The Ecowatch

14/01/2023

ETTEH VOWS TO RAISE STANDARD IN ALMA MATER: DONATES FACILITIES

By. Idara Enobong
14/01/2023.

OFFICIAL HANDING OVER OF THE NEWLY RENOVATED 4-CLASSROOMS BLOCK BY RT. HON. OKPOLUPM ETTEH.

The 2023 PDP House of Representatives Flag-bearer for the Eket/Esit Eket/Onna/Ibeno Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Okpolupm Etteh says he is committed to raising standard of learning at his alma mater, secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno, through the provision of state of the arts educational facilities to the school.

The former Commissioner for Special Duties gave the pledge while inaugurating and handing over the newly renovated 4-classroom blocks to management of the school.

The Rt Hon Etteh promise not to allow his alma mata remain in Dim light, promising that "as long as I shine out from secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno, my legacy towards the school remains," noting that, where his strength falls his children will continue his good works, just as he has kept the good works of his father.

He acknowledged that through the school his dreams and aspirations in life are being accomplished and expressed readiness towards ensuring that the remaining depilated old school structures in the school compound are also renovated.

He encourage students of secondary grammar school to be focused on their education as education is the bed rock of the society while calling on other old boys and girls of the school to keep the fire burning and never let it go Dim.

The principal, secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno, DR. Emmanuel Douglas applauded Rt Hon. Etteh for his tireless and selfless services toward his alma mata by ensuring that, secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno maintain its standard and competitiveness in the society through equipping the school with modern facilities.

"From perimeter facing, to renovating of class room blocks, remodeling of physics lab, to alleviating the suffering of the students who seat on the floor to learn, through donation of one thousand five hundred(1,500) dual desks, you have done us well" the principal said.

Dr. Douglas admitted that Through the tremendous support of the House of Representatives hopeful, Secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno has been awarded one of the approved CBT Jamb accredited center in Akwa Ibom State, adding that, this will bring more focus to the school and it's environs.

The chairman Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, Pastor Utip Ekong also poured his encomium on Hon. Etteh. Noting that the renovation of the SS2 block is timely which will provide adequate learning grounds for the students.

Teachers and students of secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno were full of appreciation and expressed satisfaction over the development in the school, believing that Etteh's classroom renovation will further boost the teaching and learning in the school.

High point of the event was the unfailing of the renovated 4 classroom blocks , presentation by corp members and cultural display by secondary grammar school students.

Some dignitaries that where present at the event were grateful for the new look of secondary grammar school Upenekang Ibeno.

07/11/2022

ENGLISH TEACHER IN SECONDARY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, UKPENKANG IBENO EMERGES GRAND MENTOR IN AKWA IBOM

By Idara Enobong.
07/11/22

An English teacher at the secondary grammar school ukpenekang Ibeno bay, Mr. John Udoh, has won the 2022 Grand Mentor Award for Teachers by the Inoyo Toro foundation.

The colourful Award of Excellence for teachers held on Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Ibom e-Library Complex, IBB Way, Uyo, had a total number of 23 teachers, and a principal selected across Akwa Ibom State being celebrated and rewarded with cash prizes and trophies in various categories.

The 15th edition of the teachers' awards ceremony is to promote quality education, through recognition and rewards for secondary school teachers, who are doing exceptionally well in their teaching career.

Those mentoring students to achieve their goals in public secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State were also honoured, and this is were Mr. John Udoh was singled out from the crowd.

The awardee Mr John Udoh, expressed Joy over the award, stressing that the Inoyo Toro foundation has changed his life positively.

"It is a huge honor for me to receive a grand mentorship award this year after receiving the Best English teacher award for the year 2021. I am deeply honored by my superiors for this recognition of my work and pray for continuous shine in the nearest future." Mr. Udoh explained.

He promised to continue to make positive contributions to educational advancement in the state through setting the pace in mentoring students thereby eradicating all forms of negativity in the educational systems.

Mr Udoh pledged to celebrate students with high level of enthusiasm, and commitment to reshape their future and making the world a better place.

The awardee thank the non-profit organisation, Inoyo Toro Foundation, for the annual event and for making teachers to be proud of the Job.

The foundation also awarded one principal and six best teachers in the following subjects Mathematics, English, Biology, physics, Economic, and chemistry across public secondary schools in the state.

The best teacher in each of the six subjects received a cash prize of N250,000, while the first runner-up and the second runner-up in each of the subjects went home with the sum of N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.

In the mentorship award categories, five teachers receive cash gift of N500,000 each as Grand Mentor Teachers of the year.

Speaking, Mr Enobong Joshua, Chairman of the Screening and Award Committee of the Inoyo Toro Foundation, , expressed satisfaction in the award selection processes.

11/08/2022

QUALITATIVE EDUCATION: AKSG EMPOWERS TEACHERS' FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY

By Idara Enobong
1082022.

In a bid to improve the standard of education in the state, the Akwa Ibom State Government is organising a two day Capacity building workshop for Secondary school teachers.

The workshop which is for teachers in all the 31 local government areas in the State is in partnership with Filling the Gaps Educational Services (FIGES), Ancopss, BPDI, and many others.

The capacity building workshop was declared opened by, The Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Education represented by her Permanent Secretary Lady Rose Nsa Bassey, Special Assistant (SA) to the governor on education monitoring, Mr Ndian-Abasi Udom) at the Community Secondary School Aka Offot Uyo.

With the theme: Enhancing Capacity For Quality Education And Intervention In Nigeria, the training featured different paper presentations by resource persons during which participants were drilled on the Impacts of Education, Principles and guidelines in Education as well as The Influence of Students Teacher Relationship on Education.

Other areas of focus include Teaching Methods/ Developing Lesson Notes and School Records,
An Ideal Teacher as a Catalyst for Effective Service Delivery, Managing Schools and School Problems in Nigeria, School Health, Safety and Security. Among others.

During the training, teachers were charged to update themselves with modern technologies and read books while also doing frequent research Online to enable them rebrand their teaching skills.

Participants thank the organizers Filling the Gaps Educational Services (FIGES) for promoting professionalism and technology skills within the educational sector, noting that, the training will remain ever green in their professions.

According to the organizers, this year's capacity building workshop for secondary schools teachers across the 31 local government Areas in the State is in furtherance of the goals and objectives of His Excellency Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel in radically overhauling and revolutionizing the educational sector in Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Mr. Daniel Tim eulogized the governor's commitment in the educational sector and stated that "with the huge investment in this all-important sector, through free and compulsory education, renovation and remodeling of school blocks and of course the Empowerment and reorientation of the youths through Her Excellency's FEYReP programme. it is pertinent to mobilize, train and retrain secondary school teachers in the state for quality and effective educational service delivery.

Filling the Gaps Educational Services (FIGES) is living up its name with a track record of training over one thousand, three hundred (1300) teachers in the areas of Work Performance, School Health, Safety and Security, Principles and Guidelines in Education and Effective School Management and school problems in Nigeria within the past five years of its existence and is committed to do more. FIGES is an educational consultant to the National Youth Service Corp(NYSC) SAED programme in Akwa Ibom State.

At the end of the program teachers were equipped with additional professional skills in education with 21st Century tools towards enhancing competence, value and productivity.

Certificates were also given to them at the end of the training.

I will leave you with this!!!
"While Education Unlocks the door of Human, social and Technological Development, the teacher holds the key".

Teachers are part of the Solution!!!

29/06/2022

Secondary Grammar School Upenekang Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State de-worm Five Thousand Students (5,000) with Mebendazole=MEB.

The exercise ended today with a total number of Twenty (20) Bottles of Mebendazole=MEB given to five thousand students.

27/06/2022

TOPIC: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF EROSION AND FLOOD IN OUR SOCIETY. MEASURES TO PREVENT IT.

Students of Secondary Grammar School, Upenekang, Ibeno Local Government Area visit flood intervention areas in Uyo,the Akwa Ibom State Capital.

BY: IDARA ENOBONG.
27/06/2022.

On arrival at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, the SS2 students of Secondary Grammar School, Upenekang, Ibeno Local Government Area, who are basically members of Geography and Ecowatch environmental club were ushered into the conference hall of the state ministry of environment and solid minerals for a brief introduction where they also received fatherly advice from the commissioner,Sir Charles Udoh.

The students were thereafter taken to the IBB World Bank Erosion Flood Control Site which is describe as the largest flood control project in Nigeria.

The commissioner further listed other measures taken by the state government to prevent overflowing water and criminal activities within the drains area.

The students used the occasion to ask questions, comments and also make suggestions.

A Visit to some of the roads and communities that were abandoned for years indicates that there will be sunshine after the rains, the commissioner said.

The excursion was borne out of passion for the environment and the need to Educates the students outside the forewalls of classroom as most of them were unable to explain what EROSION INTERVENTION is all about.

This was also the time to show them how human activities can destroy the environment, thereby increasing unnecessary spending by government in flood control and the need to
stop the nonchalant attitude towards the environment was emphasized.
The excursion created a life time exposure for the students of Geography and Ecowatch environmental Club in Secondary Grammar School this sensitization and the tour is their first.

All thanks to the Principal of the school Dr Emmanuel Douglas who never allow the initiatives from the teachers to die off. Many thanks also to the Hon. Commissioner, Sir Charles Udoh for being the first Commissioner in the Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals to host such a remarkable excursion tour undertaken by the students.

Highpoint of the excursion was a one on one discussion with the students and the commissioner, during which the commissioner accepted to mentor the Ecowatch environmental Club Students to become the best club in Akwa Ibom State.

The excursion ends in a grand style.

21/06/2022

15/06/2022

TEACHERS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN AKS RECEIVE TRAINING ON TROPICAL DISEASE CONTROL.

By IDARA ENOBONG.
15062022.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Control and Elimination Programme of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Helen Keller Intl, and others training and re-training teachers at a one day programme. The exercise is to deworm and improve the health of Public and Private Secondary Schools students/pupils who are between the ages of 5-14 years in Akwa Ibom State.

With the Theme: Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis. The distribution of MEB = Mebendazole is scheduled to commence on Monday the 20th day of June to Wednesday 24th, 2022 in all Secondary and Primary Schools in the State.

Teachers where also trained on how to administer accurate dose of MEB = Mebendazole to students, School based treatment register, School summary form, chatting of personal data's after Medicine Administration and to Identify Signs and symptoms(MAM) of (NTD)s

In order to ensure that the large number of students participate from the exercise, NTDs vocal person said teachers are the best candidate for the Community Drug Distributor(s) in Schools.

The training was also to enlighten teachers on some of the commonest disease associated from Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs). This includes Elephantiasis, Hydrocoeles, Filariasis and Lymphatic among others.

Attending the event were stake-holders from different outfits including representatives of various Ministries. Members of the Local team were also present.

High point of the training was the distribution of materials to teachers and MEB= Mebendazole to School representatives.

The event is to further intensify effort towards the control and elimination of worms among the public and private Secondary Schools Students, and Primary Schools Students in the State.

Secondary Grammar School Upenkang Ibeno which is the most populated school in the local Government received Fifteen (15) Bottles of Mebendazole=MEB for Three Thousand Students (3,000).

11/10/2021

GIRL CHILD PERSONAL HYGIENE: THE ROLE OF PARENTS AND GUIDANCE

By Idara Enobong
11.10.2021

International Day Of The Girl Child is celebrated on October 11 and is dedicated to the growth of girls around the world.

The theme for this years International day of girl child is "Digital generation. Our generation," focusing on the rights, safety and education of girls.

There is no gain saying that most girl child lacks basic personal hygiene management during menstruation, even when living with their parents or other caregivers.

Before adolescent, parents should be able to educate their girls on how to maintain good hygiene to eliminate offensive smell during and after menstruation.

The safety and confidence of every girl child depends on how you as a parents, prepare her towards accepting responsibility and living a clean and a healthy lifestyle.

Are parents still providing this basic knowledge for their girls today? I guess not all. Those on the streets are sure to lack this. There are countless of abandoned girls on the streets of Uyo and its environs who do not have an idea on how to maintain personal hygiene nor care for their monthly visitor and this makes them to go for anything they see to use, without knowing the health implications.

Some of them go as far as using radam rags, tissue papers, mattress stuffing, among others, which are harmful and can cause great discomfort and diseases. A Proper hygiene means bathing from time to time and changing menstrual pads on intervals during period which will help the body maintain freshness.

Managing of sanitary pads after used among the digital generation is also a major factor in most homes, schools and the Environment. The numbers of non- biodegradable sanitary pads thrown into the landfills, Oceans and drains takes millions of years to decompose which is also harmful to the ecosystem. Most people who go for the recyclable method with personal hygiene practices does not only save the environment but also make their pad remain private which is commendable.

Teaching your girl child best ways to dispose of her pad is very important even when we cannot really eliminate this kind of waste in our environment.

Boarding students are also facing the same challenge. Looking at most boarding public and private girls' hostels today, sanitary waste is becoming more alarming because of lack of awareness and proper ways of disposing them. This should also form an integral part of education curriculum.

Schools should set up a separate sanitary pads collection system for menstrual wastes without affecting the privacy and dignity of the girl child. This should be well covered receptacles to avoid flies, mosquitoes and bad odour.

As year's international day of the girl child is celebrated, everyone has a role to play in supporting and protecting the girl child. Guidance are adviced to step up their control and care for the girl child; manage this sanitary waste as well has personal hygiene during menstruation.

The Government and non-governmental organizations has cooperate responsibility too in educating the general public on menstrual wastes management which includes construction of a girl child friendly toilets and also to investigate health implications of menstrual wastes in secondary schools.

Companies dealing with manufacturing of sanitary pads should also get back to their drawing board to adopt eco-friendly pads that can fasten the decomposition process.

Remember that our Environment plays vital role in our society. So keep it clean and neat. Always fold used sanitary pads in cellophane paper and disposed them properly.

Happy International day of girl child to all the wonderful girls out there.

01/10/2021

MAINTAINING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT AT 61.

By Idara Enobong
1102021.

Nigeria has come a long way since independence, but how this freedom has translated into all round development remains debatable among the citizens.

The development or otherwise of the country is visible in all spheres of the nation's life. In the environment, it is there and how much we have cared for our environment is largely influenced by the level of development in the country.

Such care for the environment, however, does not come anyhow. It requires constant awareness and deliberate efforts. Regrettably, the advent of technology is not helping matters, despite the citizen's knowledge that the environment should be protected. Our traditional facilities that usually help protect the environment has been taken away.

In the early days, household utensils were all biodegradable.
For instance, local pots that constantly served as a refrigerators were commonly found in almost all Nigerians' homes. Calabash was also very common among the farmers and it helped them store water while going to the farm.

The stream is also where our fallen heroes drank from, even when they set aside areas for washing. Wildlife was their pet, they never stop planting, which was a common practice among them. You never entered a typical Nigerians' homes without finding varieties of economic trees, that never stop yielding fruits within and out of season.

Luckily, they were never sick nor visit the hospitals as it is today. That's because everything was natural and the environment, being a friend, was safe.

At 61, we cannot maintain a clean and a safer Environment for
future generation. The environment is no longer secured nor safe. An average Nigerian can't walk without looking back. Insecurity is now a normal norms. A friend betraying friends, brothers killing brothers, children no longer feel safe with their own parents. Everyone is on the lose. Natural disasters are everywhere - gully erosions, deaths, block drainages, floods, road crashes, wildlife extinction, bush burning and deforestations, among others.

The most precious thing in every human's life is doing everything to protect our society from cruelty and violence as we celebrate this years Independence Day.

The forebears honour us by fighting to get independence and a safer Environment for us. How come we are not doing same for the future generation? We now fight and kill ourselves, forgetting the importance of community support.

No one is ready to do it right anymore, even with the level of advocacy programs and capacity building in the country by NGOs. Everyone now filed to trending things and we no longer see the need to sustain our environment.

Which year are we going to say, no to bad attitude towards waste disposals. When are we going to see waste as wealth? This is our challenge at 61.

Our daily activities will continue to put us in constant flooding and pollution if we don't put a stop to it. It's horrifying that we have to remind our governments at all levels to save the environment. Let's try to leave the earth a better place than when we arrived. This is what our forefathers and the fallen heroes fought for.

Making the future either green or yellow is in your hands. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY NIGERIANS.

30/09/2021

AFAHA ETOK AND IT'S ENVIRONS IN FEARS OVER UNKEPT DRAINAGE.

1dara Enobong
30/sep/2021

Residents of Afaha Etok community in Ibesikpo Austan are appealing to the state government to distil the overflown drainages that empties water into their community and neighboring villages.

The drain which was meant to salvage the constant flooding at Edet Akpan Avenue(four lands), Nsikak Eduok Avenue (two lands), UdoUdoma and its environs, has been abandoned thereby bringing tears to the people leaving in Afaha Etok, a community located behind Tropicana as well as Nung Oku in Ibesikpo Austan.

Some of the youths who spoke on condition of anonymosity narrated how the drainage has brought them pains due to lack of maintenance. Already, the drainage has been overtaken by weeds and according to the people, everyday different households killed snakes and other riptals while mosquito bite is still a big challenge to them.

They also lament on how the last contractor who was send to maintain the drainage, distilled sand from inside the drain and dump it by the side of the drainage, which contributes to sand getting back into the drain, filled up waterways and empties flood waters into the communities.

"Afaha Etok in Ibesikpo Austan Which is said to be a center for economy hub, lacks basic amenities. Such as good road network and security".

The prayer of the people living in Afaha Etok Ibesikpo Austan local government area is that, the affected communities, should not be taken over by climate change and natural disaster before they come to their rescue.

26/06/2021

MAKOKO is a fishing settlement in Lagos State that has metamorphosed into a large community; a community where the only source of movement is canoe. Life here is beyond the ordinary and how the people can survive in such a horrible environment is what environmentalists are still pondering on.

22/06/2021

COLLAPS BRIDGE CLAIMS LIVES, PROPERTY IN MBIAKONG

By IDARA ENOBONG.
2062021.

Residents of Uruan Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State are crying out to relevant authorities over collapsed bridge in the area that have claimed many lives and property.

Located at Mbiakong Community, the bridge was built by the military during the civil war and up till date the 70's bridge has not taken a new shape.

Investigations show that already the bridge is loosening its knots and rails, making it a dangerous zone for many who ply through.

A lot of rural communities in the local government are also faced with same challenges, leaving the people in night mares, and this is a call to action for government to look into rural communities that has not witness any government present and infrastructures.

The story of Uruan community turned soar as the only road construction in Uruan Local governnment awarded by the NDDC some years ago was later abandoned halfway, leaving the people to their own fate.

Since then they
have suffered flood and other climate change related activities.

Several attempts to draw the commission's attention to its completion proves abortive.

On the spot interaction with some community youths reveals that, the dilapidated bridge has overtime recorded many havocks, including the recent one where a nursing mother lost her child who was on her back, but fell off into the ocean.

There is also that of a pregnant woman whose leg mistakenly slipped in through the bridge hole, leading to her death.

"School children and traders are not left out from this ugly situation" Mr prince Nyong lamented.

Enobet Environmental Watch Initiative also hosted the village head of Mbiakong Community in Uruan Local Government Area, Chief Hyacinth Nyong Okon on passion 94.5fm Uyo, on the program Environmental Spotlights to discuss in-depth environmental challenges faced in Uruan local Government. He listed some of the villges the collapsed bridge has cut off, to include; lkpa uruan, Ita uruan, Ebikpe uruan, Mbiaya uruan, Ikot Udo, Eman Uruan, utit uruan and its environs.

He however expressed sadness that community members are levied in order to fix the dilapidated bridge. According to him, they had to use local woods to construct the bridge just to make it passable, yet these efforts are not giving them any fruitful results. Rather, they keep recording looses everyday from the collapsed bridge.

Also speaking was Mr Lawrence Okon Who narrated that many parents no longer risk their children to schools and farmers no longer go to market to sell their wares as a result of the collapsed bridge.

Christian Asuquo resident of mbiakong joined his voice in appealing to the government to intervene as "they are tired of counting looses everyday and doing remedial work on the collapsed bridge which doesn't ease them of the stress passing through the big gap holes from the bridge."

The reconstruction of mbiakong bridge in Uruan local Government Area Akwa Ibom State will bring a glimmer of hope to the suburbs.

12/05/2021

GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS REMAIN DILAPIDATED DESPITE ALLOCATIONS TO COUNCILS.

By IDARA ENOBONG
1252021.

School children in government primary school, Ikot Ntuk in Oruk Anam Local
Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have continued to learn under terrible and harsh conditions despite monthly federal allocations to local Government Areas.

A visit to some primary schools in Oruk Anam indicates that schools within the local government have since collapsed due to lack of adequate attention, resulting in the pupils learning under terrible condition with no chairs, leaking roofs, and exposed environment. One would wonder how the children survive when there is a heavy downpour.

From the look of things, the primary school is not the only school without classrooms and teachers. There are other public schools across the state that have been neglected, leaving many parents with no choice than to pull their children out of the public schools to private schools, not minding the cost.

Although many parents interviewed said they do not have money to send their wards to private schools, they were not satisfied with the state of Ikot Ntuk Primary School either due to its deplorable state and poor learning environment for years now.

The question is, who will salvage the situation in schools like this in the rural communities? Who will rise to the cause of the common man? If parents decide to withdraw from such poor learning environment, what will become of public schools in the state?

Head Master of the school, Mr Monday Udoh highlighted some of the challenges faced in the school to include lack of teachers. He said they have four teachers with about 300 pupils; lack of desks, toilets, inadequate class room blocks, no water, electricity and perimeter fencing, among others.

One can boldly say that government primary school Ikot Ntuk is not the only school with such challenge. Government primary school, Ata Essien obio Akpa is also faced with such situation.

There are few public primary schools in
the state that are conducive, some are without chairs while others are managing under glaring pretense with unsafe learning environment. Let us not forget that Education is the bed rock of the society; if we invest in the educational sector, we invest in the future generation.

A positive learning environment is created when you value participatory teaching in a conductive learning environment. We look forward to government interventions in Ikot Ntuk and Ata Essien Obio Akpa primary schools.

03/05/2021

As Nigeria celebrate 2021 International worker's day, It is important we take note of hazards at work places.

IDARA ENOBONG
152021.

As we continue in the celebration of 2021 Workers' day, we have to put into consideration the physical elements of our work environment, which has a direct impact on either the employer or the employee.

There are a lots of Positive and Negative factors at work places, depending on the nature of your job. Some of the negative factors at offices have led many workers into depression, untimely death, su***de, loss of property, bad influence, loss of friendship, lack of respect, sexual harassment, anxiety, and stress, which can lead to low self esteem, bad performance, health Issues, discomfort, loss of concentration and safety. At this point, such work environment becomes toxic and no longer provide the desired satisfaction.

It becomes unfavourable for you to work and this can cause your appointment to be terminated.

A conducive work environment breeds success, financial stability, good planning Concentration, promoting team work, respect, commendations and reward which will lead to the employer or employee's desired job satisfaction.

Any work environment can come with certain level risks when the Environment is not safe. Frontline workers who worked essentially during the first and second waves of Covid-19 as at when vaccines were not discovered and available worked under a high risk condition which resulted in numerous lost of lives.
Oil workers are also facing the same risk on daily basis due to the exingencies of their duties. Although,all jobs have their own risk percentage,Some are minimal while others are maximum. It takes a sound mind to work in a place that is not so conducive.

Some workers who spoke with Ecowatch News at Ibom Hall grounds,Uyo appealed to employers of labour to always consider providing a comfortable work environment for their employees in order to have a safe and protected work experiences.

Others suggested that employers should always provide personal protective equipment ( PPE) for them to be safe when such duties have hazardous tendencies.

It is however necessary to be conscious of safety in your work environment.
Observers say should
your working conditions be unsafe,workers should be briefed by their employers and well directed on the best safety practice.

workers celebration # work safe # together we will keep our work environment clean and safe for maximum productivity.