The Isoko cluster of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30 Community Development Board (CDB), Delta state, has denied pulling out of the CDB.
The group was reacting to an online publication made on 18th December, 2018 which claimed that the Isoko clusters of Oil Producing Communities of the four flow stations that constitute a major part of OML 30 have pulled out of the CDB which was recently constituted in line with the new Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) between Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited and Host Communities where OML 30 facilities are situated in Delta State. 
The cluster in a statement signed by Chief Sunny Akpotu,  Sam Efegodo, Chief Emeakpor Owhe and two others on behalf of the Isoko cluster, urged members of the public to disregard the aforementioned publication and pray for the success of the new CDB executive which has been inaugurated and it has started work, reiterating that the Isoko clusters have not pulled out of OML 30 CDB. 
The statement reads in part: “the story is full of blatant lies, it is necessary to state the true facts so that members of the public may be better informed.
“It is necessary to point out that the members of the CDB were sworn in on the 15th of December, 2018, with only members from cluster 8 not being present. This was due to an internal crisis within that cluster. 
“After the swearing in of the members of the CDB, the next order of business is the election of the officers of the CDB from among its members in line with Article 7 (7.8) of the GMOU. In line with the article referred to above, election were conducted and the current executive officers of the CDB emerged.
“With the exception of cluster 8 which could not participate in the elections because their members could not be sworn in, other clusters participated actively and officers from the various ethnic nationalities which make up the Communities in OML 30 were elected in executive offices in the CDB. 
“Specifically, a member from the Isoko cluster contested for the position of Chairman but lost. That same member was later elected as the Secretary of the CDB. 
“Another member from the Isoko cluster also contested for the position of Treasurer and won. It is therefore not correct to say that members from the Isoko cluster did not participate in the process leading to the emergence of the new officers of the CDB. 
“While it is normal that every party involved in an election cannot be satisfied with the outcome of the election, it is expected that after elections, everybody involved ought to come together to work for the interest of the Communities they represent. 
“Article 16 of the GMOU provides for dispute resolution in situations where members who are parties to the GMOU are not satisfied with any action done pursuant to the GMOU or interpretation of any part of the GMOU. To the best of our knowledge, nobody has activated the dispute resolution mechanism of the GMOU”, the statement said.

-From Our Correspondent:

The Isoko clusters of Oil Producing Communities of the four flow stations that constitute a major part of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30 on Friday December 14th 2018, pulled out of the newly constituted Community Development Board (CDB) set up to operate the new GMOU for the Lease; alleging gross marginalization and breach of an earlier agreement on rotating the principal positions in the CDB executive between the clusters.

Speaking to reporters at the Multipurpose Hall Edjeba, Warri, after the walk out of the Isoko cluster members, their chairman Dr. Patrick Oboghor who is also the President General of Igbide Community cluster 6, chairman of the Isoko cluster president generals forum stated that before now, there was an agreement that based on Isoko production quantum in OML 30 which stands at 65% and the lack of equity in the constitution and operation of the last Board, the Isoko group had insisted on having a separate Board for the Isoko clusters.

But based on the intervention of the state Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeayi Okowa , the Isoko people had reluctantly agreed to remain in the Board when his Excellency directed that Isoko should produce the next chairman of the Board. The Governor further directed that there should be a swap of all positions hitherto held by both Urhobo and Isoko members in the previous Board.

According to Dr. Oboghor, the Isoko cluster had arrived the venue of the inauguration of the new Board on the strength of a formal invitation letter signed by one Barrister Emamuzo Erebe, a Director in the ministry of Justice, Asaba to behold a grand design to stage manage the election of the former chairman of the dissolved Board who is Urhobo as chairman of the new Board. This he said was most provocative, insulting and against the directive of the state Governor.

Also speaking, the Secretary of Isoko president general’s forum and also President General of Uzere Community Barrister John Urete lamented the ugly twist which he said negates the spirit of brotherliness, equity, fairness and integrity. He insisted that the Isoko cluster will not be part of the charade and mindless scheming to undermine the capacity and peaceful disposition of the Isoko people.

The secretary maintained that Isoko land is a foremost oil producing ethnic nationality and indeed the second place where oil was found in Nigeria and that the recent action calculated to lord it over the Isoko people will be resisted at all cost. He called on Heritage Energy Operational services and the Delta state government to quickly put machineries in place to constitute a separate Board for the Isoko people since they no longer have confidence in the process which bears the toga of a master servant relationship.

Speaking in the same vein, Sir Mathias Eto, a member of the new Board from Oleh cluster stated that the Board is not political but a sensitive one as it is meant to handle various issues relating to management of funds, projects and production quota amongst others. Adding that, the GMOU is quite specific on the rotation of the various positions amongst major stakeholders just like it is done in NDDC, DESOPADEC and other organizations or agencies particularly in the oil producing areas of the Niger Delta.

Another board member, Elder Daniel Olokor from Uzere cluster 9 said the walk out, though peaceful is a signal that the Isoko Nation can no longer be taken for granted in the scheme of things particularly when Isoko remains the largest producer in the OML.

In his reaction, Chief Iduh Amadhe, President-General of Isoko Development Union, condemned the action which he described as betrayal of trust, height of insensitivity, display of greed and unbridled drive to marginalize the Isoko people who are the largest producer in the OML 30. He then called for a quick reversal to the original agreement; otherwise a separate board be created for the Isoko people to avoid imminent crisis in the operations of the four Isoko flow stations in the Mining Lease. He added that the Isoko people will register their grievance with the state governor to seek immediate redress on this expected affront on Isoko people.

As at the time of filing the report, the management of Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd could not be reached neither was the call placed to Barr. Emamuzo Erebe, who is the representative of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice was not picked. He however replied our text message that as a civil servant, ‘he is not allowed to speak to the press.

Other Isoko cluster leaders present at the press briefing include the President General of Olomoro Cluster 5, Pastor Agboro Blessing, Engineer Francis Egho, President-General of Otor Owhe Cluster 8 and Board members from all the Isoko clusters.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congratulates its Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Peter Obi, for his outstanding performance at the 2019 Vice Presidential debate on Friday.

In a statement signed by the patty’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondsays and made available to Blank NEWS Online, the party says Peter Obi amply displayed an unprecedented understanding of the dynamics of the critical sectors of our economy with practical solutions to the myriad of problems as against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who dwelt on false performance claims and displayed scanty understanding of economic issues.

The PDP applauds Peter Obi’s articulation of statistics; of practical steps to revamp our economy, trigger wealth creation, massive employment and return our people to productivity, through the revitalization of our productive and manufacturing sectors under our Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The party said Peter Obi’s spontaneous presentation of solutions on critical sectors including education, health, energy, power and security among others, shows PDP’s unparalleled preparedness to take over the reign of government, in line with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians to return our nation to the path of good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity.

The PDP however berated Vice President Osinbajo for not being able to articulate any solution or show what the Buhari administration intends to do differently, if re-elected but rather dwelt on lame excuses, blame games and playing to the gallery.

This debate has further exposed the humongous corruption in the Buhari Presidency, as Vice President Osinbajo could not provide answers to the exposed N8 trillion sleazes in the fuel subsidy regime under the Buhari administration.

It invited Nigerians to note how the Vice President was jittery and ill-at ease throughout the debate, particularly as his most of his performance claims especially in food provision, infrastructure and security were all fictitious.

The party further faulted Prof. Osinbajo’s attempt to brand the PDP as corrupt, saying all records and statistics show that corruption escalated under President Buhari and that his administration ranks as the most corrupt in the history of our nation.

The party submitted that Prof. Osinbajo and the Buhari administration lack every moral standing to speak on social welfare when the Vice President is yet to explain the whereabouts of the N33 billion meant for the provision of food and other items for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) suffering in the North East.

Finally, the PDP awaits the main Presidential debate and challenges President Buhari to perish the idea of sending a proxy but to get ready to face the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, before all Nigerians.

LAGOS, Nigeria & SINGAPORE–

IDOOH International has expanded to Africa through a partnership with Nigeria’s Abercairn Digital to deploy 1,000 in-vehicle media screens with ride-hail drivers in Lagos to provide passengers with an entertaining and interactive passenger experience. Drivers will benefit from the additional income and brands can access a comprehensive digital out-of-home (DOOH) branding platform that can effectively reach out to their targeted audience.
The fully interactive 10-inch IDOOH display tablets will offer passengers with a selection of high-quality lifestyle, news, entertainment and e-commerce function. IDOOH uses proprietary in-vehicle technologies like geo-fencing and day-parting to create a customised in-vehicle experience. The technologies offer content based on factors such as location, weather and traffic conditions, presenting passengers with a new OOH entertainment experience and brands with a new digital platform to engage with their audiences.
IDOOH Group CEO Mark Forsyth said: “As part of our global expansion strategy, we are thrilled to expand into Africa through a partnership with Nigeria’s DOOH innovator Abercairn Digital. Nigeria’s young demographic and populous country presents a vast opportunity for us to rapidly scale our network of in-vehicle screens from Asia Pacific to Africa. We look forward to working with them to transform the commute experience and provide brands with an opportunity to reach young, connected Africans through our interactive media technology and big data analytics.”
Abercairn Digital Founder and CEO Oyebisi Asimolowo said: “We chose IDOOH for their ability to quickly deploy and scale their network of in-vehicle screens, proven track record in Asia Pacific, innovative advertising technology and big data capabilities. The introduction of IDOOH’s in-vehicle screens will transform the passenger commute experience and provide brands with an interactive DOOH platform to engage one-on-one with consumers and drive higher engagement and conversion rates.”
Africa now boasts the world’s fastest-growing population with the continent taking up more than half of the global population growth between now and 2050. In particular, Nigeria’s population is expected to overtake that of the USA by 2050 and could be the world’s third most populous by the end of the century, according to a UN report. To tap on this new frontier, many technology giants have set up a presence in Lagos, which is fast becoming the next tech hub.
As Asia Pacific’s largest in-vehicle screen network, IDOOH has an inventory of 14,000 screens across diverse platforms including ride-sharing cars and taxis. In November 2018, IDOOH screens clocked 95 million kilometres of drive time and 3.6 million hours of video content, presenting an immense opportunity for one-on-one engagement. The screens use proprietary in-vehicle screen technology to bring relevant content to passengers and big data analytics to gain campaign, fleet and consumer insights. IDOOH is also testing technologies like presence and facial recognition and augmented reality to provide an even more personalised experience in future.

(BUSINESS WIRE/AETOSWire)– 

(By Our Political Editor):

A Delta State House of Assembly candidate gunning to represent Ukwuani Local Government Area constituency, under the platform of the National Conscience Party, NCP, Hon. Ifeanyi Nwador, has declared that he has a great plan to transform Ukwuani LGA in the next democratic dispensation if voted into office come 2019 election.

The NCP flag bearer made this assertion when he hosted journalists at his residence in Obairuku, headquarters of Ukwuani Local Government Council.

Speaking during the event, Hon. Nwador who described Ukwuani Local Government Area as the base of reactionary politics in Delta State noted that he joined the race to provide creative and purposeful representation at the State House of Assembly because, the politics of Lawmaking in Delta State has been uninspiring, lacklustre, purposeless and uneffective due mostly to the dominance and control of the Assembly by the Executive arm of Government., headed by the Governor of the state.

Hon. Nwador identified God fatherism and imposition of candidates, as well as election rigging and vote buying as the factors hindering the effectiveness of all levels of leadership in the country, especially State Assembly and Local Government elections, noting that until these factors are eliminated in our electoral system, poor leadership and failure in governance will remain unabated in Nigeria.

Speaking further during the event, Hon. Nwador, who contested the 2015 Federal House of Representative election under the same NCP platform lamented the failure of the past representatives of Ukwuani LGA at the State Assembly since the debut of this democratic dispensation in 1999, noting that their lack of courage, independence and vision robbed Ukwuani LGA of its equitable share of the dividends of democracy in the State.

Also speaking at the event, Comrade Chuks Ugah, the Chairman of National Conscience Party NCP, in Ukwuani Local Government Area, called on the people of Ukwuani to accept and imbibe the values and virtues which the NCP founder, Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi promoted during his lifetime, as some of the social antiseptics needed to transform Nigeria into an enviable model society.

He noted that the choice of the party’s name; National Conscience Party (NCP) was not by accident but that it was chosen conscientiously as a result of the need to sponsor and project men and women who have human conscience to mount the saddle of leadership.

PRESIDENT Mohammadu Buhari, Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III on Wednesday (12/12/18), affirmed that peace is very vital for a progressive nation to be achieved.
They spoke at the 3rd coronation anniversary celebration of Ogiame Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri. The event took place at the Olu Palace, Warri, Warri South local government area of Delta State. 
President Buhari, represented at the occasion by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu stated that with peace, development will take place, noting that Warri contributes a lot to the Nigerian project.
He listed the dredging of the Warri Port, reactivation of Warri refinery, among others.
Governor Okowa in his speech at the occasion commended traditional rulers for building bridge of unity, noting that when different kingdoms are peaceful, the country would be peaceful.
The governor who congratulated the Olu for the anniversary, stated, “after your coronation, you went to visit several traditional rulers in the state and the country which has helped to create peace; we are happy for that gesture because, with peace development will take place.”
“We have promised to tell Deltans the truth; we will constantly fund the trans-Warri/Ode-Itesekiri road project because it is in the interest of the state, we are committed to doing what we ought to do,” the governor said. 
He listed some of the projects executed by his administration in Warri kingdom, disclosing that his administration was commited to executing storm drainage project in Warri which would gulp more than N3 Billion.
The governor said his administration would promise to execute only projects it is capable of executing, asserting, “we will promise only those things we can do because it is honourable for us to do so.”
Sultan of Sokoto in his speech, stated, “if we want to have a good country, we should continue to reach out, no matter the religion or cultural belief; we believe in the unity of this country.”
“You cannot love God if you don’t love your neighbour, we want peace because, without peace, we cannot develop,” the Sultan said.
The Olu of Warri in an address read by Chief Brown Mene, said, “we want to put on record that our amiable state Governor, Dr Arthur Okowa has been doing a lot in the Warri axis since his election nearly four years ago; as we speak, work is going on earnestly on the Ubeji-Ifie road, which is one of the most important main arteries feeding the Warri Refinery and at least, three other major crude oil tank farms within the Kingdom.”

Delta State Governor, Senator DR Ifeanyi Okowa has been nominated as Vanguard Newspapers’ Governor Of The Year 2018 by The Board of Editors, Vanguard Media Limited for his sterling contributions to the infrastructural and human capital development of the state. 

Presenting the letter of nomination to  Gov. Okowa, on Wednesday, at the Government House, Asaba,, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers Limited, , stated that the selection committee took the decision based on the “the pragmatism, commitment and courage” exhibited by the governor’ through his SMART Agenda, and for dutifully implementing broad programmes to actualise the 5-point SMART Agenda.

“The Board of Editors of Vanguard Media Limited writes to notify you that you have been voted as Vanguard’s Governor of the year 2018, for your sterling contributions to the upliftment of the people of Delta State. Apart from completing more than  296 road projects covering hundreds of kilometers; you raised the ante in the Agriculture sector through acquisition of 3,850 hectares of farmland and encouraged the establishment of rice processing mills to support rice cultivation, adding “we also notes your effort to develop human capital, which has transformed no fewer than 40,000 youths into owners of businesses and employers of labour.”, the letter signed by Mr. Adefaye said

“In the area of healthcare, Delta, under you, became the first state in the federation to launch the Universal Health Coverage, UHC. As at September 30, 2018, the total number of enrolees stood at 316,301. It is for these, and more, that we confer on you this well-deserved award with great honours. The philosophy of this award is to recognise and celebrate Excellence, National Pride and Service to humanity.” the letter stated

The awards ceremony holds Friday 18th January, 2019 at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos at 6pm

It would be recalled that Governor Okowa emerged ‘Best Governor – Grassroots & People Development in the 2018 Nigeria’s Good Governance Poll,’ organised by the African Leadership Magazine UK, the Independent Newspapers’ ‘Man of The Year, 2017’ award, the New Telegraph Newspaper Governor of the Year in Human Capital Development and Infrastructure, University of Ibadan 2016 Alumnus of the year award as well as the 2017 Dignity of Man Award by the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

The defending champions at the ongoing 19th National Sports Festival (NSF),  Team Delta, have raked in 139 medals in a sustained display of dominance over other Nigerian participating states, as at Wednesday.

The official medals table released in Abuja shows Team Delta leading others with 69 gold, 31 silver and 39 bronze medals.

Rivers follows with 89 medals comprising 28 gold, 30 silver and 31 bronze, while Edo has 51medals of 16 gold, 11 silver and 24 bronze.

Kano State has 35 medals of 11 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze, while Lagos has 58 medals of nine gold, 15 silver and 34 bronze.

Oyo State has 37 medals of nine gold, 11 silver and 17 bronze, while Akwa Ibom move three places up with 31 medals comprising eight gold, nine silver and 14 bronze.

Bayelsa also move one place up with 50 medals of seven gold, 24 silver and 19 bronze.

FCT dropped three places with 20 medals of seven gold, three silver and 10 bronze, while Abia have 23 medals of four gold, three silver and 16 bronze.

Osun has 11 medals of four gold, three silver and four bronze, while Ondo State has 10 medals of four gold, one silver and five bronze.

Ogun has 31 medals of three gold, seven silver and 21 bronze, while Niger has nine medals of three gold, four silver and two bronze.

Cross River has three gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while Plateau have two gold, five silver and seven bronze medals.

Anambra has two gold, two silver and four bronze medals to bring up the rear among states which has won medals at the Festival.

NAN reports that six states were yet to win any medal as at close of competition on Wednesday evening, namely Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara.

Current Medals Table as at Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018

Team G S B T

1 Delta 69 31 39 139

2 Rivers 28 30 31 89

3 Edo 16 11 24 51

4 Kano 11 13 11 35

5 Lagos 9 15 34 58

6 Oyo 9 11 17 37

7 Akwa-Ibom 8 9 14 31

8 Bayelsa 7 24 19 50

9 FCT 7 3 10 20

10 Abia 4 3 16 23

11 Osun 4 3 4 11

12 Ondo 4 1 5 10

13 Ogun 3 7 21 31

14 Niger 3 4 2 9

15 Imo 3 2 5 10

16 Cross-River 3 1 3 7

17 Plateau 2 5 7 14

18 Anambra 2 2 4 8

19 Kebbi 2 2 1 5

20 Kwara 1 4 3 8

21 Bauchi 1 4 2 7

22 Yobe 1 2 1 4

23 Enugu 1 1 1 3

24 Nasarawa 0 4 4 8

25 Benue 0 2 3 5

26 Kogi 0 1 2 3

27 Ekiti 0 0 4 4

28 Kaduna 0 0 3 3

29 Taraba 0 0 2 2

30 Sokoto 0 0 1 1

31 Adamawa 0 0 0 0

32 Borno 0 0 0 0

33 Gombe 0 0 0 0

34 Jigawa 0 0 0 0

35 Katsina 0 0 0 0

36 Zamfara 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 198 195 293 686

-By Albert OGRAKA:

Wife of Delta state governor and founder of 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa has said blindness could be both spiritual and physical, hence the outreach was packed with physical eye and other body checks and medications, as well as the word of God, to reach out to both categories.

The Governor’s wife said she was passionate about the project and needed everyone to benefit, and called on leaders in the area to mobilise their members from the various riverine communities to benefit.

She therefore urged anyone occupying any position in the state, to imbibe the virtues of humility and service to humanity.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Minnie Oseji, said the medical team for the Ministry were fully prepared to reach out to as many as made themselves available.

Also, the Coordinator of the Restore Sight Africa Initiative, Dr. Ernest Ogbedor said a total of 26,000 persons were seen, 15,811 reading glasses given out, 2,234 eye surgeries performed, with a UV- Protection eye glass given to each of the surgery beneficiaries in the 24 Local Government Areas visited and assured that Burutu Local Government would be adequately attended to.

The Chairman Burutu Local Government Council, Hon. Godknows Angele described the 05 Initiative medical outreach as a train of hope and restoration to the teeming populace, saying that Burutu people were happy that the team had finally arrived the Local Government.

Others who spoke including the member representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Yingi, the state Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Hon. Julius Takeme, thanked the Governor’s wife for consistently reaching out to the needy in a unique way, noting that the people of Burutu Local Government were happy with her.

The Director General 05 Initiative and wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Kevwe Agas said the 05 Initiative were committed to their goal of putting smiles on the faces of the needy and changing lives, one person at a time.

The event featured immunisation, nutrition education, brief exhortation by Rev Austine Dotimiye, distribution of soya bean flour, mosquito nets, reading glasses, eye and other body tests, as well as surgery.

It was attended by dignitaries including the wife of the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Ebieri Otuaro, Chief of staff Government House, Mr Tam Brisibe, among others.

“Partnership Between Government And CSOs Imperative For Development” Says Ofuani

The Director General, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Chief Clement Ofuani has urged civil societies, non-governmental organizations and the press to partner with government for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 17(SDG) and sustained development in the state.

Chief Ofuani, who was the chairman of the occasion, made the call yesterday (10/12/18) at the      One Day sensitisation Summit for CSOs, NGOs and Ex-Militants organized by the Offices of the Senior Special Assistant To The Governor on Girl Child Development/NGO Liaison and Senior Special Assistant To The Governor on Civil Society in Asaba.

The Director General in his opening remark, explained the importance of collaboration between the state government and the civil societies and other stakeholders in order to deepen the quality of democracy, governance which will lead to greater development of the state. 

He called on all stakeholders to give out proper information to the people so that they can make informed decisions.

The SSA To the Governor on Girl Child Development/NGO Liaison Barr. Benedicta Osakunih-Izuegbu in her welcome address stated that it was “pertinent that CSOs, Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) and Ex-Militants/stakeholders should partner with the state government to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with national development plans, formulating policies, resource allocation monitoring and follow up”.

“This summit is geared towards enlightening all stakeholders on their enormous role in sustaining the tempo of development in the state as well as create an enabling environment for mutual participation in the Delta State project” she added.

Delivering the keynote address on the theme of the summit -“Partnership As A Veritable Tool For Sustainable Development of Delta State” Mr. Richard Akinnola said that partnership between government and CSOs can be achievable with transparency, openness and accountability from both parties.

He explained that for any society to grow and development to be achieved collaboration between the government and CSOs is imperative for the attainment of SDGs.

Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council to engage in issue based campaigns, expressing confidence that the PDP has successfully executed projects that will earn it victory in the 2019 general elections.

Governor Okowa made the call at the inauguration of the PDP campaign council by the Chairman of the party in the state, Barr. Kingsley Esiso.   The ceremony took place at the  Unity Hall in Asaba on Monday, December 10, 2018, and was attended by Chairman of the Council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire and its members.

“First, I want to thank the party for putting up this campaign council and other bodies that have been set up for the purpose of the campaign for the PDP in Delta State,” he said.

“As we go into the campaign, it should be issue based, we are confident that there is a lot of achievements for us to campaign with which will earn us victory. Other persons may go out there to insult people and say what they do not know, don’t respond to such persons, tell the story of where we have been, where we are today and what we will do because, we have a lot of projects that if you are looking at projects to commission, we have a lot; we have commissioned several projects and there is a lot more to be commissioned.” Okowa stressed.

Governor Okowa who disclosed that the campaign should be concentrated at the unit levels, emphasised, “tell the truth to the people, if there are things you don’t understand, get information from the nearest person or put a call through because, we are not going to deceive our people, we must always tell the truth.”

“I believe that Delta State is a PDP state, I believe that we have enough projects to campaign with, so, those who are planning to rig the election should know that our votes must count,” he said while listing some of the achievements of his administration in the health sector, road construction, job creation, among others.

He congratulated members of the campaign council and admonished them to remain united, saying, “If you go into the campaign with one mind, there is nothing that can stop us, there is a need for total reconciliation in our wards and local government areas; the candidates must be humble, in whatever they do, they must be seen as driving the process of the campaign, there must be sincerity of purpose, we must be inclusive in all that we are doing.”

Chairman of the PDP in the state, Barr, Esiso had while inaugurating the campaign council, said, “we want grassroots based campaign, campaign at the unit levels; we must tell our people what Governor Okowa has done in the last three years and that Deltans believe in zoning; Delta State has turn by turn zoning, the people have accepted the principles of zoning. “

Chairman of the campaign council, Prof. Oyovbaire on behalf of members of the Council thanked the leadership of the PDP for choosing them to drive the campaign process.

He observed that the performance of Governor Okowa in the past three years will make the campaign easy as Deltans are aware that they will gain more in the next four years.

The Adoration Ministry Enugu has allegedly claimed that there was an assassination attempt on its Director, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, who was allegedly shot at, at Emene, near Enugu, the state capital.

The claim is contained in a statement signed by the President, National Adoration Family, Aka Emmanuel, President, Adoration Fathers’ Associations Worldwide, Okolo Godwin, Adoration Mothers’ Association Worldwide, Mrs. Ann Aligwe, President, Adoration Youths’ Association Worldwide, Chukwu Agoziem and Media Chief, Ike Ugwuoke.

“It is with shock that we received the report of the attempted assassination plot on the spiritual director of Adoration Ministry Enugu on Thursday evening by some gunmen who fired gunshots at him on his way along Emene road, Enugu,’’ the statement said.

Mbaka, in the recent time has come under a lot of criticism following a video making rounds on the internet where he allegedly queried the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, for failing to announce a project he and his principal, Atiku Abubakar will undertake in his ministry or a financial donation to them.

-By Albert OGRAKA:

Wife of Delta state governor and founder of 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa has described prayers as the only means to solving myriad of societal problems.

Dame Okowa who feted the wives of traditional rulers in Delta state to an end of year interactive session on Friday, December 7, 2018 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, emphasized on the need for them to pray unceasingly for peace and unity in their respective kingdoms.

She also told them to be supportive of their husbands who are the custodians of the people’s customs and traditions through complementary roles to sustain the state government’s prevailing peace and unity for meaningful developments across the state.

While tasking the Queen mothers to be steadfast in prayers particularly for their kingdoms, State and Nigeria ahead of the 2019 elections, she admonished them not to undermine the powers of prayer to nation building.

Kesiena Samson in her sermon enjoined the queen mothers to imbibe the spirit of love as well as investing in God’s work.

Earlier in a welcome address, Director of 05 Initiative, Mrs. Kewe Agas said the event herald the Christmas season where her Excellency interact with the Queen mothers annually.

–By Enalo JAMES (Political Editor)

The Delta South Senatorial District candidate of Kowa Party, Hon. Patrick Tanno Onovughakpo, has promised to provide the needed representation and enhance the development of the district.

Hon. Onovughakpo, who stated this while speaking with stakeholders of the party and other supporters in Asaba, reminded them not to compromise merit with incompetence, noting that those presently junketing for the position in the district lacks the credibility to bring about the needed development, hence Delta South Senatorial District has been poorly represented.

“Lets think Kowa Party and dream Kowa party because victory is ours come 2019.”

He further said that his desire to contest the Senate seat was to bring about adequate representation of the youths, women and less privileged in the district, adding that the time to make the needed change for political emancipation.

Hon. Onovughakpo boasted that he has all it takes to win the forthcoming Senatorial election as a result of his credible track records and determination to truly represent his district at the red chambers.

He however enjoined the people of Delta South Senatoral District to be mindful of those moneybags and greedy politicians presently parading themselves and making vain promises without actually thinking of the people’s interest, saying that his intentions to transform the lives of his people is paramount.

“Our time to take what belongs to us as a people is now. We cannot be intimidated in securing what rightly belongs to us. I appeal to all of you to vote me in as your Senator. I have the strong political will and uncommon assets to provide the needed representation which you have been denied in the past.”

Hundreds of aggrieved youths from Delta state host communities to OML 30 and some ex-agitators from phases one to three of the Federal Government amnesty programme, on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 protested to the state Government House in Asaba over an alleged hijacking of surveillance contract of the Trans-Forcados Pipeline.

It took the combined efforts of various security agencies to calm down the protesters, owing to their large turnout.

The protesters called on Governor Okowa to intervene to avoid crisis in the state as a result of the re awarding of the surveillance contracts to people who are not familiar with the terrain.

Mr Tennyson Oriunu, in an address on behalf of the aggrieved youths, claimed that about a thousand angry youths and ex-agitators from the 111 communities of Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri and Isoko ethnic nationalities who are hosts to the OML 30 facilities, had earlier come to Asaba to make a complain about the unwholesome development but government failed to act.

He said that they have frowned at directives of some companies ploy to start another war in the host communities and in Delta State by hijacking the surveillance contract of the Trans-Forcados Pipeline, in one of the most shady contract deals.

Responding to the protesters’ claims, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, called on those who are trying to foment crisis in the state using oil surveillance contract as a ploy to desist as such could cause economic challenges to the nation.

According to the governor who came out from the state security council meeting to address the protesters, “This protest is happening on the day we are holding our security council meeting and the security agencies are here; the agencies have been working hard with the support of our people and our youths to keep the Trans Forcados line safe and we thank God that because of the safety of that pipeline the oil production of this nation has increased.”

“I want to advise that whosoever is plotting against the people, those who are benefiting and through the process of surveillance contracts are being empowered, should allow Delta state remain peaceful, because, in peace, we will be able to produce and export more crude oil and in that export the nation and the state gains,”

“It is our hope that nobody especially as the oil prices are going down should take any action that will foil the quantity of oil that we are currently producing,” he stated while calling on the protesters to remain peaceful as his administration would take necessary actions to address their grievances.

He emphasized, “we have held series of meetings with stakeholders and we have long agreed to the fact that it is best to secure our pipelines when we are in charge by ourselves; you cannot come and watch over someone else’s backyard; the people who own the place know best how to protect their property and if since June 2017 that the Trans Forcados line has been open, it has been functional and our oil production and export has continued to increase and there has been no complain; I will find it very disturbing if a new contract is being awarded not to talk about awarding the said contract under a higher cost; that will definitely not be responsible and I believe that Mr. President will not accept this; I am very confident that he will not support such a cause and I do not believe that the Nigerian nation who realizes that as at today we still heavily depend on the proceeds from oil and if our oil production has improved to the level that we have some level of comfort as a nation and as a state, I do not think that an action that will lead to the disruption of our oil production and export is something that will be welcome.

“Our nation is doing well and anything that is being done that will cause the reversal of the progress that we are making in terms of oil production will be an economic sabotage and I believe that any action being taken now to re-award the surveillance job to a new company that will come to displace the locals will be an economic sabotage and I do not think that is what we will support as a state, so, we are asking you to please be patient since you have decided to follow the due process to protest peacefully; we thank and appreciate you for the information that you have passed to us; we will act as quickly as possible to ensure that there will be no disruption to the progress that we are making thus far.”

DENVER— Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (Newmont or the Company) has achieved commercial production at the Subika Underground project, adding higher-grade, lower-cost gold production at the Ahafo mine in Ghana. Subika Underground represents Newmont’s third profitable expansion in 2018 and its tenth completed project since 2013. Subika Underground was delivered on schedule and within budget for approximately $186 million in development capital.

Beginning in 2019, Subika Underground will add average annual gold production of between 150,000 and 200,000 ounces per year for the first five years and has an initial mine life of around 10 years. Combined with completion of the Ahafo Mill Expansion project expected in the second half of 2019, Ahafo’s average annual all-in sustaining costs (AISC)1 are projected to improve by between $250 and $350 per ounce compared to 2016. The project has an expected Internal Rate of Return of more than 20 percent.

“In addition to increasing gold production and lowering costs at Ahafo, Subika Underground leverages the operation’s existing infrastructure and experienced workforce to further extend mine life,” said Gary Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer. “The mine provides an underground platform to explore additional upside potential in adjacent ore bodies and also includes some of the latest fit-for-purpose technologies to enhance safety, productivity and efficiency.”

As the Company’s newest mine, Subika Underground features semi-autonomous loading operations, proximity detection for vehicles, personnel tracking, and planned installation of ventilation-on-demand systems.

Over the last five years, Newmont has successfully built 10 new mines and expansions on four continents – on or ahead of schedule and at or below budget. These projects include Akyem and the Phoenix Copper Leach in 2013, the Turf Vent Shaft in 2015, Merian and Long Canyon in 2016, the Tanami Expansion in 2017, and Twin Underground and Northwest Exodus in 2018. The Company also completed a value-accretive acquisition of Cripple Creek and Victor in 2015 and delivered a profitable expansion at the mine in 2016.

About Newmont

Newmont is a leading gold and copper producer. The Company’s operations are primarily in the United States, Australia, Ghana, Peru and Suriname. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and was named the mining industry leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by its leading technical, environmental, social and safety performance. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since 1925.

-(BUSINESS WIRE/AETOSWire)-

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 14-year-old girl for allegedly stabbing his father to death.

The name of the man and the girl were not mentioned according to Punch.

The incident happened in the Cable Point area of the Asaba, the state capital.

Trouble started on Thursday evening when the man disciplined her for an offence she committed before he went to sleep.

It was gathered that the girl, who was unhappy with the development, waited until he was asleep before stabbing him to death with a knife.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, confirmed the incident, while expressing regret over the crime rate in the state, especially among youths.

Aniamaka said, “I don’t have information if the deceased is the girl’s father. But all we know for now is that he was related to her. Imagine a small girl stabbing her relative to death.

“The other day, it was killing of a Delta State University student. Where are we heading to?’’

He also appealed to parents to continue monitoring their children, advising ladies to be wary of the men they date.
*NAN

-By Nosa Omorodion:

Joseph Nwamana’s plays, Ezeh Ojeh and The Great Flood have a unique feature of setting and style. These are styles he seems to have adopted in all his plays so far as they are first noticed in his first two plays – Sacrifice to the Dumb God and King Ozomo’s Quest.

These plays are basically stories that are related to events of the past in Aboh Kingdom, situated along the banks of the River Niger in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. Justice is done to the setting, as the culture of the people is profoundly highlighted. The audience is led on an excursion into their beliefs, traditions and the dynamics of the society. Their dominant economic activity, which subsists on the natural resource, water – fishing, plays a major role in the description of the characters and their society. The River Niger is more than a locale; it is a symbol of the spiritual energy of the people. The plays, in summary, are set in Aboh kingdom and the neighbouring communities, and project the natural environment of a rain forest region.

Specifically, Ezeh Ojeh, subtitled, Festival of the Gods, has a dual setting. While the minor story from which the main story emanates is set in Ndoni, the main story is set in Aboh Kingdom. At Ndoni, the Iyiochi (King) and his subjects gather before Esumei (the Nwamana Narrator Character) with his Agidigbo dance and song group, as he unravels the main story before the Nyiochi and his enthusiastic subjects. The main story, which is relived by the storyteller, is set in Aboh Kingdom.

The Great Flood, on the other hand, is an old story of the Aboh Kingdom, told to the King of Aboh and his subjects in the Aboh Palace. It is a story about the threat to the survival of the Olisaemeka dynasty, which first appears with a tragic end in Joseph Nwamana’s first major play, Sacrifice to the Dumb God.

Eze Ojeh and The Great Flood are presented in the Nwamana tradition of a distinct narrator technique. It is an enterprise in originality. It deviates from the common European narrator style, where the narrator engages the theatre audience with the story as it unravels. In the two plays in question here, the narrator is a character in the minor story in which he recounts the events of the main story to an audience on stage. Instead of engaging the theatre audience, the narrator engages other characters that constitute another dramatic spectacle for the theatre audience.

The playwright handles this form so expertly that the minor play with its own dynamism does not distract critical attention from the main story. Although the main story can do without the minor one, they both give an overall enjoyment to the external or theatre audience or reader. There is an expert handling of the overall fluidity of form such that both plays are sequentially compatible.

The language of the plays complement the setting and characters. It is the language of the people sufficiently transliterated such that the nuances of local expressions are maintained. The playwright does not drift into giving the characters dialogue but rather makes them to express their original communication disposition. Furthermore, there is copious use of local names for various items ranging from fishing implements, musical instruments, objects of divination and religion to sundry others. This also helps in accentuating setting and the origin of the characters.

The play is rich in imagery, which is the norm of the linguistic culture of the setting. Proverbs and innuendoes play a great role in this regard. In the African setting such as the one in which Nwamana builds his plays, the use of imagery or figurative expressions does not subsist on class or caste as in European drama for instance; figurative expressions are used to amplify perceptions and ideas in the African society. It is therefore aptly pervasive in Nwamana’s plays which dwell upon grave matters that stir up serious conversations.

For plays that dwell so much on mysteries and religious beliefs, it is not out of character that symbolism is prominently featured. In this regard, the River Niger is portrayed as the spiritual essence of the land and its people. Their spiritual safeguard is in their relationship with the River. The flood that visits Aboh, from which the title of the play, The Great Flood derives, is ascribed to the sacrifice offered in propitiation for the abomination of Olisaemeka’s suicide in the play, Sacrifice to the Dumb God. The flood which though is threatening, finally becomes the channel through which the iconic crown of the Aboh kingship disappears and also returns.

In our concluding part of this review we shall be looking at the thematic expressions of the plays.

Incidentally, both plays share a similar controlling theme. They are thematically founded on the immutability of fate or destiny and the infallibility of the gods. This is an expression of the culture of the people, whereby fate is considered subject to the will of the gods or spiritual guardians of the community.

EZE OJEH
In Eze Ojeh, the protagonist, Obodoukwu is thrown into a struggle with the decision of the gods. They have determined that he cannot perform the prestigious role he is used to in the final rites of the Ojeh Festival. For a long time he has been the Eze Ojeh or King of Ojeh, who does the spiritual dance with accompanying rites. Without warning, Obodoukwu is suddenly told he cannot perform at an occasion for which he had looked forward and prepared. In the struggle that goes on in his mind, common human emotions of suspicion, humiliation, pride and hatred are aroused. In anger, he goes for a desperate measure to achieve his aim. He launches a spiritual attack on the new favourite of the gods, Ojugbeli, on the eve of the Ezeh Ojeh dance of which Ojugbeli was selected to perform instead of Obodoukwu.

Obodoukwu sees the selection of Ojugbeli as a humiliation. In stubborn resolve, he dismisses the advice of his persistently drunken mother to let go of his plot and accept his fate. He fights against the community and invariably, against the gods. For a moment, he literally brings the community, led by the Ochiokpala, the king, to their knees, when his incapacitating attack on the new Eze Ojeh, Ojugbeli succeeds.

In that moment of his seeming triumph, Obodoukwu finds happiness in getting back his customary role of the Eze Ojeh as he wears the attire and goes into performance.

Meanwhile, Ojugbeli also has his moment of struggle with an unexpected destiny suddenly imposed on him by the gods. He neither had the interest to be a dancer nor the ambition to become Eze Ojeh. He neither anticipated nor was he prepared for the task. However, with the encouragement of his father and the guidance of the Ugbana, Ojugbeli grows out of his fears and begins the journey by relevant preparation to take up the onerous responsibility.

Ojugbeli having been incapacitated, the community, led by the Ochiokpala has no choice but to plead with Obodoukwu to take up the responsibility of doing the Ezeh Ojeh Dance so that tradition would not be broken. This is the opportunity Obodoukwu orchestrated. In defiance and mockery of the gods, he goes ahead to perform the ancient rites of Eze Ojeh. Obodoukwu, so gifted, dances like never before and he is thus applauded. However, as it turns out, this is to be his last dance as Eze Ojeh. Just when he is to perform his last act and put his enemies to shame, including the gods, the gods strike in an ambush. Obodoukwu is swallowed up by the Uganuga. His obstinacy ends his life and the will of the gods prevails.

This is more so as Ojugbeli regains the strength of his legs and bodily vitality. He performs the final rite of the Ezeh Ojeh with a mysterious dexterity that excites the elders and delights the people.

The Great Flood

Like Eze Ojeh, the thematic preoccupation of The Great Flood, as earlier mentioned, is destiny and the mysterious manipulation of the gods.

The vacuum created by the absence of an heir to the throne of Aboh Kingdom precipitates the surge of ambition in an influential elder of the community, Omordia. The ambition is to become the king, against the age long protocol of tradition, which is to be guided by divination.

Omordia, propelled by an obsession, tries desperately to rally the support of some elders to support an expeditious installation of a king to fill the void created by Olisaemeka who had died without an heir. He plans to be that king.

Omordia also tries to use his closeness to the colonial official in charge of the division, Peterbourgh, to manipulate the whiteman to forcefully realize his ambition.

As the pressure from Omordia mounts on the elders, they decide to consult the oracle and find out what steps to take to get a new king. They therefore consult Akpofule, the old diviner. Akpofule tells them to meet him on a certain day when he would be strong enough to attend to them.

Meanwhile, Omordia becomes very desperate and in his desperation thinks of stampeding Peterbourgh, his friend, to proclaim him king over Aboh if he could lay his hand on the old crown that is in the possession of the village drunk, Oliobodo. Akpofule had restrained the king’s guards from retrieving the crown from Oliobodo at the death of Olisaemeka the king that committed suicide as an offering to the Dumb God. Omordia sends his thugs after Oliobodo to get the crown for him. In the chase of Oliobodo in a canoe race, the crown falls into the water and is lost.

On the day appointed by Akpofule to relay the message of the gods concerning the throne of Aboh, the elders find the old diviner dead. Still they decide to forge ahead with hearing from the gods despite Omordia’s growing impatience. Obiosa, Akpofule’s young apprentice is by popular choice called upon to interpret the unfinished divination of Akpofule.

In the meantime, the missing crown of Aboh appears in the Osekwenike, another community, a short distance from Aboh. The crown is caught in the net of a young man Okutulu, who had gone fishing. Okutulu is delighted by his mysterious find. He proceeds to wear it all over the place.

Obiosa, Akpofule’s protégé, divines for the elders of Aboh and says the oracle speaks of the lost crown of Aboh coming back through a child and a woman. The elders take this to mean that a new king cannot be installed until the crown is recovered. This upsets Omordia the more even as his impatience grows.

Omordia pursues his inordinate quest to become the king. He goes to Peterbourgh to instigate the whiteman to hasten the appointment of a new king, which he hopes to be.

Okutulu is in love with an Aboh girl, Ikuni. Their relationship brings Okutulu to Aboh on a visit. While on the visit, he wears the Aboh crown. Report gets to the elders that a visitor came to Idu’s house and he was with the lost Aboh crown. Idu, Ikuni’s father is then mandated by the Odua to lure Okutulu back to Aboh.

Okutulu is encouraged to go back to Aboh to meet with Ikuni whom he has proposed marriage. His mother, with a foreboding of danger to Okutulu, follows behind him in a canoe. As Okutulu appears on the banks of Aboh, he is seized and taken to the old palace to be interrogated and put to death. His mother follows protesting and wailing.

Finally, it is revealed that Olisaemeka, while still a prince and virile, had forcefully had Ngwedo, Okutulu’s mother, who had been his secret friend even though she was of an inferior class. That encounter had resulted in a pregnancy and to save Ngwedo from punishment, she was sent away with the secret of the pregnancy that resulted in the birth of Okutulu.

Based on the convincing explanation of Ngwedo and the confirmation of the village drunk, Oliobodo, the Odua proclaims Okutulu king. Thus, Omordia’s inordinate ambition ends in disappointment.

Definitely, Joseph Nwamana’s plays, Eze Ojeh and The Great Flood fulfill the literary expectation of providing entertainment. Also, in the tradition of African literature, they are very didactic. They teach the lesson of destiny and the need to contain our personal ambition within the limits of the common wish or the wish of the supernatural.

As a compass that helps in guiding society, the plays may be applied to the unfolding scenario of the forthcoming 2019 general election in Nigeria. Our politicians need to be particularly guided by the idea espoused in Eze Ojeh, where change is a constant. Anybody who wishes to represent the people ought not to pursue the quest beyond will of the people.

In the final analysis, either of the plays may yet turn out to be an oracle for the next or future leadership adventures of the Nigerian political office seeker.

14 November 2018.

The Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in Delta State, Mr. Malik Itiako Ikpokpo, has dispelled the insinuations that the N5billion assistance given by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to offset the backlog salaries of local government workers and primary school teachers was politically motivated.

Mr. Ikpokpo stated this when he addressed the press in Asaba on the complete payment of salary backlogs of local government workers and primary school teachers in the state at the Conference Hall, Ministry of Information.

The Chairman stated that such rumours and insinuation were not good but would rather dampen the moral of the helper.

The ALGON Chairman, who lauded the state government for the release of N5billion to offset the backlog of salaries of primary school teachers and local government workers in the state, stated that the payment of the backlog salaries was made possible by the release of N5billion to add to the N7billion being the local government share of the Paris Club Loan refund to offset the backlog of salaries.

He said, “The release of the entire local government share of the Paris Club Loan refund and the monumental assistance from the Delta State Government underscores government commitment to the wellbeing of workers in the state.”

“His Excellency did promise in January 2018 that subject to improvement of the revenue earning of the state, the Delta State Government will assist in clearing salary arrears owed local government workers and primary school staff, some dating back to 2014. A promise though difficult in view of the huge financial consequences has been magnanimously kept by His Excellency.”

He stated that the singular act by Governor Okowa’s fatherly disposition, concern and kind heartedness to the plight of workers and Deltans in general had proven beyond doubt that the Governor’s words were his bond, a promise keeper and leader who placed prime consideration on the betterment of his people.

The ALGON Chairman disclosed that the local government workers and school teachers were owed between one month to eight and half months salaries stated that the recession of 2015 led to the backlog of salaries by LGAs and not mismanagement of resources by the LGAs as was insinuated in some quarters.

According to Ikpokpo, the recession experienced in the country led to the dwindling inflow to the local government councils in term of its revenue generation, saying that it was from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that the local government carry out environment sanitation, fuel generators  and other running cost.

Mr. Ikpokpo noted that the local government in the country would only get it right when local governments get autonomy to run their affairs, even as he promised that ALGON would continue to fight for local government autonomy until it was realised.

He called on the press to always highlight areas of concern in the local government administration so as to put them on check.

In order to reciprocate the good gesture of Governor Okowa, Ikpokpo charged all local government workers and primary schools teachers to enhance their commitment to duty in the overall interest of the local government and Delta state at large.

Earlier, the Delta State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon Joyce Overah, said ALGON was grateful to Governor Okowa for coming to the aid of local government workers and school teachers to offset the backlog of salaries owned them.

~ The report by Whirlpool Corporation in partnership with Ipsos delves into technology usage and preparedness across UAE and Saudi Arabia between consumers of different ages ~

~ According to the study, 66% of seniors in UAE are curious about new technology and 68% of them feel that the latest technology helps them fit in with others ~

Dubai, United Arab Emirates:—With technology evolving at a rapid pace and consumers attempting to keep up with developments, a recent study by Whirlpool Corporation in partnership with Ipsos found a widening gap between different age groups in the region in the adoption, perception and use of technology.

The research report titled ‘Ageless Technology’, found that a technology gap is prevalent between different generations of consumers in the Middle East. 150 respondents were interviewed from the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the report: younger generations, from 18 to 35 years old, middle-aged consumers, from 36 to 50 years old, and seniors, over 50 years old.

Studying the relationship shared by these different age groups with regards to technology is key. This allows brands and businesses the opportunity to understand how technology is perceived and used by consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The research focused on consumer internet penetration, internet usage at home, time spent online as well as attitudes towards technology, approaches towards new technologies and benefits using smart and connected home appliances. Smart technology in home appliances was also touched on as part of the survey.

Results revealed that younger generations are early adopters of technology in both UAE and KSA while middle aged consumers prefer to wait until new technologies become popular. While the majority of the population believes that technology simplifies their lives, their attitude and concerns differ by age groups. Younger consumers look towards incorporating technology in all aspects of their life. The results showed that the younger generation in Saudi Arabia feels that owning technology would set them apart from others, while the older generation in the UAE feels intimidated by technology, perceiving it as more of a challenge.

However, almost half (43 per cent) of them in Saudi Arabia expressed curiosity about new technology and slightly more (47 per cent) feel that the latest technology helps them fit in with others.

The common point that places all age groups in the same basket is internet usage as, even amongst senior citizens, it was found to be high, at 91 per cent and 74 per cent in the UAE and Saudi Arabia respectively.

The majority of the population spends a minimum of three hours a day on the internet or social media, with the figure peaking for younger generations in Saudi Arabia, who spend over nine hours a day online.

On an average, consumers actively use seven to eight internet-based applications in both markets, while basic and personal communication, such as WhatsApp, was found to be the most pervasive and used by all elderly. Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Skype and Line, were found to be more popular among the younger and middle age groups.

The report clearly distinguishes a technology gap amongst consumers of different age groups, calling for a need for inclusive learning and awareness in technology. As a first step towards this, Whirlpool Corporation has embarked on a journey to bridge the gap between older and younger generations, bringing them together under the #AgelessTechnology movement. Whirlpool hosted a technology orientation workshop in Dubai, in partnership with Zayed University and Dubai Health Authority, where students helped seniors understand the benefits of using technology and walked them through the steps for using common online applications such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The students demonstrated how easily technology can be used to stay connected to people around the world, and also make life easier. The company plans to take this initiative to other countries in the Middle East to help seniors understand and operate technology, bridging the gap between generations and creating a more inclusive technology environment.

About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:WHR) is the world’s leading major home appliance company, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 92,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2017. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Ariston and Indesit in Middle East and Africa. In Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) it has approximately 24,000 employees, a sales presence in more than 30 countries and manufacturing sites in eight countries. Whirlpool EMEA is an operating segment of Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corp.’s MEA Operations Center is located in Dubai, UAE. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com or by visiting our Facebook page facebook.com/whirlpoolarabia
*Source: AETOSWire

Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said that Nigeria can only progress when all its citizens have a sense of security, unity and belonging.

Speaking on Monday in Asaba at a meeting with the Executive members of the Delta state Traditional Council led by its chairman, Obi Efizomor II, Obi Of Owa, Chief Obasanjo said that “ I am an incurable optimist about this country, Nigeria is not a perfect country but it can be made to make progress, move at a pace that will be advantageous to all of us, no matter our tribe, position gender and race”.

“We can have a country that is at peace with itself, where unity is enthroned, a country where every one will be their brothers’ keeper, where performance will be obvious in the governance and running of the affairs of our people, a country where everyone will have a sense of belonging”, he stated.

Dr Obasanjo commended Governor Okowa for bringing peace, unity, development and cooperation among deltans, urging the traditional council to continue to be pillar of support to the governor in his developmental strides.

He reminded them that they were bastion of peace, unity and development in their various domains and they should do their best for the unity and security of the state at all time.

Earlier, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has welcomed Chief Obasanjo to the state to commission some landmark projects stressing that his presence and wealth of experience would encourage his administration to carry out more development for the people.

Obi Efeizimor II, Obi Of Owa in his remarks has urged Chief Obasanjo to use his wealth of experience to fight injustice in the society stating that the country was at the verge of collapse and need men like him to intervene in its affairs.

-By Albert OGRAKA (Editor)

The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Delta state chapter, has inaugurated its newly constituted executive led by Comrade Patrick Idolor to oversee the affairs of its members and partner with relevant stakeholders and government agencies.

The inauguration which took place at the Federal Secretariat conference hall in Asaba on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 was supervised by the Association’s national officers, led by Comrades Dele Ayanleke (National Secretary), Nuhu Way Jnr (Assistant National Secretary) and Mallam Danyaro Mohammed (National Treasurer).

In a keynote address, the National President, Alhaji Sank Shehu, who was represented by the National Secretary), Comrade Dele Ayanleke, congratulated the newly constituted state executive for establishing a proper structure to project and protect the interest of Nigerian miners.

While disclosing that MAN membership comprises of exploration, quarry, mining and processing companies as well as services and consultancy firms that relates to the mining sector in the country, he urged all critical stakeholders, especially the members of the Miners Association of Nigeria to present a united front in the voyage to diversifying and broadening the national economic space.

He also thanked the Federal government for facilitating the template for the growth and development of the miming sector through its renewed focus of the Nigerian government to rejuvenate the sector and restore its glory as a major contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In his inaugural speech, the Chairman of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Delta state chapter, Comrade Patrick Idolor restated the commitment of the newly inaugurated executive of the association towards improving the lot of its members through team efforts.

The State Secretary of the association, Comrade Kenneth Odita further stated that the inauguration of the state chapter of MAN has heightened their resolve to always ensure that the association’s policy objectives are driven with zeal and vigour, despite challenges.

Earlier in her speech, the Federal Mines Officer (FMO), Engr. Mrs. Bukola Kuye expressed delight over the responsible conduct of all miners in Delta state and other stakeholders who had contributed immensely towards the successful inauguration and growth of the association.

Members of the newly inaugurated execution of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Delta state chapter include, Comrades Patrick Idolor (Chairman), Kenneth Odita (Secretary), Chief Nwosisi Ogunabo (1st Vice Chairman), Moore Ologitere 2nd Vice Chairman), John Shalokpe (Treasurer), Mrs Ruth Edoso (P.R.O.), Pastor Henry Adigwe (Auditor) and Aso Kingsley (Financial Secretary).

Students of Delta State origin who applied for the 2017/2018 academic session Students’ Special Assistance Scheme will soon smile to their banks as the State Government has approved money to pay them.

The state Commissioner for Information, Ogbueshi Patrick Ukah, disclosed this after the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held inside the EXCO Chambers of Government House, Asaba, and presided over by the state Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okwa, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

He said that the sum of N312, 448,574:60, being the amount required by the State Bursary and Scholarship Board to successfully implement the 2017/2018 scheme was approved during the meeting.

Still in the education sector, Ogbueshi Ukah revealed that the sum of N473, 832,845:20, being the balance of the state counterpart funding for the Universal Basic Education, was also approved by the EXCO.

The appointments of two Traditional Rulers received the nod of members of the Council. They are His Royal Majesty, Professor Paul Oghenero Okumagba as the Idama 11, the Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom in Warri South and His Royal Majesty, Henry Ezeagwukpo Jegbefume 1, as the Obi of Akumazi Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government.

According to the Commissioner for Information, Council also approved the construction of Abavo Circular Road (Phase 11), Abavo in Ika South, completion of the dualisation and rehabilitation of Emore Road in Oleh town, Isoko South and the construction of Ugbomro Road (Sector 11) from Ughelli/Warri Expressway Junction at Iteregbi Village to the main gate of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Uvwie Local Government.

Other roads approved are the construction of Akumazi/Owerre-Olubor/Ekwuoma Link Road (Phase11) with a 265 meters spur to Obior/Ogwashi-Uku Road, construction of Hon. Abinoko Way, Community Road and Ekuobodo Village Road, (Phase1), EkuobodoVillage, Mosogar, Ethiope West and the reconstruction of Igbodo/Obior Road in Ika North East/ Aniocha North.

Also included is the construction of Ajagbodudu Township Roads including Diden Road and link the community to Oghoreki-Ajagbodudu Road to Ugbenu/Koko Road, Ajagbodudu Town Hall Road and Dudu Road.

Recall that Governor Okowa recently said that the state government will take advantage of the dry season to speed up work on construction of roads in the state.

A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE DELTA ONLINE PUBLISHERS FORUM (DOPF) AT END OF ITS CONVENTION HELD IN ASABA ON 7TH NOVEMBER 2019.

The Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), a certified Corporate organization held its annual convention with the theme: The Role of Online Media In 2019 Election: Managing Fake News on Wednesday 7th November 2018 at Asaba, Delta State.

At the convention, the lead speaker, Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika tackled the topic in her lecture paper which was discussed and solutions proffered to how fake news can be curbed by a high profile constituted panelists.

The two-days convention also featured a workshop training on Business Management and Customer Care, and Online Optimization for Online Media Practitioners, from a highly rated business coach and Google certified trainer from Google Nigeria, award to deserving personalities and induction of new members.

At the end of the brainstorming deliberations,  the convention resolved as follows:

1. That professional media practitioners must show commitment to continuing to wage the online war against fakes and it’s adverse effects by distinguishing ourselves from purveyors of fakes and not join the bandwagon of those who rush to break the “news” on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter or other online platforms without confirming same.

2. That we are determined to keep faith to the principles of our formation which are centred on the tripod of Ethics, Professionalism and Service in the delivery of our journalistic mandate as publishers and purveyors of credible news and authentic verifiable information.

3. That we strongly condemn the scourge of “fake news” which has become an International phenomenon and would continue to re-brand our online news portals as source of verifiable and authentic news carriers.

4. That we express our concern about how the social media was used as a tool by politicians  to spew hate speech, lies, abuse, divisiveness and distraction during and after the 2015 general elections and therefore resolved that we must collectively fight the menace which has become anti-people and anti-development as 2019 general elections approaches.

5. That the DOPF would continued to ensure that its members provide unbiased platform devoid of partisanship, favouritism and fakes.

7. That we will not be part of the copycat machination of those who build online platforms in order to make money through click baits and other nefarious reasons, rather as professional journalists in the media industry we will ensure mechanism through which fake news are eliminated and ensure that truth prevails at all times.

8. DOPF charged stakeholders in the industry to publish what is true, accurate, balanced and in support of national unity as well as employ independent fact-checking mechanism.

9. We resolved that as the 2019 general elections draws near,  the media must endeavour to accentuate its agenda setting capacity by advocating issue-based campaign among politicians.

10. It held that the media must ensure a robust and articulate debate among the various presidential candidates so that the 2019 general elections do not go the way of fake news,  hate speech and other rhetoric.

11. That seasoned online journalists must work at the credibility problems in the online media by ensuring whatever they publish has all the elements of credibility as the menace of fakes has continued to tarnish the good work of seasoned journalists and online news media publishers.

12. Conclusively, the Convention maintained that as Nigeria prepare for the 2019 general elections that will usher in a new set of leaders, the media industry especially online media practitioners must be at the fore front of ensuring that the right narrative are in the public domain. And that the media practitioners must not allow themselves to be used by politicians to throw tantrums at each other.

Signed:

Joe Ogbodu, Chairman
Communique Drafting Committee

John Egie, Secretary
Communique Drafting Committee

For: Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF)

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Ogbueshi Patrick Ukah, has approved the deployment of Mr. Celestine Ofuani to Function as the General Manager of the Delta State Printing and Publishing Company Limited (DPPCL), publishers of the Pointer Newspapers.

The deployment is sequel to the official disengagement of the substantive General Manager of the company, Mr. Bosah Iwobi, from the services of the company with effect from Friday, November 9, 2018.

Mr. Ofuani is to act in that capacity until the appointment of a new substantive General Manager.
Before his deployment, Mr. Ofuani was the Deputy Director of Information (DDI) in charge of Newsroom and Operations in the State Ministry of Information.

Grosvenor House’s award-winning Pan-Latin experience – Toro Toro – celebrates the future with a venue and menu revamp

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai’s most influential Pan-Latin Restaurant, Lounge and Bar – Toro Toro – unveils a refreshed approach and a glamourous refurb just in time for the winter season. The popular homegrown concept reveals its seductive new look and feel this October, alongside the introduction of flamboyant new dishes created by the award-winning Chef Patron Richard Sandoval. After undergoing a month-long renovation, the venue will welcome you back every day from 7 PM to 1 PM on weekdays and until 2 AM on Thursday and Friday.

Maintaining its position as the trend leading Pan-Latin concept in Dubai, the venue now boasts some unique new interiors incorporating flashes of foliage, tribal Latin patterns, Palm leaves and dark walls alongside
uber-chic leather furniture. Another new exciting feature is an open kitchen bringing the passion, sounds, smells and energy of Latin America to you. Toro Toro’s now famous bull’s horns that adorn the walls seem to have taken a trip into the Amazon and met their shaman. They will be an Instagram-worthy moment for a new generation of revellers.

“We first conceptualised the unique destination in 2011 with Richard Sandoval to bring the best of Pan-Latin American tastes to Dubai in a way that Dubai hasn’t seen before,” says Pam Wilbly, Complex General Manager, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa and Grosvenor House Dubai. “The investment in the revamp is in line with our vision to grow with current trends and to lead new ones for the hospitality industry. We love to challenge the market whilst maintaining our signature brand values of honesty and integrity with our world-class food, stellar ambience and our renowned signature service paired with unique soundtracks from our DJs.”

Located at the celebrated Grosvenor House and offering stunning views of the Marina, Toro Toro has been at the forefront of bringing to residents and visitors an unparalleled F&B offering in Dubai. Toro Toro’s creation was led by the famous Latin chef Richard Sandoval in partnership with the luxury property.

“Dubai was our first expression of the Toro Toro concept and is our flagship venue worldwide. We are excited to unveil an exciting new look and bring a refreshing Pan-Latin experience to the city once again,” says Richard Sandoval. “We are always evolving our offering to keep you entertained and engaged, and I love what we have done with Toro Toro at the Grosvenor House. We have retained our DNA so you can expect the experience you loved, but we have added some much more flair which is exciting. It’s timely and opens a new colourful new chapter for Toro Toro.”

Signature Toro Toro favourites will still be on the menu, including crafted Churrasco-style meats as well as plenty of exciting new dishes such as beautifully balanced Seabass Coconut Ceviche. Fans of the popular ladies’ night are also in for a treat as the bustling Monday night remains on the program but with some sophisticated new twists throughout the season.

You can look forward to imbibing fresh cocktails and enjoying Richard Sandoval’s expression of Pan-Latin cuisine in the revamped space where inspiration – drawn from the Latin American Amazon – can be seen through bold and colourful décor, flirtatious uniforms, passionate and relaxed service plus a vibrant music programme that features a diverse line-up of Dubai’s hottest DJs.

Dubai’s groundbreaking Pan-Latin experience is back and has brought with it a new lust for life.

*Source: AETOSWire

Colorado voters elected Jared Polis, making him the first openly gay man to win governor.

Democrat Ayanna Pressley won her House race in Massachusetts’ 7th District, becoming the state’s first black woman elected to Congress.

Democrats Rashida Tlaib in Michigan and Ilhan Omar in Minnesota won their races for House seats, becoming the first Muslim women elected to Congress.

Also, Democrats Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids will become the first female indigenous candidates heading to House after wins in New Mexico and Kansas.

[HuffPost]

In line with global practices, the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has set machinery in motion to organize live debate for gubernatorial candidates of political parties participating in the forthcoming 2019 general elections in the state.

The decision to organize the debate is in exercise of it’s constitutional role as watchdog of the society and agenda setting role by giving vent to every marketable idea before the electorate.

It is a forum for candidates to prove they have superior ideas to offer the electorates. It will also provide an opportunity for them to convince the electorates on what makes them exceptionally qualified as inidividuals to be the governor of Delta State and distinguished senators.

A statement signed by Comrade Michael Ikeogwu – Chairman and Comrade Churchill Oyowe -Secretary revealed that the debate will hold at a time to be announced soon as the NUJ DELTA STATE COUNCIL is in talks with some television stations across the country to beam the debate live globally.

Political parties fielding candidates for governorship position are hereby, advised to dust their files and get their candidates ready for the live debate.

NUJ DELTA STATE COUNCIL is ready to partner individuals and organizations who may be interested in pursuing this noble cause aimed at giving opportunity to the electorates to make informed decision on who is best suited for the job.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Council of the NUJ, has entered into partnership with Quest Television and Radio, Otor-Ogor, Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area and Bridge FM Asaba, for 1 hour and 30 minutes programme, respectively.

While Quest TV and Radio will run simultaneously on Tuesdays and Fridays of every week between 1pm and 2pm, Bridge FM Asaba will play host to NUJ Delta between 10:15am and 10:45 am every Thursday.

This is in line with Comrade Michael Ikeogwu led administration of the NUJ Delta to give the union a voice and effectively play it’s role of agenda setting and watchdog of the society. The live programme will afford the union the opportunity bring guest to speak on issues of the moment as members of the union will also be guests and anchors as we progress.

The Delta State Police Command has confirmed that the abductors of four Catholic priests who were kidnapped on Tuesday, November 6, 2018  by unknown gunmen around Umutu/Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State have started making contacts.

As at press time, it was not clear who had been contacted.

According to CP Mustafa, “The kidnappers have started calling but you know we don’t encourage paying ransom. But definitely, we will ensure their release.”

The priests were reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday by men of the underworld who whisked them to an unknown location. They were said to be driving on a convoy from Warri in Delta statt to Ekpoma in neighboring Edo state, when the incident happened.

The state commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Mustafa, who had earlier confirmed the abduction on Wednesday, assured that the police dragnet already spread out would ensure that the kidnapped priests are rescued.

The Police had allegedly arrested one person within the area of the incident even though
as it said the identity of those behind the abduction were unknown.

Among the kidnapped Catholic priests, is Very. Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Obadjere in charge of St. Williams Catholic Church, Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area in Delta State.

Meanwhile, the vehicles conveying the priests had been rescued by the team of anti-kidnapping policemen drafted from Delta and Edo states respectively.

The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception to celebrate the Grand Opening of its RAKBANK Building that was attended by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates: The American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official Grand Opening of the RAKBANK Building, which currently houses AURAK’s School of Business and the Office of Academic Support Services. The ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, United Arab Emirates Supreme Council Member and Ruler of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah; AURAK administration including AURAK President, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim, the Vice President of Student Success and Academic Affairs and Provost, Professor Stephen Wilhite, and other top representatives; RAKBANK administration including the bank’s chairman, Mr. Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Peter England, and other top representatives; and representatives from Al Nuami Group, all contributing institutions to the construction of the new facility. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, top representatives from each party, and honored guests toured the new building and discussed its future potential.
The new RAKBANK Building has been unofficially in service since the beginning of the Fall semester, it’s brand new facilities hosting classrooms, service events, and beginning a gradual process of integrating Business and Academic Support faculty and staff into new office settings. Faculty, Students, and Staff have been delighted by the new facilities, the opportunities they bring, and the clear evidence of support shown to AURAK by the business and banking community of the region.
Professor Al Alkim, was humbled by the continued patronage and support shown by H. H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, RAKBANK, and the Al Nuami Group, “Investments and enterprises with distinguished contributors such as these are critical to the successful construction of educational facilities essential for developing young minds. We will forever be indebted to these esteemed benefactors as they have altruistically helped lay a solid foundation for a prosperous future for both AURAK and the Ras Al Khaimah community.”
Commenting on the announcement of the new RAKBANK building at AURAK was RAKBANK’s CEO, Peter England, “RAKBANK is committed to providing exceptional opportunities to the country’s business leaders of tomorrow, our support of setting up AURAK’s School of Business and the Office of Academic Support Services is just another medium where the Bank can invest in the development of the student’s knowledge and skills, which aims to help them prepare for future positions where they can play influential roles in the UAE and the development of its economy as a whole.”
The ceremony concluded with an intimate reception, including an orchestra performance by members of AURAK faculty and staff, where all of the contributors discussed the University’s vision and future plans.

(AETOSWire)