The Empire

By Edet Okpo After many years of disappointment and failed promises, the dreams of Cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria having the recommended mandatory sea time experience and other related exposures as part of their statutory training programme will in a matter of months be realized. This cheering prospect was as good as sealed with the visit of the newly elected President of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. MkGeorge Onyung, to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria on a facility tour on Friday, June 5, 2019. This is yet another proof of renewed interest and attraction the Academy has gained in recent times from stakeholders and affiliate organizations on account of the rapid restructuring the Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua-led management has brought about. Although the Academy has been in existence in the last 42 years, this is the first time a deal of this nature has been secured by the Academy’s Management. Stressing the importance of this, the Rector of the

Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed its resolve to partner Online Publishers and Bloggers in a bid to report its developmental strides effectively and accurately while also tasking them to criticize constructively where need be. The government reiterated its resolve for partnership recently during a parley between the Special Assistant to the Governor on Local Media, Prince Emmanuel Sam and Online Publishers. In his remarks at the event which held at Amity Hotel, Ewet Housing Estate, Prince Sam said the media interaction was necessary as government recognizes the pivotal role played by online publishers and bloggers towards the success of its administration and also used the occasion to seek for support. "We have to join hands to move Akwa Ibom State forward. I solicit your cooperation as the image of the government lies in the content of your reports", Emmanuel said. He noted that Governor Udom has performed creditably in the areas of job creation,

A  foremost skills acquisition centre in Akwa Ibom State, Ibom Development Empowerment Assembly has concluded plans to celebrate its second year anniversary tomorrow Saturday. In a pre-media briefing recently, the  national coordinator of the group, Dr Markfre Ekefre said that the centre which was established in 2017 has academicians and professionals who have the mandate to impart knowledge that will lead to practical skills for students who are direct beneficiaries. The program which he noted was free, cut across training in computer appreciation and its accompaniment, tailoring, hair dressing and barbing, expertise in confectionery among other very strategic training and skills. Dr Ekefre, a Journalist, who is also the Publisher of Highlights and the current Newspapers said  "We are having the second anniversary of Ibom Development and Empowerment Assembly (IDEA), as it may interest you to know, IDEA was founded on 1st July, 2017 and it is driven by technical know

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly today during Plenary screened and confirmed 19 Commissioners and 2 Special Adviser earlier nominated and sent to the House by Governor Udom Emmanuel while also seeking that  they be given portfolios based on their areas of specialization.  Those cleared include  Barr. Ekong Sampson, Mr. Uno Etim, Mr. Okpulupum Ette,  Mr. Akan okon, Arch. Ime Ekpo, Mr NSE Essien, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, Mr. Monday Uko, Mr. Linus Nkan, Hon. Okpulupum Etteh, Mr Ephraim Inyaneyen, Barr. Ekong Sampson, Mr Charles Udoh. Others are; Mr. Orman Esin, Iniobong Essien, Dr Dominic Ukpong, Dr Gloria Edet, Mr. Udo Ekpenyong, Mr Uno Etim Uno, Mr Raphael Bassey, Mr Victor Bassey, Barr. Ukpong Akpabio . The special advisers are; Hon Sunny Ibuot and Mrs Ekemini Umoh.

Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has lauded Pastor Martin Effiong’s dedication and commitment to the growth of Shelter of Redemption Christian Centre, Mbiabong Anyanya, Uyo. Rt. Hon. Bassey, who made this known on Sunday during the dedication of the church, expressed appreciation to God for the quick development of the Church and said he was delighted to be part of its success story. The Speaker congratulated the Man of God on the milestone so far recorded in Ministry and used the opportunity to thank the congregation for their fervent prayers, which, according to him, saw him through the electioneering period and his subsequent election as Speaker of the 7th Assembly. In another development, the Speaker, alongside the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obong Paul Ekpo, joined Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Deaconess Martha Udom Emmanuel, to celebrate the dedication of  little UyaiAbasi, daughter of Mr. Uwem Ukutt, an aide t

In a continuous strive to keep Akwa Ibom State clean, green and beautiful,  the Chairman of The Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency - Hon.  Prince Ikim on  29th  June, went on inspection to the proposed permanent dump site situated at Ntak Inyang by Nassarawa. Speaking with journalists Prince Ikim said the dump site at Uyo village road was a temporary dump site which will soon be turned to a 'transfer station' to feed the permanent dump site when work fully commences at the permanent site. Ikim intimated that with the permanent dump site which is about 11hecters the Agency will move from just collecting waste and dumping them to creating wealth and energy from waste , that incinerators will be built at the permanent dump site. The Chairman who also talked about the poor conditions of the road, said the road will be opened up to allow easy motorable access to the dump site, while also imploring the inhabitants of the community to try and

Political leaders must be capable of generating policy ideas through negotiation and communicating them through their elected officials". Honourable Onofiok Luke, the Member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/ Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency stated this when he delivered a paper on the topic "Strengthening Communication between Party Leadership and Legislative Caucuses" at a Benchmarking Workshop on Strengthening the Capacities of the Opposition in the Ugandan Parliament organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies(NILDS), National Assembly, Abuja. Hon. Luke, a member of the main opposition party in the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives, who was chosen by  NILDS to deliver the paper, stressed the need for effective communication among the leadership of political parties, their elected officials and legislative caucuses in the Parliament. He went further to call for uniformity in the goals and objectives of legislative caucuses