Bassey Albert: Agent of modernization, transformation and development BY UWEM EFANGA

Mr. Bassey Albert is known to be scrupulously honest, severely conscientious, strictly just and painstakingly accurate. He manifests cleverness and versatility; his personal charm and vivacity all combine to endear him more. In fact there is hardly anyone who can lay claim to equality with him in the rare gift of originality and distinction. He is clear-minded persevering in action, dignified in manners, warm-hearted and true to all who are noble and just.

Perhaps, there is use crying over spilled milk but one would have wished that Mr. Albert had been the one entrusted by fate with the destiny of Akwa Ibom State. In short, he is a man of genius and quality ordained to govern Akwa Ibom State.

Uwak Tackles NIMASA over new Maritime Varsity

The member representing Oron Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Robinson Uwak has risen to tackle what he considers  “fiscal irresponsibility, inefficiency, wastage and grievous abuse of office unbecoming of a public officer and synonymous with the highhanded military regimes of the past” and  the executive fiat of the Director General of NIMASA by voting a staggering 17 Billion Naira to fund the establishment of another Maritime University, instead of upgrading the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, to a full fledge University.

In a letter written to the House Committee on Marine Transport Hon. Uwak said he was “constrained, due to numerous irregularities in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) budget primarily, the provision for a Maritime University at Okerenkoko Delta State while the Maritime Academy of Nigeria is allowed to wallow in financial paucity”.

Accountant General seeks closer ties with NUJ, accurate reportage

The Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State has called for closer working relationship with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council in the management and dissemination of information on the development in the state.

Sir Udo Hillary Isobara said media practitioners are very important in the development wheel of the society and as such journalists should be partners in progress with the government at various levels.

Isobara, who stated this when members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council led by its chairman, Elder Patrick Albert paid him a courtesy call in his office, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo, urged journalists in the state to shun false publication with the intent to ridicule and blackmail public servants and top ranking officials.

The hidden wealth in the forest BY NSISONG AFANGIDEH

A forest is the overgrowth of vegetation comprising of predominantly trees, herbs, and shrubs with little or no grasses. There must be a large portion of land which has not been disvirgin either by building or incessant cutting down of the trees. It predominated by big trees and wild lives. 

The function of the forest to the environment and man is enormous. The forest houses numerous products such as timber and non-timber products. The timber products includes the timber obtain from trees and it can be used for several purposes such as construction, furniture, insulators (electric poles) and so many other things.

The non-timber forest products consists of dyes, resins, ropes, rubber, gums, nuts, vegetables, berries, fruits, seeds, honey, medicines, spices books etc. Most at times some of these non-timbers products require heavy industrial processes before it can become a finished product for human consumption.

Students charged on Political Culture

Students and youths have been charged to participate positively in the electoral process by upholding pro-social values, patriotism and to shun actions inimical to democratic ideas. This call was made during the monthly Akwa Ibom Students Alliance Leadership Camp held recently in uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The event had in attendance students of tertiary institutions across the state, past/present student leaders, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters- Comrade Ini Ememobong, Special Assistant to the Governor on Education- Comrade (Mrs) Christy Edwards-Akpan, and featured non-violent/ advocacy training and guest lecture by Dr. Aniekan Brown of the University of Uyo on the topic ‘Mobilization: A tool for socio political change’.

NMA decries insufficient doctors in the country

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has decried insufficient Doctors to man health care delivery in the country.
Mr Osahon Enabulele, NMA president made the complained in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Eket, saying that the situation has led to huge gap in the health care sector.

He lamented the situation where about a little over 27,000 doctors were servicing over 170 million Nigerians.

“We recognised that in Nigeria today, we have the population well over 170 million Nigerians and we have just about a little over 27, 000 doctors servicing over 170 millions Nigerian.

Akwa Ibom pensioners assured of wages

The AkwaIbom State House of Assembly has been commended for their swift intervention in the non-payment of gratuity and pension arrears owed retires of the Unified Local Government since 2009.

The commendation follows a letter from the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince UwemItaEtuk and signed by Dr. Effiong Abia which was read to the pensioners during a meeting with the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petition.

According to the secretary, Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Obong Cosmos Monday Essien, the quick respond by the House of Assembly in resolving the pension problem was an indication that the house remains the people’s assembly.
ObongEssien commended the sincerity of purpose as exhibited by the Barr Ekong Sampson’s led committee which took it upon itself to investigate and summon relevant government authorities for an explanationwhich has yielded positive result within the shortest period of time.

Abak 2015: Massive endorsement of Godwyn Mense BY LINUS EFFIONG

Writing on Hon. Godwyn Mense excites me so greatly. There are no shortcuts to his profile in national and state ethos. Driven towards achieving something finer than the ordinary by an ardent believe in something, and to which he has always stuck, the fine politician know a thing or two about perseverance and hard work. The last three decades of his life and more to his life and more to his political, physical, spiritual philosophies of life. He has kept his focus. And his results are the testaments of the reality of his kind-an awesome phenom in our socio-political skies. Mense rich and inspiring pedigree, a life of significant milestones, can be encapsulated in a few words - A father to many, a political icon; an exemplary administrator; a youth leader; a technocrat; a worthy democrat and above all, a unrepentant patriot.

As leader of his generation, his exemplary trail in Akwa Ibom State is unparalleled. As a patriot, his voice of reason resounds with the force of substance that’ awe-inspiring in state and national psyche.

Lawmaker wants youths to embrace Agriculture

The member representing Ukanafun State constituency in the House of Assembly, Elder AniekanAkpan has called on youths in the state to embrace agriculture in order to boost food production and reduce the level of unemployment in the state.

Elder Akpan who made the call when he received the Ukanafun Chapter of Youths in Agriculture in his office said it was sad to see the number of youths roam the streets of major cities in search of non-available white collar jobs.

While commending the youths for embracing Agriculture which he described as the mainstay of our economy, Elder Akpan called on them to form themselves into co-operative society so that they can access funds from the banks and government agencies overseeing the development of agriculture not only in AkwaIbom state but Nigeria as a whole.

“Ekpe James, a jinx breaker in Ibesikpo Asutan” * Senate ambition gets boost

A new chapter has been opened in the politics of Ibesikpo Asutan and the event still reverberating, as, the Council Chairman, Hon. Apostle Ekpe James set a record, as he splashed 8 vehicles to supporters, a bus to NULGE and several other gift items on the day, Ibesikpo Asutan stood still for him.

Elated by the unprecedented socio-political feat, the Council secretary, Mr Daniel Ekanem, a.k.a Spinner, described Apsotle Ekpe James as a Jinx Breaker, a deliverer and liberator of Ibesikpo Asutan people with his impact governance, and initiating what no past or current political office holder in the area has ever done.
The council Secretary hailed Ekpe James, emphasising that, generations unborn will always sing his praises as he has finally broken the jinx and evil covenant that, no elected or appointed political leader in the history of the area has ever gone out of his way to show kindness and give back so much to the society. He recalled that last December, the Council Chairman also gave out seven brand new cars to some lucky beneficiaries. He restated his conviction that, if left alone by traducers and disgruntled elements, Hon. James will do much more as he has promised.

Udom Emmanuel and Akwa Ibom Educational Transformation BY JOSEPH OKON

Education is the bedrock of social and economic development in any society or nation. It is only through education that most of the social evils can be eradicated.

According to Lord Brougham, “education makes a people easy to lead but difficult to drive, easy to govern but impossible to enslave”. It was on realization of this great importance of education in the quest for effective and efficient leadership in the state that the state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio on May 29th2007 in his inaugural speech stated this, “my beloved people of Akwa Ibom State, our mandate is a torch which shall illuminate the path of development through educational empowerment, social justice and infrastructural renaissance”.
Few months after his assumption into office, the Governor declared total free and compulsory education in Akwa Ibom state from Primary to Secondary school level, though the former governor, Obong Victor Attah had done something similar previously.

Bassey Albert Akpan: A Clarion call to serve BY AMOS ETUK

Like little seeds of an acorn, the success story of Akwa Ibom State has grown to a harvest as a destination of an economic, political and social hub. 

Governance in Nigeria has taken a reference of excellence from the Uncommon Change which Akwa Ibom State under the administration of Chief Godswill Obot Akpabiio (CON) JP, has charted. 

As Akwa Ibom State prepares for a new chapter in our political lives with few months to the end of this administration, the time has come for the people to make a choice. 

The path to a process of succession, with path to the sustenance of the vision of a quality leader, the path to look inwards irrespective of tribe or zonal inclination has come, the path to the future is here, the path of the new mandate lies with the people, the moment where history will once again propel Akwa Ibom State to excel on its present successful ratings.