NO. DTS 632, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013
SOUTH-SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS’ FORUM PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT JONATHAN’S ADMINISTRATION
            The Governors of South-South and South-East Zones have reiterated their support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda in developing every facets of the nation’s economy.
            The Governors who re-affirmed their support over the weekend after the forum’s meeting in Enugu said they were impressed with President Jonathan’s developmental efforts in every sector of the economy.
            The Governor of Anambra State and Chairman of the South-East Governors’ forum, Mr. Peter Obi flanked by other  South-South and South East Governors, including Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting. He expressed the Governors satisfaction with the level of development going on in the country and called for support for the President’s transformational agenda to ensure that development gets to every parts of the country.
            His words  “The governor’s of the South- South and South East have decided  to give Mr. President all the support he needs, this is because his transformation agenda is being felt in every area of the country. We are impressed with all his effort especially as the President’s mid-term report shows that the economy is moving in the right direction.”
            The Governor’s appealed to Nigerians to support the Federal Government in ensuring that the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for the country was achieved for the benefit of all.
            Governor Obi stated that the Governors have resolved to strengthen economic integration and infrastructural development in their respective states, adding that the Governors of Akwa-lbom and Abia States would rehabilitate the lkot-Ekpene-Aba road to improve commerce in their states.
He observed that the Governors also discussed the issue of oil theft and how to curb it in order to maintain ethnic unity in the country.
            Emphasizing further, he said “We also discussed on this issue of oil theft in the country and how to stop it, because it is a serious challenge we are facing in this region and we need to do all we can to stop it for ethnic harmony to prevail.”
            Present at the meeting were the Abia State Chief Theodore Orji; Ebonyi Martins Elechi; Cross River Liyel lmoke; Akwa-lbom Chief Godswill Akpabio; Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson.  
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NO. DTS 635, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013
CHRISTIANS ENJOINED TO DO WHAT THEY PREACH
            The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir Austin Ngozi Mowah, has stressed the need for Christians to evangelise more by their deeds than their rhetoric.
            The Permanent Secretary gave the admonition in his office when he received in audience members of the Sisters’ Wing of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Diocese Issele-Uku who called to intimate him on the forth-coming 25th anniversary of the group schedule for July 13, 2013 at St. Patrick Catholic church. Sir Mowah stressed the need for all Christians to proclaim Christ at all times and to emulate the virtues of Mother Teresa whose charity works in a non-Christian environment, won several souls for Christianity.
            He commended the effort of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for their role in propagating the gospel of Christ, the Catholic Church and urged them to remain as vibrant as they have always been.
            He assured the group of necessary support to ensure the success of the program.             
             The leader of the group, Mrs. M.I Onyekeonwe, represented by her assistant, Sister Bridget Edewa, stated in her speech that the time has come for Christian women to rise up with dogged determination to reverse the unfortunate present day trend of social malaise.
            She therefore called on all Nigerians and philanthropists to bring the crusade to fruition by rendering the required assistance, as the much desired reversal, will doubtless, encounter enormous challenges and resistance from the perpetrators of the ills in the society.
            Mrs Onyekeonwe disclosed the plan of the group to buy a bus to effectively enhance evangelization in and around our communities on a regular basis, praying that God will meet at the point of need all who will come to their aid.
 
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NO. DTS 636, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013
DESOPADEC PROVIDES SCHOOLS WITH SCIENCE EQUIPMENT
          The Delta State Government under the auspices of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has procured science equipment amounting to millions of naira to Secondary Schools in the oil bearing communities to boast the moral of science students in the area.
            The commissioner representing Ethiope west, Okpe and Sapele Local Government Areas on the board of DESOPADEC, Dr Henry Ofa (JP) who represented the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Oritsuwa Kpogho, during the distribution of the science equipment to selected ten schools in Ethiope West remarked that the exercise is the first phase in their agenda as all schools that would not benefit now should be rest assured that their turn would come.
             He advised students at Orefe Grammar School Ogharefe, Ukorovwe Secondary School Otefe, Ogini Grammar School Ogharefe and Oreki Secondary School Oghareki to put into maximum use the equipment given to them as well as ensuring that they are safe at all time since government would not replaced any stolen or destroyed ones.
            He enjoined the people of the communities where the equipment were distributed, the teachers and students of all benefitting schools to join hands together to protect them by making them secured for use of the students during their practicals, explaining that the Delta Government has high regard for qualitative education hence this exercise to enable the children pass their exams at both NECO and WAEC and to enable them become professionals tomorrow in their chosen careers.
            Dr Ofa while explaining the importance of science to students of the school visited, commended the State Government for the approval of the fund with which the equipment were provided, pointing out that DESOPADEC is an agency of the Delta State Government and by extension, Dr Eweta Uduaghan is the brain behind what they have received.
             Responding on behalf of the benefitting schools, principal science teachers including the prefects of schools visited in Ethiope West commended the Delta State Government and the commissioner, Dr. Ofa for providing them with the science equipment, assuring that they will put them into effective use as well as providing secured places for them.
             In all, they request the Delta State Government to build modern laboratories for them where this equipment could be stored including securities and more science teachers that will teach the children with the modern laboratory equipment provided by the Delta State Government.
 
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NO. DTS 637, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013
TY DANJUMA FOUNDATION, YEDEC ADVANCE CALLS FOR MATERNAL HEALTH, EMPOWERMENT
            A non-governmental organization, Youth Empowerment and Development Centre, (YEDEC) in support of T.Y Danjuma Foundation, have advanced calls for improved maternal reproductive health right and empowerment.

            YEDEC coordinator, Christian Aisiri, made the call in Benin City, at a 2-day dissemination of the 5th African conference on sexual reproductive health and rights, with theme: “sexual health and rights in Africa: where we are?” organized by YEDEC with support from Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, (WHARC) and the T.Y Danjuma Foundation
            Aisiri stated that while maternal reproductive health right and women’s empowerment is sacrosanct in nation building, government and relevant stakeholders should fashioned out ways in improving the healthcare delivery services among rural and semi-urban dwellers through the provision of adequate and accessible healthcare facilities.           
            Meanwhile, WHARC program officer, Chioma Ekwo called for enactment of appropriate legislation and media campaign to enhanced awareness on status of youth sexual and reproductive health rights in Nigeria.
            In her goodwill message, Edo state officer, T.Y Danjuma foundation, Oluwatomi Ajayi said that the foundation has continued to provide funding aimed at sensitization, empowerment and provision of rural healthcare facilities to attend to the health need and improved living condition of mother and child.
            Separate papers were presented by Mrs. Maria Obazuwa of the Girls Power Initiative, (GPI) and Dr. Joseph Obaitua, senior technical officer, Family Health International, (FHI) which highlight global campaign on challenges and reduction of maternal mortality and empowerment of women and girl child.
 
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NO. DTS 638, MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013
GOVERNOR UDUAGHAN ORDERS ARREST OF TWO MEN DEFACING ROAD PROJECT
            The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has ordered the immediate arrest of two men who discharged large quantities of sand on the walkways along the Federal College Road, Asaba.
            Governor Uduaghan who gave this order in Asaba while passing through the road to an official function expressed shock when he discovered that the men who were constructing a filling station have discharged over ten trips of sharp sand on the walkway and the newly constructed road thus blocking the road and drains, and causing serious flooding on the road.
            Dr. Uduaghan who demanded an explanation from the men, who were also draining waste water from a newly dug storage pit into the drains and road, condemned the acts of defacing public projects by members of the public. He reiterated government’s earlier warning that anyone caught trading on the walkways, perverting the beauty of the environment and defacing roads and other government’s projects would be arrested and prosecuted.
            The Governor condemned the acts of people converting the roads and walkways into other uses and appealed to Deltans to see government’s projects as their own and protect them from destruction.
            While decrying the flooding and the environmental impact on the road caused by the heap of sand on the drains and road and also the traffic congestion occasioned by it. The Governor advised Deltans to always protect government projects in their areas as they are the immediate beneficiaries of these projects.
            Two motor technicians in the area, Messrs. Amaechi Nweke and John Okonkwo who said that they tried to stop the men from dumping the sand on the walkway but were rebuffed opined that their workshops were flooded as a result of the blockage of the drains by the sand and described the actions of the men as unpatriotic and unhealthy for the beauty of the environment.
The two men arrested are now cooling their heels at the “A” Division of the Nigeria Police, Asaba.
 
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