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Tag: Governor Ben Ayade

  • 2023: Ben Ayade emerges Cross River North senatorial candidate

    2023: Ben Ayade emerges Cross River North senatorial candidate

    Cross River  State Governor, Ben Ayade has emerged Cross River North senatorial candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Ayade emerged unopposed after a fresh primary election was conducted at the Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA) of the state on Thursday.

    Martins Orim who was initially elected at the primaries held on the 28th of May voluntarily withdrew from the race giving Ayade a fresh breadth of air.

     

    Mrs Sameera Tabo, Chairperson of the APC Primary Election Committee for Cross River North declared the governor winner with 252 votes.

    The Cross River born politician won with the total votes of 255, while three votes were invalidated.

    Tabo said following Orim’s withdrawal, the fresh primary election was to ensure that the party fielded a candidate for Cross River North under the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    In his acceptance speech, Ayade expressed gratitude to the delegates for electing him.

    He said after running for the office of president, he returned home and then came under pressure from his people to contest for senate.

    “They said I did very well when I was a Senator from 2011 to 2015 and insisted I go back; today I have answered their call.

    “Of course, they recognised that this country requires a legislator that has both executive and legislative experience.

    “I am very experienced, I know the challenges of our people and possess the essential elements that will help us make the appropriate laws and legislation that will change the narrative of our people,” he said.

    The governor said he was well equipped for the senate and would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the upper legislative chamber if elected

  • “Nigeria’s True Independence Hinges on Self-Reliance in Science, Research and Infrastructural Development” – Says Governor Ayade.

    “Nigeria’s True Independence Hinges on Self-Reliance in Science, Research and Infrastructural Development” – Says Governor Ayade.

    The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Benedict Ayade has said that until research, science, technology and Infrastructure development form the bedrock of Nigeria’s economic development strategy, then, Nigeria has not attained true independence.
    Prof.Ayade said “what Nigeria had in 1960 as political independence was not complete until the country ends her over dependence on foreigners for everything.
    The Governor, as a recipient of Award of Excellent Performance was speaking today at the Appreciation and Award Day Ceremony organized by the three Trade Unions of the NASENI Headquarters, under the auspices of Joint Action Congress (JAC) where the Congress recognized those who had helped the Agency to attain its present status of national importance.
    The Governor while speaking on behalf of the rest of the awardees which included the Executive Vice Chairman/CE of NASENI, Engr.Prof.M.SHaruna (Lifetime Achiever Award), said that a nation is truly independent if it is not technologically dependent.
    According to Ayade, the independence of Nigeria in 1960 was a mere political independence and that is why the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has come to bridge the technology gaps.
    “Independence is when Nigeria becomes self-reliance in technology and engineering development”. He stressed.
    Prof. Ayade described Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna as “a colleague Professor and a gift to the Nigeria”.
    He said NASENI has come of age with the recent presidential and NEC approval to have her statutory dues and all what is provided in the Laws establishing her to have 1 % of the Federation Account.
    “Once that is implemented, NASENI will be in a position to begin the real research in science and engineering innovation to proffer solutions and innovate technologies that meet our needs as a nation.
    He said time had come when Africa and indeed Nigeria cannot continuously depend on foreigners to tell us what to do. Governor Ayade said Nigeria does not need a white man to direct her on what to do with the constant sunlight the country is enjoying. “With the massive sunlight we got here, we do not need a white man to come here and tell us how to tap the photovoltaic resources or how to convert it to electricity.
    He further asked: “How long should we continue to depend on external forces to be able to give us direction.? That is why NASENI is here to bridge the gaps, and also that is why I come in person to honour this award because as a professor of science, I need the fellowship with my colleague,
    Prof. Haruna who is also a professor in engineering and to say that we must stand strong as a nation”.
    The Governor however observed that the entire Africa continent depend on Nigeria as a nation and if Nigeria fails, Africans have failed, stressing that, Black is no longer a colour, but a representation of a people.
    Receiving Outstanding Performance Award, Governor Ayade, commended the
    efforts of NASENI, and pleaded that President Muhammed Buhari should fast-track the release of the 1% of the Federation Account approved
    for NASENI to enable it commence the development of science and technology across the country, noting that Cross River states needed indigenous technology to boost the mechanized agricultural value chains going on in the State presently.
    In his speech, Prof. M.S.Haruna, commended the Unions for the initiative to honour those who had contributed to the achievements made by the Agency,
    adding that it was a justification that the workers were committed to work hard, especially now that they have been given resources that they needed to demonstrate their capability to meet the demand and the
    challenges given to them.
    On the partnership with State Governors, Prof Haruna disclosed, “We have partnership with the Governors Forum and the collaboration is working.
    Other recipients of the awards included: Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Mrs.Nonyem Onyechi who is the Coordinating Director, Planning & Business Development,NASENI, the Chairman, Senate committee on Science and Technology, Dr.Uche Ekwunife, the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology, Hon.Beni Lar, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, Director of Procurement, NASENI, and many others.

  • Gov. Ayade approves N1.4bn for 2016 UBEC matching grant

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has approved N1.4 billion to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to enable it access 2016 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grant.

    Dr. Stephen Odey, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB in the state, disclosed this on Friday in Calabar while declaring open a one-day management training workshop on: “Integrity in Leadership for Organisational Productivity’’.

    Odey expressed optimism that the funds would enable the board to embark on various projects to better basic education in the state.

    “With the approval, there would be more funds for SUBEB to embark on its projects across the state.

    “You can see that the governor is not sleeping and on our part, there have been a lot of interventions going on; we are making more provisions for plastic tables and chairs.

    “This is to ensure that no child sits on the floor. We have just received the consignment of our table tennis outdoor sporting equipment from Germany, we have also introduced magnetic boards.’’
    The workshop was organized by the board in collaboration with TrinitasConsult for SUBEB Directors, Education Secretaries of Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) and Principals of UBEC Junior Secondary Schools.

    Odey said that the theme of the workshop was geared towards institutionalizing a sound management system.

    He said the board was determined to enthrone qualitative, uninterrupted and competitive basic education in the state and urged stakeholders in the system to cooperate and exhibit managerial efficiency.

    “With a view to realizing SUBEB’s vision of striving to be a world-class education, intervention, and regulatory agency for the promotion of uniform, qualitative and functional basic education in Nigeria.

    “The success of basic education in Cross River State cannot be compromised and can only be achieved with your support.

    “This is why you must take your job seriously and all hands must be on deck,’’ he said.

    The executive secretary maintained that every employee of SUBEB was mandated to sustain the mission and vision of the board by being impactful in the basic educational sector.