Rivers
PH:Police Free Kidnapped Medical Doctor
Chairman State Youth Rehabilitation Committee, Chief A.K. Horsefall (right) having a handshake with the General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo, after the former’s roundtable press conference with editors of the Corporation, yesterday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.
Confirming the incident, Rivers Police Spokeswoman, Mrs. Rita Inoma-Abbey said Dr Imoh Abasumoh was rescued by the police in the early hours of Monday following a tip-off.
The police team was said to have cordoned off the abductors den in one of the water fronts in the city. Sensing that the police was on their trail, the kidnappers, according to Inoma-Abbey, took to their heels leaving their victim behind.
The police spokeswoman, however, noted that the doctor’s kidnap must have been a case of mistaken identity.
“They were asking the doctor to give them part of the money found on contract he handled, but the doctor was surprised to hear such because, according to him, he never executed any contract.”
In a related development, two sons of an Anglican priest in the Niger Delta Diocese, Rev. John Jaja had been kidnapped in Port Harcourt.
Reliable sources informed The Tide that the two kids were kidnapped a week ago by unknown gunmen and that a ransom of N30 million had been placed on them by their abductors.
When the police was contacted on the matter yesterday, spokeswoman of Rivers State Police Command, Mrs. Inoma-Abbey said they are yet to be informed about the incident.
But family sources told The Tide that the priest who is a member of one of the boards set up by the government had resorted to spiritual help to free his two kids.
Meanwhile, the police has assured members of the public not to panic following gun shot heard in some parts of the city’s waterfronts on Monday.
Mrs. Inoma-Abbey assured that the police is on top of the situation and is doing everything to protect lives and property in the state.
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Dr. Legborsi Emmanuel, former state Chairman of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), has emphasized that technology is the sure way for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
He made this assertion while speaking with newsmen at the sideline of 118th inaugural lecture series of Rivers State University (RSU) held in port Harcourt, wednesday.
He stressed that the lecture, which focused on emerging technology and its impact on the socio-economic development of the country, aligns with the NCS’s economic focus.
He highlighted the importance of building an economy driven by technology, citing the success of the Rivers State Smart Economy policy as an example.
The computer scientist emphasized the need for innovation and doing things differently, asserting that “technology is the only way out” for Nigeria’s development. He praised the lecturer, Professor Mathias Daniel, for exploring the applications of technology in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, transport, and socio-economics.
Dr. Emmanuel underscores the critical role technology plays in driving socio-economic growth and development in Nigeria by leveraging technology, the country can unlock new opportunities and address pressing challenges.
Akujobi Amadi
The Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the growing shortage of academic pharmacists in the country.
National Chairperson of NAPA, Prof. Catherine Stanley, made the appeal during the opening of the 23rd Annual National Scientific Conference of NAPA, held at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), midweek.
The event had as its theme: “Pharmacy Practice in the New Global Economy: Education, Technology and Collaborations”.
Stanley attributed the shortage of pharmacists to increasing migration of young professionals to Europe and North America in search of better opportunities.
She described pharmacists in academia as “an endangered species”, citing their migration to foreign countries and the lack of replacements for retirees and deceased colleagues.
“There is an acute shortage of needed manpower in critical sectors of pharmacy education. This trend should not be allowed to continue”, she pleaded.
Stanley urged the government to prioritise the welfare of academic pharmacists to ensure sustainability in pharmaceutical education and research.
According to her, the current situation poses a threat to the future of pharmacy training and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
In a keynote address, Prof. Charles Esimone, a former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Enugu, attributed the dearth of pharmacists to new global challenges confronting the profession.
Discussing the theme of the conference, Esimone noted that the world was more interconnected than ever, and blamed globalisation for some of the difficulties facing the education sector.
He stressed the need to balance local requirements with a global outlook.
“This realisation has fuelled a push towards purposeful best practices in curriculum development, faculty exchanges, and addressing regulatory issues across borders.
“Our curricula must train pharmacists to be effective both locally and globally, ably to understand local health traditions while applying international standards”, he said.
Esimone explained that the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and other global bodies have been working on developing a Global Competency Framework to harmonise pharmacist training worldwide.
He said the goal was to align education with the competences required to deliver essential services in any country.
He also highlighted the impact of advances in technology, which are revolutionising every aspect of pharmacy practice from dispensing processes to patient counselling, noting that the pace of change was accelerating.
“Pharmacists have increasingly embraced digital health tools, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their services.
“However, technology in pharmacy is a double-edged sword, it can greatly enhance our practice, but must be wielded with care”, he warned.
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, called on pharmacists in the academia to adopt practical and innovative approaches that would transform pharmacy education and practice in Nigeria.
Represented by the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Chukwudi Onyeasor, Georgewill urged practitioners to move beyond theoretical discourse, embrace technology, strengthen collaborations, and align pharmacy with global standards.
“This is necessary to produce professionals who are equipped to serve a rapidly evolving healthcare system”, he concluded.
The Tide reports that the conference brought together pharmacists, researchers, educators, and policymakers from across the country to discuss innovations and strategies for advancing pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria.
Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
The Supreme Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognised Traditional Rulers has advised the chairmen of the four Ikwerre-speaking Local Government Areas in the State to embrace unity, collaboration, and community-centred governance as the basis for sustainable development across the region.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the body on behalf of the forum, the Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom (Eze Woji XII), HM Prof. Leslie N. Eke, Eze Gbakagbaka, and Nye Nwe Ali Omerelu, HRH, Eze (Engr.) Ben O. Ugo, Elumoha VIII, respectively, at the end of its monthly meeting held at Atali, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Saturday.
The Forum, in the statement, said it was compelled to address the need for synergy between political leadership and traditional institutions in Ikwerre land.
It specifically addressed the chairmen of Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, urging them to pursue policies that reflect the collective interest of the Ikwerre people.
“It is no longer acceptable for each council chairman to operate in isolation. We are one people, with shared history, culture, and destiny. Our political leaders must not forget that their strength lies in unity”, the statement read.
The royal fathers expressed concern over what they called “political fragmentation” among Ikwerre leaders, warning that failure to close ranks could hinder future development initiatives and diminish the influence of the Ikwerre ethnic group in the state’s political landscape.
They also called for regular inter-council meetings to harmonise development strategies, share best practices, and address cross-boundary issues such as insecurity, youth restiveness, and infrastructural decay.
The Forum further cautioned the chairmen against sidelining traditional rulers in the administration of grassroots affairs, noting that many local councils were taking major community decisions without due consultation.
“Traditional rulers are not political spectators. We are custodians of our people’s values and should be engaged on issues that affect our communities”, the Forum stressed.
The monarchs urged the council bosses to invest more in youth empowerment, skill acquisition, and educational programmes to reduce unemployment and the lure of criminal activities among young people in the area.
They decried the increasing rate of cult-related violence, drug abuse, and communal clashes in parts of Ikwerre land, calling for joint security task forces supported by the local councils in collaboration with traditional institutions.
“Security cannot be left to the state government alone. The councils must take the lead in creating safe environments for commerce, learning, and peaceful living”, the statement noted.
In addition, the Forum advised against the politicisation of development projects, warning that no community should be denied infrastructural development due to perceived political affiliations or past voting patterns.
“The mandate of the council chairmen is to serve all constituents without discrimination. The people are watching, and posterity will judge”, it stated.
The Forum also proposed the institution of an annual “Ikwerre Unity and Development Summit” to bring together traditional rulers, elected officials, youth leaders, women groups, and civil society organisations to chart a common course for the ethnic nation.
While congratulating the chairmen over their electoral victory, the traditional rulers reaffirmed their commitment to working with them and the State Government to promote peace, cultural preservation, and inclusive development in Ikwerre land.
King Onunwor
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