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RSG Empowers 300 Widows …Wike, A Caring Governor – Banigo
Dr. Banigo (2nd left), being welcomed by the Rivers State Widows Association, from the 23 local government areas of the State, during the 2015 International Widows Day celebration /Empowerment programme in Port Harcourt
In keeping with its election promises to enhance the economic wellbeing of women in Rivers State, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has empowered over 300 widows across the 23 local government areas of the state.
This is part of activities commemorating Wike’s 100 days in office.
The empowerment scheme was organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs,on Friday at the Ministry of Justice Auditorium, Rivers State Secretariat, Port Harcourt.
Presenting the cash to the widows, Wike, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, said the exercise was part of his administration’s policy of touching all segments of the society.
He advised widows not to see the demise of their husbands as a reason to engage their children in child labour and other unwholesome practices, noting that it has become worrisome to see some women turn street beggars or resort to prostitution due to socio-economic pressures.
Wike lamented the trauma of widows who are always seen as potential suspects in the event of their spouse’s death, and subjected to various forms of inhuman treatment in the name of traditional practices.
The state chief executive reiterated his administration’s gender-friendly posture with the appointment of women into key positions in the state, noting that over 50 per cent of the present members of the local government caretaker committees in the state are women.
The governor said government will continue to provide a conducive environment for investors and Rivers people to attain their full potentials, adding that Government is collaborating with security agencies to fight crime with the donation of patrol vehicles equipped with modern communication gadgets to police and other security agents.
He, therefore, charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds and knowledge acquired from the seminar to manage their business ventures, pointing out that with “prudent utilisation of resources, the benefit of today’s event would germinate and multiply.”
Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion, Pastor Biobele Adesola, lauded Governor Wike for empowering widows, and explained that laws enacted to check unwholesome practices against widows are not being enforced, as widows have continued to suffer dehumanising treatment.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Justina Jumbo, said widows need to be supported, comforted and empowered, stressing that gender discrimination has great adverse effect on families headed by widows.
Jumbo opined that widows are subjected to dehumanizing cultural and traditional practices, ostracized and dispossessed of properties jointly owned by the family.
She commended the state government for presenting empowerment packages to over 300 Rivers widows.
Earlier, the President of Widows Association, Rivers State Branch, Mrs. Patricia Weli, had expressed appreciation that the Governor Wike-led administration for recognizing the plight of widows in the State within the 100 days in office, and assured that the empowerment packages would be utilized to encourage the governor to do more.
Responding, one of the beneficiaries, Ngozi Amos Ernest from Ikwerre Local Government Area, thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to engage in meaningful activities to enable them take care of their families.
Highpoint of the event was the conferment of patronship of the association and decoration of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo.
Similarly, as part of activities marking the 100 days in office of the Rivers State Government, the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has visited three charity homes to demonstrate his love and care for the less privileged in society.
Among homes visited by the governor are the Children’s Home, Borokiri, the Child Special School at Corpus Christ and the Home for the Elderly, Harbour Road all in Port Harcourt, on Friday.
Items worth millions of Naira, including Gas Cookers, washing machines, beverages, wheel chairs, standing fans, chairs, food items and toiletries were presented to the management of the homes.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike said the visit was to identify with the yearnings of the less privileged, and assured them that the present administration will always take care of their upkeep and needs.
“This government is a caring one. We are remembering you in commemoration of our 100 days in office, we remember you now and will always remember you,” he stated.
The state chief executive assured the managers of the homes that government will continue to support them to ensure that the homes are maintained.
“I assure you that government will continue to partner with you. We will come whenever we are needed,” she said.
He commended the workers for their efforts and diligence in taking care of the homes, and urged them not to be weary in their service to humanity.
The Director, Child Welfare, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Mike Kurubo while speaking on behalf of the Children’s Home, Borikiri, thanked the governor for the gesture, and used the opportunity to call on the state government to provide a befitting staff quarters and a bus for the Children’s Home.
On her part, the Matron of the Home for the Elderly, Reverend Sister Mary Jane Rapheal Agubosi, called for the assistance of the state government in the payment of hospital and electric bills, provision of a bus and a standard security house.
She thanked the state governor for the visit, and prayed God to reward him graciously.
In the governor’s entourage were the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Onimum Jack, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Ms Kadilo Brown, former commissioner in the state, Mrs. Toru Ofili, and other Government functionaries.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.