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Education, Key To Human Capital Dev – RSG
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says his administration is committed to human capital development through the development of education at all levels.
Governor Amaechi said this last Saturday during the 25th to 29th Convocation ceremony of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt.
Represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi stated that his administration’s huge investment in education was anchored on its determination to provide qualitative education to his people, pointing out that it was the only state in the federation that had continued to “appropriate 26 per cent of its annual budget to education.”
Governor Amaechi, who is also the Visitor to the University, regretted that students of the institution had to wait for several years before being graduated, promising that “never again would this happen,” assuring that the process would be set in motion to ensure early release of results and convocation of graduands, lauding the Vice Chancellor and management of the institution for their efforts at scaling facilities and academic content of the university.
He restated that the state government would not rescind the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Professor Barineme Fakae and commended him for his exemplary leadership qualities.
The governor said that the Iwofe Road leading to the school would be completed in record time to assuage the plight of road users and residents of the area.
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the University and former Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Dominic Anucha, thanked Governor Amaechi for his efforts at elevating the institution from a college to university, and providing funds for the university, and urged him to expedite action on the completion of Iwofe Road.
Lamenting the hardship the university community and other road users face on the road, he noted that the university had sustained its academic programmes uninterrupted for four years now.
Speaking, Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, disclosed that a total of 12,110 graduands were awarded Bachelor of Education degrees, out of which 35 had First Class, while 529 graduands were admitted to National Certificate in Education (NCE). She charged the graduands to contribute their best to the task of national transformation, and appealed to the Governor to approve the employment of 400 junior staff.
The Deputy Governor also commissioned the newly reconstructed main gate of the university, funded by the state government.
Meanwhile the authorities of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt have decried the negative impact of multiple campus system in the running of the institution, saying it is very costly for a university to operate.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Rosemund Dienye Green-Osahogulu made this remarks last Saturday at the unified 25th 29th Convocation ceremonies held at Rumuolumeni, main campus of the university.
In her speech, Prof Green-Osahogulu said the cost of maintaining the three campuses could not be compared to that used for maintaining one and solicited for assistance of the state government in relocating Faculty of Vocational and Technical (VOTEC) from Ndele as well as moving Faculty of Business Studies from St. John’s Diobu Campus to Rumuolumeni.
“These two campuses can then be dedicated to use respectively as an Agricultural Research Institute and Commercial Farm (Ndele) and a Centre for Business Consultancy Services,” the VC said.
Noting that authorities of IAUE were aware of state government’s plan to move the university to the present location of the State University of Science and Technology, Nkporlu, Oroworukwo, she remarked that since the accreditation searchlight of the National University Commission (NUC) was on IAUE as on other universities, there was compelling need to do the much possible to forestall and obviate risk of losing accreditation of its programmes.
Chris Oluoh
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
