NEWS
Bayelsa Guber Election: Diri Re-echoes Call for Peace
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has called on members of the opposition parties not to breach the peace and security ahead of the November 11 governorship election.
The governor made the call on Sunday at the dedication of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ofoni in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, which was built by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Dr.
Gloria Diri, noted that his administration was anchored on peace and development without which meaningful prosperity would not be possible.He enjoined people of the state to sustain the prevailing peace and stability before, during and after the poll, maintaining that peace was a precondition for the development and growth of any society.
Diri also commended his deputy for building a sanctuary for God, saying that his investment in God’s vineyard will attract manifold divine blessings upon him and the Ewhrudjakpo family.
His words: “Today, we are all happy because we are dedicating this house built by my deputy to God. A lot of people would have had a plan to build a house like this. But it takes God to say ‘my son or my daughter’, build a house for me.
“So, for you to have built this house, it means God Himself gave you the grace to do so. God wants to dwell here. So, as humans we have no reasons to desecrate this place.”
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo expressed appreciation to God for giving him the grace to start and complete the building of a place for Christian worship.
He equally thanked the governor, government officials and other guests who joined him to dedicate the church building to God.
Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Diocese, Most Reverend Dr Hyacinth Egbebo, commended the deputy governor, Senator Ewhrudjakpo for building a house of God and impacting positively on many lives.
Most Reverend Egbebo prayed to God to bless Senator Ewhrudjakp’s selfless efforts in serving God and humanity and urged others to emulate him, stressing that those who give to God never lack.
He equally gave kudos to Senator Douye Diri and his team, noting that they had done fairly well in the development of the state citing the construction of the three senatorial roads and urged them to sustain the tempo.
Bishop Egbebo also used the opportunity to remind the congregants that their bodies symbolize the temple of God and advised them to live uprightly in order for the holy spirit to dwell in them.
Wife of the deputy governor, Mrs Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo read the first lesson at the service which was taken from the book of Nehemiah 8:2-10.
Dignitaries at the event were the National Assembly members including the Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Senator Konbowei Benson, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and other members of the House, State Chief Judge, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, and other judges of the state High Court.
Others included the National Financial Secretary of PDP, Dr Woyengikuro Daniel, state chairman of the party, Mr Solomon Aguanana, Commissioners, Special Advisers local government and RDA chairmen, other top government functionaries, service commanders as well as traditional rulers, including the Chairman, State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)
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