Rivers

ESI Targets 2000 Rivers Women For Farming

Published

14 years ago

January 31, 2011

About 2,000 women across the 23 local governments areas of Rivers State would be recruited for a Special Farming Scheme sponsored by the Economic Support Initiative (ESI).

Chairperson of the ESI and wife of the Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi made the plan known at the first Okrika Women Assembly held in Okrika Town recently.

Dame Judith noted that a lot of economic potentials abound in the agricultural sector and said that ESI was poised in exploiting the sector to empower Rivers Women.

She urged women from Okrika to always avail themselves of the numerous opportunities that have been provided by the ESI scheme, assuring that the body would roll out more programmes in the future.

Dame Amaechi stated that apart from the nursery school programme being run by the scheme, the ESI has also evolved other skills programmes including Fashion and Designing, the Lady Cabbies scheme amongst others.

She urged Okrika women to shun all forms of violence and divisive attitude in order to move the area forward adding that “women have enormous power, especially if they pray together for the good of the land.

Earlier in her speech, Chairman of the occasion and former Registrar of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Chris Tamuno had urged women from the area to participate massively in the ongoing voters registration exercise.

She decried poor economic and educational amenities in the area, stressing the need to give priority attention to education in order to fully engage the youths of the area.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibin Semenitari said the forum would enable women in the area to speak with one voice during the elections.

“We will no longer accept business as usual. We will make demands of every candidate and will analyse their ability to deliver before we cast our votes,” Mrs Semienitari declared.

The Commissioner appealed to the Rivers State first Lady 1s prevail on the Governor to fullful his promise for he provision of potable water and land reclamation in Okrika local government area.

Rivers

Okrika SOLAD Charges Students On Involvement In Drugs, Others

Published

27 mins ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Sole Administrator of Okrika Local Government Area, Engr. Tamunobipiboye Thompson Isodiki, has called on the leadership and membership of the Wakirike National Students Union to play a major role in re-orienting youth against drug involvement and other criminal activities.

Isodiki, who gave the advice recently when the Wakirike National Students Union and leaders of various tertiary institutions paid him a courtesy visit in his office, expressed concern about the alarming increase in the number of drug addicts and other criminal activities involving the young people.

He noted that if this trend is not checked, it would create serious problems in the Local Government Area.

“As students, I expect you to discourage young people who are seriously involved in these acts in order to create a crime-free society”, he said.

The Sole Administrator continued that, “my stay in office is not tenured, but I will pursue people-oriented programmes and projects for the overall benefit of our people.

“My decision to embark on the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer Based Testing (CBT) is aimed at reducing the pain experienced by the teeming population of candidates of our Local Government Area, to enable them write the test.”

He noted that the recent take-over of the Ogoloma Youth Centre by the Council was “a deliberate attempt to train youths to acquire skills, to provide middle level manpower, and create employment opportunities among our youth.”

He also addressed Bursary payment issue raised by the students, saying, “as essential as it is, the Government will study the situation among other pressing issues and within available resources we will pay Bursary in due time.

“Other groups have also visited the Council for one request or the other, and these are all based on funds.”

Isodiki, however, emphasized that a careful study would be undertaken to give the needed support based on the resources of the Council.

He also assured the students that the Council will partner with them in executing their planned laudable programmes.

While thanking the students for the visit, he urged them to be focused on their studies and avoid issues that would bring shame to their parents and the generality of the Local Government Area.

Also, speaking the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, Dr. Paul Wakama, cautioned the students not to embark on journeys to campuses across the country for welfare, bearing in mind the prevailing security risks such journeys may entail.

He added that they should make do with the global communication advantage to reach out to other students.

Earlier, the National President of the Wakirike Students Union, Mr. Owubokiri Bright Jamabo, had congratulated the Sole Administrator on his appointment and announced him as the Patron of the union by reason of his appointment.

Jamabo disclosed that the Union would carry out summer classes during the long vacation to teach secondary school pupils in all subjects, including Okrika Language.

He appealed to the Sole Administrator to pay bursary to students and sponsor the various activities and programmes, especially the Cultural Day Programme, of the Rivers State College of Health and Science, and promised that the students would always support the Sole Administrator to succeed in office.

Soibi Max-Alalibo

Rivers

Andoni Charges Students to Prioritize Studies, Dev

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Andoni Local Government Administrator, Surv. Atajit Francis, has urged students from the area to prioritize their studies to achieve their future goals and contribute to their community’s development.

Francis made this call during a courtesy visit by the National Union of Andoni Students (NUAS) led by Comrade Isaac Tugwell Owo at the council’s headquarters in Ngo Town.

WThe Andoni Local Government Administrator emphasized the need for students to manage their time and resources effectively, rather than relying on others, stressing that “prudent management would enable them to achieve their goals”.

He assured the students of the council’s commit to addressing their needs, including bursary payments, to cushion the effect of the current economic challenges and sponsorship of their proposed 4th Financial and Leadership Summit, despite limited resources.

The Andoni Local Government boss also stressed the importance of prayer and peaceful coexistence in driving development in the area.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation, who doubles as the National President of the Andoni Students Union, (NUAS), Comrade Isaac Tugwell Owo, said, the visit was to congratulate the ANOLGA Administrator on his appointment, which he described as divine, given his track record of positively impacting lives.

Comrade Owo also sought support for their chapters’ cultural day, aimed at showcasing Obolo culture and providing training for secondary students in computer-based WAEC exams.

Rivers

LG Administrator Seeks FG’s Support For Security, Infrastructure Challenges

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2025

The Tide

The Andoni Local Government Administrator, Surv. Atajit Francis, has called on the Federal Government to provide more support to the area, citing limited resources and insecurity challenges.

He made the plea when he received the Obolo Media Forum, led by its Chairman, Chief Gogo Rufus, who visited him in his office in Ngo Town, the headquarters of the Council.

Francis emphasized that despite the area’s substantial contribution to Nigeria’s economy through oil, it lacks basic infrastructure and federal presence.

He, therefore, urged the group, as media practitioners, to highlight Andoni’s needs, including improved security, infrastructure development, and investment opportunities, to attract federal support and attention.

The ANOLGA boss thanked the group for the visit and promised to support their efforts.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Obolo Media Forum, Chief Gogo Rufus, commended the Andoni Administrator’s initiatives, including engaging sanitation marshals and employing persons from various wards to improve the sanitary conditions of primary schools and communities across the Local Government Area.

He urged him to continue his good work and requested assistance with mobility and also prayed for the Andoni Administrator’s tenure to be extended to ensure continued progress and development.