Canadian-based Cleric Uwem Akpan Kicksoff 2023 Convention In Uyo

The highly anticipated Annual Convention of the Uwem Ministries International, tagged: 'JESUS CHRIST 2023' began on Wednesday with a rousing Open-air Evangelism from Aka Road in Uyo to Nung Udoe in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

Our Correspondent who monitored the programme reports that, hundreds of enthusiastic worshippers joined in the march, carrying banners and placards with inspirational messages, and spreading the word of God through songs and testimonies. 

Addressing Newsmen at the end of the lively procession, the General Overseer, Uwem Ministries International, Apostle Uwem Akpan, said JESUS CHRIST 2023 convention is aimed at reaching out to everyone with the message that Jesus Christ saves, delivers and sets the captives free.

The Canadian-based Lecturer and Psycho-therapist said, those who really want to finish the year strong, especially those who did not meet their expectations in the first half of the year must be part of the life-changing 5-day convention. 

According to the Cleric: "It is going to be a refreshing time in the presence of God with power to break chains of fruitlessness, stagnation, addiction, delay and all manners of life-threatening issues.

The 5-day power-packed convention features a diverse and engaging lineup of activities. Among the highlights are: The Final of a football tournament, sponsored by the church, taking place this afternoon at 4pm at Government Primary School, Ikot Ambon, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA.

Friday; 1st September is billed for suya night, a showcase of Akwa Ibom's delicious local cuisines as well as awards presentation to winners of the Church's football tournament. Saturday, 2nd September is the Thanksgiving service at 4pm while Sunday, 3rd September at 9 am is the Finale and Miracle Service.

Meanwhile, the powerful programmes which will be accompanied with salvation from sin, deliverance from the chains and clutches of the enemies will hold at Uwem Ministries International, located at 101 New Stadium Road, off Nung Oku Junction, Uyo.

#AFEMBONO

KINDLY SHARE THIS STORY

ETIM EKPO CHAIRMAN IMEH AFIA LAUNCHES ANOTHER MEDICAL OUTREACH FOR THE POOR

 

... Awards Scholarships To Outstanding School Children

In an effort to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of Etim Ekpo, who have been hit hardest by the economic challenges caused by the fuel subsidy removal, the Executive Chairman, Etim Ekpo Local Government Council; Rt. Hon. Imeh Afia, has launched a special medical outreach for his people. 

The outreach, according to the Chairman, is designed to provide medical care and treatment for those in need, and is funded by the Council.

Rt. Hon. Afia, who had earlier rolled out educational palliative for Etim Ekpo students in the tertiary institution, told newsmen yesterday during his unannounced visit to the General Hospital, Uruk Ata Ikot Ekpor, that the programmes were borne out of his desire to cushion the hardship being experienced by his people as a result of fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government.

The special medical outreach is a subsidy programme, where the Chairman has reduced the financial burden by paying a portion of the cost of medical procedures such as normal delivery, Caesarean section and antenatal.

Others include: malaria and typhoid fever treatment and drugs, test for diabetes, liver disease, blood sugar level, Hepatitis B, blood pressure among others 

The Council boss, during the surprise visit to the General Hospital said: “My Leader in the State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, has shown the importance of first-hand information by visiting every project site by himself rather than simply receiving reports from his office. 

"As one of the disciples of his ARISE Agenda, it was pertinent that I visit this Health Facility by myself so that I can better understand where our intervention is needed. This way, the Council will be more effective in helping to improve the lives of the people we serve."

The Chairman expressed the hope that his Council's special medical outreach will help to reduce the financial burden on families who are struggling to afford healthcare in the current economic climate.

Informing that his administration has given top priority to the health needs of the rural community, in line with the Governor's ARISE Agenda, Hon. Afia listed his achievements in the health sector to include several medical outreaches in the past among others.

Meanwhile, both patients and Health workers in the Hospital who were surprised to receive their unannounced visitor lauded the Chairman for the magnanimity and his consistent empowerment of his people as well as the lives he is imparting through his visionary and people-oriented programmes.

Many beneficiaries, when notified that their medical bills had been settled by the Etim Ekpo Local Government Council, shed tears of joy, even as they prayed God to bless the council boss and all the leaders in the State.

On his part, the Medical Superintendent of the General Hospital, Dr. Essiet Ime, who was flanked by his Secretary, the Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Officers and Nurses, said the Chairman's palliative has taken away the financial burden that would have been on the patients

Dr Essiet, specifically commended Rt Hon Imeh Afia for addressing security issues; incessant kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices in the area, maintaining that "Etim Ekpo is now peaceful."

The Medical Superintendent while soliciting for the Council's support for diesel to light up the General Hospital, warmly appealed the State government to post more professionals and other health workers to the General Hospital to continue providing quality care to the Etim Ekpo people. 

In another development, Rt Hon. Afia yesterday, officially received the youngest but brilliant pupil; Patti-bless Cornelius Anthony of Destiny Standard School, Obong Ata Essien.

The exemplary pupil who displayed excellent performance in the march past during this year's Children's Day Celebrations, received the Chairman's award and massive cash prize. 

Rt. Hon. Afia, in recognition of academic excellence and exemplary behaviour of three pupils of Hope Abound Nursery and Primary School, Utu Ikot Ekpo, also awarded another massive cash prize and the sponsorship of the school fees for the three pupils. 

He noted that the beneficiaries were deserving of the recognition for their dedication to their studies and for being role models for their peers.

#AFEMBONO

KINDLY SHARE THIS STORY...

21.5Km Urua Naira Rd: IKONO STAKEHOLDERS ORDER CONTRACTOR TO STOP WORK OVER ALLEGED INCOMPETENCE

 ...Pledge Support For ARISE Agenda

Lack of capacity, accountability, experience, technical know-how, equipment and site have been listed by the critical stakeholders in Ikono Local Government Area as a few reasons they ordered Zee Construction Limited; contractor handling the 21.5km Ikot Ayan Ediene – Ikot Ntia – Urua Naira – Ikot Nseyen – Nkwot – Nung Ukim road with 45M Span bridge to stop work.

The Ikono leaders took the decision on Saturday after an on-the-spot assessment of the massive road, which traverses over five (5) wards in the area.

The inspection team had a former parliamentarian of the Nigerian Senate; Distinguished Senator Aloysius Etok, a former member representing Ikono State Constituency in the State House of Assembly; the Rt. Hon. Victor Udofia and the former member, House of Representatives; Hon. Iboro Ekanem.

Others were: the immediate-past Senior Special Assistant on Petroleum Matters to the Governor; Sir Victor Etefia, former Chairman of Ikono Local Government Council; Hon. Itoro Columba, among others.

However, our checks revealed that the aforementioned road was first awarded by ex-Governor Godswill Akpabio sometime in 2010 to STEMCO, which was abandoned, before the immediate-past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel rewarded in November 2021 to ZEE, with a-24 month completion time.

"After traversing the entire road for over 4 hours today, what we saw was poor quality and shoddy job that will not last up to 5 months if we keep quiet, therefore, Ikono people who are the direct beneficiaries of the project are saying the contractor should stop work immediately because it appears they want to sabotage the good intentions of the State government who awarded the contract," Rt. Hon. Udofia noted while fielding questions from newsmen during the inspection.

Continuing, he said, "apart from many other wrong actions we saw, there is a one kilometer that the contractor did a drainage on top of a mud and what baffled us the stakeholders was that the Council Chairman (of Ikono; Hon. Nyakno Okuibo) confirmed that the drainage was on top of the mud; it's on record that he knew about it. However, the contractor later said it was a mistake.

"But, come to think of it; which contractor has ever made a drainage on top of the mud?" He asked rhetorically, adding: " In this whole drama, we are asking, where is the supervising Ministry of Works? Are they not supposed to have a supervising team at that site? Why are they paid? Where is the 1.050 Billion Naira that the contractor received in two tranches and two two months to the completion time of the road, he hasn't done up to 10 per cent? 

"So, Ikono people are saying, no! The job must stop, we as the direct beneficiaries of the project will meet His Excellency the Governor and present our report of what is on ground to the Governor and beseech that he send an external supervisors to the project for confirmation."

The stakeholders maintained that the issue of the increase in construction materials was an attempt to conceal the truth and siphon the over 1 Billion Naira they received because the money was paid long ago before the increments

"Before the increments, you had the State funds with you, what did you do with it? Again, the Public Procurement Act states clearly that until you execute an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) fund that is given to you, you are not entitled to a review because the over 1 billion Naira the State Government gave was to be put into the project and not to lavish and after that, you rush to the site and do shoddy job with two wheelbarrow and shovel because you need another money.

"So, the stakeholders are saying that for the ARISE Agenda of the Governor to see the light of the day, those who are saddled with responsibilities should not sabotage efforts of Government. On this note, we are sending a strong warning to  the Commissioner for Works (Prof Eno Ibanga) not to release any other naira to Zee Construction Company, else, we would invite those who are experts in Financial Crimes to do their job on this matter.

" Our position is that since the contractor is inexperienced, not accountable, has no good equipment and not done a job that is commensurate with the huge funds that was released to him, the contract should be terminated and let him return the 1.050 Billion Naira to the State Government who would then give the job to an experienced company for the good of our people."

Rt. Hon. Udofia, who used the occasion, on behalf of the inspection team, to give kudos to the many success stories and achievements of Governor Umo Eno, pledged Ikono people's support and cooperation to the Governor's ARISE Agenda.

KINDLY SHARE THIS STORY...

#AFEMBONO

SOURCE: THEHILL

Subsidy removal: ETIM EKPO COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, IMEH AFIA LAUDS PST ENO FOR PROVIDING PALLIATIVES

 

 ...Says Palliatives Earlier Given To Etim Ekpo Students Was Inspired By The Governor

The Executive Chairman, Etim Ekpo Local Government Council, Rt. Hon. Imeh Paul Afia, has lauded what he called "pragmatic and people-oriented leadership" of the State governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, for rising up to the occasion of the adverse effects of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, on all Akwa Ibomites.

The Council boss, who reacted to the cheering news yesterday in Etim Ekpo, said, it was highly commendable that in the face of the harsh economic realities, Governor Eno, has demonstrated care and empathy by inaugurating a committee that will supervise the rolling out of palliatives to mitigate the untold hardship being faced by the people.

His words: “Just when Akwa Ibomites felt that their suffering was endless, our amiable Governor brought succour. This, he did by setting up a committee for the distributions of the relief items to all citizens.

“However, when he gave clear instructions to the committee chaired by his loyal SSG, Prince Enobong Uwah, what impressed me so much was the governor's statement that, he is ready to do all he can to ensure his government cushions the effect of the harsh economy that is caused by the fuel subsidy removal," he noted.

Responding to a reporter's question on the palliatives the Council boss rolled out for Etim Ekpo Students in Tertiary Institutions, where each of them received the sum of N5000 paid into their bank accounts, Imeh Afia, hinted that he was inspired by the Governor's leadership style of altruism and selflessness.

"Apart from ameliorating the sufferings of the beneficiaries, the palliatives we started for Etim Ekpo students is a way of making the burden less cumbersome for the governor. 

"I think as a Council Chairman who took the oath of office to serve my people effectively, with the available resources, I should be looking out for every opportunity to proffer solutions to present challenges that our people are facing because the Local Government is more connected to the people at the grassroots than any tier of government," he noted

The Etim Ekpo Chairman, who said he wants to be remembered for  maintaining absolute peace and securing the lives and property of his people, specifically eulogized his political leader and mentor, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, for his guidance and massive support, stressing that the former National Legal Adviser of the PDP is a rare leader that will still be celebrated beyond a century for the innumerable good things he has done for humanity.

Rt. Hon. Imeh Afia, who listed a good number of achievements of his administration in the areas of Security, Education, Agriculture, Empowerment for youths, widows and elders, Rural Development, cordial working relationship with the Legislative Arm among several others, however, pledged his people's continuous loyalty and support to the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno, at all times.

KINDLY SHARE THIS STORY...

#AFEMBONO