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  • Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Kukah Member Of The Dicsatery On Integral Human Development, Vatican City

    Pope Francis Appoints Bishop Kukah Member Of The Dicsatery On Integral Human Development, Vatican City

    Rev. Fr Christopher A. Omotosho – Sokoto

    The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed His Lordship, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto as a Member of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Integral Development. The appointment was contained in a letter to Bishop Kukah dated 11th December, 2020, and signed by His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Turkson, the Prefect of the Dicastery.

    By this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the Dicastery drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development. The appointment, which is renewable is for an initial period of five years. The Council will be formally inaugurated on a later date.

    The Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development was created on January 1, 2017, when four Dicasteries, namely, the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Pastoral Care of Immigrants and Itinerant People and Health Care of Workers, were all merged by the Holy Father.

    This appointment adds to Bishop Kukah’s string of national and international engagements within the universal Church. He was first appointed a Consultor and later a Member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City* and served under three Popes. He is currently, Chairman, Dialogue Committees of both the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

    He was a member of the official Delegation of the Holy See that met with the Emir of Qatar when that country opened diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 2002. In 2016, he was nominated by the Vatican to represent Africa on the Advisory Board of the Vienna based, King Abdulazeez International Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, KAIICID. KAIICID is the fruit of the collaboration between the governments of Saudi Arabia, Austria and the Holy See for the promotion of worldwide Dialogue between world religions. Bishop Kukah comes to the Dicastery on the Promotion of Integral Development with a lot of experience in the areas of human rights, justice and reconciliation.

     

     

  • Barcelona Star, Lionel Messi Handed Two-game Ban During Super Cup Final Against Athletic Bilbao

    Barcelona Star, Lionel Messi Handed Two-game Ban During Super Cup Final Against Athletic Bilbao

    By Admin

    Lionel Messi has been handed a two-match ban after being sent off for the first-ever time in his senior Barcelona career in the Spanish Supercopa final against Athletic Bilbao last Sunday.

    The 33-year-old Argentine playmaker was shown a red card in the final minute of extra-time after swinging his arm at striker Asier Villalibre as they were beaten 3-2 by Athletic Bilbao.

    Referee Gil Manzano missed the incident initially but after a VAR review, he showed Messi a straight red card for violent conduct.

    The Royal Spanish Football Federation’s competition committee met on Tuesday and deemed the challenge to be worthy of a two-game suspension.

    Messi will miss Thursday’s trip to third division Cornella in the Copa del Rey and Sunday’s La Liga game away at Elche. Should Barca beat Cornella, he will return for a potential round-of-16 tie in the Copa del Rey next week and will also be available for the league match at Camp Nou against Athletic Bilbao on Jan. 31.

  • CRUTECH VC Inaugurates Media Team To Manage Information Dissemination

    CRUTECH VC Inaugurates Media Team To Manage Information Dissemination

    By Alobo Eba

    The Vice Chancellor of Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Prof. Augustine Angba has inaugurated a media team for the institution.

    Speaking during the inauguration held at the VC’s office on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the helmsman of the institution called on the team to ensure effective management and dissemination of information across the four campuses of the university. According to him, part of the mandate of the Media Team is to source for information that concerns CRUTECH and disseminate it efficiently to both the university community as well as members of the public. He listed other responsibilities of the team to include image making for the institution, management of public communication that concerns CRUTECH amongst other functions as deemed fit by management of the institution.

    Prof. Angba interacting with Members of the Media Team

    The committee which is headed by the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Mr. Cornelius Ellah has other members which include an Organizational Communication Expert, Mr. Victor Ndifon, the Webmaster of CRUTECH, Mr. Echa Emmanuel as well as a Blogger and Development Communication expert, Mr. Alobo Eba who serves as the Secretary.

  • Rovers FC Square Up Against 3SC in NNL Season Opening Match

    Rovers FC Square Up Against 3SC in NNL Season Opening Match

    By Kelvin Obambon

    Rovers Football Club Calabar will commence their campaign in the Nigeria National League (NNL) by slugging it out with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on away turf.

    The encounter slated for 30th January, 2021, would see the Calabar based team hit the road to Ibadan the Oyo State capital, where they will meet the Oluyole Warriors in the Lekan Salami Stadium.

    Rovers FC Calabar is lumped in group B1, consisting of Go Round FC, Akajobi FC, Stores FC, Giant Brillars FC, 3SC, Dynamite FC, Ekiti Utd FC, Delta Force FC, Vandrezzer FC, Nilayo FC and Nnewi Utd FC.

    The new kick off date for the 2020/2021 season was announced at the Nigeria National League Annual General Assembly held on Friday 15th January, 2021 at Salt Lake Hotel, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

    One of the major decisions also reached at the AGA was the readmission of four clubs (4) namely; FC Taraba, Real Stars FC, Jossy FC and Akajobi FC which could not meet the registration guidelines in the aborted 2019/2020 League season and for the fact that the said season was cancelled.

    Rovers FC Calabar formally resumed training on the 5th of January, 2021, and has since then intensified preparations with quality friendly games, as the team looks forward to putting up better performances that would ultimately lead to promotion when the season finally ends.

    On Wednesday this week, players and officials of Rovers Football Club Calabar underwent COVID-19 and Electroencephalographic (ECG) tests as mandated by the Nigeria National League (NNL) in compliance with directives from the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC).

    The Coach Samson Unuanel tutored side would spare no effort in ensuring that its participation in the 2020/2021 season counts.

  • Sen. Gershom Bassey Facilitates The Training And Empowerment Of Constituents On Installation And Maintenance Of Street Lights & Inverters

    Sen. Gershom Bassey Facilitates The Training And Empowerment Of Constituents On Installation And Maintenance Of Street Lights & Inverters

    By Admin

    Over 200 youths and women across the seven Local Governments that makes up Cross River Southern Senatorial District were trained and certified on Street Lights and Inverters installation and maintenance. The trainees after a 5-Day intensive training were empowered with tool boxes and financial grants of one hundred thousand naira (#100,000) each as part of a human capacity development program courtesy of Sen. Gershom Bassey.

    The Senator was represented by Barr. Mba Ukweni SAN and Barr. Ekpo Ada while presenting the toolboxes and financial grants to the trainees promised that more human capacity development programmes will be unveiled.

    Barr Mba Ukweni stated that Senator Gershom Bassey is poised to changing the old order where the youth will cluster at the gates of politicians begging for money, he said it is better to empower the youths with relevant skills that will make them independent. He also added that this informed the Senator’s decision to train constituents on installation and maintenance of solar streetlights and inverters and other empowerments which would help create jobs for the teeming youths and make them self reliant.

    Also speaking, Barr Ekpo Ada said, Senator Bassey’s perception of government and representation is to create centers to develop people to be self reliant and become professionals on their own. He believed this training will make our youth and women become self employed and some gainfully employed by the government.

    Mr Ogban Samuel, a beneficiary from Biase Local Government Area thanked the Senator for training them in 21st century skills and empowering them at this hard time to in turn build others. He maintained that he will never forget this kind gesture and acknowledged that it is real representation.

    Mr Ekikere Ekanem, ward 11 chairman from Calabar south said the Senator has changed the narratives and enjoined other representatives to emulate him.

    Mr. Ita Francis from Odukpani Local Government said if all the representatives can do this yearly, unemployment will be reduced and he prayed for more Grace for the Senator. Other Beneficiaries also expressed their gratitude to the Senator and promised to make judicious use of the training in fending for themselves and their families.

  • Ahead Of School Resumption: VC Lights Up Crutech

    Ahead Of School Resumption: VC Lights Up Crutech

    By Trinity Jesam

    The Vice Chancellor of Cross River University of Technology Professor Augustine Angba along with Management team has  ensured the installation of 60 street lights in the University in an effort to make the environment more habitable for Students .

    The Vice Chancellor stated that this is part of his commitment in ensuring a safe, secured and conducive learning environment for his students.

    He added that apart from lighting up the school, Water is running in all the hostels, for all returning students.

    These efforts by the VC are manifestations of his commitment to continually protect the welfare and safety of the students and staff of the institution.

  • Odukpani Lawmakers Impeaches Leader On 5-Count Charges, Swears In New Leader

    Odukpani Lawmakers Impeaches Leader On 5-Count Charges, Swears In New Leader

     

    By  Admin

    The Leader of Odukpani Legislative Council, Hon. Godswill Iya has been impeached for alleged misappropriation of public funds. The lawmakers also elected Effiong Okokon to replace the impeached Leader.

    The Lumine News gathered that the impeachment came on the grounds of a 5-count charge signed by 11 out of the 13 councillors in the Local Government Area.

    The charges against the erstwhile leader reads:

    “1. That the leadership style of Hon. Godwin Iya is fraught with inefficiency and administrative high-handedness without regards to his colleagues in the council.

    “2. That his leadership is enmeshed in gross embezzlement and misappropriation of funds meant for the legislature and reckless spending of legislative vote without due process.

    “3. That as a leader whose fundamental duty is to protect the sanctity of the legislature and the interest of his colleagues, Hon. Godswill Iya on the contrary used his position as a leader to obtain monies from 4 of his colleagues namely; Hon. Eton Effiong Okon, Hon. Bassey Duke, Hon. Nkoyo Obo and Hon Okokon Effiom, under the false pretense of carrying out an executive order, thereby amounting to gross abuse of office, a height of criminality and fraud.

    “4. That Hon. Godswill Iya is incompetent in legislative matters and lack the requisite capacity to lead the revered Odukpani Legislative Council.

    “5. That Hon. Godswil Iya is highly corrupt and used his office as an avenue to amass wealth to himself as well as attempting to blackmail the executive arm of Odukpani Local government council for his own pecuniary interest.”

    The motion further reads, “In view of the aforementioned, we hereby declare that we have completely lost the confidence we had reposed on Hon. Godswill Etim Iya as our Leader, and in line with part 4 section 33, sub-section 2c of the Cross River State Local Government Law, hereby declare Hon. Godswill Iya removed and he cease to act as the leader of Odukpani legislative council with immediate effect.

    “Hon Godswill Iya by this declaration and order shall handover all official properties of Odukpani Local Government Council including official vehicle to the newly elected leader of council with immediate effect”.

  • Unical COVID-19 Task Force Seeks Collaboration With C/River Primary Healthcare Dev. Agency As Keystone, First Bank Promises Support

    Unical COVID-19 Task Force Seeks Collaboration With C/River Primary Healthcare Dev. Agency As Keystone, First Bank Promises Support

    By Admin

    The University of Calabar COVID-19 Task Force Committee has sought the collaboration of the Cross River Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the control and management of the pandemic on campus as the University announces Feb. 5 for resumption of academic activities.

    Chairman of the Committee, Dr Kingsley Akaba, who paid a courtesy call on Dr Janet Ekpenyong, the Director General of the Agency in her office in Calabar, said the committee needed the support of the agency to effectively have a seamless academic session free from the pandemic.

    Akaba told the DG that her agency plays a critical role in healthcare delivery at the community level, hence Unical community would also need her support and collaboration.

    “COVID-19 has ravaged the world. We have lost almost one year academic year due to the outbreak of the pandemic.

    “We are here today to seek for collaboration and support because we want to have a seamless academic session as students prepare to resume school.

    “On our path, with the support of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, we have already set modalities in place that would help us to effectively implement the COVID-19 protocols on campus,” he said.

    Responding, Dr Ekpenyong who lamented the adverse effect COVID-19 had caused on the economy and educational sectors, expressed happiness that schools have resume in order to keep the students academically engaged.

    She told the Committee that the state has been very proactive in the fight against the pandemic through the enforcement of nose mask and ban on large gatherings.

    “For us as an agency, we are going to share our experience and template with the committee to serve as a guide towards helping in the implementation of the protocols on campus.

    “I want to advise the committee to set up a mini isolation centre on campus with a view to manage any suspected case that may be detected.

    “Also, you must do a lot of awareness and advocacy to continuously instill the preventive measures on students, staff and to the entire Unical community,” she said.

    The DG, assured the committee of the agency’s support and collaboration in all its activities, as well urged the committee to strengthen the university’s medical centre as students were expected to resume on Feb. 5.

    The Committee in its desire to sought for support from corporate organisations, also sought the audience of Keystone and First Bank respectively.

    Both banks promised to support the committee with relevant materials to enhance the implementation of their blueprint against the pandemic on campus.

  • C’River To Inject World Bank SFTAS Grant Into The 2021 Budget To Curb Youth Restiveness – Ekpenyong Jr.

    C’River To Inject World Bank SFTAS Grant Into The 2021 Budget To Curb Youth Restiveness – Ekpenyong Jr.

     

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr has disclosed to the press that
    Cross River State government intends to inject $20.4 million dollars grant from the World Bank’s States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability , SFTAS, programme into implementation of 2021 budget of blush and bliss.

    Mr Ekpenyong Jr stated this on Friday in Calabar during a press briefing at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters that the money would be ploughed into the implementation of the state’s 2021 budget which has emphasis on job creation for the youths.

    He stated that Cross River state met the eligibility criteria for the 2019 programme and was accordingly pre-qualified for the detailed annual performance assessment of all qualified Nigerian states under the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme.

    The assessment exercise was conducted in September 2020 by the Independent Verification Assessors (IVA) from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation and JFR Consulting, showed that Cross River state achieved 6 Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLRs), out of 9 applicable DLRs for 2019, and 3 DLRs out of 3DLRs, i.e 100% for the 2020 additional financing.

    The Commissioner said that the report noted that Cross River state has strengthened its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection, implemented biometric verification to reduce Payroll fraud, improved its procurement practices for increased transparency, strengthened its public debt management and fiscal responsibility framework, improved debt sustainability and instituted a more transparent budgeting process over the course of the fiscal year.

    The Commissioner used the opportunity to commend the members of the SFTAS state Steering Committee for their untiring efforts in bringing the state machinery up to speed towards achieving resounding success in the programme. The Steering Committee comprises of the Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Service, Office of Accountant General, Bureau of Due Process, Debt Management Department, and Auditor General’s Office.

    He further stated that, “the independent verification success is a confirmation of the Ayade led administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal performance”.

    The SFTAS programme is a product of mutual agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank, designed to strengthen the fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability in Nigerian states as a way of improving their revenue base, increasing fiscal efficiency in public expenditure and reducing debt overhang.

    It’s a four year programme that runs from 2018 to 2022, with a budget size of $750million.

  • Janet Ekpenyong Calls On Cross Riverians To Discard Misconception And Myth On Covid-19 Vaccines

    Janet Ekpenyong Calls On Cross Riverians To Discard Misconception And Myth On Covid-19 Vaccines

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has called on Cross Riverians to discard every form of misconception or myths on the Covid-19 Vaccines which is soon to be introduced in Nigeria even as she called on the Federal Government to expedite actions on the availability of the vaccines for all Nigerians.

    The DG made the assertion recently in an interview to Sensitize and create demand for the Covid-19 Vaccines which according to her is considered the most effective remedy to checkmate the spread of Covid-19 as well as it’s resultant morbidity and mortality.

    Dr Ekpenyong noted that “just like every other vaccines, the Covid19 Vaccines will help boost the immunity and fight against complications that may arise from contacts with infected persons even as the world awaits a permanent treatment and prophylaxis for the new strain of the avian influnza.

    “With Cross River State already ranked among top performing states on Immunization exercise across the country, the state and it’s people are assured of a viable and potent vaccines, which would meet all international requirements and certified by both the Nigerian Medical Association, National Agency for food, drugs Administration and control, Standard Organization of Nigeria and other monitoring and regulatory bodies”

    Ekpenyong called on the Federal Government to utilize all Federal mechanism to intensify information dissemination on the Covid-19 vaccines. She reiterated the need for states to also intensify Sensitization and awareness creation to help stop the spread of fake news and unverified myths against the vaccines.

    The DG called on Cross Riverians to embrace the vaccines and ensure to receive the vaccine when available, while appealing to rumour mongers to desist from spreading false rumour about the vaccines. She used the opportunity to call on traditional rulers, religious leaders, CSOs, CBOs and other key influencers to lend their voices and support the state Government to ensure Cross Riverians takes the vaccines when available to help curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

    With a total confirmed case of 108,943 people and 1420 deaths as at Saturday, January 16th 2020, the need to boost the immunity of Nigerians especially the elderly and others on essential duties cannot be over emphasized and this has necessitated the purchase of 100,000 vaccines for the first batch which is expected in the country between the end of January and Early February for the commencement of Immunization.

    Aside vaccination, the easiest means of preventing oneself from contracting the virus includes, regular hand wash, use of facemask, application of alcohol based hand sanitizer and well as the maintenance of social distancing.