News
Expert Lists Impediments To Human Capital Development
The Director of the Garden City Literary Festival and Founder Rainbow Book Club, Mrs. Koko Kalango says, poor reading culture among Nigerian students and graduates is the major challenge facing human capital development in the community.
Mrs. Kalango said this Monday in an interview with newsmen at the day one of the 4th Garden City Literary Festival in Port Harcourt.
Mrs. Kalangu said, imbibing knowledge through reading is the only medium to guarantee rapid development of people and society.
She called on Rivers students and graduates to give priority to reading of some great writers work in the country and in the world in general.
The festival director who stressed the aim and objectives of this year’s literary festival said the programme is being scheduled annually to encourage literary talents as well as to encourage intellectual discussion and book reading culture for development of the people and the society.
Mrs. Kalango said the festival would attract great writers international critics, and intellectual scholars from all over the world including experts and professionals in Nigeria to tutor the public on how to acquire knowledge, talents and development in the country.
“We are bringing in international figures, critics and writers to impact knowledge to our participants particularly the students and young graduates for the development of the people and the society in general.” Mrs. Kalango stressed.
She called on the youths of Rivers State to use the golden opportunity of the festival to imbibe knowledge that would improve their capital development.
She further stressed that, the festival would also served as forum for our young scholars and writers to show case their literary works to the public at the 4th Garden City Book fair as parts of the festival this year.
Mrs. Kalango commended the government of Governor Ameachi for the support in convening the festival in the state.
She said, the opening ceremony would officially take place at the University of Port Harcourt main campus, today where Professor Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Elechi Amadi and other international literary actors would come and display their talent to the public.
Enoch Epelle
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
