News

Nigerians Hail Jonathan On National Confab

Published

13 years ago

October 2, 2013

Some Nigerians yesterday commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his endorsement of a National Conference.
Our correspondent reports that President Goodluck Jonathan announced the approval of a National Conference yesterday while addressing the nation on the country’s 53rd independence anniversary.
The President said that a committee on the National Conference was being set up.
Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yussuf, said it was a good development.
“It will give Nigerians the opportunity to talk and this is another expression of the fact that our democracy is getting stronger.
“Freedom to discuss on how we live together is a good development, but what is more important for our country at this time is good leadership,” Yusuf said.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, commended the President for the initiative, adding that it must be geared towards meeting genuine aspirations of the people.
“What Nigerians are yearning for is a conference that will see to the resolution of the fundamental problems of our nation.
“The Federal Government must confer with civil society organisations and various other entities and get their various representatives to form consultative committee to pilot the birth of this National Conference.
“Nigerians should be involved. We have gone through this road before and we didn’t get anywhere.
“I believe we should be saved from that scenario, it should be a fruitful conference,” Olu-Adegboruwa said.
The National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay, Mrs Faith Nwadishi, said that it was a welcome idea, but advised that decisions taken at the conference should be implemented.
”It is now time for people to elect those that will represent them at the conference, we shouldn’t just sit back if we want our objectives to be met,” she said.
In Enugu, the Executive Director of the African Heritage Institution (AHI), Dr Ifediora Amobi, also commended the President for hearkening to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
According to him, this is the first time a President will appreciate Nigerians from all walks of life for their support in spite of the numerous challenges facing the country.
“It was a reassuring and promising speech. It shows that he is really concerned about the plight and needs of the people.
“The setting up of the committee is quite a surprisingly welcome development. This is something we do not hear often, rather we hear of all the things government has done,’’ he said.
Amobi, who is also marking his 53rd birthday with the country, however, advised the President to ensure that the committee comprised credible people from the public and private sectors.
The Director-General of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr Emeka Okereke, expressed optimism that the effort would provide the needed space to reshape the country.
“It is a welcome development as long as it will provide the needed tools to retool and rework Nigeria,’’ he said.
The National President of Nigeria Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE), Princess Ada Ozongwu, also commended the president for setting up the committee, and called for inclusion of women in the committee.
“I have always felt there is a need for us to sit and talk about issues that affect us. The President is putting a right foot forward by setting up a committee.
“He should go the extra mile to ensure that the women take their pride of place in terms of numerical strength in that committee.
“They should be women who will make solid contributions that will benefit us,’’ she said.
A lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo , said that the Federal Government’s decision was a victory for Nigerians.
He said government’s decision was an indication that it was listening to yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
‘’ In retrospect, government has admitted that the existing institutions for representation that we have seem not to be truly representing the interest of Nigerians and that Nigerians need another vehicle.
‘’ Also, the existing mechanisms that we have, the national, state and local assemblies, seem unable to address some fundamental issues that need to be tabled within the platform of the National Conference,’’ he said.
Ukiwo, however, said it might be too early to jump into conclusion on what the committee’s recommendations on the proposed conference would look like.
He said the political reform conference convened by the Federal Government in 2005 ended without achieving any tangle objective.
‘’ I think that, in as much as we acknowledged that government has shifted ground, we want to hope that unlike in previous dispensation, Nigerians will be allowed to go through the logical conclusions
”Kudos to government for acknowledging that need and shifting ground and beginning to think of a possibility of convening such a conference,’’ Ukiwo said
A woman leader in Akwa Ibom, Obonganwan Edith Etete, said that President Jonathan’s decision to hold a national conference was a welcome development.
Etete, who leads the yearly anniversary of the 1929 Women Riot in Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom, said that the dialogue would be an opportunity for Nigerians to discuss their problems.
‘’It is a worthwhile exercise to listen to ourselves, our challenges and the way out,’’ she said.
The 2011 gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Akwa Ibom, Mr David Ekanem, said that such conference was necessary in a democracy.
Ekanem said that the problem confronting the nation had always been the lack of political will to do what is right.
‘’It is not that we don’t know what our problem is; we have had several conferences in the past, what has become of them?’’
Ekanem said that the proposed national conference would afford the different ethnic and religious groups the opportunity to come out and state their grievances.
Dr Aniekan Brown, a don, advised that the proposed national dialogue should not be ‘’another time-buying device’’.
Brown, who teaches Sociology at the University of Uyo, urged the Federal Government to show commitment towards implementing the recommendations of the conference.
He prayed that God should guide Nigerians on to the right path, while wishing the country a bright future.
The Akwa Ibom State Chairman of All Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Mr Linus Udofia, expressed regret that Nigeria was still grappling with teething problems of nationhood at 53.
He called on the Federal Government to create an environment for all ethnic groups to state their problems at the envisaged national conference.
Udofia advised that the proposed national conference should be a sovereign one.

News

Odu Urges Collaboration Among Stakeholders To Improve Health Service Delivery In Rivers

Published

8 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.

The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.

?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.

?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”

The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.

According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.

?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.

News

You Can Now Print Your Exam Slips, JAMB Tells 2026 UTME Candidates

Published

8 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.

“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.

Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.

The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.

The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.

The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.

Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.

JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.

The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.

Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.

News

RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence

Published

8 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.

The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.

The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.

Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.

He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.

According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.

“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.

“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.

Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.

At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.

The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.

A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.

A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.

“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.

The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.

“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.

“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.

To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.

“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”

According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.

“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.

“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”