highly revered technocrat, seasoned administrator, refined academician, astute politician and a community mobilizer front lining worthy causes that are pro people in stints as a public servant .

    Possessing an intimidating profile, credentials and score card are the most sought after qualities by the electorate as such, Zana Akpagu can’t lose sleep over pockets of blackmail on social media to score cheap political points.

    We are indeed charged with the new spirit of heightened political atmosphere which is assuming a different dimension daily. The citizenry appears to be more politically enlightened with the resultant ownership of our electoral processes than smear campaign.

    In the light of emerging trends which seek performance and people oriented representation, there seem to be a classical departure from the mundane and usual way of imposition of candidates on the electorates.

    With this, the build up to the bye- election in Cross River North Senatorial District has further strengthened our political machinations which has remarkably engineered the power and strength of “Operation Show Your Score Card”

    As activities geared towards clinching the APC ticket for the forthcoming bye-election, Prof. Zana Akpagu having served at different strata of leadership meritoriously.

    Presents electorate with the ability to align with a core progressive with verifiable achievements that evinced every achievements of all the aspirants across political parties in the hunt for the vacant senate seat is indeed causing ripples amongst some persons obviously scared of the towering credentials of professor Akpagu.

    Having felt the echoes of unparalleled developmental strides that has become household chants in Cross River North, across the state and country.

    Some aspirants seeking to fly the APC kite in the forthcoming Senate poll in a quicksand tactics that is dead on arrival are already jittery and disillusioned having lost a sense of direction.

    This is a manifestation of a tactless blue print, in the face of little or near absence of tract records to convince the electorates hinged on selfish gains.

    In spite of this insipid approach, Prof. Zana Akpagu and his supporters will continue to run issue based campaign and engagements without recourse to joining issues with any aspirants, group of aspirants or their supporters to malign any person(s), aspirant(s).

    We call on our teaming supporters to remain calm in the face of this brazen campaign of calumny targeting at the huge political following so far experienced with the deceptive intent to dent the goodwill of the most celebrated aspirant of the All Progressives Congress.

    The fear and the intimidation associated with the breeze that is blowing across the 54 wards has traumatized some aspirants who now resort to tales in anticipation of the party’s ticket.

    The speculation that the party’s stakeholders have resolved to unanimously hand over the ticket to Joe Agi (SAN) as written by a certain purveyor of Fake news “Iwara Ofem Iwara” published on his Facebook wall remains a figment of the writer’s imagination and does not in any way represent the interest of our collective resolved to chat a new narrative for Northern Senatorial District.

    We insist and call on any person with a contrary view to challenge us with facts that Prof. Zana Akpagu is the sole aspirant in the APC that can win the bye election for the party.

    Z – Media

    Disclaimer: The views expressed above are strictly that of Z – Media and does not represent TheLumineNews.

  • Ekpenyong Sensitizes Fulani Community On Benefits Of Immunization Services

     

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare development agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has admonished parents especially nursing mothers on the need to present their children for immunization services as and at when due.

    The admonition was made in Utanga, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State while on a working visit to supervise Primary Healthcare facilities in the Northern part of the state.

    Dr Ekpenyong  said immunization protects children from common diseases affecting children tasked members of the Hausa-fulani community to avail their children the opportunity to be immunized just like every other child in the country.

    She urged them to debunk every rumor and ideology portraying Immunization as unsafe with negative implications to the health of their children but rather see it as the best form of protection for children against childhood killer diseases .

    Ekpenyong further assured them that, no region, group or individual will be marginalized or neglected in the provision of any Primary Health care services as the state government is keen to actualizing an Efficient Health sector in line with global best practices where citizens can receive a 24 hours quality , affordable and available health care.

    One of the respondent and participants, Hadiza Daura praised the DG for the awareness creation as she also pledged her commitment to sensitize other people within the Hausa-fulani settlement in Utanga and across Obanliku.

  • Apologize Or Face Severe Hostility If Seen In Bekwarra, Angry Youths Warn Joe Agi

    By Admin

    A socio-political group, Young Bekwarra Leaders Forum has berated an APC senatorial candidate in the forthcoming Cross River North bye-election, Mr. Joe Agi, SAN for using the court issue between the Ugboro and Ishibori people for political campaign.

    The group in a statement signed by Comrade Agaji Ntamu called on the senior lawyer to tender an unreserved apology to the Bekwarra nation or steer clear of the local government.

    It would be recalled that Agi, over the weekend asked the Ishibori people in Ogoja local government to support him for Senate as a way of rewarding him for winning for the court case between Ugboro and the community over a disputed piece of land for them.

    Ugboro, a community in Bekwarra in 1995 were involved in a bloody communal clash with the Ishibori community in Ogoja local government area that claimed the lives of many with properties worth millions of naira destroyed. After the war, the Bekwarra went up to Supreme Court and the Ishibori people won the case.

    Speaking during a consultative forum with APC members in Ogoja on Sunday, Agi was seen in a viral video reminding the Ishibori people how he won the case in court for them.

    Irked by the utterances, Bekwarra youths have warned that although they’re a peaceful people, their peace loving nature shouldn’t be taken for granted.

    “The Bekwarra people of Northern Cross River are known and celebrated world over for their hospitality, they’re a towering socio-political giants who have produced one of the best brains in Nigeria. Bekwarra sons and daughters have represented Nigeria in virtually all areas of human endeavours both nationally and internationally. The contributions of some of her illustrious sons both home and abroad has contributed greatly in shaping today’s Cross River and Nigeria at large, as such, Bekwarra Nation deserves to be respected and treated with decorum at all times.

    “However, the attention of Bekwarra people have been drawn to a provocative video making rounds on social media by one Joe Agi (SAN), an unpopular politician rumoured to be vying for the Cross River North Senatorial seat. In the video, Agi on his consultation visit to a few members of APC at Ishiborri community in Ogoja ran out of ideas and in his desperation to impress his already disappointed listeners resorted into making provocative statements on one of the most unfortunate Bekwarra-Ishiborri communal crisis.

    “Recall that the very unfortunate Ugboro- Ishiborri communal clash which took place in 1995, exactly 25 years ago was a very bloody inter communal dispute where many lives were lost with properties worth thousands of millions lost. Some families are still disenchanted to the present day.

    “The pains, the agony of this dreaded communal mishap is this very fresh. The unfortold economic hardship is still felt by both affected communities. The decision of Joe Agi to anchor his political point on such ugly incident with the intent to malign the integrity of the good people of Bekwarra is very embarrassing”, the statement reads in part.

    The statement added that “It should be noted that while other responsible aspirants whose live impacting projects are spread over every nooks and crannies of Cross River State and being decorated with titles on a daily basis, Agi has absolutely nothing to show anywhere, not even in Yala where he hails from.His decision to insight another genocide where he can quickly rush to court and exploits people of their hard earnings at the expense of lives has failed woefully!

    “In the rather disappointing video, Agi had to drag the personality of our highly accomplished Chief K. G Agabi (SAN) into his politics of desperation. We wish to inform him that our well respected legal icon is too highly placed and shouldn’t be used as political bait by someone with no political track records. Lest he forgets, Chief K.G Agabi has served this nation as a former minister of Justice and one of the unifying personalities in Cross River and shouldn’t be dragged into any politics of hate and division.

    “Bekwarra are peaceful people and are willing to live in harmony with those who appreciates peace. As a show of true repentance, Agi and his political team are advised to tender an unreserved apology published on full pages of five national daily newspapers with a similar apology on three radio stations namely, Hit FM, Calabar, Ebonyi broadcasting service, Abakaliki and Joy FM, Otukpo which shall run concurrently for at least a month. Failure to do so shall result to severe hostility if he ever dares to come to Bekwarra for any political activities”.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed expressed here are strictly that of Bekwarra young progressive forum as signed by Agaji Ntamu and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff.

  • Eight Corps Members Bags Governor Award, 12 To Repeat The Service Year As NYSC Passed Out 778 In Cross River

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Out of the 778 Corps Members of the 2019 Batch ‘B’ Stream II, 8 have carted away State Governor’s award, 3 received merit awards from the NYSC governing board chairman, 9 got Commendation letters from the State Coordinator while 12 are to repeat the service year.

    The State Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Nakamba disclosed this through the Assistant Director in charge of Reward and Discipline at the NYSC Cross River state Secretariat, Calabar, Mr. Abel Udofia on the occasion of the low-key passing out ceremony held across NYSC offices at the 18 local government areas of the state.

    While on a monitoring trip to the various local government areas, the Coordinator, showered encomiums on the Corps Members for playing prominent roles in their various host communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also expressed satisfaction at the level of compliance of both staff and Corps Members to health guidelines put in place to curb the spread of the pandemic.

    “Gentlemen Corps Members, I salute the speed with which you responded to the fight against COVID-19 under my watch. Despite the option made available by NYSC Directorate Headquarters for you to go home, some of you who stayed behind and were able to contribute meaningfully through the production of nose masks.

    “Worthy of mention is the cooperation from the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, Team in the state who tirelessly produced nose masks across the 4 NYSC Zonal formations. This truly indicates the trainings given to you during your Orientation Course did not go in vain. May God reward you abundantly”, the Coordinator stated.

    Sharing her experience and joy, Corps Member Alexandra Tochi Chibueze who emerged winner of Miss NYSC for the Batch wished that the service year be extended. “It has been so far a learning process. For every step of the way, there was always something new to discover. I find the whole journey so interesting; I don’t even want it to end. Sadly, everything that has a beginning has an end. The saddest part of it is that it won’t even be a party courtesy of the pandemic and the mere thought of it is depressing and really sad. But it’s better to be safe than sick”, she expressed.

    Chibueze who is one of the winners of the Governor’s award further mentioned that the service year shaped her mentality and perspective of life. She said, “It has served as an eye opener to what is really obtainable in the society outside the comfort of home. It has created a platform for self discovery and has encouraged me to be a better citizen. It has also allowed me to serve as an instrument in contributing to national development”.

  • Prof John Inyang Delivers N45 Million To Amunga, Busafong Communities Of Obanliku

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Lands, Prof. John Ofem Inyang has delivered a forty five million naira (N45m) cheque to Amunga and Busafong communities of Obanliku Local Government Area.

    As compensation for the 44,000 hectares [Busafong] and 77,000 hectares [Amunga] of lands which the State Government acquired for a proposed resort and tourism consort, Busafong community received a cheque of twenty million naira (N20m) while Amunga community received twenty five million naira (N25m).

    Issuing the cheques to the representatives of Amunga and Busafong communities, Barr. Boniface Abadem and Barr. Anthony Obi, respectively, Prof. Inyang praised his boss, Governor Benedict Ayade for having the people of both communities and even the entire Obanliku at heart, even with a very low state allocation.

    The Lands Commissioner while appealing to the communities to corporate with the state government, highlighted the benefits which abound for the community now and even the generations to come; “I crave the indulgence of Amunga and Busafong communities to corporate with the state government because their children are going to benefit from this projects. These are projects that will create employment, transform your economy and announce your culture and social behavior to the world,” Prof. Inyang said.

    Applauding the State Governor for redeeming his portion of the bargain by availing the communities their respective compensation package, Prof. Inyang said; “This is one of the biggest ceremonies that we often experience as a ministry. It is always gratifying for us when we get to this point where the government of the state will release compensation as agreed with a community; and today we are here to do a formal presentation of this compensation”.

    In their respective responses, the representatives of the both communities appreciated the State Government and further promised to utilize every opportunity given them by pushing Obanliku to the brim of its development.

  • Alleged CRN Elders Resolution : Don’t misconstrue PDP committee of friends as that of the NORTH

    By Concerned APC faithfuls

    Concerned faithfuls of the ruling All Progressive Congress in Northern senatorial district of Cross River State have reacted to the committee of friends meeting conveyed by Gen. Anthony UKpo Rtd. and claimed that it was a northern stakeholders meeting, and call on all well meaning constituents of the district to disregard such hallucinations and held that such resolutions was a figment of the imagination of the committee of friends.

    Find full text of the release by the concerned APC faithfuls who pledged anonymity.

    “Some PDP leaders from the north allegedly met on the 8th of July to chat over some bottles of wine and today, people are circulating a release allegedly issued by them as resolutions concerning the forthcoming Cross River North bye-election. In all honesty, even they themselves know that the resolutions would be obeyed only in the breach.

    “The shocking but inconsequential
    document reportedly retained the Senate seat in Ogoja/Yala federal constituency. And in 2023, they zoned the Senate seat again to Ogoja which is still part of the federal constituency.

    “Our highly respected elders contradicted themselves when they used federal constituency to zone the bye-election but used local government to zone that of 2023.

    “How can you tell other local government to hands off the bye-election for 0goja/Yala federal constituency but in another resolution say Ogoja which is part of the same constituency should get the seat in 2023?

    “Besides, the convener of the forum Gen. Anthony Ukpo and the Secretary, Leonard Anyogo are from Yala. In fact, out of the seven persons that allegedly met to take the non-implementable decision, three are from Yala. This explains why the resolutions were purely a Yala and Ogoja thing and nothing more.

    “To be modest, what they’ve done is nothing but complete abuse on the collective sensibilities of the entire Northern senatorial district and should be disregarded in its entirety. This is because some people are obviously taking the entire zone for granted otherwise, how can you explain the decision to call a meeting that favours only one federal constituency in two separate Democratic tenures?

    “In any case, they made a grievous mistake by calling Gen. UKpo PDP committee of friends meeting a Northern Elders’ Forum Meeting. We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that even in PDP, this document cannot hold sway, not to talk of other political parties.

    “Nobody should misconstrue a meeting of friends skewed to favour a particular local government and federal constituency to a meeting of the North. If they are interested in peacefully resolving the issues surrounding the bye-election, then the set up of the forum should be all inclusive. Leaders of all parties and youths organizations should be involved and not just a few friends.