NEWS
Diri, Ndiomu, Ogbuku, Boyloaf, Ateke, Others Bag Niger Delta Peace Award
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (red), Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and King Ateke Tom on Sunday received the Niger Delta Peace Award.
Others who got the Peace Advocate Award include: the Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben (Boyloaf), High Chief Bibopere Ajube, Pastor Wilson Reuben, Felix Bony Ayah, Africanus Ukparasia and Kingsley Kuku.
The prestigious awards were given to them by the organisers of the Niger Delta Peace Day (NDPD) in partnership with the Congress of Niger Delta Ex-agitators to recognise their efforts and contributions in ending militancy in the Niger Delta and sustaining the existing peace in the region.
The NDPD was institutionalised in 2009 and made a work-free day by the Bayelsa government to commemorate the Federal Government’s declaration of the Amnesty Programme for ex-agitators in the Niger Delta
The Promoter of NDPD, Seleipre Tonbie, said despite challenges, he had continued to keep the memories of that day alive by organising many events including the Miss Peace Beauty Pageant to mark it.
He said in the 2024 Miss Peace Beauty Pageant, Nengi Ockiya from Nembe LGA, and student of History and International Relations at the Federal University Otuoke was crowned the winner.
Tonbie noted that in the 2024 NDPD, which was held in Yenagoa and was organised to correspond with the second term inauguration of Governor Diri, his group decided to honour peace agents in the region.
Tonbie said persons selected for the awards were individuals, who made sacrifices to facilitate the amnesty programme that ended the era of violence in the region.
He said others, who got the award though did not play a direct role to usher in the amnesty programme, used their various positions to promote and sustain the peace in the region.
“This is just the first batch of the award. Others will be identified and honoured in our next programme. We intend to institutionalise this award as a yearly event to keep recognizing those whose actions, utterances, body languages and activities within each year have helped to sustain the existing peace in the Niger Delta.
“To be given the yearly award, each awardee must have contributed to peace in the region through programmes, projects and policies deliberately designed to empower the youths; discourage violent behaviors; develop communities in the region and promote education”.
Tonbie congratulated the 2024 awardees saying the gesture would immortalise their contributions to Niger Delta peace and urged them to keep doing more to sustain the peace in the region.
He called on corporate organisations operating in the region and other individuals to partner with the promoters of the award to encourage peace in the region.
“Before the amnesty programme, we saw how lack of peace negatively affected businesses and development in the region. We can now see the difference. Peace remains the only ingredient for a healthy business environment. We urge all corporate organisations to partner with us to encourage peace in the region.
“We have been organising the Peace Day events to help the ex-agitators remember their amnesty vows and to keep the memories of that auspicious day intact. We appeal to the governors in the region to support us,” he said.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to provide the necessary support for the successful completion and operation of the African Medical Center of Excellence, with a view to reversing medical tourism.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, made this pledge during a site tour of the state of the art facility, of African Medical Centre for Excellence, billed to be operational in early 2025.
Mahmoud noted that the partnership between the African Export-Import Bank and Kings College Hospital London to establish the 170-bed hospital was a testament to the commitment to advancing clinical care, training, and research in specialty areas such as oncology, cardiovascular services, hematology, diagnostics, and general medical services.
The minister further added; “The potential impact of this initiative in reversing medical tourism and reducing healthcare worker migration is commendable.
“I am encouraged by the prospect of over 1000 workers being employed to support the hospital’s operations.
“Therefore, I am fully committed to ensuring that the Federal Capital Territory Administration provides the necessary support for the successful establishment and operation of the African Medical Center of Excellence.
“We are happy to see, that the 6.5 hectares of land, which was donated by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of the host country agreement, has been developed to accomodate this hospital.”
While conducting the minister round the project, the Chief Executive Officer, African Medical Center of Excellence, Mr. Brian Deaver, commended the FCT Administration for the strategic partnership.
He used the occasion to inform the minister that the management staff of the medical centre are looking forward to further contributions of the Administration to improvement in the management of non communicable diseases in the territory.
Deaver stressed that the potential benefits of the location of this hospital in Abuja is significant, just as he expressed confidence that the partnership would yield positive outcomes for the healthcare sector in the region.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Former Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, the incumbent Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr Raymond Asemakaha, Wednesday, extended their felicitations to the State Governor, Rev Fr.
The former governor in a statement signed by his Media Aide,Terver Akase and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, prayed God to grant Governor Alia the wisdom and health to steer the affairs of the state.
He maintained that God would grant Alia the enablement to surmount all challenges fronting his administration and wished him a memorable birthday celebration and many more years ahead.
The statement read in part: “Your Excellency, as you celebrate, I pray that God grants you wisdom, good health and strength to enable you to continue to steer the affairs of our dear state.
“Leadership comes with its numerous challenges, but I have no doubt that with God’s grace and guidance, all problems are surmountable.”
Similarly, the Deputy Governor of the State, Barr. Sam Odeh, on behalf of the State Executive Council (SEC), prayed that Governor Alia’s birthday would be a celebration of his uncommon passion for speedy transformation of the state.
“On behalf of the Benue State Executive Council, I write to warmly felicitate with Your Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State on the occasion of your 58th birthday anniversary.
“As you mark your years of existence on earth today, we heartily join your family, the good people of Benue State and the entire nation in wishing Your Excellency a very happy birthday.
“May your 58th birthday be a celebration of your positive energy and uncommon passion for speedy transformation of Benue State. As Governor of our dear state, you have, in the last one year, demonstrated pragmatic leadership with selflessness and dedication, by rendering quality service to the good people of Benue.
“Your ability to turn challenges into opportunities is truly admirable. We have every reason to celebrate you today, because your transformation drive has brought the state to national and global prominence with many laudable initiatives and partnerships that are now yielding positive results in various sectors of Benue economy.
“Happy Birthday! Your Excellency, you are truly a special gift to the state and a beacon of inspiration for us all. May your birthday mark the beginning of a new chapter filled with even greater successes and fulfillment.
“We pray that the Almighty God will continue to uphold, keep and strengthen you for His glory and to the benefit of humanity. Congratulations and happy birthday!, Ode stated”.
On his part, the MD/CEO, BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, on behalf of the management and staff of the company, said the governor had so far demonstrated visionary leadership, tireless efforts, and unwavering commitment to the transformation of Benue State.
Governor Alia’s exemplary governance and dedication to the welfare of the people are truly inspiring, stressing that this milestone birthday marks the beginning of another remarkable year filled with wisdom, good health, and unparalleled success.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has activated plans to double foreign-currency remittance flows through formal channels by granting 14 new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) Approval-in-Principle (AIP).
This was disclosed in Abuja on Wednesday, by the Bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs.
She said, “This will spur liquidity in Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), augmenting price discovery to enable a market-driven fair value for the naira.
“It will be recalled that the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, had recently declared: “We’ve set ourselves a target to double remittance flows into Nigeria within a year, a goal I firmly believe is within reach.
“We are wasting no time driving progress to remove any bottlenecks hindering flows through formal channels permanently. We have a determined pathway and a sequenced approach to tackling all challenges ahead, working hand in hand with key stakeholders in the remittance industry,” she stated.
Continuing, Sidi Ali, said that the CBN viewed increasing formal remittance flows—one of the major sources of foreign exchange, accounting for over 6% of GDP—as a means of reducing the historical volatility in Nigeria’s exchange rate caused by external factors, such as fluctuations in foreign investment and oil export proceeds.
The increase in the number of IMTOs is one of the primary actions initiated by the CBN’s remittance task force, overseen by Governor Cardoso as a collaborative unit pulling together specialists to work closely with the private sector and market operators to facilitate the ease of doing business in the remittance ecosystem in Nigeria.
The task force was established as a direct result of an executive learning session with IMTOs during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings held in Washington DC, United States of America, in April 2024. The task force will meet regularly to implement strategy and monitor the impact of its measures on remittance inflows.
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