Of selective morality and the clamour for a better Nigeria BY BORONO BASSEY

Although we were classmates since the beginning of the school year, I first took active notice of Dennis one fateful morning during the daily devotion in school. Dennis was asked to kneel down by some senior students as punishment for the double-barreled offence of not maintaining the required posture (standing attention) during rendition of the National Anthem and recitation of the National pledge and for failing to join other students in the rendition.

Minutes later, Dennis punishment was increased from just asking him to kneel down to giving him uncountable strokes of the cane, yet with each stroke, Dennis became even more resolute against yielding to the directive of the three senior students who had ordered him to sing and recite the National Anthem and pledge. He was later left alone when one of the teachers approached and told the students that he will take the matter up from there.  In a bid to bring an end the curiosity that had gotten the better part of me, I decided to inquire from Dennis what informed his “questionable” stance of refusing to go with the flow in the demonstration of patriotism, as it were, to our fatherland through the rendition and recitation of the National anthem and the pledge.  

Scoring on the MDGs, One Family at a Time BY KOKO UDONQUAK

Through its advocacy campaigns and interventions across Akwa Ibom State since 2007, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI) has emphasized the role of the family in sustainable development. Koko udonquak looks at how FLEI’s focus on the family is contributing to the state’s efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs ).

Twelve years ago, world leaders at the United Nations Millennium Summit committed themselves to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight ambitious goals for combating major problems such as hunger, disease, illiteracy, and gender discrimination. More than 180 nations, including Nigeria, agreed to pursue the goals and meet specific targets in fifteen years. Since then, the MDGs have become something of a rallying cry for development efforts at all levels, from the local to the global.

Akwa Ibom State has been no exception. The current administration has left an undeniable trail of social infrastructure and human capital investments everywhere in the state; leaving development pundits in little or no doubt on the state’s potential to meet the MDGs within the given timeframe.

Fear of road users along Calabar-Itu Highway BY JOY BASSEY

The hue and cry about the deplorable state of the Calabar-Itu road is not a mere fluke. First time visitors on the road to the city of Calabar will attest to the fact that travelling to Cross River State could be a night mare and if urgent steps are not taken to revive its only access road, Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, known for its tourism potential might soon be cut off from the rest of Nigeria.

A few weeks ago, road users spent two days travelling from Uyo to Calabar, a distance of about 100km, because of a frail portion of the road which was blocked by a fallen truck. Commuters who have had cause to experience the recent traffic jam that left people stranded for days along the Calabar-Uyo highway have bitter tales to tell.

A federal civil servant who came in from Calabar for a seminar in Uyo, Mrs. Blossom Alao, said the state of the road could discourage someone from travelling to Uyo from Calabar or vice versa.

UNIUYO FEMALE HOSTEL: The need for improved hygiene and Security BY GLORY ODOEMELAN

The University of Uyo is located along Ikpa road with campuses within the Main and Annex locations. The third campus of the school is situated in Nwaniba, where the Permanent Site is located.

Each campus has a number of hostels provided to give shelter, accommodation and rest to students after a day’s exhausting activities. It provides a good option for both campus dwellers and outsiders by reason of its closeness to the Lecture Venues.

It is noteworthy that the female hostels within the school are more than the male hostels. The only male hostel for the two campuses, “M2” was built two years ago and can comfortably accommodate the male students. The other two, which are situated at Udi and Udo streets, are also accommodative but distant from the school.

Between daring and dreaming, can Etienam scale the hurdle? BY OTOBONG SAMPSON

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Every great development was the outcome of a dream. These three words, “Yes I (We) Can”, is a tonic that performs magic. It is one of the greatest and effective three word-sentence that humanity has ever known. It is correlative to dreaming. Many years ago, Martin Luther King Jr., had a dream and most of us are familiar with his stirring “I have a dream” words, which became the name for the ten-minute speech made on August 28, 1963, calling for racial equality and an end to discrimination in America.

Probably, the reason that these words still resonate loudly many years after it was first spoken is because we all have dreams – dreams for our own lives, dreams for our children, dreams for our community, dreams for the larger society, and dreams for the future – all kinds of dreams. Some of the dreams we secretly hold we may reason away and set aside as unrealistic notions. But what if our dreams could come true? The world, certainly, will be a better place.

OBA: As the king ascends the throne BY AMOS ETUK

“So Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one”. Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one”. Then Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these”. And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep”

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here! So he sent and brought him in. and the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one! Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward”, (1 Samuel 16:8-13).

As Kumuyi storms Akwa Ibom BY SAVIOUR EKPE

Akwa Ibom State in recent times is blessed with leaders with the fear of God in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities to the satisfaction of man, the glory of God and the delight of on lookers.
Judging particularly from the present administration, the state has witnessed what is now generally described as uncommon transformation.

Uncommon because from the creation of the then South Eastern States to the former Cross River State, the people of this part of the world have not witnessed the unprecedented development as experienced today not to talk of uncommon amenities and infrastructures that are sited in the state such as the building of about four (4) flyovers within three (3) years while others are springing up as days go by.

Today, roads in the state are wearing new looks as old roads were rehabilitated, new ones constructed including federal roads which were hitherto seen as the sole responsibility of the federal government.

FRSC boss decries lack of tools

The Federal Road Safety Corps RS6.31 Eket Commandant, Engr. Ramalan M. Yerima has decried the non availability of Towing Trucks and other working tools in his command, describing the situation as very retrogressive.

The Commandant bared his mind while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Eket during the hosting of 2014 Special Marshal Day with over 50 special marshals in attendance. 

Yerima said “our activities here is hampered by lack of essential working tools which includes Towing trucks, patrol vehicles and communication equipments, about four units are made to use just a few patrol vehicles which is unacceptable”.

Engineers honour Senator Helen Esuene

In recognition of her contribution to the development of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Eket Branch on Monday in Eket paid a courtesy visit to Senator Helen Esuene and honoured her with encomiums.

The team of Engineers led by Engr. Godwin Umoh, Vice Chairman said the visit was part of a programme of events to mark the 2014 Engineering Week in Akwa Ibom State.
“As a leading player in the development of Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Eket Branch, felt it very necessary to visit and intimate you of our 2014 Engineering Week taking place here in Eket”, Engr. Umoh told the Senator.

He commended the distinguished Senator for her numerous achievement towards the development of the State, most especially, the provision of a befitting office Block for the Nigerian Police in Eket, adding that Senator Helen Esuene qualifies and deserve to administer the State as a Governor come 2015.

Core community contractors slam Mobil over nonchalant attitude

 

* Issues 14 days ultimatum

Mobil core community contractors of Ibeno, Ekek, Onna and Esit- Eket under the aegis of “Joint Core Contractor Association” are angry with the management of Mobil producing Nigeria (MPN) over selective and disdain award of contracts to its members.

The forum in a letter addressed to the manager, Field Operation Procurement of Mobil and signed by Chief Friday Ebong, joint chairman and Pastor Godwin  Eleazar, joint Assistant secretary said for the past years the oil company has not given its members meaningful contracts while contractors from other parts of the country have been heavily patronized.

The group described the attitude of Mobil as very segregational, appalling, victimizing and retrogressive because as stakeholders, and in keeping with the local content law of the Federation, they deserve a better deal and partnership with the oil giant.

Nseowo emerges UNIUYO’s best graduating medical doctor

Dr. Uwem Nseowo Anderson Udofia, the elder brother to Nigeria’s Youngest Newspaper Editor, Ifreke Nseowo emerged the best graduating medical doctor at the 6th Sponsio Academica (induction and oath-taking ceremony) of the University of Uyo held last Friday.

At the well attended event held at ETF Lecture Hall, Uniuyo permanent site, Dr. Nseowo who is also an assistant pastor at World Missionary Church stole the show by clinching seven other individual prizes including Best Graduating Doctor (BGD) in Paediatrics, Best Graduating Doctor in Biochemistry (with distinction), Best Graduating Doctor in Internal Medicine, Best Graduating Doctor in Surgery, Isabella Medical Scholarship Fund (IMSF) for Best Graduating Doctor in Surgery, Best Graduating Male Doctor and overall Best Graduating Doctor.

New Uyo-Abak bridge ready for inauguration

The Multi billion naira Uyo Abak River Bridge at Ediene in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom handled by Julius Berger Construction Company is ready for inauguration.

The Chief Contract Manager of the company, Mr Kehinde Bakare stated this when Nigerian Society of Engineers, Eket Branch team paid an industrial visit to Julius Berger Construction Company, Abak on Thursday.

He said that the 700 meters suspended bridge which started in 2012 would be inaugurated by Sept 23, 2014.

Bakare who described the bridge as “aesthetic and strategic”, said that bridge would serve as a major link on the road between Uyo and Abak.