The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Peter Odey Congratulates Speaker Elvert Ayambem, Describes Him As A Team Player

     

    Rt. Hon. Peter Odey has congratulated the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem while lauding him as a trustworthy and loyal team player fit for the position. The Deputy Governor who recently spoke at the Speaker’s Thanksgiving ceremony at Nde in Ikom Local Government disclosed that Hon. Elvert Ayambem’s elevation was an indication that anybody can become someone in life despite humble beginnings. He urged the people of Ikom to support their representative and let love for one another guide their interactions.

    Speaking variously at the event, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, and the State Chairman of the APC urged the Speaker to remain focused, and to work with his colleagues who elected him. They urged him to strive to keep the goodwill of the huge crowd of supporters who were fanning him on as evidenced by the large turnout.

    In his response, Hon. Ayambem assured his community that he would remain the same accessible Elvert that they had always known while promising that he understood that he was only first among equals in the House. He said that he would remember this fact always as it is the key to holding the House together. The lawmaker thanked his colleagues for choosing him and supporting him as if the House was made up of only one party despite not being the finest, the tallest nor the most brilliant member in the House.

    The celebration was attended by Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly of Ekiti, Ondo and Adamawa, several former and serving Commissioners, members of the the CRSHA, etc

     

  • Labour Leaders Boycott Federal Government’s Last Minute Move To Avert Strike

    By Daniel Riwo

    The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trace Union Congress, Nigeria, on Friday, boycotted an emergency meeting with the Federal Government that was scheduled for 3pm at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Federal Government had called an emergency meeting with the leaders of the organised labour at the Conference Room of the Office of the President’s Chief of Staff.

    Among other goals, Friday’s meeting was meant to talk the labour movement out of its planned nationwide strike from Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

    On September 26, the NLC and TUC disclosed plans to commence an indefinite strike on October 3 to protest the cost of living crisis after the scrapping of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on May 29, 2023.

    The unions also directed their state chapters and affiliates to mobilise for the shutdown of critical facilities and infrastructure such as airports, seaports, electricity grids and fuel supply nationwide.

    “It’s going to be a total shutdown…until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers, and in fact, Nigerian masses,” the union leaders affirmed in a joint statement on Tuesday.

    They accused the Federal Government of refusing to “meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigeria workers and masses.”

    Despite several deadlocked talks, the Federal Government, after Thursday’s National Economic Council meeting, appealed to the unions to continue negotiations, warning that an indefinite strike could devastate the economy at this time.

    Although the government fixed Friday’s meeting for noon, it postponed the gathering around 3pm to enable labour to contact its leaders outside Abuja.

    Saturday PUNCH reported that the government sent the invitation to the meeting through the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Friday morning.

    However, one of our correspondents observed that although light refreshment was positioned on the table, signalling an expected meeting, the Conference Room was empty by 4pm as the labour representatives had yet to arrive.

    It was also gathered that the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, was in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    A source, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH in confidence said, “They (representatives of labour) are supposed to be here by now. We have been expecting them since. The place is set and the Chief Of Staff and Labour minister are upstairs waiting.”

    Around 5pm, Gbajabiamila was seen exiting the Villa premises. He was said to be headed for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to await the arrival of President Tinubu from Paris.

  • Understanding The Long-term Psychological Effects Of Domestic Violence ii BY WAGWULA PRECIOUS AND AKPEGYOR AKPANKE

    NATIONAL TECHNICAL OFFICE ON GENDER -BASED VIOLENCE AND RELATED MATTERS, NIGERIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (NiMSA- TOGBV)

    UNDERSTANDING THE LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 11

    (By Wagwula Precious, Member, Research Team,NiMSA TOGBV).

    (Akpegyor Akpanke, National Technical Officer, NiMSA -TOGBV).

    Domestic violence also called intimate person violence(IPV) is a global public health issue affecting people globally regardless of sex, age, financial status, educational background, socioeconomic level, and sexual orientation. It can be defined as any behavior or behavioral patterns which may be; physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual, perpetuated by one’s intimate partner that poses harm to the victim.
    These behaviors may be sometimes subtle physical, coercive, controlling, and threatening actions. It is impossible to over-emphasize both the short and long-term sequela of domestic violence on survivors, their careers, family members, mental and social well-being.

    The physical effects of domestic violence range from injuries including but not limited to, bruises, cuts, bite marks, lacerations, contusions, dislocations, and fractures, which can be treated but may extend to more permanent and long-term problems and even lead to disabilities. Essentially, IPV significantly causes Ophthalmic injuries and may lead to preventable blindness. Studies have shown that 45% of IPV injuries involve the eyes(Malik et al). These injuries were more commonly orbital fractures and contusions. Domestic violence is one of the major causes of Ocular trauma and may progressively lead to visual impairment or blindness if not managed properly. Simultaneously the visually impaired also have a higher risk of being victims of IPV as compared to those who are not. Studies have shown that 1 in 12 visually impaired people is believed to be a victim of domestic violence in the UK and may suffer more damming consequences. The visually impaired are vulnerable and their partners can easily take advantage and control their movement, decisions, and even finance. Their dependence makes it even more difficult to report or leave the situation.

    Furthermore, there is overwhelming evidence to show that women who are victims of domestic violence are at a higher risk of mental disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. A five-year research study by the Institute of Health Research concluded that compared to women with no mental illness, women with depression are 2.5 times more likely to have suffered domestic violence, 3.5 times for anxiety disorder, and 7 times for women suffering from Post-traumatic Stress disorder. Survivors of IPV are also more likely to suffer from substance abuse. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an increase in domestic violence due to the inability to call helplines and perpetrators using coercive behaviors, isolation, digital control, intimidation and dominance as tactics of abuse. In a conservative environment, there is profound stigmatization of both survivors of IPV and mental illness, this will drastically reduce the willingness to report and call for help.

    There are so many profound negative implications of IPV for sexual health. Sex is used as a weapon. It can be used in an exploitative and powerful way to exert control and obedience. Dynamically it can present as both verbal and physical abuse, marital rape, and some victims are even pushed into prostitution. In the long run, there is an increased risk of cervical cancer in survivors of IPV. According to the study conducted by Cooker et al(2009) It is also believed that 3.5% of women exposed to violence reported cervical cancer while only 1.9% of women with cervical cancer were not exposed to violence. More so, the study showed that women who smoked and were exposed to violence had the highest risk of cervical cancer further reiterating that substance abuse is a direct consequence of IPV and also predisposes victims to cervical cancer. Other sexual problems including, vaginismus, sexual dysfunction, and sexually transmitted infections are all part of the horrid outcomes.

    In addition, the relationship between IPV and HIV is bi-directional. Women who have experienced IPV are prone to be infected with HIV and HIV-positive women are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic violence (Olumide Abiodun et al.) HIV status disclosure to one’s partner also predisposes to IPV. Cultural stigma may contribute to nondisclosure to appropriate authorities and fuels abuse in various forms. Adherence to treatment of chronic illnesses is influenced by family dynamics, therefore this kind of environment may lead to the rapid progression of the disease.

    In conclusion, The effects of IPV, produce permanent scars that serve as a reminder, long term and into the future generations. The policies that are made to support survivors should impact both immediate and long-term consequences. Survivors would have to live with physical, emotional, mental and sexual cicatrix and the implementation of interventions should be multidisciplinary. Durable plans should go hand in hand with immediate supportive care. We should understand vulnerabilities and work with empathy.
    References

    Cooper A. Maher and Brittany E. Hayes. “Association Between Disabilities, Educational Attainment, Literacy, and Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from the Indian National Family Health Surveys.”

    Anne Barmettler, MD. “Domestic violence can be an unseen cause of ocular trauma.” Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Oculoplastics/Orbit. APR 26, 2023.

    Kavita Alejo. “Long-Term Physical and Mental Health Effects of Domestic Violence.” Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science, Volume 2, Spring 2014, Article 5. San Jose State University. Available at: https://schola.

    MS O Ezebuka, MSc • 1. N Sam-Agudu, MD • SErekaha, BSc • M Dairo, MSc. “Open Access.” Published: March, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(15)70142-7

  • Nobody Can Save You But Yourself BY CHARLES BUKOWSKI

    nobody can save you but
    yourself.
    you will be put again and again
    into nearly impossible
    situations.
    they will attempt again and again
    through subterfuge, guise and
    force
    to make you submit, quit and/or die quietly
    inside.

    nobody can save you but
    yourself
    and it will be easy enough to fail
    so very easily
    but don’t, don’t, don’t.
    just watch them.
    listen to them.
    do you want to be like that?
    a faceless, mindless, heartless
    being?
    do you want to experience
    death before death?

    nobody can save you but
    yourself
    and you’re worth saving.
    it’s a war not easily won
    but if anything is worth winning then
    this is it.

    think about it.
    think about saving your self.

    – Charles Bukowski

  • FG Summons NLC And Other Trade Unions Leadership To An Emergency Meeting At The Presidential Villa

     

    The Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu had summoned NLC And other Trade Unions leadership to an emergency meeting last night at the Presidential Villa.

    Chief Of Staff, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was expected to join the meeting last night. This meeting is part of moves to avert the planned October 3rd indefinite strike by Labour Unions.

    As at the time of filing this report, no information was gotten yet regarding the outcome of the meeting held last night.

  • CORAfrica Opens John Bosco Academy Adagom, Ogoja

     

    Children of Rural Africa CORAfrica Nigeria, a non profit and nongovernmental organization, founded by Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue PhD, opened a new academic institute in Adagom – Ogoja, Cross River State, Nigeria.

    The institute is intended to be a world class institute that will address most of the socio economic problems confronting most vulnerable and indigent child of our communities.

    Speaking with the TheLumineNews, the Founder/Chief Strategist of Children of Rural Africa, Very Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue PhD, noted that “the burning desire and the dream to help children and community thrive has placed a burden on me especially in this technical age to conceive this institute.

    “The institute is going to have a world class vocational training center where children and youth will be trained in addition to the education there will acquire to prepare them for the tasks ahead”

    Speaking further, Fr Obele noted that “despite been born in rural areas, Africa children desire the right to qualitative education, research and the rights skills to compete favourably with their peers from other parts of the world.

    “It is for this reason that we have designed our institute to house the nursery, primary, and secondary sections. We will incorporate vocational education into our scheme in line with government assistance to ensure that once you graduate from the school, you should be prepared fend for yourself without necessarily depending on government for white kola job”.

    According to the plan of the institute, it is expected to house hostels staff quarters, a worship center, health facility and a demonstration farms for hands on practical.

    As academic activities begins for the 2023/2024 session, the school commenced with over 400 pupils comprising of 80 percent refugees children and 20 perfect Adagom children.

    CORAfrica acquired over 70 plots of land for this institute.

  • Project Abandonment: Stalling The Shovels And The Pans BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    The Guardian Newspaper reported recently that more than 56,000 projects worth 12 trillion Naira have been abandoned in Nigeria since 1999, citing the Institute of Quantity Surveyors. These projects include the N18bn National Library, NIPOST headquarters construction, N39bn FIRS headquarters construction, N69bn Millennium Tower and Cultural Center construction, N7bn Ministry of Agric headquarters construction, World Trade Centre, N700bn Abuja City Centre, N4.3bn 220-Bed Utako General Hospital, $18billion Centenary City in Abuja, amongst many others scattered across the country.

    It is nerve wracking to imagine that, year in year out, these huge sums are appropriated and in many cases, disbursed either in part or in full, and the projects are jilted without consequences. How this sort of financial rascality has seemingly become a matter of numb indifference to the population is even more appalling. We just keep moving on as if nothing happened.

    But in this same country, when Third Mainland Bridge was built, it was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge in Cairo was completed. The National Theatre, NITEL, NEPA, Nigerian Ports Authority, Military and Police barracks, East West Road, Kano-Maiduguri road, functional airports, Federal Secretariat, National Assembly Complex, Aso Rock Villa, Eagle Square, Courts, Stadia, were all built by jack boot regimes that we agree are unconstitutional and corrupt.

    At the regional levels, Premiers of the various regions also left some iconic infrastructure that are still surviving till date and we talk about them with relish and nostalgia. And I have been asking myself what memorable functional projects have these set of democratic leaders started and completed since 1999 when democracy returned to Nigeria?

    I really wish those who do these things will realize that our economic development is tied to these abandoned infrastructure. They should realize also that if we don’t develop, none of us, no matter how much you have amassed, will be safe from those who don’t have. The rich will continue to axle themselves within the city centers or ride perpetually in armoured automobiles with a bevy of armed security guards.

    Our contemporary nations that have attained this realization are tying their future to infrastructure development and taking deliberate steps. The Indian ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) for instance, has internally set a goal to construct at least 45km of highways a day in 2023 totalling 16,000km of roads. The ministry achieved a record 13,298km in the COVID pandemic-stricken year of 2020-21, at a rate of 36.4km per day. The road building target has helped to reduce travel time, connected new areas, stimulated commercial activities, and accelerated India’s growth story.

    Someone should deliberately take the gauntlet and vow to leave us some legacy projects. It is not luxury. It is what we just have to do so we don’t perish. The stealing just has to be reduced at least. Massive infrastructure development will create a chance for young people to dust their pans and their shovels, and reduce crime. It will give our population the clefts of succour and sustained hope and provide us all some roads out of this national malaise.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • UNICAL VC Receives Report Of Investigation Panel

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi has formally received the report of the Investigation Panel set up to probe allegations of improprieties levelled against the suspended Dean of Law, Prof Cyril Ndifon.

    Receiving the report in a brief presentation ceremony in her office, the Vice Chancellor
    commended the Panel members for their effort and commitment towards the achievement of
    a thorough and objective report within a short period of time.

    She said though Management has not gone through the report, she knows the report will be
    useful to the University and it will help the University achieve the needed closure to the subject matter and consequently move forward.

    Prof. Obi who reiterated her happiness over the sacrifice and show of commitment by the Panel, assured that, the report will be presented to the Ministers of Education and that of Women Affairs as well as, Executive Secretary of NUC as delivered by the Panel, “nothing added, nothing removed”. On the scale of mixed comments in the public domain which has trailed the reportage of the subject matter, the Vice Chancellor said the report of the Panel would serve as the mouthpiece of the University to all.

    On the capacity of the panel members, the University helmsman stated that they were
    carefully selected based on their offices, position and credibility, describing them as individuals full of capacity and integrity.

    In her words; “I wanted someone who cannot be influenced, and on behalf of the University
    Management, I want to thank the Chairman for accepting to head this Panel. I want to also
    thank every member of the Panel. To take the University higher we need men and women who are credible”, she added.

    The Vice-Chancellor said it was very unusual to have an External Observer for any investigation
    in the university but, because of the sensitive nature of the issues raised and the personalities involved, Management had to make an exception. presenting the report, the Chairman of the Panel, Prof. Dorothy Oluwagbemi Jacob said the Panel was sent on an errand, on a fact-finding mission and collectively, they came to present
    their findings.

    In her words, “We went out of our way to investigate the issues point by point. We did not rely on hearsay. We did the work objectively. We allowed all stakeholders to speak their minds. Every finding has evidence with verification. The result was not made up or cooked. Every fact here can be verified”.

    She used the occasion to commend Members of the Panel for their cooperation, time and commitment towards the success of their mandate, adding that, should anyone find the report beautiful, it is because of the collaborations of the professionals involved.

    Public Relations Unit.

  • UNICAL Bags JAMB’s Award, Emerges Best In South-South Nigeria

     

    The University of Calabar has bagged an Award of Bronze, coming 3rd in the nation and 1st in the South-South geopolitical zone following the just concluded JAMB Equal Opportunity Group’s (JEOG)National Conference held in Abuja.

    The event which took place on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th September 2023, at the Abuja Intercontinental Hotel, had the University of Ilorin and Nnamdi Azikiwe’s University taking first and second positions respectively in the nation’s Universities with high equal opportunities to higher education.

    The conference which has the theme: “Towards Increasing Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria”, was aimed at boosting the enrollment opportunities of persons with disabilities in the Nigerian tertiary education system.

    It is instructive to note that the administration of Prof. Florence Banku Obi has overtime among others, given special recognition to persons with disabilities in the University of Calabar. This has most recently earned her an outstanding award of patronship from the group.

  • Unity And Enthusiasm Marks The Commencement Of 2023 National Youth Games

    By Blessing Bassey 

    The 2023 National Youth Games commenced with great pomp and enthusiasm in Asaba, Delta State, reflecting a carnival-like atmosphere.

    Participants from all 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, paraded with pride as they embarked on the grand opening ceremony.

    The event was graced by the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Hon John Owan-Eno, who delivered a stirring address, emphasizing the importance of unity, peace, and togetherness among the nation’s youth.

    The opening ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the importance of sports in bringing together young talents from across the nation, all striving for excellence and exemplifying the values of peace, unity, and togetherness that are vital for the future of Nigeria.

    One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was the spirited entrance of Team Cross River, led by the State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Agnes Atsu, amidst cheers.

    The cheers and support from The Commissioner underscored the sense of pride and solidarity that binds the representatives of Team Cross River as they embark on this sporting journey.

    The team showcased their distinctive uniforms, capturing the attention and admiration of the spectators and fellow athletes.

    This display exemplified the unique spirit and identity of Cross River State within the larger context of the National Youth Games.

    As the National Youth Games continue, the participants are not only competing for sporting glory but also fostering a spirit of unity and camaraderie.