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<strong>WEEKLY</strong> NEWS Vol. 3 No. 3. Mon. Feb. 20 - Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 A cross section of Ati Annang members at the event. touching and capacity building projects, particularly, the education support programmes to indigent students. The international president of Ati Annang Foundation, Sir Udo Kyrian Akpan, said that the investiture of Governor Udom Emmanuel and wife, Martha, was borne out of the traditional belief of Annang people to celebrate their own. ... Gov. Emmanuel as Grand Patron He thanked Governor Emmanuel for the landmark development strides recorded in the state even in the midst of economic recession, and listed achievements of the Foundation to include: award of scholarship to more than two hundred students in tertiary institutions across the country, provision of school bags to more than five hundred pupils in public primary schools and the promotion of sports through inter secondary schools competition in Annang land. Highpoint of the occasion which attracted notable personalities such as the deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo; Senator Ibok Essien; the director general, Divine Mandate, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga; Senator Effiong Bob; elder statesman, Chief Afangide; members of the national and state legislatures, women, youth groups and other socio cultural organisations, was the induction of Governor Udom Emmanuel as patron, and his wife, Martha, as members of the Ati Annang Foundation. Works Minister Calls for Synergy between States and Senators to Attract Fed-Govt Projects Inibeghe Etuk In response to the increasing complaints of lack of substantial federal presence across the federation, a call has been made for the need to institute what may be termed as, “a state agenda”, and made known to parliamentarians, which would then form the background of agitation from the National Assembly in the provision of infrastructural developments. This therefore means that it is imperative for the federal government to have a closer and more harmonious relationship between it and National Assembly members as well as their constituents, in order to fast track sitting of development-oriented projects. The call was made by the minister for Works, Housing, and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, during a courtesy call on Governor Udom Emmanuel as part of his working visit to the state. Commenting on refunds of finances spent by the state on federal roads, Mr. Fashola said that such monies had been duly verified, while recommendations had been made and are awaiting final approval from the Federal Executive council. While giving assurance that Akwa Ibom would soon be able to have refunds, he added that the federal government had made preliminary budgetary provisions by way of raising bonds to cater for construction debts. The minister harped on the need to have a closer working relationship between the representatives of the federal ministry of works and their state counterparts in order to actualize the completion of federal projects in the state. According to Mr. Fashola, the design for the Calabar - Odukpani - Itu highway has been completed, thus paving the way for the construction of the road, which he described as a major achievement of the federal government in this part of the country. Welcoming the team, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the visit of the minister and his entourage was a welcome development and added that he hoped it would signal the beginning of more projects from the federal government. Governor Emmanuel, who called for more federal presence, added that it was pathetic as the state had not felt the impact of the federal government despite being a major revenue earner for the country. The governor who was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo, added that the state would give the necessary support to the federal government to ensure that development projects were not truncated.( 4
<strong>WEEKLY</strong> NEWS Vol. 3 No. 3. Mon. Feb. 20 - Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 AK Farmers’ Association to Establish Rice Processing Mill Representative of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Obot Obot (Standing) flanked on the right by National Secretary, IRFAAN, Engr. Emmanuel Ekpo, Zonal Coordinator, South South/ South East, Dr. Daniel Obong (extreme r), Obonganwan Regina Udontia (l) and Barr. Alex Akpabio (extreme left) Emmanuel Edem t has been revealed that the government has Iconcluded arrangement to set up a standard state-of-the art rice mill that will process to flourishing finish, rice cultivated within and outside the state. The commissioner of Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Dr. Uduak Charles Udo-Inyang disclosed this at the formal inauguration ceremony of Integrated Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (IRFAN), Akwa Ibom State Chapter. Dr. Udo-Inyang who was represented by the director of Veterinary in the ministry, Dr. Obot Obot, acknowledged that Akwa Ibom as a major rice grower, can cater for the sundry needs of its indigenes and the neighbouring states. As an interim measure, the state government , according to the commissioner, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Rice Mill in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, with a view to ease the current hardship encountered by rice farmers in their quest to keep production afloat in the state. Dr. Udo-Inyang then announced his ministry's preparedness to support IRFAN in the area of training of its members in the modern techniques of rice cultivation, provision of office accommodation for a conducive administration work as well as the discharge of routine responsibilities to members of the public. Earlier, the coordinator of IRFAN for Southsouth and Southeast, Apostle (Dr.) Daniel Obong, enumerated the objectives of the association to include: promotion and cultivation of rice in a manner that will guarantee gainful employment, establishment of rice processing mill in the country, establishment of multi-cooperative society for members, floating of trade fairs and training seminars on modern rice production. Dr. Obong expressed optimism that with the federal and state government's vision for agriculture, the country in the nearest future will be a major exporter of rice and other agricultural produce, and thereby stand a chance to increase its foreign reserve earnings. He appealed to the state government for support, especially in the provision of equipment, office accommodation and training of members. Also speaking, the national secretary of IRFAN, Engr. Emmanuel Ekpo who represented the president, Hon. Mallam Musa Ardo, said with the vast and rich coastal shores of Akwa Ibom State, it can produce sufficient rice that would feed its citizens and surrounding states. Mallam Ardo explained that rice cultivation can be carried out twice or thrice a year, and stressed that it is a lucrative business venture that provides employment to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour and invariably tame rural-urban drift and its attendant social vices. He therefore persuaded the state government to at least set up a rice mill at the level of cottage capacity as doing so will ward off any external influence with respect to under-grading the quality of rice produced in the state. Highpoint of the inauguration was the swearing-in of a 22 member state executive of IRFAN, led by Pastor Emmanuel Ntukidim, presentation of awards of Humility and Creativity on Governor Udom Emmanuel and Humility and Caring on the commissioner for Agriculture and Food Sufficiency, Dr. Uduak Charles Udo-inyang and others, while the oath of office was administered by Barr. Alex Akpabio. A cross section of state executives taking oath of office 5
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