Education

World Book Capital: Port Harcourt Submits Bid

Published

14 years ago

June 18, 2012

The Rivers State Government, has thrown its weight behind the bid to host the 2014 World Book Capital City.

The Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi promised to assist the Rainbow Book Club to win the bid to host the event.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, who gave the assurance in Port Harcourt, Friday, stated that the bid is a testimony of the rapid transformation in the education sector of the state.

Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, said that education is free and compulsory in the state revealing that the Governor Amaechi-led administration has made available free books for every Rivers pupil, which have improved the reading habit of the youths.

Also supporting the bid, the Special Assistant to the President on Documentation representing the “Bring Back The Book” campaigns, Ms. Molara Woods, said the federal government is pleased with the bid.

According to Woods, education is one of the cardinal points of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda.

In her words! “The designation of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital City would strengthen ongoing efforts towards reviving of our reading culture”.

Speaking at the event, the founder of Rainbow Book Club, Ms. Koko Kalango said that Port Harcourt has joined ten other cities around the world in the bidding of the 2014 World Book Capital City (WBCC).

Ms Kalango expressed optimism that Port Harcourt would become the first city in sub-Saharan Africa to host the event.

She said that the programme would build on the legacy of its literary history and culture to expand its role and influence by attracting stakeholders in the publishing industry from across the continent to promote books and reading, meeting pressing development needs in Africa, in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goal.

According to her, World Book Capital City (WBCC) is a title bestowed by UNESCO to a city in recognition of the quality of its programmes to promote books and reading and the dedication of all players in the books industry, emphasising that Port Harcourt bid coincides with the centenary celebration of Nigeria.

The founder of the Rainbow Book Club, maintained that Port Harcourt is joining the bid because of the numerous literary activities it organizes annually which includes the garden City literary Festival and the Garden city Book Fair.

She noted that the city has come of age to host the event because of its major role in the general literary stage revealing that the Garden City Festival has been described by Thisday Newspaper as the biggest event of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In her words: “The annual Garden City Literary festival and Garden City Book Fair have attracted the participation of literary persons such as Nigeria’s Pro. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, J.P. Clerk, Ghana’s Ama Atta Aidoo and best of all, the people of Port Harcourt have embraced literature with an exciting annual calendar of book signings, author readings, literary circles and programmes for young people”.

“The bid proposes a rich variety of events to run through the World Book Capital year, which include scaling and strengthening of existing events in the city as well as launching a strategic activity that would ensure popular reach, accelerate the rate of literary promotion in the city and analyse writers from across the region, country and Africa”, she revealed.

The theme of the bid, she noted, “Books; Window to our World of Possibilities”, capture the simple but powerful concept that the act of reading books provides knowledge and exposure, thereby making the reader to be transported to new world, concept and ideas.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

Education

ENUC President tasks ASTEC foundation Schools on dedication, value oriented teaching

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

ASTEC Foundation Schools (AFS) owned by the seventh_ day adventist church had the distinct honour of hosting the President of the Eastern Nigeria Union Conference (ENUC), Pastor Onyebuchi Thomas Opara, on his first official pastoral visit to the institution Owerrita in Abia state, recently.

The visit which marked a significant moment in the history of the school, featured the dedication of the newly landscaped roads, dedication of renovated buildings and the consecration of pupils and staff.

The ENUC President who was accompanied by the President of the Aba North Conference (ANC), Pastor Henry Emeka Nwankwo, further emphasized the importance of the visit and the strong support of the Church leadership toward the advancement of Adventist education.

It is noteworthy that Pastor Onyebuchi Thomas Opara also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Management of ASTEC, demonstrating his deep commitment to the institution’s progress and mission.

Addressing the teachers students and pupils of the college at Owerrenta in Abia state over the weekend,Pastor Opara charged the teachers to see themselves as missionaries within the school system, emphasizing the need to model Christ-like character and values before the pupils entrusted to their care.

He encouraged them to regard their profession as a divine calling, shaping both the intellectual and spiritual lives of the learners.

In his welcome address, the Principal of ASTEC, Pastor Ahaoma Chigozirim Nwanma, PhD, warmly received the distinguished guests. He expressed heartfelt appreciation to the ENUC leadership for their continued support and commitment to the growth of the Adventist institution and humbly solicited their prayers for the staff and pupils.

The Headmistress of ASTEC Foundation Schools, Mrs. Charity Nwankwo, delivered the vote of thanks, and expressed deep gratitude to Pastor Opara for his pastoral visit and dedicatory prayers. She also acknowledged Pastor Henry Emeka Nwankwo and the ASTEC community leadership team for their consistent support, guidance, and commitment to the development of the Foundation Schools.

A special recognition was accorded to the PTA Chairman, Hon. (MG) Uzoma George, for his invaluable contributions and steadfast support to the school.

The visit was graced by ASTEC community leaders, as well as members of AFS staff and pupils, who gave a warm and enthusiastic reception to the visiting dignitaries.

The visit and dedication ceremony reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Church and school leadership to fostering a conducive learning environment that promotes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and character development.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Opobo Kingdom moves to incorporate Ibani Language Into School Curriculum, Takes Off April

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

In a bid to preserve the cultural heritage and promote the values of Opobo Kingdom, the Ibani Language will be reinstated and incorporated into the various communities and institutions of learning.

This reinstatement was declared by the Amanyanabo-Elect of Opobo Kingdom, Alabo Charles Douglas MacPepple-Jaja, Jeki VI , saying that the initiative will take effect from next month

The Amanyanabo-Elect made this statement during his speech recently in port Harcourt,where he stated that the initiative was a key component hinged on his five-point agenda.

The Monarch explained that the goal was to enhance the indigenous language and incorporate everyone at different strata including children and youths from ages 4-16.

The King Elect further added that, in order to achieve this, there would be deployment of modern multimedia tools to facilitate the process.

The Monarch also assured that research techniques will be deployed as there will be partnership with schools and communities across the Opobo clan.

He maintained that the execution of the project is a major step in the preservation of the Ibani Language and Cultural heritage of the people.

Education

NUJ demands strong actions in revamping education in Rivers

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

Members of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have taken bold steps regarding the deteriorating educational standards across the state and called for urgent government actions to stem the tide. They argued that both basic and secondary schools across the 23 local government areas of the state require state government action towards restructuring the highly decayed infrastructure.

This was part of the eight-point communique reached at the end of the special congress of the union in Port Harcourt to mark the first-year anniversary of the present union leadership in the state. The union observed that if no immediate government action is taken to address the infrastructural decay in public schools in the state, the educational future in the state will be a mirage.

The communiqué signed by

Mr. Paul Bazia -Nsaneh

Chairman NUJ Rivers State Council ,

Ijeoma Tubosia Ph.D

Secretary NUJ Rivers State Council , and members of the

Communique Drafting Committee.

Dr. Justice Ihunwo – Chairman ,

Dr. Joy Grant-Amadi – Secretary and

Mr. Chukwudi Ejimofor – Member reaffirmed the position of the union on the state affairs and the nation at large.

The union also urged the state government, as a matter of urgent public concern, to commence the immediate employment of new teachers to fill the gaps caused by the dearth of teachers, stressing the need to post the would-be new teachers to local communities that are lacking teaching manpower.

Recently, the newly appointed Commissioner for Education in the state, Dr. Peters Nwagor, reaffirmed his commitment to implementing transformative education with the sole purpose of achieving inclusive and equitable learning across the state.

We hope that the commissioner will match his words with action and swing into action to give schools in the state a breath on new academic life.

By: Akujobi Amadi