The Lumine News

Category: Metro News

  • GFO Orim Foundation Hands Over Renovated Building To Widow At Bekwarra

    GFO Orim Foundation Hands Over Renovated Building To Widow At Bekwarra

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation, and the Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon. Martins Orim has handed over the renovated building to Mrs. Angelina …, mother of four kids.

    Dedicating the house, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Benedict Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Peter Ibu, admonished the widow to take good care of the children as well as take the grinding business serious to enable her bring up the children.

    He commanded the founder of GFO Orim Foundation for the gesture of renovating the widow’s house and maintained that the gesture is very commendable.

    He prayed God to grant the Chairman good health of mind and body to enable reach out to those who are in dare need of his magnanimity.

    Speaking after the dedication, the Special Adviser to the Governor on International Donor and Development Commission, Hon. Sylvester Agabi maintained that this renovation project is one among various interventions designed by GFO Orim Foundation to reach out to the less privilege.

    Speaking to theluminenews, the Mrs. Angelina Afo thanked the management of GFO Orim Foundation for coming to her rescue.
    She maintained that “when my husband died, I had no place to stay, no light, no toilet, no bathroom, no source of livelihood. But today, this man ( referring to the Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation) came and renovated my house, provided doors, windows, ceiling, toilet. Please help me thank him. May God continue to bless him”

    The Leader of Bekwarra of Bekwarra Legislative Council, Hon. Thomas Emonshe Enyi thanked the Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation for extending the magnanimity to Bekwarra Local Government Area, he prayed God to continue to bless him.

    GFO Orim Foundation renovated the building, provided solar light, provided toilet and bathroom, provided a grinding engine, a bag of rice for Christmas, cash donation and promised continuous support for the upkeep of the children.

    Reacting to the development, the councillor representing Ibiaragidi ward, Hon. ….. noted that “I’m particularly grateful to God because, what GFO Orim Foundation has done, is to my advantage because two of this widow’s children are on my scholarship scheme, and I have been thinking of what to do because I’m from this community. I will ensure that she makes good use of this assistance to better her life and that of her children”

    The Clan Head of Anyikang thanked the Chief of Staff to the Governor for the kindness shown to one of his subjects, and prayed God Almighty to grant him (Hon. Martin Orim) his heart desire.

    The event was attended by councillors from Obudu, Bekwarra, Yala and Ogoja local government areas.

  • UN, CRSG Trains Cross River Key Sector Players On Budget Monitoring And Evaluation

    UN, CRSG Trains Cross River Key Sector Players On Budget Monitoring And Evaluation

     

    The United Nations has urged key players involved in budget planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in Cross River State to get themselves acquainted with the global best practices in an effort to meet the Sustainable Development Goals Target by 2030.

    This was disclosed during a three day training for key sector players in Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) as well as Monitoring and Evacuation (M&E) staff across line Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    The programme was facilitated by the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of International Development Cooperation in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.

    Speaking at the opening session, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation (MIDC), Dr. Inyang Asibong said “the three- day meeting is to bring stakeholders involved in budgeting and the implementation of the SDGs to boost the capacity of the personnel, resources and institutional frameworks thereby strengthening and coordinating your efforts to achieve the set target”

    Asibong was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, MIDC, Mr Felix Ekpeyong Ita and the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Barr Mark Obi, stated that the implementation and tracking of the Transformation agenda 2030 in the state is realisable.

    According to the Commissioner, the training of the line MDA staff in the state was timely due to their role in the development planning architecture across sectors including the Local Government Areas in Cross River State.

    Presenting the key note address,the representative of the UNDP, and the Senior Special Assistance to the President, President Muhammad Buhari, Dr Bala Yunusa, said that the office will focus on strategic direction and impetus to the National commitment to the SDGs.

    He emphasized that expertise and resources of all, both public and private sector, Scientific community and Donor community as well as the wider civil society are needed.

    The training session was conducted by consultants from the UNDP, office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, Director of Administration, MIDC, Mrs Mbong Ausaji, CRS Statistician-General, Dr Josephat Ogar amongst other technical staff from the MIDC and State Planning Commission.

  • Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation Facilitates CBN AGSMEIS Loan For 1,000 Cross Riverians

    Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation Facilitates CBN AGSMEIS Loan For 1,000 Cross Riverians

     

    Cross Riverians seeking capital to fund a business idea and money to expand an existing business now have a golden opportunity through the Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation (AEF) in collaboration with the NIRSAL Bank’s approved Entrepreneurhip Development Institute, Moure Consult in the Agric Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme, AGSMEIS, established by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as an empowerment programme which also benefits all age categories willing to get into agriculture or any other small and medium scale business.

    This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the Foundation, Mr Emmanuel.

    According to him Cross Riverians can access a soft loan facility to the tune of N10 million. The loan covers all categories of small and medium enterprises, yet the most interesting part is that the recipients have seven years to pay back the loan and at a concessionary five per cent (5%) interest rate. He commended the applicants for their coordination through out the training exercise while urging them to efficiently utilize the cash when it comes in.

    The Cross River State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr the trustee of the foundation who closed the training said 1,000 Cross Riverians will benefit from the first phase of the loan.

    He revealed that all that is required is for interested persons to apply and attend the 3 day training for free as the foundation have paid the training fees for all trainees which also covers lunch for the training days, venue and resource persons as well as facilitation fees for application assistance as well as business plan development to facilitate access to the grants.

    He said selection process was done by the Consultants who made open the applications to everyone across the 18 LGAs of CRS without interference from any Political class.

    Mr Ekpenyong poured encomium on the participants and prospective beneficiaries for taking the training very serious and making Cross River State a shining star among other states.

    Asuquo said “give a man a fish and he will feed his family for a day, but teach a man to fish and he will feed his family in perpetuity”

    Speaking with newsmen, the Chief Facilitator of the training, Mr Omotayo Omolade said the Entrepreneurship Training programme has been designed to take your business to greater heights, and if you’re a start-up, the information you’ll get will give you a very comfortable footing to start your business. So, you have no reason to miss this great opportunity.”

    The Lead Facilitator from Moure Consult, Mr Muhammed Tahir disclosed that many Nigerians are already benefiting from the loan facility while lauding the Cross River participants to have been the most well behaved and well coordinated across the country so far.

    Highlight of the event was presentation of Certificates to trainees by the Honorable Commissioner For Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong.

  • Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong Commends Sen. Gershom Bassey For Ekpugrinya Junction- Okundi Road Maintenance

    Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong Commends Sen. Gershom Bassey For Ekpugrinya Junction- Okundi Road Maintenance

     

    The member representing Boki II State Constituency in the Cross River House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong, has commended the Senator representing Cross River Southern Senatorial District, Gershom Bassey, for the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ekpugrinya-Okundi highway in Cross River State.

    Bisong, who commended the National Assembly member for capturing the road in the National Budget, said that the maintenance will drive economic development in the area.

    According to him, Sen. Bassey, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), had shown capacity in community development through road infrastructure.

    “I want to specially thank Sen. Gershom Bassey for capturing the Ekpugrinya-Okundi highway in the National Budget on my request.

    “I made a passionate appeal to him when I visited him in his office last year concerning the road and he assured me that the road will be captured for maintenance.

    “Today, massive work is ongoing on that road and the good people of Boki are very happy with his kind gesture.

    “Senator Bassey has shown enormous capacity and utmost desire for road infrastructure in the state,” he said.

  • Court Of Appeal Nullifies Metuh’s Conviction, Says Justice Okon Abang Was Bias

    Court Of Appeal Nullifies Metuh’s Conviction, Says Justice Okon Abang Was Bias

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday nullified the conviction and seven years jail term on a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, after finding him guilty of money laundering charges.

    A three-man panel led by Justice Stephen Adah in a unanimous judgment held that the proceedings of the Federal High Court leading to the conviction of Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, were marred with bias, and should not be allowed to stand.

    Justice Adah stated that Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgment, was biased against the convicts from his utterances.

    He, therefore, directed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abang.

    Justice Abang had in his judgment delivered on February 25, 2020, sentenced Metuh to seven years in prison. This was after he was found guilty of count one, two and three of the seven-count charge levelled against him and his company by the Federal Government.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had instituted the charge against Metuh and his company for alleged money laundering to the tune of N400 million.

    Ruling on the first count charge, Justice Abang held that the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, unlawfully transferred the N400 million to the defendants in November 2014.

    The judge maintained that Metuh and his firm reasonably ought to have known that the N400 million paid to them formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of the former NSA since they had no form of contractual

  • IGP, Adamu Orders Immediate Deployment Of Recently Trained SWAT Officers Across The Country

    IGP, Adamu Orders Immediate Deployment Of Recently Trained SWAT Officers Across The Country

    Culled From Vanguard

    The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate deployment of recently trained officers of the special Weapon and Tactical Team, SWAT.

    Adamu ordered SWAT deployment for routine patrols across the country.

    The IGP’s directive was addressed to the 17 Assistant Inspector Generals of Police in the Force and Commissioners of Police in Nigeria.

    A statement with reference number CH:5350/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.20/340 was tagged “Deployment of Newly Formed Special Weapon and Tactical Team operatives,” Vanguard reports.

    The statement read: “The Inspector General of Police directs that all recently selected and trained Special Weapon and Tactical Team (SWAT) operatives are to be deployed for routine duties across areas of responsibility immediately.”
    The IGP had inaugurated SWAT following the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, F-SARS.

    F-SARS was disbanded due to brutality and extortion of Nigerians.

    The brutality perpetrated by the unit had led to a widespread protest tagged End SARS.

  • Margaret Inde Partners IFAD- Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise In The Niger Delta Project

    Margaret Inde Partners IFAD- Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise In The Niger Delta Project

    By: John Akpo

    The Executive Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Area Evang. Hon. Mrs Margaret Inde last weekend received in her office a team from the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise In The Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project.

    Hon. Inde represented by the Secretary of Council, Mr Austin Ikwen and the Supervisor for Agriculture, Mr Monday Ugare welcomed the team and assured them of the readiness of the Obanliku people to embrace any agricultural venture that can add value to their lives taking into consideration our rich and fertile land

    The State Project Coordinator, Mr Ogbin I.M thanked the Chairman for the warm reception accorded them, stating that Obanliku was lucky to be selected for the project and begged that women and youths should take advantage of the opportunity

    Mr Ogbin said the Federal government of Nigeria has received financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) towards the implementation of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta ((LIFE-ND) Project.

    The Project Coordinator explained that the project is aimed at enhancing income, job creation and food security through Agribusiness enterprise development in a sustainable manner in the Niger Delta Region.

    He further briefed that in it’s targeting strategy, the Project is focusing on unemployed and under employed rural youths (aged 18-35) and women heading households with children below 15 years willing to engage in the production, processing and marketing of selected commodities in their communities using the incubator model”.

    Obanliku is selected among the participating local governments, the sampled communities for the pilot face from Obanliku includes; Bayamang, Bukemaya, Begiagba, Bendigie, Bebi- Begbong

    Hon. Inde appreciated the team and reassured the team of adequate security as they engage the villages involved.

     

  • UNDP Installs Gov. Ayade As Goodwill Ambassador, Lauds MIDC And Stakeholders On SDGs integration

    UNDP Installs Gov. Ayade As Goodwill Ambassador, Lauds MIDC And Stakeholders On SDGs integration

     

    The United Nations Development Programs and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammad Buhari has installed the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade, Goodwill Ambassador for creating the Ministry of International Development Cooperation which is at the front line in increasing donor presence in the state, to enhance the capacity of MDAs and Local Governments to initiate and implement relevant developmental projects and for bringing stakeholders to build productive partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The UNDP representative, Mr Femi Ogunlege while installing the Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Tina B. Agbor lauded the efforts of Cross River State for building productive partnerships with the UN under the “Delivering as One” modality and formulation of a draft Donor Coordination Policy which many states lack and beginning to learn from the Cross River initiative.

    Also speaking during the installation, the Representative of the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mrs Rose Keffas lauded the efforts of the state Statistician Dr. Josephat Ogar. She stated that Dr. Josephat Ogar has done well in ensuring MDAs in the state have verifiable data unlike other states without data to work with. She said “data is a key resource to monitor the implementation of the SDGs, it helps to facilitate standards, accountability and implement an evidence based practice.”

    At the wrap up of the Advocacy and sensitization of policy and Legislation on the implementation by SDGs at Obudu Cattle Ranch, the Hon. Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong urged Line MDAs to integrate the SDGs into state budget to drive in partners who will set an ambitious path to achieve SDGs 2030.

    Goodwill messages from the Ministry of Water Resources, Health, Environment, Establishment, Information, CRSPHCDA, CRGIA, Accountant General, Budget office among other MDAs reassured the UNDP of their commitment to strengthen their working relationship with MIDC in the mainstream and incorporating of SDGs into the medium and long term development plans of the state.

  • C/River Gov’t Optimistic On Achieving Sustainable Development Goals, Says Dr. Asibong

    C/River Gov’t Optimistic On Achieving Sustainable Development Goals, Says Dr. Asibong

    By George Odok Jnr

    The Cross River Government has expressed its readiness in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 in the state.

    Dr Inyang Asibong, Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, gave the assurance during a sensitisation workshop organised by her ministry for Policy Heads and Legislators on the implementation of the SDGs.

    The workshop, which was held at the Obudu Ranch Resort, was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on SDGs.

    Asibong said that her ministry was the coordinating ministry for the achievement and implementation of the SDGs which is divided into environmental, economic and social.

    According to her, the year 2020 was marked for Sustainable Development Goals, hence the state needed to achieve the goals.

    “As a state, we need to achieve this goals. SDGs are everything we can think of and in Cross Ricer, we are already on the move, coordinating and working with other implementing Ministries, Departments and Afencies.

    “We have a wide range of MDAs here with us and our focus is to brainstorm and see how we can achieve this goals.

    “After this, we are going to set up a steering committee on SDGs. The committee will be known at the state, national and international level with a view to propel the state towards attainment of SDGs,” she said.

    Speaking, Dr Bala Yunusa, Senior Technical Adviser, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals, said that they were in Cross River to support the state in their effort to mainstream and integrate the relevant SGDs into their medium and long term development plans.

    Yunusa said that following the expiration of the development goals in 2015, world leaders met, including Nigeria, to adopt the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

    He explained that the agenda envision the present and future that is economically sustainable, socially inclusive and environmentally resilient.

    He said that the 2030 agenda is expressed through the premium of 17 Sstainable Development Goals, 169 targets and 230 key performance indicators.

    “These are universal goals adopted by world leaders by way of holding themselves accountable for their commitment towards international development.

    “We are in Cross River to also see the mechanism put in place to help strengthen the state to be able to do medium and long term development plan that is SDG based.

    “That means a plan and aspiration based on the development priorities of Cross River, but embedded within the SDG framework so that all the resources of the state will then be channelled towards the implementation of the relevant SDG that the state will choose to intergrate,” he said.

    In his remarks, Gov. Ben Ayade of the state, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Tina Agbor, said that the decision of the state to create a ministry for International Development cooperation in 2019 was well conceived.

    He explained that his administration has given utmost priority to industrialisation and agricultural revolution in the state.

    Mr Edward Ajang, a member of the Cross River House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on International Development and SGDs, said that the state had witnessed massive development through the SDGs.

    Ajang said that under the SDGs, Cross River has witnessed improvement in primary healthcare, access to basic education, reduction in infant and maternal mortality, improved sanitation among others.

  • Nigerian Artist Omah Lay Charged To Court In Uganda For Allegedly Defying Covid19 Orders

    Nigerian Artist Omah Lay Charged To Court In Uganda For Allegedly Defying Covid19 Orders

    By Inakefe Denis

    Nigeria Artist is said to be arrested and charged to court in Uganda for violating Covid-19 protocols.

    Omah Lay said all effort by Nigerian Ministry Of Foreign Affairs seeking his release have been rejected.

    Few months ago,Funke Akindele aka Jennifer was arrested here in Nigeria for violating covid19 guidelines and Nigerians condemned the government action. Here were are having Uganda Government arresting and charging to court a Nigerian for covid19 violation.

    Omah Lay is one of the best and sensational Nigerian artist.