Okpe Leaders Insist On Comprehensive University in Orerokpe

 ....Want Sapele Polytechnic Completed

Prominent Okpe leaders on Thursday appraised the performance and competence of the Delta State governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, praising him for his positive impact on the lives of the people.

Rising from the crucial meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Okpe Union worldwide, the well-meaning and illustrious sons and daughters of Okpe Kingdom urged the good people of Delta State to rally behind the relatively new administration of His Excellency, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori.

“The administration got distracted by a huge number of court cases before finally getting the imprimatur of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. With some of the projects already being witnessed round the state and some policy reviews like clearing of the backlog of pension entitlements of retirees as well as cadre regularisation/transfer and upgrade of civil servants and teachers round the state, something progressive is happening in the State.”

In a statement which encapsulated the union’s educational proposal for the development of Okpe Kingdom, the leaders commended Oborevwori for responding promptly, correctly and unequivocally to the educational needs of the state.

“The National Executive Council(NEC) of the Okpe Union, the Ethnic Union of the Okpe Nation, having been inundated by reports of reactions (some disruptive) from several quarters of our dear Delta State and especially from the Isoko areas of the state in relation to the reports of a reported planned relocation of some programmes of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, a town of the Isoko Nation, held an Emergency Meeting to evaluate the report, its impact on the stability of the administration and ethnic relations in the state as well as determine suggestions to both the government and the people of the Isoko Nation, the historical cousins of the Okpe people who have reacted to the reported policy.”

The statement titled, ’A Call for Calm, Re-evaluation of Policy by Government and Restatement of the Position of Okpe Nation to Foster Ethnic Harmony in Delta State’’ and signed by President General, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Prof. Igho Natufe and General Secretary, Okpe Union (Worldwide), Barrister Kingsley Akpederin, commended Oborevwori for having the redress of the abnormal historical abandonment of Orerokpe and its environs in his balancing agenda.

“Governor. Sheriff Oborevwori is commended for the decision to have a look at the deficit of public institutions in Orerokpe which is one of the oldest administrative centres in the country having been hosting  one of the largest areas of local administration in the histor of Nigeria. Orerokpe, from the late 1920s became the headquarters of the Western Urhobo District which covered the present day Ethiope West, Ethiope East, Okpe, Uvwie, Sapele (at a point) and Udu Local Government Areas of Delta State. Public institutions like Universities, Polytechnics, Petroleum Institutes and Infrastructures, Colleges of Education, Schools of Nursing, Schools of Agriculture, Federal Medical Centres and many others have been cited in various areas without the ancient headquarters, Orerokpe, being considered. It is worthy of note also that another city of the Okpe Nation, Sapele, which was one of the foremost townships created officially by the early British Colonial Government with the status of other early official townships like Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, etc, has suffered similar government neglect as Orerokpe.”

The leaders urged the governor not to do things for ephemeral benefits and instant fame but to reevaluate the planned policy.

“As the ancient city of Orerokpe is so centrally located in the state being close to Warri, the Commercial capital of the state and therefore not far from the riverine areas of Delta South Senatorial District; and fairly accessible to all the areas of our dear Delta State, we suggest a comprehensive University of Education to be established there. The quest for the acquisition of education degrees has now got the various Colleges of Education in the State to haphazardly secure multiple affiliations with different universities in Nigeria in order for them to be degree awarding. A University of Education for Delta State is long overdue. We believe the resources for the creation of another campus would be nearly sufficient for the establishment of this all-important institution for modern competitive teachers’ education for the state. It is also instructive to note that a University of Education can accommodate any disciplines that a government may deem necessary to apply for approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in the future. It is also time for the Sapele Polytechnic which construction began under the Gov. Uduaghan Administration to be completed. By so doing, the historically neglected areas of Orerokpe and Sapele would have been assuaged to some extent’’.

The prominent Okpe leaders emphasized senatorial and ethnic balancing in the state.

“We acknowledge that since the administration of Gov. James Ibori in 1999, the siting of public institutions in Delta State has upheld the template more or less of Senatorial and ethnic balancing. This resulted in the domiciling of the three Delta State Polytechnics in towns in the three Senatorial Districts of the state. Consequently, the famous Sapele Technical College (STC) which is one of the oldest technology institutions in Nigeria lost out in upgrades. The same Senatorial balancing was followed by the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa Administration in establishing the recent state Universities. It is therefore understandable how our Isoko brothers have reacted with protests to the reports of the planned relocation of parts of university already sited in Delta South Senatorial District and Isoko land.”

“The leaders also appealed for “understanding and calm.

“We are fortunate to have a listening Governor who will certainly do what is best in the interest of the State. Violence and destruction of public and private properties cannot be a panacea to this kind of decision. We appreciate the fact that the State Government has met with stakeholders of the Isoko Nation including our sister union, the Isoko Development Union (IDU), Traditional Rulers of the Isoko Nation and other Stakeholders. We appeal to them to prevail on all, especially the youths, to give peace a chance as the Governor of the State has promised not to undermine the development of the Isoko Nation nor any other part of the State.”

Africanlaw Set to Offer the Global Market Direct Access to Top Rated and Verified Lawyers in Africa

AfricanLaw Co-Founder & CEO Simbarashe Makahamadze

Across the vast and diverse continent of Africa, billions of dollars in trade related transactions are registered year on year, coupled with a host of interactions that require the support of legal bodies to ensure local and international laws are adhered to. AfricanLaw, co-founded by seasoned and passionate Intellectual Property law and innovation practitioner Simbarashe Makahamadze, is gearing up to participate at Web Summit Qatar 2024 from the 26^th-29^th of February 2024, joining thousands of international entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders in highlighting the future of tech in solving some of the globe’s most complex connectivity challenges.

 

Having witnessed a marketplace gap in effective access to legal experts that possess specialist knowledge of a host of wide-ranging laws, policies and procedures, AfricanLaw is a start-up in the legal tech space, emerging as a choice answer to one question: “Can legal services access be made possible across the continent for anyone who needs them, regardless of their location?”

 

“Navigating complex legal landscapes can be daunting, particularly for individuals and businesses not only in Africa, but for those in international markets viewing Africa as their first or next destination for business set-up or expansion. At AfricanLaw, we aim to highlight our position as the sole, pioneering digital platform that is stepping in to leverage technology in revolutionizing access to the legal fraternity, to and from all corners of Africa,” says Dubai-based Founder and CEO Makahamadze.

 

The Zimbabwe-born UAE expat goes on to highlight how Dubai has offered him and his team the opportunity to not only launch, scale and raise awareness of Africa’s legal professionals, but building the AfricanLaw platform which today stands as the fastest growing online legal marketplace, has also highlighted the magnitude of engagements and subsequent agreements that have their genesis in the brilliant minds of the continent’s legal fraternity.

 

“In developing AfricanLaw’s framework, we have discovered that a one-stop shop for clients to find lawyers and lawyers to find each other, are real opportunities to contributing towards often complex cases such as due diligence, joint ventures, deal structuring involving mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property protection and litigation, as well as corporate and commercial  law cases that transcends global jurisdictions”, Makahamadze asserts.

 

“The goal is to empower the global market with direct access to resident African lawyers and law firms as well as a comprehensive database of legal resources, including laws, regulations, and court decisions searchable by country, topic, and keyword, thus allowing research for legal support independently, fostering a sense of agency and informed decision-making”, he adds.

AfricanLaw Co-Founder & COO Facie Chiwanza

 

This year's Web Summit Qatar presents a unique opportunity for African tech startups like AfricanLaw to showcase their innovations on a global stage. The Summit, known for its focus on emerging technologies and disruptive ideas, will bring together leading investors, industry experts, and tech enthusiasts from around the world, and AfricanLaw stands ready to connect with industry leaders, investors and innovators who will open doors to potential funding and future collaboration.

 

AfricanLaw Co-Founder and COO Facie Chiwanza, is the heartbeat of the organisation’s operations, and strongly believes participation at Web Summit Qatar 2024 will be a pivotal moment for AfricanLaw and other African tech startups.

 

“Our aim is to showcase AfricanLaw as a shining example of how technology can be harnessed to bridge critical gaps in legal access across Africa. As the platform continues to innovate and expand its reach, we see increasing potential in truly democratizing legal knowledge and empowering individuals and businesses across the globe through transparent, efficient, and cost-effective legal solutions”, she says.

 

As all roads in the global tech space make their way to the Middle East’s largest gathering of tech leaders, investors, and tech start-ups in Qatar, AfricanLaw alongside thousands of other participants, stands well poised to amplify its current impact, inspiring discourse on more interactive solutions that drive access to Africa’s legal experts. 

 

Notes: AfricanLaw is a Dubai-based, wholly African-owned interactive online platform that simplifies access to and engagement of top rated and verified lawyers in any country in Africa. With a mission to make the African legal experience extraordinary by providing direct access to high quality and cost-effective legal services, AfricanLaw leverages technology to offer online, innovative, and transparent legal solutions at a fraction of the cost and time of the traditional legal system.

 

Credit: Yvonne C Mtengwa

Threats to Life: Port Harcourt based politician, Rex David, faces threat over Political Affiliation

In a concerning turn of events, Hon. Rex David Mgbang, a prominent figure residing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reportedly received numerous anonymous calls and messages threatening his life.

 

The threats appear to be linked to his involvement with the APC Governorship Candidate, Arch. Tonye Cole in the recently concluded elections and tribunal cases.

 

According to sources close to the young politician, the threats began surfacing shortly after the conclusion of the elections, where he is known to have played a significant role in the campaign.

 

Despite the lack of any evidence tying him to any electoral malpractice or wrongdoing, it seems his association with Cole and his political structure that cut across the state has made him and family a target of intimidation.

 

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a close associate of Hon. Rex David Mgbang disclosed that the threats have been relentless, with anonymous callers issuing warnings and messages of reprisal against him including a recent message he received on Sunday 11th February 2024 just immediately after his neighbour's wife, living few blocks away from him, was adopted by some unknown gun men.

 

The nature of these threats has understandably caused distress and concern among his family and associates. His wife and children are currently living in fear of either being kidnapped or assassinated.

 

In response to the escalating situation, Hon. Rex has reportedly sought assistance from local law enforcement agencies, urging them to investigate the matter thoroughly and provide him with the necessary protection. Concerns over his safety have prompted calls for swift action to apprehend those responsible for the threats and ensure the safety and security of all individuals involved.

 

Efforts to reach Tonye Cole for comment on the matter have been unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

 

However, it is clear that the situation surrounding Hon. Rex David's safety underscores the broader challenges and risks faced by individuals involved in political activities, particularly in the aftermath of contentious elections and legal disputes.

 

As investigations into the threats against Hon. Rex David Mgbang continue, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of safeguarding the democratic process and protecting the rights and safety of individuals engaged in political discourse and activism.