The Empire Naija

  A socio-cultural cum socio-political association, "Circle of Trust", has formally announced its formation in Akwa Ibom State, while declaring Dr. Eunice Thomas as Grand Matron. Dr. Thomas — former Commissioner for Women Affairs, and Education respectively in Akwa Ibom State, is Non-Executive Director on the Board of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).  Speaking during a visit to the Director, Mrs. Magdalene Leo, president of CoT, disclosed that their choice of Dr. Thomas as grand matron is because of her impactful mentorship of women and young people, and time-tested credibility as a beacon of hope for Ibeno community. The Forum further described her as a "friend of widows, not only in Ibeno land but across other local government areas of the state", and a "woman who gives strength to those without strength". As stated by Mrs. Leo, parts of the Forum's aims are to enhance rapid community development and fast track women empowerment. ...

  Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has set in motion Akwa Ibom State University to establish the Faculty of Medicine. The House in it's Plenary yesterday Thursday mandated the Committee on Education to liaise with the University leadership to commence processes for the establishment of Faculty  of Medicine including tasking the Ministry of Health to commence the process that would lead to the actualisation of the Akwa Ibom State University Teaching Hospital project. Rising from a Motion brought before it by Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Hon. Prince Ukpong Akpabio tittled: "Need to Actualise the College of Medicine in the Akwa Ibom State University" noted that the commencement of Medicine Faculty would increase indigenous manpower in the health sector, provide professional training, as well as boost the school academic programmes. Hon. Ukpong Akpabio expressed concern over the absence of the Faculty of Medicine in the University, which according  to ...

Senator Aniekan Bassey of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District has urged the Senate to investigate the alleged illegal annexation of Nigerian Mangrove Islands situated at Efiat in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by the Republic of Cameroon.  The Senator made this known at Tuesday plenary through a motion brought under Order 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 as amended. Describing the encroachment as an act of economic sabotage and a violation of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, Senator Bassey highlighted the urgency of the matter, stressing that the annexed territory was never part of the lands ceded to Cameroon under the 1913 Anglo-German treaties or the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision of October 2002.  Senator Bassey, through the motion, outlined “the economic significance of the annexed Mangrove Island, which hosts extensive fishing routes and approximately 2,500 oil wells. The revenue from these resources, which should rightf...

  Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has moved swiftly to halt the state of insecurity experienced by Indigenes of Ini local government area. The House called on security agencies to step in immediately to arrest the situation and bring normalcy to the affected areas. Rising from a matter of urgent public importance brought before it by the member representing Ini State Constituency, Hon. Lawrence Udoide, the House expressed worry over the invasion and abduction of persons in the affected community and charged relevant agencies on the need to bring peace . Hon. Udoide informed the House that on the 3rd of this month(March),while the people of Okpoto in Iwere Clan were in their Farms, they heard gunshots and in the process, two of his constituents were abducted and taken to Atani in Aruchukwu. He added that the people of Okpoto are living in palpable fear of their lives and not able to move about freely. He called on the House to task the Executive to wade into the crisis which is in...

  In the opening ceremony of the free medical outreach for Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, dignitaries have expressed joy and enthusiasm towards the health services sponsored by Rt. Hon. Ime Bassey Okon to give succour to the health needs of Itu and Ibiono Ibom Constituents. While declaring the event open earlier today, the health commissioner, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John said that free medical outreach is a great feat because healthcare is not cheap. He especially appreciated the House of Representatives Member for giving priority to the health of his constituents. Dr. Ekem advised all health personnel to approach every case with care and love.  In his remark, the Member representing Itu Ibiono Ibom in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Moses Essien said that as a Chairman, House Committee on Health, Food and Nutrition, he was glad to identify with the programme. He noted that the select health personnel are professionals. "As the Chairman, House Committee on Health...

It was an emotional scene at Palmer Memorial Hospital, Ikot Usen, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, on Tuesday, as tears of joy and songs of praise filled the air at the commencement of a free medical and surgical outreach sponsored by the Member representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, Hon. (Barr.) Obong Ime Okon. The outreach, which attracted a large turnout of beneficiaries, saw elderly men and women, children, physically challenged and constituents with chronic ailments throng the venue for medical attention. Many of them were transported to the centre in buses provided by Rep Ime Okon. A team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, surgeons, optometrists, and dentists, attended to patients with various health conditions. Cases ranging from high blood pressure, malaria, and typhoid to complex surgical procedures were lined up to be handled, while others who required continuous care were referred to private hospitals, with the financial burden sh...

ITORO BASSEY  The residents of the Ikot Nte community in Etinan Local Government Area have appealed to Governor Umo Eno for assistance in constructing the Ikot Obio Eka–Ikot Ibok–Ikot Nte–Mbioto II Road, which is the only major route connecting their village to Mbioto and Etinan town. During separate interviews with reporters over the weekend, community members said Ikot Nte has become socially and economically isolated from neighboring communities in Iman South, Etinan.  They said the situation has worsened due to the broken Ikot Nte–Mbioto Bridge, which has also developed dangerous gullies. Obong Joshua Amos, the Village Head of Ikot Nte, described the community's plight as one of being cut off from civilisation. He noted that residents are now struggling to access the General Hospital in Mbioto II, a vital health facility that was once easily reachable. "Our village can no longer access the General Hospital in Mbioto, which is just an eight-minute drive away. Due to the cur...

  By Edet Okpo "Elections are over, and our kindred spirit must be renewed and deepened. We are all Akwa Ibomites first before politics. Politics therefore must not separate or sever the ties of our brotherhood and common heritage and aspirations, I pledge to you that I will be Governor for all Akwaibomites, irrespective of political persuasions or affiliations. I call on our people to come together, and let’s build a State where the pain of one Akwa Ibomite is the pain of all, and where the success of one Akwa Ibomite is the success for all. We have been too polarized by politics, This should not be" - Gov Umo Eno  The superscripted quote is an extract from the maiden speech of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, on May 29, 2023. Because of our past, some persons then may have dismissed the governor's utterances as one of those things they've heard before from those in that position. How wrong they were! One recent happening that has launched the Governor on local, natio...

  By Edet Okpo With Senator Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan's antics in the Senate collapsing like a park of cards, it is expected that she has learnt her lessons beyond the shows she has put up. It is now more obvious that she was simply using the ploy to launder her ego and seek a celebrity status. Too bad.  If her cohort of advisers really loved her, they should first have advised her to go for tutelage as a trainee-comedian under one of the seasoned comedians in Nollywood, Nigeria’s bourgeoning film industry of all-comers and not to contest to become a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.! Alternatively, lady Natasha herself should have engaged some smart miscreants in motor parks in nearby Nyanya or Kwakwalada to train her on how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create contents to entertain market women in Kogi Central District, her Constituency, which she had abandoned in preference for fake dramas of no consequence in the Hallowed Chamber.  Indeed, if Natasha’s...

  By Asuquo Edem  In a bid to ensure the safety of waste management workers in the State, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has advocated for the provision of Personal Protection Kits and free medical checks for these classes of workers. Following a report presented before the House today , Thursday by the member representing Okobo State Constituency,Hon. Bassey Bassey, the House also tasked the Ministry of Environment to synergize with the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) and other relevant stakeholders, to put up an Executive Bill on environmental protection and waste management.  Hon. Bassey while decrying the exposure to health hazards by environmental workers especially those in waste collection due to none use of personal protective kits added that it was also imperative to provide these category of workers with free medical checks and treatment to enhance effectiveness and efficiency. While recommending for a revie...

  By Asuquo Edem  In it's avowed desire to position Akwa Ibom nay it's Indigenes benefit maximally from the the actualization of the Ibom Deep Seaport, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a motion tasking the State Government to initiate programs for the training of skilled manpower in the maritime sector. This was contained in a motion presented before the House by the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Hon. Ukpong Akpabio during Plenary today Thursday. Hon. Akpabio in a Motion titled "Ibom Deep Seaport: Need For Anticipatory Long-term Investment In The Education And Training Of Indigenous Manpower In The Maritime Sector" while informing the House that Akwa Ibom State is endowed with huge maritime potentials with its 129 km Atlantic Coastline being the longest in the country and Gulf of Guinea stated that maritime potentials of the State hold huge economic opportunities in areas of commercial shipping and fishing operations as well as hydro-...

Member representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ime Bassey Okon has presented a petition seeking the reinstatement of one of his constituents in Michael Okpara University. He presented the petition on the floor of the House earlier today, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, during plenary.  The federal lawmaker said the content prays for the reinstatement of his constituent, Daniel Etim Akpan, who was wrongfully dismissed from duty at Micheal Okpara University. "At today’s plenary, I presented a petition from one of my constituents, Daniel Etim Akpan, against the Michael Okpara University for wrongful termination of his appointment. He is praying for his reinstatement and the payment of his outstanding entitlements." #ItuIbionoIbomFederalConstituency #ImeOkonisWorking

  The Member representing Itu/Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ime Bassey Okon has sponsored a 4-Day medical and surgical outreach for constituents. As contained in a release from his office, the 4-Day free medical outreach will commence on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, through Friday, March 14, 2025, by 9:00am daily. The venue for Itu people will be at Primary Health Centre, Mbak Atai, Itu LGA, while that of Ibiono Ibom indigenes will be at Palmer Memorial Hospital, Ikot Usen, Ibiono Ibom LGA, all of Akwa Ibom State. The schedule is as follows, in Itu LGA, the event will hold at Primary Health Centre, Mbak Atai, Itu from March, 12 to 13, 2025, and at Palmer Memorial Hospital, Ikot Usen, Ibiono Ibom from March, 11 to 14, 2025  by 9:00 am daily. The free medical event will take place simultaneously in the two venues and will focus on general medical conditions, surgery, and eye checkups. Reading glasses will be ...

  By Edet Okpo It was a popular quote by a former American President, Woodrow Wilson and recent happenings in Oro Nation that perhaps sparked my interest in this article . Woodrow Wilson had charged his fellow compatriots: “We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We stand together until the end”.   The need and call for Oro Unity has never been demanding and necessary as vicissitudes of the moments have warranted. Apart from individual idiosyncrasy and preferences, there is nothing Oro Nation as a genealogical bloc of Akwa Ibom State and ethnic twig of Nigeria’s minorities does not have in common, to make it truly great. Oro Nation’s pathological, regenerative and inherited shared cardinal ideology for unity and growth is expressed in “Afangki”. This mantra has mutated or transmogrified to “Afangkism” as a school of thought that every aborigine of Oro freely endorses as article of socio-cultural membership. Those curious about Oro Nation’s linguistic cul...

Senator Aniekan Bassey of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District has underscored the far-reaching benefits of Akwa Ibom stakeholders' visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Friday. Speaking on the importance of the visit with newsmen on Saturday at his Abuja residence, Senator Bassey hinted that the high-powered delegation, led by Governor Umo Eno and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, presented the President with critical developmental concerns of Akwa Ibom.  According to the Senator, some of the concerns were in the area of rural infrastructure, economic growth, and federal support for key projects.  He explained that the meeting provided a strategic platform for robust developmental partnerships between the Federal Government and Akwa Ibom State.  “The visit to President Tinubu was a defining moment for Akwa Ibom. It reaffirmed our commitment to fostering strong federal collaboration for infrastructural advancement a...

Christians the world over have been tasked to live exemplary lives and exercise faith in God while alive as their deeds here in earth is what they would be remembered for. This was contained in a homily by Prophet Ernest Paul during the burial obsequies of Late Deaconess Elizabeth Jumbo A. Udoh, grandmother to the Clerk of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs. Nsikakabasi Orok held over the weekend at deceased's compound in Awa Ndon, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Speaking on the topic "Fight a Good Fight of Faith," taken from the book of 2 Timothy 4:7, Prophet Paul urged those in the body of Christ to fight for a good cause. The preacher described the late Deaconess as a devout Christian who fought a good battle while alive, noting that her good deeds will forever be remembered and her life celebrated.  Prophet Paul emphasised the need to be intentional as a Christian and to know what course one is fighting and for whom. "You must receive Jesus...