Rivers

?6,441 Rivers Indigenes To Benefit From SURE-P

Published

12 years ago

August 19, 2013

No fewer than 6,441 Rivers indigenes will be paid monthly allowances by the Rivers State Government under the subsidy reinvestment programme (SURE-P).
Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Sir Tony Okocha, who disclosed this, weekend at Ogu, during the inauguration of the Ogu/Bolo chapter of the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF), said that the gesture was one of the numerous programmes earmarked by the government to improve the condition of Rivers people.
Okocha also warned the people against associating with illegal political groups such as the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), which, he said was bent on destroying the developmental legacies of the present administration in Rivers State, arguing that people must resist every attempt to bring the image of the state into disrepute.
The Chief of Staff also cautioned the people to beware of double faced politicians as well as desist from being used as political thugs and gangsters to scuttle the peace of the state.
Earlier at the inauguration of the foundation last Friday in Port Harcourt, Sir Okocha attributed the problem between Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the Minister of State for Education , Nyesom Wike to Amaechi’s refusal to allow Wike loot the state treasury.
He also called on the people to dissociate themselves from any group whose principles are not built on God, predicting that in no distant time, the activities of GDI will be exposed.
The member representing Port Harcourt City Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Victoria Nyeche Wobo, said that the people of the constituency were behind the state governor.
Speaking in their different local government areas, both the chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Hon Maureen Tamuno and her Port Harcourt City counterpart, Hon Iche Chimbiko Akarolo warned detractors to keep off the areas in their own interest.
They also pledged their people’s support to the leadership of the Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi.
The national president of the foundation, Mr Alex Wele, described Governor Amaechi as a symbol of democracy in Rivers State and Nigeria in general, and warned the RIVLEAF leadership in the two local government areas to uphold the virtues for which Governor Amaechi is known.
Wele also described Governor Amaechi as a man who is passionate about the development of Rivers State and its people, and warned against tendencies that will shut the doors of development in Rivers State.
He also used the occasion to debunk the rumoured interest of Governor Amaechi in the 2015 Vice Presidency, noting that the governor has not indicated any such ambition.

Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

5 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

5 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

Published

5 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.