Connect with us

News

RSG, SPDC Partner To Reverse Education Fortunes

Published

on

The Rivers State Government, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership (DCGEP) have expressed commitment to reversing the falling standard of education with a new page in integrated multimedia education resource application in primary schools in the state.

The $2million (approximately N320million) four-year pilot programme is designed to revolutionise teaching and learning in 20 select primary schools across Rivers State with the introduction of educational video programming in the teaching of various subjects from mathematics, basic science subjects, including physics, chemistry, biology, geography, environmental science, as well as information and communication technology (ICT) application and general social sciences.

The partners project positive impact and new chapter in educational capacity and capability of more than 600 teachers, 12,000 students and 35,000 community members by 2014, while community ownership and sustainability of resource centres are the long-term drive of the programme.

Speaking at the official launch of the SPDC-DCGEP Learning Centre Initiative at Model Primary School, Elekahia, last Thursday, Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, said the government’s policy of building 750 world-class primary schools across the 23 local government areas was aimed at bridging the yawning academic imbalance and opportunities between children of the rich and poor while providing a veritable launching pad to reverse the ugly trend in the education sector in the state.

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Clifford Ofuru, the commissioner noted that the novel multimedia educational window “has a good fit with the strategy of the Rivers State Government in the education sector, which has involved an ambitious upgrade of primary and secondary school infrastructure”, and expressed happiness that “the programme would complement the efforts of the state government in improving teaching and learning in primary schools.”

While advising teachers and pupils to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the facilities to enhance their academic performances, the government tasked Shell to look beyond the 20 primary schools, and fashion out how to assist in upgrading the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching and learning in the adult and non-formal education centres, just as they consider up-scaling the reach of the project to more primary schools across the state.

Managing Director, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, said “the launching marks the successful start-up of a four-year project to provide, in close collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Education, teacher training and support to integrate educational video programming in the classrooms.”

Sunmonu, who is also the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, said, “we are pleased to be part of this initiative to boost education at the primary school level…, it takes our support for education, which began in the 1960s, to a new level”, adding that, “the primary school is a good place to begin if we are to help our children to identify and develop their talents.”

He said with the completion of installation of multimedia educational video programming facilities in the 20 schools dotted across some five local government areas of the state, 245 teachers have already been trained, while 7,050 students are applying the tools in learning, just as over 21,150 community members have improved their skills with the facility.

The Shell managing director projected that in the next three years, 49,315 stakeholders would have benefited, including 639 teachers, about 12,169 students and 36,500 community members, adding that the long-term goal of the project is a major reversal of the dwindling fortunes of education so as to enable the state compete favourably with others across the world.

In his remarks, President, Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, Aric Noboa, said the aim is to use the power of media to transform education and improve lives in under-resourced schools and communities around the world, noting that with the launch of the project, Discovery Channel was now poised more than ever before to train and mentor teachers to improve their versatility, effectiveness, cognitive and language skills, as well as motivation to impart sound academic knowledge in their students as a catalyst for enhancing education in the state.

Represented by the Programme Director, Mashala Kwape, the president said, “we know from evaluations of our work elsewhere in Nigeria and beyond, that the learning centre initiative consistently leads to enhanced teacher effectiveness, student interest in learning and academic performance,” and added that, “we look forward to the same results in Rivers State.”

In their separate testimonies, both teachers and students expressed satisfaction with the level of improvements recorded so far since the deployment of the learning aids in their schools, and promised to make effective use of the facilities to turnaround the glory of education in the state.

Continue Reading

News

I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

Published

on

The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

Continue Reading

News

RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Published

on

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

Continue Reading

News

Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

Published

on

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

Continue Reading

Trending