The Empire Naija

  The Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Prince Ukpong Akpabio II, has fulfilled his campaign pledge to promote education by rewarding a fresh first-class graduate from his constituency. During a brief ceremony at his office in the Assembly Complex, Uyo, on Tuesday, the lawmaker presented a ₦200,000 cash award to Mr. Godwin Cornelius Stephen, who recently graduated with First-Class Honours in Civil Engineering from the University of Uyo. The gesture formed part of the Prince Akpabio Annual Grand Prize for First-Class Graduates, designed to celebrate academic excellence among indigenes of Essien Udim Local Government Area. “This reward is not just for Godwin, but a message to every young person in Essien Udim that hard work, discipline, and excellence are always recognized and celebrated,” Prince Akpabio said. He encouraged the awardee to pursue professional certification with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in ...

  Senator Aniekan Bassey of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee of Diaspora and NGOS has stirred the Nigerian Senate to urgent action through a motion on the “Urgent Need to Protect Nigerians from Trafficking, Slavery, and Human Rights Abuses in Libya.” In his motion, Senator Bassey gave a grim picture of the horrors faced by Nigerian migrants in Libya, recounting the tragic ordeal of a young woman, Mercy Olugbenga, who sold her family’s property and dropped out of university in a desperate attempt to seek greener pastures abroad. Explaining further, Senator Bassey said “Mercy Olugbenga ended up in captivity for over a year, locked in a room where her blood was repeatedly drained by nurses for her employer’s mother, a chilling act he described as modern-day slavery.” He expressed deep concern that “illegal migration through Libya has degenerated into a crisis of human trafficking, forced slavery, ransom extortion, and grave human rights...

  The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, has expressed readiness to partner with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to promote academic excellence and enhance the welfare of students in the state. Rt. Hon. Otong made the commitment on Tuesday when he received the leadership of NANS during a courtesy visit to the Assembly Complex, Uyo. Welcoming the student leaders drawn from tertiary institutions across Akwa Ibom State, the Speaker commended their dedication to education and their proactive engagement with government institutions. He assured them of the legislature’s continuous support in advancing policies that strengthen education and youth development. Otong also lauded Governor Umo Eno’s consistent investment in education, noting that all student-focused bills passed by the Assembly had received the governor’s assent. He urged the students to remain focused on their studies and shun distractions that could hinder th...

  The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has announced plans to strengthen collaboration with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to enhance educational access, skills development, and youth empowerment across the South-South region. During a strategic engagement with the NELFUND management team, the Managing Director of SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to building human capacity through education and innovation. “Training the youths is building a nation,” Akpabio stated, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for prioritizing youth-focused initiatives and recognizing education as a key driver of national development. She praised NELFUND’s leadership for its efforts in expanding access to higher education financing, noting that SSDC’s mandate aligns seamlessly with NELFUND’s mission of providing affordable student loans and promoting equal educational opportunities nationwide. Akpabio emphasized that the partnership...

  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Dr. Eunice Thomas as a Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission (FCC). Dr. Thomas, a seasoned administrator and politician, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served in various capacities at both state and national levels. She was previously a Commissioner in the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council during the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio. Until April 2025, Dr. Thomas also served on the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), where she was recognized for her commitment to effective governance before the board’s dissolution by President Tinubu. Her nomination is seen as a strategic move to bolster the FCC’s mandate of promoting equity, fairness, and inclusivity in federal appointments across Nigeria. The appointment awaits confirmation by the Senate.

  By Edet OKPO  The Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals and Senator representing Akwa Ibom South ( Eket) Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ekong Sampson, has on Friday , October 10, 2025, flagged off the construction of the Ikot Unya- Nung Ukim- Ikot Ekpe road in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.  The road project, facilitated by Senator Ekong Sampson and awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC), as an Emergency Intervention project is expected to boost economic activities in the three benefitting communities by improving access to markets, farms, and other essential services. Apart from Senator Ekong Sampson's robust legislative engagements in the National Assembly and positive impact in education, health-care, entrepreneurial development, employment and human empowerment, the celebrated lawmaker has demonstrated unwavering commitment towards boosting the socio - economic landscape of his constituenc...

  Abuja, Nigeria – Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations, Senator Aniekan Bassey, has called on the international community and diplomatic partners to intervene in the continued detention of Nigerian humanitarian activist, Okey Vitalis Nnorom, also known as Michael, who remains in custody after participating in a humanitarian mission to Gaza. Senator Bassey said the Nigerian Senate is deeply concerned about “credible reports” confirming that Nnorom, who took part in the Omar Al Mokhtar Flotilla—a vessel under the Global Freedom Flotilla initiative delivering aid to Gaza—has not been released as earlier reported. Contrary to claims that he was handed over to the Nigerian Embassy in Jordan, recent updates indicate that Nnorom is still being held alongside three Moroccan nationals, one Algerian, and one Spanish national. Describing the detention as “an unacceptable breach of international law and a violation of basic human rights,” Senator Bas...