(Weekly Updates of Gov Samuel Ortom's Official Activities 25th -30th May, 2020)
WEDNESDAY MAY 27th:
■ BENUE TO IMPLEMENT E-LEARNING
Govenor Samuel Ortom has raised a high powered committee to fine-tune the proposal to implement E-learning and Information Communication Technology, ICT, Resource Centre, BESEVIRC in the state.
The committee is headed by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Anthony Ijohor with with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Mike Gusa, that of Education, Prof Dennis Ityavyar as well as Information, Culture and Tourism commissioner, Ngunan Beeka Addingi.
Other members of the committee are the Executive Secretary, Teaching Service Board, Dr Frank Kyungun and the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board among others as members.
The governor constituted the committee after he received a proposal presented by an E-Consortium on the need for the state to join the league of states with the same IT facilities for the educational sector.
The governor directed the committee to work out details on the proposal and present to the State Executive Council for necessary action.
Governor Ortom while constituting the committee, said e-learning is the anchor for ICT and getting the children to be compliant would be a good beginning for them to tap into the abundant opportunities provided by the advent of internet services.
Managing Partner and Project Team Leader of BESEVIRC, Terwase Gbande, disclosed that Eduserv Management Educational Services and Sonic Foundry Mediasite based in Dubai and the United States of America respectively, in partnership with Zenith Bank, had agreed to execute the project but only needed government to guarantee the repayment process.
According to him, with the necessary machinery in place, the facility, which has the capacity to connect over 5000 basic schools, 2000 post basic schools, 17 tertiary institutions and e-learning services for over 600,000 individual students, 70,000 teachers and lecturers in both public and private schools, would be deployed in just three months.
■ BENUE SOUTH LEADERS BACK ORTOM ON SECURITY MEASURES IN THE ZONE
It was the second bipartisan stakeholders meeting convened by Governor Samuel Ortom in less than two weeks. The first was on May 18th, 2020 for the two senatorial zones in Tiv land. The second being that of the Benue South senatorial district comprising nine local government areas.
The meeting was to seek ways to end criminality and insecurity in the state.
At the end of the meeting on Wednesday May 27th, stakeholders from the Benue South Senatorial District were unanimous that the governor be supported to stamp out criminality in the zone.
The expanded security meeting also rose with a pledge to support the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law which has been resisted in the area.
They also pledged to support the war against kidnapping, cultism, banditry and other crimes in the area.
The unanimous decision by the leaders followed Governor Ortom's demand for a firm commitment from the stakeholders to collaborate with his administration in improving security in the zone.
The communique from the meeting was read by the governor where the stakeholders "unanimously agreed to support the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law" and also suggested the establishment of a security post in Agila, Ado Local Government Area to help resolve boundary issues in the area.
The meeting also resolved that the crisis arising from the boundary disputes between various communities in the state be resolved as a matter of urgency while urgent steps be taken to address kidnappings in Adum and Ito.
The leaders also encouraged the periodic conduct of seminars and workshops for traditional rulers and other stakeholders to understand Chieftaincy laws and their responsibilities as well as give orientation to youths on cultural values.
Another resolution of the meeting included that Vigilante Groups be repositioned to support the recently constituted Community Policing Advisory Council to compliment the conventional security agencies in the state.
Some of the prominent leaders from the zone included the Deputy Governor, Engr Benson Abounu, Senator Abba Moro, serving House of Representatives members from the zone, former Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Stephen Lawani, Och'Idoma, Elias Obekpa, Maj-Gen Lawrence Onoja (rtd) and Hon. Sam Ode, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs among others.
■ ORTOM PROMISES GREATER INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION
...joins wife to celebrate Children's Day at Orphanage
Governor Samuel Ortom has assured Benue State children that his administration will continue to make massive investment in education to guarantee their future.
The Governor re-affirmed his policy to make tertiary education strong, secondary education stronger and primary education strongest in a press statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.
Akase stated that the ongoing upgrade of facilities in public primary and secondary schools across the state will be sustained, in order to give the Benue child a conducive learning environment.
The governor promised that more customized furniture will be acquired for primary schools across the state, in addition to the 35,000 customized desks and chairs recently distributed to the schools.
He said that although the 2020 International Children's Day has been affected by COVID-19, Benue children should not despair but rather take advantage of the online lessons organised by their schools to engage in studies and also remain obedient to their parents.
Meanwhile, as part of activities commemorating this year's children's day celebrations, Governor Ortom joined his wife the First Lady, Eunice Ortom on a visit to the Mama Abaiyol Orphanage Home, Makurdi.
Mrs Ortom had earlier visited other Orphanage homes in Makurdi, the Benue state capital in representative capacity to celebrate with the children.
THURSDAY MAY 28th:
■ ORTOM PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR BSU CEFTER
...Commends World Bank for Facility
The Benue State government would support the Centre For Food Technology and Research, CEFTER of Benue State University Makurdi.
Governor Samuel Ortom made this pledge during a visit to the centre and pledged the commitment and support of his administration to make the centre achieve excellence.
He commended the World Bank for providing enormous opportunities for Benue people, other Nigerians and the entire African continent through the facility.
The governor explained that his desire had always been how to turn the abundant natural resources in the state into wealth, expressing optimism that the centre would impact positively on Nigeria and the entire African Continent in the area of research in food science.
Ortom described the Benue State University as an industry that must be sustained which underscores his unwavering attention to it, pointing out that he has always been proud of the varsity and its products.
While urging the leadership of the university to sustain its support for CEFTER, the Governor charged the institution to work hard and attract another centre of such importance to the State in a different discipline, to blend theories with practicals.
The Governor directed the Commissioner for Rural Development and Cooperatives, Engr Victor Ukaha to provide a 500KVA transformer to CEFTER and also provide water for the centre, giving assurance that other challenges would also be looked into.
Vice Chancellor of BSU, Professor Msugh Kembe earlier in his remarks said CEFTER was already serving its purpose in various ways, especially in the area of managing post harvest losses, saying the centre’s outstanding performances had attracted another World Bank grant of $5million.
He expressed gratitude that the feat achieved was largely due to Governor Ortom's support and appealed for intervention in the area of renovation of one hundred bed - space hostel for students, provision of a bigger capacity water reservoir, furnishing of two of the centre's laboratories and provision of a transformer.
Leader of the Project Technical Team Dr. Barnabas Ikyo, said CEFTER had received international accreditation due to its exceptional performance and was the second out of 19 centres to score 100 percent back-to-back rating.
■ ORTOM MEET PDP LEADERS AHEAD OF LG ELECTIONS
On Thursday, May 28th, Governor Samuel Ortom met for several hours with the caucus of the party in the state ahead of the local government elections. The elections was held on Saturday, May 30th. Senators, House of Representatives, State Assembly Members and other key stakeholders as well as chairmanship candidates of the party were present for the meeting. Commisioners, Special Advisers, Principal Special Assistants and other government functionaries were present.
FRIDAY MAY 29th:
ORTOM'S GIANT STRIDES IN FIVE YEARS
Governor Samuel Ortom has been in office for five years. Its been five years of impactful, service to the state. Read details in the online version of this pullout magazine.
■ NAGI-ENGER-ANGUHAR-ANNNUNE ROAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED
Work will soon commence on the Nagi-Enger-Anguhar-Annune road going by the directives of the state Governor Samuel Ortom.
This followed an on the spot assessment of the state of the road when the governor's convoy used the road to Anguhar village for the burial of Chief Fidelis Amen popularly known as Iyo-Iharev.
The governor had stopped and inspected the state of the road and gave assurances that it would be constructed to ease transportation in that part of the state.
Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr Sharpera was directed by the governor to commence the process for the construction of the road immediately which would also enhance security surveillance in the area.
Governor Ortom described the late Iyo-Iharev as a legend who lived not only for himself but for humanity in general, saying the late elder was an embodiment of justice and equity.
Tor Gwer, Chief Julius Aondona, Ter Tyoshin, Chief Daniel Abomtse, Mue Ter Mbakpa, Chief Lawrence Ijir and the Caretaker Chairman Gwer-West Local Government Council, Mr. Francis Ayaga in separate funeral orations, appealed for military posts at Angular and Jabi in Abyan to curtail attacks by militia herdsmen.
SATURDAY MAY 30th:
■ PDP SWEEPS BENUE COUNCIL POLLS
Exit polls indicates that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state may have swept all council seats in the Saturday, May 30th Local Government elections in the state with a landslide.
There are 23 council chairmen and 277 councilorship seats in the state.
However, the Benue State Electoral Commission, BESIEC is yet to announce the full results as at the time of this report.
The election in the state was relatively peaceful.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom who voted at his Ako polling unit 003, LGEA Primary School Gbajimba, Nzorov Council Ward, Guma Local Government area at exactly 9:58am hinted that the party will cruise to victory.
The governor who spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote described the turnout of voters as impressive despite the fact that it is raining season and people were supposed to be on their farms.
He also expressed satisfaction at the manner voters conducted themselves in compliance with COVID-19 protocol of physical distancing and wearing of face masks.
He disclosed that voters were advised not to come out at once to vote but do so in batches in line with the directives against social gathering, pointing out that intending voters were also advised to go home as soon as they voted.
■ BENUE LG POLLS:
SIEC Chairmen Applauds BESIEC, says election Free, Fair And Credible Polls.
The Forum of State Chairmen, State Independent Electoral Commission from the 36 States of the federation, have applauded the Chairman of the Benue State Electoral Commission, BESIEC for conducting a free, fair and credible Council elections in the state.
Leader of the delegation, Prof. Sheka of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission expressed the group's satisfaction with the conduct of the local government election in the state.
Principal Media Officer of BESIEC, Ngodoo Toryem in a statement she issued quoted Prof. Sheka saying the free, fair and peaceful nature of the polls is an indication that BESIEC boss has done a proper planning as you can only succeed when you plan.
The Kano State Electoral Commission's head also thanked Governor Samuel Ortom for providing the enabling environment for the state electoral body to succeed.
#InGodWeTrust
Nathaniel Ikyur
Principal Special Asst on Media,
Benue State Governor
May 31st, 2020
