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‘Four Youth Corpers Died In Rivers’ …As 47 Bag Awards, 17 Sanctioned
The Rivers State Directorate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed the death of four Batch B corps members in the state.
The state co-ordinator of the agency, Mrs Josephine Okuonghae, who said this during the passing out parade of the 2012 Batch B corps members yesterday in Port Harcourt, also said that 17 of the corps members had been sanctioned for various offences, and therefore, were not among those that participated in the ceremony.
Mrs Okuonghae urged the outgoing corps members to realise that the era of sit-tight-for-manna-to-fall from above” was no longer feasible, stressing that it behoved them to put in practice the various entrepreneurial skills imparted to them during the service years.
The NYSC co-ordinator also commended the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuke Amaechi for his assistance to the schemes, especially the on-going renovation of facilities at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Tail Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi represented by the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Joe Poroma, urged the outgoing corps members to let the vision of the founding fathers guide them in their daily activities.
The governor also urged them to take advantage of the various schemes initiated by the Federal Government such as National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Millennium Development Goals and NYSC war against poverty to improve their economic status.
He also said that the ongoing restructuring of the schemes was aimed at rendering it even more pivotal to the realisation of the national transformation effort.
Earlier, the chairman, Governing Board, Mr George Feyii, who is also the Secretary to the State Government, urged them to put the experiences gathered in their various places of primary assignment into national development.
Mr Feyii, who was represented by Mr S. Okari also charged them to see themselves as agents of national development.
Highpoints of the event was the presentation of state honour award to seven corps members, while six bagged the chairman’s award for their outstanding performance.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 47 of the Batch ‘B’ corps members in Rivers, Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Nasarawa states yesterday received states’ honour awards for their outstanding performance.
Our correspondent reports that 13 corps members were conferred with the various awards for their outstanding performance in Rivers, 11 in Kwara, 10 in Oyo, 10 in Osun and 3 in Oyo states.
However, our correspondent reports that four corps members died during the service year in Rivers and two in Kwara State.
Speaking during the passing-out ceremony of the 2012/2013 Batch ‘B’ corps members in Port Harcourt, Governor Chibuike Amaechi lauded the corps members for their contributions to nation building.
Amaechi urged them to get more involved in the task of building a united, peaceful and egalitarian Nigerian society.
In Ilorin, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State expressed dismay that the whereabouts of three corps members were yet to be ascertained and charged other members to be security conscious.
He warned them never to associate with bad company while on national assignment and not to travel without prior permission of the authority.
Ahmed, who was represented by the state Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, also commiserated with the families of the two departed corps members.
Speaking with newsmen on the missing corps members, the state Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs Ngozi Ezekwe, explained that the three corps members left their places of primary assignments without permissions.
She said that the families of the missing corps members had been contacted while security agencies were carrying on investigations to unravel the mystery behind the missing corps members.
In Ibadan, no fewer than 23 out of the 4, 173 outgoing 2012 Batch B NYSC members in Oyo State were to be sanctioned for various offences during the service year.
The Coordinator, NYSC, Oyo State, Mr Olanipekun Alao, said at the passing-out parade that erring members would be sanctioned with extension of service or outright repeat of service year.
He said that some of the corps members performed much better, adding that they had carved a niche for themselves as meritorious young men and women.
“The outgoing corps members have made valuable contributions to the development of the state in Education, Healthcare Delivery, Social Services and Community Development.
“They trained women and the youth in various skills and facilitated rural electrification,’’ Alao said.
He appealed to the state government to accelerate the completion of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp at Iseyin to alleviate the sufferings at the present temporary camp.
Alao also appealed to the state government for an upward review of the state allowances paid to the NYSC members from N4, 000 to an amount that would reflect the market situation.
In his remarks, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State commended the NYSC members for their immense contribution to the socioeconomic development of the state.
Ajimobi, who was represented by Alhaji Akin Olajide, the Secretary to the State Government urged the NYSC members to engage their time and mind in creative ventures
In Ondo State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko restated government’s commitment to supporting NYSC programme in the state.
Mimiko, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Kola Ademujimi, noted that the scheme had impacted positively on some areas, as part of the vision of its founding fathers.
He listed the areas as supervision of electoral processes nationwide, campaign against HIV/AIDS pandemic, propagating government policies such as NEMA, EFCC, ICPC, and the Road Safety.
“The Ondo state government remains committed to the success of the scheme in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, State Coordinator of the NYSC, Isiaka Kuoye, said that corps members played important role in sustaining the educational sector in the state.
Kuoye noted that a total of 19 corps members who were found wanting during the course of service year would have their service extended from 30 days and above
He said that 13 corps members would repeat the service year for absconding.
In Ede (Osun) Governor Rauf Aregesola appreciated the corps members for their community development projects.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Hon. Stephen Kola-Balogun presented the awards to the outstanding corps members at their passing out ceremony in Ede.
The governor said that qualities of patriotism and hard work will continue to be rewarded.
In her speech, the state coordinator of NYSC, Mrs Mojibola Eboagwu said that the scheme was passing out 3, 797 corps members, who had served in different communities in the state over the past one year.
Eboagwu added that in the area of community development, the out-going corps members had embarked on various projects and activities aimed at improving the standard of living of their host communities.
She said that in line with the NYSC Laws, nine corps members and 21 others who absented and absconded from service would be given extension of service or outright repetition of the service.
In Lafia, some of the corps members expressed dismay over non-payment of allowances owed to some of their colleagues.
Some of the outgoing corps members spoke their minds at the Lafia Local Government Secretariat, where they came to receive their NYSC certificates.
He said they were being owed almost 10 months allowances by the state government.
Elisha Felix, a corps member in Lafia said that he wondered why people would work and not receive remuneration for their efforts.
“This non-payment of allowances was experienced by the last batch. It has happened again and I am not really happy about it, I must say it’s so unfair,” Felix said.
Godwin Godswill, another outgoing batch ‘B’ corps said, “I feel bad about it”.
Miss Chinyere Nwosu also supported the action of her colleagues, over that staged a protest in Keffi for the non-payment of allowances last Wednesday.
“I support what our members did in Keffi. I am not happy because the state government supposed to pay them.”
Raheem Olawale also expressed shock over the non-payment of allowances of his colleagues by the state government.
“I have never witnessed what I came across in Lafia. I feel bad about the whole issue,” he said.
However, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Sports and Youth development, Mr Angama Weibey reassured the outgoing corps members that all outstanding allowances would be paid “very soon’’.
The commissioner added that Governor Umaru Al-Makura had ordered that all allowances for Batch B be paid promptly.
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (left), with President, Nigeria BarAssociation, Mr Okey Wali (SAN), at the National Executive Council meeting of the association in Yenagoa, yesterday.
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.