ELECTIONS ARE NOT WON ON FACEBOOK ONLY BECAUSE THEY AREN'T CONDUCTED THERE. Many times, I have heard politicians and political aspirants say something like "Elections are not won on facebook". Some say so in display of crass ignorance and inability to grasp the reality of the moment while others say such out of mischief. Sincerely, I'm always filled with pity for adults who make such comments, especially those who are aspiring for elective offices in this age. Literally speaking, elections are not won on facebook only to the extent that they are not conducted there. Oga, you should have contested election in 1979. This is 2017, a digital era. Truth is, you need digital literacy to participate in today's knowledge society. The definition of literacy has expanded from a mere ability to read and write to include, among others, "knowledge, skills and behaviours involving the effective use of digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs for purposes of communication, expression, collaboration and advocacy". What surprises me is that they even make these remarks in response to what they read on Facebook from or about other aspirants.How dare you underestimate a platform that forces a reaction out of you? Questions are : "What are you doing on Facebook?", "Are those on Facebook spirits?" " What makes you feel that nobody on social media owns a PVC?" I'm always amused whenever I see people struggle to make it look like those who are strong on social media are automatically irrelevant at the grassroots. What a self delusion! Even the gap between social media and the grassroots is increasingly being narrowed. Almost on a daily basis, as I interact with family members, friends, associates and supporters across the villages of Urueoffong/Oruko Local Government Area, they keep referring me to my Facebook posts. Social media, particularly facebook has achieved an appreciable grassroots penetration. Its level of penetration is bound to increase in the months and years ahead. Remember when GSM was viewed as a metropolitan thing. Today, it's in almost every household in our villages. In fact, many of our graduates these days relocate to the villages while waiting for job opportunities. Do they leave their social media accounts in school? In any case, who do you think influences the electoral choice of a family between the social media compliant youth or undergraduate and his/her mostly apolitical parents? As educated as my mother is, even twenty years ago, she would make her electoral choices and vote in line with my influence. Oga, that's how it generally is. The enlightened youths go to share information with their parents and influence them in the process. Facebook is ultimately a media platform which has assumed a greater influence than the print and electronic media put together. To underscore the error or hypocrisy of this line of thoughts, its proponents don't mind television, radio and newspaper advert. But they never find out the difference between those and social media. If anything, social media has a wider reach and gives a certain level of instant feedback which others are incapable of. Those who deride social media, despite being subscribers, have only succeeded in exposing how scared they are about the reality of its influence.

NDITO ITU EMESIERE O! Please if you are outside the State and you wish to coordinate fellow ndito Itu in your area, please inbox us or you call: 08036494571

BREAKING NEWS!! CORP MEMBER SERVING IN AKWA IBOM STATE INSTALLS STREET LIGHT IN ITU ROAD, SCHOOL ROAD,WORD BRIDE AVENUE,ORS: SET TO COMMISSION IT ON TUESDAY, 21st MARCH 2017. Details loading...

Ndito Itu esong idem o! Please note that we will start our official operations in soonest which will include: *Celebrating our Heroes. *Award presentation to outstanding youths of Itu *recognizing active firms operating in the area. *employment opportunities. *etc. if you have idea on how to coordinate your ward, unit and village do indicate here or inbox us. You can also send message to 08036394571 which will include your name, ward, village and phone number. Opportunity is also given to you to recommend one outstanding firm, youth and elder in your area to be celebrated. Thanks

BREAKING! AKHA directs immediate reinstatement of sacked lecturers of Afaha Nsit CoED ...as A’Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme, Maritime sector operations bills pass second reading The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a resolution mandating the management of College of Education, Afaha Nsit to immediately reinstate 14 academic staff of the institution who were wrongly dismissed from the college. The intervention by the House is sequel to the report by the House Committee on Education following a petition forwarded to the lawmakers by the affected staff who complained that they were wrongly disengaged from service by the institution. Chairman of the committee, Hon. Samuel Ufuo of Mbo State Constituency, while urging his colleagues to ratify the committee’s report, said findings showed that they were wrongly dismissed from their job, and recommended that they be reinstated to their different departments where they were serving before their disengagement. In a resolution passed during Thursday’s plenary, the House directed the college to look into the plight of the affected persons saying, “In view of the fact that the Head of Service circular No. 3/2016 dated 5th August 2016, is not applicable to the case of these lecturers as they are not up to 65 years and as such never retired from service”. The House directed the relevant department that handled the biometric exercise in the college to correct the error and reconfigure the names of the affected lecturers as academic staff and not as non-academic staff of the college. The House ordered that the “affected academic staff be promoted as and when due and their entitlements paid accordingly” Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Barr. Onofiok Luke, thanked the Chairman of the committee for doing a thorough job on the matter, and commended members for living up to the appellation of being the people’s assembly. “Today we have as usual lived up to our commitment as a people's assembly through ensuring that the staff who were disengaged from the services of the college are reinstated. I thank the Chairman and members of the education committee for living up to their responsibility.” He encouraged members of the public to continue to forward their complaints and petitions to the House for necessary action. “For those who have issues with their pensions and gratuities, the committees are working on these concerns. Those who have genuine complaints should forward same to the relevant committees. It is our responsibility to address these issues as a people's Assembly.” Also during plenary, the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme Bill, 2016 sponsored by the Speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke passed second reading. The bill which is co-sponsored by eleven other members of the House was thereafter referred to the Committee on Health with a mandate to report back in three weeks time. Speaking on the general principles of the bill, Rt. Hon. Luke, while soliciting the support of his colleagues, explained that the bill seeks to incorporate health policies in the state for the purpose of catering for both the vulnerable people and other members of the society who are not currently benefiting from the free health care policies of the state. He pointed out that if passed into law, the bill would ensure that Akwa Ibom state joins the global agenda of universal health coverage. The bill by Speaker Luke who also represents Nsit Ubium state constituency in the House, got the overwhelming support of the lawmakers. The Akwa Ibom state Health Insurance Scheme Bill is the second bill by the Speaker this year. On Tuesday, he presented a bill seeing the establishment of the Akwa Ibom state primary healthcare development agency. Also, the Maritime sector operation bill passed second reading on Thursday. It was sponsored by the member representing Esit- Eket/Ibeno State Constituency, Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh.

May the good Lord continue to protect and keep all of us in Jesus name. Happy new year.

Newly Sworn-in Commissioner's Portfolios Linus Nkan.........Finance Akan Okon.........Housing & special Duties Ephraim inyamg.....Works Orman Esin......Transport and Petroleum Resources Eno Ikpe......investment, Commerce and Industries Udo Ekpenyong....Local Govt & chieftaincy Dr umoinyang......Agric Arc Ime Ekpo.......Lands & Town Planning. Paul Alexander Udofia---Education Charles Udo---Information and Strategy Idorenyin Sunday Udo--Economic Devt, Planning and Man power Developement Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko---Justice Nse Udo Essien phd---Science and Technology Victor Antai---Culture and Tourism Ekong Sampson ---Special Adviser, Political and Legislative Affairs

Unity of the State is priority for now. Together we shall get to our destination, the promise land our pride.

Itu my beloved LGA, you shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and Royal Diadem in the hand of your God. Is a. 62:3. May God. Bless ITU. Mfon Ekpenyong

Happy independence day celebration to all my brothers and sisters from Itu Local Government Area, may God bless us all, Amen.

Humble Udoema Some people think that education is all important, but I would put it in second place. The home is by far more important, a broken home leave an indelible mark, a dark, dark mark on the character and temperament of the child. Education is important to equip the child for life, to read, to write and to think, to appreciate values, to give him the skills he needs. So it has a vital place.

happy new month to all my brothers and sisters from Itu. may God bleed us all . Mfon Ekpenyong.