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  • CRSG Flags Off BHCPF Training For Enumerators, Targets 700,000 Vulnerable Persons To Be Enrolled As The State Access Funds.

    CRSG Flags Off BHCPF Training For Enumerators, Targets 700,000 Vulnerable Persons To Be Enrolled As The State Access Funds.

    By Simon Ushie

    The Cross River State Government has flagged off the training exercise for enumerators, who will go into the field for health facilities assessment, as the state gets ready to access the Basic Health Care Provision Funds BHCPF, aimed at capturing and enrolling 700,000 vulnerable persons across the 18 Local Government Areas, to access free quality health care services in the state.

    Flagging off the training exercise in Calabar the Cross River State Capital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu urged participants to pay attention to the rules and guidelines surrounding enumerations, mapping and facility assessment.

    Dr. Edu said among other benefits, the scheme will help cushion the hardship faced by households when accessing Healthcare services.
    She further charged enumerators to be guided and perform their task with all sense of sincerity and a high level of integrity and said if proper information are not generated and laid down task accomplished, it could expose all Cross Riverians, irrespective of their social and political class to poor and ineffective healthcare supply.

    Speaking earlier, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong applauded the facilitators of the exercise, as she encouraged the participants to tap from their wealth of experience and technical expertise to ensure that Cross River State achieve maximum results in its quest to achieving Universal Health Coverage Status.

    Dr Ekpenyong further applauded the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade for his huge investment in the health sector which she said has helped in reducing maternal and infant mortality and strengthening the believe system among Community members to seek supports for their health challenges in Government owned facilities.

    On his part, the Director General of the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme, Chief Goddy Iyala said his Agency is poised to support all Agencies of Government both within the state and outside the state to ensure that success is achieved.

    He further called on transparency in obtaining data from relevant bodies which will aid planning and implementation as he said the Cross River State Health Insurance is one of the pioneer Agencies in the country to start enrollment and as such a reliable gateway to obtaining results.

    Facilitators from the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency as well as the National Health Insurance Scheme applauded the State Government for prioritizing healthcare for it’s citizens as well as setting the template for other states to follow.

    Participants include Monitoring and Evaluation Officers drawn from the state Ministry of Health, the State Primary Healthcare Agency and the State Health Insurance Scheme are expected to be taught various methods of Facility rating using the Open Data Kit (ODK) to ascertain the quality of services being offered in each facility both in terms of client’s convenience, number of staff as well as a step down training for ward and Community leaders.

    The Basic Healthcare Provision Fund was borne out of the 2015 National Health Council meeting which stipulates that 1% of the Nation’s consolidated revenue should be earmarked to boost Healthcare services in states across the country.

    The program is aimed at providing succor to the Vulnerable including the Aged, Pregnant Women and children under the age of 5, poor Households and low income earners with the sole target of all states contributing to Nigeria attaining the universal Health Coverage Status.

    With the Government of Senator Ben Ayade meeting all the criteria for accessing the said funds, through the payment of counterpart funds and building standard health facilities, the training of enumerators and capacity building could just be the icing on the cake for the state to join other states in benefiting from the reserved funds which will not only help remodel some of our health facilities but as well help in drugs stocking and the hiring of health workers to meet the growing population.

  • CRN APC Ticket And The Fallacy Of Reconciliation – Inyali Peter

    CRN APC Ticket And The Fallacy Of Reconciliation – Inyali Peter

     

    One of the major challenges facing political parties in Nigeria is complete absence of internal democracy. The country’s democracy is still at its infant stage and it’s evolving, however, in the anti-democratic tendency of always subverting or attempting to subvert the wishes of the people by a conservative few called “stakeholders” has become a serious cankerworm that has eaten deep into the heart of political parties and politicians in the country.

    This terrible and injurious tendency is usually highlighted mostly during primaries for the nomination of candidates. It is almost becoming a tradition in our politics that the wishes of the people in selecting candidates don’t count and this trend is seen in almost all the parties even though it’s increasingly becoming worst in APC, especially the Cross River State chapter.

    As a foundation member of APC from 2013 when it was formed, I can say that one of the things that endeared the party to so many Nigerians in 2015 was the promise of internal democracy which was displayed across the country during primaries for the selection of candidates.

    The 2014 APC Presidential primaries was adjudged the best in the country by political watchers and this gave more credibility to the party as Nigerians saw a classical departure from the trend in PDP where candidates were always imposed.

    While the party is trying to sustain the 2014 legacy in some states, in others like Cross River, the situation has been messy and a direct opposite of it. APC primaries in the state is a myth and a mere show to fulfill all righteousness as candidates emerge through other undemocratic ways like imposition.

    This pitiable situation has always plagued the party into crisis but it seems the people don’t learn. When everybody was expecting that APC was finally ready to challenge the PDP dominance in the state after the leader of the party and Honourable Minister of State, Power, Prince Goddy Jedy Agba ended the over three years leadership tussle, the first major assignment undertaken by the party is threatening to tear it apart again and it’s not for any reason but the same old story of imposition.

    When would the Cross River APC learn that as an opposition, it’s more profitable to go with the wishes of the majority than those of the minority which is mostly driven by personal interest?

    The Cross River North APC senatorial primary has shown clearly that the party doesn’t learn and it’s not ready to be taken seriously in the state. If this is not the case, how can one explain the wisdom in repeating one thing over and over again that has not worked yet expecting different results? Primary is a test of one’s strength, popularity and acceptability and not a sort of a joke where a few people just want to impose their opinions on everybody.

    As usual, after hurting people’s emotions, they stay in Abuja and talk of reconciliation. What is reconciliation in the face of injustice? You rob a man and all the people only to turn back to call for reconciliation? You abuse the people’s sensitivity and only to turnaround to ask them to sheath their sword in the interest of peace? What’s peace when impunity holds sway?

    I find the call for reconciliation in a APC as deliberate trivialization and mischaracterization of an important issue of injustice and stealing of one’s mandate as bizarre and spurious. Reconciliation and justice are two inseparable variables. World over, forgiveness and reconciliation are not achieved where injustice is served in place of justice.

    If truly the leaders of the party want reconciliation, they should start by admitting that they have made mistakes by giving the Cross River North APC ticket to the person that won it and stop the pretense. You can’t deliberately kill a man’s joy simply because you think you can always ask for forgiveness.

    An anonymous APC leader said that “the call for reconciliation has mostly come from the Joe Agi proponents, ostensibly to firm up the purported candidature of their Principal but while their prayers are yet to approach the efficacy line,they have yet to admit their ‘sin’ or fault of subverting the process of our ‘holy’ democracy believed by all to be better than a military command tactic same as they invented and propagated in the recent primary elections”.

    More and more members are now aware that the only thing of interest to most Cross River APC leaders is federal appointment and nothing more. The common man on the street would work for the party at the end, the leaders would go to Abuja to struggle for appointments that don’t have direct benefits to the average party members. All they do is to stop the party from winning elections and if APC don’t win election, how would the people who have played opposition all their lives benefit?

    A stitch in time saves nine. It’s either the APC show commitment for sincere reconciliation by allowing the wishes of the people to stand to safe it from the impending doom or continue to deceive themselves and joke over a fallacious reconciliation that’s built on injustice and abuse.

    I know some people who have never supported the APC beyond the social media would come after me but let me remind everybody that in 2019, I was a lone voice crying for the soul of APC but nobody listened and in the end, the party suffered embarrassing defeats in all the elections except Abi/Yakur federal constituency. Except something is done, the bye-election is as good as over for the APC.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are strictly that of Inyali Peter and does not represent The Lumine News.

  • Sen. Sandy Onor Eulogises Chief Wilfred Inah @80 Birth Anniversary, Described Him As An Elder Statesman

    Sen. Sandy Onor Eulogises Chief Wilfred Inah @80 Birth Anniversary, Described Him As An Elder Statesman

    By Joseph Ndifon

    The senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Sen. Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor eulogised Chief Wilfred Inah, a former secretary of the Cross River State Civil Service Commission, Head of Service of Cross River State, Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission and gubernatorial aspirant of the defunct National Republican Convention(NRC).

    Sen. Onor described him as an elder statesman who traversed the length and breadth of the state and country to serve his fatherland, maintained that his contributions to the society cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

    Speaking at the occasion to mark the 80th birth anniversary celebration at Chief Inah’s residence on Friday, September 11, 2020, Sen. Sandy Onor described him as succinctly simple, sincere and steadfast, who gave back to the society that made him and played pioneering roles in the formation of several structures in the present day Cross River State such as; ban in the consumption of alcoholic drinks in offices during official hours and the construction of four buildings at the Cross River State Liaison Office in Lagos.

  • Sen. Sandy Onor Presents Cash Prizes To Winners Of Central Students’ Writing Competition

    Sen. Sandy Onor Presents Cash Prizes To Winners Of Central Students’ Writing Competition

    By Emmanuel Obeten

    The Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Sen. Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor had yesterday, 13th of September 2020 presented cash prizes as awards to winners of the Writing competition tagged Sen. Sandy Onor Do It Yourself Challenge organized by the Special Adviser Students’ Affairs to the distinguised senator, Chief Obeten Emmanuel.

    The Senator congratulated the winners; Ewona Marywhite who came first, Victor Egba and Gabriel Ngban who came second and third respectively.

    The lawmaker charged them to become problem solvers in their respective communities, Local Government Area, central senatorial district and the State at large.

    The Distinguished Senator reiterated his commitment to the welfare of Students of Central Senatorial District with the  promise to carry out many other student related activities/empowerment programs through the office of the SA Students’ Affairs.

    Sen. Sandy Onor thanked the SA Students’ Affairs for his thoughtfulness to have engineered such a brilliant initiative and idea aimed at keeping students of Central senatorial district intellectually busy while they await the reopening of schools.

    Sen. Onor described Obeten as a brilliant and enthusiastic person.

    The presentation had in attendance, S.A Students’ Affairs to the Senator and his team comprising of Sen. Sumuko Wisdom (Judge/Curator), SUG President of Unical, Sen. Raymond Moses Derek, Comr. Anari Joyce Nelson.

  • Choice Of UNICAL’s First Female VC Attests To Excellence Of Womenfolk – Omo-Agege

    Choice Of UNICAL’s First Female VC Attests To Excellence Of Womenfolk – Omo-Agege

    By Yomi Odunuga

    The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege has congratulated Prof. Florence Banku Obi on her emergence as first female VC of Unical.

    The emergence of Professor Florence Obi as the first female Vice Chancellor-elect of the University of Calabar eloquently attests to the excellence of the womenfolk in higher institutions, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has said.

    Last week, Professor Obi of the Faculty of Education broke a 45 year-old jinx by emerging the first female Vice-Chancellor-elect of the University of Calabar, Cross River State, beating 12 other candidates.

    She will take over from Professor Zana Akpagu, whose tenure ends on November 30, 2020.

    Omo-Agege who chairs the Senate Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review, described Obi as “an astute educational icon” even as he applauded the institution for its non-gender biased meritocracy.

    He urged her to build on the achievements of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Akpagu.

    The federal lawmaker prayed for the success of her tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

    “In spite of considerable challenges, Nigerian women have continued to demonstrate capacity and competence in various roles and it is no mere conjecture that if given the chance, capable women from the South-South zone and other parts of Nigeria can offer good leadership.

    “While congratulating the VC-elect and wishing her a successful tenure in office, I particularly commend the institution for its non gender-biased meritocracy,” he stated.

     

  • Breaking: Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Rewards 88 Constituents From Yala LGA With Motorcycles

    Breaking: Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Rewards 88 Constituents From Yala LGA With Motorcycles

    By Admin

    The member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and and front lne Senatorial Candidate of the  People’s Democratic Party PDP,  Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has rewarded 88 indigenes of Yala Local Government Area with Motorcycles worth millions of Naira.

    The beneficiaries who consist of the Authentic executive members of the People’s Democratic Party at Chapter level and Working committee members at ward level of Yala Local Government Area, received their motorcycles today as presented by Hon Mike Usibe, Cross River state Commissioner for New Cities Development on behalf of the MP.

    The chapter chairman of Yala, Mr Elijah Okache while speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries was filled with thanks and prayed that God reward Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.

    His words “We have never had it this good in our Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon jarigbe Agom continues to marvel us all, even in the midst of an election, he still thinks of his people which shows that he’s a selfless leader and we pray God Almighty continues to take him higher”

    Hon Mike Usibe while addressing the beneficiaries urged them to remain steadfast in their service to the party and keep Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom in their prayers so he can do more for the people.

     

  • CRSPHCDA Janet Ekpenyony Gets African Student’s Union Outstanding Leadership Award

    CRSPHCDA Janet Ekpenyony Gets African Student’s Union Outstanding Leadership Award

    By Simon Ushie

    The African Student’s Union has presented an award of outstanding leadership to the Director General of the Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Janet Ekpenyong.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, the speaker of the African Student Union Parliament, Honourable Temple O, listed Dr Janet Ekpenyong as one of the youngest and most influential, hardworking administrator in the African continent who have identified with students across board offering mentorship and material supports to encourage young people chase their dreams and impact meaningfully to the African continent.

    His words “We have seen and heard about the innovative ideas you have introduced into the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Agency, we hear of your humanitarian gestures as well, we have seen you Cross Rivers and climb heels in the course of your duty and that shows uncompromising leadership quality in you, we will continue to let the world know that people like you still exist.

    “The little things you do and think they don’t count have touched the lives of people within and outside your community”

    On her part, the awardee thanked the group for finding her worthy of this year’s leadership award against all odds, she further charged them to pay better attention to their academic pursuits in order to bring greater and better changes to the African continent and develop the region.

    “I feel honored and proud to receive this leadership award and recognition from you and the group, you are a group that have shown impartiality, never compromised and well briefed about the activities of professional in all 53 African countries.

    “Every opportunity I have to serve, I do it without contemplating about it, and that is why, when I was appointed as the DG of the state Primary Healthcare Agency, I felt it’s a larger platform to touch the lives of those especially in the grassroot and that is what I have been doing, I won’t rest on it until more lives are touched.

    “I wish to encourage you all and all young people to continue to put in their best to actualize their goals in life so that we can have new breeds of African leaders who will transform our continent into a first world country based on sound and innovative thinking.

    “I’m proud that young people are now thinking out of the box by shying away from acts that can hamper their growths and development, am super proud that it’s in my lifetime that Africa and Africans are now being sort after”.

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    The African Student Union Parliament is the umbrella body that covers all students within the 54 recognized African countries with core objectives of encouraging cooperation harmonious coexistence among member state’s students .

  • Ekpenyong Charges Women To Stop Stigmatization Against Those Abused To Encourage Victims To Speak Out .

    Ekpenyong Charges Women To Stop Stigmatization Against Those Abused To Encourage Victims To Speak Out .

     

    With increasing figures of gender based violence in the society, and the discrimination that accompanies it, women across various professional bodies and interest groups are rising up in defense of those who do not have a voice to speak out for themselves.

    Some people have identified discrimination and “shaming” as some barriers hindering women from reporting cases of abuse both sexually, physically and even emotionally.

    It is on this premise that interest groups and individuals have risen to seek collaborative ways between themselves on how to support the female gender in expressing the deep pains they go through which may seem difficult for the society to understand.

    One of such forum organized to seek ways of helping these categories of oppressed people in the society, had the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong calling for an end to stigmatization of abused women to encourage them speak out.

    The DG was speaking at an advocacy meeting and training workshop organized by the “Gender And Development Action” which is aimed at creating political relevance to issues of gender based violence and violence against women and girls in calabar, the Cross River State Capital.

    Dr Ekpenyong said the need to tolerate women and victims who have suffered maltreatment has become imperative in order to encourage women speak out at various forums when molested either psychologically, emotionally or even physically.

    “If we don’t stigmatize women who have been abused or even those still being abused on a daily basis, I think more women will come out and speak out, they just need that acceptance, and that will surely be the beginning of their healing process”.

    She hailed the efforts of the Cross River State Governor to create a gender balanced society through his numerous appointments of women into key and sensitive positions which has proven that women too can be problem solvers and not just another burden to men.

    Dr. Ekpenyong further Enumerated efforts taken so far by her Agency(Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency) in assisting victims which she listed as, assisting victims to file complain with the law enforcement Agencies, free counselling, examination and treatment of victims with history of sexual violence as well as referrals for complicated cases.

    She therefore pledged her support and willingness to partner groups and bodies to ensure that cases of molestation are reduced to the barest possible points.

    Some other speakers who spoke called on the Cross River State House of Assembly to pass bills into law aimed at defending the female gender, sensitize women on their roles including ownership of properties ,improved education for the girl child as well as creating easy route for reporting and defending oppressed women in the society.

    In attendance were the Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Nigeria’s Former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Representative of Female Lawyers Association, Wives of Local Government Chairmen, Director of Community Health, CRSPHCDA, Director of Local Government Health Authority (Calabar Municipal and Calabar South), Heads of Gender based NGOs as well as some media practitioners.

  • Sen. Sandy Onor Extols Rev. Fr. Justine Udie At 10th Priestly Ordination Anniversary, Donates 1million To His Charity Foundation

    Sen. Sandy Onor Extols Rev. Fr. Justine Udie At 10th Priestly Ordination Anniversary, Donates 1million To His Charity Foundation

    By Joseph Ndifon

    The senator representing cross river central senatorial district, Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor has extolled Rev. Fr. Justine Udie and described him as being straight and clear in all his dealings.

    Sen. Onor made this known on Saturday, 12th of Sept. 2020, when he made guest appearance at the 10th Priestly Ordination Anniversary of Rev. Fr Justin Bengiegieye Udie (Executive Secretary, Ogoja Diocesan Education Board).

    The event was held at School Hall, Holy Child Secondary School (Mount Camel Chaplency), Igoli-Ogoja.

    Sen. Prof Sandy Ojang Onor Praised Rev. Fr Humphrey for the beautiful homily rendered, which he said captured in truth, the personality of Rev. Fr Justin.

    His words “Fr Justin is very straight and clear in all his dealings and has always stood in the gap, readily available to pray for me, my family and the good people of Cross River Central Senatorial District. I thank him immensely.

    “Because of the nature of our kind of politics, it takes great courage even as a Catholic Priest to speak truth to power. Rev. Fr Justin has shown himself approved as a Priest of God and has at all times, spoken truth to power”

    The Senator also admonished critics of public officials to do so with a sense of responsibility and value. ” criticising public officials is not a bad thing, but has to be done with every sense of responsibility. There are times and seasons. For you to be able to criticize a public official, you must locate his tenure in time and season”

    The lawmaker however, emphasized that things would definitely get better as far as the Lord is on the throne.

    The senator donated the sum of one million naira (#1million) to Rev. Fr Justin Udie’s Charity Foundation, to enable the celebrant give back to the society.

     

  • Unical VC-elect Embarks On Visitation Of Stakeholders In Southern Senatorial District

    Unical VC-elect Embarks On Visitation Of Stakeholders In Southern Senatorial District

    By George Odok Jr.

    Earlier today, September 13th, 2020, the VC elect, Prof. Florence Banku Obi visited key stakeholders in Southern Senatorial District to officially present herself to the host community of University Calabar on her emergence as the 11th VC of Unical.

    The first female VC visited the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, Prof. Hogan Itam, who prayed for her and wished her well in her tenure which starts on December 1, 2020. Prof. Itam expressed happiness on her emergence and promised to work with her during her tenure as VC.

    The incoming VC also visited Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Snr and Jnr respectively, where she sought their support and cooperation for a smooth running of the institution.

    Similarly, she also visited Prof. Eyo Etim-Nyong in his house. She pledged her utmost desire to run an all inclusive administration that will promote and enhance academic excellence in the univeristy.

    High point of the visit was at the residence of Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, where both amazons discussed at length and celebrated the victory of the incoming VC.

    Senator Ita-Giwa congratulated her for making history by breaking the jinx of becoming the first female VC of Unical, 45 years after.