By David Owei, Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has welcomed 2025 Batch C Orientation Course of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to the state, declaring that their deployment was divinely providential.

Gov. Diri, represented by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on NYSC Matters, Hon. Dr. Wisdom Poyeri, urges the Corps members to view their arrival to the State as an opportunity to serve, love, and lead the community.

Governor Douye Diri said the passing out ceremony marked a pivotal transition for corps members from their initial orientation phase to active service, emphasizing core values of discipline, integrity, and dedicated service.

The Governor urged corps members to uphold dignity and exemplary conduct throughout their service year and beyond.

He highlighted that their deployment to Bayelsa was divinely providential, viewing it as an opportunity to serve, love, and lead the community.

Governor Diri commended the corps members for their discipline, character, and academic achievements during the orientation, emphasizing the significance of the national assignment entrusted to them.

He encouraged them to serve with wisdom, resilience, and honesty, drawing inspiration from scripture to remind them that small beginnings can lead to great achievements.

He also emphasized that their service is not just about fulfilling a duty but about building trust with families, gaining community confidence, and shaping Nigeria’s future.

He also prayed for divine guidance and protection over all corps members, urging them to serve with impact and dedication.

Mrs. Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Bayelsa, congratulated corps members on reaching this milestone.

She praised their discipline and cooperation during the orientation and encouraged them to uphold the core values of the NYSC scheme as they transition into their places of primary assignment.

She emphasized the importance of leveraging post-camp training opportunities, particularly the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) sessions, to enhance their contributions.

Mrs. Obiageli urged the corps members to see themselves as ambassadors of the NYSC, maintaining decorum, respect, and integrity in all interactions. She expressed confidence that they would positively impact their host communities and the entire state.

By Our Correspondent

Senate, on Tuesday, gave accelerated approval to President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for peace keeping mission following last Sunday’s foiled coup there.

Approval by the upper legislative chamber was sequel to the consideration of a letter to that effect by Tinubu at the Committee of the Whole where lawmakers unanimously voted in favour of the deployment, giving legislative backing for the regional security intervention.

President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio described the decision as a step in the right direction, noting that instability in any neighbouring country poses a threat to the entire region.

He said: “An injury to one is an injury to all.”

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President and read during plenary.

According to the President, the letter was as a result of a request by the Republic of Benin for an exceptional air support from Nigeria’s Armed Forces after soldiers attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon.

Tinubu, who cited Section 30 (5), Part II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), stated that he had consulted the National Defence Council before forwarding the request.

He noted that Senate approval was now required to authorize a regional peacekeeping mission.

The President Tinubu warned that Benin was facing “an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and the destruction and destabilization of democratic institutions,” and therefore urged the Senate to act swiftly.

He added that Nigeria has a historical responsibility to support Benin under the existing Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS security frameworks.

According to him, the crisis demands “urgent external intervention” to help restore stability and prevent further breakdown of order.

The Senate President, subsequently referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for immediate consideration.

It would be recalled that soldiers operating under the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou on Sunday, announcing the overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s administration, but the coup was foiled by the intervention of fighter jets and troops deployed in the neighbouring country by President Tinubu.

By Our Correspondent

Global Igbo Foundation Initiatives (GIFI) has organized inaugural stakeholders meeting and end of year party to reposition Igbo race all over the world. The event brought the Igbo community together to celebrate the successful end of year with funfair.

The convener and global President, Amb. Lois Jonathan while welcoming Igbo sons and daughters as well as friends of Nd’Igbo in attendance reiterated the contributions of the founding fathers who laid down their lives for the growth and advancement of Nd’Igbo. She posited that Igbos known for their ingenuity and industry have continued to build country’s economies, but end up treated disdainfully.

Jonathan stated that this meeting became necessary going by various challenges faced by Nd’Igbo especially in Lagos and other part of Nigeria including incarceration of our brother Mazi Nnamdi Kalu who have done nothing compared to those who are killing Nigerians in their numbers and later turn around to be repentant Boko Haram sects. It’s highly unfortunate. I know this nonsense will stop one day and very soon, she averred.
She therefore charged sons and daughters of Igbo extractions to put all hands on deck to ensure that they correct these anomalies and reposition for greatness.

Delivering his keynote address on the theme Igbo Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Ace Speaker and Astute Politician Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Member North-East Development Commission urge Igbo sons and daughters all over the world to come together and chart a new cause for the advancement of the region. He implore them to come home and develop their fatherland, stressing that no place like home. “If you invest in our land, it will be there forever. Nobody would wake up a day and start demolishing your multimillionaire investments for no reason. It’s really heartbreaking for a billionaire to wake up and watch all his life investments destroyed because of politics or tribalism. It’s not acceptable and we must put an end to it now, he opined.

Hon. Sam Onuigbo therefore charged Igbo sons and daughters to emulate Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Air Peace among others whose investments are thriving and cannot be destroyed for whatever reasons.

Royal Father of the Day, HRH Igwe Dr. Ibe Nwosu, Eze Igbo Na Abuja emphasized greatly on the unity, peace and progress of Igbo race especially as they are being treated as half cast in their fatherland. He charged them to unite now as meaningful results could be achieved without love. “if there is no love, no unity, and no peace, you will achieve little or nothing at all, he submit.

High point of the occasion was cutting of End of Year Party cake and launching of almanac.

Dignitaries that grace the event include His Excellency Chief Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Enugu State Governor and National Chairman of PDP, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo Member, North-East Development Commission, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, member House of Representatives, Sen. Ndubueze Chiwuba, Sen. Akobundu Augustine HRH Igwe Dr. Ibe Nwosu, Eze Igbo Na Abuja, Hon. Stanley among others.

End