Paradise News

Tag: Nigeria

  • LIVE VIDEO: Residents uncover 3 hidden COVID-19 Palliatives warehouses in Calabar

    By Frankie Ifop

    Residents of Calabar, Cross River State capital, have discovered three (3) hidden warehouses loaded with COVID-19 Palliatives on Friday, October 23, 2020.

    PARADISE NEWS gathered that the residents who are in full jubilation get to know about the warehouse following the incident that occurred in Lagos, during the #EndSARS protest.

    According to LIVE recordings, it is like Christmas in Calabar, even when it is not yet December in the nation’s paradise.

    Sources said the palliatives which include food stuffs, electronics and other items that were supposed to be distributed to citizens of the state were locked in three warehouses located at CROSPIL office, Bishop Monagh Avenue, State Housing Estate; SEMA Warehouse, Barracks Road; and Ayade Power Plant, Parliamentary Extension, Calabar, Cross River State capital.

    “The palliatives have been there in warehouses since April and even when another tranche was added, nothing was shared. Instead, they were sharing amongst themselves and keeping some for the 2020 Byelections in Northern Cross River State”, a source who spoke under anonymity said.

    Our Reporter also learnt that Police and Soldiers were helping the residents out, especially the vulnerable and disabled people.

    However, Martha Agba, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Humanitarian Affairs, said the state has already commenced the sharing of the palliatives but ward by ward.

    “The COVID-19 Palliatives were not being locked out as people are saying, there are being shared to Cross Riverians. We have already sharing them. It is ward by ward”, Agba said.

    Meanwhile, the state governor has imposed a 24 hours curfew in the state, starting from 6pm today, Friday, October 23, 2020.

    “Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.

    “Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it”, a statement by Mr. Christian Ita, Special Adviser to Ayade on Media and Publicity quoted the Governor saying.

    See Live Video feeds below;

    Residents carting away COVID-19 Palliatives in a hidden warehouse at CROSPIL office, Calabar, Cross River State on Friday, October 23, 2020.

  • BREAKING: Ayade imposes 24hrs curfew in C’River after residents discovered hidden COVID-19 Palliatives warehouse

    By Frankie Ifop

    The governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade has ordered the imposition of 24 hours curfew in Cross River State.

    PARADISE NEWS gathered that the order came in shortly after residents discovered hidden warehouse loaded with COVID-19 Palliatives on Friday, October 23, 2020, in Calabar, the state capital.

    Sources said the palliatives which include food stuffs and other items that were supposed to be distributed to citizens of the state were locked in a warehouse at CROSPIL office, Bishop Monagh Avenue, State Housing Estate capital.

    A statement signed by Mr. Christian Ita, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, on Friday said the #EndSARS protest has been hijacked by hoodlums.

    “Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.

    “Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it”, the statement read.

    Watch Videos below;

  • BREAKING: Daniel Obo emerges NYCN Chairman, Cross River State Chapter

    By Frank Ulom

    Comr. Obo Daniel Obo has emerged as the Cross River State Chapter Chairman of the National Youths Council of Nigeria, NYCN, following the election held in Calabar on Saturday, June 20, 2020.

    Dan Obo was elected chairman of NYCN-CRS, after polling a total of 51 votes ahead of rival, Comr. Ndifon Victor Ogar, who polled 27 votes. Comr. Gifted Nelson and Comr. Ofem Okoi also scored 2 votes and Nil for the chairmanship position.

    Obo and other excos were declared winners by the returning officer, Comr. Innocent Ajayi, Vice President, South South zone at State Housing Estate field, 3rd Avenue, Calabar.

    Also, the newly elected Eleco Chairman, Comr. Isaac Akpa affirmed the Exco Members to run the affairs of the NYCN, Cross River State (CRS) Chapter from 2020 to 2024.

    Speaking shortly after the electoral process, the immediate past Chairman of NYCN, Cross River State Chapter, Comr. Ndiyo Ndiyo, assured the newly elected Chairman and his excos that they are not alone in this administration.

    Ndiyo further stated that “We’ll give you our support, we’ll give you our necessary advice, we’ll not interfere in the running of your excos. My advice is, carry everybody along, and see them as equals – even those who didn’t support you.

    “As a youth below 35, you have the capacity to drive the youths of Cross River State from where we stop. Those things we did that you know were not correct, technically and diplomatically correct them. Those that we’ve done right, God will give you the wisdom to maintain them and make sure you take the NYCN to the next level.”

    On his part, the newly elected Chairman of the NYCN, Cross River State Chapter, Comr. Obo Daniel Obo, said he will utilise the opportunity mandated to him to serve better.

    “For me, it is an opportunity to serve, it is also a privilege that young people will come together in the cost of a very peaceful transition and decide that I should lead – and I feel that it is an opportunity to show leadership, an opportunity to grow and to put the youths together to support the activities of the present administration of Governor Ben Ayade and also support the activities of every meaningful Cross Riverian who in one way or the other; by the way of elective position, way of appointment, is contributing his/her quota to the development of Cross River State,” Obo said.

    Obo further stated that: “For everybody that contested the election with me, it is a victory for all.

    “Nobody has lost the election, we’re all young Cross Riverians and together we are going to put up a committee to reconcile those who feel aggrieved in the process. I believe that in every election, someone will emerge and it is not a do-or-die affair.”

    WATCH VIDEO OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS BELOW;

  • Distinguished Senator John Owan Enoh at 54

    By Frank Ulom

    We’ve decided to refresh your minds on the unassuming, refined and modest personality of Distinguished Sen. John Owan Enoh as he turns 54 today, June 4th, 2020. The article below has in content, who Sen. John Owan Enoh is, What he has done, what he is doing and what he would do. Read and get refreshed;

    HIS EARLY YEARS

    Senator John Owan Enoh was born in the agrarian community of Agbokim Waterfalls, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State to the family of PA Louis Owan Enoh on Saturday, June 4, 1966.

    He attended St. Gregory’s Primary School, Agbokim Waterfalls (1972-1978), St. Augustine’s Seminary, Ezzangbo (1978-1983). Very early in life, Owan-Enoh began to demonstrate prodigious intellect, clarity of thought and uncommon eyes for details, endowments imbued in him by God Almighty that would later serve him well in life and would be pivotal to his meteoric rise to the pinnacle of success.

    After passing the West African School Certificate Examination with distinction, John Owan Enoh gained admission to study sociology in the faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar. As a student, he continued to blaze the trail of excellence in his studies. By 1988, when he graduated with a B. Sc. Hons. Degree in sociology (Second Class Upper Division), he won the best Graduating Student Award, Sociology Department in the Class of 1988. For his Compulsory National Youth Service, Senator John Owan Enoh served as an assistant to the Director-General, Government and Administration, Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, Ogun State between 1989 and 1990.

    The world of academia held great promise to Sen. John Owan Enoh. Those who knew him were unflattering in their assessment that he would flourish in the University environment. Given his academic prowess, Sen. Owan-Enoh had a strong motivation to venture into the world of academia.

    Between 1991-1997, he was admitted into the world of academia as a Lecturer, in the Sociology department of the University of Calabar. He applied his fecund intellect, unwavering passion and commitment to excellence to his work and began to shine like a million meteors.

    His dedication and commitment to his work left a lasting impression in the minds of his students who were enamoured by his cerebral mind and his power of delivery in the classroom.

    A young Lecturer with the temperament and maturity of a sage must as a necessity attract the attention of students. It was therefore easy for him to win the hearts and minds of his students.

    He became famous as the Lecturer who came to class without any book but regaled his students with his brilliance as he poured out knowledge off hand.

    Even as students began to address him in superlatives, he never allowed the cult status which they ascribed to him and which he never embraced get into his head.

    As one of the few Lecturers from Etung in the University, he came face to face with the deprivation and financial challenges of several of the students from his Local Government Area.

    He felt unrestrained compassion for them and was very receptive to the demands of these students and with the meagre salary of a university Lecturer, tried to solve some of their financial problems the much he could. Words of his generosity spread like wildfire and it was not long before he was confronted by a deluge of requests.

    His earnings as a university lecturer was meagre and stretched to the limit, leaving him fully aware of his obvious limitations and very determined to seek a pathway for the emancipation of his people.

    POLITICAL JOURNEY

    By 1997, when Late General Sani Abacha unveiled his political transition programme, he opted for politics. He contested and won election to represent Etung State Constituency in the Cross River State House Of Assembly under the platform of Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). Thus, his remarkable political journey started.

    His aspiration embodied the dreams of many of his people who were conversant with his proclivity for hard work, generosity and support for worthy causes and compassion for bringing succour to those in need.

    The cancelation of the Sani Abacha Political Transition Programme following his demise proved to be a temporary setback to his political journey. In 1999, his mandate to serve his people was re-validated in a fresh election during which he won by a landslide this time under the platform of All peoples Party (APP).

    As a result of his love for his people and passion for selfless service, it was natural for him to make the people the focal point of his representation. Very early in his political life, the Peoples Senator who has risen to the summit of his legislative career, made a vow to himself and God Almighty to touch as many lives as possible and to empower his people to the best of his ability.

    Indeed the centrality of his people to his representation and politics informed his founding the Real Mark Foundation in 1999, a vehicle through which he strove to empower his people through critical interventions and a plethora of empowerment initiatives.

    Senator John Owan Enoh’s philosophy of service which places the highest premium on the primary of collective interest and the people as repositories of power is in tandem with Bill Gates vision on leadership. Bill Gates said: “As we look into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others”.

    Senator John Owan Enoh is a trail blazer, arguably the Chief proponent of empowerment as a tool to cure widespread poverty in our society. He may not have succeeded completely in stopping poverty in its tracks given the peculiar role of the legislature in our presidential democracy but he has continued to take decisive steps to prepare his constituents for the future by empowering them with a plethora of capacity building initiatives.

    In his legislative tour of duty, Real Mark Foundation assisted in the refurbishing of schools with hundreds of his constituents benefiting from his scholarship scheme. Between 1999-2003, Senator John Owan Enoh served as minority leader and Chairman, Committee on information, Cross River State House Of Assembly. He was outstanding and was one of the influential voices in the House, a fact which was not lost on the people.

    HIS LEGISLATIVE WORK, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (2003-2015)

    By 2003, the people of Etung and Obubra Local Government Areas sent Sen. John Owan Enoh an illustrious son in whom they were well pleased to the House of Representatives.

    Senator John Owan Enoh hit the ground running. In terms of legislative work, he was thorough, persuasive, unrelenting and in no time earned the respect of his colleagues. Between (2003-2005), he was Deputy Chairman, culture & tourism, Deputy Chairman Appropriation, (2005-2007), Chairman, Committee on Finance (2007-2011), Chairman, Committee on Appropriation (2011-2015). These were in addition to his membership of other standing committees of the House where he was very active, influential and respected. His time in the House Of Representatives has been variously described as the Golden Years in representation by his constituents who felt the direct impact of his legislative work. Within the period under review, Sen. John Owan Enoh influenced the employment of hundreds of his constituents into several Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. They include, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigeria Army, Petroleum Trust and Development Fund (PTDF), Federal Mortgage Bank, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) amongst others. As the member representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency (2003-2015), Sen. John Owan Enoh rolled out education scholarship schemes which he envisioned to bring succour and financial assistance to bright students from deprived background in order to enable them successfully complete their education. The impact of this scheme is huge as thousands of students have benefited from this scholarship scheme. The vocational empowerment of his constituents is another area Sen. John Owan Enoh has also excelled. Designed to assist his constituents in diverse fields make success of their businesses, beneficiaries have received cars, motorcycles, sewing machines, barbing salon equipment, tiling machines, computer repair kits and start-up capital under the Senator Owan Enoh Vocational Empowerment Schemes. Also, several beneficiaries have received vocational training in diverse fields to empower and prepare them for a life in business.

    His years of representation in the House of Representatives can best be described as a golden Era as all the communities within his constituency felt the impact of his representation. He was able to attract so many projects with direct impact on the lives of his people. These include but not limited to sixteen motorized Boreholes, Comprehensive Cottage Hospital Okoroba, Comprehensive Cottage Hospital, Ovonom and a Cottage Hospital he personally built with his own resources and donated to his people, the Agbokim Waterfalls Community. Sen. Enoh also Facilitated the construction of National Youth Development Centre, Agbokim Waterfalls, the renovation of the residence of Head of Station, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, the renovation of the Health Centre and office complex at the institute. Other projects include the construction of classroom blocks at Eja, Osopong 1, Bendeghe and Itaka. Within the same period, he also Facilitated the construction of six classroom block at Government Science School, Agbokim Waterfalls, VIP toilets at Itaka and Apiapum; construction of Divisional Police Headquarters, Effraya, State Security Service Office Block, Effraya, Ajassor International Market, Solar Powered Street Lights in Ohana, Onyadama, Ohana-Edor, Ogada 11, Ogurude, Iso Biko Biko, Nkum Okpambe, Yala, Mile 1, Obubra, Ofumbongha No. 1, Obira, Agbokim Waterfalls amongst others. He also attracted the construction of network of roads within Ababene and Agbokim Waterfalls.

    Senator John Owan Enoh’s work in the House of Representatives was monumental, epochal and a reference point in effective representation. Almost a decade before the present administration’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, Senator Owan Enoh as Chairman, House Committee on Finance began the campaign for ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to domicile their funds in the Federation account instead of the widespread practice of agencies of government maintaining multiple accounts and spending generated revenues without appropriation.

    As Chairman, House Committee on budget and appropriation (2007-2011), the committee conducted an Investigative Hearing on Revenue Generation and Non-remitances by government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Statutory Corporations into the Federation account. Over two hundred and twenty MDAs forwarded memoranda and made oral submissions during the Public Investigative Hearing that lasted from June 19th to 16th December, 2008. One of the key findings of the Sen. John Owan Enoh led investigative hearing was the discovery that a whopping sum of 3.2 trillion was spent by government ministries, agencies and corporations without appropriation. Also, as a result of his ground-breaking work, over N400 billion was paid into the Federation account by the MDAs. This was in compliance with the far reaching recommendations of his committee.

    Under the leadership of Sen. John Owan Enoh, the House Committee on Budget and appropriation, organized a 2-day National Revenue Summit in collaboration with the Federal Inland Revenue Service on 15th and 16th December, 2008 with the theme: Growing the National Revenue: A case for Revenue Remittance. Sen. John Owan Enoh remains a strong moral force in the National Assembly. By June 2012 when the House of Representatives removed Hon. Farouk Lawan as Chairman of Ad-hoc committee on Fuel Subsidy regime over the alleged $620,000 bribe, the House leadership relied on one of its most respected members for redemption. Sen. John Owan Enoh, the then Chairman, Committee on Appropriation was appointed to head the Adhoc Committee, a clear demonstration of the conference the House Leadership reposed on his character, competence and leadership. Senator John owan enoh is in all ramifications, a quintessential Lawmaker with a Midas touch. It is gratifying to note that the full impact of his vast experience in the public service especially as Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation was felt on the national stage. Prior to his tenure, our budget circles were bogged down by endless bickering and amendment of passed budgets before presidential assent. Suffice it to state that these avoidable confrontations impacted negatively on the national economy, Owan Enoh spearheaded the emergence of a new order marked by seamless passage and assent to the National budget. It is not for nothing that his name commands the respect of the vast majority of his colleagues in the National Assembly and his constituents who appreciate his selfless and effective representation. He epitomizes humility and runs a “door less” policy which has successfully removed the vestiges of high office for him to relate with his constituents unencumbered. By the end of his tour of duty in the House of Representatives, the love affair between him and his people waxed even stronger and crystallized into a compelling call for him to run for Senate, a position occupied by one of the illustrious sons the Central Senatorial District, Cross River State, Nigeria at that time. The calls for him to run for Senate by the people of the Central Senatorial District came in torrents and by the time it reached a crescendo, he had no alternative than to bow to the wishes of his people.

    SENATOR JOHN OWAN ENOH IN THE SENATE

    Senator John Owan Enoh’s Senate report card is no less impressive. Breaking with legislative tradition, the majority All Progressive Congress led Senate leadership appointed him as the chairman of the committee of Finance in 2015. In the words of the Senate President, His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki, his appointment as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance was in recognition of his experience, knowledge, passion and commitment to the highest standard of legislative excellence. After an electoral landslide which brought him to the Senate, Senator Owan Enoh returned back to the people barely one month after his inauguration on a “Thank You Visit”, a move unprecedented in the annals of politics in the Central Senatorial District.

    Sen. Owan Enoh used the opportunity of his home coming to express his profound gratitude to his people for their continuing support. The visit took him to all the six local Govt. areas that make up the central senatorial district and ended up with a thanksgiving service. Determined to bring representation closer to his people, Enoh opened constituency offices in all the six local Government areas making up his senatorial district with full and functional staff.

    This unprecedented step, the first of its kind in contemporary politics underscored the special place his people occupy in his heart. He continues to emphasize humility in service and as his tenure in the senate got off to a flying start, he organized a one day retreat for his staff with the theme: “Supporting Owan Enoh to Deliver Service”. The retreat emphasized the need for his staff to imbibe the attributes of humility, accessibility, openness and selflessness as they relate with the people at the grassroots.

    As the chairman Senate Joint Committee which investigated allegations that system specs, a software solutions provider, charged 1 percent for transferring ₦2.5 trillion to TSA and in effect deducted billions of naira as commission. Sen. Enoh and the Joint Committee were unequivocal in rejecting the whopping commission. As a result of their work, the senate slashed the ₦7.6 billion accrued charges to system specs, commercial banks and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from transfers to Treasury Single Account (TSA) by govt. agencies to the sum of ₦656,504 million and ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to terminate the one percent charge which was subject of criticism by several well meaning citizens. As a reflection of the confidence of the senate leadership in his vast experience and capability, senator John Owan Enoh also chaired the Joint session of both the senate and the House of Representatives on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the 2016, 2017, 2018, budgets.

    As senator representing the central senatorial district, his years in the senate bears the unmistakable imprimatur of a servant leader driven by a strong passion to deliver on a strong mandate upon which he rode the crest of power to the senate.

    Indeed, the blistering pace of his legislative work and achievements is unrelenting. At huge personal cost which underscores the high premium he places in education and capacity building of the youth, Sen. Enoh unveiled a comprehensive education support scheme in 2016 with 4,023 students drawn from his senatorial district as beneficiaries. This critical intervention alone continues to impact the lives of indigent students who would have had a difficult time completing their studies.

    Also, in 2016, Sen. Enoh spared no effort and resources to bring to Ikom,Muyiwa Afolabi, a motivational speaker to coach and mentor the youths on self-reliance. This event was under the auspices of “Central Youths Meet Sen. John Owan Enoh”,an annual programme which has endured with the support and guidance of Sen. Enoh. Afolabi, who delivered a paper titled: ‘Central Youths: Developing a Passion for Excellence’ in the serene ambience of Jorany Hotels, Ikom advised the youths to harness the transformative capacity of their talents to create a bright future. In 2017, Sen. Enoh tasked the youths on self-reliance. This time, he brought to Ikom, Leke Ojikutu, the Bulk SMS pioneer and Agba Jalingo, publisher of Cross River Watch, an online medium to address the youth during a one day summit.

    The theme of the summit: Tapping into the wealth of the Internet for Self Employment prepared the ground for a 3 week intensive training on ICT after which 66 youths drawn from the 66 wards of the central senatorial district were empowered with laptops. Senator John Owan Enoh is committed to legislative work as much as he is committed to peace making within his senatorial district.

    To this end, he embarked on several peace missions when communities within the senatorial district were involved in fierce clashes. He was on hand to arrest the situation when bloody clashes broke out between communities of Mkpani, Nko and Inyima in Yakurr Local Government area and Oyadama, Ababene and Iyamitet communities in Obubra Local Government area. He was also on hand to forestall further loss of lives and destruction of properties between Bendeghe Ekiem and Akparabong Communities. Apart from launching effective peace missions, Sen., Enoh provided relief materials running into millions of naira in the bid to assist the affected people rebuild their lives. He also sponsored a central senatorial district Security Summit to address the recurring communal clashes among the warring communities.

    In the areas of job creation, attraction of critical projects, capacity building, youth empowerment, effective representation and law making, he set a record that will be difficult to break let alone surpass. Some of the projects he attracted to communities across the senatorial district include twelve ongoing road projects,44 completed and commissioned solar powered boreholes, construction of culverts and drainages to stem the devastating impact of erosion, solar powered street lights and Bio-resources Development Centre, Effraya.

    When he turned 50 in 2016, he launched JOE Diabetes Foundation in a determined effort to arrest the scourge of diabetes among his constituents. Apart from several free medical outreaches embarked on by the foundation, it also flagged off several diabetes advocacy and sensitization campaigns in secondary schools across the senatorial district. In 2016, Sen. Enoh led a commemorative walk in Ikom as part of activities marking the 2016 World Diabetes Day.

    Worried by the poor state of Federal roads in Cross River State especially the Calabar-Ugep-Obubra Ikom-Ogoja road, Sen. Enoh made contacts at the highest level of the federal government to bring government attention to it.

    In this regard, he worked closely with Senator Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning and Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing to win budgetary allocation for the ongoing rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road. Two years into his tenure as senator, he organised a Town Hall Meeting at Ikom by August 2017 during which he presented a midterm report on his representation and achievements as senator.

    Apart from his impressive work at the committee level, Sen. Enoh has sponsored several bills and motions in the Senate between 2015 to date. The bills include: Emergency Power Bill, 2015, Foreign Exchange (Control and Monitoring) Bill, 2015, Payment Systems Management Bill, 2015, the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment, etc) Bill, 2015, Law Officers Bill, 2016 and a Bill for the Establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Ikom. These bills are currently receiving legislative attention.

    He has attended several courses at home and abroad on capacity building in aid of his legislative work including a course in Public Financial Management, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (Executive Education), Telecoms Regulatory Master Class – Bath UK , Law Making for the Communication Sectors – BMIT, Johannesburg, South Africa , and Influence and Negotiation, Stanford Graduate School of Business amongst others. Sen. Enoh is a fellow, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, CEPACS, University of Ibadan. He was also listed as one of Nigeria’s 50 most Outstanding Legislative Icons (1999 – 2010) in a definitive book published by Parlia Consult, a Consortium of Legislative Historians. He holds an Msc (Hons) Demography, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), and MBA.

    Senator Owan Enoh is a voice of the voiceless, the weak and infirm, the disabled and a beacon of hope for his people. During the 2015, 2016, 2017 Christmas celebrations, he was at home with his constituents and as usual splashed gifts on them. His annual Christmas visits across the six local government areas of the senatorial district brings hope and smiles on the faces of his constituents and demonstrates the special place his people occupy in his heart.

    Sen. John Owan Enoh was voted Senator of the year 2016 in Cross River State in the first ever assessment of the Senate by the National Assembly based CSOs on profiling, Data-Bank Management and Leadership Assessment – Centre for Nigeria Leadership Perspective, CENLEP NASS. He is happily married to Rachel and the marriage is blessed with 3 children – Rachel, John and Victor.

    And there After:

    Sen. John Owan Enoh in 2019 decided to pursue an ambition to rescue Cross River State. An ambition which was described as “The Masse’s Ambition”. He emerged as the Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress but not without the distraction from a set of persons who feels disenchanted and refused to embraced peace. Amidst all distractions coming within his party, Sen. John Owan Enoh was the first and the only Governorship candidate that visited twice all 18 LGAs in Cross River State. Owan was generally acceptable and got overwhelming support, which became a threat to other candidates especially Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade, the People’s Democratic Party Gubernatorial Candidate. A day to the elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC wrongfully delisted all candidates of the All Progressives Congress. This affected the outcome of the elections but Distinguished Sen. John Owan Enoh was still able to pull a reasonable amount of votes that would have put him ahead as winners, but the umpires announced the PDP candidate.

    Sen. John Owan Enoh after the elections, didn’t stopped being a good man that he is. He continues his unassuming gestures towards solving societal issues and meeting up with the needs of those who come around him. His service to Humanity didn’t end, even after leaving office as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Within this period of political rest, Sen. John Owan Enoh has given several jobs to Cross Riverians in most of the Federal Government agencies like NNPC, FIRS, CBN, CUSTOMS, NDLEA and others, and has influenced a few appointments for Cross Riverians. He has also personally facilitated a few projects amongst which are;

    √ The ongoing Construction of 23kms Agbokim-Etomi road in Etung Local Government Area.

    √ The ongoing construction of 3kms Nkon bessong/Nkon Alor Road, in Biajua community and 1.3kms Efare road in Bashua community, all in Abu Ward, Boki LGA.

    √ The construction of 560Ms Enoghe old water board road, 1km Portharcourt road in Ikom Town, Ikom Urban Ward 1 and 2km Edor/Abinti road construction in Abinti 1, Abayong Ward, all in Ikom LGA.

    √ The ongoing Construction of 4.8kms Okangkekor road construction in Olulumo Ward, Ikom Local Government Area.

    √ SEN JOHN OWAN ENOH (JOE) Foundation Donates palliatives worth millions to Diabetics, items which included wheat, groundnut oil, salt, Rice, Maggi and other household items to members of the public who are diabetic.

    Distinguished Sen. John Owan Enoh was recently nominated and inaugurated to act as Secretary to the All Progressives Congress National Reconciliation Committee chaired by Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Bamdele Akande.

    Cross Riverians are in dire need of his services, even at this moment as seen in the media, almost every day. At 54, the future is still bright as we continue to hope for Better Days ahead for Cross River State.

    Happy birthday Distinguished Sen. John Owan Enoh. We celebrate with you as you turn 54 today. Congratulations boss.

  • BREAKING: Nigerian Senator Rose Oko dies in a UK hospital

    BREAKING: Nigerian Senator Rose Oko dies in a UK hospital

    By Frank Ulom

    The Senator Representing Cross River State Northern Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. (Dr.) Rose Okoji Oko, has died at age 63.

    THE PARADISE NEWS learnt that Sen. Oko, the only female Senator currently in the Red Chambers from Cross River died last night at a United Kingdom (UK) medical facility due to illness.

    An Aide to the Late Rose Oko confirmed the sad news this morning while expressing shock over the death of his pay-mistress.

    Meanwhile, Patrick Ikorgor Okoroji, a close relative to the late Senator who also confirmed the news, said: “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear cousin, Senator (Dr) Rose Okoji Oko after a long-fought battle with physical affliction.

    “You gave your best to your world now that it has pleased the Almighty God to call you home may your soul find eternal rest in Heaven. Adieu, Distinguished Senator Dr Rose Okoji Oko.”

    Born on September 27, 1956, Rose Oko was a one-time Member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Nigeria’s 7th class of the National Assembly.

    Oko was elected as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011 and sat as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Education.

    She was later elected as the first female Senator in 2015 and reelected in 2019 to represent the people of Cross River State North Senatorial District.

    Until her death, the Late Sen. Oko was the serving Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment.

    In 1989 at the age of 33, she was appointed as Commissioner of Education, Cross River State; a position she held till 1991. In that same period, she served as for Chairperson Better Life Programme, Cross River Chapter from 1990–1991.

    In 1993 she was appointed Director General, National Defence & Security Council, Cabinet Secretariat under the military presidency. She held this position simultaneously with the National Commissioner, National Electoral Commission (NEC) now known as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Between 1993 and 1994 she was appointed Director General, Provisional Ruling Council again under the then Military Presidency. In 1995 she was appointed (NCFR) now known as National Commission For Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. In 2002 she retired.

    She was survived by children, grandchildren and many relatives.

  • Profile of Eteng Jonah Williams

    By Frank Ulom

    Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams was the Speaker of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) and the Member Representing Yakurr II State Constituency from May 29, 2019, to May 29, 2023. He is a seasoned and experienced legislator who has held the following legislative offices; Deputy Leader of the House, Adviser to the immediate past Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Vice Chairman House Committee on Business and Rules, Member House Committee on Public Account, member House Committee on Health Service, Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Gender Development All in the 7th and 8th Assembly.

    Williams won the 2023 Cross River Central Senatorial District election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Eteng holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, with over 25 years of working experience in Administration before delving into politics. He was the Head of Administration of Jones-Tech International Limited prior to his election to represent Yakurr II State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly. Eteng supervised the daily activities of Jones-Tech International Limited Projects in Nigeria, as Head of Administration.

    Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams also worked with the office of the Organisation for African Unity, OAU Chairman (documentation Unit), at the Presidency where he was in charge of the compilation and writing of the research project entitled “OAU Abuja 91 Commemorative Handbook”.

    This handbook which contains the activities and speeches of various Heads of State and Presidents Members countries during the OAU Summit, in Abuja in 1991 saw the programme as a success, largely due to the energy and drive injected into it by Eteng and his editorial team.

    Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams has attended many seminars/conferences in Nigeria and the United States of America. He is a member of the Nigeria America Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was on the Board of Jones-Tech International Limited and Enonye Ventures Limited. Eteng has been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP since 1999. A grassroots mobilizer and team player whose cardinal political philosophy is: Total efficiency, responsive representation and Human Capital Development. Eteng as a legislator in the 7th and 8th Assembly in Cross River State, has shown some laudable and erudite skills in Legislative activities.

    Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams is married to Imaobong and the marriage is blessed with three (3) children.

    Eteng Jonah Williams had sponsored and co-sponsored motions/bills. Among these are;

    1. A law to ensure the commencement and completion of projects proposed in the capital estimates of any given financial year in Cross River State, and for matters connected therewith.

    2. Cross River State Infrastructure Fund Bill, 2015

    3. Great Calabar City Development Authority Bill, 2015

    4. Cross River State Tax Exemption (Low Income Earners) Bill, 2015 5. Cross River Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2015

    6. Cross River State Portside Development Agency Bill, 2016

    7. Cross River State Homeland Safety and Security Agency Bill, 2016

    8. A bill for a law to ensure Fiscal Discipline in the Generation and Utilization of State Revenue, Secure Long-Term Macro-Economic Stability of the State Economy and establishment of the Economic and Finance Intelligence Commission to promote and enforce the State’s economic objective; and related matters.

    9. Cross River State Gubernatorial Pension (Amended) Bill 2018

    CO-SPONSORED BILLS by Eteng Jonah Williams

    1. A bill to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State neighboring security watch and for matters connected.

    2. A bill for a law to establish the Cross State counterpart fund account and other connected matters.

    3. A bill for a law to establish the Cross River State schools of Nursing, Midwifery and post-basic midwifery and for matters connected therewith.

    4. A bill for a law to establish the Cross River State multi-door courthouse and for others connected therewith.

    5. Cross River State Local Government Harmonized Levies, Fees and Charger Bill, 2014

    6. Cross River State Local Government Harmonized Levies, Fees and Charger Bill, 2015

    7. A law to amend the Cross River University of Technology Law, 2008.

    8. Cross River State Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Board to regulate the activities of Private Schools.

    9. A law to amend the Cross River State Road Infrastructure maintenance levy and related matters.

    10. A law to prohibit the act of kidnapping in Cross River and the committing of any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of a kidnapped.

    11. A law to make provision for the Cross River State Sustainable Development Goals Agency.

    12. A law to make provision for the Cross River State Domestication of Corporate Social Responsibility.

    13. A law to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State infrastructural fund.

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    14. A law to establish the Cross River State Environment and Carbon Emission Board.

    15. A law establishing the consumer protection agency, provides for the protection of the interest of consumers and the settlement of consumer disputes.

    16. A law to provide for the establishment of a commercial Agricultural Agency

    17. A law to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission

    18. A law to establish the Cross River State Safety Commission

    19. A law to provide protection against domestic violence and for connected purposes.

    20. A law to provide for the establishment of a child protection commission in Cross River State.

    21. A law to amend the Cross River State Corporate Social.

    22. A law to provide for the Cross River State preservation of Public Peace and for other matters connected therewith.

    23. A law to prohibit legal relationships between persons of the same sex in Cross River State and for other matters connected therewith

    24. A law to amend the Cross River State Urban Development Authority Law (as 2000 amended) and for other matters connected therewith.

    25. A law to amend the Cross River State Corporate Social Responsibility Agency Law No.11 of 2015 and for other matters connected therewith.

    Rt Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, Member representing Yakurr II State constituency and Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly

    MOTIONS BY RT. HON. ETENG JONES WILLIAMS

    1. Motion calling on the Federal Government to urgently appeal to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J) judgement on the ceding of Bakassi Peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon.

    2. Motion calling on the State Government to urgently intervene in the lnyima and Onyeadama crisis which led to the destruction of lives, and properties and rendered the people of Inyima homeless.

    3. Motion calling on the State Government to urgently intervene in the crisis between lnyima and Onyeadama cum Nko and Mkpani communities.

    CO-SPONSORED MOTION by Eteng Jonah Williams

    1. Motion calling on the State Government to urgently institute an Internal Staff Personnel Audit in the State Public Service

    2. Motion calling on the State and Local Government to institutionalize, adopt, implement and apply project management framework and strategy in the initiation, planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of all government protects in Cross River State

    3. Motion requesting for a sustainable implementation strategy to ensure a high-level performance of the Federal budget extract of Cross River State in the 2012 Federal Budget.

    4. A motion calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international donor agencies to support the State Government objectives to attain the MDGs in the Health sector by 2015

    5. Motion calling on the State Government to embark on an aggressive establishment of cottage industries across the State.

    6. Motion calling on Cross River State Government MDAs and the Local Government Area to come up with the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) alternative plan to sustain the development agenda of the State beyond the MDG’s target.

    7. Motion advocating for the development of a State Wide Technical Reference Framework (TRF) template for MDAs in Cross River State.

    8. Motion calling on the Statewide engagement strategy for NGOs and CSOs in the Public Sector in Cross River State.

    9. Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to urgently rehabilitate/renovate the Special Education Centre Secondary School, Ikom Layout, Calabar.

    10. Motion calling on mining companies’ operation in the State to comply with provisions of the Mining act relating to Environment Impact Assessment and EIA Community Development Agreement (CDA)

    11. A Motion calling on the relevant agencies of Government to protect online services in the state for cybercrime.

    12. A motion calling on the Cross River State Government to list the Akachak Cultural Festival on the State Annual Event Calendar.

    13. Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to urgently intervene in the construction and rehabilitation of the Yache/Wonokom/Wanikade/Benue border road, and the Alifokpa/Yache Bridge, Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State.

    14. Motion calling on the Cross River State Forestry Commission and its agents to allow private organizations to import partly processed wood from neighboring States and countries into Cross River State.

    COMMITTEE REPORT by Eteng Jonah Williams

    1. Report of joint Committee on Security, Conflicts and Disaster Management/NDDC and Environmental Matters/Agricultural and Natural Resources on the windstorm and wanton destruction of properties experienced in some parts of Cross River State between 30th April, 2012-2nd May 2012.

    2. Report of the Joint Committee on Security, Conflicts and Disaster Management/State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on the flood disaster at Nassarawa, 8 Miles, Calabar.

    3. Report of the Special Committee on Oversight functions in the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State.

    4. Contact Report of Joint Committee of Security, Conflict and Disaster Management State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on familiarisation visit to SEMA.

    5. Atim Ekpenyong Report of the Joint Committee on Security, Conflict and Disaster Management, Environment and Agriculture on the windstorm and wanton destruction of properly experienced in some parts of the State between 30th April 2012 and 2nd May 2012.

    6. Report of the Joint, Committee on Finance and Appropriation/Due Process, Donor Support and Intergovernmental Affairs on the Cross River State counterpart fund bill, 2014

    7. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the request for house approval to enable the State Government to secure and obtain a N1.5 billion term loan facility from Fidelity Bank PLC for RUDA Capital Project.

    8. Report of the Joint Committee on Environmental NDDC works, Lands/Housing and Security, Conflicts and Disaster Management on the Flood Disaster Management on the flood disaster in Ijiman-Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area.

    9. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River State Infrastructure fund bill.

    10. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River State Environment and carbon emission bill, 2016

    11. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River State tax exemption (Low income earners) bills, 2015

    12. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on a bill for on how to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State Infrastructure Fund and for matters connected therewith

    13. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River Revenue Administration (Amendment) bill, 2015

    14. Report of the Finance and Appropriate Committee on the Cross River State Administration (Amendment)bill,2015 15. Report of the Finance and Appropriate Committee on the Cross River State Appropriation (Amendment) Bill 2015

    16. Report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation on a request for a house resolution in support of bailout loans to the State.

    17. Report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation on a request for approval of Regulations to the Cross River State Wharf Landing Fees Law 2015

    18. Report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation on the Cross River State Gubernatorial pensions (Amendment) Bill-2018

    19. Report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation on the screening of Nominee (Akpanke Ogan) for appointment as Chairman IRS

    20. Report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation on the Cross River State Appropriation Bill-2019-Wed 29th March 2019

    21. Report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation on a request for House of Assembly approval to withdraw N2 billion from the state NESEROR funding.

  • Group urges Nigerians to boycott Carnival Calabar if Jalingo, Odok are not released from detention

    By Frank Ulom

    A group under the aegis of Coalition of Cross River State Civil Society Organisations, CCRSCSO, has urged Nigerians and the International community to boycott Carnival Calabar 2019, if detained Journalist and Activist, Agba Jalingo and Joseph Odok, Esq., are not released in the next 48 hours.

    This was made known in a press statement signed by Anthony Bissong Attah, Iso Edim, Richard F. Inoyo, Ukorebi Esien, Efio-Ita Nyok and Simon Utsu on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 and made available to THE PARADISE NEWS.

    According to CCRSCSO, who said “no conditions” should be attached to the release of the journalist and activist, boycotting the Carnival will show a solidarity stand and a call for Freedom of the Press.

    The statement also pointed out that this year’s Carnival-themed “Humanity” should be scraped out as it doesn’t define the festival following the arrest and detention of Jalingo and Odok for over 100 days.

    The group said: “In August 2019, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade, unveiled the theme of the Carnival Calabar 2019 to be —Humanity. However, in the same month of August this year, human rights activist, Agba Jalingo was illegally arrested at his Lagos residence by officers of the Nigerian Police and detained. In the following month of September, Joseph Odok’s arrest was effected. Each of them has spent over a hundred days in detention whereas their trial is yet to commence.”

    The CCRSCSO who said they visited Jalingo and Odok on Christmas day in the Custodial Centre in Calabar Correctional Service, Afokang, Calabar, also demanded the replacement of the newly inaugurated Commissioner for Humanity, Blessing Egbara, if she failed in her first official appointment.

    “We issue a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the release of the duo activists; Agba Jalingo and Joseph Odok Ph.D., without conditions.

    “That if (i) above is not met, we demand that the international community and the generality of the Nigerian public in solidarity with the incarcerated journalist and activist, boycott the 28 December 2019 Carnival celebration in Calabar.

    “The first official assignment of the newly inaugurated Commissioner for Humanity in Cross River State, Blessing Egbara, is to comply with (i) above.

    “Should the Honourable Commissioner for Humanity fail in her first official assignment, we call on His Excellency the Executive Governor of the State, Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade, to immediately replace the Humanity-themed Carnival Calabar 2019 with something else in order to avoid a contest of semantics and prevent the misrepresentation of human right reality within Cross River State to Nigerians and the international community”, the CCRSCSO resolved.

    They also alleged that the State Government is planning to incarcerate another group of Activists to confirm his tyrannical rule which no one has been bold enough to question.

    “We want to notify the powers that be in the state, that we are aware, from our intelligence, that there are 6 activists in your hit list you have marked down to give the Agba Jalingo/Joseph Odok treatment beginning from January 2020. But be rest assured that Cross Riverians are watching, and the world is observing as well – we will not be deterred”, they maintained.

  • Ayade commends UNICAL’s inclusion of Carnival studies in curriculum

    …as ADSPON Holds AGM in Calabar

    By Kingsley Agim

    The State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has commended the University of Calabar, under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Zana Akpagu, for including, the first-of-its-kind, Carnival Studies to the curriculum of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies.

    The Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Dr. Aye Henshaw, gave the commendation at the Association of Dance Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria Conference and Annual General Meeting, held recently at the University of Calabar.

    Governor Ayade said the timing of the Conference was “auspicious,” as it comes at a period (December) where the State is meshed in the ecstasies of the month-long glitzy and glamorous Carnival Calabar festivities.

    “I like to commend the dynamic leadership of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu, for the partnership which has led to the addition of Carnival Studies, first time in the country, to the curriculum of the Department of Theatre Arts. This, the State Government could not have done without, because apart from adding to the curriculum, the Carnival Calabar, in terms of content, has gained considerably from the partnership with resource persons from the University, serving as adjudicators and in several other capacities,” the Governor remarked.

    Governor Ayade, who emphasised on society’s dependence on the universities for new ideas and expansion of knowledge, expressed hope that recommendations from the conference to help enrich content of the carnival and add impetus to the development of Carnival Calabar and tourism in the State.

    In his remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Ani, welcomed participants to the conference, the University and the ancient city of Calabar, assuring them that in line with the theme – “Dance, Carnival and Tourism Development,” scholarly presentations and other deliberations at the event, would help in advancing these all-important areas in the entertainment and tourism industry.

    Also speaking, the Head of Department of the Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies Department, University of Calabar and Convener of the Conference, Prof. Emmy Ikanaba Idegu, who defined a dancer as “anybody that ever moves he body to synchronize to the given sound of music, said beyond that, ADSPON is a gathering of dancers, scholars and practitioners.

    Prof. Idegu expressed delight at the honour of hosting this year’s edition of the conference, adding that “when it comes to carnivals in Africa, Carnival Calabar is unrivalled.”

    He described the theme of the conference as apt, noting that at the end of the 3-day event, justice will be done to the theme and sub-themes, while welcoming delegates to the all-important event.

    Earlier in his address, the President of the Association, Prof. Jaleel Ojuade, pointed out that the choice of Calabar for the conference stemmed from its coincidence with the internationally-acclaimed Carnival Calabar Festival that draws tourists and fun-seekers from across the world to the ancient city at this time of the year.

    Prof. Ojuade said Carnival as a factor in our society’s development needs adequate promotion and support; hence the conference is for stakeholders, scholars and practitioners to interrogate the dance and carnival, to put a lens to their contributions to sustainable development of tourism in Nigeria’s socio-cultural and economic environment.

    He thanked all contributors towards the success of the conference for their painstaking contributions and wished delegates a memorable event in Calabar.

  • Recounting Zana Akpagu’s 4 years achievements as UNICAL VC

    By Inyali Peter

    The award-winning Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Prof. Zana Akpagu was four years into his five-year tenure on the 30th of November 2019. He assumed office formally as the 10th and first Alumnus Vice Chancellor of the University on the 30th of November 2015.

    Unarguably, UNICAL, a 2nd generation University has had its best days since its establishment in the last four years of Prof. Akpagu’s administration. It’s almost impossible to think of any aspect of the University that has not developed rapidly since he came on board.

    Renowned for his charismatic leadership style which involves blowing hot and cold depending on which strategy best suits what he intends to achieve, Akpagu has successfully taken UNICAL from a stagnant 2nd generation University to a fast-rising 21st century institution.

    Akpagu, despite assuming office at a time the nation was going through one of her worst recessions of all times, he has been phenomenal. He is leaving indelible marks in the areas of infrastructure and development, programmes expansion, security, among others. Gradually, the University is becoming a huge construction sites.

    It’s on record that no Vice Chancellor in the over 40 years lifespan of the institution has completed or come close to completing more capital projects than Prof. Akpagu. In terms of curriculum offerings, it’s also the same, he holds the record as the VC who has established more programmes to meet the contemporary labour demands than any other in the history of the University.

    Besides, the profile of the University, nationally and internationally is rising radically. UNICAL, like the United States of America extolled sometime this year has become not just a national pride but a global brand.

    Days were UNICAL was dismissed with a wave of hand are over as Students and products of the University have taken the international community by storm. It wasn’t long ago that Students from the University won the World Best Oralist Competition held at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) headquarters, Washington DC, United States of America.

    The University which fielded Students that represented the entire Africa continent at the International Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition also emerged runners up in the competition.

    Also, within the same period, UNICAL football team took the country by storm when nobody gave the University a chance by becoming the winner of the 2019 Nigeria Higher Institution Football League (HiFL) tournament. This was of course the first of it kind.

    As if that wasn’t enough, in the area of theatre and stage performance, the University is also Nigeria’s champion. In the recently held Nigerian Universities Theatre Festival, UNICAL emerged the overall best by sweeping most of the awards. The event which had 16 Universities participating saw UNICAL coming first in Short Film, Spoken Word and Stand-up Comedy competitions. The University also won the best overall Female Actor in the event.

    In other categories, UNICAL came third in Drama, Contemporary Dance as well as first, second and third in “on the spot” Solo Performance Workshop Competition. In the event’s Carnival competition, UNICAL band was adjudged the most colourful and best interpreted.

    In the past four years, Akpagu has been magical as he has been phenomenal. He has touched virtually every area in the University – ranging from Sports, Security, Alumni relations, Campus aesthetics, Expansion of curriculum offerings, Staff and Students welfare, infrastructure etc.

    Also recall that, UNICAL got her first ever elevator after over 40 years under the Akpagu’s administration. Many former VCs tried and got frustrated at some point in trying to install an elevator in the University Library but Akpagu who sees impossibility as illusion took up the challenge and today, Students and staff who were finding it difficult to access the top floors of the building are now doing so almost effortlessly.

    Below is an attempt to highlight some of his achievements under different units of the University represented in themes. This is not comprehensive because it’s too difficult to try to remember all the numerous things he has done in such a short period.

    Expansion of Infrastructural Development; Construction, Supplies and Rehabilitation

    • Construction of 500-seater pavilion for faculty of Engineering

    • Construction of Laboratory, Resource room and Library for faculty of Dentistry

    • Construction of Department of Physics Workshop

    • Construction of Dance Studio for Department of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies

    • Construction of packaged water treatment plant and connection to the central water supply system

    • Construction of ultramodern parking lot

    • Construction and furnishing of 1-storey capacity Chemistry Laboratory and classroom building

    • Construction and furnishing of 1-storey capacity Physics Laboratory and classroom building

    • Construction of classrooms and offices for Institute of Education

    • Construction of elevated water tank at the staff village

    • Construction of Post graduate hostel.

    • Construction of faculty office for the faculty of education

    • Construction and furnishing of 1-storey Education complex building (inclusive of classrooms, offices, Laboratories and conference room)

    • Construction and furnishing of 350 computer capacity laboratory building

    • Construction of drainages

    • Renovation and equipping of Lecture rooms, laboratories and studios

    • Provision and expansion of teaching and research equipments to faculties and departments

    • Supply of library books to faculties

    • Supply of central gas to the faculties of physical and biological sciences

    • Supply of 2000 lecture theatre seats with swivel writing pads

    • Supply of (500) 8-spring double bunk beds and (3000) 8-spring mattresses

    •Procurement of (1) 30-seater bus (2) Toyota Hilux and (1) Hiace bus

    • Rehabilitation works in hall 8&9 (Female hostels)

    • Rehabilitation works in hall 4 (male hostels)

    • Rehabilitation of work-tops in some laboratories in the college of Medical Sciences, Sciences and Agriculture

    • Refurbishing and completion of abandoned building for department of Fine Arts, Music and Mass Communication.

    SPORTS DEVELOPMENT:

    • Formation of a Board for UNICAL Sports Council

    • Commencement of work on the lawn tennis
    court
    • Flagging off of a keep-fit exercise programme

    • Introduction of the Vice Chancellor football Club Competition

    • FIFA Graded Referee

    • Winning Laurels

    • Attracting External donations

    • Reviving of Malabor World Cup (MAWOC)

    • Formation of a female Soccer team

    SECURITY

    • Improved Security on Campus

    • The issue of acute shortage of security personnel is being addressed with the employment of 17 new security staff

    • Provision of three (3) serviceable patrol vehicles mounted with relevant security accessories/equipments

    • Provision of necessary security equipments like Matches, touch lights, rain capes etc

    • Provision of new set of uniform for all security personnel

    • Re-enforcement of internal security with about 30 armed Policemen patrolling the Staff quarters on 24 hours basis and other vulnerable points on campus

    • 90 % completion of a Police station building at the staff quarters to checkmate violent crimes like Kidnapping and armed robbery

    • Securing approval from the Chief of Naval Staff for the establishment of a Naval security post and Jetty at the Qua River axis of UNICAL to checkmate violent crimes on the waterways.

    • Unprecedented promotion of security staff.

    • Special promotion of security staff who exhibited extra-ordinary
    gallantry in the execution of their duty

    • Erection of new security posts at new faculties and departments

    IMPROVEMENT IN ALUMNI RELATIONS

    • Unification of the entire alumni body

    • Elevation of UNICAL alumni to a Directorate

    • Identification with the various UNICAL alumni branches across the federation

    • Renewed interest in alumni activities manifested in springing up of several branches

    • A period marked by the recognition an elevation of many alumni in various fields of human endeavor

    • Alumni enrichment of Departments by visiting alumnus

    CAMPUS AESTHETICS/REBRANDING

    • Shuttle Park

    • Hogan Bassey parking lot

    • Landscaping and planting of ornamental plants

    • Uniform color of the University structures

    • Upgrading of UNICAL main gate

    • Upgrading facilities in the Senior Staff Club

    IMPROVEMENT IN CAMPUS MUNICIPAL SERVICES

    • Campus Shuttle service
    • Improved Water Supply
    • Move to up constant power supply
    • Recreational facilities
    • Improved Campus traffic

    EXPANSION OF CURRICULUM OFFERINGS/ ACADEMIC VISIBILITY

    • Expansion of the academic curricula by the introduction of new and marketable programmes like Music, Fine and Applied Arts, Tourism and Hospitality, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, Mass Communication and
    Digital Studies, Architecture, Estate Management and Evaluation,
    Surveying and Geo-informatics, Urban and Regional Planning, Physiotherapy, Food Science and Technology and Criminology and Anti-corruption studies

    • Increase in the number of faculties from 12-16

    • A hundred per cent accreditation of programmes to the National
    Universities Commission (NUC) for re accreditation

    • Establishment of a ranking and visibility committee

    • Elevation of UNICAL to centre of excellence (CEO) human resources for health management training across the country

    SUSTENANCE OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, LEARNING AND RESEARCH

    • Sustained increase in the tempo of academic activities like Faculty conferences, public lectures, departmental lectures, institute
    lecturers and over 16 Inaugural lectures

    • Creation of innovators club

    • Creation of a Quality Assurance/ Control unit domiciled in the Directorate of Research and Quality Assurance

    • Setting up of Quality Assurance ambassadors in the faculties

    STAFF AND STUDENTS’ WELFARE

    • Uninterrupted peace and stability on campus attributed to proactive interaction with students

    • Unprecedented swift response to issues affecting students

    • Enthusiastic about set targets for addressing complaints

    • Commissioning of laundry bay to aid laundry challenges

    • Rehabilitation of the female scholarship hostel for use

    • Massive rehabilitation of hall six which was long abandoned. Now ready for use

    • Instituting an enviable culture for sanitation of the hostels which involves not only paid staff but volunteer students

    • Adding value to the hostels through massive landscaping, tiling, re-piping, re-wiring, constant supply of cleaning materials, evacuation of sewage, de-silting of soak-away and delivery of over 3000 mattresses

    • Easing of obtaining accommodation in the hostels through an electronic platform that is linked to the payment portal

    DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF UNICAL PRODUCTIVE CAPACITIES AND CONSUMER SERVICES

    • Developing UNICAL Agro-allied industry with capacity for the production of Animal feeds in commercial quantity

    • Commencement of Commercial Paint production by the Department of Applied Chemistry

    • Upgrading of UNICAL table water to the status of a Directorate, and functioning at optimal capacity

    • Opening of new branches of UNICAL Microfinance Bank to provide community services across the state

    • Upgrading and optimizing the UNICAL Bookshop

    COBOC, HOST COMMUNITY’S ECONOMY AND IMPROVED COMMUNITY RELATIONS

    • Allocating spaces to prospective business operators to carry on with their businesses

    • Regulating influx of businesses on campus

    • Creating secluded areas for businesses to thrive instead of allowing indiscriminate display of products

    • Assisting with the beautification of the campus by making sure business operators keep their surroundings clean

    • Putting an end to makeshift shops and trade hence the introduction of solid building on owner occupier basis subject to COBOC’s
    guidelines

    COLLABORATION AND LINKAGES BETWEEN 2016 TO DATE

    • Institute for Universal Harmony (INUH)- for training certified Universal Conflict Resolution Management Experts and Peace building
    Consultants and advocates

    • New Creation Educational foundation and Ivote, Macedonia- for provision of Multi-media e-learning technologies for UNICAL.

    • Estuary Academic and Strategic Institute (IUES-INSAN), Douala, Cameroon- collaboration in Health and Management Sciences

    • Southern Universities USA and ICT University foundation, USA- for establishment of e-learning center and exchange program

    • Montclair State University, character Scotland and Dreams learning Solutions-for establishment of Resource and implementation character Education and Evaluation Center.

    • Delta State University, Abraka- for staff/ students exchange program

    • Cross River College of Education, Akamkpa- Affiliation for award of degrees in Education

    ONGOING PROJECTS

    • Construction of proposed 500-seat lecture pavilion

    • Construction of Academic building incorporating Science Laboratory for the faculty of Education

    • Construction of offices and classrooms for the faculty of Science

    • Construction of faculty of Engineering complex

    Like earlier stated, this list is not absolutely comprehensive as it’s herculean task to try to capture. Many projects may have missed out in this but howbeit, UNICAL al has risen in the last four years more than any other Nigerian University and this is enough to celebrate.

    As he enters his last year in office, there’s no doubt that he will do more because his passion to turn things around in the University is as strong as the first step he assumed office

  • Champion Newspaper awards Ayade Governor of the year 2019

    Champion Newspaper awards Ayade Governor of the year 2019

    By Frank Ulom

    Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade has emerged as the Champion Newspaper Governor of the Year for 2019.

    The choice of Ayade as Governor of the year was contained in a letter signed by the newspaper’s Managing Director and Editor-in-chief, Mrs. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa.

    While justifying the choice of the governor for the award, Iheakanwa said: “The award which is a product of painstaking selection of our Board of Editors, is our modest way of recognizing leaders who have paid a greater sacrifice in ensuring that the objectives and ideals of our nationhood are sustained.”
    She said Ayade’s emergence has been corroborated by an independent team of assessors.

    “On all scores, our findings, largely corroborated by that of independent assessors, confirmed that Cross River State under your watch has become a model state in terms of value creation in the art of governance,” she stated.

    Continuing, Iheakanwa said: “We note with delight, your uncommon zeal and pragmatism with which you have pursued the business of transforming Cross River into a resourceful state.

    “Most importantly is the patriotic and noble steps in transforming the state into an industrial hub.”

    According to the editor-in-chief, “As a watchdog of the society, it is our duty not only to track and document your sterling performance but also to acknowledge your commitment and love for your state in particular and the country in general.”

    The letter of notification, however, fixed the award ceremony for February 2020.