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Stakeholders To Boost Hygiene In Rivers Public Schools

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8 years ago

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A week-long programme of train-the-trainers of the 261 public senior secondary schools in Rivers State put together by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in conjunction with the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools’ Board (RSSSSB) has ended in Port Harcourt, with a pledge to sustain the promotion of hygiene to boost healthy living amongst students and schools across the state.
Speaking during the training session at PIND office, Port Harcourt, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Coordinator for PIND Foundation, Mr Timi Kiakubu said the essence for the training was to build capacity of key stakeholders, including the core team, staff and zonal directors of the RSSSSB across the 261 public schools and the 23 LGAs on hygiene promotion as well as ensuring the establishment of Environmental Health Clubs (EHCs) in all secondary schools in the state.
The training opportunity was organised as part of activities to mark this year’s Global Hand Washing Day, on October 15, with the theme: “Our Hands, Our Future,”.
Kiakubu added for good hygiene promotion to succeed in the state, there was need for full complement of infrastructure for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), stressing that infrastructure such as toilets, running water points, soap for cleaning, among others, must be put in place in order to promote hygiene in all the schools in the state.
He noted that RSSSSB was partnering PIND because of the urgency for public schools to have proper water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, adding that as a first step, key critical stakeholders, such as planning and research, statistics as well as monitoring and supervision officers must be trained to sensitise others in their schools and society at large.
Also speaking, the resource person from PIND, Jos, Madam Nanbam Agbonze said the training was focused on hygiene promotion in schools because its success would ensure that information on WASH goes round schools in Rivers State and promote healthy and clean society.
Agbonze urged policy makers and key stakeholders take the message to all the schools and ensure all-round clean water, sanitation and hygiene in schools, and called for speedy budgeting and implementation of policies to support WASH activities in all the schools in Rivers State.
The Deputy Director, RSSSSB, Emily Solomon said that the train-the-trainers programme was in pursuant of the Sustainable Development Goals Six on access to good drinking water and disease-free sanitation.
Solomon assured that the government, the RSSSSB and stakeholders would ensure the establishment of Environmental Health Clubs (EHCs) in every school, and also construct what she called Hygiene Hardware, which includes toilet facilities.
She stressed that hygiene hardware in all schools; the state government would be able to check the transmission of communicable and infectious diseases from faecal matters that would lead to diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, Ebola, Monkeypox and cowpox, among others.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, Peace Kasarachi Ihedoro & Markson Tamunobubeleye

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HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

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6 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.
This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”
She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.
As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.
A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.
Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.
The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.
By John Bibor
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Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

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6 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.
On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.
Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.
It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.
The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.
Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.
Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.
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Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

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6 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.
The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.
According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.
The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.
It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.
The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.
Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.
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