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Gokana HIV/AIDS Prevalence Worries Stakeholders

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13 years ago

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Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, currently has
the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the State with 19.8 per cent.

The Executive Director, Rivers State Agency for the Control
of AIDS (RIVSACA), Dr Chimezie Okeh stated this yesterday during the first
stakeholders forum on HIV/AIDS in the local government area.

Dr Okeh, who stated this in his presentation at the
occasion, also noted that Asari-Toru LGA was the least in prevalence with 1.9
per cent, followed by Ogu/Bolo LGA with 1.9 per cent.

He stated that like Rivers State which has a prevalence rate
of 6.0 per cent, higher than the
nation’s 4.1 per cent, 13 of the 23 LGAs in the state also have
prevalence rate above the national status with Gokana, Oyigbo, Ahoada East,
Etche, Khana and Port Harcourt City Local Government Area leading the pack.

The RIVSACA boss further revealed that the increase was as a
result of several factors which include low patronage of antenatal care
services.

According to Okeh, a survey carried out in 2010 revealed
that out of 523 women who attended antenatal care services in the general
hospital, none delivered in the hospital.

In 2011, out of 993 who attended antenatal in the hospital,
only 22 returned to deliver in the hospital, while so far in 2012, only 10 had
come to deliver out of 1,063 who had been attending anrenatal services the
hospital, Dr Okeh revealed.

In his presentation, the Director, HIV Prevention, RIVSACA,
Dr Naziga Francis identified the cause of the epidemic in Gokana to include.
multiple concurrent sexual partners, lack of sexually transmitted infection
(STI) services and cultural factors.

Others, he said, are cultural norms that encourage men to
have multiple sexual partners, widowhood practices as well as sirah” culture
which does not allow first female children to be married even when they can
bear children.

While reacting to the increase in the prevalence’s rate of
HIV/AIDS in Gokana, the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District,
Senator Magnus Abe, placed the blame on the doorstep of the council leadership
for not giving adequate attention to issues concerning HIV/AIDS.

Senator Abe urged the leadership of the LGA to immediately
come up with a strategy to massively mobilise and sensitise people of the LGA
on HIV/AIDS, and promised to personally lead the campaign.

Chairman of the Local Government Council, Hon Demua Ledee
Demua assured of his readiness to aggressively carry out programmes that would
check the trend.

 

Sogbeba Dokubo

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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