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Rivers

Mrs Wike Preaches Against Early Marriage

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9 years ago

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The wife of the Rivers
State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike has called for a halt to child-marriage, saying that it breeds a circle of poverty. Speaking during a special school reach-out programme to mark the 2016 International Day for the Girl-Child at the Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls Secondary School in Elelenwo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, last Tuesday, Justice Nyesom Wike said there was no justification for early child-marriage. She said that child-marriage prevents the girl-child from attaining her potentials, and urged all female children to work towards acquiring tertiary education as it will improve their living condition.
She said: “Education helps the girl-child to avoid early marriage. When you attend tertiary school, you delay marriage. Child-marriage breeds a circle of poverty which negatively affects society. When a girl eventually gets married after tertiary education, she will have a lot more maturity than when she was a child bride. Education broadens her horizon to be a better wife, better mother, and better stakeholder in the society. Education further helps the equipped mother in raising the next generation”. The wife of the Rivers State governor emphasised that the significance of the girl-child in the development of any society can never be under-estimated, and advised upcoming girls to choose their role models amongst successful women, so that they can be motivated to aim higher. Justice Nyesom-Wike also took out time to teach the girls of Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls Secondary School basic hygiene and the importance of looking presentable.
Principal of the school, Mrs Chinyere Ordu, lauded the wife of the Rivers State governor for taking positive steps to promote the welfare of the girl-child. Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, at the occasion, encouraged the girl-child to remain committed to the development of the society.
The celebration was marked by presentations by other speakers such as Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Toru Ofili, Senior Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Social Media, Mr Oraye St Franklyn, and Executive Director, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Larry Pepple. Also at the occasion, the students and guests were treated to drama and cultural display to promote the girl-child. Earlier, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike visited the Paramount Ruler of Elelenwo, Nyewali Sunny Chukwu, where she called on traditional rulers to support the fight against harmful widowhood practices and early marriage. She appealed to traditional rulers to support the girl-child education as the nation would develop faster with well educated women. The theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October was, “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement.

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Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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5 days ago

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July 11, 2025

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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the  induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
 Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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5 days ago

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July 11, 2025

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The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and  passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of  promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and  effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
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Rivers

Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

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5 days ago

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July 11, 2025

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

 

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

 

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

 

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

 

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.

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