News

Nsirim Flags Off Second Phase Of #OurStateOurResponsibility

Published

4 years ago

September 3, 2021

Smarting from the overwhelming and massive response to Rivers State advocacy campaign with the hashtag ‘#OurStateOurResponsibility’ rolled out two years ago intended to mobilize the people and change the negative narrative about the state, Information and Communications Commissioner, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, last Wednesday, announced the kick-off of the second phase of the advocacy campaign with a charge to residents of the state to whole-heartedly key into the campaign.
Nsirim, at a press briefing, in Port Harcourt, said that the advocacy campaign was aimed at advancing the frontiers of the giant strides of the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration in the state.
The commissioner said that the campaign was also intended to ensure that everyone becomes a major stakeholder in the Rivers State project as well as portrays the state in its true positive status as the most hospitable in Nigeria.
He hinted that the second phase of the campaign would stretch beyond solidarity campaign to engage residents of the state on essay writing, theme song, skits, and short film competitions which would attract cash prizes.
The commissioner, who further hinted that the easy competition, which will centre on #OurStateOurResponsibility, was aimed at inculcating in the minds of the young ones the ideas and ideals behind the advocacy campaign, as future drivers of the advocacy.
Revealing that the competition would be open for youths between the ages of 16-25 years, the commissioner further stated that youths would be required to write an essay of between 250-500 words in their own handwriting, which they would scan and forward to email addressed to Ministry of Information and Communications at: comsagmail.com within two weeks from Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Nsirim, who said the deadline for the submission of the essay is Wednesday, September 15, 2021, hinted that to ensure originality and transparency of the exercise, 23 best scripts would be selected by judges while the chosen participants would be required to appear physically for a second round of essay writing at the Ministry of Information and Communications on Wednesday, September 22, 2021.
He disclosed that the cash prize for the best first place winner would attract N50,000 while the second and third place winners would smile home with N30,000 and N20,000, respectively.
The commissioner further disclosed that there would also be consolation prizes for the fourth, fifth, and sixth placed participants, all of whom would be presented with plaques on October 4, 2021.
Nsirim divulged that in furtherance to creating more awareness that would give greater visibility to the #OurStateOurResponsibility advocacy campaign, the ministry, would also call for entries from members of the public, including members of the Advertisers Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Port Harcourt chapter for the theme song selection, skit competition and a short film competition, centred on the hashtag.
Explaining that monetary incentive would also accompany the best of each category of the works which would be reviewed on the media platforms of the state Ministry of Information and Communications, the commissioner hinted that plaques would also be presented to the winners who would ultimately be unveiled as the ministry’s ambassadors who shall partake in all activities of the ministry for three months of their reign.
Nsirim reeled out Wike’s achievements in the past six years, adding that the avalanche of projects commissioned and flagged–off in the last two months reinforces the fact that the governor remains the hope of Nigerians that democracy can actually work to favour the common man.

By: Victor Tew & Oribim Ibama

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

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

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

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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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

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.