Niger Delta
FG Empowers 415 Women, Youths In N’Delta
The Federal Government has empowered 415 youths and women in Niger Delta states in agriculture, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and entrepreneurship.
Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Umana Umana, made the disclosure at the graduation ceremony of the trainees of an empowerment programme in Uyo, weekend.
Umana, who was represented by Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry, Mr Alfred Alber, said the initiative was one of the many gestures by the Federal Government.
He said the training was aimed at diversifying the economy, reorienting values and generating employment for women, youths and other vulnerable groups in the Niger Delta region.
The minister also said the training, expected to prepare the participants for the tasks ahead, lasted for five days and was held in Uyo, the State Capital.
Umana also disclosed that each participant would collect the sum of N500,000, saying that the cash would be credited directly into the bank account details provided by the participants by the training consultant.
“The ministry is aware that training without support at the terminal point is an effort in futility.
“Hence, as part of the programme, an empowerment package has been put together by way of start-up capital,” Umana stated.
He further said the package was meant for the participants to commence micro or small enterprises on what they had been taught at the training.
He said the empowerment initiative was a continuous exercise and would get better with time.
Umana commended the training consultants for the mature way the trainees were handled and the choice of the venue.
The minister noted that the programme was put together to impact theoretical and practical knowledge, provide skills in ICT and ensure self-reliance and ability to engage others.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo, urged the participants to put in their best in whatever they had learned from the consultants in order to be self-reliant.
He said the institution’s management had given scholarship to 10 participants in the programme in the areas of fashion, designing, photography, make-over and ICT.
The Vice-Chancellor urged the participants to use the money given to them to better their lives.
Responding, one of the beneficiaries, Mr Eyo Essien, from Cross River State, commended the ministry for the initiative.
He pledged to put into use all the knowledge acquired from the training.
Another beneficiary, Mr Chris Oluchi, from Imo, said the initiative would help turn the otherwise unemployed youths to employers of labour, in line with the vision of the Federal Government.
He urged fellow participants to invest the money given to them in enterprises that would engage other youths in the society.
Highlights of the event were presentation of certificates to the beneficiaries of the programme.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.