Rivers

RSG Urged To Sustain RSNC

Published

14 years ago

December 5, 2011

The former President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Senibo Sofiri, Bobo Brown has appealed to the Rivers State Government to evolve policies that would promote the sustainability of the state-owned Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), “The Tide, so as to enable the newspaper serve the purpose for which it was established.

Senibo Sofiri Bobo Brown made the appeal during the lecture session of the programme of events to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the newspaper corporation held at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt last Friday.

The former NIPR boss who chaired the lecture session explained that the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), The Tide was established by the first Military Administrator of the old Rivers State, Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff as a platform to bear the identity of the state in the then contemporary Nigerian society.

He stated that The Tide was established to be the voice of the southern minorities and served as an avenue for which the state could compete among other states in the country.

According to the former president of the NIPR, The Tide also serves as a torch bearer to the people of the state, adding that the Southern Nigeria used the establishment of various state print media to maintain their identity in the country.

“Our people tried to be heard through political participation, struggle to exist but of no avail. We have The Chronicle, Observer and The Tide, all were created to bear the identity of the region and give life to the people,” he stated.

He called on the state government to assist the corporation especially in the area of finance to enable it keep the faith of the founding fathers alive, adding that the corporation reminds the people of their history in the emerging Nigerian nation.

The chairman commended the management and staff of the corporation on the 40th anniversary celebration and urged them to continue to keep the spirit alive.

In his address at the event, the General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), Mr. Celestine Ogolo stated that the newspaper remains unarguably the only surviving and thriving state-owned newspaper in Nigeria.

Mr. Ogolo noted that the newspaper had operated in consonance with the dictates of modern information and communication technology, and had rightfully assumed its place as the authoritative voice of the Niger Delta which is a fulfillment of the dreams of the founding fathers.

The general manager disclosed that the RSNC was established by Edict No 11 of 1971 by the then Military Administrator, Commander Alfred Diete-Spiff which propelled the first launch of copy of the newspaper in Lagos on December 1, 1971 while the actual marketing and circulation of the newspaper started on December 4, the same year.

He recalled that the newspaper had led other newspapers in the early 70’s due to the robust government’s funding and the state of the art facilities it had, adding that the corporation had over the years been the major lubricant, catalyst and driver of the development paradigm of the state.

Mr. Ogolo lauded the founding fathers for their dreams that led to the establishment of the paper, adding that at 40 years of its existence, both the government and the people of the state should be delighted and proud that the newspaper had survived and met its mandate to Rivers State.

The general manager, while thanking various successive governments of the state for their efforts in keeping the newspaper afloat at a time when all government-owned newspapers in the country had either gone under or were managing to retain their sizeable staff assured that the newspaper would continue to fulfil its objectives to the people despite the huge challenges facing it.

Earlier in their separate lectures presentations, entitled “media-oil industry partnership for sustainable Development and the state media: the way forward presented by professor Ben Naanen and Mr. Ray Ekpu.

In his presentation, Prof Ben Naanen defined sustainable development as any development that meets the needs of the present without compromising he ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

He said given by the role of the media, the media would over has been vocal in exposing he environmental crimes of oil companies likening such relationship between the oil companies and the media as analogous to that between cat and the mouse.

However, he said the media can help in shaping and in generating awareness of oil companies especially in community solid responsibility programmes.

Mercy Awari & Beauty Abraham

Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

1 day ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided by Justices P. I. Ajoku, P. I. Ayua and S. I. Mark has convicted and sentenced four middle aged men to various jail terms over their involvement in fraud.

They are Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, and Emmanuel Linus, who may be dwellers on the Port Harcourt Correctional facility until their bail conditions are met.

Their prosecution is at the instance of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges.

The charges, the Court noted, bordered on impersonation, Advance Fee Fraud, and Obtaining Money under false pretence.

The charge against Chinweobo reads: “That you, Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo (a.k.a. Philip James) sometime in 2024, in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained the sum of One Thousand Great Britain Pounds (£1,000 only), from Marinela Gabriela, a Caucasian American, when you represented yourself to be Philip James, a military man from California, serving in Syria, who pretended to be in a marital relationship with Marinela Gabriela, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

That of Ugochukwu reads: “That you, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, on or about the 14th day of May, 2025, at Alakhahia axis of Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained from one Grey the sum of Eight Hundred United States of America dollars ($800 only), under the false pretence that you are Amanda Pappers, a citizen of the United States of America which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded guilty to their charges, following which prosecution counsels, A. Chukwuegwu and G. C Ngborokwu, tendered incriminating documents in evidence against them and urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The Defence counsels, G. N. Chukwu, Yemi Ogunleye, A. O. Secondus and Chigozie Umunnakwem, on their part, prayed the courts to temper justice with mercy on the ground that the defendants were first time offenders.

Justice Ajoku, however, convicted and sentenced Chinweobo and Linus to 30 months in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, each or to pay N200,000 respectively.

Their sentences are to run concurrently and began from the date of their arrest.

Justice Ajua convicted and sentenced Ugochukwu to one year jail term or to pay 50,000 fine, while Justice Mark convicted and sentenced Samuel to two years in prison or to pay N900,000 fine.

In addition to their jail terms, they deposed to affidavit of good behaviour and forfeited a Techno mobile phone, a Samsung Galaxy phone, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone X, iPhone 16 Pro, an iPad and Lexus ES 350, recovered from them at the scene of their arrest to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest by the Commission, sometime in April, 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.

King Onunwor