NWPL : Whyte Not Bothered Being In Group of Death

Head Coach of Confluence Queens Whyte Ogbonda has reacted to the 2019/20 Nigeria Women Premier League, NWPL draws held yesterday in Benin.

The Lokoja based club were paired in Group A which has been tagged as 'Group of Death' with women football powerhouses like Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Edo Queens, Sunshine Queens, Pelicans Stars, Dream Stars and Abia Angels.

Group B consists of Rivers Angels, Osun Babes, Delta Queens, Fc Robo, Royal Queens, Ibom Angels, Heratland Queens and Adamawa Queens.

Whyte, while reacting to the draws insisted his side can compete with any team as they are not scared of competitions.

" I can confidently tell you that we are ready to face any side in the league, we are not bothered about the so called group of death because every team have a target and so, we know our targets for this season".

The former Ibom Angels coach went further saying "We will only respect all our opponents, but not scared to play them. We want to be champion, and to do that, we must be prepared to play against the best teams in the league," he said.

Whyte also expressed satisfaction with the format of two group abridge style by the board just he advocated more support to the league body to achieve more greatness.

"I'm also happy there will be more matches to play this season compared to last season. I can see the league body under Madam Aishat Falode are doing everything possible to stabilize the league, which is good for clubs.

"What the league board need is NFF and stakeholders' full supports to secure sponsorship for the competition."

Confluence Queens who finished as runners up last season will face Sunshine Queens of Akure at the Ondo Sports Complex on the 18th of March in the week 1 of the NWPL 2019/20 season

CAN Condoles Governor Emmanuel On Father's Demise

By Deborah Ekanem

Akwa Ibom State Christian Community under the auspices of Christian Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Branch, (CAN) have condoled with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Deacon Udom Emmanuel on the transition of his father, Late Elder Emmanuel Gabriel Nkanang.

Leading the delegation to the home town of the Governor, Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area on Friday, 7 February, 2020, the CAN Chairman, Rev. Ndueso Ekwere said the visit was to comfort the family in their moment of grieve.

Rev. Ekwere,  describing Late Elder Nkanang as a fire brand Christian who have positively affected lives,  advised the family to take solace  that their father had a glorious exit and has left a legacy that would stand a test of time.

The Chairman, enunciated on what he termed " memory verse", with a scriptural backing from John 14:1-3 beckoned on the children not to be dismayed for God has blessed them with a true disciplinarian  who has bestowed on them good parental ethos that stands them out.

" Do not let your heart be troubled, like I said earlier, parents who are true parents will always be dear to their children and the children will always feel their presence, the father to our governor was a strict disciplinarian, because when I was at Teacher's College, Ndon Eyo, I and Bishop Godswill Umoh always come to invite Sylvia for an Evangelism since we were members of the Scripture Union and before leaving, Sylvia will make sure that she has the express permission of  the father who always demand to know whom the daughter went out with, indeed that was a character of a person who has trained his children and no wonder God has given him the kind of children He has given him" Rev Ekwere stated.

Responding, Governor Emmanuel appreciated  the Fathers of Faith for identifying with the family in their moment of grieve, charged Christians to pray for the Christian Brothers in the Northern part of the Country whom he said are highly persecuted.

He further appreciated the substantial role of the men of God  to the sustainability of peace in Akwa Ibom State.

He said his late father served as a missionary who headed the opening of Qua Iboe Church Branches in Kogi, Nassarawa, Benue and Niger States.
Governor Emmanuel attributed his late father's tutelage as a child to what has moulded him  and his other siblings to become  responsible adults,  maintained that the family was still desirous of the father's presence even at 90 years.

Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, the elder brother to the governor, Mr. Gabriel Nkanang acknowledged the many contributions of the men of God to the success of Udom's led administration.

Among the delegation were;
CAN Chairman, Rev. Ndueso Ekwere, Chairman,  Akwa Ibom Pilgrims Welfare Board, Bishop Cletus Bassey, CAN Secretary, Bishop Emmanuel Ebitie, Prelate Ecclesiastical World Council of Bishops, Bishop (Prof) Ahaziah Umanah, Chairman of Conference of United Evangelical Church, Rev. Samuel Ebukiba, the representative of  Father Mbang, Chairman, PFN, Akwa Ibom State, CAN Vice Chairman, Bishop Chris Nyong, Apostle Isaiah Isong, Rev. Joshua Cleopas amongst others.

AKHA Swears In PDP Legislator As 7th Assembly Gains Full Composition

Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has sworn in Barr. Esse Umoh as Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency.

The Speaker administered the Oaths of office and allegiance on the new lawmaker at Tuesday plenary, thus, bringing the composition of the House to 26 members.

Barr. Umoh won the Essien Udim State Constituency supplementary  election held on January 25, 2020, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was subsequently issued with a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He polled a total of  18,999 votes to defeat his close rival, Hon. Nse Ntuen of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 7,108 votes.

The Speaker, while Congratulating Barr. Umoh on his victory at the polls, urged him to be committed in his new assignment of making laws for the peace and progress of Akwa Ibom State.

Akwa United Disappointed With Goalless Draw Against FC Ifeanyi Ubah

By MFON PATRICK

Akwa United Head Coach Kennedy Boboye has expressed his disappointment over his team's inability to pick the maximum points against FC Ifeanyi Ubah on match day 18, saying his team's target was to win the match in Nnewi on Sunday.

The stalemate was Coach Boboye's eighth point from a possible 15 in five away games since he took over from Coach John Obuh in  December last year.

Speaking with journalists after the game, coach Boboye said, "It was a good match for both sides but this is not the result we came for, we came here to win because it's a game we should have won. The boys played well and created many good scoring chances but were unable to convert those chances.

"We need to be more clinical in front of goal so we don't drop points unnecessarily. It's was a game we should have scored at least two maybe three goals but it wasn't to be. Our goalkeeper Jean Efala had a very good game, he made some fantastic saves and that is what team work is all about. Now, we have to go back and prepare for the next game at home and hope to get the job done".

Akwa United's notable chances went the way of Salisu Saidu, Ndifreke Effiong, Ifeanyi Eze in the first half, while, Ubong Friday, Ukeme Williams and Ikechukwu Nwani had some chances in the second half but they couldn't hit the target as the Promise Keepers were held to a goalless draw.

With the result, Akwa United remain 6th on the log with 27 points from 18 games and will entertain Enugu Rangers next in Uyo on Matchday 19.

A'Ibom Partners USAID On Orphans, Vulnerable Children Project

By Unyime Usen

In what could be described as a good way to begin the new year, the Akwa Ibom State Government on January 23, 2020 became one of the states to benefit from the Integrated Child Health and Social Service Award(ICHSSA) Lot 1 project of the United States Agency for International Development( USAID).

Receiving the delegation in his office, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral & Donor Agencies, Dcn Ndiana-Abasi Udom thanked the program coordinators of USAID and the representatives from the Centre for Clinical Care and Research in Nigeria (CCCRN) for finding Akwa Ibom State Worthy of the grant and partnership. The Governor's Aide further explained that Akwa Ibom State Government under the leadership of Governor Udom Emmanuel has provided an enabling environment and a proper monitoring structure for the program through the Department of Multilateral & Donor Agencies.

Speaking further, the erstwhile Banker requested for the Financial Agreements between the USAID and the CCCRN, their work plan, Scope of work, Terms of reference, Target settings, Localization plan (Recruitment of indigenes process), Exit plan as well as the sustainability plan from the Program coordinators. The Governor's Aide emphasized that all the aforementioned documents will help his department in partnering with the relevant desk officers and MDAs to prepare a well detailed report to the Government and the people of Akwa Ibom State as well as the overall Nigerian coordinators of the USAID program in Abuja.

The SSA further informed the coordinators that the state Government has reorganized the structures of all registered Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and donor agencies operating in the state for the sake of the program in a bid to ensure accuracy in all the reports that will be generated from the program. Mr. Udom re-emphasized that for the sake of effective communication, only Local CSOs who understand the local dialect(s) of Akwa Ibom State will be allowed to interface with the beneficiaries of the program and will handle the liasing with Community stateholders, creating, facilitating/ establishment of community structures, engagement of community volunteers as well as provide overall services to the children living with HIV and their households who are the first line beneficiaries of the program while CCCRN will remain the technical support providers.

On his part, Dr Nwene Ejike who happens to be one of the leadiing board members of CCCRN thanked the Akwa Ibom state Government for what he described as a “warm reception".  Dr Ejike while assuring the Governor's Aide of absolute transparency in all their dealings promised to open their books for proper accountability. He mentioned that the program will focus on Health, Education, Child protection, Nutrition, livelihood of people in rural areas of the thirty one Local Government Areas, Training of teachers, Parenting and other Programs which will cover Skill Acquisition Center trainings and start up materials for people who qualify after the training.
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Meanwhile, the Lead consultant for the program - Michael Ejeh, seized the opportunity to clarify that the funds which also covers about Five Local Government areas in Cross River State will span for five years while Akwa Ibom will enjoy one hundred percent coverage across her thirty One Local Government areas .

Other prominent personalities in the meeting were Dr. Uduak Ekong -Head of Department International Corporation Department, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Dr Oluwaseyi Adeyemi, Maryann Edeh, and Mr John Edet who are also consultants to the project.