The problems with our Schools of Nursing, by Health Commissioner

Dr. EmemAbasi Bassey is the state commissioner for Health, he hails from Eket and his professionalism can never be in doubt. Whether he is able to translate professionalism into administration is one thing that many wait to see ever since he was appointed into the state Executive council to superintend over the affairs of Health in the state. He spoke to JOSEPH OKON in his office concerning the state of Affairs of the Schools of Nursing and the accreditation wahala in Akwa Ibom. Excerpts  

We actually have nine Nursing Schools, which are four
    Schools of Nursing, four Schools of Midwifery and a School of Psychiatric Nursing. Many of them were owned and operated by the missionaries long before the government took over and some of them were established because of the need for it. Nursing profession is very dynamic. Over the years, it has been improvised with regulatory bodies enforcing standards and correcting wrongs like the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

When we talk about accreditation today which is usually given for a number of years, they will come back and re-accredit you. It is true that when I took over, we had some problems with our schools of nursing, all of them, but I want to believe that to a long extent we have been able to get provincial reaccreditation for two of them. One school of nursing which is the central school of nursing at Ikot Ekpene which we have since admitted the last year batch and also the school of midwifery at Oron. The rest of them I will say they are at various stages of reaccreditation. When you talk about reaccreditation, it is a very expensive business, and I want to use this opportunity to commend the Governor Chief Godswill Akpabio because if every administration was doing what he has done, we would not have been in this position that we find ourselves. The government is now in the process of rebuilding those schools which was totally unacceptable.

Education

The need for education is on the increase and the burden to provide quality education is getting heavier for the government to bear thereby, leaving room for private and institutional investors. The following are ways you can tap into the potential opportunity.

· Help parents source for schools locally and abroad
· Educational tours for students in schools, colleges and universities
· Start  a school: Daycare, Nursery, Primary and Secondary. Your school should be based on the culture of hardwork, excellence, sound morals, spiritual and social values, the management of the school should ensure that only the most, suitable and qualified teaching and non-teaching staff are well equipped for global demand in the education sector are employed.

The good thing about school is that, the child that will be born next year will still go to school whether or not there is hope for employment; what is sure is that he/she will go to school.
A lot of institutional and private investors have gone into building quality schools and providing quality education but the potential has not been reached. With a population over 150 million Nigerians, where 65% are below 40%; there’s still untapped potential in this niche. Crèche, daycare, primary, secondary and tertiary education.

The name could be Jepinak International Schools. Have a school logo, motto, mission and vision statements clearly defined and written down. Your goals of setting up a school should include building academic competence, Christian character and self confidence. Your core values and guiding principles should include: faith in God, love, excellence, diligence, academic excellence, self ,confidence integrity etc.
To own a school, besides having the qualifications, you must have a business plan or better called feasibility study, of what you plan to implement. This will guide each stage of the implement schedule. The absent of it, the vision may be derailed.

How to start
Buy a land at a conducive environment and build one block with five classrooms and offices apartment. You can rent a space. Look for qualified teachers and schedule for screening interview. For interview, call university lecturers to help you interview them. Advertize the school on various media platforms. Register with government through the State Ministry of Education. Get student desks, chairs, boards, school bus and other facilities.
Some of your facilities should include:
-    Science laboratories
-    Computer/ICT facilities
-    Library
-    Electric supply
-    Hostels
-    Food
-    Clinic
-    Sports
To be continued in our next edition.
Akanimo Inim is an Author, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, director of Jepinak Group of Companies and Founder/Int’l President of Power Household Destiny Int’l (PHDI).

Living a good life

It was in a public function that, the moderator asked an interesting question, “What does it entails for someone to live a good life?” The interesting thing about the question is the kind of answers people gave. Although, there were diverse opinions and views, one thing was certain; everyone pointed at something which they hope to have or do tangibly or intangibly with the hope if they could have or do it, the thing will accord them good life. From the answers, some mention having nice apartment, some want pleasure cars, some money, some demanded for good health, some associated living a good life to eating sumptuous meals or drinking expensive wins, some wearing gorgeous dresses with expensive apparels or receiving political appointments as a means or ways to live a good life.

The Desire of the Mind: One thing is obvious; it is the desire of everyone to live a life of comfort, happiness and pleasure. People want to experience peace of mind, ecstasy, joy and satisfaction. The urge to feel and experience the goodness of life is an indelible drive in the minds of every living soul; it is the reason people fiddle with their phones to chat or turn to their television or radio set to watch movies or listen to music or some engages in conversations with people for the purpose of relieving their minds from boredoms or worries. People flips over pages of papers or change television channels to catch up with one programme so as to take their minds away from unpleasant issues. The entire quest is to refill the minds with some senses of excitements. Some people engage in drinking, while others hooked-up in smoking; some takes hard drugs in order to forget most of the depressing issues and challenges which life brought before them. Yet the succor for pleasure which their action crave for do not last, it fickle away as the chatting moment or the effect of alcohol or drugs subsided. The feelings of excitements which they hope for deludes them because it was short lived and the cycle continues. 

A’Ibom begins Biometric Verification exercise for pensioners

In furtherance of its commitment towards sanitizing the payroll system, Akwa Ibom State Government has extended the Biometric Capturing system to Pensioners who retired from public service in the state.

The verification exercise which is structured in phases and billed to hold at the sub-treasuries in the 31  LGAs in the state  has kicked off with Local Governments that make up Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

In his reaction, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey  Albert explained that  state Government is sensitive to the welfare of retired Public servants in view of their contributions to the development of the state while in active service, which informed the adoption of biometric process to address some of the challenges regarding payment of pensions and gratuities.

Albert said it was expedient to capture and update all the necessary information of respective pensioners to ensure transparency, curb the rigor in collection of their monthly allowances, and stamp out ghost pensioners that has also characterized the system.

Ikot Ekpene Sheraton Hotel to be ready 2015 * Useh advocates for employment of indigenes

 

Hon. Gloria I. Useh

The Chairman, Ikot Ekpene LGC, Obonganwan Gloria I. Useh has made a case for the employment of indigenes of the area in the construction of the Ikot Ekpene Sheraton Hotel. Useh made this appeal while playing host to the management of RENAISSANCE CONSTRUCTION company in her office last weekend. 

The Council boss said Ikot Ekpene is blessed with many skilled craftsmen and other professionals needed in the construction of the multi million naira edifice.The Council boss assured the company of security, cooperation and the hospitality of the people of the ancient city while the project lasts. Obonganwan Useh used the opportunity to appreciate the State Governor for re-writing the history of the premier Local Government administration in British colonized West Africa through the reconstruction of urban roads, the City Centre plaza,the 4 Star Hotel and others executed under the Inter ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee. 

Mad man kills 2, injures one person in Eket

A suspected mad man Monday killed two persons and injured one person at Afaha Ukwa Junction in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Our correspondent who visited the scene reports that the mad man drags an elderly man off the motorcyclist and smashes his head with a block to the ground.

Two persons were rushed to the hospital and later one died along the line after a fight with the mad man.

Mr. Udeme Okon, an eye witness told newsmen that the incident generated tension in the area, slowed down activities and traumatized motorists.

FOC wants Ikot Abasi community to benefits from Health facilities

Rear Admiral Obiora Medani, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command wants Ikot Abasi Community to benefits from the NNS Jubilee Sick Bay in the area.

Medani stated this on Wednesday during familiarization tour to NNS Jubilee Naval Base in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

He said that Ikot Abasi community deserves health facilities in the Nigerian Navy Base as the host community.

“The Navy is Nigerian Navy, it belongs to the Nigerian people, without the Nigerian People, the Nigerian Navy will not have any meaning, we will be like fish out of water .
“The Ikot Abasi Community that has hosted us deserves whatever we can do for them and our limited health facilities will help to improve the community health,’’ he said.

Umanah bags overall best Commissioner for Information in Nigeria

L-R Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Atim Antai, Commissioner for Information & Communications, Hon. Aniekan Umanah and Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Akan Okon during an executive council

 

 

 

The Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has bagged the Award of “The Overall Best Commissioner for Information in Nigeria.”

The Award was presented to the State Information Commissioner, Mr. Umanah, recently in his office by the Grassroots Leadership Centre, Abuja, as part of the Centre’s 24th Annual Edition of National Award of Excellence in Leadership.

Responding after receiving the Award, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, said he was humbled that his modest efforts at managing the Information machinery of Government has been acknowledged by the Centre and dedicated the Award to God, the source of his inspiration and to Governor Godswill Akpabio for giving him the opportunity to serve, without which, he would not have been noticed for the award.

 Represented at the occasion by the Director of Information, Pastor Mike Etuk, the Information Boss, thanked the organizers of the event for extolling excellence and accountability in service reiterating that, the gesture will spur him and other Awardees to do even more in their various sectors to the glory of God and for humanity.

Lawmaker donates administrative block, transformer, 10 solar lights to Police

Senator Helen Esuene flanked by Mr Efiok Akpan (l) and Mr. Posi Ajuwa who represented the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Umar Gwadabe during the commissioning of an administrative block built for the Eket Police Command facilitated by Mrs. Esuene

Senator representing Eket Senatorial District in the red chamber of the national Assembly, Mrs Helen Esuene has donated an administrative block, transformer and 10 solar lights to Divisional Police Headquarter, Eket.
Esuene made the donation recently in Eket during the inauguration of the first phase of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) projects as facilitated by her in the area.

She said security was every body’s business and explained that security is the crux of sustainable development in the country.

Esuene said that the project would assist in the achievement of development goals and also to ensure environmental sustainability of Millennium Development Goals in the country.
According to her, the office of the Presidency gives assistance to put in place projects that will help in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Council Chairmen may be sacked after Town Hall meetings

 

Senator Helen Esuene flanked by Mr Efiok Akpan (l) and Mr. Posi Ajuwa who represented the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Umar Gwadabe during the commissioning of an administrative block built for the Eket Police Command facilitated by Mrs. Esuene

* Some Council helmsmen showing signs of disloyalty

Attempts by the state Governor Godswill Akpabio to get a firm grip of the grassroots ahead of the PDP nomination billed for this year is gathering steam with the recent move to dissolve the Local Government Councils as soon as the town hall meetings are concluded.

The reason behind the decision to sack all council Chairmen and their councilors and supervisors is said to be a response to an alleged disloyalty to the SSG Udom Emmanuel displayed by some council Chairmen who despite the body language of the Governor Godswill Akpabio in favour of Udom Emmanuel as his successor are still romancing with the former SSG Umana Umana while some have been undermining the SSG and his authorities.

It was gathered that the SSG had noticed great signs of disloyalty amongst council Chairmen and had despite the plea from the Governor to the council Chairmen that he had made a U-turn on Umana Umana had failed to queue behind Udom Emmanuel. Most of the council Chairmen are said to have opined that Udom Emmanuel is a stranger to the politics of the land and that they will not be able to support him to go anywhere.

Issa Hayatou’s semi final mandate

 

“We continue with massive strides on all fronts of football development and, going into the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I do not see why Africa cannot have one or two of our representatives reach the semi finals or indeed even the final of the World Cup during my time as President”. 

The above quotes were made last week by the President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou who has nudged African teams heading to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to strive to reach the last four.
For the records, no African team has ever gone beyond the quarter finals of the global football extravaganza event as Hayatou believes a last four berth at the June 12 – July 13 event by any of Africa’s flag bearers in Brazil would be an icing on the cake. 

Africa’s  first representation of the World Cup was in 1934 in Italy where Egypt represented the continent, since then only three teams, Cameroun, Ghana and Senegal have ever reached the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup.
At Brazil 2014, Africa’s five representatives would be the Desert Foxes of Algeria, Cameroun’s Indomitable Lions, The Elephants of Cote’d’Ivoire, Ghana’s Black Stars and Nigeria’s Super Eagles.