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World Literacy Day: Group Plans Free Books For One Million Kids

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12 years ago

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As Rivers State joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Day of Literary, Port Harcourt-based non-governmental organization, centre for Development and Support Initiatives (CEPSI) is targeting one million school children in its text books distribution exercise.

The country Director of the centre, Mrs. Mina Ogbonga, who said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt said that more than 20,000 children have already benefited from the exercise.

Mrs Ogbonga said that the distribution exercise is part of the contributions of the centre towards the educational development of more than 500 targeted rural communities in the Niger Delta.

The CEDSI country Director said that apart from the free book distribution exercise, the centre in partnership with other agencies have embarked on the construction of schools and more than 30 libraries across the region.

She also said that, the organization has also supported over 50 libraries in the region white a number of public and private schools have been assisted to set up their own libraries, in addition to training of their librarians and teachers.

She stressed the need for the implementation of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) budgetary recommendations for education in Nigeria and the Niger Delta in particular.

Meanwhile, the centre for Development and Support Initiatives (CEDSI) says it has been consistent in the promotion of developmental activities around the Niger Delta and beyond within the last twelve years.

Country Director, Mrs. Mina Ogbonga, told The Tide that CEDSI has been involved in the promotion of sustainable development in rural communities especially in the areas of education, environment, energy, good governance and general community development.

She, however, said that the organization is being confronted with the problem of insufficient funding to meet the growing demands of its target communities, stressing that the organization is making efforts to raise funds, seek partnership and mobilized to see how it can sustainable empower the communities.

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Rivers

FG inaugurates PH-Aba Rail Project … As Train Service Begins 

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6 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

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The Federal Government has inaugurated the 6.2 kilometre (KM) Port Harcourt-Aba railway project, marking the start of train operations between Abia and Rivers States.
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Alkali, who said this at a ceremony in Port Harcourt, noted that the project was a crucial part of the 1,443km Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge rail project.
He said the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the project was the initial part of the Eastern narrow-gauge railway, aiming to connect five geo-political zones of the country.
“The Federal Government is pleased to inaugurate the train service from Port Harcourt to Aba, a key priority area of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“We are grateful to God for the completion of the Port Harcourt to Aba section, which will bring succour to the people.
“The Eastern narrow gauge covers five geo-political zones of the country, including South-South, South-East, North-Central, North- West and North-East”, he said.
Alkali said following the completion of the first segment and the start of commercial operations, work on the remaining part of the rail line would begin immediately.
“Shortly, we will take a train ride from Port Harcourt to Aba, which means that from today, passenger train service has commenced.
“We will continue the project from Aba to Enugu and from Port Harcourt to both Onne and Port Harcourt seaports for freight services.
“The ministry is currently in discussion with an investor to convert our locomotive from diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce transportation cost further”, he said.
The Minister assured Nigerians that arrangements were being made with security agencies to ensure adequate security along the rail routes.
He also announced free train rides from Port Harcourt to Aba between May 1 to May 4.
“The train will depart from Port Harcourt to Aba at 8 a.m. daily, while it will leave Aba to Port Harcourt at 3 p.m. daily.
“Full commercial operations will resume on May 7, 2024″, he said.
Muhammad Zakari, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, said the project when completed would boost trade, enhance mobility and connectivity between the Southern and Northern part of the country.
He said the segment of the project was contracted to Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) on October 16, 2020, with a 36-month completion timeline.
“But due to technical and contractual issues, the project commenced in March 2022, involving the construction of modern stations and procurement of new rolling stock.
“The railway line will also connect the seaports of Onne, Bonny, and Port Harcourt to facilitate evacuation of goods and sundry freight through the Eastern corridor”, he said.
Zakari emphasised that upon completing the Port Harcourt to Aba railway, the Federal Government would push CCECC to expedite the completion of the 181km Aba-Enugu section of the project.
He said he was optimistic that inauguration of the Port Harcourt to Aba rail service would stimulate economic activities between the South-South and South-East zones of the country.
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Rivers

Run Higher Education As Private Enterprise – Don

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6 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

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A lecturer at The University of Port Harcourt, Professor Chineze Monica Uche, has advocated  that higher education be run as a private enterprise in Nigeria.
Uche, who said this at the 187th  inaugural lecture of the University, said higher education should be run as an enterprise and be managed with enterprising leadership skills.
The lecture was titled, “Twenty First Century University Administration in Managing Higher Education As An Enterprise”.
According to the university Don, tertiary institutions need to transform their research products to enterprise and not just for library shelves, offices and homes.
She emphasized that the mantra,  “publish or perish”,  should be changed to “publish, patent and prosper”.
Professor Uche said “institutions have to be entrepreneurial and investment friendly, internationalized, globalized, ICT compliant, quality assurance driven, engaging in collaboration, partnerships and be anchored on effective and efficient leadership that is enterprising and profitable”.
She emphasized that a 21st century higher education should be quality based and technologically driven, noting that in managing higher education as an enterprise, the adminstrator should be an administrator per excellent and efficient manager.
“He’s a bureaucrat, a friend, colleague, politician and visionary transformation leader. If we manage our work well, be it teaching, research, learning, administration, we will prosper and make profit to ourselves, institutions and society at large. If not, we will be at loss and our stay here will be a waste”, she opined.
Professor Chineze Uche, whose husband, Sir igweka Uche, is a renowned entrepreneur, recommended among others, self development among higher education administrators, saying that “money is key to open doors, strategic innovation and alternative funding method should be involved in curriculum development”.
Peculiar Imegi
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Christ Embassy Lays Foundation For Tuition Free School In Rivers 

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6 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

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Christ Embassy Church has laid foundation for the construction of a tuition free school for the vulnerable in Rivers State.
The foundation for the school, which will accommodate over five hundred indigent pupils were laid at Atali in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the church in the promotion of education in the state.
The State commissioner for Education, Professor Chinedu Mmom, said this at the ground breaking ceremony of the inner city mission school building organised by Christ Embassy at Atali, Obiakpor Local Government Area.
Mmom, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr. Austin Ezekiel Hart, said the government will continue to partner with the church in raising children.
While thanking the Inner City Mission of Christ Embassy for the initiative, he said the government and the church will work together to uplift education in the state.
The Commissioner, However, said whatever school built by the church will be regulated by the Government.
Also speaking, the Zonal Pastor of Christ Embassy, Zone 1, Pastor Ameachi Udeaku, thanked the founder of the Church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for the vision of bringing education to the doorstep of every Nigerian child.
He said the school, which will be tuition free, will provide quality education to indigent children, not only in Atali Community, but in all other adjoining communities.
According to him, the construction of the school building, which will start immediately, will be completed in the next few months.
In a welcome address, the Director, Inner City Mission for Children Education,  Christ Embassy, Pastor Omo Alabi, said the school, which is the 16th globally and the 13th in Nigeria, will cater for the education of indigent children.
Omo Alabi said the school is located in  all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
According to her, the Atali project was the third so far in Africa within a month, adding that Malawi and Liberia were beneficiaries of the gesture.
She recommended Pastor Chris for the initiative, which, she said, will improve the education of indigent children not only in Africa, but across the world.
In his speech, the Paramount Ruler of Atali Community, HRH T. Eze . A. O.  Ejekwu, commended the church for considering his community for the project.
King Ejeku said the school will not only provide education for vulnerable children in Atali and other Communities, but will boost the economy of the area.
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