Paradise News

Category: Business

  • Lafarge (UNICEM) Starts Training Of 50 Host Communities Youths In Cross River State

    The communities, Akansoko, Akwa Ikot Effanga, Abiati, Mbobui, Ekong Anaku, Diamond, Essien town and Kasuk had recently protested the underdevelopment and negative impacts of the company’s activities.

    “Lafarge Africa have launched a skills acquisition program for youths in Cross River State in furtherance of the company’s efforts at contributing to skills development, capacity building and overall economic empowerment of its neighboring communities and their people said Thierry Tierrere, the Mfamosing Plant Manager.

    Thierry further said that, the training for paint production, soap making, food and confectioneries and make up artistry is scheduled for a month, while welding and fabrication, AC/Fridge repairs, tailoring and designing, fish farming, aluminum fabrication, tiling, cake and fondants skill acquisition session has a longer duration of four month to eight months.

    Stressing that the initiative was a bid to contribute to skills development, He said that “The challenge of Nigeria’s economy require all of us, particularly the youths to be vigilant, focused and committed in order to attain a successful feat. Therefore, the company identified the youths as the future and rightful stakeholders with whom we can partner to build a better Nigeria “and explained it was also aimed at providing a sustainable livelihood to the beneficiaries.

    Some participants and other stakeholders at the Flag off commended the company for its efforts.

    “This has been our agitation all this while and so we are happy that Lafarge has finally seen the need to empower their host communities through this training” says Paul Asuquo, 35.

    “Things are very difficult everywhere so having something to do that will make you self-reliance is the only option to survive. We cannot depend on government for everything so I want to thank this company for this initiative and beg them to sustain it” said Janet Eneyo.

  • Governor Ayade Should Pay Attention To Entrepreneurs – Emmanuel Egbara

    The economy runs on wealth, which is measured in both money and in goods and services available for consumption. At any given time, there is a set amount of wealth available for distribution. This is why some people have more money than others and why certain types of goods and services are not available to everyone.

    When an entrepreneur creates a company, that entrepreneur literally makes new wealth. The entrepreneur creates a product, a service or an idea that did not exist before, and by doing so adds to the goods and services available for consumption. The entrepreneur also provides opportunities for other people to earn money and creates jobs to redistribute and share the wealth the entrepreneur has created.

    Without a constant influx of entrepreneurs, the economy is unable to grow. Innovation, new products and new wealth are essential to business and to a healthy economy.

  • GIVE AYADE A CHANCE: How important are good public transport systems to urban and social development?

    Good public transport systems are an essential part of safe, clean and affordable transport for development.

    From a social perspective, public transport is often the only means of transport for the poor. Without it, they would be able to look at work opportunities only within walking distance of their homes, so public transport improves their livelihood opportunities. It also gives them greater access to education, health care and recreation. For senior citizens, people with disabilities and children, public transport is also their main means of mobility.

    From an urban mobility perspective, public transport is far more efficient than personal motor vehicles in terms of the road space it uses up and the energy it consumes. For example, a bus carrying 40 passengers uses only 2.5 times more road space than a car carrying only 1 or 2 people. And the same bus consumes only about 3 times as much fuel as a car. Public transport is thus important for improving sustainable mobility in urban areas, and we consider it the right approach to encourage low-carbon growth in cities.

    What are the key elements of a sustainable public transport system?

    Can you provide examples of countries or cities that are leading the way in this area?

    A good public transport system must be easy and convenient to use, fast, safe, clean and affordable. Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong are known for their excellent transport systems. Smaller cities like Lyon in France and Curitiba in Brazil also have very good systems.

    More recently, León in Mexico, Pereira in Colombia, Lagos in Nigeria and Ahmedabad in India have developed good systems. Many more are in the offing.

    A key feature is that they integrate multiple technologies, such as metro rail, light rail, Bus Rapid Transit and basic bus services. A common ticket or fare card serves all the systems, making it easy for passengers to transfer from one mode to the other. Passenger information systems enable users to know when the next service is due and to understand the routes easily, and high frequency of service reduces the hassle of a long wait for the next bus or train

    Written By: Egbara Emmanuel,

    Social Media Activist,

    Lagos Nigeria.

  • EFCC Quiz Ayade’s Accountant General, Commerce Commissioner Over Garment Factory

    The news in circulation right now is that, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Peter Egba and Accountant General, Joseph Adie of Cross River State spent the chunk of the week answering the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives on issues concerning the Cross River Garment Factory.

    It is still unclear exactly when the duo were picked up but reliable sources informed media men that Peter Egba returned on Wednesday while the Accountant General is still in the EFCC’s South-South zonal office in Port Harcourt.

    The source also said their arrest was in response to a petition by several Cross Riverians who queried the set-up of the Garment Factory, one of Governor Ben Ayade’s signature projects.

    It is alleged that there is no clear definition as to the ownership and financing of the project with allegations rife that the commissioner had cooked books and documents for it to pass as credible.

    Efforts to get comments from the Commerce and Industry commissioner proved futile as several calls to his line at 09:49 AM, 09:50 AM, 09:51 AM Friday morning rang and he did not take the calls.

    Two text messages to his line 09:55AM and 09:56AM have not being replied either.

    Crossriverwatch.com said they contacted Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesman at 09:58AM Friday, nothing concerning the invitation was discussed as the line became distorted after introductions and when his phone was dialled three more times at 10:00AM (twice) and 10:01 AM, it rang and he did not take his call.

    Read more at: http://crossriverwatch.com/?p=26051

  • CRSPHCDA In Collaboration With Pathfinders Int’l Begins Installation Of Solar Suitcase In PHC’s IN CRS

    CROSS RIVER STATE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRSPHCDA) IN COLLABORATION WITH PATHFINDERS IN’T BEGINS INSTALLATION OF SOLAR SUIT CASE IN SOME SELECTED PHC’s IN THE STATE.

    Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with Pathfinders International and  “WE CARE SOLAR” a United State Based Non-Profit organization have concluded training and began installation of portable cost effective solar suit case that will power maternity ward in the Primary health care centers under the  Saving Mother Giving Life (SMGL) program in the state. The training on the installation, use and maintenance of the WE CARE SOLAR SUIT CASE was conducted on the 25-29th July, 2016 at Dannic Hotels. Ekorinim, Calabar.

    Major participants were electricians drawn from Northern, Central and Southern Senatorial district working with the Agency.

    According to the facilitators, Pathfinders International who spoke through their SMGL desk officer, Dr Olabode Oyekoya said the essence of the training is to equip program officers, electricians and SMGL state desk officers with  knowledge on the solar energy system and how it can be maintained.

    Speaking on behalf of the DG CRSPHCDA, Dr Betta Edu, the Desk Officer SMGL in the Agency, Mrs Sally Enyim said the state is very grateful to Pathfinders for successfully implementing the project while assuring them that the State Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade will continue supporting the organization to actualize their goal in the state by providing enabling environment, security and other logistics dimmed necessary by the partner.

    She assured the partners of sustainable and effective use of the machinery in ensuring maternal mortality is reduce in CRS by 2020. While calling on them to increase the number of solar to reach other PHC in the state. Especially the one PHC per ward.

    The first two days of the training was focused on theoritical work  while practicals was carried out at Pathfinders SMGL supported PHC’s in Ikot Offiong Ambai, PHC Idundu Akpabuyo LGA and PHC Odukpani LGA and PHC Akani Esuk.

    It was also gathered that training methodologies used included Video demonstration, Illustrative lectures, power point and Skilled demonstration using models.

    See more photos below….

  • Salt Production In Okpoma (CRS) Autonomous Community By Egbara Emmanuel

    Traditional methods of salt production have continued in Okpoma, Yala for about 400 years. The lake that supplies the brine was discovered almost immediately after the area now known as Okpoma was inhabited. Two hunters (Odey and Ogar) discovered the lake and made their finding public when they discovered they could not quench their thirst with what they thought was ordinary water.

    No matter how crude the method, salt preparation is not a craft but a scientific process. No wonder the ingenuity of the women who process the salt is attributed to the mythical instruction of a god “Oma.” The name equally refers to the lake itself. This belief is heightened by the fact that right from the inception of this local industry, the salt producers have been making use of solar energy in an intuitive manner.

    The industrial hut is known as “WOLE” and is individually owned. Once a young woman has completed her honeymoon, she is initiated into salt making practices by her fellow women.


    Her more elderly friends and relations decide on a day when they would fetch as many pots of the brine as they consider necessary for her. On the appointed day, the brine would be used in making puddle with which the mud part would be built. Also executed on the same day is heaping of the same puddle to form a huge mound called “Okperede is an Igbo language” at the front of the hut. This hillock, when dry, serves as a preservative bank for salt crystals.

    On her first outing, the initiate is free to fetch brine directly from “Well” the main salt lake or from “drum,” the supporting pond. Her journey would, however, terminate at a point called Olacho (several metres from the lake) if her first outing coincides with her menstrual period.

    Here, she would stop and beckon to other women who willingly supply her with as many pots of the brine as she requires. This is one of the many rules in and around the lake.

    When she gets home, the young woman tills part of the mound that was built for her and pours more brine on it. The new puddle is allowed to dry under the sun for several hours so that evaporation of water content takes place. The hardened puddle, now rich in salt crystals, is further broken into smaller pieces and poured into “yehi” (a pot perforated at the base). This pot is built into the side of the Ewe and has a fiber plug for the hole at the base. Above this hole is placed a circular piece of shard. When filled with the salty earth, the setup stimulates a simple sand filter.

    At this stage, fresh brine is poured into the pot and a number of hours is allowed for the salt crystals in the earth to dissolve. Usually in the evenings, the fiber plug is removed externally. Immediately after removal, a smaller pot (ite eja) is put under the fixed pot for the purpose of overturning the shard at the base of the bigger pot so as to prevent sand from entering the filtrate. Further precaution is taken by pouring back into the filtering pot the initial drops of the percolation. The result is that the saturated filtrate “Ochichi” is not only sparkling, but yields enough pure salt crystals.

    Boiling of brine to extract salt poses a big problem as Okpoma is not a wooded area. In fact, even grass served as fuel in the past. Other combustible materials were sourced from surrounding villages and beyond. Many years ago, a particular type of pot “yehi” was used as an evaporation crucible. Later, this gave way to kerosene tins; but now, it is enamel basin that is in vogue.

    Before the advent of packaging, baking of salt was the only option for the marketing of the product. As in the case of boiling, earthen wares were used for this purpose, but now metal bowls dominate because they are more durable and more convenient.

    The baked cones enable salt traders the opportunity of travelling far and wide to places where the commodity is in great demand.

    The economic importance of the Okpoma salt industry might be underestimated by outsiders, but the indigenes know that it ranks first among what made Okpoma famous in the pre- colonial era. Once a highly valued merchandise, the salt attracted dealers from all parts of former Eastern and some parts of Northern Nigeria to one of the most famous markets at the time, Ida. When the market lost its pride of place to the Uburu Slave Market, Okpoma salt still formed the bulk of the supply in that market since Uburu salt production is seasonal owing to floods.

    It would be recalled that Okpoma supplied the entire Eastern Nigeria with salt during the Biafran/Nigerian Civil War. Biafran scientists, after a series of tests, declared the brine from Okpoma Salt Lakes as having the highest salinity among all lakes in Eastern Nigeria.

    The Cross River state government should wake up and build industry close to the lake and taught the local women new production techniques, including the use of “alum” to effect sedimentation of dirt before decantation and ultimate filtration. The now dilapidated salt wells still stands as a monument of the glory.


    One wonders why, nearly 40 years after the civil war in Nigeria and after their creation of Yala local council, the rehabilitation of Okpoma salt industry has not been undertaken by the state or federal governments. The fact that Okpoma is strategically located and the salt lake is only ten metres from Federal Road, Okpoma presents, in my opinion, a compelling investment opportunity for entrepreneurs.

    Incidentally, Cross river State is known by the moniker “The people paradise.” There is no wisdom in allowing the country to continue depending on imported salt when what gives Cross River State the name “the people paradise” abounds.

  • Photos from the 4 days MSME International Workshop at Tinapa in Calabar

    The MSME International Workshop in Calabar has begun. The workshop is currently holding at the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel in Calabar.

    The workshop is set to run for 4 consecutive days which at the end will teach innovators and investors how to get into the market with their generic projection and plans to survive the economy.

    Details about the conference will follow shortly after the conclusion of the workshop. For those of you yet to attend, view the inside of the event in pictures after the cut…

    Photo Credit: Emmanuel Ulayi

  • A visit to the Garment Factory with DC Enamhe, SA. Communication and Branding; making the impossibilities, Possible

    Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, but he with a chuckle replied. “That maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one who wouldn’t say so till he had tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin on his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackle the tiling that couldn’t be done, and he did it.- Edgar A. Guest.

    A key factor one really have to  appreciate with Industrialisation, is the fact that, its create a sense of completeness and project creative thinking.  Create an immediate environment of its own and open up the horizon for deep imaginative projections.

    The Garment Factory is a site of hopes, creating a new thinking line for any Cross Riverian who make it worth a while to visit. It is truly a model of a shift from the traditional dependent economy to a self reliant deep vision economy of progress and growth.

    There is need if possible for our school children to make visits to site like this, as it will help reorient their minds,  build in them a new ray of hopes, desires and faith in a future of participation.

    Doubt is only a sin to the exposed minds, for the ignorant man is  cut in between the positive and negative mindset of the exposed minds. A people  oriented revolution is only won by determined, persistent powers of positivity, no matter how long it may take.

    Today, with the Garment Factory,  a true picture of the Rice City, Calabar Pharmaceutical Factory all beside and opposite the Garment Factory, gives a visualizer a true sense of direction and expose great ideas.

    Conclusively therefore, we can agree that the main difference between the mind of today and of our great – great – grandfathers is that in their day conditions were comparatively static, whereas today they are dynamic. Most people lived and died in the places where they were born. They followed their fathers ‘ vocations. Predominantly in our clime,  traditional Agriculture, Civil Service and today, Politics. Seldom, indeed, did most of us break out of the class into which we had been born. Almost as seldom did we even think of trying to.  No wonder, then, that economic based industrial growth made little or no progress at all.

    Today we are in the presence of continual change. We are imbued with that divine unrest which is never satisfied with conditions as they are, which is always striving for improvement. Our environments  force on us the lack of industrial thought system, and thought is the vital force behind all this change. Visualising growth based infrastructures like the Garment Factory keep our thought system challenge to better improvements.

    Governor Ayade, your Visions, Dreams and Ideas are divine and so divine Providence is giving you the wisdom to pilot us as a state towards a better future.


    ~Inok Solomon

  • Dollar exchanging for N380 and Crude Oil Price at $40 per barrel, the economy is hard on the common man – Inok Solomon

    The Structural Adjustment, Income Adjustment, Feeding Adjustment, National Adjustment and all other Adjustments required to carry on in this perilous times hard to deal with, have one message for us all.

    If for instance, a man earns N 80, 000 as Salaries in 2014 with the Naira exchanging for N160 per  dollar, today that worker is expected to cut down by more than half his effective demand power. Because at 2014 his income power in dollars is 80,000 ÷ 160 = 500 dollars per month and today in 2016,  80,000÷380 =210.5 dollars per month. He can’t buy what he bought before with his salary.

    That is trouble number one: now this man works in an Oil Producing firm which major business is in Crude Oil, the firm at 2014 sell crude oil for $120 per barrel against $40  per barrel in 2016. That is a two time cut down.

    Now assuming we are the workers, it is practical to demand for increase in wages to meet up with the Exchange rate and keep our demand relatively constant or a little downwards.

    What if we are heads of these firms? The pressure becomes heavy on the Firm, as income drop and demand from workers increase couple with other cost of production.

    The firm can’t pay staff, workers are under fear pressure of likely staff down sizing and layoffs. Fela call it, “double wahala for death body.” Spencer say, “Trouble solve is a trouble double”.

    Economic Consultant and experts start conjuring with their gods of Money and Forex. Devalue the Naira! No do not Devalue the Naira! Diversify the Economy! No! Band importation of Rice, Pamkade and office pins! No! How did we even get into this situation? It is “Corruption;” ok then face corruption and do loot recovery. Soldier go, Soldier come! The rich speak in tongues,  and the poor request for miracles.

    My people, the truth is we are on a Cross Road, only the brave keep on the race.

    Politics will say bad management,  failure, only hope is in 2019 decision to change leaders. But can a good driver make a bad old car system work better?

    Every condition, every experience of life is the result of our mental attitude. We can do only what we think we can do. We can be only what we think we can be. We can have only what we think we can have. What we do, what we are, what we have, all depend upon what we think.

    The secret of all power, all success, all riches, is in first thinking powerful thoughts, successful thoughts, thoughts of wealth, of supply. We must build them in our own mind first, desire for them, have faith in them and work along that mental attitude.

    Until we have this mental attitude, we will depend on petty things that are only but the secondary causation of our economic depression, “Money.”

    What is money? Robert Collier call it, “a mere idea of mind,  a token of exchange.”

    The paper money we have in our pockets is supposed to represent so much gold or silver currency. There are billions upon billions of this paper money in circulation, yet all the gold in the world amounts to only a few billions. Wealth is in ideas, not in money or property. We can control those ideas through our mental attitude of the mind.

    No amount of money paid to workers will push the dollar down, but an idea of producing pins cheaper than before in Nigeria can.

    Cross Riverians,  we are paid salaries as at when due. Yet the economy is still hard. Reason is our ideas are not meeting with the demands of the day.

    Assuming we have a Deep Seaport,  that will employ 4 out of our 5 dependants, our saving power increase and we gain goodwill and support too from those we have sustained till the time of job. Decisions of money you take alone can now be for 5, more persons with financial power, the less the problem situation on an individual. Life expectancy increases as thinking and hard times reduces.

    What of your relatives in the villages where no roads have ever passed through? Today, the superhighway exposes more opportunities in these communities and put jobs opportunities at their door post. Being a corridor rout for the deep seaport,  Companies doing import and export business will want have warehouses,  processing and repackaging firms, fabricating firm, technicians, professionals and all kinds of labours, skilled and unskilled will be left open.

    And the greatest advantage is, with this Superhighway, and the likely congestion of Calabar and environs, workers can comfortably live in their various communities and transport to work by day.

    Let think outside the box and solve our economic depression.


    ~Inok Solomon

  • Cross River State flags off Smart School programme in Calabar

    As part of measures to ensure that secondary schools in the state are Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant and fully digitized, Cross River State Government has commenced its Smart School programme with a pilot scheme at Government Secondary School, State Housing Estate, Calabar.

    The programme, which is in partnership with Samsung West Africa Electronics Ltd., will ensure that seven secondary schools spread across the state benefit from the over N50million worth of computer laboratory.

    Apart from the Smart School programme, the partnership is expected to give rise to the establishment of a Samsung Technology Academy in Cross River state.

    Read Also | Governor Ayade Commissions Samsung Smart School In Calabar (Photos)

    Flagging off the Smart school program, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, said the initiative was a testimonial that signed MoUs by the administration were beginning to come to fruition.

    Prof. Esu said: “The project is focused on training the trainers and Calabar will soon be a smart city, “adding that “fibre optic cables have been laid, relevant contracts have been prepared and very soon, wherever you are, you will be able to access the internet.”

    He charged the beneficiaries to use the facilities wisely in order to meet the demands of the 21st century technology and for the centre not to colonise its gains but allow others to benefit as well.

    Making the presentation thursday, Samsung Managing Director, represented by Head, Enterprise & IT Business, Mr. Rotimi Agbola, affirmed that the initiative will make quality education delivery a reality in the state.

    His words: “Education is a basic human right and it is something Samsung takes seriously. We also believe that Cross River State and Samsung Electronics share same goal in improving education, hence our smart school and global lining concept is going to impact on the lives of the people.”

    He noted that the school will focus on the “training of 50 teachers in basic computer literacy, provision of teachers with access to tools, empowerment of teachers to access digital contents as well as conducting assessment of students progress and providing them with learning tools from any location.”

    Explaining that the Smart School in Calabar is among the first three of ten ICT laboratories which Samsung intends to roll out across the country in the nearest future, the Managing Director said: “Guidance from teachers who understand the technology will be the first step for students to gain the skills needed in a rapidly advancing ICT world.”

    Lauding Governor Ben Ayade for his passion for the full digitisation of the state, the state Commissioner for ICT, Chief Offu Aya said: “Long before coming into office, Governor Ayade realised that one of the major tools required for the liberation of the state from the quagmire of poverty was to build a robust knowledge economy with ICT as the critical enabler.”

    According to Education Commissionewin Mr. Godwin Ettah, “the smart education program has three folds which include the training of 50 teachers to retrain their colleagues, negotiating with Samsung to provide ICT centres and the building of a Samsung Technology Academy in Cross River state.”

    Ettah hinted that “arrangements were in top gear for the establishment of two ICT centres in each of the 18 LGAs in the state to move Cross River from having a minimal four JAMB centres to 36.”