NO DTS 0979: MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY, OKOWA TELLS JUDGES
NO DTS 0980: OKOWA PLEDGES MORE FOR TOURISM SECTOR… AS RATTAWU MARKS DAY
NO DTS 0981: DELTA HEALTH AGENCY SET TO ERADRICATE TROPICAL DISEASES
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NO DTS 0979: ASABA, NIGERIA, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY, OKOWA TELLS JUDGES
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has charged Judges of the state’s judiciary to continue to maintain a high level of professional integrity, fairness and credibility in the dispensation of justice.
Okowa gave the charge at a valedictory court session to mark the retirement of Chief Judge of the state, Justice Marshal Umukoro, held yesterday at High Court 1 Complex, Asaba.
He said that the advice was necessary as it would go a long way in helping the judiciary to retain the confidence of the people, adding that he was, however, proud of the judges in the state.
Okowa congratulated Justice Umukoro for his achievements in the six years of his headship of the judiciary in the state administration, and stated that he was truly excited about the achievements recorded by him during the period.
He said that there was a need for a robust and sustained partnership between the executive and the judiciary on one hand and the legislature on the other hand so as to accelerate the tempo of socio-economic and development of infrastructure in the state.
He reiterated that his administration had institutionalised the autonomy of the judiciary in the state for the smooth-running of different arms of government without interference.
On the ongoing new High Court building in Asaba, Okowa assured that he would provide more resources for its completion before the end of 2021.
While pledging to work with the in-coming chief judge of the state, he noted that the outgoing chief judge eminently distinguished himself as a jurist.
“My Lord, the Chief Judge, I want to first of all, thank you on behalf of my wife and my family for your friendship and brotherhood that you extended to my family.
“Here, I have witnessed a lot said about you. A book has been written concerning you – a 78-page book on what you have been able to achieve in the course of time.
“Mine is to congratulate you on your great achievements and to let you know that as a family and as a government, we are excited, we are happy that you have achieved this much.
“I am not surprised because you grew under the tutelage of a lot of people. We thank you because of the services you have rendered, not only to us as a state but also to our nation.
“In the last six years, you never put me under pressure as governor, you never asked for too much but I have always respected your opinion. I thank God that you have achieved this much,” the governor said.
In his speech, the outgoing Chief Judge, Umukoro, said that his 35 years of service and his elevation to the pinnacle of his career was made possible by God and his dedication to duty.
Umukoro advised his successor to be versatile, to run an all-inclusive administration and administer with the fear of God.
While thanking Governor Okowa and his wife, Edith, for their support in the last six years, he urged judges to extend their cooperation to his successor so as to achieve set goals.
On her part, the most senior judge in the state, Justice Theresa Diai, described Justice Umukoro as an accomplished jurist who used his 35 years of service to enrich the judiciary at the state and federal levels.
Diai chronicled the achievements and inputs of the outgoing chief judge and said that the valedictory court session was to herald his retirement from the high court bench after attainment of 65 years.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr Omamuzo Erebe; Chief Thompson Okpoko and the Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Asaba Branch, Mr Austin Eze-Eseagwu, said Umukoro was bowing out of service after giving his best to the state and the nation.
NO DTS 0980: ASABA, NIGERIA, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
OKOWA PLEDGES MORE FOR TOURISM SECTOR… AS RATTAWU MARKS DAY
By Fidelia Ben-Udi
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has pledged to do more for the culture and tourism sector in line with the stronger Delta agenda, within the available resources.
He made this pledge at the maiden edition of the Radio, Television, Theatre, Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) Delta State Council Day Celebration and Award Presentation held in Asaba.
The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Mrs Angalaere Umukoro-Prest, explained that ‘stronger’ implies wealth, unity, peace and every good thing there was for Delta.
He said that his administration would strive to make good on its promise for a stronger Delta by completing on going projects and accomplishing more within his power to leave Delta better than he met it.
In line with the theme of the event; ‘Media and Culture as Catalyst for a Stronger Delta’, Senator Okowa stressed that the media play a major role in promoting government agenda and policies, as well as the culture of the people.
He called on RATTAWU as a body to ensure that workers under its umbrella were truthful and realistic in their reporting especially in this era of politicking.
The governor appreciated members of the body for their efforts so far and congratulated them for a well-organized program.
Keynote speaker for the event and Director for Culture in the Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Mr Friday Anaziah, expressed the need for a reorientation of the people in order to achieve a stronger Delta.
Mr Anaziah, speaking on the ‘Role of Culture, Tourism and Entertainment in Building a Stronger Delta’ stated that the vision must be owned by all and be a collective responsibility for it to succeed and transcend different administrations.
He stressed the need for cultural values to be upheld in our society as that would enable all that is being done in the tourism and entertainment sectors to remain solid and stand the test of time.
Anaziahe applauded the Governor, stating that his projects have been obviously done out of love for development than out of political reasons as he has gone beyond building facilities to creating connecting roads.
“Stronger Delta is not just a political agenda but an agenda that will give Deltans a new lease of life as is being achieved through the film village and leisure park project as well as the lander Brothers’ Anchorage among others.
“Believe in what government is doing because until we believe in what government is doing stronger delta cannot be a reality and stronger Delta can only rest if deltans can stand firm and take it as their own, not just as Okowa’s slogan,” he said.
The State Council Chairman of RATTAWU, Mr Charles Enegide, in his address, stated that the essence of the ceremony was to promote the bond among members and honor people who have contributed to growth and development in the State.
He said that the event was put together to honor dignity in labour as part of the belief of the Union, while commending the developmental strides of Governor Okowa in the tourism, and entertainment industries.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the awards of excellence to recipients including, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, andthe Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Dame Patience Okwuofu.
Other recipients included the famous multiple award winner, producer of NTA first drama series “Cock Crow at Dawn” Peter Igho, DG Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, DSCTDA, Hon. Onyemechi Mrakpor, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Goodluck Ofobrurku, and a host of others.
NO DTS 0981: ASABA, NIGERIA, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
DELTA HEALTH AGENCY SET TO ERADRICATE TROPICAL DISEASES
Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA) said machinery has been set in motion to eradicate neglected tropical diseases.
DSPHCDA said the task will be achieved through mass administration of relevant vaccines in all nook and crannies of the State.
Permanent Secretary in the agency, Dr Jude Winful-Orieke made this assertion yesterday at the opening ceremony of a two-day strategic planning meeting for stakeholders drawn from the 25 local government areas of the State holding in Orchid Hotels, Asaba.
Dr Winful-Orieke stated that the meeting was conveyed to develop the Delta State Operational Neglected Tropical Diseases work plan for 2021 including evaluation framework.
He stressed that the meeting would reveal the neglected tropical disease programme targets and milestones, which according to him, would be used as working document for developing the 2021 plans.
The permanent secretary said that the meeting was designed to collate and document progress made on the neglected tropical diseases, particularly the epidemiological trends and programme impacts made in 2019- 2020 against set targets.
He added that efforts would be made to identify gaps in achieving the 2020 targets and proffer way forward and measuring progress towards the new World Health Organization roadmap as well as develop local government integrated micro plans for 2021.
Present at the meeting were World Health Organization (WHO) officials, stakeholders from line ministries and non- governmental organizations (NGOs).
