International Conference of the Nigeria Institution of Agricultural Engineers opens in Uyo Today. Experts from within and outside the Country have been arriving Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital for the 2013 International Conference of the Nigeria Institution of Agricultural Engineers opening at Ibom E- library, IBB avenue, Uyo by 9 0’clock this morning. The 3 day Confab with the theme: Agricultural Mechanization, a Veritable Component of Agricultural Transformation Agenda will be graced by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adeshina among other high profile guests. The State Governor, His Excellency Sir, (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON) is the Special Guest of Honour while the one time Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Fola Lasisi is the Chairman. The Chairman of the local organizing committee, Dr. Folari Alonge named the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Godwin Afangide and the Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Comfort Ekpo as the Hosts. He said the conference, which is expected to draw speakers and participants from within and outside the country has the Proprietor of Integrated Farms Cotonou, Benin Republic, Rev. Fr. Godfrey Njamozu as key note speaker. Dr. Alonge said the conference was arranged to provide the people of Akwa Ibom and Nigeria at large the relevant information and technological innovations to help them succeed in various fields of Agriculture. He hinted that special workshops will be organized during the conference for under graduates and graduates wishing to take Post Graduate studies overseas on ways to technically write and package research proposals for funding and scholarships. Members of the public are therefore urged to take advantage of the opportunity and turn out for the conference for effective man power development.

AKBC Director General scores TV Journalists High as they Round off Silver Jubilee Anniversary in Style. After two weeks of intensive activities marking the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the First Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State, the AKBC TV Chapel, the curtain finally fell Saturday night with a banquet. The event, which was held at the Sir. Udoudoma Hall of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Secretariat afforded members of the public and especially viewers of the AKBC TV to celebrate and appreciate the Pen Pushers of the station. Some of the guests described the event as one moment that Journalists became news makers as all of them in the employ of the station smiled home with one another in appreciation of their untiring efforts to professionally inform, technically educate and skillfully entertain the public with dexterity. Declaring the event open, the Chairman on the occasion Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko congratulated the NUJ on the occasion especially the AKBC TV Chapel for their sense of unity and commitment in the profession. Barr. Nwoko observed that the station has positively portrayed the image and achievements of the Akpabio administration within and outside the state and encouraged the pen pushers to continue to put in their best in the Journalism practice.

University of Uyo NASU suspends strike, Convenes Congress today. In compliance with the directive from the National Headquarters of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) Ibadan, the ongoing strike by NASU members, University of Uyo branch has been suspended with effect from today. The statement by the branch Chairman, Comrade Ime Efe Udo and Secretary Comrade Idorenyin Eduok directs all members of the Union to resume work forthwith. The statement invites all NASU members to a congress which is ongoing about now.

Former Commissioner for Transport Pours Encomiums on Gov. Akpabio. The immediate past Commissioner for Transport has expressed appreciation to Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio for the opportunity given him to serve in the State Executive Council. Barr. Austin Mbeh who described Chief Akpabio as a focused, committed and selfless leader urged the people to continue to give their total support and loyalty to the governor to do more for them. The former Transport Commissioner spoke when he received youths and political groups who visited him to thank God for the successful service rendered during his tenure as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Special Duties, and Transport. Barr. Mbeh noted that with continued support to the State Chief Executive, the uncommon transformation will continue to spread to all nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom. He felicitated his kinsman, Sir. Monday Ebong Uko on his nomination into the State Executive Council and urged him to be guided by the unrelenting spirit of hard work and industry that Obot Akara people are known for. The people thanked God for standing by their son during the period of 3 years and three months of his tenure. The group pledged their continuous support to the administration of His Excellency, Sir (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio.

AKSG continues Distribution of Free Textbooks to Public and Private Secondary Schools. In continuation of the distribution of textbooks procured by the State Government to Public and Private Secondary Schools in Akwa Ibom State, Schools in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District will today and tomorrow file out to collect their consignments. The exercise will take place at the Ministry of Education Warehouse, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo. Schools in Eket Senatorial District will take their turn on Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th October, 2013 at the same venue. At the end of the exercise which began last week, no fewer than 2.4 million textbooks from core subject areas of Chemistry, Biology, Integrated Science and Mathematics would have been distributed free to Public and Private Secondary Schools in the 31 Local Government Areas of the State. The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Atim Antai, who flagged off the distribution exercise in Uyo, explained that the gesture was another demonstration of Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio’s passion for affordable and qualitative education in the State. Prof. Antai has directed Principals of Schools to ensure prompt distribution of the books to their students to enable them keep pace with their lessons. She advised students to make judicious use of the learning materials by showing more commitment to their studies as well as protecting the books from damage and loss.

Jonathan Warns PHCN Workers Against Industrial Action. President Goodluck Jonathan has said that labour issues especially the payment of worker’s entitlements will not stop the Federal Government from physically handing over the Privatized Power Generation and Distribution Companies to Private Investors in 2 weeks’ time. The President spoke at the inauguration of the 500MW Omotosho II Power Plant in Ondo State on Saturday. He said there was no need for any industrial action from the workers of the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria. He promised that all labour issues would be resolved and all entitlements paid.

Need for Common Position by South-South Zone at Proposed National Conference Stressed. As the committee on national conference recently inaugurated by President Jonathan settles down to its assignment, the need for the people of the south-south zone to present a common position has been stressed. These views has become imperative since the people of the region share several things in common. In an interview, the chairman of a new regional group in the South-South Consolidated Forum Akwa Ibom State chapter Barr Solomon Udo said the formation of the organization was in furtherance of the President's commitment to build the nation. Barr Udo noted that the need for the issue of economic resources and how to share same amount to federating unit of the country should be the prime position of the south-south zone. The law practitioner stressed the need for a legal formwork that will provide a more equitable formula for the sharing of the nation’s revenue. He said the group has made this another contemporary issue of common interest to its focal point and most of its deliberations. Barr Udo said the message was now taken to the grassroots with planned inauguration of local government chapters of the forum on Saturday, October 26th at Modern Training Institute, Aka Road, Uyo, by 10am. He urged the people of the state to identify with the forum to give the state and south-south region a strong voice at the confab.

Akwa United Escapes Relegation as Glo Premier League Ends. It was celebration galore as the supporters of Akwa United Football Club of Uyo last night got excited when their preferred team escaped relegation in the premier league in the 2013 football season. Akwa United proved book makers wrong when it played a 1-1 draw with host Kwara United at katsina Ala in Kogi State. Many papers had listed Akwa United among the team to be relegated; the team needed the draw to scale the hurdle. The Director of Sports, Coach Aniedi Dickson in his quick reaction said he attributed the victory to hard work, determination, and God’s grace. He said he had assured the people that with the motivation of the players by management, the team will not be relegated. Vice Chairman of Akwa United Management Committee Mr. Nseh Obot said a team named after God can never go on relegation. At the end of the league last Sunday, four teams were relegated namely: ABS, Kwara United, Wiki Tourists and ARS. Kano Pillars again won the league back to back.

World Bank lists Nigeria among Countries with 10 million Illiterate Adults. The World Bank has expressed concern at the growing population of illiterate adults in Nigeria which has been put at 46,000,000. The figure puts Nigeria in the category of 10 Countries of the world with more than 10,000,000 illiterate adults whose ages range from 15 years and above. The Bank stated this in a document packaged for its State Education Investment Project, which would provide $150,000,000 credit facilities to Bauchi and Ekiti States in collaboration with the Federal Government.

Verification of the terms of December, 2011 Oil Spill at Bunker Oil Facility, Ibeno in Progress. The Environmental Rights Action Era, Friends of the Earth Group has commenced verification of the terms of the December 2011 oil spill at the Bunker Oil Facility. The facility is at Ukpenekang Community in the Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The head of the Legal Department of the organization, Mr. Etima Williams said that the verification was in line with the demand for compensation over the loss suffered by fishermen following the spill that affected five Coastal States. The spill from the Bunker facility belonging to shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company caused discharges of an estimated 40,000 barrels of Crude Oil into the Atlantic Ocean.

President Jonathan, 19 State Governors for this year’s Pilgrimage to Israel. President Goodluck Jonathan and 19 State Governors are undertaking this year’s pilgrimage to Israel. This is the first time a serving President is going on a Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Akwa Ibom State contingent to the Holy land will depart Uyo on Wednesday this week from Ibom International Airport. 1,500 Pilgrims from Akwa Ibom are performing this year’s pilgrimage.

Arrangements Concluded to Pay off all PHCN Workers. All is set for the payment of severance packages to over 40,000 Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers. The minute has been sent to the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for payment. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), which confirmed this said the action was in line with the government’s commitment in settling the workers outstanding payments and ensuring the smooth take off of the PHCN successor companies.

Boko Haram in Military Uniform kills 19 people in Borno State. Violence has erupted again in Borno state as gun men suspected to be men of the Boko Haram sect dressed in Military uniforms yesterday attacked motorists and passengers on the Maiduguri-Dikiwa Road, killing 19 of them and injuring 12 others. Dikiwa is a border town with Chad Republic and 85 kilometers East of Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital. The gunmen according to an eye witness mounted a road block in the early hours of Sunday where they killed the 19 people. Confirming the incident, the acting spokesman of the 7th division of the Nigerian Army, Captain Aliya Ibrahim Danja said that the insurgents were driven into the forest, 10 kilometers into Chad and added that no arrest has been made so far.

Golden Eaglets Defeat Mexico by six goals to one. Three time champions, Nigeria, Saturday opened the FIFA U-17 Cup Campaigns by defeating Mexico with an emphatic six goals to one at the United Arab Emirates. Kelechi Ihenacho scored four of the goals while Chidiebere Nwakali and Success Isaac completed the route for the Golden Eaglets. Nigeria will now meet Scandinavian Today at 4:20am.

Special Marshal Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps Holds its 2013 Zonal Conference. The 2013 Zonal Conference of the Special Marshal Unit of the Federal Road Safety Corps Zone B has been held in Port-Harcourt Rivers State to re-strategize the corps’ operations during the remaining months of the year. The event which drew participants from Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa and Rivers states discussed on the theme "Volunteerism and Road Traffic Management in Nigeria", Options for Special Marshal. Issues discussed at the one-day zonal conference included lack of a database for their operations, non-remuneration of the special marshals, non-recognition of their services in the society, delaying the issuance of identity cards, proper attitude of members to work and the need for true volunteerism in the service. The National Coordinator, Kwabe noted that although special marshals were not paid for rendering services to the nation, he was however satisfied that it was the first paramilitary organization in Nigeria to meet international standard operation. The National Coordinator pointed out that loyalty, humility and politeness were the parameters upon which volunteer and special marshals should operate and acknowledged them to emulate the life of the Biblical Good Samaritan in their daily conduct.

Federal Road Safety Commander Decries the High Rate of Fake Driver’s Licenses and Number Plates. The Commander of The Federal Road Safety Corps in charge of Zone 6 Mrs. Comfort Uwah has decried the high rate of fake driver’s licenses and number plates being perpetrated by her colleagues. Mrs. Uwah has therefore advised the defaulters to desist from such action. The Zonal Federal Road Safety Corp Commander was speaking at this year’s zonal conference of the special Marshal unit of the Corp held in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. She enjoined the participants to show good examples of good behavior and embrace best safety practices in the zone and Nigeria as a whole. In her paper presentation, Dr. Grace Ekong of the Music Department, University of Uyo identified good communication skills, motivation, monitoring, reporting and rewards as a condition for effective coordination of special marshal activities for enhanced productivity at all levels. Other speakers at the conference included, Dr. Andy Uzor from the University of Calabar, Representatives of Rivers State Ministry of Transport, Commissioner for Police, Civil Defense Corp, and regular marshals. In an interview, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of Special Marshals Pastor Ray Edet said modalities are on ground to sensitize Akwa Ibom State people on the need for safety and cushioned effects of road crashes this end of month.

Finance Commissioner sponsors a 5 day Free Medical Treatment in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. In commemoration of his 41st birthday and in support of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s Free Medical Program in the State, the Commissioner for Finance Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan is sponsoring a 5-day free medical treatment in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area and its environs. The exercise will commence today October 21st through Friday October 25th, 2013 at Government Health Centre Ididep Usuk, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area by 8am daily. The statement by the Secretary of the Youth Hunger and Diseases Eradication Initiative, a non-governmental organization Mr. Mfon Ntekpe, on behalf of the organizers said it will feature free medical testing and treatment, free surgical operation, free counseling and testing for HIV, tuberculosis, free immunization for pregnant women, free eye testing and treatment, free supplies of medicated eye lenses backed by an evangelistic crusade outreach. It will be recalled that more than 3,000 patients were treated last year during the first phase of the program.