TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A GREATER BAYELSA

We as Bayelsans must always task ourselves to contribute positively towards the development of the State. Gone are those days that we fold our hands and wait for the goverment to do everything for us. We are educated, we have hands, we have skills, so let us stand up and make our State proud.

MORE CORP MEMBERS IN BAYELSA STATE THIS YEAR THAN OTHER YEARS

Over 2500 Corps Members have been enrolled at the Kaiama Orientation camp which will last for 2 weeks. The State Coordinator Mrs Nnenna Ukonu (speaking at the orientation camp) said that the NYSC in the state has recorded more corp members  this year than other years. She went further to say that the the basic amenities such as electricity, water, accommodation and health care services are available for the training. She also thanked the Bayelsa State Governor for his support and his provision of the said amenities for the training. 

EDUCATION BOOST FOR BAYELSA

In the life of a man, some days will always remain epochal and indelible. Monday, June 27, was it for some young Bayelsans. That day, 25 indigenes of the oil-rich State studying in various institutions in far away Minsk, Belarus, graduated in flying colours. Out of this number, 21 graduated as medical doctors while the others majored in engineering. It was a momentous occasion for the students, as well as the hitherto educationally disadvantaged State which has, under Governor Timipre Sylva, evolved a deliberate education policy to raise human capacity development.

To celebrate the day, the Governor, who could not make the trip, sent a powerful delegation led by Mr. Whyte Durban, Director, Science Technology and Higher Education; Mrs Atonye Pekene, Secretary, Bayelsa State Scholarship Board; Waripamo Martin, Assistant Director, Foreign Awards Scholarship Board; Mike .B. Olomu, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, and Barrister Oyanbo Peace Owei, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media and Social Networking. Many parents also flew in from different parts of the world to witness their wards’ graduation ceremony. Even more emotional and symbolic is that these young Bayelsans did not just bag their certificates, they are now also very fluent in the country’s language as they spent their first year learning it. Little wonder many of them are members of the school’s choir.

The vice chancellor of the University thanked the State for its efforts in education, which he said was novel and commendable. He also praised the Bayelsans for being exceptionally well behaved and upright throughout their stay in the school, adding that there was never a time any of them had any disciplinary issue with the school. In return, Governor Sylva spoke on phone with the students commending them for their hitch-free stay in the East European country and for making Bayelsa proud with their achievements. He promised to take them on a tour of the state’s health facilities on arrival and that he would welcome their suggestions and advice.

In appreciation of the Governor’s gesture, the President of the Bayelsa State Scholarship Students in Belarus, Enarebebe Ebiowei Robinson, presented an award to the Governor for his initiatives in the education sector saying, “These well-trained doctors are going to change the face of the health care sector in Bayelsa as well as Nigeria. They have been well-acquitted with the best training available to an aspiring medical practitioner anywhere in the world. We thank the Governor for making this happen.” Interestingly, last year, over 100 students equally graduated in the 2009/2010 academic year in Russia and Belarus; 11 were of post graduate category, while another 50 was from Kursk State Medical University. Amongst them were 40 medical doctors, out of which two graduated with first class honours and were subsequently offered automatic post graduate scholarship by Governor Sylva to continue their education to any level.

A cross section of the students also lauded the Governor for having kept faith with the educational advancement of Bayelsa even in the face of dwindling finances when he took over four years ago. One of the graduating students says, “We in Belarus are not the only beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme; last year, Governor Sylva sponsored 40 youths to India and Norway to acquire basic skills in local content policy for the oil and gas industry. He was also in Thailand recently to monitor the progress of the Bayelsans undergoing tailoring training programme. There are other students in Norway, U.S.A and South Africa. Governor Sylva realizes that without education, the State might not measure up with the rest of the world that is why he is vigorously pursuing his education agenda which would soon place the State at par with other States in Nigeria.”

Since December 2008 when Governor Sylva organized the maiden educational summit to fashion out the way forward for education in the state, the sector has not remained the same. In the intervening years, he has secured full accreditation for the Niger Delta University, ensured the smooth take-off of the South-south campus of the Nigerian Law School in Bayelsa, the South-south Federal University located at Otueke, the Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, the State College of Education, Okpoama and re-opening of the once moribund College of Health Technology, Otuogidi.

Additionally, Governor Sylva ensures prompt payment of WAEC, NECO fees while he has commenced work on 16 additional model primary and secondary schools to be constructed along the three senatorial districts. To its credit, Bayelsa was the first to commence payment of the Teachers’ Special Scale Salary when economically vibrant states had to weather the storm of intermittent teachers’ strike to compel implementation. It did not come as a surprise therefore that contrary to the poor showing of Bayelsa Students in previous examinations, remarkable improvement was recorded in the state’s performance at the WAEC, NECO, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exams and Common Entrance. Commendably, teachers at primary and secondary schools have access to government-funded trainings. The state also has 10 designated school buses to convey primary school pupils to and from their various schools. All these put together are robust sign posts that education has leap-frogged from its abysmal level to the giant strides daily recorded in this all important sector.

NEW FASHION DESIGNERS IN TOWN

The 20 youths who were sent by the Bayelsa State Government to Thailand to acquire training in fashion design and dress making have completed their training and have returned to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Governor Timipre Sylva congratulated the youths for completing their course in record time while receiving them at the Government house on thursday the 14th of July 2011.
Chief Sylva assured that government would do everything to ensure that the training they have acquired would be beneficial to the people of the state.
The youths majored in dress making, fashion designing and took a specialized course in modeling, makeup artistry, personality development, social manner and art of communication.

9 NEW COMMISSIONERS FOR BAYELSA

Gov Timipre Sylva has charged newly sworn-in Commissioners to keep faith and consistently pursue government objectives and policies. He added that all efforts and resourses must be effectively channeled towards creating a secured and prosperous future for the state.

The Commissioners were sworn in yesterday (14/07/11) at the Executive Chambers Banquet Hal , Government House.  Their portfolios are as follows:

1.       Anthony George –Ikoli (SAN) : Attorney –General and Commissioner for Justice

2.       Dr Silva Opuala-Charles: Commissioner of Budget, Planning and Economic Management

3.       Chief Robert Enogha: Commissioner of  Environment

4.       Prince Micheal Ogiasa: Commissioner of Special Duties, FCT and the Presidency

5.       Mr ThankGod Apere: Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development

6.       Mr Blessing Akpoloma: Commissioner of Agriculture

7.       Mr Stephen Ogullah: Commissioner of Finance

8.       Ebitei Williams-Francis: Commissioner of Works and Transport Ministry

9.       Prince Opukiri Jones: Commissioner of Sports Development

BAYELSA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS 9 COMMISSIONERS

Weeks after dissolving his old cabinet, a new crop of commissioners has been nominated by the Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, to steer the young State on the path of wholesome growth and development.
The new nominees  include six of the former commissioners: Dr. Sylva Charles-Opuala, Steven Oguah, Anthony George-Ikoli (SAN), Mike Ogiasa, Thankgod Apere and Opukiri Jones-Ere; and three new ones namely Robert Enogha (a former member of the House of Assembly), Blessing Akpoloma and Ebitei Francis.
The 9 nominees have been screened (yesterday 12/07/11) and  confirmed by the Bayelsa State House of  Assembly.

CONSTRUCTION OF A FABRICATION YARD IN BRASS ISLAND

You may recall that in June the Bayelsa State Government signed an MOU with Hyundai Industries South Korea to construct a Fabrication Yard in Brass Island.
This amongst others is one developmental strides put in place by the Timipre Sylva's lead administration. This development will reduce the unemployment rate in the state, generate revenue as well as attract foreign investors to Bayelsa State.  
On this note, Chief Timipre charged the people of Odioma and Okpoma communities to provide a conducive atmosphere for the company to move in and commence work immediately. He added that when completed, the project would be beneficial to all, especially the host communities as it will generate more than 2000 jobs.                                      More details will be revealed as the work commences.