Tag: #Elijah Ugani

  • Celebrating An Icon, Prof Peter Akpa Oti On His Birth Anniversary BY ELIJAH UGANI

    Celebrating An Icon, Prof Peter Akpa Oti On His Birth Anniversary BY ELIJAH UGANI

     

    Prof Peter Akpa Oti hails from Nkirira – Utugwang, in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Peter Akpa Oti is a Professor of Accounting and a Chartered Accountant. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and a member of Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. He teaches Management Accounting, Taxation and Fiscal Policy in the University of Calabar.

    Prof Oti is committed to the growth of his community and state. Oti has written his name in the sand of time as an envoy of emancipation, social development and justice in Utugwang community in particular, and Cross River State at large.
    As a detribalized and patriotic Nigerian, Prof Oti, has spearheaded community driven initiatives aimed at emancipating the underrepresented population. He has supported the education of the less privileged for undergraduates and post graduate students.

    A chartered Accountant and Budget expert, Oti galvanized support from sons and daughters of Utugwang community and utilized the Central Bank of Nigeria licensing of community banks, and midwieved the defunct Utugwang Community Bank. The bank gave non collateral micro loans to local community members, which secured and strengthened thier livelihood.

    He initiated the annual football tournament that brought together the youths of Utukalu communities that identified talents. He identified widows and the physically challenged and provided cash and material assistance to them periodically.

    Prof Oti is an epitome of fairness, committed to hard work and dedication, accessible and setting standards and challenging our disposition to hard work.

    Prof Oti identifies community interest, assets and leadership as a pathway for the local people to make contributions to the development of the community.

    Prof Oti’s leadership prowess epitomizes service delivery, integrity, empathy, and good decision-making skills.

    Prof Oti has held numerous positions in the university of Calabar, where he served as Head, Department of Accounting, Director, UNICALCON, among others. In the Cross River State Government, he served as member, Cross River State Executive Council, in the following positions:

    Special Adviser on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation: As Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr. Peter Oti rejected some reports of budget officers from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in 2012 due to non-compliance with budget implementation standards.
    Prof Oti developed a budgetary model that embraced participatory budgeting where stakeholders’ input became very necessary in budget preparation, through stakeholders’ engagement in the three senatorial districts of Cross River State. A model that became a reference point where other states consulted Cross River State.

    Chairman of State Internal Revenue Service: In this role, he announced that six revenue officers were standing trial for diverting government funds into their personal accounts, showcasing his commitment to transparency and accountability.

    Economic Adviser To The Governor: Prof Oti’s involvement as Economic Adviser has shaped the Economic Development Strategies of Gov Bassey Edet Otu’s administration, shaping the financial landscape of Cross River State could influence economic development strategies, potentially driving growth and investment.
    Prof Oti has potentially contributed to economic development, budget management, and revenue generation in Cross River State.

    Prof. Peter Akpa Oti’s work in the Budget Department and Internal Revenue Services highlights his involvement in shaping the financial landscape of Cross River State.

    To an Icon of hope and development:

    Dear Prof Peter Akpa Oti,
    As you celebrate another year of life, wisdom, and service, I acknowledge your remarkable contributions to Cross River State’s financial landscape. Your expertise in budget management and revenue generation has been a beacon of hope for a brighter future.

    May your birthday be as vibrant as the budgets you’ve crafted, as fruitful as the revenue you’ve generated, and as fulfilling as the lives you’ve touched. May your day be filled with joy, love, and celebration, surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers.

    As you mark another milestone, I pray that your wealth of knowledge and experience continues to inspire and guide future generations. May your legacy be a testament to the power of dedication, hard work, and passion for public service.

    Here is to another year of wisdom, growth, and impact! May your birthday be the beginning of a year filled with happiness, good health, and success.

    You are a mentor, a teacher, community builder, builder of men, a counsellor, a role model, a guide, a pathfinder, a home maker, an inspiration to many who have come in contact with you. You are humility personified.

    Be rest assured of my continuous prayers and goodwill.

    On this auspicious occasion of your birth anniversary, accept my best wishes.

    Elijah Ugani
    Public Affairs Analyst and Commentator
    Community Mobilizer
    Social Change Agent
    He writes from the Hills of Ukwortung

  • Thank You Is Not Enough Dear Agba Jalingo BY ELIJAH UGANI

    Thank You Is Not Enough Dear Agba Jalingo BY ELIJAH UGANI

    By Elijah UganiĀ 

    Today is not your birth anniversary, but I choose to use this day to celebrate what you’re and meant to me.

    You berthed CrossRiverWatch and gave many of us the opportunity to expand our horizon in the online media. You gave me the platform to build myself and the opportunity for further trainings.

    In addition to my dad of blessed memory who handed good moral teachings, laid the foundation of hard work, contentment, respect, humility, reverence for God and community service, you are among other persons who have had very positive impact in life.

    Having worked for CrossRiverWatch for some years, I approached my boss share my thoughts of starting my personal media platform, www.theluminenews.com.

    Without reservation, you gave me permission and encouraged me. You emphasized the need for more platforms to be operated in Cross River State, and maintained that when more online platforms, operates, no government can shut the online media out.

    Even when I left and withdrew my services for CrossRiverWatch, you rather increased your mentorship.

    You know I don’t intend to leave my farming anytime soon, I also do development and humanitarian work.
    But I can I assure you that, my online platform and publishing pay me more at the moment.

    Among the various people I have worked with, you are among the very few persons who know my true worth.
    The fact that you consistently speak highly of me, gives me the moral courage that I don’t have any reason to disappoint the trust you have in me.

    My brother, Inyali Peter recommended Frank Ulom to design my news platform, I thank them too

    Odey Alfred modified my platform, his is highly acknowledged

    All of those who have consistently supported TheLumineNews, Janet Ekpenyong Inyang Asibong Obi Joe Ability Sen Sandy Onor, Sen Jarigbe Agom Hon Peter Akpanke, Hon Martin Orim.

    Capt Dr Stephen Owai appointed me Chief Press Secretary in 2007, while he served as University of Calabar Student Union Government President.

    Emmanuel Umoh and Ogar Emmanuel Oko whoo served as President and Editor-In-Chief, Nigerian Union of Campus Journalists NUCJ, are not left out in this journey.

    Thank you all for your support.
    Like Oliver Twist, I look forward to a more robust support on the coming years.

    Note: This epistle is solely on my Media work
    If I don’t acknowledge you here, no that the space is not enough or that you have influenced me in a way other than the media.

    Citizen Agba Jalingo, you make very good recommendations of me at any given opportunity and I know you want the best for me. Just keep calm and see God manifest himself through you in my life. It can only delay.
    God willing, be rest assured that I will not disappoint the trust you have in me. So help me God, Amen.

    Thank you my boss among bosses

  • Elijah Ugani Circulates Pictures Of A Delapidated Primary School Building In His Village, Calls For Help

    Elijah Ugani Circulates Pictures Of A Delapidated Primary School Building In His Village, Calls For Help

    The Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of theĀ TheLumineNews.com, Elijah Ugani has displayed pictures of a dilapidated building in his village.

    According to Elijah, series of letters were written to the SUBEB Chairman, through the Executive Secretary, Education Authority, Obudu Local Government.

    He took to Obudu Stakeholder’s Forum WhatsApp platform and his verified Facebook page to call for help.

    Find full story on his Facebook page:

    “Our education is under serious threat.

    “This is the state of St John’s Primary School Ukwortung, Utugwang North ward in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    “This building was blown off by wind around 2016.
    “Succeding Head Teachers have written to Executive Secretary(ies), Obudu Education Authority to draw the State Government’s attention to the school through SUBEB.

    “Jonathan Abang Ugbal of #crossriverwatch has done some reports including interviewing my Clan Head and one of the Head Teachers within this period.

    “Getting any attention to this school has been an uphill task.
    We can’t continue like this.

    “Interestingly, this is our polling unit for elections.
    “When will my community rise to having sons and daughters that take on our challenges headlong.

    God, I can’t wait.

    W”is that person that God will use to renovate this school?
    My community need help
    The future of our children is shaking!”

    #WeCantContinueLikeThis
    #RecueStJohnPrimarySchoolUkwortung

  • Living A Successful Life

    Living A Successful Life

    BY ELIJAH UGANI

    Success in life is not by shanks, it is a deliberate planning that requires lots of sacrifices anchored on self discipline, self denial and making unrelenting efforts to see to its realization. It is what you consciously plan for.

    Some say they want to be an embodiment of life, some move in the direction of life, moving without bearing and course.

    All round success is not professional or academic, it is not a game of shanks, you have to program a mindset to achieve an all round success.

    Some may be successful in business and fail in marriage, others succeed in marriage and fail in other aspect of life. To have an encompassing all round success, you can attempt to observe the following:

    1. Consciously make up your mind to be a happy man – Happiness is an ingredient to a successful life, do not allow societal issues to make you sad or withdraw your happiness, even when your superior don’t want to see you, do not allow that to take your happiness. Some people’s days of glory is near, you just need to be a little patient.

    2. Be humble in everything you do – Humility is a virtue and should be extolled. No matter the situation, position acquired, the higher you become, the more humble you should be. Do not allow anything to put on you the garment of pride, for pride goes before the fall. Pride will take away from you what ordinarily belongs to you while humility will give you what you don’t deserve.

    3. Be hardworking – some persons are so enticed to their comfort zones, no serious person will look for lazy people, what sustains and make you stand out among your equals is your output. Get new skills routinely, try and venture into innovative areas, try the unusual, that could be your celebration point.

    4. Be honest – The quest for material acquisition and to live like others if not more has resulted in the complete absence of honesty among us. You have to make honesty your watchword, be honest to a fault.

    What heaven has not given you, when you collect it by crook or by force with one hand, you will loose it with another hand.

    Honesty is a long term investment, when they are looking for honest people, even your enemy will recommend you, a honest person is a bold individual. When you alter figures, you will never have peace.

    5. Be holy, making Holiness your watchword – We can strive daily for Holiness, for without it, no one can see the Lord. In our efforts to be holy, God sees our heart and compliment our short comings.

    In our travails and challenges, remember that you can not get testimony without writing a test.

    6. Be heavenly conscious – Periodically, ask yourself, where do I go to after now, when this is done, most of these fightings, killings, man inhumanity to man we mate on ourselves daily will either be reduced or completely eradicated. If we fully rely on God, he will guarantee our success.

    7. Make holidays your hobby – Many people work and pursue money without rest, the stress they undergo will kill them before their time, take some time off, don’t allow your struggle to the detriment of your health. Recreate yourself, the money you are pursuing, you only met it and you will leave it one day. You can’t finish it.
    So, give yourself rest.

    Wishing you a splendid day ahead and an all round success.

    Elijah Ugani is a
    Development/Humanitarian Consultant
    Public/Motivational Speaker
    Writer/Publisher
    Public Analyst/Commentator
    He writes from Calabar.