The Rivers State branch of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Alumni Association Friday, conferred honours to five worthy members of the association who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and contributed to the development of the society.

The five distinguished awardees who received the honour during the 7th public lecture of the ABU Alumni Association organised by the State branch, held at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt, include Mr. B. A. Hassan, commissioner of Police, Rivers State and Mrs. Esther Anucha, Head of Service, Rivers State.

Others are Bishop I. C. O. Kattey, Archbishop Anglican Communion, Rivers State, Prof. Tokubiye G. Sokari, Rector Rivers State Polytechnic Bori and Arc E. H. Etteh, Executive Director projects, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Speaking at the occasion, the state chairman of the association, Dr. Jessica Ezekiel Hart stated that the occasion was aimed at bringing stakeholders together to deliberate on topics that are bogging the mind of every Nigerian adding that this year’s lecture topic entitled “Strategies for Solving the Niger Delta Problem” is introduced to address some issues threatening the corporate existence of the country.

She stated that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s effort at repackaging a new Niger Delta is a noble initiative, adding that this lecture, would contribute its quota to the proposed strategies and agenda of the federal government in the Niger Delta development.

The ABU state chairman of the Alumni, opined that the association had in past years pioneered efforts at creating synergies between the forum, corporate bodies and the university in its effort to provide and improve the infrastructural needs  of the university.

She urged members of the state Alumni not to renege in their efforts at contributing to the development of the university, adding that it was the responsibility of all to make the institution remain great among the various universities in the country.

In his speech, the chairman of the occasion, Prof. Nimi Briggs commended the association for their pivotal roles in the development of the institution and urged them to continue in such spirit.

He thanked the association for recognising the contributions made by the awardees noting that such gesture would spur people to contribute to the societal development even as he, congratulated all the awardees.

Also speaking, the acting Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Prof. Z. U. Umoh opined that the state branch of the Alumni has done their institution proud.

Presenting his lecture titled “Strategies for Solving the Niger Delta Problem” the guest lecturer, Prof. Emmanuel O. Okoro identified economic crisis as the major causes of the Niger Delta problem, adding that the existing arrangement which excludes the people of the region from benefiting directly from resources in their land was fundamentally unjust to the Niger Delta.

He opined that an intellectual framework for a sustainable world class living standard for Niger delta people could be achieved through deploying creative ideas to produce relevant goods and services on the basis of a Private Public Partnership (PPP) economy.