Ange Postecoglou searching for answers over Tottenham’s injury crisisPyrolysis Oil Market Analysis: Industry Growth at a CAGR of 4% from 2021 to 2031 - Transparency Market ResearchWorld number one Luke Humphries continued his bid for back-to-back World Championship titles after easing through to the last 16. While there was high drama in Alexandra Palace on the first day back after the Christmas break, where Damon Heta threw a nine-dart finish, Humphries enjoyed a serene evening. He beat Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with two-time champion Peter Wright. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE KICKS ON! Luke Humphries comfortably books his spot in the Last 16 with a 4-0 whitewash victory over Nick Kenny, averaging 98.59! 📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/XAADalXD4Q — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 Kenny was unable to produce the form that saw him beat Raymond van Barneveld in the previous round and Humphries did not need to be anywhere near his best. “It was one of those games I didn’t want to take for granted,” he said. “I expected a tough game and I wasn’t firing, I felt there is so much more to give, I felt there was more to come out of me. “I didn’t want to give anyone an inch because they can take a mile. “I’m not going to give up this world title without a fight, I wasn’t at my best but when someone pushes me I know I can come up with the goods.” Earlier in the day Heta set the tournament alight on its resumption with a stunning nine-dart finish before bowing out. The Australian, seeded ninth, achieved darting perfection in the second set of his match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000 payday. However, his joy was short-lived as Woodhouse won a thrilling battle 4-3, having trailed 3-1. HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! 🔥 UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 🤯 Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 Heta was millimetres away from throwing a nine-darter in the previous round when he missed the double 12, but he made no mistake this time in the first match after the Christmas break. Heta’s feat was the second time a nine-darter has been thrown in the 2025 tournament and the 16th of all time at the World Championship, following Christian Kist’s effort before Christmas. As well as landing the Australian a hefty payday, it also saw a lucky fan in Ally Pally win a £60,000, with £60,000 also being donated to Prostate Cancer UK. There were several other titanic battles, none better than Gerwyn Price’s sudden-death leg victory over Joe Cullen. Price looked like he was going to have an easy night when he coasted into a 3-0 lead, but Cullen hit back to send it to a decider, which went all the way. Cullen landed a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to send the tie to a sudden-death leg on his throw but Price hit some big numbers to steal victory. “That was tough, I just wanted to get over the winning line,” he said during his on-stage interview. PRICE WINS A THRILLER! That might just be the game of the tournament so far! 💥 Gerwyn Price manages to break the Rockstars throw in the final leg of the game, and beats Joe Cullen 4-3 and books his place in the Last 16! 📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/VnjnJxP0T0 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 “He kept coming back, the crowd were way behind him. “I thought I was going to lose, but I kept in there right to the end and got the win. “He played some good darts at the right times. I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it and I’m still in.” Seventh seed Jonny Clayton also battled to victory after squandering a 3-0 lead against Daryl Gurney. Gurney then had six darts to send the decider to a tiebreaker but lost his nerve and Clayton stole a 4-3 win. Stephen Bunting and Peter Wright, who was suffering from a chest infection, enjoyed much more safe passages with routine wins over Madars Razma and Jermaine Wattimena respectively.Arsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling Ipswich
Agency The Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children in Nigeria Report has identified some of the reasons why 53.9 per cent of children in the country are multi-dimensionally poor. The report, launched during the 2024 World Children’s Day celebration on Nov. 20, is a policy document prepared by the Federal Government with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund to identify and understand specific child issues. According to the report, corruption, unemployment, lack of political will, violence and insurgency and inadequate investment in social sectors play significant roles in making Nigerian children poor. It added that displacement and resettlement place additional pressure on existing resources, further exacerbating child poverty in Nigeria. The report defined child poverty as “a situation where children experience deprivation of the material, spiritual and emotional resources needed to stay alive, develop and thrive, thus leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, achieve their full potential and participate as full and equal members of society.” It stated that the seven poverty indicators for children are: health, water, sanitation, nutrition, shelter, education and information. Explaining the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analysis, the report noted that across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disparities exist in the multi-dimensional poverty of children. It added that “in Osun State, the incidence of poverty was lowest at 17.5 per cent, incidence of deprivation was 35.5 per cent and the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking was 14th in Nigeria. “In Sokoto State, the incidence of poverty was very high at 89.9 per cent, incidenyce of deprivation was 50.4 per cent and the HDI ranking was 37 per cent. “In Lagos State, poverty incidence was 27.8 per cent, the incidence of deprivation was 36.8 per cent, while the HDI ranking was one per cent.” The report indicated that when disaggregated by rural and urban, 29.7 per cent of urban children were multi-dimensionally poor against 65.7 per cent of rural children. It added that children living in Sokoto State 80.4 per cent, Kebbi 74.9 per cent and Zamfara 74 per cent were worse off, experiencing the highest multidimensional deprivation. “On the other hand, less than 20 per cent of children living in Edo (19 per cent) and Lagos State (17.3 per cent) were multi-dimensionally poor. “Multi-dimensionally poor children living in Sokoto State deprived in 74.1 per cent of the total number of deprivations compared to 57.7 per cent of children living in Lagos.” It said that households with higher number of members and/or children show higher multidimensional deprivation rates than smaller households. It also implied that children in homes with uneducated household heads and/or mothers are more likely to be multi-dimensionally poor compared with children whose household heads attained secondary or higher education levels. It stated that a larger proportion of children with illiterate mothers are multi-dimensionally poor than children with literate mothers. “A striking case of multiple deprivations among children can be observed in the case of Almajiri children. “These children are always on the move and are deprived of decent living conditions, good food and nutrition, water and basic sanitation, access to healthcare facilities, access to education and parental care. “They are also deprived of protection from violence and abuse, participation in decisions affecting their lives, and are often subjected to child labour and abuse. “They are also taken advantage of during times of conflict and often obliged to carry arms.” To ameliorate the situation, the report recommended that stakeholders should play certain roles. It said that family and close caregivers should play crucial roles in alleviating child poverty and securing protection for children. The report notes that children in poverty depend greatly on the existence of public healthcare, education and social services to develop capabilities and learn to function. It added that these institutions and their programmes therefore must be inclusive and structured in an affordable and accessible way and be used by children who need them. “Effective governance at all levels will ensure sound policy, equitable spread and judicious use of resources for investments that enhance household livelihoods, reduce poverty, and foster the rights of children. “Government needs to support families and households by providing minimum income that is sustainable to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent children from reaching their potential.” The News Agency of Nigeria reports that SitAn was first published in 2022 primarily based on household survey data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2016-2017) and the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS 2018). An updated version was published and launched in 2024 to support the government’s efforts to shape policies and shift investment patterns to benefit Nigerian children. NAN Tags children Nigerian children suffer multidimensional poverty poverty ReportFriends, colleagues remember former state Rep. Mary MurphyGlobal Checkweigher Machine Market to Reach $813.3 Million by 2034: Fact.MR Report
At the Port of Vancouver’s operations centre, Sean Baxter likes what he sees on a large screen that displays digital mapping of ships along Burrard Inlet. The waters in the inner harbour near downtown Vancouver are calm on this overcast autumn day, with vessels entering and exiting smoothly. “The waterways in the port are becoming busier,” said Mr. Baxter, acting director of marine operations and harbour master at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, which oversees Canada’s largest port. “Co-ordination is really required to make sure that we can proactively set a schedule.” Scheduling transpacific commerce is becoming increasingly important, especially during a period of trade uncertainty when Over the past year, the Port of Vancouver has been stepping up efforts to shed its laggard image and become a world-class operation. The goal is to help fulfill the Canadian government’s Indo-Pacific economic dreams and position Canada as the gateway to greater transpacific trade over the long term, even as political tensions with China and India escalate in the short term. While Canada’s largest trade relationship overall is with the U.S. by far, China is the number one trading partner for goods handled at the Port of Vancouver. From the port’s operations centre, which is open 24/7, an active traffic management project that includes digital monitoring of marine activity is gearing up for what the port forecasts will be record-high shipments across the Pacific Ocean in the years ahead. Along Burrard Inlet, the port has 23 major terminals. Cargo imports and exports also move from areas nearby, including terminals in Delta, B.C., located about 30 kilometres south of Vancouver. The port recently expanded its scheduling system for keeping tabs on marine traffic, part of efforts to prevent the sprawling operations from being mired in inefficiency. The stakes are high, with trade at West Coast ports being a crucial part of the economic health of British Columbia and with the ripple effects felt across Canada. Various types of international trade, including at Canadian ports and along the Windsor-Detroit trucking corridor, represent two-thirds of Canada’s gross domestic product. Exports alone support about one in six Canadian jobs, according to Mary Ng, the federal Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development. Mr. Trump said he would slap U.S. tariffs on soon after he takes office in January, warning that the levies would stay in place until the two countries crack down on drugs and illegal immigrants. He telegraphed his intentions during the U.S. election campaign, but trade experts originally thought the tariffs would be closer to 10 per cent instead of his announcement that proposes 25 per cent. “The recent election of Donald Trump, the prospect of substantial new tariffs and an ‘America First’ attitude will bring added risk and headwinds to our economy,” Greater Vancouver Board of Trade president Bridgitte Anderson cautioned in a letter, dated Nov. 7, to federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon. The board of trade’s “port shutdown calculator” displays an electronic tally of the value of trade disrupted on the West Coast, rising each second whenever there is a strike or lockout. The calculator showed that $8-billion of cargo had been affected at B.C. ports during a 10-day lockout in November of about 730 unionized dock supervisors, based on an estimated impact of $800-million a day. During last year’s two-week strike at B.C. ports by 7,400 rank-and-file longshore workers, the calculator showed that $10.7-billion of cargo had been disrupted. “Unfortunately, in recent years, we have been challenged in various ways to live up to that beacon of stability,” Ms. Anderson said. Mr. MacKinnon issued a directive to impose binding arbitration to end the lockout at B.C. ports and at the Port of Montreal. He used the same method to end work stoppages that lasted several days at Canada’s two largest railways in August. The BC Maritime Employers Association represents DP World Canada and 48 other private-sector companies such as ship owners and terminal operators. Union leaders say they are concerned about the lack of consultation over the implementation of semi-automation at DP World Canada’s Centerm container terminal along Burrard Inlet. Earlier this year, the federal government appointed veteran mediator Vince Ready to head an industrial inquiry commission into conflicts at B.C. ports. Mr. Ready is chairing the two-person commission, with the other member being Vancouver lawyer Amanda Rogers. They will be making recommendations in the spring of 2025 for achieving stability at B.C. ports. The Port of Vancouver’s diversification softened the blow of the economic impact of the November lockout, which shut down sites such as container terminals and potash docks. Exports of coal, heavy oil and bulk grain continued. Bulk grain was still exported overseas, in accordance with the Canada Labour Code. Under the code, grain is deemed essential and must be loaded on ships through stevedoring companies at the docks, although the rule doesn’t apply to workers at grain terminals. About 650 unionized employees at Vancouver grain terminals went on strike for four days in September. A coal export facility, operated by Westshore Terminals Investment Corp. in Delta, kept running during the lockout in November because Westshore has its own collective agreement. Other sites that continued operating included the Westridge Marine Terminal, where tankers depart with heavy oil from the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX). The first shipment of diluted bitumen from the TMX pipeline left Westridge on May 22 for its journey to China. In six months since that first shipment, an average of 22 tankers per month departed Westridge with heavy oil from TMX, compared with an average of two per month in recent years, before the completion of the expanded pipeline. Last year, more than 150 million tonnes of exported and imported cargo went through the Port of Vancouver, equivalent to the next five largest ports in Canada. China, South Korea, the U.S., Japan and Taiwan were the top five countries sending products imported by Canada into the Vancouver region, based on tonnage. On the export side, the top five countries receiving Canadian goods originating from the Vancouver region were China, Japan, South Korea, India and the U.S. “Despite ongoing economic and diplomatic challenges, it is worth noting that bilateral trade flows remain near record levels” between Canada and China, according to the University of Alberta’s China Institute think tank. The Port of Vancouver handles nearly 80 per cent of Canada-China trade value. The value of merchandise from China imported into Canada surged to $89.2-billion last year, or nearly eight times higher than in 2000, according to Statistics Canada. On the export side, the value of exports from Canada to China soared to $29.8-billion last year, or nine times higher than in 2000. “The Asia-Pacific market is potentially the biggest growth market for Canada and its world trade,” said Leo Ryan, editor of trade publication Maritime Magazine. Commodities such as potash, coal and grain fill ships destined for export to Asia, while imports such as consumer electronics and household goods arrive at container terminals. “How we prioritize and protect our critical trade infrastructure – that has an impact on the health of our economy, opportunities for our businesses and ultimately Canadians’ quality of life,” said Pascal Chan, senior director of transportation at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The federal government established the National Supply Chain Office in late 2023, with a mandate that involves co-ordinating responses to mitigate the impact of disruptions to the transportation system, whether they be work stoppages or natural disasters. Nationally, over the past two years alone, a series of work stoppages have hit Canada’s supply chain, including last year at the St. Lawrence Seaway and this year at the Port of Montreal and four B.C. ports: Vancouver region, Prince Rupert, Nanaimo and Port Alberni. Last year, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre claimed that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has fumbled the port file. “We’ve got to speed up our ports as well, unleash our exports by making our ports easier to deal with – more friendly to the truckers who pick up and drop off our goods, remove the gatekeepers and let’s make Vancouver one of the best ports on planet Earth,” Mr. Poilievre said. With larger vessels calling at terminals, it takes longer to unload imported products and load commodities for export, adding to turnaround times that already have given the Port of Vancouver the dubious distinction of being one of the world’s most inefficient for container shipments. The , compiled by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, served as a wake-up call. The administrative index placed Vancouver in 368th spot, or third-last in the rankings, which factor in operating efficiency and turnaround times. Long Beach, Calif., placed second-last and Los Angeles was at the bottom. Vancouver improved in the rankings for 2023, placing 356th out of the expanded list of 405 ports reviewed. In those rankings, Vancouver finished behind Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo’s 331st spot, but ahead of other North American West Coast ports: Seattle, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif., Prince Rupert, B.C., and Tacoma, Wash. China’s Port of Yangshan, near Shanghai, topped the container index rankings of the most efficient ports last year, followed by Salalah in Oman and Cartagena in Colombia. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority officials say the index is a narrow measure that is flawed because it fixates on container shipments. They emphasize that the Port of Vancouver is a diversified operation that handles cargo such as auto imports and bulk grain exports, while also serving as a popular destination for cruise ships. The port authority is a federal agency that reports to Transport Minister Anita Anand. Daniel-Robert Gooch, president of the 17-member Association of Canadian Port Authorities, said one area that Ottawa needs to revisit is financing. Port authorities across the country want greater financial flexibility so they can make much-needed investments themselves, as well as count on Ottawa to pitch in. “We do think there is still a federal role for infrastructure funding,” Mr. Gooch said. “You need to give the port authorities the tools to be nimbler.” Union leaders have seen how lucrative that the global shipping industry can be, especially for transporting containers. Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd.’s World Container Index – the freight rate of a 40-foot container – peaked at US$10,377 in September, 2021, during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Freight rates have been volatile since then. With global demand faltering, Drewry’s index fell to less than US$1,500 in December, 2023, but recovered this year to hover around US$3,400 recently. Prices typically floated between US$1,200 and US$2,000 for several years prior to the pandemic. The shipping industry deploys large vessels to carry containers, which are reusable steel boxes measured as 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs. Nearly 1.8 million TEUs of exports and imports went through the Port of Vancouver in the first half of this year, up 14 per cent from the same period in 2023. Leaders at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority acknowledge the obstacles, including labour strife, but they see opportunities through changes big and small. Peter Xotta, who became the port authority’s president in December, 2023, said incremental improvements will help speed up operations. For example, expanding existing rail yards at the Annacis Auto Terminal will boost the capacity for importing Asian-manufactured vehicles. Road and rail infrastructure changes in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby are expected to improve trade flows near Burrard Inlet. Mr. Xotta replaced Robin Silvester, who stepped down from the port’s top job in June, 2023, after more than 14 years at the helm. Victor Pang, who is the port authority’s chief financial officer, filled in on an interim basis for five months as president. For imports at the Port of Vancouver, the overwhelming majority of goods in containers from Asia are transported by truck and train eastward and stay in Canada, including shipments to Toronto and Montreal. “Our role is unique in a Canadian context,” Mr. Xotta said. “Vancouver plays a prominent role for containers coming inbound. They’re going to where the major population centres are in Canada.” One of the tenants in Delta is coal exporter Westshore, whose largest shareholder is B.C. billionaire Jim Pattison, with a 47-per-cent stake. Westshore is constructing new facilities to allow the company to start handling potash exports in 2026 from BHP Group Ltd.’s Jansen mine in Saskatchewan. The big bet being placed by Mr. Xotta is the port’s container expansion strategy, which focuses on the $3.5-billion Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project near Delta. The project, which is subject to 370 legally binding conditions to comply with environmental rules, received approval last year from the federal and B.C. governments. Environmentalists warn that the new container terminal would threaten intertidal biofilm, affecting shorebirds such as western sandpipers, and harming feeding conditions for endangered southern resident killer whales. Ecojustice Canada, the country’s largest environmental law charity, is opposing Terminal 2 in Federal Court. Construction of an artificial island near Delta will be required for Terminal 2. The initial phase is slated for completion by the mid-2030s, followed by incremental expansion as required to take advantage of what the port envisages will be robust trade between Canada and Asia. The port authority has reached mutual benefit agreements with 27 Indigenous groups consenting to the new site. Upon completion, the additional container capacity could mean a jump of more than 30 per cent compared with the current combined capacity in B.C. Under Mr. Xotta’s new leadership, the port authority has taken a conciliatory approach as the landlord to tenants such as Global Container Terminals Inc. GCT already operates two container terminals in the Vancouver region, namely the Vanterm site along Burrard Inlet and the Deltaport facility in Delta. Mr. Xotta has opened up the competition for the right to run the new container terminal so that Vancouver-based GCT and DP World Canada, whose parent is based in Dubai, are welcome to bid. The Port of Vancouver, which handles one-third of Canada’s trade value with countries outside of North America, expects to weather the looming storm of U.S. tariffs and position itself to thrive in the long term. “It’s absolutely an aspiration for us to be a world-class port,” Mr. Xotta said. “We have to get away from disruption, back to stability, because that’s what will help us restore our reputation and continue to grow.”Judge signals that contempt hearing for Rudy Giuliani over his assets might not go well for him
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CES is the nation's flagship tech extravaganza and while it's still a gadget geek's paradise, it's also become a sprawling automotive playground. The future is now, old man, and it's sleek, electric, and oozing with tech. CES's knack for blending cutting-edge tech with high-octane theatrics has always made it compelling. Over the past few years, that magic has increasingly centered around the auto industry. At last year's event, we got a peek at the Sony-Honda AFEELA car, interesting developments in autonomous driving, and even the promise of airborne cars straight out of sci-fi. The 2025 edition is set to keep that momentum revving. From January 7 to 10, CES will take over Las Vegas. Here's what to watch for if you're an EV enthusiast, a self-driving hopeful, or just someone who dreams of a flying commute. 1. New EVs from the major players As noted, the Sony-Honda collaboration EV, AFEELA, made its debut at CES 2024. This year, the tech titans are stepping it up, allowing attendees to demo the car's cutting-edge features and onboard tech. The project is now under the purview of the Sony Honda Mobility Group, which plans to unveil pre-order details and other updates during a keynote on January 7. Meanwhile, Honda will be showcasing two prototypes from its upcoming 0 Series EV lineup. These vehicles are slated to feature Honda's proprietary operating system paired with "autonomous driving technology." 2. More autonomous driving and SDVs When it comes to autonomous driving, the CES hype machine is in full gear, with startups flooding inboxes to tout their latest innovations. While companies like Ambarella showcase some impressive tech, it's clear that for many, the dream of street-ready autonomy remains just that — a dream. Still, that hasn't stopped a wave of companies from leveraging CES to highlight the industrial potential of... Chance TownsendGovernor Eno has displayed a high level of prudence, and selflessness in the pursuit of public good, writes ANIETIE USEN For three days, from December 16 to December 18, 2024, 18 months into his administration, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State broke new grounds in openness, accountability and transparency in public office. This time, the Governor, in a very transparent and pragmatic approach, hosted what he called the Ministerial Briefing/End of Year Review of his Administration. In a first-of-its-kind town hall-style summit, the Governor, his entire cabinet and critical agencies, brought their annual performance report openly before a cross-section of political and business leaders in the State, along with the leadership of the media, labour and civil liberty organisations. The idea was not only to subject his annual performance to public scrutiny and evaluation, or carry along these critical stakeholders in the next steps of the government, but more importantly to seek their inputs and buy-in into the plans and goals of the government from Day One of 2025. Prince Enobong Uwa, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), in his opening remark at the occasion called it “bottom-up” approach. In a well-tailored approach designed to accomplish specific deliverables, every head of MDA did not only present their report cards for the outgoing 2024 but their programmes and goals for 2025 and beyond. In the process, all leaders of MDAs also laid bare before stakeholders their leadership skills and grasp of issues under their watches. There was no doubt whatsoever in the minds of stakeholders that the Governor himself was on top of his game, as his depth and insight into every aspect of his government were profound and second-to-none. From the land, air, and sea gateways of the State economy, Governor Eno demonstrated uncommon managerial acumen that compelled and assured stakeholders that the ship of State in Akwa Ibom is in good hands. As the world grapples with the challenges of corruption, malfeasance, and pervassive wrongdoings in the public sector, the importance of transparency and accountability in governance has never been more pressing. From the Nordic countries’ exemplary open-government initiatives to Brazil’s innovative use of e-governance to track public spending, nations around the world are demonstrating that transparency and accountability are essential ingredients for good governance, economic prosperity, and social justice. This is what delighted Akwa Ibom stakeholders most about Governor Eno’s government and leadership style, which is simultaneously attracting national attention. Just as the three-day ministerial briefing/ review was in session, the respected Leadership Newspaper, announced the Pastor turned politician, as the Nigerian Governor of the Year 2024, for bringing “pragmatic and imaginative leadership that reverberates with success within a very short time....” Close watchers of his administration and style of leadership are not surprised. His style combines a large dose of participative leadership which has involved team members in the decision-making process, with the servant leadership style which prioritises the needs of populace and entity over and above the interest of the leadership. Governor Eno has displayed a high level of prudence, transparency, and selflessness in the pursuit of public good that has captured the imagination of many, including his political opponents. One of the governor’s opponents in the last governorship primaries who is now actively supporting the governor confided in this writer his amazement with Governor Eno’s sterling performance, transparency and openness to public scrutiny. “I hope you will not quote me, but honestly, whenever I look at the performance of this governor, I ask myself, would I have measured up to this very high level and standards of performance?” Said Governor Eno at the opening of the three-day ministerial briefing/review: “We came into office with an overwhelming electoral victory. Eighteen months later, I believe it is time we should sit together and look critically on what we have been able to achieve together as a government. We will be here together for three days to take stock, to see the things we have done right and to consolidate on them, and to see the things we should do right and to learn to do them right...It is simply an opportunity for us as a government to have feedback and learn”. It turned out that the learning was a two-way exchange. A cross section of stakeholders who jam-packed the sprawling Banquet Hall of the Government House learned with great delight, not just about the bold and daring economic and infrastructural steps Governor Eno has taken to make Akwa Ibom a proud sub-national in Nigeria, but they also were proud to know first hand that the State is lucky one more time to be steered by a competent transformational leader. Stakeholders said his job approval rating in 18 months is probably unrivalled in the history of the 37-year- old State. Those who spoke inside and outside the briefing venue were united in their perception and opinion on the calibre and capacity of the businessman turned Governor. Senator Effiong Bob, the political leader of Uyo Senatorial District, was effusive with his rating of the Governor: “When you have a good product, it is easy to sell. This ministerial briefing is a novel idea, because we have never had it so good and open in Akwa Ibom State”. Otuekong T. O Akpan, an elder statesman and former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, spoke along the same lines: “I am very excited to be a part of this event. Coming from the private sector, the Governor has brought innovation into governance, leading to an unprecedented development in all components of the ARISE Agenda for the good of Akwa Ibom people.” Goddy Umoh, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Assembly Service Commission, said the ministerial briefing was very illuminating. “Through the ministerial briefing, we are able to know clearly what the Governor has been doing in the last 18 months and what the Governor intends to do in 2025. It is very rare to see a state governor in Nigeria put all his cards on the table for all to see...” For the Oku Ibom Ibibio, the patriarch of Ibobio people, Dr. Solomon Etuk, his joy as the traditional father of the Governor was obvious. “I am proud of the Governor, not because he is my own son, but because he has excelled in everything he has initiated and beyond. I am so delighted to be an eye-witness of this unprecedented initiative of openly rendering the account of his stewardship... While Chief Nduese Essien, former minister of Housing and Environment said the ministerial briefing is a unique idea that “has never been done in any state of the federation...”, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien said that “after eight years, many states will not be able to compete with Akwa Ibom State, at the rate Governor Eno is performing”. In his opinion, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Amos Etuk said the ministerial briefing should remain “a legacy” of the Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda in order to foster steady accountability, deepen transparency and agenda setting in years to come. Said the Chairman of Trade Union Congress, Akwa Ibom State, Comrade Dominic Abah: It was really revealing to see the Governor sit down throughout the scrutiny of his administration to hear from the people and take down notes. This is the difference between a transformational and transactional leadership”. Usen is an author and multiple award-winning Journalist
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