News
NGOs Fete Less-Privileged School Children
Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Rivers State have extended their humanitarian services to school children as part of ways to better their living condition as well as imparting to them the needed knowledge that would make them better citizens of the society..
Speaking to The Tide at a one-day programme, tagged “First Humanitarian Children Reach Out,” organised by Harmony Kiddies Charity Foundation in collaboration with Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), held in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director of Harmony Kiddies Charity Foundation, Cynthia Obiagwu, stated that the poor conditions of less privileged children in the society motivated her to set up the foundation.
“The programme is called First Humanitarian Children Reach Out because, this is the first time that the dream of organising an event to give back to society through children is being actualised. Although the programme has started through personal efforts earlier before now, but we believed that with the support from other NGOs and members of society, we will be able to make the 2020 edition better.
“The children are precious gifts from God and that parents should take proper care of their children with the best upbringing possible, so that they would grow up in the fear of God and acceptable norms of society and become useful citizens of the society,” she added.
Obiagwu said that her love for children and determination to address issues affecting them was the core objectives of her organisation, while urging the good people of the society to emulate her kind gesture and replicate same wherever they find themselves.
She thanked the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for making education his first priority and called on other state governors to borrow a leaf from him by providing quality education as well as conducive learning environment and protection for children who are among the vulnerable in society.
Obiagwu said that there would be Quiz competition to test children’s intelligence, while listing the participating schools as Life Abundant Group of Schools, Diobu; Tonel International School, Diobu; and the host school, Holy Cross International School, Iwofe road, Port Harcourt.
She thanked the participating schools, parents, children as well as members of YEAC for partnering with her foundation to make the event a huge success.
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.
-
Opinion4 days ago
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
HYPREP Trains Lab Technicians To Standardise Water Quality In Ogoniland
-
Sports4 days ago
Coach Eager To Transform El Kanemi Warriors
-
News4 days ago
Tinubu, Govs Forum Congratulate Okpebholo On S’Court Victory …As Obaseki Expresses Disappointment
-
Rivers4 days ago
NDDC: Staff Walk Ten Kilometers To Commemorate 25th Anniversary
-
Rivers4 days ago
VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria
-
Politics4 days ago
Obey Order On AA In Six Days, Court Directs INEC, Yakubu
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Cancer Risk: HYPREP, IARC Launch Human Biometric Study in Ogoniland