Bayelsa State Institute of Tourism, Catering and Hotel Management

Bayelsa State Institute of Tourism, Catering and Hotel Management A Center of Excellence for Education, training, teaching, research, consultancy, advocacy, advanceme

03/05/2015

ANALYSING GOVERNOR SERIAKE DICKSON'S ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY IN BAYELSA STATE AND ITS STRATEGIC ROLE TO TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY IN NIGERIA.

The last couple of years of the tourism industry in Nigeria have been a terrifying period. First it was the Niger-Delta issue that left a severe cut on the Image of the country in the international community. Later, the madness would redouble in another form the world has now come to recognise as Boko Haram.

As minute as the contributions of tourism to the economic capacity of Nigeria where government survival hopes were monotonously tied to the stake of oil despite the overwhelming potentials of tourism and hospitality in the country, the Boko Haram onslaught dealt an almost irrecoverable blow to what was already a crawling tourism and hospitality sector in Nigeria. Even though the Boko Haran phenomenon is in North-East Nigeria, the aroma this presents in the international community is that it was Nigeria which was under siege; and so the image created.

As debilitating as this had been, it has not stopped the likes of Hon. Seriake Dickson from daring the terrain. In Bayelsa State, Governor Dickson in his Restoration agenda has established the International Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, a world class structure that can competently compete with standards available of such institution anywhere in the world. The motivation behind this innovation is amazing and applaudable at the same time considering the fact that Bayelsa, although a potentially top tourist destination has not significantly exploited this avenue since its creation in 1996 by the Abacha regime.

Most amazing is the fact that in setting up this institution, Governor Dickson has surfed round the world and assembled what qualifies as some of the best set of brains from the Niger-Delta and Nigeria scattered across the world, going further to appoint the round pegs in the round holes to head the government parastatals in charge of the tourism sector in the state ranging from the commissioner to other strategic government tourism agencies.

Prof. Prince Ayibaye Efere, the Inaugural Rector of the school for example is a Nigerian scholar with over two decades standing of erudition in different top class institutions in the world. Chef Samuel Timi Johnson, the Deputy Rector (Academics), is a chef with over 30 years’ experience and indeed one of the most celebrated black chefs in the world known to have prepared meals for five consecutive state governors of New Jersey in the United States of America. He is a registered certified ServSafe instructor/examination proctor of the National Restaurants Association of America, USA.

Other top brains such as Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, the Deputy Rector (Administration) is a renowned Nigerian journalist, popularly known in Bayelsa as "Mr. Tourism" due to his passion for the tourism and hospitality industry. Mr. Piriye is a member of the Executive Council of the West Africa Tourism Union (WATU) Ghana and also the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (ATPN) and that of the International Institute of Peace Through Tourism (IIPT). He comes in with a dynamic finesse, having also been the founding secretary of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN). Fine brains such as Leo Adeh, the Acting Registrar, Mr. Martins Dieghegha (Bursar), The Director-General of the Yenagoa Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture, Barrister Jones Idikio Warmate, who doubles as Consulting Director, Compliance and Business Development), Arc. Okos Prefa, (Consulting Director of Works and Physical Planning), Hon Bright Agagawei, (Consulting Director on Security) and Chief Lawal Africas, (Consulting Head of Department, Fashion, Modeling & Photography), combines to make the working team available at the institute thick, robust and strategically positioned to maintain it’s place as a world class tourism and hospitality training institute in Nigeria.

Governor Dickson has indeed reignited the agenda of the tourism industry in Nigeria by setting up the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality in the Bayelsa state capital, Yenagoa. The results of this milestone may not be immediate and indeed, that is what makes it even more striking. Because in Nigeria and Africa at large, we have come to build our policies around what can work now and pose a greater challenge in the future, than what may not work now but become a lasting solution to the generational challenges that will surface in the future.

Those who don't understand the language of the tourism and hospitality industry may not fully appreciate what Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has done in establishing the institute. However, it would only take a few years, even as less as the next five to ten years to understand that this initiative is indeed one of the most significant and also strategic of the many laudable innovations of the Restoration government of Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson.

Written by Green Ndume.
(Green Ndume, is a Nigerian international journalist, Host of International Focus on Nigeria on etv Ghana, a travel writer who attended the inaugural stakeholders forum with the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Tourism, Hon. Josiah Freedom Osain and the Director-General of the state tourism development agency, Mrs. Irene Ebiere Musa, at the International Institute for Tourism and Hospitality IITH, Yenagoa)

19/04/2015

The Tourism and Hospitality sector is being targeted as a major player in Ireland's efforts to move beyond what has been a difficult economic situation.
TOURISM
More visitors means more jobs

Fáilte Ireland estimates total tourism employment (when other parts of the sector such as conferences, attractions and festivals are included) to be approaching 200,000 (Source: Annual Tourism Industry Review, January 2014). So, it is clear that Ireland continues to be an attractive destination to visit and tourism remains our biggest indigenous industry.

Employment – some useful figures

- Every €1million of tourist expenditure helps to support 34 tourism jobs
- Every 55 international tourists help support one tourism job
- 1,000 additional tourists support 18 jobs in the tourism industry

Expenditure by tourists visiting Ireland (including receipts paid to Irish carriers by foreign visitors) was estimated to be worth €4.5 billion in 2013, representing growth of 12% on 2012. Combining spending by international tourists with the money spent by Irish residents taking trips here, total tourism expenditure in 2013 was estimated to be €5.9 billion.

Overseas tourist visits to Ireland in 2013 grew by 6% to 6.7 million. Short haul markets - Britain and Mainland Europe - recorded modest growth of 4% each. North America and other long haul markets performed very strongly, increasing by 11% and 14% respectively.

Britain remains our biggest source market for overseas tourists, representing 43% of all such visits. The next biggest source market is Mainland Europe, which accounts for 35% of international volume. Some 16% of overseas tourists come from North America. The balance, 6%, comes from other long haul markets.

High profile visits from the Queen of England and The G8 Summit of World Leaders, with President Obama accompanied by his entire family - all broadcast internationally and showcasing for the world what Ireland has to offer. 'The Gathering' initiative additionally boosted tourist numbers significantly. The successful visit of the Giro D'Italia cycle race in April 2014 has provided yet another major publicity boost for Irish Tourism.

Career opportunities exist in the Tourism Sector, both in Ireland and overseas, for young people at all levels from office administration roles to junior and senior management posts, in a diverse range of tourism related organisations including:

Tourism offices
Tour Guides
Travel Agents
Reservation Centres
Airlines
Leisure Centres
Spas
Museums
Cultural attractions
Heritage Centres
Tourist shops

19/04/2015

More visitors means more jobs

19/04/2015

The biggest challenge that the global tourism sector faces is sustainability. Tourism continues to grow exponentially — an average of 5 percent a year since 2010 — and by 2030, we expect international tourists to reach 1.8 billion. We simply cannot ignore these facts and let the sector grow unmanaged, or we risk damaging the environment and cultural heritage, depleting natural resources and disrupting the social values of the host communities that tourism impacts.

What many don’t realize is that sustainability is also a great opportunity for economic development and green growth. Sustainable tourism development is as much about protecting the environment and societies as it is about creating wealth in destinations through lucrative and long-lasting tourism enterprises.”

15/04/2015

MR JOHNSON, APPOINTED DEPUTY RECTOR, AT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TOURISM, YENAGOA
French trained Chef/Food Safety Certification Instructor, with over thirty years of culinary skills, Mr. Samuel Timi Johnson, is now Deputy Rector (Academics) at the newly established International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Bayelsa-Nigeria.
Mr Johnson holds a Degree in Culinary and Food Service Management, from the Burlington County College, Mount Holly, NJ, USA. He is a house whole name in New Jersey and New York City, where he has accomplished several food delivery service feats in areas where conventional kitchen operations could not reach.
As a registered certified ServSafe instructor/examination proctor of the National Restaurants Association of America, USA, Mr. Johnson, has wide range of experience in managing food preparation, menu development, event planning/catering, and inventory purchasing/control.
His areas of expertise include, international flavours, such as French, American, Caribbean, Cajun, and Italian style cuisine, with exceptional management skills in menu design, coordination, training, staffing, instructing, customer service, kitchen operations, supervision (staff/ volunteers) safety, sanitation, catering, banquets and international culinary/quality assurance.
GOURMET TO YOUR DOOR STEP, his company, was among volunteers involved in feeding the victims of the Super Storm Hurricane Sandy, in Staten Island-New York, during the Hurricane Sandy incident in the U.S., where an estimated 500 meals were served daily at the site of the Hurricane Sandy victims, with his food truck, stationed there for one and half month.
Until his recent appointment, at the International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, Yenagoa, Mr. Johnson was a Senior Lecturer/facilitator at Perecastle Catering Institute, Lagos, Nigeria, as food safety and certification instructor, responsible for international ServSafe Certification from the U.S.
Before returning to Nigeria, Mr. Johnson had worked at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Trenton, NJ, as Head Chef/Kitchen Coordinator, Executive Chef, at “Feed The Heroes” Restaurant, New York, NY, Production/Banquet Chef, at Kat Man Du Restaurant, Trenton, NJ and Restaurant Chef, inTrump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ,
Back in the U.S., he had served over 5,500 free meals a week to the homeless and the working poor, coordinated food donations and trained staff to adhere to food safety guidelines; designed and implemented creative weekly menu with the use of donated food in addition to opening five satellite kitchens in the U.S, where he lived.
Bayelsa born Johnson was the first black chef that rendered voluntary services during the unfortunate 9/11 World Trade Center incident, where he served over 4,000 hot meals to the World Trade Center relief workers daily, in addition to organizing transportation for over 1,000 meals daily, while scheduling kitchen staff and training cooks and volunteers at the World Trade Center site.
He has been responsible for creating and presenting gourmet culinary banquets, managing all ordering of supplies and arranging special events, supervising kitchen staff and completed monthly inventory, providing training to cooks and staff on how to use kitchen equipment, providing chef services for company holiday dinners and at the elite Bengal Club, where he supervised twenty-five staff.
The People's Magazine (Heroes of the Super Storm Sandy) 2012, recognized Mr. Johnson for volunteering and preparing free meals to victims and relief workers after Hurricane Sandy.
USA Today, The Times and the Burlington County Times, had featured Mr. Johnson, on their headlines for serving free meals to emergency workers near Ground Zero, in New York. He was also honored by the Trenton NAACP for volunteering to feed emergency workers near Ground Zero.
Mr. Johnson hails from Trofani community in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He is married with children.
Compiled by
Piriye Kiyaramo, Consultant at the International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, Yenagoa

MR JOHNSON, APPOINTED DEPUTY RECTOR, AT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TOURISM, YENAGOAFrench trained Chef/Food Safety Certi...
15/04/2015

MR JOHNSON, APPOINTED DEPUTY RECTOR, AT INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TOURISM, YENAGOA
French trained Chef/Food Safety Certification Instructor, with over thirty years of culinary skills, Mr. Samuel Timi Johnson, is now Deputy Rector (Academics) at the newly established International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Bayelsa-Nigeria.
Mr Johnson holds a Degree in Culinary and Food Service Management, from the Burlington County College, Mount Holly, NJ, USA. He is a house whole name in New Jersey and New York City, where he has accomplished several food delivery service feats in areas where conventional kitchen operations could not reach.
As a registered certified ServSafe instructor/examination proctor of the National Restaurants Association of America, USA, Mr. Johnson, has wide range of experience in managing food preparation, menu development, event planning/catering, and inventory purchasing/control.
His areas of expertise include, international flavours, such as French, American, Caribbean, Cajun, and Italian style cuisine, with exceptional management skills in menu design, coordination, training, staffing, instructing, customer service, kitchen operations, supervision (staff/ volunteers) safety, sanitation, catering, banquets and international culinary/quality assurance.
GOURMET TO YOUR DOOR STEP, his company, was among volunteers involved in feeding the victims of the Super Storm Hurricane Sandy, in Staten Island-New York, during the Hurricane Sandy incident in the U.S., where an estimated 500 meals were served daily at the site of the Hurricane Sandy victims, with his food truck, stationed there for one and half month.
Until his recent appointment, at the International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, Yenagoa, Mr. Johnson was a Senior Lecturer/facilitator at Perecastle Catering Institute, Lagos, Nigeria, as food safety and certification instructor, responsible for international ServSafe Certification from the U.S.
Before returning to Nigeria, Mr. Johnson had worked at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Trenton, NJ, as Head Chef/Kitchen Coordinator, Executive Chef, at “Feed The Heroes” Restaurant, New York, NY, Production/Banquet Chef, at Kat Man Du Restaurant, Trenton, NJ and Restaurant Chef, inTrump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ,
Back in the U.S., he had served over 5,500 free meals a week to the homeless and the working poor, coordinated food donations and trained staff to adhere to food safety guidelines; designed and implemented creative weekly menu with the use of donated food in addition to opening five satellite kitchens in the U.S, where he lived.
Bayelsa born Johnson was the first black chef that rendered voluntary services during the unfortunate 9/11 World Trade Center incident, where he served over 4,000 hot meals to the World Trade Center relief workers daily, in addition to organizing transportation for over 1,000 meals daily, while scheduling kitchen staff and training cooks and volunteers at the World Trade Center site.
He has been responsible for creating and presenting gourmet culinary banquets, managing all ordering of supplies and arranging special events, supervising kitchen staff and completed monthly inventory, providing training to cooks and staff on how to use kitchen equipment, providing chef services for company holiday dinners and at the elite Bengal Club, where he supervised twenty-five staff.
The People's Magazine (Heroes of the Super Storm Sandy) 2012, recognized Mr. Johnson for volunteering and preparing free meals to victims and relief workers after Hurricane Sandy.
USA Today, The Times and the Burlington County Times, had featured Mr. Johnson, on their headlines for serving free meals to emergency workers near Ground Zero, in New York. He was also honored by the Trenton NAACP for volunteering to feed emergency workers near Ground Zero.
Mr. Johnson hails from Trofani community in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He is married with children.
Compiled by
Piriye Kiyaramo, Consultant at the International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, Yenagoa

02/03/2015

French trained Chef/Food Safety and Certification Instructor, with over thirty years of culinary skills, Mr. Samuel Timi Johnson, has been appointed as a consulting director of education and research, at the newly established International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Bayelsa-Nigeria.
Mr Johnson holds a Degree in Culinary and Food Service Management, from the Burlington County College, Mount Holly, NJ, USA. He is a house whole name in New Jersey and New York City, where he has accomplished several food delivery service feats in areas where conventional kitchen operations could not reach.
As a registered certified ServSafe instructor/examination proctor of the National Restaurants Association of America, USA, Mr. Johnson, has wide range of experience in managing food preparation, menu development, event planning/catering, and inventory purchasing/control.
His areas of expertise include, international flavours, such as French, American, Caribbean, Cajun, and Italian style cuisine, with exceptional management skills in menu design, coordination, training, staffing, instructing, customer service, kitchen operations, supervision (staff/ volunteers) safety, sanitation, catering, banquets and international culinary/quality assurance.
GOURMET TO YOUR DOOR STEP, his company, was among volunteers involved in feeding the victims of the Super Storm Hurricane Sandy, in Staten Island-New York, during the Hurricane Sandy incident in the U.S., where an estimated 500 meals were served daily at the site of the Hurricane Sandy victims, with his food truck, stationed there for one and half month.
Until his recent appointment, at the International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, Yenagoa, Mr. Johnson was a Senior Lecturer/facilitator at Perecastle Catering Institute, Lagos, Nigeria, as food safety and certification instructor, responsible for international ServSafe Certification from the U.S.

Before returning to Nigeria, Mr. Johnson had worked at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Trenton, NJ, as Head Chef/Kitchen Coordinator, Executive Chef, at “Feed The Heroes” Restaurant, New York, NY, Production/Banquet Chef, at Kat Man Du Restaurant, Trenton, NJ and Restaurant Chef, inTrump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ,

Back in the U.S., he had served over 5,500 free meals a week to the homeless and the working poor, coordinated food donations and trained staff to adhere to food safety guidelines; designed and implemented creative weekly menu with the use of donated food in addition to opening five satellite kitchens in the U.S, where he lived.
Bayelsa born Johnson was the first black chef that rendered voluntary services during the unfortunate 9/11 World Trade Center incident, where he served over 4,000 hot meals to the World Trade Center relief workers daily, in addition to organizing transportation for over 1,000 meals daily, while scheduling kitchen staff and training cooks and volunteers at the World Trade Center site.
He has been responsible for creating and presenting gourmet culinary banquets, managing all ordering of supplies and arranging special events, supervising kitchen staff and completed monthly inventory, providing training to cooks and staff on how to use kitchen equipment, providing chef services for company holiday dinners and at the elite Bengal Club, where he supervised twenty-five staff.
The People's Magazine (Heroes of the Super Storm Sandy) 2012, recognized Mr. Johnson for volunteering and preparing free meals to victims and relief workers after Hurricane Sandy.

USA Today, The Times and the Burlington County Times, had featured Mr. Johnson, on their headlines for serving free meals to emergency workers near Ground Zero, in New York. He was also honored by the Trenton NAACP for volunteering to feed emergency workers near Ground Zero.

Mr. Johnson hails from Trofani community in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. He is married with children.
Compiled by
Piriye Kiyaramo, Consultant at the International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, Yenagoa.

11/02/2015

FORMATION OF ATPN:

The Global role of the Private Sector participation in the development of tourism cannot be over emphasized as it has been responsible for the rapid socio-economic development as well as collusive integration of nations.

Nigeria is fortunate to have recognized the importance of private sector in tourism development as far back as 1959, when a white paper titled “Promotion of the Tourism Industry in Nigeria” was published by the Federal Government. This document became instrumental to the formation of “Nigeria Tourist Association” (NTA) in 1962. This was later incorporated as a non-profit Limited Liability Company operated as a partnership between the Federal Government, the then three regions of Nigeria- (The East, The North and The West), West African Airways Corporation (which Metamorphosed into Nigeria Airways), Nigeria Hotels Ltd. and elder Dempster Agency Ltd.

Membership of the N.T.A continued to be opened to other private and government agencies engaged in travel and its allied businesses with responsibility to increase awareness and stimulate tourism participation at both domestic and international levels.

Over the years, the activities of N.T.A continued to grow and in 1975, the Nigerian Tourism Board (NTB) was formed as an off-shoot of the Association. The Nigeria Tourist Board (NTB) later became the current Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

At this point, the tourism industry in Nigeria was witnessing a rapid growth both at the public and private sectors of the economy. It then became apparent that there was the need for the private sector to be properly represented through an independent private sector tourism association.

This need continued to grow and in 1989, it paid off with the setting up of a twelve (12) man steering committee nominated at an “International Cultural Tourism Conference (ICTC)” organized by Nigeria Tourist Board (NTB) in Lagos. For effective mobilization and co-ordination, the steering committee sought and got support from State Tourism Committees (now State Tourism Boards or Cooperations). The formal meeting of the steering committee was held on the 25th, October, 1990 in Lagos at the Conference Hall of the NTB with 46 practitioners from 11 States out of the then 19 States in attendance representing 58% of national spread.

It was at this meeting that the formal proclamation of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) was made through a motion by Mr. E. O. Yonika of Rivers State and seconded by Mr. D. Osota from Abuja while Alh. Nasiru Roni of Kano State moved for the adoption of a draft constitution for the association.

Also at this meeting, the first election of the Association was held with fair representation from all sectors of the Tourism Industry with good geographical spread. The pioneer Executive Council members of the Association were:
Chief M. Amachree - National President
Dr. Ayo Ojo - 1st Vice President
Alh. Nasiru Roni - 2nd Vice President
Prince S. O. Oresajo - Secretary General
Nta Inyang - 1st Asst. Sec. General
Miss Jibade - 2nd Asst. Sec. General
Major Olaguji (Rtd.) - Publicity Secretary
Mr. D. Osota - Financial Secretary
Alh. Umaru Shuaibu - Int. Auditor

Also nominated were zonal officers for the then NTDC Tourism Zones for effective mobilization and membership drive within the zones.
The Zonal Officers were:

Alh. Yahaya Shaibu - Kano Zone
Mrs. Mercy Amesiemaka - Calabar Zone
Chief E. Ogunlaye - Lagos Zone
Mr. E. D. Chung - Bauchi Zone

For the purpose of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Amachree led team nominated a seven-man (7) member Board of Trustees for the Association through the normal process. The selection also reflected the Federal Character with adequate representation from the operators of the tourism industry. The Board of Trustees were and still are:-

Alh. Wada Yunusa - MD Arewa Hotels Ltd. Kaduna
Chief S. A. Alamutu - Executive Chairman, Modern Hotels Ltd. Lagos
Alh. Aliyu Doma - MD Oriya Motors, Jos
Ma’azi Kinglesy Onuaha - MD Tours Int. Ltd. Lagos
Chief J. I. Deru - MD Pmas (Aviation) Ltd. P. Harcourt
Alhaji Munzali Dantata - M.D. All State Travel – Kano
Chief Alfred Diete Spiff - M.D. Baraton Maritime Port - Harcourt

The second AGM of the Association was held in Jos between 23rd–26th, February, 1994. At this time some executive offices had been made vacant these were filled preparatory for a general election the following year. This convention, which was attended by a representative of the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, in a good-will message expressed the Minister’s appreciation for what the association was doing especially in the area of mobilization and creation of the much needed tourism awareness across board.

In the same vein, Government’s concern and genuine recognition of the tourism private sector apex status of ATPN (see pages I-III) was further demonstrated by the Federal Government’s mandate to the association during its 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Imo Concord Hotel, Owerri, to “…broaden its membership by integrating all other tourism associations, with ATPN as the umbrella body. In addition, organize general elections in early 1996 reflecting same”.

To facilitate the effective ex*****on of this mandate, the former Executive Council was dissolved and in its place, a caretaker committee was constituted. Added to the above, the Committee was mandated to review the association’s constitution and to implement all resolutions and mandates within six (6) months.

The caretaker committee members were:-
Chief Uyi Alehezohu - Chairman
Otumba A. Adeleye - Secretary
Princes V. Oramah - Member
Sir Reuben Okorie - Member
Mr. John Best - Member
Price O. J. Izidor - Member
Mr. Semshak Gompil - Member

At the expiration of the time given to the caretaker committee, it had not implemented the entire mandate given by Government. It was at this point that an election of a new EXCO was held in March 1996, as was directed, with a charge to the new EXCO at handing over, to carry on with other mandates still pending.

The new EXCO was made up of:

Madam B. C. Bentu - National President
Chief E. Uyi Alemezohu - 1st Vice President
Chief G. O Oshiokhamele - 2nd Vice President
Barrister Paul I. Apollos - Secretary General
Alh. N. O. S. Bayero - Treasurer
Mrs. Esther N. Wazhi - Financial Secretary
Alh. Nuhu Aliyu - Publicity Secretary
Prince O. J. Izidor - 1st Asst. Sec. General
Chief (Mrs) Josephine Anenih - Legal Adviser
EX-OFFICIALS:
Madam M. C. Opara - South East - Zone
Mr. Ben Ikeakor - Lagos/S. West - Zone
Mal. A. G. Kuta - Kano - Zone
Mal. I. B. M. Madaki - North East - Zone
Prince Oresajo- Lagos (This became necessary to beef up the Lagos zone in recognition of its complexities)

BAYELSA SPEAKER ENJOINS CHRISTIANS TO EMULATE CHRIST AT CHRISTMASAs Christians around the world celebrate the birth of J...
24/12/2014

BAYELSA SPEAKER ENJOINS CHRISTIANS TO EMULATE CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
As Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Konbowei Benson Friday has enjoined Christians to honour the values of giving, sharing and taking care of others in accordance with biblical injunctions.
According to the Speaker, showing compassion to those in need at Christmas, is part of an age long Christian tradition that gives expression to the values of love, hope and charity, as exemplified in the message of Jesus Christ to mankind.
In his annual Christmas message to the people of the State, Rt. Hon. Benson Friday, called on Christians to pray for military personnel and other security agencies, including aid workers, medical volunteers, as well as emergency service personnel in crisis prone areas, particularly, the northeast, at this time of celebration.
He maintained that the best way to show appreciation to God for sending His only begotten son, to die for mankind, is to imbibe the values that Jesus Christ taught, by helping persons in need.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with friends, families and neighbours, let us remember those in need, those extraordinary professionals, the security services, media workers and volunteers, who are engaged in activities that provide information, safety and security for the rest of us during festive seasons”, the Speaker reiterated.
While wishing Bayelsans a joyous and peaceful Christmas celebration, Rt. Hon. Benson Friday, appealed to the people of the state not to indulge themselves in acts that are inimical to societal development, thereby negating the true meaning of Christmas, as such acts would not glorify God.
He pointed out that generosity, hope and sense of human solidarity which are characteristic of the Christian faith and culture, should be observed as the guiding principles at Christmas festivities in the state.
Rt. Hon. Benson Friday who stressed the need for Christians to show the same sense of compassion that Christ expressed in the face of suffering and hatred, also called on Christian faithful to spare time to pray for the nation in respect of the 2015 general elections.

Piriye Kiyaramo
Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media
cember 24, 2014

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