The Rivers State Government would soon deploy the newly recruited 13,201 teachers to various schools across the state for the commencement of their teaching careers.
Indication to this emerged on Monday during the induction of the teachers, 50 of whom are physically challenged.
Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi, while declaring open the programme, said that the recruitment would guarantee that every public school enjoyed the services of good teachers.
Dame Lawrence-Nemi described the programme with the theme: “Teachers of Distinction”, as part of government efforts in building a culture of excellence in education, saying that the training would improve talent  and create good relationship among stakeholders.
She urged the teachers to take advantage of the opportunity to further improve  their competence and skill and directed those yet to get their appointment letters to  see the Board chairman.
Chairman of BRACED, professor Jose Aisuku who described the programme as a land mark achievement said that with the progress made, the state will soon see quality education  in all ramifications, worthy of emulation by other states.
Chairman of the Rivers State Advisory Council and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Nimi Briggs likened Governor Amaechi  to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who laid the foundation for education revolution in Western Nigeria.
Prof Briggs also said that the innovation will transform education in the state, stressing that the programme will go a long way in character moulding in schools and also help improve educational opportunities for the subsequent generation of Rivers children.
Also speaking, the chairman, Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon Augustine Ngo said that the Rivers State House of Assembly will support every effort by the government to improve the quality of education in the state.
A cross section of the new teachers who spoke to The Tide described the ceremony as a welcome development, noting that it will put them in the right perspective to perform their task better.
The ceremony, which would last for four weeks is taking place at Model Girls Secondary School, Rumuene, Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta and Government Girls Secondary School Oromenike.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has entered into a partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to tackle the challenges for flood disaster in the state.
The Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, said the partnership will help in addressing issues of perennial flooding and cushion the devastating effects through adroit mitigating measures and training of personnel on flood disaster management.
The governor, who declared open a 10-day special training programme on flood risk management orgainsed by the ministry of Special Duties and UNITAR in Port Harcourt, yesterday, enjoined the participants to take seriously the lesson learnt from the training to improve their expertise in flood management.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Energy, Chief Okey Amadi, attributed most causes of flood to improper disposal of wastes as well as building along water channels and cautioned against such practices.
Speaking at the training event held under the theme: ‘capacity building in flood management in Rivers State, Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Dickson Umunakwe, explained that the training was aimed at stepping up measures to avert a recurrence of the devastating flood recorded in the state.
The commissioner said participants  at the training were drawn from line ministries including, environment, health, power and other relevant agencies  and stakeholders, who are expected to bring their experiences to bear in handling issues of flooding in the disaster prone LGAs.
According to the commissioner, the training will afford participants the opportunity to explore better ways of doing things and be exposed to more discernible experiences and methodologies in flood disaster management.
On his part, resident representative of UNITAR in Nigeria, Dr Larry Boms said the training was a milestone in the UNITAR/ Rivers State Government partnership on  flooding, and expressed confidence that the programme will empower the participants with the requisite skills to be more effective in addressing today’s growing development challenges in flooding.
He pointed out that Rivers State, by its location in the Niger Delta region, remains one of the most susceptible to flooding in Nigeria.
Some of the participants, who spoke with The Tide, thanked the Ministry of Special Duties for the programme, and assured that the experience will be put into practices in the state.