…Donates Computers To Gokana ICT Centre
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has called on Nigerian youths to actively participate in politics.
Abe made the call when the leadership of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS) paid him a visit at his residence in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The senator, who said, it was erroneous for youths to think that votes were for politicians, said votes were for provision of water, electricity and job opportunities.
He said: Pursue early in life, identity who you want to be and begin to mark your character in tune with who you want to be.
“You talked about going to lobby students to go and register for voter’s cards. Nigeria is a democracy and everybody who is a citizen has an obligation to go and vote.
“The reason we always think we have to go and beg people to come and vote, is because we have not let people know how important their votes are.
“We think that the votes are for politicians and the politicians have to pay you to go and register, politicians have to pay you to go and vote. But the votes are about light, the votes are about water and they are about jobs.”
Earlier in his remarks, NURSS National President, Comrade Precious Momoh, described Senator Abe as a student-friendly politician.
Momoh said the union wants to embark on programmes, including sensitizing students on the need to go and register ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He said: “NURSS wants to embark on voter-sensitization exercise in campuses in the state to avoid vote apathy in 2023.
“We want to embark on symposium to let students know that education is paramount. A lot of youths now see education as a scam.
“We have come to plead with you to assist us in executing any of the programmes. We want to assure you that we will continue to work with you.”
Meanwhile, the National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS), have conferred Senator Magnus Ngei Abe with a ‘Life Member’ (Pillar) award of the Union.
Speaking during the conferment ceremony in Port Harcourt, President of the group, Comrade Dimkpa Raphael said the award was in recognition of Senator Abe’s numerous support and human capacity development programmes for students of Ogoni extraction.
Dimkpa said: ‘Sir, this award is our little way of saying, ‘thank you’ for all you are doing and have done for the students community.
“It is in accordance with the constitution of the National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS) worldwide, that we confer on you, ‘Life Member’ (Pillar) of the Union.
Responding, Senator Abe thanked the students and promised to identify with their programmes.
Meanwhile, former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has donated set of computers to the Gokana Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre.
The gesture was in fulfillment of a pledge he made during the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Gokana Local Government Area, where he was conferred with the ‘Unique Leader Award’ in December, 2021 by the Council Chairman, Hon. Confidence Deko.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after presenting the set of computers at Kpor, Headquarters of Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Senator Abe said that the set of computers will give opportunity to more school children to participate in the programme and become computer literate.
The Senator said irrespective of his political affiliation, he will continue to support and contribute to programmes and policies that will lead to the development of the Local Government Area.
Abe said: “This donation of computers has nothing to do with the party you belong to. It has to do with what Gokana people are getting. As long as Gokana people are getting what they should be getting, you will continue to get our support.
“What is happening here, as I understand, is that the Gokana Local Government Council has instituted this programme to give an opportunity to all the children in Gokana, particularly those in our secondary schools to come to this place to learn how to use computer, understand and get a form of computer training.
“So, they have instituted a certificated programme. Children from the local schools come here two times a week from different schools to take part in the programme and at the end of the day, they are given certificates.
“When I heard about the programme, I was very impressed and I decided to support the programme by bringing in some computers to add to what the local government has provided so that more children can be covered.
“So, we are here to hand over the few computers to the Gokana Council to support this very impressive initiative that the Gokana Local Government Council has initiated.”
In his remarks, Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Hon Confidence Deko commended Senator Magnus Abe for his magnanimity describing him as an uncommon politician who despite being a leader of an opposition party; the All Progressives Congress (APC), supports the human capacity development programme of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) in Gokana Local Area.
He urged other political leaders in the area to emulate the exemplary leadership qualities of the Senator.
