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Face Education, Amaechi Tasks APC States …As 25 Rivers Lawmakers Dump PDP
Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has again called for education to be made a focal point in all states led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the country.
Amaechi spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. George Feyii during a two-day workshop tagged,”Crisis in Nigeria Education Sector: Addressing the Connect Between Unemployment and Insecurity,” organized by the Progressive Governors Forum in Port Harcourt.
The governor insisted that education should be restored to its former glory to move the country forward.
He said, “It behoves on us as a people to chart the course to bring back the good old days and restore the educational system to what it used to be.
“Good policies and programmes will help us to move education forward in this country. A lot of us think that the present generation is not getting the best of education…So, we need to look at the specific areas to achieve the main goal.”
The workshop, which is sequel to the one held at Kano in May, is aimed at evolving a unified policy framework for APC states all through the country.
Amaechi held that the government in Rivers State was already giving education premium attention, noting that the goal is to ensure that society grows peacefully.
“You are aware that once a person is educated, he can do a lot of things for himself. And this is very important to us because with education, a person can achieve what he wants to achieve in life,” he said.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, represented by his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere, said the workshop forms part of the vision of the APC to transform the country’s education sector.
Okorocha said, “all the commissioners are here today to look at those issues that will better the system that we already have.
“When the people are not educated, when the people are not empowered, what do you get? Insecurity will kick-in. Young men and women who are graduates today, who are probably not educated or gainfully employed and you have all these social vices that are kicking-in.”
Earlier, Director-General of the PGF, Malam Salihu Lukman disclosed that the workshops are part of goals set out by the secretariat with focus on education, unemployment and health.
He said the idea behind the workshop is to evolve a marshal plan that will be adopted by APC states, since all the reports will be translated to policy briefs for the governors.
Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Nemi, in her remarks, said the state has already evolved a new education policy guarded by the law and can only be reviewed every 10 years.
Aside the new curriculum, Nemi stated that the government has employed 13,000 teachers to boost manpower, built over 300 model primary schools equipped with ICT and modern equipment, pointing out that in the future, the state will reap huge benefits from the investment in the sector.
About 13 commissioners for education from APC states attended the workshop where various experts spoke on diverse topics bordering on educational programmes and policies.
Meanwhile, the 25 pro-Governor Chibuike Amaechi lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday formerly announced their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on the floor of the House, the Leader, Hon. Chidi Julius Llyod, said he has the mandate of the 25 pro-Amaechi legislators to convey to the house and the speaker their formal defection from the PDP to APC.
According to him, “henceforth, all correspondents to them should be the All Progressives Congress. This is because we are now members of the APC”, he said.
He also said that members have written to the House officially on the matter.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree said he will not stop them from moving from PDP to APC, but asked other members, if they were in support of what the leader had said and they affirmed.
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Our Legacy’ll Leave Lasting Impression On Rivers People -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
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We’re Determined To Leave Legacy Of Quality Education -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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Fubara, Others Eulogise Rivers First Lady’s Mother
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and key stakeholders of the State on Wednesday paid glowing tributes at the Service of Songs held in honour of late Mrs Adeline Jaja, mother of the wife of the Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara described his late mother-in-law as a great and visionary woman who lived on truth and conviction in what she believes.
“Mama was a great woman. She wasn’t a materialistic person. When she believes in you, she’ll be all out for you. She stood for me. I feel pained that, like my own mother, she left at this moment.
”Mama believed so much in God, and the wonders of God. I thank everyone, particularly the Church. On behalf of the bereaved family, we will support the Church to immortalise her name,” the Governor said.
In his homily, Vicar of the Church, Ven. A. A. Ijon-Ama, who spoke on the gains of death, said physical departure from earth was not an ultimate end but an opening for higher and permanent gain and perfection.
He pointed out that when a man has a good relationship with God, he stands to gain more in death.
Ven. Ijon-Ama described late Mrs. Adeline Jaja as a devout Christian, who exuded deep sense of hospitality, and endowed with accommodating spirit, noting that she will be greatly missed by all.
The Vicar, who prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Adeline Jaja, also solicited for Divine fortitude for the family to bear the great loss, and called for the immortalisation of the deceased to keep her good legacies alive.
Some family members, who spoke at the Service of Songs, extolled the virtues of the deceased, describing her as “a great community leader, counsellor, peace maker, and caring mother, who provided for the needy, and participated actively in Church activities.
Highlights of the event were special prayers for the bereaved family, conducted by the Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu; remarks by key family members, choir ministration, among others.
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