Rivers
RSG, UNICEF Partner To Attain SDGs
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has declared that the state government will partner with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to ensure the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the UNICEF Country Representative, Mr Mohammed Fall to the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Thursday, Wike directed relevant state government agencies to step up their performance for the expected improvement in key areas.
He said that the state government has established structures to ensure improvements in the areas of immunization, children and maternal healthcare as well as sanitation.
The governor decried the fact that the state government was yet to attain 100 per cent immunization coverage, pointing out that the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies have been directed to work round the clock to record improvement.
“Anything pertaining to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals will be tackled for the benefit of our people.
“We must progressively improve in all the areas where we are yet to attain 100 percent. We must take vital steps to ensure we move at a pace where everyone will be happy”, Wike said.
The governor added that the state government will engage in advocacy in the areas of breastfeeding and immunisation.
Earlier, the Country Representative of UNICEF, Mr Mohammed Fall commended Wike for the regular payment of counterpart funds for critical United Nations programmes.
He solicited partnership with the Rivers State Government to deepen areas of cooperation for the attainment of greater results for the population.
Fall sought for the leadership of the governor for the consistent growth in the areas of the reduction of child and maternal mortality, improved immunisation and breastfeeding, so that Rivers State will be a reference point in Nigeria and the sub-region.
He regretted that the statistics for Nigeria in the areas of maternal mortality, child mortality and access to primary education are not encouraging.
The UNICEF representative said if Nigeria attains the Sustainable Development Goals, it will impact positively on the continent.
Rivers
PH Airport Users Lament Deteriorating Facilities
Users of Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa have decried continuous deterioration of facilities at the airport, saying that rather than improving, such facilities are deteriorating continuously.
Some of the airport users who interacted with The Tide on the matter pointed out that the state of some facilities like electricity at the airport, network of announcement, access to banking and access road network among others have seriously gone down.
Reacting to the situation while interacting with The Tide, a protocol officer with one of the multinational oil firms in Port Harcourt, Julius Nwoye said rather than improving, the state of electricity at the airport currently, is downwardly unimaginable.
According to him, an international airport like the Port Harcourt Airport, ought not to be experiencing continuous epileptic power supply, because of the business activities being undertaken.
“ For over six years, I have been in this airport, I have not witnessed this kind of situation where there will be outage of power every now and then, some time, up to three hours almost every day, since late 2023 till now, that is what have been experiencing here.
“ Before now, you will hear flights announcement at the VIP lounge, as well as at the Genesis Fast Food, and even at the car hires office, but now, even the announcement at the terminal building is not loud enough, and nothing is being done about it, and this is not so in other major airports in this country”, he lamented.
On his assessment, Mr Tonye Dokubo, a travel agent at the airport lamented over the state of banking at the airport, stressing that the UBA is now the only bank operating at the Port Harcourt airport.
According to him, there were four banks operating at the airport, but that the new tax regime has pushed them out of the airport, as well as other business outfits that have left the airport because of high taxation and rental charges.
Dokubo also lamented that the service being rendered by only UBA, is not enough for the entire airport, as compared to the volume of users, like other major airports in Nigeria, and urged the authorities to take urgent steps to address the setbacks.
Currently also, access to food and drinks has become difficult at the airport, as users are compelled to trek some distance to get them, as the management had ordered total relocation of the vendors, and this has forced prices of things higher.
Meanwhile, several efforts were made by aviation correspondents to speak with the Airport Manager, Michael Arewa on these issues, but he has repeatedly shown no interest to speak with the press.
By: Corlins Walter
Rivers
Indorama’s Jossy Nkwocha Wins Environmental Sustainability Award
Group Head of Corporate Communications at Indorama-Nigeria, owners of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals and Fertiliser group, Dr Jossy Nkwocha has won the maiden Distinguished Spokesperson’s Award in Environmental Sustainability.
At the International Conference Centre, Abuja, he was announced as winner of the Award among three finalists from other organisations in Nigeria. He was thereafter presented a gold-plated, plaque and a certificate.
Dr Nkwocha also emerged finalist in Oil and Gas category.
The Award ceremony marked the end of a three-day National Spokespersons’ Summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), which was declared open by the Vice President, Alhaji Ibrahim Shetima.
Various resource persons from abroad and Nigeria, all of whom were former spokespersons in the public and private sectors shared their practical experiences and perspectives in the art and science of being a spokesperson especially in crisis communication, stakeholder engagement, among others.
President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku said the 17 Awards categories were instituted to encourage Spokespersons in government and corporate organisations to be professional, responsive, ethical and creative in their Spokesperson’s roles and responsibilities to achieve impactful result.
“This healthy competition will produce impactful results,” he said.
Dr Nkwocha’s entry for the Award was how he and his team deployed the tool of stakeholder engagement to eliminate the false narrative that Indorama-Nigeria’s Petrochemicals and fertiliser operations were emitting soot in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The professional handling of the issue showed all the journalists, radio on-air personalities, the academics, professional bodies and concerned NGOs that Indoram’s operations were green and the company is environment friendly and environmentally sustainable.
Dr Nkwocha dedicated the prestigious award to his team members and management of the petrochemicals and fertiliser group.
Rivers
PH NiMECHE Inaugurates 9th Executive
The Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Enginers (NIMECHE) has inaugurated its nineth Executives with Engr Promise Jumbo as Chairman.
The investiture ceremony which took place in Port Harcourt has as its theme,” Challenges of Mechanical Equipment Maintenance and Abandonment in Nigeria”.
National Chairman of NiMECHE, Engr. Alhassan Muhammed praised the Port Harcourt Chapter of the body for contributing towards the growth of the institution in the country.
According to Engr Muhammad, who was chairman of the investiture ceremony, NiMECHE in Port Harcourt was a beacon of excellence as far as the institution was concerned.
Represented by Engr Dan Entire, he said the ceremony represents the transfer of responsibilities and charged the new executive to put in place measures that will further advance the interest of mechanical engineering in the region.
Also speaking chairperson of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt, Engr (Mrs) Idaeresoari Harriet Ateke said the event signified a major milestone in the growth of the institution not only in Rivers state but across the country.
While urging for full support to the new executive, the NSE chairperson expressed confidence in the ability of the new executive to take NiMECHE to greater height.
She also described the theme as apt, and urged them to put in place programms that will improve mechanical engineering contributions to Nigeria’s transformation.
In his inaugural address, NiMECHE new chairman Engr Dr promise Jumbo said the chapter is poised to distinguish itself as the best in the country.
“As a professional institution, our focus is to distinguish ourselves and be outstanding in our operations.
“We will strive to surpass the achievements of our predecessors and creat new heights for those coming after us to also surpass us”.
He said the institution will maintain cordial relationship with others, particularly the Nigerian Society of Engineers Port Harcourt branch, relevant Government Agencies and Allied Industries.
Jumbo said the chapter will carry out activities that will impact positively on the professional wellbeing of members and as well provide quality mentorship for the young professionals.
He also said the impact of NiMECHE is already being felt across the state as the institution had in the recent past embarked on career talks to schools and institutions as a way of giving back to the society.
The event was attended by people from all walks of life.
By: John Bibor
-
Opinion4 days ago
Nigeria: Revisiting The Restructuring Issue
-
Rivers4 days ago
Commissioner Tasks Firms, Host Communities On Peace
-
Sports2 days ago
‘Belief Has Returned To Germany Ahead Euro 2024’
-
Editorial2 days ago
That Kyari’s Promise On PH Refinery
-
Niger Delta16 hours ago
Obaseki Presents Three Bills To Edo Assembly For Consideration
-
News11 hours ago
Don’t Panic, We’ll Protect Rivers Interest -Fubara
-
Oil & Energy5 days ago
Offer Incentives To Boost Oil, Gas Production, Academy Tells FG
-
News4 days ago
PDP Leader Assures Fubara Of Support