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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 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.
