The Empire Naija

By Edet Okpo& Nature Substance “In view of the current economic realities occasioned by the Covid’19 Pandemic on all sectors of our society, I hereby call on the Council to consider the establishment of special intervention packages and inclusion of rural women in the yearly budgetary provision of employment at various levels.” The above words formed part of advocacy by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, on the occasion of the 21st Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs, held at Ibom Hall, Uyo, on Thursday, August 26 , 2021.   The National Council on Women Affairs Meeting, which is held annually and rotated amongst States of the federation, is arguably the largest platform where Nigerian women and stakeholders assemble to brainstorm on critical issues affecting the womenfolk. With the theme - Gender Equality: A Panacea for Enduring Security and Sustainable Economic Recovery in the Post Covid -19 Era, Akwa Ibom was again chosen ...

  A Chieftain in the Niger Delta region has commended what he called “lofty strides recorded by the Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Barr. Effiong Akwa, since his appointment barely nine months ago in December, 2020. This is the latest in the constant rain of commendations that has been poured on the NDDC Boss from all corners of the country.   Describing the NDDC Boss as a worthy and exemplary as ambassador of Akwa Ibom State and the Niger Delta, a pragmatist and patriotic Nigerian, Chief Mathew who is the President of Niger Delta Development Peace Movement, said the appointment of Barr. Akwa to captain a “boat in troubled waters” that the NDDC has become in the last two decades has clearly vindicated President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of him and proven that things can work in the Commission with the right persons in the right place.  Chief Victor Mathew was speaking to news men in an exclusive chat in Uyo weekend. He therefore calle...

  Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have raised alarm over what they jointly described as foul play, arm-twisting and poor reward system by the State  leadership of the party, latest  investigations have revealed. Citing the case of one of their outstanding , committed and patriotic members, Mr. Mfon Henry, whom they said has given all to the growth and sustenance of PDP in Mbo yet with nothing to show, the stakeholders pleaded with the Governor of the State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to look critically and urgently into the grievances to avoid potential cracks which might prove costly to the party. Mulling the idea of possible boycott of subsequent party assignments and duties if nothing conciliatory was done by those concerned, findings traced the root of the problem to the hanky-panky manner wielders of power in Mbo  have handled issues. This, according to  one source who pleaded anonymity, has resulted ...

All is now set for the "Greater Nigeria Project Crusade" hosted by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). The event which is billed to hold at the Ibom Hall Grounds from the 10th to 11th August 2021 will parade a cross section of the clergy across the country led by the National president of PFN Bishop Francis Wale Oke.  Addressing a press conference recently, the National Coordinator of the Crusade programme Bishop Oriname Kure told Journalist that the vision of the crusade was aimed at bringing back Nigeria to be great again where the country will get back the glory God has destined for it. He charged chairmen of PFN in the 31 Local Government Area of the State to mobilize their members enmase to come out for the two day impactful spiritual crusade adding that the program with the theme “All things are possible” would include segments like “All ministers conference & solemn Assembly”, “Unity Youth Worship and miracles prayer Rally” on the 10th of August w...

  Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has commiserated with families that lost their loved ones and prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in a ghastly motor accident along Abaji-Kwali Expressway, Abuja on Wednesday. Rt. Hon. Bassey, who made this known through a signed statement on Thursday, expressed his grief, sympathy and condolence to the people of the state over the irreplaceable loss. “The leadership and members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly are deeply sadden and heartbroken by the sad incident. On behalf of my colleagues and Honourable Members, I send my heartfelt sympathy and condolence to the families of the five youngsters and prospective Corp members who died in a ghastly motor accident along the Abaji-Kwali Expressway on Wednesday, July 28, 2021,” the statement said. “I am more pained that most of them were our constituents who had willingly offered themselves to serve the nation. I pray that God...

  A former Governorship Aspirant, Artch Ezekiel Nyaetuk has called on political leaders in Nigeria to actively engaged the youth in the main stream of governance  to enable them become self reliance. He made the call during an interaction with newsmen at  Social Housing Estate, Ikot Ntuen Nsit shortly after picking his membership card to officially join African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday, 14 July, 2021. " Our youth  must be free from that  joke of slavery and we call it responsibility transfered to the youths, we want a governor that prioritizes the youth and decides that once or two times every Month he has a dialogue with the youth,  imagine a governor sitting down with the youth teaching and training them on  responsibility, talking to them about ethics, leadership, business and values and this is what I have been doing" . His words. Nyaetuk decried the situation were youth are being servitude by political leaders for their selfish inter...

  The member Representing INI State Constituency and the Chief Whip, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Bassey has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria,  Akwa Ibom State Government and the  Federal Ministry of Education to consider Nkari in INI Local Government Area as the best location for the proposed Federal University of Technology.  Speaking with journalists in Uyo, the lawmaker said this will naturally put an end to over two decades of communal clashes between Nkari and Usaka, a neighbouring community in Abia State which has led to loss of lives and property.  He noted that 'the indigenes of the area (Nkari) are now living in fear due to incessant and perpetual attacks. They can no longer go to the farm and market. Movement from one place to another within the area is done with utmost caution, which has brought untold hardship and sufferings upon the indigenes.' He further said 'Nkari is blessed with abundant natural resources an...