The Gospel Truth

The Calabar Festival 2013 has kicked off in earnest. The Calabars Got Talents shows continues today with a lot of local talents been given the opportunity to get discovered. The crowd keeps on getting larger and larger as is usually the case. We are gradually heading to the climax which is the 27th, Carnival day which is the high point of the Festival. Most of my friends have asked me for the festival calendar and I guessed some others will be wondering where to get it. Simply go to www.calabarfestival.com or http://calabarfestival.com/images/files/2013_Calabar_Festival_Programme.pdf  and download to phone or computer. As simple as ABC so you don't miss any event. Also get Calabar Festival Updates: http://www.calabarfestival.com/ | http://Facebook.com/calabarfestival | http://Twitter.com/Calabarfestival | BB pin: 2AD4709F | BB Channel: C000A35A1 http://youtube.com/festivalcalabar | www.instagram.com/calabarfestival Finally to get all the latest gist just search the

Imoke Sacks 7 Commissoners, 13 Special Advisers For failing to participate in activities marking World’s AIDS Day, Cross River State Governor Mr. Liyel Imoke yesterday suspended indefinitely 20 members of his cabinet and directed that they hand over all government documents and property in their possession to their permanent secretaries. A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Michael Aniah said the State Governor had approved the suspension of the affected commissioners and Special Advisers for not honouring a state function as only governor and a few aides attended the World’s AIDS Day celebration. The following commissioners were affected in the sack: Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Attah Ochinke; Commissioner for Finance, Etim Caifas; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edak Iwuchukwu; Commissioner for Social Development, Mrs. Patricia Endeley; Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Sandy Onor; Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. El

Recently the International Humanist and Ethical Union   T he world union of Humanist organizations and other human rights group in Nigeria released a statement against the most recent religious campaign by Helen Ukpabio themed the WITCHES ON THE RUN, Apparently there have been a lot of close calls in the past of children been disowned and all sorts of atrocities and judgement passed on such children believed to be witches and wizards. As horrible as this sounds this is what religion has turned into as people look for quick fixes to prosperity and a reason to blame their misfortunes on so called attacks from the village and sometimes are even deceived to believe that their own children are witches causing their downfall. Yes Ephesians 6 verse 12 says ' For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places' it does not mean that every prob

The Africa International Film Festival starts today, 10th November 2013 to 17th November!!! The entire Nollywod industry has landed in Calabar. Here are pictures of some Nollywood personalities @ the airport, waiting for the chartered flight. Among those present were, Desmond Elliott, Uru Eke, Segun Arinze, OC Ukeje, Rita Dominic, Uche Jumbo, Lydia Forson, Omoni Oboli, KC Ejelonu, Gbenga Ajigbenro, Charles Novia, Lancelot Imasuen, Chinedu Ikedezie and other top practitioners and industry business people. Also in the entourage are Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Rita Dominic, Lala Akindoju, Bhaira Mcwizu, Leonora Esorom, Fidelis Duker, Bond Emeruwa, Iyen Agbonifo and others. Register to attend the 2013 Africa International Film Festival ( # AFRIFF ) through this link  http:// ow.ly/qDjyL Also click on this link to see AFRIFF 2013 Festival programme http://www.africafilmfest.org/index.php/shortcodes/festival-programme This week promises to be action packed in the City of Calabar,,,

Yesterday the Institute of software practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) National Software Conference and Competition 2013 kicked at the Tinapa Knowledge City, Calabar. The Theme for this year is 'Software Strategies for retooling the workforce'. ISPON seeks to encourage and advise local and foreign investors and financial institutions on the need and benefits of actively investing in the software industry in Nigeria and ensure that the contribution of software technology products and services are recognized in the development policies of Nigeria. ISPON also organizes and host national and global conferences, seminars, talk shows, exhibitions, and workshops for the development of software technology in Nigeria making it possible for the development of a database of local software products/services and provide information and useful contacts for software exports from Nigeria. The opening ceremony kicked off after the arrival of the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Im

Contrary to reports making the rounds yesterday that a mudslide had trapped some people at the foot of the Obudu cattle ranch,information reaching me as at this morning after calls from both reporters and government officials on site indicate that this initial report by some media outfits is not entirely true. Yes there was a mudslide at the foot of the Obudu ranch resort but no one was trapped inside the pile of mud. The mudslide only blocked the road leading to the top of the ranch,making it impossible to leave the ranch or go up the ranch through the snaky road that leads to the mountain top. Work has begun to evacuate the mud pile and emergency response agencies are already in control of the situation.Some tourists had to be airlifted to the ranch top by the airforce as they were scared to use the cable car,crossriverwatch.com reported. Most importantly the Government has assured that despite the natural disaster that occurred the ranch remains a safe destination for athlet

The 2013, Carnival Calabar theme unveiling held on Saturday 13th October at the cultural centre main bowl in the City of Calabar. This unveiling was followed the next day, Sunday,14th October with the first carnival dry run for the year. Years ago I always wondered what the reason for a dry run was but now I totally realise the importance as you have mock in exams and competitions, this prepares you for what is to come and eliminate any challenges that may occur during eventual execution. As for the Calabar Festival (32 days in December) that climaxes into the Carnival Calabar (Dec 27th), every year keeps getting better and better. According to His Excellency, Sen. Liyel Imoke during the unveiling, he reminded everyone how he was absent last year for the festival but was able to watch the entire event through live streaming on Youtube. That's my Digital Governor. And HE promises the world that this year will be televised and streamed straight to you, wherever you

The Country Resident Representative of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Ms Victoria Akyeampong, has commended the Wife of Cross River Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke for her intervention on women and children through her NGO, Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realization (POWER).   Ms. Akyeampong made the commendation yesterday when she paid a courtesy visit to her in Calabar. She said her visit to POWER has afforded her the opportunity to know more about the NGO to explore collaboration opportunities.     She said she was in the state to intimate Mrs. Imoke on the activities of UNFPA especially regarding the forthcoming commissioning of the UN House in Calabar where she would also present the 2013 State of the World Population Report   that   covers specific issues around the world that are population related.   She intimated that it is the first UN agency to open a zonal office in the state that would serve the whole of South/ S

It was a very packed conference room on Thursday 10 th October, 2013 as the top exec of the NUJ and journalists from different media houses gathered for a press briefing by the Trustees of the James Ene Henshaw Foundation. The James Ene Henshaw Foundation is a charitable organisation set up to maintain and promote   the literary legacy of James Ene Henshaw a pioneer of African drama and one of the most popular and foremost playwrights to have emerged from the African continent. Henshaw’s plays were one of the first authentic African dramas to be performed by African people. It is interesting to note that his first seminal play, This is Our Chance in 1956 was closely followed after by Chinua Achebe’s Things fall apart in 1958. Speaking at the press briefing Mr. James Ene Henshaw Jnr, son of the late playwright, and other family members passionately talked about setting up the foundation to maintain and promote the literary legacy of James Ene Henshaw, oversee and publish the Coll

  NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS PRESENTS BOOK TO MRS LIYEL IMOKE   Renowned Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, yesterday, in Calabar, presented her Pictorial autobiography titled ‘Kate Henshaw: The World of an Actress, My Story’ to the wife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke. Making the presentation, Kate Henshaw stated that the 360-paged book is her contribution to the efforts to support certain charities by donating part of the proceeds from the sale of the book to these charities. She stated that her visit to and consequent presentation of the book to Mrs. Liyel-Imoke is to solicit for her endorsement of the book and through this increase the sale towards raising funds for the less privileged especially little Miss. Kiki whom she said was born without a skull and presently on admission at Johns Hopkins Hospital in United States of America. While commending Mrs. Imoke for her humanitarian projects which have touched the lives of many women and childre