Rivers
RSNC Plans Refresher Course For Printers
General Manger, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), Mr. Celestine Ogolo (2nd right), with members of 1980 Graduating Set of County Grammar School, Ikwerre Etche, with their spouses, during the reception held in honour of three of its members recently given appointments by the Rivers State Governor at Shell RA, Port Harcourt, recently.
Baring any change in de
cision and policy, the management of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC) may send some of its printers to Lagos for a refresher course in printing to enhance quality-service delivery.
The General Manager of the Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo, who said this at the 3rd state Triennial Delegates conference of the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPPROW) in Port Harcourt, said that the move was to ensure that printers in the Corporation acquire the necessary skills to handle the Goss Rotary Machine procured for the corporation by the state government.
Ogolo praised members of the union in the corporation for their level of dedication and commitment to duty, and urged them not to relent.
He also assured them, management would not stand on their promotion, adding that no staff of the corporation would be denied promotion on account of qualification.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary, ministry of Information and Communication, Mr Sam Woka, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mr Tonye Jenewari, charged them to see the conference as an opportunity to elect quality leaders for the union.
The Deputy National President of the union, Pastor John Ushie, regretted the continuous delay in the delivery of machines to the Government Printing Press in spite of the alleged release of money for its purchase.
Ushie, who condemned the alleged auctioning of printing machines at the Government Printing Press, called on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to wade into the matter with a view to stopping the sale of machines at Government Printing Press, Port Harcourt.
He also called for recruitment of new staff into the service as workers at the printing press were ageing.
Earlier, the South-South Zonal Chairman of the union, Comrade Godwin .S. Williamson, decried the deplorable condition of the Government Printing Press, adding that most staff of the printing press were retiring without replacement.
“More worrisome is that the press is growing into extinction. Our members are getting retired without replacement.
“By this time next year, we shall have not less than 20 members. So we appeal to government to employ more hands to learn from and replace the old ones as they retire,” he said.
At the end of the congress, Abraham Amesi was returned as chairman of The Tide Chapter, Prince Kennedy Daminabo returned as vice chairman, Nwiueh Donatus Ken as Secretary, Patience Owiriwa, treasurer and Daba Bille as assistant secretary.
For the Government Printing Press chapter Saturday Osega was returned as chairman, Nugha Gbooga as vice chairman, Iyie Johnbull as secretary, Oloelomate Idoniboye as assistant secretary and Felicia Igochindu as treasurer.
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.