AKS Carols Festival Special: Meet Donald James "Don" Moen

It's officially 25 days to the biggest Christmas Carols Festival in the world and we are excited! It's been months of massive preparation and we can boldly say that we're set to experience the best Christmas Carol Festival ever!

Asteroid Bassey: What do you have in your hands?

A story is told in the Bible of Moses, the man chosen to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

#MaitamaRaid: My Worst Night in Akwa Ibom

My stay in Akwa Ibom State has been very eventful. I left the camp at Ikot Itie Udung optimistic and in high spirits.

Nollywood Star launches attitudinal change campaign

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Multiple award winning actor and Nollywood star – Imeh “Bishop” Umoh better known as Okon Lagos has Flagged off the #DoTheRightThingNow campaign in grand style. The super star on Monday – 26^th September 2016 led journalists, NGOs and members of the #DoTheRightThingNow team to pay a sensitization visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs Children Rehabilitation Home, with loads of relief materials for the inmates.

Umoh, who also serves as Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Ethical and attitudinal reorientation stated that the gesture was made to give the inmates a sense of belonging and to make them know that they are a part of the society. He described the reach-out as an extension of the Governor's arm of love to show that they are a part of the Akwa Ibom project

He sensitized the inmates on the need to shun all forms of social vices and turn a new leaf in order for them to be discharged from the remand home, saying: “In line with the Dakkada philosophy, you need to rise to the faith of that greatness which you were destined to be.“For you to be great, you must learn to #DoTheRightThingNow. And to do the right thing, you must turn a new leaf and shun every form of social vices and whatsoever crime that led you to this remand home.”

Also speaking, The special aide to Governor Udom Emmanuel on new media, Mrs. Meflyn Anwana, admonished the children to love God and live right as the society awaits their productive contributions. She added that they can achieve all they want to achieve in life only if they believe, live right and make the best of every phase of their lives. She told the children that Governor Emmanuel had emphatically stated that the life of every Akwa Ibom person means a lot to him.

 The Supervisor of the rehabilitation centre, Mrs. Comfort Benjamin, thanked the Governor for remembering the rehabilitation centre that had been long forgotten. She noted that majority of the inmates who are mainly children ranging from 10 to 18 years of age, were not remanded for criminal offences, but as the result of failed relationships. And family crisis.

Also, the manager of the home, Elder Anietie Etukudoh, while enumerating the various challenges faced in reforming the lives of the inmates, said that most of them whose parents are nowhere to be found, try to run away, narrating a scenario where a girl attempted to jump over the fence and escape.

 He however thanked Governor Emmanuel for his humanitarian gesture, and prayed for God’s blessings upon him, stating that most parents, when reconciled to their children, express appreciation to the government for taking care of the children whom they had lost hope of seeing again thinking that they were dead.

 The interactive session that ensued, saw the children aspiring to be great persons in the society with the tall dreams of becoming actors, presidents and several other quality positions. 

In the #DoTheRightThingNow campaign team were Ndifreke Patrick - Executive Director of Greater Tomorrow Initiative. Kusin Ekanem, Executive Director , Mentoring for Excellence , the programme coordinator of Heroes of Excellence , Joyce Essien,Joseph Bassey of M and E specialist. EYF, Goodnews Nelson of Youths for Change Initiative and Kingsley Atang the Publicity/Outreach Coordinator Youth Alive Foundation.

The Right Attitude Campaign is a group powered by the office of the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Ethical and Social Reorientation, Mr. Ime Bishop Umoh, to sensitize the general public to #DoTheRightThingNow.

It campaigns for a change of attitudinal behaviour with several inscriptions such as: “Today’s Juvenile Delinquent Becomes Tomorrow’s Notorious Criminal”; “This Is Akwa Ibom, Love Is Us”; “A Broken Home Today Breeds A Broken Society Tomorrow”; “Don’t Destroy Akwa Ibom With Your Mouth Or Pen”; “I Am An Akwa Ibomite, I Rise To The Faith Of Greatness” to mention but a few. 

Photo credits: Carrot Photography

Ibesikpo Ward One Reassures Aniekan Uko

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In what many have described as an uncommon show of love and solidarity, constituents and members of the ten villages that make up Ibesikpo ward one, gathered on Saturday, 23rd January at the country home of the Rt. hon Aniekan Uko in an annual get together party.

Have you heard of the BIG ONE?

DAKKADA: AN INVITATION TO GREATNESS!

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By Aniekeme Finbarr.

As you read these lines, you may have  come across the Dakkada signage, logo, billboard, television commercial, radio jingle, hand bill or a short video clip trending on the social media . You may also have an idea what it intends to
achieve or you may be completely lost as to why the new catch phrase in town is 'Dakkada'. Which ever part of the
divide you belong, the purpose for which the idea was conceptualized is served. The Dakkada Initiative is the brain
child of the Akwa Ibom State Government with Governor Udom Emmanuel as its progenitor. Dakkada is a clarion call
by the leader of the state, announcing the new day and awakening the citizens of the land to a new era of development and spiritual rebirth.

Dakkada, which means stand up, arise, can be likened to the morning bell, the alarm clock or the alerting sound of the
cock, when it crows in the morning. It invites every Akwa Ibom son and daughter to rise to the faith of greatness, to rise to the faith that in this state named after God Almighty, everything is possible. It is an invitation to abandon the negative tendencies of religion, tribe, gender and language in the dark shelf of history and embrace the amazing opportunities that abound everywhere.

Dakkada is a loud reminder that Akwa Ibom State is blessed with abundant natural and human resources. It reminds us that mother nature has blessed us with 7,081 square Kilometres of arable land, waters and one of the most intelligent set of people in the country. It reminds us of our moderate climate, our beautiful ecological landscape endowed with a wide variety of agricultural, petroleum,
mineral, marine, and wildlife opportunities. #Dakkada tickles our consciousness to the fact that in Akwa Ibom State, you
will find some of the most friendly and hardworking Nigerians, a state where living expenses are comparatively
affordable and where leisure and entertainment are available in an avalanche of options.

Dakkada is not just about standing up. It is about going higher, breaking new grounds, conquering more territories. It is a philosophy that pinches every Akwa Ibom man and woman to ask himself or herself, "Am I there yet?" "Have I reached the peak of my career?" "What is it that I ought to
do that I have not done to be the best?" Dakkada challenges everybody, even the government to be alive to its sacred
duties and to keep to its part of the social contract. A few people may argue that they have already been "standing" in
their fields of endeavour. Dakkada challenges you today, 'How far have you gone?' 'How much further can you go'?
Dakkada is asking you today, 'Are you a footballer, Have you scored as many goals as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Then you still have a lot of goals to score.
Dakkada is asking the business man, 'Have you made as much profit as Aliko Dangote or Bill Gates? There is still
much more money to make. Dakkada is asking the Akwa Ibom lawyer, Have many cases have you won? How much
impact have you made on the legal profession? Wouldn't you rather beat the records of Sir Udo Udoma or rise to the
pinnacle of the profession like Paul Usoro SAN? Dakkada is talking to the banker today, How much capacity have you
built? In how many years do you think you can equal the record of Chief Clement Isong as Governor of the Central
Bank of Nigeria, or rise to become an Executive Director of a bank like Udom Emmanuel?

Dakkada is asking that young man in the street, How long will you depend on, "Sir, anything for the boys" for a living?
You have to get up every morning and tell yourself, “I Can Do This”. You cannot just sit there waiting for things to happen to you, you have to get up and be your own hero. Dakkada is inspiring Akwa Ibom's youthful population to excel. The days of dependency on crumbs and hand outs
are over. Once the passion is right, nothing is impossible. It is a new dawn of human capital development and wealth creation. Dakkada urges, Dakkada inspires, Dakkada challenges. Dakkada is friendly. Dakkada could be annoying too, especially if you have become so comfortable
in your slumber. Dakkada talks to your conscience. It whips you to size. When you stay in bed beyond the night, dakkada sprinkles cold water on you, urges you to rise.

Dakkada inspires the good student to read, make good grades, excel, make marks in life. Dakkada encourages the public servant to embrace the Protestant work ethic andserve with integrity.
Those who criticize Dakkada are the very people this initiative was conceived for. Dakkada urges you to rise above sentiments, to rise above partisan politics. This is no time for ethnicity and tribe. Dakkada says Akwa Ibom State
is already too small to be sub-divided. The world is moving fast, we must drop these baggage and move with the rest of
the world. Dakkada stirs us like the first verse of our national anthem, Arise O compatriots.
More than anything else, Governor Udom Emmanuel has come with the creed of greatness, his Dakkada campaign,
calling on the people to arise to the faith of greatness, spiritual rebirth, moral transformation and reorientation.
The Dakkada call is a call to rise to the faith that with God, all things are possible; a call to rise to the faith that we can
rise beyond biases, ethnicity, religion and gender; a call to rise to faith of our human and intellectual resources; to
chart a new course for the present and future generations of Akwa Ibomites. Dakkada is a call on the people to rise to
greatness, because that Akwa Ibom is destined to be great. Akwa Ibom State is on a march to greatness. Akwa Ibom is
rising to the strenght of its potentialities. Akwa Ibom is offering hope and presenting opportunities for its people to
excel; our state is creating the needed conducive environment for its citizens and visitors to live and do business. This is a clarion call. Rise to greatness, my
people. Akwa Ibom #Dakkada

ANIEKEME FINBARR  is the Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Public Affairs.

Female Youths/Cultural festival debuts in Uyo

Its just a few days to the first ever female students/youths cultural festival 2015 (the first of its kind in Akwa Ibom State)

The event which is tagged "unleashing the economic potentials of Arts and culture in Akwa Ibom state"  aims at showcasing the  different cultural attires and rich sociocultural heritage of the state and will hit the streets of Uyo on Saturday, September 19th 2015 at 8.00am prompt.

Take off is point Ibom plaza, Uyo.

Speaking with lenses360.blogspot.com,  popular Akwa Ibom  Socialite and Chairman planning committee for the carnival Miss Inimfon Sampson stated that the event is planned as part of activities marking the 28th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State.

Ken Etim Passes on!

Ken Etim, brother to Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for works Engr. Don Etim, has Passed on.

Ken died this morning at a private hospital in uyo where he was admitted for treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

May his soul rest in peace.

See how Ibom Plaza looked in the 1930s

This is a picture of what is now known as Ibom plaza!

In the 1930s, the Ibom plaza was known as Piccadilly circus!

The picture below shows a white couple at the circus, posing for a shot with some locals!

Epic!

"Get Familiar" featuring Don "Shadecover" Bassey

He is young, rich and dynamic!

Don Bassey started out as an enterprising young student at FUTO, Owerri, buying watches and reselling them to his colleagues at school.

Shortly after graduation, Don "Shadecover" Bassey took the hustle to the next level by setting up the Shade Cover group.

Today, Don is not only into shades, he sits at the head of the Shade cover group with business concerns in different sectors of the Economy.

Don is married, and the marriage is blessed with a child!

Meet our Personality of the week,

Engr. Don "Shadecover" Bassey!

Mikelyn Etim looking fab in beach side photos

Up and Coming Nollywood act Mikelyn Etim released hot beach side photos this morning!

The body on this sister is the truth! :)

Post Election Riots in Uyo

Oron road in Uyo is currently cordoned off by protesters and men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Burnt tires, woods and other dangerous objects are being used by the protesters to block the road.

You may want to consider taking alternative routes.

It is suspected that the protesters are thugs loyal to the APC protesting irregularities in yesterday's gubernatorial and house of Assembly elections.