'Blame SEPLAT, Sapele Okpe for any land war in Delta State' says Ugbekoko community - ITREALMS

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The leadership of Ugbekoko Community of Delta State has advised that SEPLAT and Sapele Okpe community will be blamed for any land war in that axis over new market, reports ITREALMS.

Arising at the weekend, the leaders of Ugbekoko said the defence being put up by the Chairman of Sapele Okpe Community, Chief Onoriode Temiagin that Ugbekoko land belongs to Sapele Okpe Community because of a market built there lacked merit.

Communique: 14th All Nigeria Editors Confab in Asaba, Delta State - ITREALMS

ForTheRecords@ITREALMS:

COMMUNIQUE OF THE 14TH ALL NIGERIA EDITORS CONFERENCE HELD AT EVENT CENTRE, ASABA, DELTA STATE

Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, Editors in Nigeria gathered in Delta State for five days, October 10 to 14, to deliberate on the theme "Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Nigerian media. It was a high profile gathering, which had the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in attendance. The Vice President graciously declared the conference open.

 At the end of the conference, editors:

 1. Commended the 91 political parties in the country for the maturity displayed during the party primaries of most of them but frowned at the allegations of vote buying which the editors observed was a subtle but worrisome way of institutionalising corruption.

2.  Editors decried the level of insecurity in the country stressing that the nation deserves more than rhetoric and political slogans on issues of citizens’ welfare.

3.  Editors commended the government and good people of Delta State for the rapid growth in infrastructure across the state as well as human capacity development.

4. The conference observed that elections in Nigeria are not built on truth and therefore urged the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to remain independent in its practice by allowing citizens’ votes to count; as such is cardinal to sustaining democracy.

5. Editors expressed the need for Nigerian journalists to intensify efforts that will deepen democracy through sustained investigative, balance and analytical reportage.

6. The conference challenged media practitioners to join in the mobilisation of Nigerians through unbiased reports to take collective responsibility in choosing leaders for the nation in the next general elections.

The Guild observed that the role of traditional media is being threatened with the emergence of the social media where balanced reporting, truth and accuracy are gradually and consistently being relegated. Editors at the end of deliberations agreed to defend the truth through professional practice.

7. Editors urged the publishers and chief executives of media establishments to play down on the commoditisation of information to enhance objectivity.

8.  Editors called on politicians and security agencies not to intimidate electorates, but allow them to freely make their choices for democracy to thrive in Nigeria.

9.  Politicians were advised to do away with the culture of winning at all cost and by all means in the forth-coming elections so as to avert electoral violence.

The Guild expressed its appreciation for the presence of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at this year's conference and thanked the host, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the support given to the Guild for a successful conference.

Funke Egbemode                                                         Victoria Ibanga 

President                                                                       General Secretary

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CVL trains entrepreneurs in Delta State

ITRealms:

Estimated one hundred aspiring entrepreneurs would commence Thursday, April 13 in Warri, Delta State a year-long training in entrepreneurship in the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the Centre for Values in Leadership. The 100 young people emerged from a pool of 726 candidates, reports ITRealms.

Warri is the third of four cities where the Centre for Values in Leadership is conducting the training for 400 would-be entrepreneurs in Delta State. Other cities are Ibusa, Agbor, and Ozoro. Training has commenced at Ibusa and Agbor while it would take off at Ozoro on Tuesday, April 18 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Participants for Warri and Ozoro training come from local governments in the area. They include Warri South, Warri Central, Warri North, Udu, Okpe, Uvwie, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Isoko South, Patani, Burutu, Sapele and Bomadi.

Under the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme, the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) would partner several organisations and individuals to teach, mentor and guide the participants. A further 200 persons would participate in a finishing school.

Prof Pat Utomi, the CVL founder, said the 400 participants would receive training valued at N3.5m per head over the period. Their curriculum would include Self Mastery, Pedagogy of the Determined, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Finance and Operations. There would also be Vocational Skills Training. The training is free.

Participants would intern in organisations in Onitsha, Benin and Asaba. They would also deploy the vocational skills developed in their training in a community service project to construct prefabricated houses from kits imported into the country. CVL would donate the homes, valued at N2m each, to widows and elderly females with housing challenges. Participants would leave with a starter pack comprising tools of the business in which they are majoring and links to funders.

Utomi said the goal of the Youth Entrepreneurship Training Programme is to combat violent extremism and youth unemployment through entrepreneurship, agro-processing and ICT engagement for young people. The programme targets people ages 18 to 40 years from the local community of the intervention.

Participants would pursue innovative ideas in agriculture and agro-processing including fish farming, piggery or poultry. They would consider the Creative Economy, covering fashion, photography, creative arts, music and film or invest in Information and Communications Technology or Retail.

The CVL founder also indicated that the empowerment programme at the end of the year would bring in sponsors to provide starter packs to participants, in addition to grouping interested graduands into cooperatives with access to loan schemes of participating banks. He said those interested in Agriculture would get land and be part of the out grower scheme of the Integrated Produce City in Edo State.

CVL trained and equipped 100 participants in Ajegunle, Lagos in the first run of the programme in 2016. CVL says the plan would extend to more states, with Adamawa as next destination.

The Centre for Values in Leadership is collaborating with international and local agencies to deliver the training aimed at equipping young people with the skills and attitudes to take on life’s challenges. Partners include The Art of Living Foundation, India, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Art of Living is an educational and humanitarian movement engaged in stress-management and service initiatives. The organisation operates globally in 155 countries and has touched the lives of over 370 million people. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded the organisation in 1981 with a guiding philosophy of enthroning peace and a violence-free society. 

The Art of Living movement has spread peace across communities through diverse humanitarian projects, including conflict resolution, disaster relief, sustainable rural development, empowerment of women, prisoner rehabilitation, education for all and environmental sustainability. Leadership development is one of the core areas of The Art of Living Foundation, holding a Global Culture and Leadership Festival in India in March 2016.  The Art of Living sent two facilitators.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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300 teams on queue for 3-day DS-Open Innovation Hackathon

ITRealms:

Estimated 300 teams have been confirmed to be on queue for the three-day Delta State Open Innovation Hackathon 2016, according to the chief executive officer, DS-IHUB Asaba Knowledge City, Mr. Chris Uwaje, reports ITRealms.

Uwaje in a press statement made available to ITRealms, said that not less than 300 Teams from all knowledge-walks of life will assemble at the Knowledge City between December 1st and 3^rd, 2016.

He also said that the icing on the hackathon is that it would aim at 48-hour non-stop coding adventure into the world of innovation and creativity.

The three-day exercise, Uwaje said, would give a shoot at the passion of participants especially in the areas of innovation.

“This knowledge Olympiad will chase and set perhaps a new record in accelerated knowledge development – shooting at all aspects of innovation and creativity under the sun in conformity with International standard,” he said.

Uwaje pointed out that the DS-Open Innovation Hackathon is an initiative of Mobile Software Solutions Limited, the winner of Would Summit award for Best Africa Mobile Content 2014 (Lifestyle/Entertainment Category), in partnership with the Delta State Government under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The platform is an Innovation Development Accelerator for Startups and Entrepreneurs.

“Our mission is to establish responsive knowledge factory at all levels, as the core accelerator for poverty reduction, attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and creation of wealth in Africa.

DS-IHUB Open Innovation Hackathon is a Corporate Technology event in pursuit of hunting technology idea capable of disrupting the Ecosystem and by extension, building new creative mindset through competition to help bridge the innovation gap that exists between the Nigeria Software Developers and the Institutional needs. It will embrace all Domain of Knowledge.

Uwaje further said that expected at the 3-day inclusive event are, but not limited to youths from all the six geo-zones of Nigeria, and West Africa; Venture Capitalists (VCs) Angel Investor, Science & Technology Researchers; Corporate Entrepreneurs; High-End International Technology Innovators; Promoters and Masters of the Trade; Government Policy makers, Software Industry Players and Innovation Ecosystem Interlocutors.

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Mokuro Idisi emerges presidential candidate in Spain

ITRealms

Helen Mokuro Idisi , a Delta State born Nigerian has emerged the presidential candidate of a popular opposition party in the forthcoming elections in Spain, ITRealms reports.

 Idisi, an achiever, a lawyer and forensic expert is following the example of Barack Obama, the Kenyan-born who became America’s first black President, she set a new record as the first immigrant – and first woman – to be the presidential flag bearer of a political party in Spain.

Idisi says, “I went into politics because we have to become more involved in decisions that affect us as citizens and we have an obligation to ensure the legacy we leave to future generations… I saw the need to go into politics as a means to making my explanation of political leadership that suits the interest of the people and I’m ready to listen and care for the needs of constituents.”

Helen, who is also a criminologist and author of many books, ITRealms gathered, gained prominence in Spanish politics when she founded a political party, Union De Todos, and became the first Nigerian-Spanish to contest for the position of Mayor of Denia in May this year. Although she lost the election, she became even more popular as endorsements came in from several people for the Presidency. She will be running on the platform of the party she founded.

ITRealms  gathered that Idisi worked briefly at the Ministry of Agriculture before working in the Governor’s office until 1992 when she travelled to Spain. A law graduate, she holds several academic qualifications which include two masters’ degrees and three postgraduate certificates in diverse fields. She has worked for the Red Cross, was CEO and President at the African Europe Chamber of Commerce and at the National Agency of Forensic Experts, Mediators and Technical Professionals of Spain and Europe. She currently owns and runs a law firm in Spain.

The 2015 Spanish general election would be held on or before Sunday, December 20, 2015. She will contest against the incumbency seeking a second term and a candidate from a powerful opposition party. Meanwhile, she is the daughter of Mr. Anthony Mukoro, the late Director General of the Defunct Bendel State Government Treasury’s Cash Office, and Mrs. Mary Mukoro.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE with additional report from ministry of Agriculture website.
 
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Peaceful 8 years in Delta is by God’s grace - Uduaghan

ITRealms:

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has declared that the peace enjoyed in the state during his eight years in office was as a result of prayers, mercy and special grace of God, reports ITRealms.

Speaking on Monday at a special thanksgiving service of the Government House Family to celebrate God's Goodness on his administration for the past eight years at the Government House Chapel in Asaba, Governor Uduaghan said that the prevailing peace and security in the state could be attributed to God’s goodness and mercies and the prayers offered on behalf of the state by clergymen and prayer warriors.

He commended the Government House family for prayerfully supporting his administration in the last 8 years, the governor explained that the success of his administration lies on the strength of prayers offered by people especially members of the “Alter of New Beginning” stressing that “the incoming administration will continue on this path of continuous prayers for peace in the state”.

The governor noted that he was leaving a legacy of peace for the state and know that the in-coming administration would try to sustain this peace with prayers stressing that direct investment have increased in the state as a result of the peace in the state.

“I pray that the peace, God has granted the state will continue to be sustained, foreign Direct Investment can only come into the state when there is peace and security, I thank God today that the era of war, kidnapping and robbery is over in the state as it had massive effects on investments in the state”, Dr. Uduaghan added, stressing that “for the peace to continue we must continue to pray and supplicate on behalf of the state”.

The chaplain of the chapel, Rev. Ben Golley in his sermon said that  it was good to praise and express gratitude to God for his goodness and kindness towards us, explaining that Governor Uduaghan, his family  and members of his administration  have every reason to thank God for his goodness  to them in the last eight years.

He said that the governor’s developmental strides and achievements could be attributed to God’s power and goodness in his life.

+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) 
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Uduaghan, Dickson commission 30 gunboats, accuse international community of complicity in oil theft

ITRealms:

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and his counterpart in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson have commissioned 30 gunboats for the Joint Task Force in Niger Delta, just as Uduaghan has accused the International Community of complicity in crude oil theft in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

Uduaghan who made his positon known at the Defence Headquarters for the Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield) in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, noted that 80 per cent of Nigeria's stolen crude are exported for use by refineries outside Nigeria.

"Over 80 per cent of the stolen crude is exported and refined outside Nigeria, the International Community needs to cooperate with Nigeria to wipe out crude oil theft", he said.

Uduaghan also said that the military cannot do the job alone, stressing that the International Community must join forces with Nigeria to check the growing threat of oil theft in the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan, he said, has remained committed to cleansing crude oil theft, pipeline vandalization and other criminal acts bedeviling the nation’s economy, urging everyone to join hands to solve the problem. 

"This crude oil theft requires the participation of all of us; some of the people who are involved in the crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism are our brothers, our friends and in some cases, our heroes. We must be involved in the engagement of the people involved in these activities for them to desist from the criminal acts" Uduaghan said.

He, therefore, commended the military for its fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism reiterating that the gunboats would boost the operations of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta.

Equally speaking, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, expressed appreciation to President Jonathan for equipping the military which has made it more proactive in exercising its functions.

Aside the warships recently given to the Nigerian Navy, Dickson said "With these gunboats, the capacity of members of JTF to check the activities of criminals will be enhanced."

Welcoming his guest earlier, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh thanked President Jonathan for his support for the Nigerian Armed Forces, stating that the boats would be deployed for the economic interest of the country.

"We want peace to prevail, so trouble-makers should be warned, criminals should desist from their unpatriotic acts," he said, adding that the fight against insurgency and criminal activities was yielding the desired results.

JTF Commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Emmanuel Atewe reassured they will through cooperation from the riverine communities win the war against crude oil thieves.

Jide Osu/GEE
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Pix:  Hon. Seriake Dickson, Governor of Bayelsa State; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State; Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minima and Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin during the commissioning of a 30 gun boat in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State