News
Amaechi Tasks Youths On Job Creation
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has charged youths in the country to focus on ways of creating wealth and being employers of labour instead of job seekers.
Governor Amaechi, gave this charge Friday during a state reception for the pioneer batch of Graduands under the Special Oversea Scholarship Programme of his administration to various universities abroad in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Amaechi noted that “education is the greatest gift any parent can give to his or her child as education is the key to a good life and a bright future.
He urged them to leverage on the knowledge and skills gained from their training abroad to better their lives, stressing that “civil service jobs are no more lucrative,” while counselling them to discover their unique selling points to enable them carve niches for themselves.
Describing education as the fulcrum of his administration’s policies and programmes, the governor observed that “through education we are creating a new economy in the State, a knowledge-driven economy.” He commended the graduands for “making the State proud” and the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) for properly managing the scheme.
Earlier, the Executive Director of RSSDA, Mr. Noble Pepple, stated that 93 out of the 97 awardees of the scholarship graduated and achieved individual and collective accolades for the State in their respective schools, adding that Mr Dalton Whyte emerged the best graduating student. He said that the scheme cost the State Government N5.5 billion in 2011 while N6.9 billion would be spent in 2012 on another 300 awardees.
He thanked the Governor for his unalloyed support, announcing that the graduands studied information and Communication Technology (ICT) and majored in Networking and other related disciplines and have also acquired professional certification.
In his Welcome Address, RSSDA’s General Manager, Human Capital Development, Mr Godwin Poi, said the event was to welcome the graduands. He noted that they have made the state proud, saying that the scholarship scheme showcases the commendable vision of the Governor Amaechi administration in the area of human capital development.
Representatives of both the parents and the graduands, Miss Anita West and Mr, Monibo Ben-Whyte thanked the Governor and the RSSDA for the scheme, describing it as laudable. He then appealed to the government to positively engage the skills and knowledge of the graduands by providing them with jobs.
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.
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