Nation
RSG To Provide Electricity For All Communities
The Rivers state Government on Friday stated its resolve to provide electricity in all communities in the State.
Making this declaration during the offficial commissioning of the Abua Central Electrifiction Project in Ayama, Abua, the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotomi Amaechi said this is part of the policy of he Government.
“The policy of the government of Rivers State is that every community in the State will be electrified. That is the commitment of he government”, he said. Governor Amaechi, who was represented at the occasion by the secretary to he state govenrment, Hon. Magnus Abbe, however, stated that the electrification of any community is dependent on whether there is peace in such area.
He stated the importance of peace, which he hinted is a function of he presence of justice, saying that the people of Abua were happy because they had experience justice being acccorded them, folowing the electrification of the area, which, according to the people had been neglected by previous governments. “You cannot be a lover of peace of you are not a warrior for justice… peace is not the absence of war, it is the prevalence of justice.
“Anywhere you are where everybody feels that the right thing is being done and each person’s due is given to him, there will be peace”, he said, adding that “today Abua/Odual peope are gathered here in happiness and joy.
They will neither fight nor quarell anybody because what they expect, need and want is being given them. This is how we are going to bring peace to everywhere in Rivers State – by bring justice, fairness and equity into what we do, by standing up for what is right. “I want to assure you that as long as you continue to move the way you are behaving, as long as you remain united and focused, government projects will continue to find their way to Abua to be completed”, the Governor stated. Amaechi was refering to the peace that has returned to Abua after years of crisis which tore the commnity to shreds.
On their part, members of the community asssured the governmor of peace in the area, but also appealed for the electricity to be extended to all parts of Abua.
Dignitries who graced the occasion include the Commissioner for Power, Hon Augustine Wokocha and his information and comminication counterpart, Mrs Ibim Seminitari. Others are Hon Henry Ogiri, member representing Abua/Odual constituency, the State House of Assembly and Hon Udi Odum, Abua / Odual Local Government Area Chairman.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
