Rivers
IIJ, Pride To NUJ –Dokubo
The Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Opaka Dokubo, has described the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) as a pride to the union in view of its critical role in the training of professional journalists in the country.
The NUJ boss made the remarks last Saturday at the 6th matriculation ceremony of the Port Harcourt centre of the institutes.
Excited Dokubo noted that the centre which was established in 1996 with the mandate to train those interested in journalism practice to have the prerequisite qualification had done well and justified its existence over the years.
Represented at the event by the Secretary of the State Council, Mr. Stanley Job Stanley, the NUJ boss said there was a time when recognition of certificates issued by the institute was a problem but expressed joy that, today, IIJ cerificates are recognized by institutions and relevant bodies across the nation, and commended management of the centre for providing improved training for students.
“The products are doing very well wherever they work and this is a clear indication of the strong commitment of the lecturers and centre management and I hope this would be sustained,” he said.
Mr. Dokubo urged the new intakes to take their studies seriously adding that, the union is waiting eagerly to receive them as members when they graduate and begin to practice.
In the address, the Director of IIJ, Dr Emman Shehu Usman said the Port Harcourt centre hasbecome one of the best in the training of journalists East of the Niger.
In his address presented by the Port Harcourt Centre Co-ordinator, Mr. Ibituru Pepple, the Director promised to consider appeals by students to reduce the new increscent in tuition fees.
He also said that the administration was committed towards providing Radio and Television Studies as well as Laboratories for better training of students.
Earlier, the Port Harcourt centre co-ordinator, Mr. Ibituru Pepple, had reassured the commitment of the centre in providing improved training for professionals in an ailing economy.
He remarked that the impressive performances of the products of the centre had marked it out as one of the best in sub-sahara Africa, and commended the leadership of NUJ in the State for its dependable support and collaboration, which he said, was instrumental to the success story of the centre.
Mr. Pepple, however, appealed formore support by the Rivers State Government, NGOs and public spirited individuals in view of the critical role of the media in the democratic setting of the country.
On the increased tuition fee as introduced by the institute, the co-ordinator, said it was aimed at meeting the economic reality of the nation, stressing that research was vital in the institute as a training cetnre.
He identified finance as the major challenge facing the centre, and appealed to authorities at the Headquarters for a five-year tax holiday to enable the Port Harcourt centre develop a permanent centre.
A total of 65 persons matriculate for the various programmes run by the institute.
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.