Opinion

The Youth And Future Leadership

Published

14 years ago

November 28, 2011

What does the future hold for the average Nigerian youth? Are the majority of the youths fully engaged? If the nation fails in empowering the youth, it is most certain that social conditions might make them occupy themselves with that which is not glorifying and dignifying.

Who are the youths? Let me take as illustration, from teenagers to those who are 49 years as the youths. What are people saying about them?

The society calls them promising nation builders, the socio-political system calls them future leaders; and the church leaders call them the pillars of the church.

The economists in their classification of the human life show how each era succeeds the other. A child at infancy to 18 years depends on the parents. The child later grows up and becomes father or mother with responsibilities. It is this stage that Prof. Tekena Tamuno of the Economics Department, University of Port Harcourt, calls the working class, which I will dwell on a little. It is clear that when parents are old and can not fend for themselves as a result of old age, the children who are the working class take care of them. Thus, parents depend on their children at their old age!

My concern, therefore, is that our youths (tomorrow’s leaders) must not be allowed to waste away. It is equally true that government cannot do everything, yet they can assist greatly in order to help our youths to be ganged in one activity or the other. I am not an economist or prophet of doom; but I still have my reservations or permutation that the workers in different ministries and parastatals far out-number the youths that are unemployed. Wherein lies the problem? We are not saying the problem is illiteracy; neither can we say it is incapacitation.

Government, in its own way, should create thousands of jobs yearly to meet up with the burden of today’s unemployment rate. My heart was troubled on Friday, 17th of June, when yet another set of thousands of NYSC members were participating in the passing out parade at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt. Imagine the proportion or addition such number across the states will be for the 36 states of the federation. My guess is as good as yours.

This is not the time for government to fold hands. The Ministry of Economic Planning should put the youths in its yearly employment plans even if it will be hundreds or thousands of jobs. I know the private sector players are also doing their best. However, if the ministries of youths and economic planning take this into consideration religiously every year, the turn-over yearly will make government and the governed to have the last laugh.

It reminds me of a few weeks ago when the Rivers State Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment was carrying out an employment scheme for youths. I went to see for myself but the crowd scared me. I have to beat a retreat after inquiring what was happening. In fact the number of youths who stormed the venue was startling.

I advise government to execute the plan, since the youths have confidence in the government. Employment must be on merit and should not be politicized. It is my prayer that majority of the youths will be employed while government sustains the scheme for the future growth of the nation.

Recently, governments disarmed the militants and engaged them meaningfully. However, the “Boko Haram” religious sect operating in our neighbouring states in the North is still threatening the existence of the federation as more killings, bombings, among others, are still being unleashed in broad day light by jobless youths.

Let’s look at it, if the government takes it as a policy to employ 2,000 to 5,000 youths every year in productive activities while also engaging the remaining ones in non-violent activities through skills training and inculcation of morals in them while awaiting their time of employment, this ugly situation will recede. I want to see Nigeria so strong like America operating the same federal system like us (even if there are some imperfections in the Nigerian system) to care for the youths, employ and empower them. Since wastage demands weeping, I believe the government, in each state, should compile names of those unemployed and those employed. Though the work is not easy but it is worth the effort.

Government has great responsibility, mostly here in Rivers State. The throngs of employable youths scattered here and there calls for weeping and mourning. The Chibuike Amaechi administration can help a little before the four-year tenure elapses. We expect to see sufficient investment in and employment of more youths of the state in productive and sustainable activities.

The future rests on the youths. They must not do anything evil or inimical to development. Government needs to urgently come to their aid. The Niger Delta states need not cry over poverty. Most youths have certificates but they also have aged parents. Truly, it calls for lamentation.

Frankly speaking, the only way Rivers youths can crush poverty is through meaningful employment, vocational and skills acquisition programme. These precious youths must not waste away. Their tears, aged parents, certificates, gifts and natural endowments must also not waste away. The youths are today’s seed planted for tomorrow’s leadership. Let’s not allow them to waste anymore.

Harry writes from Port Harcourt.

Amaechi’s Governance: An Appraisal

POLITICS; 1

Felix Okogbule

The present democratic dispensation in the state under the leadership of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has significantly been described differently by people with equally varying degrees of opinion.

This is reflected in the popular hackneyed cliche of different strokes for different folks.

Notwithstanding the misconception about the government particularly by the opposition political parties, the Governor has continued to add more feathers to his cap, thanks to the federal government for recognizing the contributions of Governor Amaechi towards the development of Rivers State and indeed Nigeria by honouring him with the Commander of the Ortder of the Niger (CON).

Just recently, the governor left no one in doubt about his determination to make a difference in the leadership of the state. He probably must have taken some tutorials and wants to break away from the past to avoid been hunted by history for acts of Omission or commission while superintending over the affairs of the state.

The governor took a bold initiative when members of his cabinet, Permanent Secretaries and all heads of other model Songhai farm in Bunu, Tai local government area to take critical retrospective analysis of his administration’s first tenure and to design a road map for the last lap of the government to ensure a clean departure from the morass of abandoned projects upon leaving office.

The environment was serene, atmosphere pleasantly conducive for meaningful discussion and the event was the 2011 strategy Retreat organized by the State government for top functionaries of government to take stock of previous performances with a view to proffering workable perameters for achieving sutainable development and thereby fulfilling the electioneering campaign promises to Rivers people.

When the governor visited the state Songhai farm earlier in one of his inspection tours, and told newsmen that the farm settlement would be the venue for the State Strategy retreat for the egg heads in government, not many people believed that the pronouncement had a pinch of salt, including yours truly.

The reason for our unbelief were simply based on the antecedents of past government retreats or call it executive talk shows where new government officials get their baptism in the practice of protocols which involves all the attributes of those serving in government such as telling deliberate falsehood except for the mysterious God that is all-knowing.

To the dismay of many, the retreat gathered the long and mighty serving in the present administration at the Songhai farm as against the luxury of a five-Star hotel or its equivalent for one week that the programme lasted. While many criticized the decision for virtually shutting down government business during the period, others were of the view that the approach demonstrated the importance the governor attaches to the outcome of the brain storming session to aid in realizing the vision of the government.

Another underlying benefit is the improvement in facilities provided at the Songhai Farm which has been transformed into an agro-tourist centre for the state as over 60 retreat participants were accommodated at the farm including the state chief executive himself. This obviously had reinjected funds into the system rather than expending huge funds in a private hotel either in Port Harcourt or any other city like Calabar.

Addressing participants at the opening session, Governor Amaechi charged them to painstakingly pin-point flaws inherent in the government desire to serve Rivers people better. In his usual characteristics, he raised a number of mind bgoggling questions bordering on honesty, transparency and accountability as well as the perception of the people on the performance of the government after the first – tenure.

He prophetically opined that the popularity earned by his administration is diminishing faster than the evening shadow and warned political appointees to jettison the euphoria of being in office and guard their loins for service, noting that the retreat was designed at proffering solution to the leakages in government structure to meet the yearnings of the people by delivering dividends of democracy to them.

The governor provoked and challenged participants in these words, “have we achieved our objective in government? The answer is certainly no, therefore you must work out template that would drive the road map towards realizing the vision of the present administration”, and directed all the commissioners to itemize projects not completed in their various Ministries for proper funding, monitoring and eventual completion.

It is no longer news that the determination and focus of government is to consolidate on the progress made by the administration in providing social infrastructure for the people that would uplift the living standard but the despicable act of leaving government projects unmonitoried perverts the trite presage of delivering quality services to the people.

There is no gain saying the fact that only the visioner can propel his vision to frustration, although, inspite of the enthused criticism of some of the state government’s policies and programmes, credit must be given to the visible effort to reposition the state for a better tomorrow by the present administration.

The retreat which had resource papers from renowed experts in different fileds also witnessed presentation of progress reports by some ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which were critically assessed in an attempt to arriving at potent threashold for “deliverables”.

In responding to the Palpable and Manifest distract, suspicion and lack of genuine interest to completing contractual obligation by government contractors, the participants resolved to identify plausible ways of averting delays in project execution while those found culpable of collecting money and fail to carry out such projects would face the full weight of the law.

It is imperative to mention that the enactment of the law and the establishment of a Bureau on Public Procurement (BoPP) otherwise called Due Process was not to cause delay in the execution of government projects but to ensure compliance with best practices in award of contracts to check manipulation associated with the exercise in the past.

However, they are to function to save funds and to realise that government needs to fulfill its promises of better services to the people within the short time available.

To that effect, it has become necessary to strengthen institutions of government through energy within the system to have an integrated coordination of executing programmes and policies of government to avoid duplication. The road map to 2015 had been streamlined by inputting methods of measuring and evaluating performance by giving time lag to the completion of projects as the monitoring and supervision inter ministerial committee under the office of the Secretary to the state government would ensure strict adherence.

According to the governor, government did not feign ignorance of the suffering of residents of Port Harcourt and its environs especially during the rainy period but had consistently appealed for patience and ancillary understanding. No wonder that remedical work are being carried out in some bad portions of the road while road contractors have equally been mobilized to site to capitalize on the dry season and complete their jobs.

The Secretary to State Government Mr. George Feyii, said the retreat was to come together, chart a news course on the direction of government by looking critically at the present situation and come up with a strategy that would take the administration to where it is expected to be in the next four years.

In seeking for greater productivity that would generate economic growth, lawlessness display on the roads which result in loss of man-hours will be curtiailed if traffic laws are obeyed. Thereore TIMA-RIV should be encouraged to step up the good work to ensure sanity on the roads.

Similarly, the much anticipated influx of investors into the state as the hub of oil and gas business in Nigeria as evident in the interest shown at the just concluded Rivers State Investors’ Forum 2011, would amount to a nullity if security of lives and property cannot be guaranteed. To cash in on the enthusiasm of foreign investors that would ultimately create employment opportunities for the teeming youths, residents of the State must cooperate with security agencies by giving information of surreptitious movements of men of the under world around their vicinity.

A common parable says that a good dance begins with the first step, it is hoped that the step taken by Governor Amaechi in the selection of his team and the zeal to actualize the target of bequeathing a legacy in the governance of the state would be pursued with greater vigour we match towards the terminal date of the government. History will tell.

Tamunoemi Harry

Opinion

Ndifon’s Verdict and University Power Reform

Published

12 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”But beyond the courtroom victory lies a pressing question: What next? How do we ensure that Nigerian universities no longer serve as hunting grounds for predatory academics? How do we guarantee that students—especially young women—can pursue education without fear of victimization?”

The conviction of Professor Cyril Ndifon, suspended Dean of Law at the University of Calabar, to five years in prison by the Federal High Court Abuja, provided a rare moment of relief amid the week’s troubling national events. Beyond punishing one individual, the judgment signaled that accountability—especially regarding sexual harassment and abuse of power in Nigerian higher institutions—may finally be gaining traction. For years, many students, especially young women, have quietly endured intimidation, coercion, and the misuse of academic privilege. Reports and surveys have consistently shown the depth of this problem. A 2018 World Bank survey estimated that 70% of female graduates had faced some form of sexual harassment in school, while a Nigerian study recorded sexual violence as the most common form of gender-based violence on campuses.

Ndifon’s case has therefore become symbolic—challenging the belief that powerful academics can act with impunity. Justice James Omotosho’s ruling went beyond the conviction; it exposed the systemic rot that enables abuse. His description of Ndifon as a predator highlighted how institutions fail when they lack strong, independent structures for accountability. Although the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, many similar cases never reach court because victims remain afraid, discouraged, or convinced that the system will not protect them. A major difference in this case was that a government agency fulfilled its responsibility rather than letting the matter fade, as often happens with campus scandals. Too often, allegations arise but internal committees stall, victims lose hope, and the accused quietly escape consequences.

This time, however, the judiciary refused to allow such evasion. The court’s decision to center the victims and dismiss attempts to discredit them set an important precedent at a time when survivors are often blamed or pressured into silence. Yet the bigger question remains: What next? How can Nigerian universities become safe spaces where students, particularly young women, can pursue education without fear? First, reporting systems must be overhauled. Traditional structures—where complaints pass through heads of departments or deans—are inadequate, especially when senior officers are the accused. Independent, gender-sensitive complaint bodies are essential. Some institutions, such as the University of Ibadan and Godfrey Okoye University, have already taken steps by establishing gender-mainstreaming units. Other universities must follow suit, ensuring confidentiality, protection from backlash, and transparent investigations.

Second, proven cases of harassment must attract real consequences—not quiet transfers or administrative warnings. Sexual exploitation is not a mere disciplinary issue; it is a crime and should be promptly escalated to law-enforcement agencies. Treating criminal behaviour as an internal matter only emboldens perpetrators. Third, students must feel safe to speak up. As a senior lecturer at the University of Abuja advised, silence fuels impunity. Students need to believe that justice is attainable and that they will be supported. This requires consistent sensitization efforts by student unions, civil society groups, gender advocacy organizations, and ministries of women affairs. New students, in particular, need early guidance to understand their rights and available support systems. The recent approval of the Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025, prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for educators convicted of harassment, is a step in the right direction.

Quick presidential assent and domestication by states will strengthen legal protection. As Nelson Mandela said, “A society that fails to protect its women cannot claim to be civilized.” This principle must guide Nigeria’s legislative and institutional reforms. The legal profession has its own soul-searching to do. Law faculties are expected to model ethics and justice. When a senior law academic betrays these values, the damage extends beyond the victims—it undermines confidence in both higher education and the justice system. The judiciary’s firm stance in this case therefore reinforces the idea that the law exists to protect the vulnerable, not shield the powerful. Yet, this moment should not end with celebration alone; it must ignite a broader institutional awakening. Universities must begin to review their staff appraisal systems to include behavioural ethics, not just academic output.

Governing councils should strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure that disciplinary processes are free from internal politics. Alumni associations and parents’ forums can also play a monitoring role, demanding higher standards of conduct from staff and administrators. Importantly, the government must provide universities with the financial and technical support needed to establish functional gender desks, counselling units, and digital reporting platforms. Only when all stakeholders take ownership of the problem can lasting reform be achieved. Professor Ndifon’s sentencing represents justice for one victim, but it must inspire justice for many more. It should mark the beginning of a nationwide resolve to reclaim Nigerian universities from those who misuse authority. The future of education in this country must be shaped by knowledge, dignity, and integrity—not fear or manipulation. The judgment is a call to action: to build campuses where students are safe, where lecturers are held accountable, and where power is exercised with responsibility. Only then can Nigeria truly claim to be nurturing the leaders of tomorrow.

By: Calista Ezeaku

Opinion

As Nigeria’s Insecurity Rings Alarm

Published

12 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria a Country of Special Concern and further threats to intervene in countries experiencing religious persecution reflect a growing international concern regarding Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.”

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming evolution of insecurity that threatens not only the stability of the nation but also the broader West African region. Bandit attacks on schools, farms, mosques, and Christian worship centers have become distressingly commonplace, painting a grim picture of a country under siege from multiple fronts. The rise of kidnappings for ransom, coupled with the persistent threat of terrorism from groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, has ignited fears among communities and hampered economic activities. As neighboring Sahel countries grapple with coups and the spread of extremist ideologies, Nigeria finds itself at a precarious crossroads that demands urgent attention and action.

According to media tally, about 2,496 students have been abducted in 92 school attacks since the Chibok saga of 2014. And prompted by recent incidents in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states, where hundreds of pupils were abducted, state governments across northern Nigeria are shutting down, or relocating schools. Even the federal government last week, via the Federal Ministry of Education hastily ordered principals of 41 unity schools across northern Nigeria, to shut-down.The increasing frequency and audacity of bandit attacks highlight a troubling trend in Nigeria’s security landscape. Schools, once seen as sanctuaries for learning, have become targets for kidnappers seeking to exploit vulnerable students. These attacks not only disrupt education but also instill fear in families, leading to mass withdrawals from schools. Should we raise a generation of children deprived of their right to education?

Similarly, farms and places of worship have not been spared. Communities that once thrived on agriculture and faith, now live in constant dread of violent incursions. The targeted killings of Christians and attacks on mosques further exacerbate religious tensions, threatening to disrupt the social fabric that holds Nigeria together.The situation is compounded by the unsettling developments in the Sahel region, where coups and the rise of jihadist groups have created a volatile environment. The spillover effects of this instability are palpable in Nigeria, as extremist ideologies proliferate and armed groups gain confidence. The porous borders of the region facilitate the movement of militants and weapons, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerian authorities to contain the threats. As Nigeria struggles to secure its territory, the consequences of failure become more pronounced, with the potential for a broader regional crisis looming on the horizon.

President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria a Country of Special Concern and further threats to intervene in countries experiencing religious persecution reflect a growing international concern regarding Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation.

While such attention can bring much-needed awareness to the plight of affected communities, it also underscores a significant truth: the responsibility for addressing these challenges ultimately lies with the Nigerian government. The inaction and apparent inability to protect citizens from violence and ensure justice for victims send a troubling message about the state’s commitment to safeguarding its populace. The economic ramifications of this evolving insecurity are dire. Foreign investment, a critical driver of economic growth, is deterred by the pervasive violence and instability.

Investors are wary of committing resources to a country where the risk of loss is heightened by kidnappings and attacks on businesses.Additionally, agricultural production suffers as farmers abandon their lands, fearing for their safety. The recent upsurge in insecurity coincides with a crucial harvest season, when farmers need to recoup investment to finance the next round. A decline in harvests this year would reverse recent gains of recovery in food production and exacerbate poverty, further straining the nation’s resources. Socially, the implications of failing to tackle insecurity are profound. Mistrust in government institutions grows as citizens witness a lack of effective response to violence and crime. This erosion of faith can lead to civil unrests, as frustrated populations demand accountability and action.

Moreover, the vulnerability of young people in conflict-affected areas increases the risk of radicalization, as they seek identity and purpose in extremist movements that exploit their disillusionment. The South-East crisis is peculiar in this regard. The evolving insecurity in Nigeria is not merely a national crisis; it poses a significant threat to regional stability and international interests. The convergence of banditry, terrorism, and political instability in the Sahel creates a complex security environment that requires a coordinated response. The Nigerian government, in partnership with regional allies and international partners, must adopt a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of insecurity, strengthens law enforcement, and fosters community resilience.

It’s time Nigerians address all regional grievances with reconciliation and empathy, rather than with coercion. As citizens, civil society, and international stakeholders, it is crucial to advocate for effective policies that prioritize security, justice, development and inclusiveness. A collective effort is needed to ensure a safer, more stable future for Nigeria and the West African region. Ultimately, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. The path forward demands decisive action to restore security, rebuild trust, and ensure that all citizens can live without fear. The time for complacency has passed; the stakes are too high, and the consequences of inaction are too grave. A collective effort is essential to navigate this challenging landscape and forge a safer, more stable future for Nigeria and the West African region.

By: Joseph Nwankwor

Opinion

The Girl Who Didn’t Dance

Published

6 days ago

November 19, 2025

The Tide

Quote:”

This piece is, primarily, the story of the girl who refused to dance during my first public performance as a pop musician. The event was the birthday party of Okechukwu Ogbowu at the residence of Chief Moses Nma Ogbowu at Omoku in February 1968. Secondarily, it is the story of a group of Ogba/Egbema youths who the chiefs considered rebellious and should, therefore, be watched very carefully. These two anecdotes are woven together by the story of my foray into music as a career in my youth. In 1958, I went on holidays to the home of my uncle Eze JNA Nwachuku at Ahoada. There, I heard a very strange music that tickled my preteen fancy to the point I started singing it using words I made up; I was eight. Back to Alinso Okeanu (Beach) after the holidays, the kids in the cosmopolitan community were wowed by my air and swag while singing the very strange song.

Years later, I learned the real words of the jazz classic “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles. At fifteen, I was arraigned before a juvenile court in Omoku for singing a love song that contained the word “kiss” to the princess of Ogbaland at Ahia Orie market square; though discharged and acquitted, I was bound over to be of good behavior for six months. At sixteen, I got de-robed from the choir of St. Michael’s Church, Omoku for buying a guitar and audaciously changing my name from Enoch. At seventeen, I had my debut at Okechukwu’s birthday party where the girl, who is the primary focus of this piece, did not dance. During the party. I performed three songs: (1) “All My Loving” by The Beatles, which was the song that took me to the juvenile court, (2) “Midnight Hour” by Wilson “Wicked” Pickett and (3) “Please Don’t Tease” by Cliff Richard.

These songs are laden with amorous innuendos and have the words “kiss” and “love”, which were considered sacrilegious in those days. The veiled explicitness of Wicked Pickett’s lyricism didn’t help matters either; it added to the excitement, which became more palpable and the connection between crowd and artiste grew more profound, when Innocent Masi (now Dr. IA Masi mni) placed a five shillings note on my forehead. Everyone at the party virtually summersaulted on the dance floor, which was the interior balcony of Ogbowu’s house, the most beautiful house in Omoku then. The next day, the chiefs held an emergency meeting at the home of Chief S.O. Masi who was Commissioner of Onitsha Province during the First Republic; that province is now Anambra State. The single item on the agenda was the worrisome activities of the youths.

At the end of the meeting, a chief, whose name and the first book of the Gospels would tango smoothly to the rhythms and rhymes of poetry, threatened to shoot me if he ever saw me near his house with my jita. I perfectly understood his predicament; he had many pretty daughters. Poor fellow, unbeknownst to him, I was yet to know the difference between the birds and the bees. The next evening, Monday Wokocha (late Professor Addison), Gary Omo-Odi and I dared the chief in a daredevil episode that belongs in another narrative. He shot…in the air. That day, my parents seized my guitar and grounded me. Subsequently, my uncle Nwachuku whisked me off to Port Harcourt. Back to the party; yes, everyone at the party virtually summersaulted except a girl from Obite who didn’t step on the dance floor. She was slim, beautiful and quite tall for girls (even for boys) of that era; so, she stood very elegant.

Beyond the call-response greetings that characterize the socio-culture of the people of Ogba and Egbema, she was almost taciturn; she was shy and rarely spoke except when spoken to. However, she had a smile that lit up the environment as it contrasted with her ebony skin that glowed with the radiance of youth. I think Kamala Harris placed an order for that specific smile from the warehouse of the Divine on her way to this dimension. The girl who didn’t dance was Ngozi Elemele; daughter of Chief Samuel Elemele, a devout Christian, business man and highly patriotic Ogba man from Obite. Ngozi’s refusal (or was it inability?) to dance made us tease her that she has “two left legs” hence she couldn’t move them to the pulsating and compulsive rhythm of pop music. She just kept on smiling and that was an impregnable armor against our social arrows.

That calmness under relentless peer pressure earned her the moniker “Nwanjinwa” (Girl Nextdoor) amongst us; it contrasted with “Okoronwangbogbo”(prodigal son), which the vicar at St. Michael’s tagged me as he de-robed me from the choir. Those were the heady days of our lives. In 2024, a social commentator subjected the youths of Ogba/Egbema of that era to a critique. He observed that, irrespective of their youthful exuberance with a dose of mischief, that generation of Ogba/Egbema youths effectively took advantage of the ample educational opportunities provided by government immediately after the civil war. Also, he noted that that party produced four medical doctors, two lawyers, one architect, two general managers of parastatals, two chairmen of local government, three permanent secretaries, one head of service, three professors, and a deputy governor.

Concluding the analysis, the critic held that while many in the group held more than one position in the categorization, Ngozi Elemele, the girl who didn’t dance, held more top level public positions than the rest. She was Permanent Secretary, Commissioner, became Professor and is now Deputy Governor. Today, the Obite girl who didn’t dance at the party in 1968 is gracefully and elegantly waltzing at the center stage of Rivers State politics as Her Excellency, Prof Mrs. Ngozi Nma Odu DSSRS, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. Her excellent performance in public office is a product of decades of fierce focus on the future, dedication and devotion to duty, resolute resilience, humility and simplicity; years spent climbing the arduous ladder of mainstream bureaucracy from Grade Level 08 to the apex of the pyramid, serving as Commissioner and thereafter venturing into the intellectually challenging trajectory of academics and also peaking at the apex of professorship and, eventually, clenching the coveted position of Deputy Governor of Rivers State.

Naturally, I was very delighted and humbled by the honor and privilege of being chairman of the occasion where Akabuka Community honored Her Excellency with a grand reception on October 25, 2025. It was very gratifying that her boss, His Excellency Sir Siminalaye Fubara GSSRS, supportively graced the occasion as Special Guest of Honor, a reflection of humility and simplicity in high profile office, which is uncommon in our society. Who says focus, determination, drive and hard work do not pay? They did then; they do now and they always will. Are the youths of today listening? “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15).

Akparikolamo!!!

By: Jason Osai