Islamic Group Seeks RSG’s Support On Jobs

A group under the auspices of Islamic Sisters Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Rivers State chapter, has appealed to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to ensure that all children born in Rivers State are given equal opportunities to secure meaningful jobs in the state.
President of the association, Hajiya Maryam Nasiru Usman, made the appeal during a courtesy visit of the association to the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide Newspaper, recently.
She emphasized that the children born in Rivers State are by birth indigenes of the state, saying that such children, having been brought up, attain educational excellence, and achieved high levels of competence in difference fields, deserve to contribute their quotas to the development of the state.
According to her, “Please, take our message to the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, that some of our Islamic sisters’ children should be given employment in the public sector as they were born and brought up in Rivers State”, adding that, “It will be very unfair to refer to them as non-indigenes, when even as graduates, most of them are not known in their own states, having lived their lives in Rivers State.”
Hajia Usman said that ISAN decided to visit the corporation, following the realisation that The Tide was one of the fastest growing, highly demanded and most widely read newspapers in Nigeria, adding that as the authoritative voice of the Niger Delta people, it was inconceivable for any group dismiss the critical role the newspaper plays in influencing decision-making and behavioural change in the society.
She noted that association, which has been in existence since 1999 and is functional in all the states of the federation, including Abuja, has worked with the various state governments to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development in the country, adding that in order to support economic growth and viability, members have engaged in different small scale businesses, and urged governments at all levels to encourage small businesses to survive.
The Islamic women leader commended the efforts of the Rivers State Government in ensuring that peace returns to all communities in the state through its amnesty offer to misguided youth, adding that although the present economic climate was difficult for all, government should do all within its powers to create more opportunities to empower the youth through jobs, scholarships in education advancement, skills and vocational training to enhance entrepreneurial development.
Responding, the Acting General Manager, Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Chief Soye Wilson Jamabo, intimated ISAN members on the activities of the corporation, especially The Tide in furthering state and national development.
Represented by the Director, General Services (Administration), Chris C. Orji, the acting general manager, assured the association that their message would be communicated to the state governor, who he said is a detribalised leader, who has given many opportunities to non-indigenes in the state, and commended the group for taking proactive steps to drive home their demands.
In her vote of thanks, Vice President I, Afusitu Lawal, thanked the management of the corporation for the opportunity given them share ideas and perspectives on how to drive development and move the state forward, and assured of their support to the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration in the state.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana  & Chinenye Nwabueze