The Empire Naija

  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...