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RSG Donates N5m To Legionnaires …Promises Support To FIDA
Members of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State chapter and other guests, cutting the end of year cake, during the body’s end of year party and awards ceremony in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike says his administration is committed to the welfare of Nigerian legionnaires in the State.
The Governor who stated this during the Emblem Appeal Launching marking the 2016 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Celebration at the Obi Wali International conference centre, Port Harcourt donated N5 million to the legion.
Governor Wike who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo said the State Government would continue to do the needful to encourage the Soldiers as well as sustain the families left behind by the fallen heroes.
He emphasized that Government would support security agencies in order to guarantee the safety of the citizens while calling on well-meaning Nigerians to assist the Armed Forces.
“I therefore call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support the Armed Forces and Remembrance Day by donating generously towards the welfare of families of our fallen heroes and those serving in various military operations in Nigeria and other countries.” he said.
Governor Wike said the programme is to remember those who served in various peace keeping operations and paid the supreme sacrifice for the peace and stability of the nation.
He promised to address the challenges faced by the legionnaires especially in the area of agriculture which he said would add value to the agricultural development programme of the state.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Sir. Kenneth Kobani said the emblem launch and appeal fund support was intended to provide a forum for Nigerians and corporate bodies to appreciate the sacrifices of the gallant officers and donate generously to their welfare.
“Let everyone rise up and support those they left behind, their labour must not be in vain.” Kobani declared.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Col. Wilberforce Josiah, thanked the Rivers State Government for engaging the legionnaires to serve as Security Guards at the State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt since 1999.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that he will give the Rivers State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA) Nigeria, his full support.
Governor Wike who was represented by his wife, Justice Suzzette Eberechi Nyesom Wike, made the statement yesterday, at the opening ceremony of the FIDA Law Week 2015 and its National Executive Committee/ Annual General Meeting at the Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court, State High Court Complex, Port Harcourt.
The theme of the 5- day conference is making effective use of Legislation to end violvence against women
According to the Governor: “I will do everything in my power and capacity as the Governor of Rivers State to support FIDA and the women of Rivers State. Women can be provocative, it should not be an excuse for men to be violent towards women. Our men should be taught to exercise more self control and our women should be less provocative. Men should be the best they can be as husbands so that they can look after their wives,“ he said.
The governor who expressed the belief that there was a lot to be achieved in the raising of children said that the issue of violence against women stemmed from the different upbringing given to the male and female child by parents in the home.
The State Chief Executive maintained that since all religions preached peace , children should be taught peace and how to be accommodating and tolerant so that the society will be better for it.
He called for more collaborative efforts between FIDA and non-governmental organisations dealing with actualisations of women’s rights and also advised that FIDA should tilt its advocacy and sensitisation programmes more to women of the rural areas, but should not totally ignore the urban women.
Governor noted that there were many frequent and embarrassing cases of rape and indecent assault of very small children whose parents were not ready for prolonged court cases and collected pittances as out of court settlement from offenders.
Governor Wike who noted that many cases of violence by men against women are regarded as domestic affairs between spouses by the police , suggested that FIDA representatives who will act as liaison officers be present in busy police stations to facilitate speedy dispensation of justice against offenders.
Wike also suggested that he and members of his cabinet would sponsor new bills and review existing ones to stem the tide of violence against women.
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson FIDA Rivers State Chapter ,Mrs. Florence Itamunoala, said that the theme of this year’s NEC meeting was very apt and germane to women lawyers whose most potent weapon for the protection of the rights of women and children are legislations.
The key note speaker of the occasion maintained that violence against women can be put to an end through legislation in the courts.
Also speaking the outgoing National President/Country Vice President, Mrs. Evelyn Shekarau, said that despite the many achievement of FIDA during her tenure, there was need for the incoming president to soldier on and not to rest on her oars because the rights of women and girl children are still being violated.
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.