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Wike Tasks Oil Firms On Host Communities’ Dev …Promises To Assist In Fight Against Oil Theft

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L-R:  National Vice President, Law Students Association of  Nigeria, National Open University,  Mrs Ajiboye Adenike,  President, Paul Oyemike,  National Vice President, Bassy  Nwibani and  National Director of  Programmes, Mr Eugene Ogbonna, at the first national grand  dinner in honour of  Law graduates of  the university in  Abuja  on Monday.

L-R: National Vice President, Law Students Association of Nigeria, National Open University, Mrs Ajiboye Adenike, President, Paul Oyemike, National Vice President, Bassy Nwibani and National Director of Programmes, Mr Eugene Ogbonna, at the first national grand dinner in honour of Law graduates of the university in Abuja on Monday.

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has tasked oil companies to carry out more developmental projects in their host communities.
Wike gave the charge when he played host to the Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor and other management staff in Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
“You don’t have to do things out of compulsion and out of threat, because that is not the way it is supposed to be. I think that if we have a robust relationship, it is important to look inwards and see how you will be able to solve problems that are not much,” Wike noted.
The governor told the Shell management that giving priority to their corporate social responsibilities will go a long way in soothing the nerves of people, and at the same time provide conducive environment for them to carry out their operations.
The governor further challenged the multinational oil firm to include indigenes in its divesting plans and sale of its onshore wells as Rivers State has individuals with technical and financial capacities to acquire some of the oil wells.
In addition, Wike stressed the need for Shell to partner with the state government in providing infrastructure for the speedy development of the state.
The state chief executive assured his guests that government will provide the enabling environment by beefing up security to make sure that everybody doing business in the state is protected, stressing that it will further encourage investors to come into the state.
Assuring them of efforts to assist the Federal Government in tackling the issue of oil theft, Wike disclosed that already, plans are in top gear to deliver the two armoured surveillance helicopters purchased by the state government to the Federal Government.
“We believe that when they come in, Shell will partner with us to see how those armoured helicopters can be utilized to check oil theft,” he said.
In his speech, the Shell Managing Director, Osagie Okunbor, lauded the governor for creating a conducive environment for the company to do business.
With its headquarters located in the state, Okunbor solicited the sustenance of a long standing relationship between the company and the government.
Lamenting the rise in oil theft, the country chair called on the state government to assist in arresting the menace and also ensure the spread of development projects in oil-bearing communities to reduce the spate of agitation from restive youth and community leaders.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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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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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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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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