Opinion
Rivers Revolution In Education
Education in Rivers State is experiencing the best of times than what was obtained hitherto. Indeed education at the primary and post-primary levels in the state is an envy for the rest of the country to emulate. This present administration than any other if not may be that of the Alfred Diette-Spiff and late Melford Okilo in the old Rivers State government has taken education to an enviable height.
What with the unprecedented constructional rehabilitation of model schools with state-of-the-art modern facilities in both Port Harcourt and other parts of the state. These schools with modern infrastructure are equipped with computer studios and attractive sporting facilities for track and field events, football pitches, basketball courts etc. Not only the equipment but the environment and ambience is very conducive for learning, there are well laid out walk ways and lawns properly landscaped right from the entrance. Added to these is the perimeter fence that will help control and check movement of students thereby instilling discipline in them. Also, it will go a long way in helping to provide security and protection for the school pupils and the facilities. Especially in these days of kidnapping and child trafficking in persons that leaves children very vulnerable.
The Amaechi administration did not only stop at building school infrastructure but went on to provide free school uniforms and free books for pupils. Also, this writer found out that there are no school fees paid or any charges from parents/guardians of pupils. Could this be true in present day Nigeria? That is a rhetorical question with an obvious answer in the case of education revolution in the state. Although, some people have observed that some of these schools in certain areas of the state are not been utilised or occupied.
Be that as it may, solid and concrete steps are being put in place to revolutionise the fortunes of education in the entire state by this administration. It is significant to note that the teachers to apply instructions to these pupils need training and retraining to be abreast with modern, latest instructional procedure or techniques to give the students the best.
In addition, we all know that a well motivated teaching staff is synonymous with consistent and regular payment of salaries and allowances as at when due to motivate them to give their utmost best.
In this vein, I want to task the government to set a minimum standard for most of the teachers to be university graduates from reputable institutions in the state and country. Since you can’t give what you don’t have and a well qualified teacher will impart sound education – knowledge to his students. The government in conjunction with the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme scheme should embark on a massive recruitment drive to attract good hands. This is very possible since we have qualified teachers roaming the streets or poorly engaged in mushroom private schools, who naturally would be attracted to the modern conducive work environment and commensurate remuneration package.
Interestingly, most pundits are of the view that a sound and effective management team comprising seasoned educationist, men of integrity should be constituted to manage these schools. This is to ensure that facilities/equipment installed are maintained and the teachers show commitment and diligence. Also that academic standards are set and met that can be comparable to international best practices.
Of particular mention is the scholarship award scheme for undergraduate and post-graduate studies overseas for state indigenes under the aegis of RSSDA by this same government. And this is intended to help meet the shortfall in skilled manpower particularly in the petroleum and gas sector of the economy which is an area dominated by expatriates. This effort will go a long way in building capacity for the state and beneficiaries as well as reducing unemployment and inadvertently improving the conditions of living of the people.
Then in the tertiary sector, the government could be said to be trying its best, especially with the polytechnic, the two universities (state owned) and other higher institutions who have experienced one form of development or the other under this administration which is in any case ongoing. And that is why this writer along side all good meaning people of the state welcome with great relief the planned relocation of Rivers State University of Science and Technology to its new site at the Greater Port Harcourt City.
Indeed, this government has made much giant strides in education but the issue of the continued closure of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology must be tackled headlong. Though, this writer learnt, reliably that, some of the problems bedeviling the institution were inherited from past governments.
However, the governor and his team should use a lot of wisdom, tact and brinkmanship to assuage all parties concerned and resolve the crisis affecting that enviable institution constructively.
Here is wishing the amiable governor and his team a happy and successful second tenure in office and saying they have to hit the ground running as Americans would say.
Ayooso, a Public Affairs Analyst, resides in Port Harcourt.
Samson Ayooso
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.