Business
Mobil Empowers 40 Women In Onne
A total of 40 women from Onne in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have been given starter Packs to commence business on their chosen fields of trade at the and of a four-week intensive skills acquisition training sponsored by oil giant, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN).
The women who were drawn from the four clans of Onne were trained in agro and agro-processing enterprises such as egg production, Snail farming, honey production, Yam, wheat, plantain flour production and fish farming techniques.
Handing over the starter-packs at a brief ceremony at Onne, Wednesday, an Executive Director with Mobil Producing Nigeria, Mrs Gloria Essien-Danner said the programe was aimed at equipping Onne women with economic skills that will make them self employed and employers of labour in years to come.
The Executive Director revealed that the programe was the direct off-shoot of a baseline study for an integrated and sustainable Socio-Economic Rural Development Plan for Onne, adding that the report of that study showed that “about one-third of the house holds are fully managed by women and that women do take care of the provision of basic needs of the household, hence, the need for economic training.”
She reiterated the commitment of mobil producing Nigeria to adding values to its host communities by building capacity of the indigeneous population adding that the company believes that the training of women translate to training a nation.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council who was represented by Hon. Okaka Telewin, Councillor Ward 7, thanked MPN for the gesture and challenged other companies doing business in the area to borrow a leaf from MPN with regard to embarking on programmes and projects that directly impacts the life of the people positively.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the president of Onne Women Development Foundatin, Mrs Obarijima Padmoore Wawah, thanked MPN for facilitating the programe and disclosed that apart from offering the beneficiaries Micro enterprise skills, it has also challenged and awakened in them the quest to succeed.
“We strongly believe that all of us that have benefited from this programe will be shining examples and inspiration to other women in Onne,” Mrs Wawah said.
The women foundation president recalled that in 2010, MPN Sponsored the training of 48 women in tailoring, tie and dye, catering and computer appreciation and gave the beneficiaries starter packs to commerce business activities in addition to the provision of mosquitoes treated nets to households in Onne.
“It is evident that of the more than 150 companies operating within our community, MPN is the closest to Onne People, especially the women,” she declared.
Items handed over to the beneficiaries included wooden battery cages, feeding and drinking troughs, electrical appliances, day-old broilers and pullets as well as feeds for those trained in poultry production. Those trained in snail farming got concrete pens with wire meash cover, feeder, water cans, breeders stock snail and feeds, while graduates in plantain, wheat, yam flour production had drying materials and equipment, sealing machines plastic sachets, Oven and bunches of plantain.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Port Manager of Onne Port, Alhaji AA. Goje and the paramount ruler of Onne, HRM, J.D. Osaronn and his council of chiefs.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.