The Lumine News

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

    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.

    [email protected]

  • Ekpenyong Sensitizes Fulani Community On Benefits Of Immunization Services

    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.

  • Prof. Zana Akpagu : The King Of The North

    Prof. Zana Akpagu : The King Of The North

    By Z- Effect Media

    On Sunday July 12, 2020 history was made at the popular Ishibori playground in Ogoja local government area of Cross River State as Prof. Zana Akpagu became the first person from the Cross River Northern Senatorial District to be conferred with traditional titles by council of chiefs of each of the five local government that makes up the zone.

    The title, Ntol Lem-Annenob which literally translate to a ‘Man who does good to the people’ is one of the many titles he has been conferred with by the people in appreciation of his extraordinary performances in all the positions he has held including Commissioner for Education and Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar.

    Previously, the Yala traditional Ruler council had conferred on him the Otobeche1 of Yala, Obudu gave him the Unwa Ushie1 of Obudu while the Bekwerra nation conferred on him the Okungbo 1 of Bekwerra. This is even as Obanliku had honoured him with the Uchua Ukpele 1 of Obanliku title.

    The honour by Ishibori, the traditional headquarter of the Nkem and the political capital of Ogoja completed a unique and historic recognition that explains the impact he has created in the people of the senatorial district.

    Not everybody can be made a king to rule over a kingdom. To become a king, you need to be a trustworthy person that is armed with wisdom that can handle matters objectively when the need arises. People who take things for granted and care about nothing except their personal interest even if they buy their ways to become kings have never been good kings.

    Good kings care about their people and their kingdom. They don’t pursue their personal interest but the interest of the people. They don’t fly in high horses but always dine and wine with the people to understand their problems. They use their privilege positions to attract good things to their people.

    These and many more are things the good people of the North have probably seen in Akpagu that every single local government have come out to celebrate and honour him with the highest titles in their lands.

    As it is today, there’s no Northerner that has done more for the people than him. During his conferment in Obaliku, Yala, Bekwerra and Obudu, the stories were the same. The people united although in different occasions in singing his praises for his massive employment opportunities, establishment of Micro Finance bank which is providing loans for farmers and small small scale entrepreneurs in three of the five local government in the North.

    Also, in Ogoja over the weekend, the story was the same. The people remembered how as Commissioner for Education, he transformed St. Andrews
    primary school to secondary school. They also recalled how he transformed Convent Primary School, Agiga to Secondary School. They also didn’t forget how he established the Saint Bens secondary school.

    They also sang his praises for bringing one campus of the Cross River University of Technology to Ogoja when he established the University as Commissioner for Education. Not to mention the numerous employment and scholarship opportunities he has given to the people.

    Education is the greatest tool for civilization and development. He gave the people education and has not stopped there. He left as Commissioner and in few years became the Vice Chancellor of the University Calabar, a position he has used to give many products of the secondary schools and University he established employment.

    Akpagu whom by his numerous honours have been described as the “King of the North” has always used his privileged positions to influence great things to the people. The well being of his people has always topped his priority.

    This explains why different groups, opinion leaders, political leaders among others have identified him as the best man for the vacant senate seat in the zone. He had opportunities and utilized them by making sure he brought benefits to our people and today the people are happy that they have a king who dream, thinks and work for them.

    Leadership is all about the people and Prof. Akpagu has demonstrated that he is the man of the people. The people have sent a clear message that in Akpagu they have a leader they trust and love and would do anything to reward his good works with more opportunities to represent them.

  • Breaking News: Police Parades Four Suspected Kidnappers In Calabar, Rescues Female Victim

    Breaking News: Police Parades Four Suspected Kidnappers In Calabar, Rescues Female Victim

    By George Odok Jr

    The Cross River State Police Command has paraded four suspected kidnappers and rescued one Cecilia Onyago, 38 years.

    Parading the suspects at the State Police Headquarters, Diamond Hill in Calabar, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, said the breakthrough was recorded by the Command.

    She said that the victim, one Cecilia Onyago ‘F’ 38 years was rescued without a ransom paid.

    “We are working to make sure that kidnapping is no more in the State. We urge Cross Riverians to provide us with information which would enable us work harder and pick these hoodlums wherever they may be.

    She said that on July 10th 2020, in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, a husband and wife were going about their normal businesses when armed kidnappers came in and kidnapped the woman.

    “The Police got a distress call from the people and we swung into action. In a bid to know the location where the woman was taken to, we got one suspect which led us to the arrest of other gang members.

    “Right now, the suspects are in our custody, a lot of items have been recovered including two vehicles, Toyota Camry with registration number NEM 828 AY and Jetta car no LSD 879 AV and several local guns.”

    DSP Ugbo said that the suspects are with the Police and they have given the Police useful information, adding that as soon as investigations were completed the suspects will be charged to court.

    “We are very happy about the success recorded because Cross River State is noted for being a place people come and relax and Police is working tirelessly to make sure the hoodlums are brought to book.

    “Every evening, we have a team of Police officers at different locations doing stop and search; it is a regular exercise which the outgoing Police Commissioner put in place.

    “We urged all Cross Riverians to corporate with us, give us useful information to make sure that these bad boys are apprehended, we want timely information that will help us reach these bad boys.”

  • Covid-19: Peter Akpanke Foundation Distributes Palliatives, Sanitizers, Face Masks And Empowers Youth With Motorcycles

    Covid-19: Peter Akpanke Foundation Distributes Palliatives, Sanitizers, Face Masks And Empowers Youth With Motorcycles

    By Elijah Ugani

    As part of the efforts to cushion the effect of the ravaging pandemic, coronavirus, Mr. Peter Akpanke of the Akpanke’s foundation has stop at nothing to continue to remember his people endlessly.

    Today in Bendi village, The Akpanke foundation distributed palliatives to the entire Obanliku which includes Bags of rice, face masks, hand sanitizers , clutches, cash and lots more valuable gift.

    This is in line with the Mission of his foundation “ Building sustainable communities where everyone has equal opportunity devoid of oppression and poverty “

    Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

    This comes barely one day as the same foundation had presented a car gift to Mr. Ben Ukukong of Keting, Bendi ward 1 in Obanliku local government area of cross river state.

  • Peter Akpanke’s Foundation Empowers Ben Ukukong With A Car Gift

    Peter Akpanke’s Foundation Empowers Ben Ukukong With A Car Gift

    By Elijah Ugani

    As part of activities to mark the thanksgiving of the President/Founder of Peter Akpanke Foundation, Mr Peter Akpanke in appreciation of God’s love and benevolence towards his family, a brand new Toyota Camry pencil light, was presented to Mr Ben Ukukong at Keting, Bendi ward 1 in Obanliku local government area of cross river state.

    Presenting the car on behalf of the President/Founder of Peter Akpanke Foundation, Mr. Chris Ogar urged the beneficiary to use the car judiciously to the service of God and mankind.

    Speaking to TheLumineNews, the philanthropist, Mr. Petrr Akpanke, stated that “I have decided to do this in other to encourage the beneficiary and send a message to the wider society in general and the youths in particular that there is dignity in labour.

    “God has been very faithful to me and my family and I owe him all the thanks, what I owe God can only be redeemed by human, it is on that note that I have decided as part of the activities for my thanksgiving to present the car to Mr. Ben Ukukong.

    “As long as God continue his work on us, we will continue to extend this magnanimity to as many as we can”

    Responding after the car gift, the recipient, Mr. Ben Ukukong who was visibly elated by the gesture, thanked the magnanimous donor, Mr. Peter Akpanke for the show of love, and wondered what he must have done to deserve the gesture.

    He however, promised to follow the footsteps of his donor and posited that “I have learnt a lot today, the act of given. Thank you very much for this lesson, I will try my best. I want to call on all of you here to join me to thank Mr. Peter Akpanke for this car gift”

    The car gift presentation was to kick start the activities to return the glory to God and service to mankind.

  • Anniversary: TheLumineNews Sets Up Award Committee

    Anniversary: TheLumineNews Sets Up Award Committee

    By Admin

    TheLumineNews has constituted a committee to over see the process that will lead to selection of 9 Cross Riverians who have distinguished themselves in different fields and one civil society organization to be honored in an event yet to be announced to mark its first anniversary.

    In release signed by the Editor-In-Chief/Publisher Comrade Elijah Ugani, addressed to the members of the committee indicates that the committee will allow members of the public to nominate persons of their choice and state reasons why they make such nomination.

    Find full address to the committee.

    “As part of the activities to mark one year anniversary of TheLumineNews I wish to seek your approval for you to serve in the committee to select the best personalities that will make the list of awardees in ten different categories.

    “Your resilience, dogged disposition and insistence on the ideals is the motivation that propels your nomination.

    “It is my believe that your wealth of experience will be brought to bare in this process.

    “The aim of establishing TheLumineNews is to serve the society, contribute to nation building by providing accurate and timely information on happenings around us, as well as illuminate the society with truth in defense of the oppressed.

    “TheLumineNews is the fastest growing online media organization in cross river state and hopefully, we anticipate to become the most vibrant, reliable and up to date media platform with the widest coverage and publicity in the state in the coming years.

    “We anticipate 10 categories of award to honor a few cross riverians who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavors.

    “Categories of the award:
    1. Best Ayade appointee
    2. Best employer of labour in Cross River State
    3. Best youth entrepreneur of not more than 45 years
    4. Best journalist
    5. Best blogger/social media influencer
    6. Best Right lawyer
    7. Best civil society organization (NGO)
    8. Best public/civil servant
    9. Best State House of Assembly Member
    10. Best National Assembly Member.

    “We will allow the public to nominate, and state reasons for their nomination, telling the public their choice of nomination.
    This will last for a period to be agreed by this committee.

    “At the expiration of the timeline, the committee will shortlist three persons or organizations in each of the ten categories with the highest nomination.

    “And present same to the public, thereafter, the public will vote for the three persons/nominees. The votes will form part of the assessment for the overall best in each category.

    “The committee will do background check on the 27 persons and three civil society organizations at the final stage to be sure of the information provided to avoid being misled.

    “The committee also reserve the right to decide otherwise in the circumstance(s) where a particular nominee is beclouded with controversy.

    “At every point in time, the committee is free to seek clarification and is to work as independent as possible.

    “Committee Members.

    1. Comr. Ogar, Emmmanual Oko – Chairman
    2. Mallam Yuguda – Member
    3. S. A. Akpanke Esq. – Member
    4. Mr. Augustine Aboh – Member
    5. Mr. Boniface Ushie-Ogar – Member
    6. Miss Damaris Onyendi – Member
    7. Mr. Jerry Unimke – Secretary.

    “Thanks in anticipation and congratulations to you all”

    Elijah Ugani
    Editor-In-Chief/Publisher
    TheLumineNews

  • Wike Fires Perm Sec For Flouting COVID-19 Guideline

    Wike Fires Perm Sec For Flouting COVID-19 Guideline

    By Admin

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has sacked the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Sunny Okere, for allegedly flouting guidelines put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease in the state.

    This was contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim.

    According to the statement, Okere’s dismissal was with immediate effect.

    The former permanent secretary was dismissed for reportedly participating in a burial ceremony with more than 50 persons in attendance in contravention to the state government’s protocol on funerals amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The governor was quoted as saying, “In the face of increasing infections and systemic risk to public health and safety, most residents have continued to disregard the mitigating protocols with reckless abandon.

    “Public and private transporters, business owners and churches are refusing to adhere to the relevant protocols. Punch

  • Dr. Mrs. Mary Iji Receives Royal Blessings From The Paramount Ruler Of Bekwarra LGA As She Consults To Replace Late Sen. Rose Oko At The Red Chambers.

    Dr. Mrs. Mary Iji Receives Royal Blessings From The Paramount Ruler Of Bekwarra LGA As She Consults To Replace Late Sen. Rose Oko At The Red Chambers.

    By Admin

    Ahead of the yet to be fixed northern senatorial bye-election  to replace the late sen. Rose Oko, at the senate, the quintessential and trailblazing woman of valor, a pathfinder and social engineer of very high repute, Dr. Mrs. Mary Eru Iji has defiled all odds as she takes the bull by the horn to declare her intention, zeal and readiness to cling the People’s Democratic Party PDP, ticket to replace the replace the late Sen. Rose Oko.

    Dr. Mary Iji who has hails from the same place with the late Sen. Rose Oko in Yala local government area of northern cross river, has argued that being a woman and having being the late Senator’s personal friend and trusted ally, it was very proper for her to complete the tenure of her friend and sister at the red chambers.

    The prospective senator took to consult Ward Chairmen and local government Chapter Executives of the five wards that made up the northern senatorial district, also made her way to Akurinyi village in Bekwarra local government area to consult the Paramount Ruler.

    The custodian of Bekwarra traditions and customs, His Royal Majesty, Odey Ogbeche who listened to Dr. Mary Iji spoke passionately about her desire to return hope to the people through effective representation, good leadership, youth libration and equity, was very elated having been thrilled with her ovation and mastery of the political interplay in our recent democratic system.

    HRM however noted that “it is very appropriate for you to be given the mandate to complete the tenure of your sister in line with the 35 percent affirmation for women, as late Sen. Rose was the only female National Assembly member from cross river state.

    “In other climes, women have have occupied prominent positions of authority, example is Rwanda, we have more women in parliament than men. I have no reservation to bless you”

    The Paramount Ruler took time to communed in his dialect with the ancestors of his land, and gave Dr. Mary Iji his royal blessings and maintained that “on behalf of Bekwara nation who have blessed me and given me the mandate to bless others, I hereby bless you to go and get what rightly belongs to you. As many who gather to seek your dawn fall, they shall fall themselves”

    His Royal Majesty used the opportunity to intimate Dr. Mary Iji that the electorates are in dare need of a representative who understands the need and plight of the people in relation to time and season, and not the Abuja type of representatives who return and remember them only during elections.

    Akurinyi is a village that shares boundary with Yala local government area. The Paramount Ruler disclosed that, there is little or no government presence in the his community as the only source of good water is the borehole drilled by himself for his used.

    Akurinyi is situated along the dual carriage from OKpoma to Obanliku, it is hopeful that the road will see the light of the day as the road is impassable when there is downpour.

    Dr. Mrs. Mary Iji enjoyed the goodwill of all those she consulted as they all encouraged her and wished her the best as she navigate the length and breadth of northern senatorial district seeking support to get to the red chambers.

    On his part, UKani Paulinus Joseph Ekunke commended Dr. Mary Iji for the bold step taken to gun for the senate position and urged her not to underestimate any person in the course of her consultation as power comes from God, but God uses man to perfect his plans for mankind.

    Some stakeholders who for fear of being victimized, rather have decided to play from behind the scene in the Dr. Mary Iji’s to the red chambers.

    Voice of the North Media

  • Psychiatric Hospital Workers Protest Injustice In Covid-19 Hazard Allowance

    Psychiatric Hospital Workers Protest Injustice In Covid-19 Hazard Allowance

    By George Odok Jr – Calabar

    Workers in the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) in Calabar have staged a peaceful protest over what they described as “injustice” in the payment of Covid-19 hazard allowance to health workers in tertiary health institutions.

    The workers said some category of staff which include clinical staff, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory and some health assistance were paid 40 per cent.

    They lamented that the accountant, environmental officers, the administrators, auditors and store keeper including cleaners where paid 10 per cent.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers carried placards such as ‘Covid-19 hazard allowance: pay the 30 per cent allowance now’, ‘we say not to 10 per cent, pay us our balance now,’ Ministry of Health drifting to animal farm’ among many others.

    Speaking, Mr Daniel Odo, Chairman of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) FNPH branch, said that all staff in the hospotal were vulnerable to all risk and outbreaks.

    Odo maintained that all workers in the hospital were health workers, adding that it was the reason why all workers of the hospital irrespective of rank were paid N5,000 as hazard allowance.

    “As a branch of JOHESU, we say bold no to the skewed implementation of the payment of Covid-19 hazard and inducement allowance which was approved for all health workers by the Federal Government.

    “The haphazard selection of few members who were paid jumbo 40 per cent of their basic consolidated salary and the remaining half, a paltry 10 per cent was aimed at divide and rule us.

    “In the spirit of our resolved and solidarity that an injury to one, is an injury to all, I appeal to the generality of our members and particularly those that were privileged to receive the jumbo pay to be part of the collective struggle.

    “We cannot guarantee industrial peace in the health sector until we are paid the balance of 30 per cent. We have never and we cannot accept that our hospitals have become the animal farm where all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Secretary of JOHESU in FNPH, Mr Ken Bassey, said the peaceful protest was not against the management of the hospital, but rather it was agreed by the national body of JOHESU that they staged a peaceful protest to demand for the 30 per cent balance.

    Bassey also maintained that every worker in the hospital was also at risk of any health challenge or disease outbreak.

    “This peaceful protest is to send a message to the Federal Government over the displeasure and injustice in the payment of the Covid-19 hazard allownace.

    “The payment was to compensate the health workers for the risk they face in service delivery and for handling the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “But surprisingly, when the payment was effected, it was segregated. Some people were paid 40 per cent, while others got 10 percent.

    “We are saying no because we face the same risk from the gate man who stands at the gate to the ambulance driver who drives the patients and all that; we must be paid and treated equally because this is not an animal farm where some people are treated more equal than others,” he said.

    Addressing the protesters, Dr Bassey Edet, Managing Director of the Hospital, commended the staff for expressing their grievances, adding that he will communicate accordingly to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health.

    “We will communicate to the authorities concerned. I feel pained myself because injustice done to one is done to all,” he said.