BAYELSA GOVT. ORGANIZES TRAINING/WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA PRACTITIONERS By Evans Tubonah

Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah
Deputy Governor, Bayelsa State

The Bayelsa Ministry of Information and Orientation has commenced a Two Day Training/Workshop Programme for practicing Journalists in the State. 

Declaring the occasion open, the State's Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah ( Rtd.) commended the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso Markson for taking the bold initiative in organizing the programme.

While describing the vision as laudable, the Deputy Governor said, Bayelsa is also the home  of journalism, because as he puts it, one of the veteran journalists that founded the Independence of Nigeria, Ernest Ikoli is from Bayelsa.

To that end he called on media practitioners in the state to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Ministry of Information to pay attention to the programme so as to update their knowledge in the dissemination of information;  either as public or private practitioners.

Admiral John Jonah (Rtd), reminded participants who said a good journalist must be a good citizen called on the media to always consider national interest and or the interest of the state as none negotiable, and urged them to uphold the ethics of their profession tenaciously in the areas of national peace and prosperity.

Earlier, The Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso Markson who welcomed all and sundry for attending the historic event , said the Bayelsa State Government under the able leadership of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, had made some remarkable, unprecedented achievements from  inception in office in 2012,  which include monthly Transparency/ Accountability briefings of the income and expenditures accruing into the statement, Educational development that had recorded a towering rise on educational standard according the ratings of examining bodies such as WAEC, JAMB, NECO and coming out first at National Quiz Competitions. He talked about the quality of schools with burden facilities, the Ijaw National College, the African University, scholarships award within and outside etc. and building of the Ecumenical Centre in the as among some of the unprecedented achievements of the Dickson administration.

On the the Media Training /Workshop, first ever of such programme, Iworiso Markson said it is one of the cardinal policies of the Dickson Restoration Government to train and retrain workers in the state to enhance prproductivity and the media being a very critical sector in governance, needs to be trained and retrained so as to be updated to be in terms with modern day realities in the practice of journalism. He explained the good intentions of government for holding the programme in these words:

"Why we are doing this is to empower you to be skillful in the noble profession of journalism, because I know that some of you are are good on it, I have interacted with you and believe that you will do more excellently by training and retraining."

The Hon, Commissioner who revealed that he had been in the practice of journalism in 27 years and loves to continue in the noble profession aa long as he lives, called on the participants to some years people were showcasing militancy as the way of life of Bayelsans, but today, we are telling the world that we are not what the outside world thinks about us, because we are journalists.
Iworiso Markson emphasized the need for journalists to give in their best in service delivery with professional conduct in these words:
"You are in a critical profession, you have to be to be passionate about the profession so that people will respect you and also respect the profession."
In there separate speeches, the Head Of Service to the State's Civil Service, Rev. Thomas Zidafamor,  the Secretary to State Government, Barrister Kemela Okara, and the Chief Of Staff Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo gave kudos to the information Commissioner for the unprecedented media training programme.
The Lecturer, Professor Ralph A. Akinfeleye speaking on the theme: " CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING AND WORKSHOP PROGRAMME FOR MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN BAYELSA STATE"  harps on Democracy, National Security, Information Officers Responsibility to the People And Government In The Avoidance of Fake News  And Hate Messages...amongst others said: "...the engine room of democracy is the media"
He said those who documented events in the Bible were called Scribes, while journalists are called Reporters, making it clear that journalism should be a profession that has a place in heaven, which has truth and objectivity as it's foundation.
He said a nation cannot talk about Democracy without talking about the Media and that truth and objectivity cannot be eroded in the practice of journalism, because the peace and prosperity of state 'hinges on truth and objectivity.'
He also

The Information Commissioner left  the resource persons   

BAYELSA GOVT. ORGANIZES TRAINING/ WORKSHOP FOR MEDIA PRACTITIONERS By Evans Tubonah

EGBEGI ALFRED SPEAKS ON HIS MANDATE AT WAVES, CONDEMNS SALES OF PRINTING MACHINES

His Excellency,
Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson.
Governor of Bayelsa State

The General Manager of Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation (BSNC), Publishers of the state own Newspaper, the Waves, Mr. Alfred Egbegi has spoken of the mandate given him at the Waves Newspaper by the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry  Dickson, to 'turn things around.''
He made the remark while exchanging views with the publisher of Golden Pen Newspaper,  Chief Otonye Evans Tubonah who paid him a visit in his office, in the state capital, Yenagoa.
He graphically explained his mandate and the journey so far, in these words:-
"The charge I had from the governor was to come to this place, and to turn it around. That means so many things.
"Looking at the weighty staff strength, looking at the possibility of reviving the newspaper and making it economically viable, making it a veritable source of information dissemination and being a very dependable mouthpiece for government. These are the core areas, and when I came, I met a Newspaper Corporation that was virtually closed down, because there was no work."
The General Manager said, at that point some of the workers were waiting to be redeployed, while some no longer knew their fate; whether they were still in the employ of the government or not until he came. Besides, he also, met another drastic situation at the waves, that of not having the desired machines to start. Hear him:-
"When I came, I met an empty Newspaper Corporation. There were no machines because all the machines had been sold, and just one machine, the Cord machine, which in today's printing environment is getting outdated. That is the machine that I met. Well, the first thing I did was to resuscitate that machine..."
Mr. Egbegi said, he knows that the Hedel Berg printing machines manufactured 'by that German Company' does not go obsolete easily, because as he puts it, the life time of that machine goes beyond 50 years. And what worried him most was the fact that many of the state of the arts printing machines at the Waves were sold before he came, and he did not hide his patriotic feelings on that matter when he said:-
"And these other machines were sold, that was the biggest tragedy, one of the biggest crimes whoever that was involved in the selling of those machines committed crime not only against the government of Bayelsa, but against the people of Bayelsa State..."Counting it as a big loss to the people of the state, Egbegi remarked that if those machines were not sold but properly repaired or resuscitated they would have been a source of income to the government and people of the state.
"The government spends millions of naira today, printing Calendars, diaries, almanac, exercise books and other things outside the state. Some of these that they sold would have been printing all those things in their millions and for the government and people of the state. These machines would as well been attracting customers from outside the state, because  they are not many in this country.." the GM emphasized.
He further observed that if those machines were there, people from Delta, Rivers, Abia, Akwa/Ibom, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and all other neighboring states would have been coming to Bayelsa to print most of their classified documents.
On how the Government is taking the illegal sales of the said machines, Egbegi succinctly spoke thus:-
"...Some felt that government property is nobody's property; so they sold all those machines, now, am sure that government is still handling that... you know that Dickson is a no nonsense man when it comes to that, panels have been set up and government is looking into how the machines were sold and all those who were involve. Am very very sure that government will come out with a position and address that issue and address it effectively well."

Mr. Alfred Egbegi
General Manager, Bayelsa  State Newspaper Corporation

Alfred Egbegi said when he came on board, the first thing was to get the newspaper running, to which end, with a committed management team they decided to work on the paper by raising its standard.
"I felt that there was need for me to increase the pagenation  that was 24 page to 48 colour page newspaper. And that is what we have been doing for over 1 year, now, since I assumed office.
Commenting further on patronage by government and people of the state, he said:-
"the major problem we have is that we don't have patronage from our people, Bayelsa people. You tell them that this place is open for commercial businesses, they prefer to give their jobs to outsiders. Some prefer to go to Aba to print, even within the government circle, you call them come let us print your job for you, they are not ready. They rather want to take their job  outside..the second thing is the paper we publish. The Bayelsa man prefers to publish his adverts in national papers that they believe, that cost them hundreds of thousands of naira  and for them if they come to New Waves to publish, the desired attention that they have is not there, and they also don't like to patronize their own state newspaer. These are some of the problems we have , but in all, the state newspaper is up and running."  the G.M declared.

ALFRED EGBEGI SPEAKS ON HIS ASSIGNMENT AT WAVES, CONDEMNS SALES OF PRINTING MACHINE

THE 70TH BIRTHDAY OF LOVE AMASEIMOGHA

Lady (Hon.) Immaculata Love Amaseimogha (JP), the Millennium Nurse had celebrated her 70th birthday with thanksgiving, in Yenagoa the capital of Bayelsa State.
It was a great occasion, and indeed an occas
ion that gathered people of all works of life in the Catholic Church for thanksgiving and celebration in her house at the Commissioners quarters, Opolo.
Born in 1947, October 3rd, Lady Amaseimogha told Golden Pen Newspaper in an interview that she started celebrating her birthday at the age of 16, while she was in the Catholic School Owerri, where she saw the need to celebrate her birthday annually, which she has kept up to date.
According to her, though every birthday was important, this year's was very special, because she is now 70 years and felt she should thank God for his love upon her life and upon her family.
This year, as her birth date, the 3rd of October fell on  Tuesday, Lady Amaseimogha said, she just praised the Lord and prayed, but fixed a thanksgiving service on Sunday the 8th, because she did not like  to trouble her friends who were business people that would love to have been there even on a work day.
What excited her most in the celebration was not just the fanfare or the crowd that gathered nor her achievements in the journey to her 70th birthday, neither was her mind pondering on the accolades she received from the joyful crowd, but what the man of God said.  Hear this:
"I was very very happy on that day because, His Lordship, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo, the first Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Diocese was in attendance. In his preaching he highlighted some of the vital things that I must tell you.

He appreciated the age 70, and asked the worshippers to appreciate their parents when they are still alive and not when they are dead, secondly, he instructed me to be a light or a mentor to the younger ones and thirdly he appreciated my contributions to the Church, as I once served as a National Secretary  of the Catholic women of Nigeria and President of Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria."
Mrs Love Amaseimogha who won the prestigious 'Millennium Nurse Award' in Liberia, said she was also happy for the privilege given her to address the gathering.and appreciating the dignitaries at the occasion, such as:
His Eminence King Dimaro Charles Owaba the Obonobhan 3rd of Ogbia who was represented by Chief (Engr.) Baraburu, King Collins Daniel the paramount ruler of Abureni Clan, Chief Francis Dokpola, Chairman Bayelsa Elders Council, Chief Sunday Omekwe, Hon. Egele (SAN) and Justice Enegesi.

Others include: Members of Knights of St. John International, Dame Ella Douglas, Women Arise led by Hon. Vivian Ere, Dr. Timi Agara, Ogbia Brotherhood Women wing led by the Secretary , Mrs Unity Otolo, Ogbia-na-don women led by Victoria Osobere, Men of Order and Discipline (MOD) of Catholic Church Friends and well wishers from all around, some from Rivers State.
The Church said they had never seen such a large crowed, some even asked if she had a political intentions, only for her to reply that she was just celebrating  her birthday.
Her first son, Engr. Mitema Amaseimogha who took the place of his father, was with his wife, her second son, Madioni Amaseimogha was there with his wife and family, her second daughter Maryann Amaseimogha was there with her children. Family members from Otakeme and Opume were represented including the head of the family, Chief Ariwelo Julius Agadaga. The  ceremony continued in her residence until night. She thanked all and sundry for their contributions and their presence.
Talking briefly on her journey to 70, she said:
"I appreciate God for giving me this opportunity, keeping me alive till this day. I could have done nothing without him, and I continue to pray that he should cover me with his blood, give me the strength, the wisdom and the resources to carry on at 70..."
Tracing memory lane on how she  started life, she said:
" I got married at the age of 24 to late Hon. Janus Asungha Amaseimogha (may his soul rest in perfect peace), who was an astute politician. Before his death he had served Rivers State as he went to the National Assembly as member of the the Constituent Assembly. He also served as Chairman of Brass Local Government Council and also as the pioneer Chairman of Ogbia Local  Government Council, his political ambition did not see him through to be what he really wanted to become, he died in 2011."

THE SUCCESS STORY OF FMC YENAGOA By Evans Tubonah

Dr. Dennis Allagoa
Chief Medical Director, FMC YENAGOA

The Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Yenagoa, Dr. Dennis Alagoa has attributed the success of the Hospital to team work.
He stated this during an interview with newsman who called on him in his office in the State capital, Yenagoa.
According to him:
" The provision of services for health all over the world is always a daunting challenge; especially in the third world where issues of poor infrastructure, issues of poverty, issues of unavailability of light and water and also provision of skilled manpower. This had always been a challenge in the developing countries, and Nigeria is not an exception."
He said the FMC, Yenagoa, also faces such challenges, but one thing that had made the success story possible is:
"Co-operating Management team that has been working in unison and also we have the support of the government of Bayelsa State that helped us to provide the enabling environment to carry out the assignment that the government through the Honourable Minister of Health has given to us."
Secondly he said, apart from the commitment of management, majority of the staff of the Federal Hospital, are being committed to that team spirit of success, to ensure that they do there best to provide 'health for all in Bayelsa state, because Federal Medical Centre provides more than 80% and sees more than 80% of the total patients, population in this state cutting across the senatorial constituencies in the state.
He explained that on assumption in office his priority was to work on environmental sanitation, to which end a waste disposal system was provided with a view to ensuring that dumping of refuse by the road was stopped forthwith, hear this:
''....we provided a waste management system where we clear our wastes at regulated time,.. our medical wastes. We dispose the wastes using our own incinerator.."
Dr. Alagoa went further to say that, the hospital is looking forward to extend this service across the state, because it worked in keeping the environment of the FMC clean, he emphasized.
Another thing the hospital did was that the issue of lack of consumables in the theatre, especially because at the moment the new M.D. came on board, that was a challenge.
The M.D. said there were cases of consumables and materials needed to operate in the theatre, and to achieve that, they ensured the provision of such materials that were needful for theatre usage, and also other materials needed for the work of the hospital.

He spoke of some of the innovations made in these words:
"Another thing we did was to establish the intensive care unit, prior to that time  the building was there, but it was not yet functioning; we had to establish our own intensive care unit. We no longer refer intensive care patients to UPTH. We are now taking care of these patients in our centre here.
"We also established our operating eye theatre , previously we didn't operate people with eye challenges...; but now people who have eye challenges, we take care of them here in the Federal Medical Centre. We also went ahead to establish the National Health Insurance Scheme, a new Centre of National Insurance scheme here in FMC, Yenagoa."
Dr. Allagoa said there was an existing Insurance scheme that needed upgrading, and it was upgraded, and now working hundred percent. Explaining further he said:-
"All staff both here in Yenagoa and Otueke outreach are all enrolled under that scheme. And issues that will border on difficulty for people to provide funds to take care of themselves when they had health challenges no longer exist..."
He went further, describing the insurance scheme as robust raising the income from N1million per month to N10million per month, and now N12million per month.
The secret of success of our insurance scheme is that:
"We have a robust team of skilled, dedicated manpower that is providing 24 hours 7 days a week services, humane, a none stop, sure facility national health insurance scheme."
The Medical Director also spoke on a special medical unit at the FMC, Yenagoa:-
" A telemedicine unit, which is very important because it enables FMC Yenagoa, as the only hospital that has that unit in this country. to gather every Wednesday 5pm ... linking up with all the telemedicine units across the world, discussing various vital topics..."
He used the medium to highlight more of the functions of telemedicine  in these how they delibrate on medical topics and find solutions in these words:-
"The last topic we discussed was monkey pox. Doctors at telemedicine units
all over the world were part of that discussion. And we were able to educate them on what we did ...to contain the monkey pox scourge, and the approaches we used to contain the monkey pox in Bayelsa state."
He went further to say that the telemedicine unit also enables typical diagnosis by consulting with partners abroad directly for difficult cases, by calling and consulting partners of their opinion, and they discuss online,  through which method, they were able to resolve some of the medical cases, he explained.
"And we were able to resolve some of our medical cases. It enables you be in touch with socialists all over the world, and that is one of the things that the telemedicine has helped us to achieve and it has a lot of advantages  that we cannot enumerate in a single discussion as this,,," he concluded.

Inside the FMC at a glance 

BAYELSA POLICE VOWS TO 'RE-ARREST ESCAPEE SUSPECTS

CP Amba Asuquo

1.  The Bayelsa State Police Command, Tuesday, 7th November 2017  announced the escape of 10 suspects in the cells at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in the state capital, Yenagoa.
2. A Press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer Bayelsa State Command, DSP Asinim Butswat stated that the incident occurred about 0200hrs in the early hours of the morning.
3. According to the statement, the escape of the 10 detainees was discovered through routine cell-check, by the SARS Police, raising alarm of the suspects escape, and that they escaped through the ceiling.
4. Announcing the 're-arrest of some of them, the Police statement reads in part thus:
5. "Policemen immediately cordoned off the SARS detention facility and 're-arrested three (3) out of the ten (10) suspects that escaped. The profile of the suspect has been circulated to our intelligence sources and efforts have Ben intensified to 're-arrest the remaining suspects."
6. The Bayelsa State Police Command used the medium to call on the members of the public not to panic, but to volunteer useful information that may assist the police to get the escaping detainees 're-arrested.
7. At the time of this publication, the PPRO told Golden Pen in  an interview that more of scapees have been 're-arrested.

BAYELSA POLICE VOWS TO 'RE-ARREST ESCAPED DETAINEES

BAYELSA CPS VISITS PUBLISHERS, CALLS FOR CO-OPERATION

The Chief Press Secretary to His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Francis Ottah Agbo has called on publishers in the state to co-operate with the State government in the propagation of the programmes and policies of the present administration.
He stated this, while intearcting with the Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers Association (BAFENPA) in the State capital, Yenagoa.
The CPS who was on a familiairization visit, reminded the publishers, of their noble role to inform, educate and enlighten the populace on the programmes and policies of the government. Mr. Ottah Agbo spoke on the cardinal principles and achievements of the government in these words:

" One of the cardinal principles of the Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson led administration is to take Bayelsa to the world and bring the world to Bayelsa. That is why the governor is partnering with the world's renowned people to come and train Ijaw youths on leadership and mentorship"
Highlighting some of the achievements of the administration he explained that:
"Infrastructural development, educational investment and tourism is taking Bayelsa to the world and bringing the wold to Bayelsa, and that is why anywhere you go, they know about Bayelsa, they know about Ijaw National Academy, they know about the Airport and all that..." he declared.
The CPS reminded the publishers of being stakeholders of the state who should not shy away from meaningful activities but to be partners in progress by  documenting the laudable policies and programmes of government in the state.

He remarked that the International Cargo Airport project embarked upon by the Restoration administration is for Bayelsa to play a key role in the gulf of guinea  by connecting the Ijaw nation to the world and to make Bayelsa a business hub.
He used the medium to speak further on some of the projects that had given the governor more commitment include:
" The Brass LNG, Brass Fertilizer, The Agge Deep Sea Port and Free Trade Zone project, which will open up Bayelsa to the world. We therefore on BAFENPA in particular and the media in general to support the government by propagating the good works of the administration.
In his remak, the Chairman of BAFENPA, Mr. Easterday Ayebaitari, thanked the CPS and his entourage for the visit, and assured him that the Indigenous press will continue to be supportive of the Bayelsa State government in her policies and programmes as the media had always done from the beginning of the state, in  the interest of peace and development of the land and the people.
But the publishers noted with concern that there had been a big gap of communication between media managers on the side of government and media practitioners in the state which does not tell a tale of symbiotic relationship and called for mending of fences to forge ahead with " Project Bayelsa."

GOVERNOR DICKSON ENDEARS HIMSELF THROUGH ECUMENICAL CENTRE PROJECT- Evans Tubonah

The Ecumenical Centre Built By Governor Dickson
Of Bayelsa State

It was a great gathering at the Igbogene axis of the Bayelsa State capital, Yenagoa, where people from all works of life, especially the clergy converged in high spirit to celebrate the success story of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson's building  of a house for God, called "Ecumenical Centre."
Some of the high and the mighty in Christendom invited by the State governor to grace the occasion include:
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church,  Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who dedicated the centre described the governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson as a leader who loves the Lord, emphasized that only a man who loves the Lord God Almighty at heart and approved of the Lord could build a house in his name.
Speaking further, he said, the value of a house depends on who lives there, and that the size of the house or it's outlook does not matter, but who lives-in there. "In a community you may see a house, a big house built by a rich man, a rich business man, and at another area you also find another building not as gigantic as that of the businessman, but on this building is written "THE PALACE" that is the place of authority, Pastor Adeboye said.

His Excellency the Governor of Bayelsa
Hon, Henry Dickson and dignitaries

Relating that viewpoint  to the house of God, who Himself is the King of Kings and Lord of lords, Pastor Adeboye told the congregation what King David said about the house of God as in Psalm 122:1 reads:
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord"
He graphically narrated and  explained to the over 10, 000 audience at the ecumenical centre and viewers all over the world in live telecasts and broadcast  by various electronics mediums, the new media etc.  the benefits to those who went  into the house of the Lord and while praying for the people, dwclared that because they came to the ecumenical centre which is the house of the Lord to celebrate, whatever problem or situation or challenges they were facing was over.
The only Bible reading at the occasion was taken by the Governor of the State, Hon. Henry Dickson from the book of 2Chronicles 7:11-16 reads:-
"Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wick ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent  unto the prayer that is made in this place.
For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."
In his remarks the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo ably represented by the state House Chaplin, Seyi Malono commended the Bayelsa Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson for building the centre which he described, 'as the house of God." He used the medium to call on the people to acknowledge the fact that Nigeria needed men and women committed to making her a batter nation for future generations.
American multiple award winning Gospel singer, Ron Kenoly  performed at the occasion, some of his best soul touching songs to the admiration of his fans.
In his vote of thanks, the governor, who  at the occasion, inaugurated a management Board to preserve and maintain the centre,  thanked all the dignitaries who honoured his invitation and attended the historic event. He wished everyone the best and a peaceful journey back home.
In an interview with the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty King Alfred Papapreye Diete Spiff, first Military Governor of Rivers State also commended the Governor of the state while describing the project as a monumental achievement, hear this:

HRM King Alfred Diete Spiff
Chairman Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers

"The ecumenical centre built by the state government will help the Ijaw people to love and to serve God. This outlet has to be used fully, not just as a monument of the Ijaw nation standing there, but shall serve as an assembly of God, both for religious and social matters if you look at it at it's fullest."
 King Diete Spiff who rated the vision of the governor so high went forward to speak in this light:
"The ecumenical centre which is actually a national monument, couldn't have been built except God himself gave the people who thought about it, the wisdom, the courage or the grace..."
The Royal father of the state further stated that by this, and other projects the Dickson government had embarked upon and completed, expressed the hope that by the time he will  complete his tenure in office, the Ijaw nation shall no doubt see and know him as "a sincere leader who want the best for the state and for  the Ijaw nation."
In a radio phone-in programme with the State owned radio station, Glory FM, Tuesday, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso Markson in a bid to galvanize the people for the high ranking project told Bayelsans that building of the ecumenical centre was a great achievement by the Restoration government that will promote gainful employment, rapid development and economic prosperity in the state, right now and in the future.

Daniel Iworiso Markson
Hon. Commissioner for Information and Orientation
Bayelsa State

GOVERNOR