Joining COOPA comes with a lot of responsibility" - Ifreke Nseowo

 "Joining COOPA comes with a lot of responsibility" - Ifreke Nseowo

... Inducts 10 new members

... Awards outstanding members

Priscilla Akpanettot

Ifreke Nseowo, Chancellor of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA) has foretold newly inducted members of the organization, of the responsibilities ahead of them as they come onboard the group.

He said this while addressing them on Friday, 6th of October; eve of the 2023 Conference of the organization at Eden Hotel in Eket.

Nseowo who described COOPA as a well-structured body of Online Publishers said it was pertinent that the newcomers respect the already established precepts of the organization and adhere to the rules and regulations binding members.

The Chancellor who has overseen the affairs of the organization for eight years recalled COOPA's long walk to starlight and called for their collective hard work and intellectual contribution in sustaining the brand.

He said the body of Professionals would not hesitate to discipline any member who attempts to undermine and smear the image of COOPA and that indolence would not be condoned.

"We've come a long way and it only behooves of you all to sustain the tempo", he said. 

He therefore appealed that they refrain from actions that would ground the group's hard-earned reputation in the minds of it publics, and their subsequent dismissal from the body.

Consequently, he inducted ten newcomers, the very first set of COOPA inductees and decorated them as bonafide members to COOPA. They included: Mary Ekere, Mfon Bassey, Henshaw Nyong, Imaobong Umoekah,

Hero Akpata, Mercy Ani, Nyakno Edet, Tony Esin and Bassey Samuel (Ibom Plaza).

Responding on behalf of the inductees, Hero Akpata, commended the Chancellor and executive members of COOPA for accepting them. He assured him of their preparedness to work in support of the body and pledged their loyalty to COOPA.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor in his valedictory remarks strongly acknowledged, commended and awarded members of his Exco for their commitment to the success of his administration.

The awardees were: 

Aniekan Ekah, Nelson NseAbasi, Utitofon Morgan Ukpong, Samuel Ayara, Darlington Udobong, Prince Simeon and Priscilla Akpanettot.

The event was coloured by the presentation of Manifesto by aspirants seeking election in various offices for the next tenure.

Gov. Umo Eno's Commitment to Rural Devt. will pay-off - Essien Ndueso

 

Priscilla Akpanettot

Governor Umo Eno's commitment to developing the rural areas of the State will yield in leaps and bounds, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor, Essien Ndueso has said.

Ndueso said this when he featured on the 2023 online media chat of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA), recently.

Essien Ndueso who described the Governor as focussed and purpose-driven said the State's Chief Executive has already made large imprints indicative of his readiness to fulfil his campaign promises.

"Since May 29, 2023, we can see that Pastor Umo Eno has continued to endear himself to the people of Akwa Ibom State by virtue of his disposition to governance. He has demystified governance. He has made people to know that you can see the Governor, touch the Governor or even wake up to find the Governor worshipping in your church without prior notice".

"I have not seen where a Governor goes round from one rural community to the other to look for what to do for the people. By going round these rural communities, he's able to see the expectations and yearnings of the rural communities", he said. 

Speaking on the Governor's priorities, the SSA on Research and Documentation told the Online Publishers that Umo Eno is poised at changing the narrative in rural development.

"Rural development is the second leg of his agenda. He wants to prevent rural-urban drift in the state by developing rural communities", he expressed.

"He is trying to put in place investments in agricultural development...the Governor has mandated all the Local Government Chairmen to present 50 to 100 hectares of land for his government to set up model farms in all the Local Government Areas, so that all Akwa Ibomites can get involved in productive agricultural ventures", he stated.

Beyond agriculture, Ndueso informed that other aspects of rural development the Governor is keen about include: education, health and road infrastructure.

"I have not seen where Primary Healthcare is given the type of attention that Pastor Umo Eno is giving it in Akwa Ibom State or where Model Primary Schools are being developed around the ten Federal Constituencies, except in Akwa Ibom State."

"In Ibesikpo Asutan, he flagged-off a Model Health Centre. In Ukanafun, he decided to put life back to the Ukanafun Cottage Hospital which was abandoned since 2011. He has promised that this will be replicated across the entire State. For him, Primary Health Care is to be taken very seriously". 

"Right now, Akwa Ibom is the only State in the Federation where a road project initiated by a Governor has been commissioned within 100 days. It has not happened anywhere. I have seen where Governors commission road projects that were started by their predecessors, but we are talking about where the Governor initiated projects and commissioned them under 100 days", he maintained. 

Speaking on the general acceptance of the Governor's agenda by the people, the aide averred that the ARISE Agenda is both apt and relevant, and is a call for Akwa Ibomites to take action.

"The ARISE AGENDA comes both as a clarion call and an acronym for the Governor's blueprint in Akwa Ibom State. It is an acronym and a wake-up call for the people to embrace opportunities and join hands in developing Akwa Ibom State."

"To make the ARISE Agenda implementable, the Governor decided to institute a dialogue programme where critical stakeholders within and outside the State were brought in, to examine the manifesto, make inputs, take ownership of the manifesto and become part and parcel of the execution of the ARISE Agenda."

He therefore charged the people of the State to heed the call and remain steadfast in allegiance to the State and the present administration.

Tough times do not Last!

Tough times do not last, but tough people do.

There are reasons for all of the tough times we go through. One of them is to help us rediscover ourselves, another is to enable us purge ourselves of the negative energies (people) around us and the most important is for us to build experience. 

While there could be other reasons, these three have always been on my scale of documentation when I encounter tough times.

Basically, the primary mission of a tough time is to stretch you. You'll be so expanded and expended mentally, psychologically, emotionally and perhaps, financially to your breaking point; so much that everything around you will seem wrong. You'll lost pleasure in everything you once relished and you'll be naturally drawn to being alone. 

One of the reasons you'll feel this way will be the people (energy) around you. For some perplexing reason, some friends and acquaintances will often take delight in failing during tough times or being the singular reason for a raging storm. From excuses to non-chalance, refusing to show-up, betrayal, denial and the likes; they make the burden heavier and the pain deeper. You'll be stunned at how someone will nudge you on, blow your trumpet and assure you of their unflinching support yet, leave you out on the high sea without a life-jacket. In the end, you'll be so shock-struck to know it was envy all the while - the thought of you standing out was behind the entire imbroglio.

While the Nollywood-like script plays out, you'll be unlearning and relearning. You'll wake up from the slumber of "I know her" and "He is trustworthy". You'll trash your previous perceptions and build new ones. You'll gather fresh blocks of experience which you'll use in building new relationships, and you'll expand your resilience.

This is the reason they say experience is the best teacher. 

But note that you won't grow if you've not been baptized in experience.

There'll be no experience if you've not submitted to learning; 

and you can't learn if you've not given yourself to opportunities.

This is my story.

I've been on this table time and again, and I've come out fantastically remoulded.

If you've been here as well, don't let that experience break you! Don't let it deter you, and don't let it stop you!

Relax a bit if you want to, then spring back!

Relaunch and Refire!

Winners do not quit!

The Risks we take daily

    

One of the biggest risks we take everyday is using public means of transportation. You totally submit yourself to the reckless care of one indifferent driver and he drives you straight to the grave.

Truly, if the Lord had not been on our side, many of us would have been lost and forgotten on highways and roadsides, by errant drivers.

Drivers whose sole aim is to arrive their destination and return for another trip within the shortest possible time should be most dreaded.

They're blind to gallops, road-bumps, portholes or sharp bends, and their kind of speed is the one that kills.

They can overtake, swerve and bend in a way that makes you think they have a spare life. Try to talk some caution into them and you'll have it hot. "I've been driving since 1900 and I've never had an accident", one of them boasted yesterday. "It's our road, so no shaking", he added.

As you go out and return each day, remember to thank God for always taking the wheels off the hands of these killers.

As your loved one returns from any trip, thank God for bringing them back safely.

You're no way better than those who were called to go identify a family member's body thrown on the roadside by a random driver.

God help us!

Ukanafun Youth Get N5m Business Support

…Bursaries to be paid in two weeks’ time

Priscilla Akpanettot

The youth population across the 13 Wards of Ukanafun Local Government Area were awash with excitement on Thursday, September 14, 2023, as 65 of them were empowered with cash business support worth over Five Million Naira by the Chairman of the Local Government Area, Pst. Godwin Inyieng.

Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000) each was given to five members of each Ward, while 260 others received Five Thousand Naira, respectively.

The youth who were gathered in their numbers at the Council Secretariat at Ikot Akpa Nkuk were led by leaders of their respective Units, Wards and Clans in solidarity to the State Governor, Pst. Umo Eno, Council Chairman and his cabinet members.

In his address, Hon. Godwin Inyieng described the youth as the building blocks of society. He commended them for staying faithful and true to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the government of the day and his administration, and for staying on the path of peace.

Acknowledging their steadfastness, the Council Chairman recalled that a lot of them had been enticed by other political parties over the years but remained committed in their stand with the PDP. This, he said, was one of the reasons for calling them together.

Again, he joined them in appreciating the State Governor for his impact in the Local Government within 100 days of his administration.

“We have come to thank His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno for making us feel his impact within 100 days of his administration. The secondary health facility that was supposed to be, had been in a state of limbo for fifteen years but the Governor went there and in a few weeks, work will recommence there that will lead to the construction of the cottage hospital in Ukanafun”.

“Alongside, he has made a pronouncement to intervene in road construction within the medical facility of about 5KM. That is why we’ve come to make this commendation to energize him to do more. Do not forget that two illustrious sons of Ukanafun – Dr. Frank Ekpenyong and Ndiana-Abasi Nana Udom – were among the first set of Senior Special Assistants to be appointed by the Governor. And I can assure you on good authority that more are coming. We came to tell him thank you for what he has done so far”, he said.

“Luckily for us, he is bringing an agricultural program that will employ 2,000 of our youth. It is a program of the state government, being one of the critical components of the ARISE agenda, so we’re at the final stage of donating the land to the state government. And Ukanafun is coming under the first phase of that program. We are thankful to His Excellency.

The Council Chairman who also attributed some of his administration’s success to Pst. Umo Eno’s support seized the opportunity to present his scorecard.  

“We have graded roads in 10 out of 13 Wards. We’ve massively intervened in the Primary Health facility at Ikot Akpa Nkuk which was in a sorry state when we came; we’ve brought a skill acquisition centre to Adat Ifang and a big community water scheme. At the other side of the River, we have a Police station that will soon be commissioned and a school block at Afaha Ikot Akpan”.

"Importantly, 50 indigent students of Ukanafun have been awarded scholarships for two years, worth 10 million naira in various tertiary institutions. Recently, we awarded constituency projects to each of the 13 Councilors in Ukanafun and we have paid 50% of the sum for the projects. We’ve constructed two markets; one in Afaha and one in Ukanafun. These projects will be commissioned in a few weeks from now”, he informed.

Meanwhile, the Council Chairman announced the payment of bursaries to students in the area in less than two weeks from the time of the meeting with the youth. He noted that the payment would be done within the same period his wife would be meeting to appreciate women of the area, in fulfilment of what they had promised to the people.

As he presented the packages, Pst. Inyieng charged the recipients to make judicious use of it in expanding their businesses and ventures. He also advised them to refrain from vices and actions that would put the law against them, spark conflict and jeopardise the peace currently enjoyed in the area.

On receiving the package, some of the recipients shared their excitement with this Reporter. One of them was Owoidighe Isonguyo Udom, a petty trader and indigene of Ward 3 who described the financial support as just what her business needs to keep thriving. She thanked the giver and prayed for divine increase upon him.

Another recipient, Ediong Sunday Inwang of Ward 13 is a commercial driver. He lamented the impact of the fuel subsidy removal and narrated his woes with the vehicle he drives on hire purchase terms. He therefore thanked Hon. Godwin Inyieng for coming through for him at a time of desperate need.

Consequently, the youth conglomerate passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman, his cabinet members and Governor Umo Eno, respectively. The motion for the Vote Confidence were moved by Hon. Emmanuel Eventus Koka, Hon. Umakiso Victor Umoh and Iboro Ubom.

Earlier, the chairman on the occasion and Commissioner One, Local Government Service Commission in the area, Obong Saturday Akpan lauded the youth for coming together and passing a vote of confidence on the Governor, the State Party Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan, the entire political leadership in Ukanafun and above all, the Local Government Chairman.

Akpan said the political leadership of the area has taken special notice of the youth's resolve to be together and shun tendencies that would impact negatively on their wellbeing.

He then commended the Council Chaiman for warming himself into the hearts of the youth and for empowering them.

In his remarks, the PDP Chapter Chairman, Elder Godwin Ekpe said the Party was happy to identify with the Council Chairman on the empowerment scheme, and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.

The youth gathering was attended by the Council’s Vice Chairman, Mrs. Inemesit Akpan; Party Youth Leader, Akanimo Etim; present and former council staff, Councilors and Supervisors; former House members, youth and women groups in Ukanafun.

Projecting Akwa Ibom is everybody's business - Ralph Edem

 

Priscilla Akpanettot

The business of marketing and projecting Akwa Ibom State has been described as a task for every citizen of the State by the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno on Brand Management and Marketing.

The Brand strategist said this when the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom (COOPA) engaged him in their annual Media Chat on Wednesday, September 15, 2023, at his Office.

The Governor's aide who was responding to questions on how he intends to market the State, vis-a-vis the ARISE Agenda argued that every member of the State community had a responsibility of making the brand known.

"Projecting the Akwa Ibom Brand is all of our responsibility. We're using whatever channels that are available to tell the Akwa Ibom story and present her in positive light to the rest of the world, because there is really no society that is developed on its own. Development has always been a function of different components, including people coming in from different parts of the world, so there can be cross-fertilization of ideas and opportunities to learn from others", he stated.

"As Akwa Ibomites, we need to talk about the positives. We need to talk about the things that make us unique and not being the ones who deride our state. The truth is, Akwa Ibom State is the only state that we have". 

"Akwa Ibom is a place that money can afford to go to. Even when we can say that there is no place on the face of the earth that is completely crime free, those of us who live here know that comparatively, Akwa Ibom is a place a lot of people would rather be, from a security point of view", he submitted.

Speaking on the present administration's steps toward economic development, Edem averred that the Governor was on track the ARISE Agenda.

"We've seen a steady trajectory of government. We've seen the style that Pastor Umo Eno has brought into government, how he has demystified government and brought it closer to the people".

"We have seen a very responsible and responsive leader in Pastor Umo Eno. We are hopeful that with God on our side and with the cooperation of all of our partners and the people, we'll be able to see the light at the end of this very long tunnel", he assured.

On the Governor's intervention to reduce the effect of subsidy removal on citizens, he noted that Governor Umo Eno has been both proactive and reactive, in his response to the people's plight; evidenced in the recent flag-off of the distribution of palliatives at Government Warehouse in Ikot Ekpene Udo, Nsit Ubium. 

"We are hopeful that with the proper governance that we know Pastor Umo Eno is ready to run, in not too long a time, the challenges imposed by fuel subsidy removal will be a thing of the past".

"There is a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre which is... going to be bring about different hubs that will give people an opportunity to practice what they learnt in the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Centre, and build a business from there. The government intends to encourage them by also patronising them".

"The Governor himself is an entrepreneur. He has spoken about the fact that those who will benefit from his government are those who are ready to work, not people who beg for a living or wait for handouts", he stressed. 

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Adviser expressed gratitude to the State Governor for finding him fit to be at the fore of marketing the State.

"We are already hoping that we'll be able to do enough to justify the confidence of he who appointed us and more importantly, to meet the expectations of Akwa Ibom people who voted this government into power".

"Mine is not an office that works in isolation. We have a relationship with other MDAs of government because all of us basically, we are working for the people and we want to leave a positive impression on the minds of the people. So my office has that task of ensuring that whatever it is that constitutes the Akwa Ibom brand is projected and marketed", he said.

Govt not quiet about missing Corps Members – Ini Ememobong

Priscilla Akpanettot

Against widely held insinuations that the Akwa Ibom State Government is playing dumb about the missing Prospective Corps Members who left the State for the Sokoto State Orientation Camp, the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong has stated the reverse.

The Commissioner who spoke with members of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA) on Wednesday, September 14, 2023 stressed that there was no way a government would not be responsive to the plight of her citizens; moreso, those who were apprehended on their quest for a lawful cause.

He however explained that such information is best kept secret for the sake of security.

Ememobong who was being hosted by the foremost online community in the state was speaking on the state of the State and Nation, following the fuel subsidy removal.

He submitted that the State Government was on it's part putting modalities in place to help cushion the effect of the economic inconvenience.

"what the Governor is doing is to ensure that he strategically positions himself so that, if there are negative aspects of the economic programmes of the Federal Government, he can cushion the effects on Akwa Ibom".

"What the Governor seeks to do is keep very close relationship with the government at the centre, irrespective of political party difference, to ensure that if good must come out of that government, Akwa Ibom must benefit and if an unintended wrong happens by what the Federal Government does, that he can cushion the effects here in Akwa Ibom', he said.

"Pastor Umo Eno is not just sharing palliatives but also ensuring that even at the village level, not one man sitting to share. He says the palliative is not political because multidimensional poverty knows no political party. So it's an idea of making things get to the village and creating a forum for even the Village Head to know that he's accountable to the people".

"The Village Heads know that their Certificate of Recognition is at stake. Any village where we record that a Village head on his own or in connivance with people, had allowed the palliatives not to get to the poorest of the poor", he said.

Speaking about the ARISE Agenda, the State Information Boss dismissed claims that the Agenda was interpreted from vernacular.

 "For us, ARISE is not a word. It is an acronym which stands for Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Development, Security and Education Management. The economic blueprint of Pastor Umo Eno is guided by the ARISE Agenda."

"The ARISE Agenda has five cardinal points and 18 sub-units under these cardinal points which the current administration lays its foundation. What Pastor Umo Eno has done is to transit the ARISE Agenda from being his document, to being a political party's document and now, to becoming a state document and the compass with which the ship of his administration would be navigating through the seas of development".

"Governor Umo Eno wants to undertake the ruralisation of governance and he is not hiding his passion. He doesn't hate urbanisation, but he says there is an inequitable distribution of infrastructure between the urban and the rural areas. So, development will be rural community-centric. It is now time to connect the rural areas to the urban areas", he noted.

In the build up to the State's 36 Anniversary, the Commissioner congratulated Akwa Ibom on having towered higher than her contemporaries very quickly and competing with advanced State economies such as Lagos. 

He wished the State more giant strides in the days to come and informed that the activity schedule for the Anniversary would be out by next week.