• 

• 

• 

• 

Motivation is the catalyzing ingredient for every successful venture. Without it, chances to succeed becomes frail. Motivation usually comes in two ways – in words and in kind. For some young entrepreneurs in Akwa Ibom state, it has been coming in kind, more specifically, in cash. All thanks to the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (RHAB-YESS), an initiative of The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Aniekan Bassey. The Scheme is aimed at discovering, mentoring and supporting young entrepreneurs to financial greatness and sustainability.

The scheme, which is sync with Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Enterprise Development Drive, has supported 53 Small and Medium Businesses, trained over 28 Artisans and given 383 special supports in the last 18 months of its existence. The Special Support include free medical services, scholarships, grants to rural market women, installation of electricity transformers, provision of borehole water, empowerments, etc.

Every month, three beneficiaries are selected through a rigorous process. Contestants are expected to make five minutes video documentaries of their businesses, post same on YouTube, fill the online form, add the YouTube link and submit. Nine best videos would be selected from the pool and subsequently placed on RHAB-YESS Facebook page for final selection of the Best-Three. The final selection would then be based on the number of comments garnered from viewers.

On Tuesday 13 July, 2021, six young entrepreneurs, who are beneficiaries of the 17th and 18th editions of the programme, received their cash prizes in the order of Winners, First and Second Runner ups.

The winners included Abigail Nse Okon (N250,000), a Cobbler from Nsit Ubium LGA; Aniekan Effiong (N250,000), an auto-mechanic from Uruan LGA and Eno Akpan Akpah (N100,000), a Hairstylist from Nsit Ubium LGA.

• 

Others were Mfon Bassey ($500), an E-commerce Expert from Uruan LGA, Ifreke Godsaves Okon (N150,000), a Fashion Designer from Nsit Ibom LGA and Emmanuel Atakpa (N100,000), a Sound/Video Editor from Mkpat Enin LGA.

• 

In addition, six final year students of the University of Uyo, who on RHAB-YESS’ fill scholarship, received cash support for their final year projects.

Rt. Hon. Bassey, while speaking at the event, admonished the beneficiaries to ensure that they use the money for the purpose for which it was given.

“It is not a time to spend the money on frivolous things that will add nothing to your growth. This cash, however meagre it is, can take you to your next level in life, if properly used.

“Today in Akwa Ibom State, everybody wants to be a politician. Everybody wants to run after politicians or be a Personal Assistant or a Supervisor, forgetting that the economy of this country is run by entrepreneurs. Everybody cannot be politicians, that is why you are given this grant,” he said.

The Speaker, who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Member representing Uyo State Constituency, Hon. Anietie Eka, further charged the beneficiaries to cultivate the attitude of telling the good deeds of public office holders, which he said would boost the confidence of the politician and encourage them to do more for others.

Earlier in an opening remark, the RHAB-YESS Manager and Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media and Communications, Mr. Darlington Udobong, who thanked the Speaker for the initiative, said being an indigene of Akwa Ibom State is the only eligibility to participate in the scheme.

“The scheme is not restricted only to indigenes of Uruan Local Government Area where the Speaker hails from, but open to all Akwa Ibom people,” he explained.

In an interaction with this reporter, Eno Akpan Akpah, one of the beneficiaries who is a hairstylist, said that she would use the money to buy a Power Generating set and a Dryer to further expand her business. She thanked the Speaker for the initiative.

Also speaking, another beneficiary, Emmanuel Atakpa, a Sound/Video Editor, said that with the money, he would now be able to buy a laptop and other gadgets that would help his business grow.

The Speaker, who is renowned for the manufacturing and production of goods and services with hundreds of persons in his employ, became an entrepreneur at the age of 17. It is not surprising that a man of his calibre is championing a cause like this. In different fora, Hon. Bassey has expressed hope that, through this initiative, Akwa Ibom State will become the Singapore of Nigeria. Only time will tell.

• 

• 

… We are adopting permanent solution towards eliminating potholes In Aks – Ntuk Udeh

Itoro Etti

The Chairman Akwa Ibom State Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency, Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh , PhD, tuesday, July 13, inspected some roads that were recently rehabilitated by the Agency in Uyo metropolis.

The roads inspected were: the service lane of Edet Akpan (4 Lane) Avenue by PHEDC Office, Baptist Road by Ventola Hotel as well as Ikpa Road Junction and a section of Udo Ette street.

The AKROIMA boss who was accompanied by a team of experts from the Agency, expressed delight at the timely completion of the roads, saying that the joy expressed by road users are a testaments to the People’s satisfaction for a job well done.

Ntuk Udeh appreciated the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel for always giving priority to the Peoples need.

At Edet Akpan Avenue, the former transport commissioner stated that the major reason for the failed portion of the road was the none adoption of proper road construction model during construction, saying that the construction firm’s decision not to used stonebase resulted in having potholes at every strategic points along the road. He further said that with the international best practice approach adopted by the agency, the problem of pot hole will be a thing of the past.

Meanwhile, residents of Ikpa Road and a section of Udoette Road have expressed delight over Government’s intervention on the roads.
“I want to thank the Governor for making the basic and most needed things available for the people.
This road was impassable until the intervention by the Governor through AKROIMA,” Hon. Augustine Ebong, a resident in the area said.
A trader, Madam Grace David Edet, said that with the completion of the road (Udoette), heavy vehicular traffic around the junction has stopped, she further thanked AKROIMA for the intervention.
Another trader, Madam Esther Joseph Offiong showered praises and prayer for the Governor, praying God to bless the Governor and members of his team.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Agency, Prince Ntuk Udeh has sued for patience, assuring members of the public of the agency’s commitment towards the actualization of the completion agenda of State Governor.

• 

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has celebrated Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, describing him as a committed and devoted leader.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s goodwill message to the Governor on his 55th birthday, was contained in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu.

“The President is mindful of Governor Emmanuel’s devotion to serving his people and prays God Almighty to sustain him with good health and happiness to celebrate more successes in his administration.”

President Buhari urged Governor Emmanuel not to relent in using his privileged position as an elected public officer holder to move Nigeria forward.

Governor Emmanuel, according to the country’s President, has had successful careers as a banker and chartered accountant before joining politics.

• 

• 

Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (OBA) today, Tuesday, July 13, 2021 submitted a petition to the Senate over unlawful stoppage of work, demotion in rank of his constituent, Inspector Emmanuel Nsoyo Offong by the Nigeria Police

In the said petition, Senator Albert stated: “I write to forward a petition by Insp. Emmanuel Nsoyo Offong who is my constituent,
against the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over unlawful stoppage of work, demotion in rank
and withholding of his salaries since April 2014 till date”.

According to the petition, the Petitioner notes that he has been wrongfully denied his
emoluments/entitlements especially since he is not serving any disciplinary action and
the NPF has not dismissed him from service. He has not sought any judicial remedy as
he believes the Senate’s intervention will bring about justice.

• 

AKSG DISTRIBUTES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, CHEMICALS, ORS, TO ALL TECHNICAL COLLEGES IN THE STATE

Akwa Ibom State Government has moved to boost technical education with the distribution of instructional materials to all the nine Technical Colleges in the state.

The distribution exercise was carried out earlier today, Tuesday July 13, 2021 in the Conferenceroom of the State Technical Schools Board at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat complex, Uyo.

Performing the distribution exercise on behalf of the State Government, the Chairman of the State Technical Schools Board, Hon. Godwin Udom expressed appreciation to Governor Udom Emmanuel for undertaking the distribution of instructional materials, Chemicals and textbooks to the colleges, geared at transforming the State Technical education system for efficiency and high academic performance.

“We are glad that, our promise keeping Governor has once again demonstrated his desire to transform technical colleges into a world class citadel of learning by providing these materials for our students to use. These will enhance learning and academic performance of our students. The Governor is poised to making sure that technical education becomes attractive and sort after”, the Chairman stated.

While handing-over the materials to the Principal Generals of the colleges, Hon. Udom urged them to be accountable in managing the materials for effective and maximum productivity.
“As Gate keepers and moulders of the future of our children, I want to urge you all to take care of these items and ensure that they are effectively utilized”, he emphasized.

Receiving the items, the Principal General of Government Technical College Abak, Elder Friday Udoka who spoke on behalf of all the other Principal Generals, thanked the Board for always responding positively to the demands of the colleges and poured encomium on the State Governor for always showing concern in Technical Education in the state.

Items presented include: Textbooks, Chemicals, Resistors, glass blocks,glass prism, ammonia, optical pins, Hydrogen peroxide, Ethanol, fehling solutions, iron etc.

The exercise was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr. Otuekong Ukutt and all the Board Members.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

PUBLIC NOTICE

• 

TAKE NOTICE that the Ikot Oku Ikono flyover and it’s environs will be closed to human and vehicular traffic from 6am Wednesday, July 14, 2021 till 3pm Friday, July 16, 2021.

This closure which is approved by HE the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel is to allow unfettered access to the contractor to adequately prepare the site for inauguration.

The general public is advised to take alternative routes and adhere strictly to this notice, as security agencies have been detailed to enforce this order.

Inconveniences arising from this action are sincerely regretted.

Signed:

Comrade Ini Ememobong
Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy
13072021

• 

• 

• 

As part of it’s ongoing efforts, to sanitise the city of Lagos against driving off one way, enforcement of the ban of motorcycle on highway, the Lagos State Taskforce Team has impounded some Okada in the State for driving against traffic.

On Monday, the Strike Squad of the Lagos State Taskforce carried out a massive raid on motorcycle (okada) riders at Second rainbow and Toyota Bus Stop along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

During the raid, which lasted for some hours, a total of 105 motorcycles were impounded. Prior to Monday’s raid, a total of 201 motorcycles were impounded last week.

• 

• 

Twenty–one–year–old Chidinmma Ojukwu, the  300 level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, who was arrested in connection with the murder of  Chief Executive Officer of Super Television, Michael  Usifo Ataga, at a Short let apartment in the Lekki area of Lagos, last month, has denied culpability in the murder saga.

Her denial which contradicts her earlier admittance to the murder of the father of two was revealed in a video that went viral yesterday.

 Chidinmma in the latest interview which Vanguard gathered was conducted after she was paraded before newsmen and a standing order was given not to allow any journalist speak with her at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Yaba,   stated that she had gone to get food and some drugs on that fateful day, only to meet  Usifo in the pool of his blood, dead,  on arrival.

In the interview conducted by an independent broadcaster, Chidinma, explained, “ As  I was leaving the apartment, he stood up to lock the door. When I came back,  I knocked but there was no response. I opened the door, as it wasn’t locked.

The duvet was on the floor and pillows. The couch was facing the door and the bed was stained with blood and the floor where he was. Music was on, the TV was on. The room was in disarray like someone broke in.

“The duvet was on the floor and pillows. The couch was facing the door and the bed was stained with blood and the floor where he was. Music was on, the TV was on. The room was in disarray like someone broke in.

“Then   I saw him on the floor,  I didn’t know what to do. I took my things.  I was afraid.  I didn’t know if I raised alarm I would be arrested because we were the only people in the room.

“ As  I was packing my things to leave, I noticed that my cloth was stained. I changed into another. I took the bag that contained his ID card, documents and bank statement.

“ I met my bag on the floor and then the ‘stuff’ he was with was on the TV set,  that was where the stuff I took was on. I just packed them and put them into the nylon and left.

“ I took his phone and the following week,  I  went out to withdraw some money from the ATM I was with. I needed N200,000. Before that day, he already told me he was going to give me the money that I requested for and when I came out, I was arrested and they were saying I made away with N5 million, there were no N5 million in the account.

“I never had anything to do with his death. I didn’t involve anybody. I don’t know who must have come into the apartment. Definitely, somebody did but I don’t who the person is. I don’t know what happened when I left to buy food”.

Earlier in her interview with journalists, while she was paraded by the  Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command,  CP Hakeem Odumosu, the undergraduate said she committed the crime under the influence of roofies ( the street name for Rohypnol).  She revealed that late Usifo took three wraps while she took one,  adding that she reached out for a knife which she used to stab him, in her bit to free herself from his grip, during the ensuing altercation over forceful sex.

But in the latest interview, she said she decided to accept culpability because no one believed the true story.

“I believe that somebody knew where we were and waited till I left before they could enter. When I  confronted the security man, he said nobody entered the apartment, that it was just me.

“Knowing  I  was wrong by withdrawing money from his account and not informing the Police,  I just took the blame on myself since no one believed”, she said.

Delayed autopsy report

Meanwhile, the Ataga family has raised concern over the delay in the release of the autopsy report on its late son, Usifo.

Family sources who spoke with our correspondent said the Police had been promising to release the autopsy. But they wondered how soon that would be.

However, report reaching the news desk states that the cause of the delay was the inability of the Police to carry out a major aspect of the test known as Toxicology, in Nigeria. The test was gathered, I needed it because of Chidinma’s claim that the deceased took some drugs.

Toxicology screening is a test that determines the approximate amount and type of legal or illegal drugs taken. The test also evaluates drug intoxication or overdose.

•