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Cleric Wants Mission Schools To Pay Tax

Published

9 years ago

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The Rivers State Government
has been advised to enact a law that will make it mandatory for mission schools that are running as commercial enterprises to pay taxes to the government to boost internally generated revenue, and help revive the economy.
The General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, gave the advice at the OPM headquarters in Port Harcourt, while presenting school kits and study materials to the Headmistress of OPM Free Nursery/Primary School, Ohanku in Abia State, Mrs Basil Chidera, for the pupils of the school.
He decried a situation where churches build schools with the tithes and offerings collected from their rich and poor members, only to make the school fees unaffordable for the poor ones among them.
According to him, “Government should make law that any church that does not convert its expensive school of N.5million fees to free church schools for the less privileged in the society to attend should pay normal taxes as they have turned church into business ventures.”
He admonished pastors to desist from turning God’s house into business centres aimed at enriching themselves and their families, stressing that they should be pre-occupied with winning souls for God.
“My action is a revolutionary one, and as long as you stand for what is right and the truth, there would always be attacks from some of the selfish and greedy ones.
“They launch full-scale attacks on me, but I have been used to it from childhood. I have always stood for the truth, and would continue to conquer as light would always conquer darkness”, he added.
The cleric stated that the church’s Free Nursery/Primary School commenced academic activities in 2009 in Abia State, and later expanded to Bayelsa and Rivers states, adding that pupils in the OPM schools in Bayelsa and Rivers had earlier received their school kits and study materials.
He urged other churches to borrow a leaf from OPM to rid the streets of Port Harcourt of child hawkers and destitute, so as to reduce the burden on the state government in making life more meaningful for the generality of the people.
In her speech, the Welfare Director of OPM, Mrs Maureen Chukwu, expressed gratitude to God for sustaining the vision of the general overseer to help alleviate the plight of the less-privileged in the society.
According to her, the general overseer had made a vow that at the beginning of every new session, the pupils in all the schools across the three states must be given new school uniforms, sandals, provisions, sweaters, writing materials and textbooks, among others adding that for the last seven years, the vow has been fulfilled.
Receiving the books and writing materials on behalf of the pupils, the Headmistress of OPM Free Nursery/Primary School, Ohanku, Mrs Basil Chidera, thanked the general overseer for keeping hope life for the pupils of the school, and assured that he would never regret the huge investment the church has made on the pupils.
Earlier, the headmistress of OPM Free Nursery/Primary School, Port Harcourt, revealed the church’s opening of three more schools in Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Eleme local government areas of Rivers State, and hoped that more LGAs would soon get theirs.

 

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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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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