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Sylva Begs Bayelsans For Forgiveness

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10 years ago

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Head of Service, Rivers State, Barrister Rufus Godwins (left), presenting a Merit Award to a civil servant in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. George Geoffrey, during Civil Service Week celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Head of Service, Rivers State, Barrister Rufus Godwins (left), presenting a Merit Award to a civil servant in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. George Geoffrey, during Civil Service Week celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Bayelsa State immediate past Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva has pleaded with his kinsmen and women of Okpoama in Brass Local Government  Area to forgive him for not initiating  development projects in the area for six years he ruled the state.
Sylva, believed to be nursing ambition for another shot at Creek Haven, the seat of Bayelsa State Government, while speaking at a unity rally and reception held in his honour as a former governor and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said he has learnt his lessons, declaring, “if God can forgive all our trespasses, I believe you will also forgive me.”
According to Sylva, his political travails in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that led to his being denied the party’s ticket to run for second term in office as governor and his return as the state Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have opened his eyes to the fact that only God can forgive.
According to Sylva,”If I have learnt any lesson from my travails, it is only the fact that it is only God that forgives. I have forgiven those that offended me,  and also urge those of you that I have offended to forgive me.”
The former governor, who described the decision by the traditional ruler and the Council of Chiefs in Okpoama Kingdom to honour him as “a blessing”, urged the community to consider the occasion as an opportunity indication for renewed unity.
“If you think you have sea deity, you have not seen anything yet. God is the only beginning for us. Today is not only a day for unity but it will bring development. Let us do away with plague of poverty. The Lord has blessed us. If you do away with it, it is possible because God said so.”
Traditional Ruler of the Okpoama Kingdom, King Ebitimi Banigo while conferring on  Sylva a chieftaincy title, described him as a true leader, and commended his ability to stand tall to unite his people as political leader.
Banigo, who described Sylva as a prophet not recognized in his home town, said, “Today, we are putting that behind us and recognizing our son as a true gift from us to the nation and the world. It is easy to sit up and take notice. But it is another to sit up and take action. He has turn displeasure into success. He is a man of incredible character.”
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of  Okpoama Unity Forum,Comrade Ebinimi Omubo, had said the decision to organise the unity rally to coincide with the chieftaincy title bestowed on Sylva was based on the need to bring together the  people of the community and forge a common front, adding that “the unity rally is to unite our people and we are grateful to God for blessing us with Chief Timipre Sylva.”
Political observers believe that Sylva, who was publicly stoned for non-performance during his tenure as governor has used the programme as launching pad for his new party.

 

Fyneface Aaron, Yenagoa

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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7 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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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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7 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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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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7 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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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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