*Beneficiaries hail governor’s commitment to people’s wellbeing

Overwhelmed with joy and full of immense gratitude, 793 residents of Enugu State, who underwent a six-week free training on skill acquisition programme under the sole sponsorship of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration, graduated yesterday, smiling home with a seed money of N150,000.00 each to start up business in their respective areas of training.

The training which was coordinated by the office of the Commissioner for Special Duties and Focal Person, State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Hon. Mrs. Mabel Agbo, was targeted at empowering youths and women in various skills such as solar energy installations, soap making, tailoring, cosmetology, bakery, video editing, among others.

Presenting dummy cheques to some of the beneficiaries symbolically, Hon. Mrs. Agbo disclosed that the trainees will receive their money through banks, adding that the training was held simultaneously in the three senatorial districts of the state.

The commissioner, who stated that the skill acquisition programmes of the SDGs are fundamentally a joint partnership venture between the federal government and Enugu State government, explained that Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration solely sponsored the training of the 793 residents of the state following the inability of the federal government to pay its counterpart funds.

Mrs. Agbo disclosed that Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration at the end of 2017 paid the state’s counterpart fund, waiting for the federal government to make its own payment to no avail till date.

She pointed out that “what we used to organise this training is the counterpart funds from the state alone. So the man, Governor Ugwuanyi is to be appreciated. He always has the feelings of the masses at heart.”

The commissioner maintained that the training was rewarding, result-oriented and knowledge-driven, expressing optimism that it will go a long way to improve the fortunes of the beneficiaries economically and otherwise.

Mrs. Agbo, therefore, implored the elated beneficiaries to utilise the inherent gains to actualise their goals as well as the set objective of the state government towards empowering the youths and women of the state.

In their separate remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. David Ugwunta, the Managing Director, Enugu State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASA), Engr. Frank Omeje, representatives of SGDs, Abuja, Mr. Nnamdi Titus Oduzu and Mrs. Tessy Enekwechi, the woman in charge of the training, Mrs. Jacinta Eduzor applauded Governor Ugwuanyi for his steadfastness to the wellbeing of the youths, women and vulnerable groups in spite of the state’s lean resources and nation’s economic challenges.

They enjoined the beneficiaries to work hard in justifying the sacrifice made by the governor and his administration to avail them the training opportunity and the startup grants.

Reacting, the excited beneficiaries thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for his magnanimity in assisting them to be self-reliant, revealing that the skills they acquired and startup funds are major breakthroughs for them.

Mrs. Maureen Okonkwo said that Governor Ugwuanyi has transformed her from being a job seeker to an employer of labour, stating: “We are sincerely thanking our great father, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. We are giving our huge gratitude to him for what he has done for us cannot be quantified.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs. Evangeline Agbo stressed the governor’s interest in the welfare of the vulnerable groups, saying: “I didn’t believe this was true until I came and discovered that the whole gesture was real. Our governor has come to our rescue, he has given us hope and I pledge to uphold this his noble gesture by becoming self-reliant. Today I am a maker of chin-chin.”

Corroborating their statements, their male counterpart, Mr. Kingsley Aneke equally appreciated Governor Ugwuanyi for empowering the youths through various programmes and urged his fellow beneficiaries to utilise the grants and free training offered to them by the governor to transform themselves positively.

The yuan became the most widely-used currency for cross-border transactions in China in March 2023, overtaking the US Dollar for the first time, official data showed, reflecting efforts by Beijing to internationalise use of the yuan.

Cross-border payments and receipts in yuan rose to a record $549.9 billion in March from $434.5 billion a month earlier, according to Reuters calculation based on data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

The yuan was used in 48.4% of all cross-border transactions, Reuters calculated, while the dollar’s share declined to 46.7% from 48.6% a month earlier.

The volume of cross-border transactions covers both the current and capital accounts.

China has long been promoting the use of yuan to settle cross-border trades as part of an efforts to internationalise the use of its currency.

The yuan’s use in global trade finance remains low, though it has shown steady increases.

Data from SWIFT showed that the yuan’s share of global currency transactions for trade finance rose to 4.5% in March, 2023, while the dollar accounted for 83.71%.

By; Celestine Ukah 

Commercial Motor Bikes also known as Okada have returned operations back in Asaba the Delta State Capital Areanewsng.com can authoritatively report.

The commercial bikes/motorcycles were seen carrying passengers at popular Koka junction Asaba built and commissioned some few months back by the Outgoing Government of Dr. Okowa, the riders are transporting passengers to different parts of Asaba and its environs as normal before it was banned during the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration era in the state.

The Delta State Government during the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan in his second term restricted commercial Okada operators in Asaba, Warri, Effurun and other areas in the state in order to have sanity and to check frequent road crashes involving okada riders and its passengers as well as other critical road users.

Outgoing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa however implemented the ban on commercial bikes since 2015 his administration took over governance affairs of the state.

It is however shocking in the latest relaxing of the ban allowing the commercial Okada riders back to Asaba and its environs without any stoppage by the outgoing governor Okowa and his team.

According to some concerned residents who spoke to this medium, Christo Alanah, Emeka Nwobi and Oghenero Diejowoh in Asaba they are however urging outgoing Governor Okowa to restore sanity to the State Capital by enforcing the ban on commercial Motorcycle (Okada) across the state.

Following outcries by many residents of Delta State, especially those who intend to carry out development building projects plans that are always asked to pay money by some hoodlums, the state government has decided to put a stop to the act and others being perpetrated in many parts of the state.

It is very common in the state that before anyone can start a building project, such a person must be forced to pay certain amount of money to some hoodlums and land grabbers which is known as ‘development levy’ or what is commonly called ‘Deve’ in local parlance.

Also, it is very common to sell landed property to more than one person while some hoodlums are in the habit of using firearms or lethal weapons to attack developers and destroy properties at construction sites.

However, following the outcries, the state government has issued a public notice which has prohibited such acts from hoodlums, land grabbers and others in the state.

The notice, issued by the Office of Public and Private Properties Protection in the Governor’s Office Asaba, a copy of which was received by this medium, indicated that punishments await anyone who goes against the notice.

According to the notice, a taskforce has been set up against collection of levies or fees from property developers anywhere in the state while sale of landed property to more than one person is prohibited.

Also, according to the notice, disruption or obstruction of construction works on site is not allowed while use of firearms or lethal weapons to attack developers on properties at construction sites would not be allowed.

It would be recalled that the Delta State House of Assembly some years ago passed a bill prohibiting deve collection and assented by the state governor making it a law in the state prohibiting such incongruous and inconsistent behaviours by miscreants in the state.

* Says Governor-Elect Will Not Disappoint Him, Deltans

The Okpe Union , United Kingdom, has rained praises on the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for his overwhelming support for their Kinsman, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, JP, FICMC, FNIM, Ukodo of Okpe Kingdom, before and during the 2023 general elections.

They said in an appreciation letter to the Governor that; “Your Excellency, the emergence of Rt. Hon. Sheriff F.O. Oborevwori, as Governor-Elect, was a great honour done to Okpe Kingdom. We are indeed very grateful and appreciative. God made it possible through you”.

The appreciation letter was endorsed by Okakuro Godwin Ogholo- President, Mrs. Shirley Okechukwu – Vice President, Mr. John Ewhubare Siakpere (JP) – Publicity Secretary, Mr. Eghele Sylvester Atughwe – Secretary General, Mrs. Florence Avwunu- Treasurer, Dr. Richard Stephens- Assistant Secretary General and Okakuro Peter Enye – The Togbaturi of Okpe Kingdom.

According to them; “For us in Okpe Kingdom of Delta State, the emergence of our Son and Brother, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori as Delta State Governor in the March 18th , 2023, all we can see and talk about is God’s Glory, and we give God and your esteemed self all the glory. It is heartwarming to note the faith, confidence and hope you reposed in our kinsman as your worthy successor”.

“Okpe Union, United Kingdom, wishes to state in the strongest possible terms that our kinsman will not let you and Deltans down. He will reciprocate this gesture by making huge sacrifices and work harder to consolidate on the gains already recorded under the SMART AGENDA of your administration by his faithful implementation of his MORE AGENDA”, they added.

They also said that; “Your Excellency, the support you gave to Okpe quest for governorship of our dear state means so much to us. Governor Okowa, we say thank you, thank you and thank you”.

The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland in Ogun State, Oba Dr. Kehinde Olugbenle, has charged youths to make positive use of the social-media in order to overshadow its disadvantages of fake news originating from the medium which has led to societal unrest and violent reactions from the youths.

Oba Olugbenle gave the advice during a thanksgiving service organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ilaro area to mark his 11th coronation anniversary of ascending the throne of his forefathers, held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Palace Chapel in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government area of the State.

He therefore implored the youths to always be patient and reasonable before reacting to issues, especially those emanating from the social media, advising them never to allow themselves to be used for destruction and destabilisation of the country, adding that the future of the youths lies in their hands.

In his message, the Diocesan Bishop of Yewa Anglican Church, Rt. Rev. Biyi Oyero, reading from the Holy book, Psalm 116 verse 1 to 19, urged Christians to move closer to God and dedicate their lives to Christ, stating that those that seek the power of God would always receive strength, joy and wisdom from above.

The bishop who implored the Paramount ruler to rely on God and depend on Him at all times, prayed to God to give the monarch needed wisdom to continue to lead people of Yewaland right.

Speaking earlier, the CAN Chairman, Ilaro area, Pastor Ayodeji Alabi stated that the ongoing development witnessed across the region was an affirmation that Oba Olugbenle is a God sent to the people of Ogun West.