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Commissioner Tasks Women Journalists On Professionalism
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr Austin Tam-George has charged women journalists in the state to deploy their professional expertise and competence like their male-folks to protect the less-privileged and most vulnerable in the society.
Declaring open a three-day capacity building training programme organized by Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the commissioner described NAWOJians as key drivers in the reportage of issues focusing on women and children.
In the training which was in collaboration with the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NRSP) and the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) in Port Harcourt, Tuesday, Tam-George said women journalists should be properly trained, so that collectively, injustice against women and men could be remedied.
Represented by the Director, Public Enlightenment in the ministry, Mr Obele Chu, the commissioner asked the women to sustain the training and retraining towards strengthening their capacity to address most of the critical challenges facing the society.
The commissioner said the ministry places premium on training and retraining of its staff to ensure credible delivery on mandate of creating residents’ awareness of government policies and programmes.
He noted government’s imperative for training, saying it was because of its focus on “Gender and Conflict Sensitive Reporting” in the society.
Tam-George added that the ministry would continue to support NAWOJ’s efforts at effectively addressing challenges facing vulnerable women and children, while also working with all stakeholders to ensure that solutions are found within the context of appropriate government policy.
While thanking the organizers of the programme, he pledged that his ministry would continue to enhance further partnership with NAWOJ and other relevant organisations, and urged participants to apply lessons learnt from the training in their future journalistic activities.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri, enjoined all participants to make the best out of the training, as much was expected from the professional fold, and invited them to participate in there forthcoming International Women Day, with the theme: ‘Bold for Change’.
In her remarks, Acting Zonal Director and Head of News, Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Port Harcourt Network Centre, Madam Cecilia Essien, said the training was apt, adding that the training would guide women journalists going forward in their career so as to make Nigeria, and indeed, Rivers State, investors’ haven.
Earlier, Chairperson, NAWOJ, Rivers State, Mrs Lilian Okonkwo, had said that the training was informed by the need to ensure that journalists report issues without causing any friction in the society, saying that enhancing the capacity of female journalists to objectively report issues around victims of conflicts was critical to her leadership because of its role in stabilising the polity and society.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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