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Wike, 14 Others Bag Leadership Awards
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and his Abia State counterpart, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and a community leader in Mile 3 area in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state, Chief Emeka Anyabelem, have received prestigious Christian award of Excellence in Leadership by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Mile 3, Port Harcourt Conference in Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC).
Others, who received the award include, Executive Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Hon Samuel Nwanosike, who received award of Excellence in Grassroots Exemplary Leadership; the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof S. N. Okogbule got Excellence in Academic Leadership award; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rivers State chapter, Apostle Stanley Dimkpa; religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence as well as Alhaji Nasir Awhelebe, Islamic leader in the state, among others.
Speaking at the special recognition Sabbath service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Mile 3, Port Harcourt District, Saturday, the guest preacher and the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, described leadership as an important tool in human and societal development, adding that nobody becomes a leader without the consent and approval from God.
He urged members of the religious community and public at large to always pray and support their leaders for God to bequeath them wisdom and guidance, saying that the present situation the country was facing does not call for worry but a time to draw closer and walk with God.
According to him, “every Christian who reads the Holy Scripture would understand that we are living in prophetic times and era,” adding that depending on Christ was the only solution to overcome the challenges of the moment, which was a prophetic fulfillment.
Ikpeazu, who spoke on the topic, “Anointing for service” took his Bible reading from the book of Luke 4:16, and urged people to be ready and prepared for their breakthrough in life, adding that anointing can only come to pass when people make themselves available.
“Strategies for receiving the anointing, you must fight for yourself, be ready and be at the right place and time, remain focused, diligent and rely on Christ, united and love one another”, he said, stressing that pride, hatred were major hindrances to the development of the society.
The Abia State chief executive thanked the church for the recognition, and pledged to support the church at all times.
Also speaking, the President of the Eastern Nigerian Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Bassey Udoh, said the award was instituted to encourage and recognize those in leadership who have performed well in their respective areas of choice.
Speaking to journalists outside the church auditorium, Chief Emeka Anyabelem, who received award of Excellence Leadership in Landlord and Tenants’ Relationship, thanked the church for the honour, adding that the recognition would spur him to do more in the society.
By: Akujobi Amadi
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.