Family of six die in fire explosion in PH

Tragedy struck in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when a fire explosion claimed the lives of a couple and their four children while sleeping. Sunday Sun learnt the fire incident, which cause was yet to be ascertained at press time, occurred about 1.45am. Head of the family was said to be a commercial taxi driver while his wife was a petty trader. The victims, who were living at No. 17 New Estate Road, Railway Quarters, near the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), hailed from Anambra State. An eyewitness said the children were three boys and a girl. Sunday Sun gathered that survivors of the family were their two daughters cur4ently sitting for the West African Examination Council…

FUTO VC counts blessings, challenges – After two years in office

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka (KSM) was two years in office on June 19, 2013, having assumed office on June 19, 2011. To mark the second anniversary as the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Asiabaka addressed the press, June 17, during which he counted his blessings, prospects and challenges. Reflecting on the past two years, Asiabaka said: “We have indeed made remarkable and commendable progress towards re-positioning this university to world class standard”, adding that the laudable success which they have recoded so far would not have been possible without the support of the academic, administrative and other non-teaching staff of the university. He listed what he…

Senate rejects N4b First Ladies Mission House fund

The Senate Wednesday rejected the appropriation of N4bilion for the building of the First Ladies Mission House in Africa. This is contained in the summary report of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2013 budget, which was approved by the Upper Chamber. The controversial figure was part of the proposed budgetary estimates submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval. There were bitter criticisms of the money, which was seen as a waste of scarce resources. Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi noted in the report of his committee, that “ it is worthy of note that the proposed appropriation for the construction of the building for First Lady Mission in…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…