Rivers To Emerge Economic Giant, Soon – Prof Briggs

The Rivers State Economic Advisory Council (RSEAC), says the state would soon emerge as economic giant if the present trend in infrastructural development is sustained.

The chairman of the council, Prof Nimi Briggs disclosed this Wednesday at Bunu Tai shortly after the council’s inspection of the Rivers  State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) Workmanship and Technical Training Centre (WTTC) at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori and the Rivers Songhai farm projects at Bunu Tai.

Prof Briggs who described the projects as evidence of money well sent, particularly said that the Workmanship and Technical Training Centre would address the problem posed by the dearth of middle level manpower in the state.

The council’s chairman who is also the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt commended the state government for the Songhai farm projects which he said would create employment opportunities for the people of the state.

“This is good for the state and from what we have seen so far, it suggests that the  state fund is being spent wisely. “This is what we are  expected to do”, he said.

He used the occasion to call on Rivers farmers to make the best use of facilities at the Rivers Songhai farm projects.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) says the Workmanship  and Training Centre at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori will address the problem of middle level manpower in the state.

The Executive Director of  the agency, Mr Noble Pepple said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after conducting members of the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council round the centre.

Mr Pepple said that the centre would be run by the agency in conjunction with the Bonny Vocational Centre (BVC) for the training of Rivers indigenes in technical  courses.

According to him, the agency would recruit expatriate teaching staff for the centre while the London City and Guild Examination body would be the certifying body for the centre.

He also said that the Rivers Songhai farms at Bunu Tai would be run by Songhai international for the next five years.

The event was also used by the agency to handover to Rivpoly management an administrative building.

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (middle) releasing balloons during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship re-election rally in Emohua, on Wednesday