UCCDA Partners NURTW on Park Maintenance, Mgmt

...plans demolition of illegal parks, Feb 1

Priscilla Akpanettot

Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) is making plans with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on proper management and maintenance of approved motor parks in the State capital.

Chairman of the Authority, Rt. Hon. Anietie Eka said this in a meeting with members of NURTW in his office on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

Lamenting the proliferation of illegal parks within Uyo Capital City, Rt. Hon. Eka said that operators of such parks were constituting a nuisance to the society and grounding Government's efforts at keeping the capital city clean. 

"One way to sanitize Uyo Capital City is to get rid of such vices. We want to maintain our legacy of cleanliness especially because our State Governor, Pst Umo Eno is particular about tourism", he stated.

He therefore told NURTW  of his team's planned inspection of approved parks in the State, ahead of their intensive road-drive which will commence in February.

"Starting from 1st of February, we will stop operators of illegal parks in the capital city and drive them into the approved parks. But we will come for inspection first to be sure that the parks are useful and can accommodate those we'll be driving off the streets", he assured.

Promising them an effective synergy, the UCCDA Chairman agreed to incorporate some members of the NURTW into the UCCDA team to enable them chart a course on areas of collaboration. He said the incorporation was necessary to help both organizations achieve their objectives.

Earlier, the Chairman, NURTW, Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Uwem Umo Inyang pledged the Union's support for UCCDA's plans for the motorparks and it's leadership. He was corroborated by the NURTW Chairman in Itu, Eld. Timothy Udoh who lamented the menace of illegal motor park operators.

"It is sad that motorparks built with our taxes are left empty while some have been vandalised by hoodlums. Meanwhile, these parks were sited at the sub-urbans so that the capital city can be clean. But it seems like that plan has now been defeated", he explained.

Among other things, the NURTW also made a case for maintenance of the parks to prevent them from wearing out.  

Their request was assented to by the Secretary, UCCDA, Mr. Anietie Akpan who told them that plans were underway on that.

The meeting was attended by Board members of the UCCDA, members of NURTW and heads of motor parks in Uyo Capital City.

Akwa Ibom Photographer Wins 3rd Place at 2023 International Close Up Photographer Of The Year Photo Contest

 

Joseph Macro

An Akwa Ibom photographer, David Joseph has clinched the 3rd place spot, Animals category at the 2023 edition of Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY). 

The Close-Up Photographer Of The Year (CUPOTY) is a yearly global photo competition that celebrates close-up, macro, and micro photography, where tiny creatures and things (or tiny parts of larger things), are captured to reveal details our naked eyes can't pick therefore revealing the hidden wonder of the world.

Winning Images for Animal Catergory

The winners and Top 100 pictures of its 5th edition were announced on Tuesday, January 9, via the contests' official website, with David Joseph making the list in the Animal category of the CUPOTY with his flawless "Natural Architecture", a picture of a sac spider in a curled and webbed grass.

David's Joseph winning image; a sac spider in a curled and webbed grass

According to the CUPOTY website, It took over 20 hours of Zoom calls with 23 judges looking at 11,870 photographs to create what is the best survey yet of close-up, macro, and micro photography in the world across 11 categories from 67 countries.  

"Personally, I think this is our best collection of winning images yet, and I’m so grateful to those who entered as it allows us to see and learn from their work and to recognize how incredible and surprising the world is", says CUPOTY co-founder Tracy Calder.

David, a native of Ikot Annung in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and a 2023 English Education graduate from the University of Uyo had won Akwa Ibom State Professional Photographers and Cinematographers Guild (ASPPACG) Macro Photographer Of The Year Award, 2022 edition. 

Robberfly by David Joseph

He hopes to make more people, especially our young ones aware and understand these little creatures, and replace fear with fascination, through his photos, future exhibitions and workshops, as well as activities in nature conservation programs, as these bugs, which are the unseen heroes of our world are essential to not just our survival, but continuity of the earth. See his works on Instagram: @abcdee_david.

PRESS RELEASE

 

CONFERENCE OF ONLINE PUBLISHERS IN AKWA IBOM STATE (COOPA)

4th January, 2023.

2024: A YEAR TO MOVE FORWARD

As we come into the New Year, 2024, the Conference Of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA), welcomes all Akwa Ibomites to a fresh journey where hope should be renewed with a sense of purpose, focus and clarity on the ideals that will drive the wheels of development in our dear state to a desired destination.

COOPA wishes to commend the efforts of the present administration led by Pastor Umo Eno, who has been proactive in delivering on the pillars of the A.R.I.S.E Agenda mantra in the Agricultural sector, especially, with the establishment of Ibom Model Farm; ecological intervention projects; education; infrastructural development; Aviation; Power; Man power development with the payment of gratuities; Health; Tourism; ICT; and Security. 

On security, we wish to salute the forward steps of the state government to boost security by putting in place the Ibom Community Watch programme, the signing into law of the Akwa Ibom Security Trust Fund Bill, and the recent launch of the Akwa Ibom State Waterways Security Assets. It is also pertinent to emphasise that these machineries should be put into optimal use in securing lives and properties of the citizenry and residents of the State. Government should redouble efforts to  tame the spate of insecurity and ensure the release of the remaining Corps members kidnapped on their way to the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as in the case of the State High Court Judge, Justice Unwana Joy.

Importantly, too, we urge the government to prioritise the establishment of stable ICT platforms for the teeming youths of the state, in line with 21st century technological  innovation and revolution. With the 'Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Bureau for ICT, Innovation and Emerging Technologies (AKIBCT)' before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, we believe, when passed, more opportunities for job creation, skills acquisition and intellectual engagement of the youths will be achieved, while crime rate will be reduced to the barest minimum.

COOPA hopes to remain an impartial partner in the development process of Akwa Ibom State and looks forward to a more productive year, even as we collectively work to foster democratic dividends to our people. 

Signed:

Mr. Utitofon Ukpong,

Chancellor.

Comrade Priscilla Akpanettot,

Secretary

The Struggle Continues

 

The struggle for survival, relevance,  permanence, independence, power, occupancy, headship and so on, continues.

Whatever you'll be struggling for this Year, do not rub the outcome on the faces of those who won't meet up with you.

Don't make anyone feel they can't be anywhere close to your space. Don't act or play God.

Remember you don't, and won't have it all. 

We will all get there in our appointed time.

Allow people breathe!

Hundred Youth to Get Interest-free Loans as DIF Launches Free Digital Skill Training in Uyo

 

…Registration for training to last throughout Jan. 2024

 Priscilla Akpanettot

No fewer than a hundred participants who attended the inauguration of the Digital Innovative Forum (DIF) on Sunday, December 24, 2023 will benefit first-hand from the interest-free loans the organization will roll-out in no time, the Chief Executive Officer of DIF, Prince Godwin Tommy has said.

Tommy who spoke shortly after the inauguration held at Vinpy Event Centre in Uyo informed that DIF will soon be partnering with international organizations for support and sponsorship. “When the loan is approved, the participants here will be the first batch of people who will benefit from it and it will be interest-free”, he said.

The Digital Innovative Forum is a three-fold package which includes training on digital communication skills, study-and-work-abroad programme (anchored by ProU Education, India) as well as affordable real estate and land banking schemes.

According to Mr. Tommy, registration for the skills will last throughout the month of January, 2024, while the training will commence in February and last for four months.

He said the skills to be learnt for free are Web 3.0, Content creation and Plagiarism checks, while those to be paid for are Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing, UIUX, Cloud Computing, Web Design and Development, Graphics and Design, Animation, Data Analysis as well as Digital Publishing and Printing.

He urged members of the public to see the DIF opportunity as a platform to up their skills and position themselves for relevance in the global workspace in order not to cut-off from digital realities.

“The training will be done online and only few people will be taken after a qualifying test has been conducted. It is open to everyone but you must pass the test. We’ll send a link to people on our WhatsApp group to register for the test”, he explained, adding that the link will be dropped on their Facebook page @Digital Innovative Forum to accommodate those who could not attend the inauguration.

Appraising the DIF, a Corporate Communications expert and PR luminary, Mr. Umoh Joshua described digital communication as one of the biggest emerging industries of the 21st century which offers lots of opportunity for the Nigerian youth population.

“From digital marketing to data science, web development, app building, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, animation, digital publishing and printing; there are plenty opportunities that today’s youths can utilize to gain employment or provide employment for themselves”, he expressed.  

“Through digital communications, lots of innovative solutions to real life problems are offered online for fees…people who are able to offer innovative solutions to other people’s problem get handsomely rewarded and digital communication is making it very easy for those with problems to meet those with solutions to their problems. Metaphorically speaking, digitally engineered innovative solution is the new hydrocarbon reservoir or the 21st century oil well”, he posited.

For this, he charged participants to key into the offerings of the DIF to amass wealth for themselves. “The only two things separating you that is not making any money from those who are making money via the machination of digital communication are skills and opportunities. Those two missing links are what Digital Innovative Forum (DIF) has come to offer”, he enthused.

Umoh who was the inaugural lecturer at the event was speaking on “Digital Communications and Innovative Solutions to the Double Jeopardy of Poverty and Almajirism in Nigeria: The DIF Paradigm”. He stressed that the switch to digital skills was one way in which people can move out of what he termed ‘almajirism’; a pattern of Islamic education colloquially used to describe a system that supports alms-giving which he noted to be a major challenge in Akwa Ibom State. Thus, he gave credence to the Initiator's standpoint on self-dependency. 

It would be recalled that Prince Godwin Tommy had in his brief prior to the event said the initiative was meant to empower and position the youth for handsome financial take-homes.

"We’re trying to ensure that youths of the State and University students are empowered by our digital skills where they can work remotely and earn in dollars while they are still studying. My main goal is to bring digital skills to every young Akwa Ibomite and to help them say no to urgent 2k and ‘my leader, my leader’ attitude”, he stated.

“We are also doing this in support of Governor Umo Eno’s administration to help curb unemployment and poverty among youths in the State. We want to see a way of helping them acquire highly demanded, saleable and highly sought-after digital skills that would make them self-reliant and independent”, he stressed.

Tommy who spoke extensively on the DIF furthered that it was a three-fold package which includes the study-and-work-abroad program; a package that aids students secure admission, obtain a visa and combine work and schooling overseas, while offering them loans payable within 5-10 years after study.

The third package of the Digital Innovative Forum according to the progenitor is the real estate innovation which allows a person to acquire a 100sqm sized portion of land at the rate of N100,000 with yearly Return on Investment of 30% after it has appreciated.

He therefore encouraged members of the public to take advantage of it's offerings on grounds that they were legitimate and certified by the Akwa Ibom State Government as a Cooperative and by Corporate Affairs Commission as a Non-Governmental Organisation.

Earlier, the Chairman on the occasion, Pst. AB Isong threw his weight behind the initiative and prayed for it's progress, while calling on participants to support it by spreading the message.

An offshoot of GT Technology, DIF is in partnership with ProU Education (India) and has an NGO arm christened Ephafresh Foundation.

The event featured the unveiling of the DIF inauguration plague, award presentation to deserving key players and a Paper presentation by Eduek Bassey on "The Impact of Technological Development on Access to Justice".

Prince Godwin Tommy can be reached via: +234 906 000 8331 or digitalinnovativeforum@gmail.com for further information.

Digital Innovative Forum Begins Digital Skill Training, Sunday 24

 

Priscilla Akpanettot

An initiative to help Akwa Ibom youths acquire relevant and highly-demanded digital skills is set to be launched this Sunday, December 24, 2023 at Vinpy Event Centre, Udoudoma Avenue in Uyo by 2:00pm.

The initiative is the Digital Innovative Forum, founded by the Managing Director of GT Technologies, Prince Godwin Tommy.

Co-sponsored by Ephafresh Foundation, the Digital Innovative Forum is aimed at building a robust and digitally driven economy for people of the State.

Briefing newsmen in Uyo on Friday, December 21, 2023, Prince Godwin Tommy explained that the Digital Innovative Forum is a consortium established to train Nigerian youths in creative, contemporary and highly sought digital skills such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Marketing, UIUX, Cloud Computing, Web Design and Development, Graphics and Design, Animation, Data Analysis as well as Digital Publishing and Printing.

“We’re trying to ensure that youths of the State and University students are empowered by our digital skills where they can work remotely and earn in dollars while they are still studying. My main goal is to bring digital skills to every young Akwa Ibomite and to help them say no to urgent 2k and ‘my leader, my leader’ attitude”, he stated.

“We are also doing this in support of Governor Umo Eno’s administration to help curb unemployment and poverty among youths in the State. We want to see a way of helping them acquire highly demanded, saleable and highly sought-after digital skills that would make them self-reliant and independent”, he stressed.

Tommy who spoke extensively on the Forum furthered that it was a three-fold package which includes the study-and-work-abroad program; a package that aids students secure admission, obtain a visa and combine work and schooling overseas, while offering them loans payable within 5-10 years after study.

The third package of the Digital Innovative Forum according to the progenitor is the real estate innovation which allows a person to acquire a 100sqm sized portion of land at the rate of N100,000 with yearly Return on Investment of 30% after it has appreciated.

He encouraged members of the public to take advantage of the Sunday inauguration to improve their lives, while dispelling fears that the program would be cut-short with time.

“Digital Innovative Forum is an offshoot of GT Technologies Limited. Over the years, the organisation (GT Technologies) has successfully and freely trained, mentored and assisted more than five hundred youths in Akwa Ibom State in diverse fields of information technology, digital printing and publishing. To the glory of God, testimonies from the beneficiaries have been awe-inspiring and encouraging”.

“So the Digital Innovative Forum won’t be short-lived because it is certified by the Akwa Ibom State Government as a Cooperative and Corporate Affairs Commission as a Non-Governmental Organisation”, he said.

Energy Transition not a walk in the Park - Aniekan Umana

 

…Says so much has to be  put in place before transition occurs

Priscilla Akpanettot

Against frantic calls by stakeholders in the energy sector for States to migrate to clean energy, the Honorary Special Adviser to Governor Umo Eno, Hon. Aniekan Umana has averred that energy transition cannot be achieved on the spur of the moment.

He said this when he was hosted by members of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA) on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, during a live interview on Premium FM.

The former Information Commissioner and immediate past member representing Abak/Ika/Etim Ekpo Federal Constituency made the assertion on grounds that the process of transiting to clean energy was expensive, technically demanding and rigorous.

Umana who relayed the resolution of COP 15 which he attended 10 years ago, said that many country attendees of the Conference are still struggling to come to terms with what was unanimously agreed upon, due to the lack of modalities to switch. He therefore sued that fossil fuel be used alongside clean sources of energy until the former is completely phased-out.

“There’s no transition that can happen in a jiffy. There cannot be just one quick break. It’s going to be a process where we’ll remain side by side until we transit fully into clean energy. We’ll also look at the sustainability models that will allow it work and sustain the kind of power requirement that the system needs. Today, we are still benchmarking our economic development in the country on oil prices and production quota. What is still giving us money today is fossil fuel and that is crude oil. So we cannot completely say that we’re detaching... It would sound eutopic to think that because of the clamour for clean energy, we get up and say we’re transiting then we abandon our energy capability and what we can offer to the world. If we do that, how would we get 13% derivation? How would we get money to develop the State? Even in those countries that are proposing it, there’s no magical transition. What should matter to us as a country now is to make sure that our refineries work so that we reduce our importation of finished products”, he said.  

Speaking on other sectors of the ARISE Agenda, the Special Adviser informed that 

 Agricultural Revolution, Rural Development, Infrastructural Development, Security and Education Management were components of Pastor Umo Eno's blueprint, making up 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.

For these, he applauded the State Governor for looking deep into the developmental gaps of the society and filling them with his Agenda. He further commended the Governor for keeping to his campaign promises of making his impact felt across all sectors of the State, through various human empowerment including the recent appointment of 600 aides; payment of gratuities, refurbishment of Christ the King Primary School along Wellington Bassey Way, among others.

On why he accepted the offer to be one of the Honourary Special Advisers to Governor Eno, Hon. Umana posited that he agreed to the appointment because he is in full support of the Governor, his governance of Akwa Ibom State and the ARISE Agenda. “I cannot be bigger than the government. If I am invited to participate in the governance process in any capacity that the Governor deems fit, I have a duty to honour him”, he stated.

“The role we’re privileged to play is advisory. I’m asked to play that role and I know I’m competent to offer such advise and knowledgeable enough to operate in that ecosystem”, he expressed.

He therefore promised to bring to bare his wealth of experience in his advisory role, while ensuring that strategies such as media intelligence, reputation mapping and tracking which requires indepth knowledge and contact across ecosystems within the country are effectively utilized.

In his response to why Governor Umo Eno was yet to execute a major project since the commencement of his administration, the aide explained that the Governor came into office and inherited the budget of the immediate past government, and will soon have his budget passed into Law. 

"The first time the Governor is going to have his own budget and project clearly outlined and mapped out is in the 2024 Appropriation. It will come because it can only come through the instrumentality of the Law which is the Appropriation Act, the Bill will  become law by 2024. So, Akwa Ibom people should exercise patience", he said.