Alex Ibeh

A non-governmental Organization otherwise known as Mass Mobilization against Hardship (MAMAH) has reached an understanding with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity to facilitate and engage each other to improving the welfare of artisans in Imo State.

In a meeting with the Ministry on Tuesday, 15th October, 2024, at the State Secretariat, the founder and CEO of the Foundation, Arc. Deji Oshinowo while commending the Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma for ensuring that youths are empowered through skill acquisition said the initiative was to add to the Government’s plan to mitigate poverty.

According to him, The MAMAH is a non-governmental and Humanitarian Initiative which Seeks for the improvement and welfare of artisans in the state to compliment the 3R innovative mantra of Uzodimma’s prosperity administration.

Oshinowo explained that the Organization is committed to alleviate poverty and to promote artistic craftsmanship in the state, adding that the idea would achieve maximum economic stability by engaging the artisans in more productive activities.

“The artisan community is a vital and integral part of every thriving economy, a clarity which is based on the important roles and active participation they render,which is pertinent and needful for the economic stability of any given society.”

“It is in the roadmap of the Humanitarian Initiative to recognize,interface and brand the artisan community with modern informations,trainings and programs that will aid to maintain a healthy working environment for them in their respective localities and places of work,” he stated.

He further stressed on the Organization’s readiness to sensitize the artisans to actualize the proper ethics and safety conditions and engage them on Personal protective equipment basis, often referred to as “PPE”

He added that the training would provide the Artisans with the tools for protection in discharge of their duties.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Artisan, Hon. Ethelbert Ukonu commended the achievements of MAMAH towards the welfare of the artisans in the state, noting that artisan community remains the bedrock to foster growth and development of the society.

Ukonu affirmed that the synergy would set in motion an era of massive productivity to aggregate the current governments goal to bring transformation and Innovation to the State’s output.

Ukonu further used the occasion to laude the Organization’s drive to have an identification database where artisans could register and access various benefits been rolled out for Artisans. This is even as he urged those yet to register to ensure that they enrol through the right channel.

According to him, this will checkmate miscreants and hoodlum against illegitimate practice and unscrupulous acts.

The SA therefore charged the leadership arm of the artisan community to ensure proper documentation as a means to accommodate other members across the 27 LGAs of the state.

Government functionaries who were at the meeting included Hon. Austin Chilakpu, SA to the Governor on Labour, Hon. Chidi Onyebuchi, SA on Skill Acquisition, Mrs. Ibeka, Perm Sec.ministry of labour, employment and productivity, the HOD Entreprenuer, ,the HOD Skill Acquisition, Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association(NATA), Mr. Dozie Julius, Chairman Association of Artisans Development, Hon. Suleiman Ibrahim Suleiman, SA on Northern Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Abiola Bashorun, Ministry of Waste Management, among others.

By John Asiegbu

The new chairman of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) Sir Chidi Dike, has said that the party remained one united and indivisible family despite internal wrangling.

The acting state chairman stated this onTuesday while hoisting up the party’s flag upon taking over the party’s state secretariat along Okigwe road, Owerri.

He explained that there was no faction whatsoever in the party, pointing out that the party under his watch in acting capacity, would reconcile all agrieved members within three months for all-inclusive ward, Local government and state congresses.

Also speaking, the South East Organizing Secretary of the party, Hon Mike Ahumine, narrated how a Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambrs state, upheld the suspension of the immediate past state chairman of the party, Engr Charles Ugwu.

According to him, Ugwu was suspended by party members during a meeting he summoned on grounds of incompetence and non- performance, saying that the suspension was sustained or validated by the court, leading to the emergence of Sir Chidi Dike who hails from Okigwe, the same senatorial zone as Ugwu, in line with the party’s constitution.

He further explained that the party’s constitution stipulated that in the event of eventual removal death or resignition of the party’s state chairman, the Deputy State Chairman from the same zone as the affected chairman, should take over.

Ahumibe who maintained that there was no crack in Imo PDP, called on Imolites to brace up for the party’s take over of power in the state in no distant time.

By Vivian uche

The Imo House of Assembly on Tuesday moved a motion urging the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to urgently commence the reconstruction of Umuna-Umuduru Onuimo and the Ndi-Uwa Ideato North link road.

The house made the call following a motion moved by the member representing Onuimo state constituency at the house of assembly, Mr James Esile (APC).

While presenting the motion, Esile observed that the state of the road has severely limited the economic activities of the people of the area who are predominantly farmers.

He also added that the rickety bridges along the road pose a threat to the lives of people using the road.

The lawmaker also disclosed that criminals have capitalised on the state of the road to increase their activities in the area.

He noted that rehabilitating the road would greatly improve the economic activities in the area and ease the suffering of the people.

He therefore prayed the house to urge governor Uzodimma, to direct the Ministry of Works to urgently visit, inspect, and commence the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the link road

this major link road, the Umuna-Umuduru Egbeaguru Onuimo and Ndi Awa ldeato North road, including the bridges;

Supporting the motion, the member representing Ehime Mbano (APC) called for immediate action to be taken to avert further disaster in the area and other affected roads.

The motion was also supported by barr Chisom Ojukwu (Nkwerre) and Bennett Ebonine (Njaba)

Following votes in support of the motion, the Speaker, Mr Chike Olemgbe, ruled in favour of the prayers of the motion.