120 indigent students of Bayelsa State have been awarded scholarship to study Ijaw language at the State owned Niger Delta University, (NDU), Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the State. Briefing newsmen as part of activities marking one year of Governor Seriake Dickson’s administration in office at the weekend, the Commissioner for Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Dr. Felix Tuodolor said the decision is aimed at promoting Ijaw culture and preventing the language from going into extinction.
According to him, “the state recently awarded scholarships to 120 indigent students to study Ijaw language at the Niger Delta University and after their graduation, the awardees will be posted to teach Ijaw language in the Public schools.”
The Commissioner said the Ministry which was created in April, 2012 was vigorously pursuing social and cultural cohesion policies aimed at preserving the Ijaw culture and identity.
Dr. Tuodolor noted that as part of measures to promote the Ijaw culture and identity, the Ministry made it mandatory for public officers and appointees to wear traditional attires on Fridays.
According to him, the newly created Ministry is now generating a minimum of one million naira monthly to the internally generated revenue profile of the state through the rental of its facilities.
The Commissioner added “as a very new Ministry we are already making a modest contribution to the coffers of the State to the tune of about one million naira every month from the commercialization of the facilities at the Ijaw House in Bayelsa.”
“We felt that Bayelsa as the base of Ijaw people should have a befitting edifice for our people so we fast tracked the project and got it inaugurated and put it to use.
“It is a major development for Ijaw people within and beyond Bayelsa and today as it houses the Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs, Ijaw National Congress, Ijaw Youth Council, Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, Bayelsa Mausoleum amongst others”.
The commissioner also listed some achievements of the new Ministry to include the Ijaw Identity Project which produced a coat of arms for Bayelsa, Flag and Anthem for the state.
Dr. Tuodolor explained that Bayelsa Heroes Memorial Park is for the immortalization of past heroes of the Ijaw Nation such as Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro, Harold Dappa-Biriye, Ernest Ikoli among others.
…. Invests N4bn in Power Sector
Piqued by the epileptic power supply in some parts of the State, the Bayelsa government has released over four billion naira into the power sector in the last one year, while also vigorously pursuing its rural electrification projects across the State.
Giving an account of his Ministry’s stewardship under the Restoration Administration of Governor Seriake Dickson, the State Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Francis Ikio said investments in the power sector became imperative inview its relevance to the economic growth of the State.
The Power sector, according to the Commissioner, plays a significance role in any growing economy, that is why the present administration is leaving no stone unturned at ensuring that all the rural areas become beneficiaries of its Electrification projects.
To this end no fewer than 23 projects have been awarded which include; rehabilitation, reticulation of networks and extension of electricity across several communities in the state, adding that, ten communities in Sagbama Local Government Area are beneficiaries of the rural electricity scheme.
He added that government is making efforts at refurbishing the 20 Megawatt capacity power plant at Imiringi in Ogbia LGA which is currently generating five megawatts to generate up to 15mgw.
Mr Ikio explained that the Ministry recently installed 80 units of 300 KVA electricity transformers in Yenogoa and its environs to end cases of low voltage supply being experienced in those areas.
According to him, the Energy Ministry is currently supervising the 23 ongoing electricity projects across the state to ensure that set standards and timelines were achieved by contractors.
Some of the projects include the rehabilitation and reticulation of the Obunagha-Sagbama 33 KVA Line as well as extension to Ofoni community through Ebederbiri, Bolou Orua, Angiama and Toru-Orua.
Others include the Sagbama 2×7.5 MVA injection sub-station; Agbere-Odoni 1000KVA Gas fired CAT generating station including cabling; upgrading and modification of Angiama sub-station to import and export electricity to communities in Southern-Ijaw local government area among others.
The Energy Commissioner added that the Ministry was working to ensure the availability of power to keep pace with the development of the State in other critical sectors.
