News
Ogwutum Wins Miss Rivers Golden Jubilee Contest

Miss Charity Ogwutum has been crowned the winner of the keenly contested Miss Rivers State Golden Jubilee beauty pageant held last Saturday at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Ogwutum, who represented Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, defeated 22 other contestants to clinch the coveted crown.
The first runner up went to Miss Kindy Chineye Akaya, who represented Oyigbo Local Government Area; Miss Vivian Briggs of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area emerged the second runner up; while Miss Josephine Daviesba-Benibo, who represented Degema Local Government Area and Miss Elizabeth Tormabarib Nyedah from Gokana Local Government Area won the third and fourth runners up, respectively.
Awards were also presented to some of the contestants.
They include, Elizabeth Tormabarib Nyedah (Gakana), who won Miss Amity award; Miss Onyechere Obiageri Fame (Etche) won Miss Photogenic; Best Evening Gown award went to Miss Ezekiel Pearl Baefil (Khana); while Miss Gift Onene Osaroejiji (Eleme) won best traditional wear award.
Speaking in an interview shortly after receiving her crown, Ogwutum thanked God for making it possible for her to win the crown, and attributed her success to the grace of God.
Miss Rivers State Golden Jubilee enjoined the other contestants to see themselves as equal winners, and take the outcome of the contest as the will of God, and assured that she would use her tenure to improve the welfare of the less-privileged in the society.
She received the grand prize of a brand new Hyundai car and N1million cash.
In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, thanked the judges for a job well done, saying that all the 23 contestants, who represented the 23 local government areas were true winners as they all collectively promote the state as worthy ambassadors.
Wike urged them to be steadfast in their quest for greatness and fame, adding that the state government will support their academic pursuits.
While commending the management of Belema Oil, one of the sponsors of the event, for awarding international scholarships to 12 of the contestatnts, who are school certificate holders, the governor announced international scholarships for the eleven other contestants with degrees.
According to him, “I want these contestants to pursue academic greatness. After this event, don’t move from office to office under the guise of non-governmental organisations. Concentrate on your academics, and make Rivers State Government proud.”
Earlier in her remarks, wife of Rivers State governor, Justice Suzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, had noted that the pageant brought out the best in Rivers women.
She explained that all the contestants exhibited intelligence in addition to their beauty, stressing that they represent the future of Rivers State.
“I am proud to be a Rivers woman; we have everything that a man wants in a woman. These are confident women, who are sure of themselves,” she noted.
Entertainers, who performed at the historic event include, Omawunmi, Mercy Chinwo, Rapper Dan Dizzy, legendary Sunny, Eddy Isaac, Rave Dancers, and the Revelation band, among other Rivers-born comedians and dancers.
The event was attended by top government functionaries and the civil society.
Jacob Obinna
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Business3 days ago
Replace Nipa Palms With Mangroove In Ogoni, Group Urges FG, HYPREP
-
News4 days ago
Demonstrate Commitment In Improving Host Communities, Ibas Tells Corps Members
-
Politics3 days ago
Tinubu’s Contribution To Buhari’s Presidency Marginal – Ex-SGF
-
Opinion3 days ago
How Reliable Is AI
-
News3 days ago
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others
-
Politics3 days ago
Keyamo Inaugurates Ganduje As FAAN Board Chair
-
Rivers4 days ago
HOS Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP … As Project Sensitization Team Visit Degema, AKULGA
-
Politics3 days ago
Reps Constitution Review Committee Holds Zonal Hearing For Rivers, C’River, Akwa Ibom In Calabar