News
Amaechi Tasks RSUST Board On Excellence
Governor Chibuike Amaechi, has charged the 11th Governing
Board of the state University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt
to sustain its strides in making the
institution a first class learning centre.
Rt Hon Amaechi gave the charge yesterday, when he
inaugurated the new board headed by two-time Pro-Chancellor of the institution,
Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte in Port
Harcourt.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr
George Feyii, the governor observed that the university had highly been
transformed in the past four years.
“We are happy that four years down the line, you are in a
position whereby from the assessment you have received from the National
Universities Commission (NUC), we can say yes, the character, the students you
are churning out are okay. We can say
yes that in respect to learning, you are also okay, the governor remarked.
While reiterating the resolve of his administration to
upgrade education, Amaechi pointed out that education remains the only vehicle
of empowering the citizenry to favourably compete anywhere.
He, therefore, charged the new board to maintain the tempo
of transforming the university, as he lauded them in the reduction of cultism,
and achieving over 90 per cent accreditation of all its courses.
Responding, chairman of the board, Justice Karibi-Whyte
assured that they were poised to leave a
lasting legacy in the institution, “ the institution lives forever, but the
human beings and the students come and
go. So, whoever comes in should do everything to build the institution to a
lasting legacy”.
The former Supreme Court Justice averred that the university
remains one of the best state-owned universities in the country, and assured
that the board would do all in its power to consolidate on its past
achievements.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State University of Science and
Technology has gotten accreditation for Architecture and Land Surveying in Environmental
Studies.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Barineme Fakae made
the disclosure in a chat with newsmen shortly after being inaugurated for a
second term by the state governor.
With the development, Prof Fakae said the school could now
admit students in all its programmes.
Prof Fakae stressed that the institution was poised to
consolidate on its ICT development, “I think anybody who would want to see
where we are going to should be able to go to our university to understand that
we are the foremost university in the country that is ICT-driven”.
He hinted that the university would commence another
academic session in October and debunked insinuations that the institution had
lost one academic session, “we have done our first set admission and we are on
our second set admission and I remember that our session will be starting in
October. We are ahead of time and we are doing very well”, he further asserted.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
