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Wike, Others Get Good Governance Awards …As Daily Times Marks 91st Anniversary, May 16

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The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, will on May 16, add another good governance feather to his cap, as Daily Times honours heroes and heroines who have helped shape Nigeria’s history in different fields.
The award is part of activities designed by The Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), the nation’s heritage newspaper, to mark its 91 years anniversary, commencing on May 16, 2017, with exhibition at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Others to be honoured with the good governance award are Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Bindo Jubril (Adamawa); Willie Obiano (Anambra); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); and Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi).
A statement signed by the Publisher, The Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, and Chairman of the DTN Anniversary Committee, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, indicated that the celebration will be used to honour other heroes, including President Muhammadu Buhari, who will be given Nnamdi Azikiwe Leadership Award; President Nana Akufo-Ado of Ghana who will receive Babatunde Jose Leadership Award; the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to be bestowed with Ernest Ikoli Leadership Award; and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to be given Politician of the Decade Award.
The statement further listed others to be honoured as Governor Dankwabo, who will get Governor of the Decade award, business icon and Chairman, Heirs Holding and UBA, Mr. Tony Elumelu, to be crowned with Man of the Decade Award; Chairman, First Bank Plc, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, to be awarded Woman of the Decade while Pastor Paul Adefarasin, will bag Life Impact Award.
The rest to be honoured are Pinnacle Communications Limited and Nigerian Media icons such as Nduka Obaigbena, John Momoh, Linda Ikeji, and Chris Ubosi.
The statement noted that the celebration will be flagged-off with an AA top level National and Historic Exhibition with the theme: “Nigeria through the Times” at the entrance foyer of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on May 16, 2017, from 3.00 pm till 6.00pm and at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, from June 1 to June 6, 2017.
The exhibition, according to the statement, is aimed at bringing back to our memories, the vision and struggles of the country’s founding fathers, who laboured vigorously for the Nigerian Independence as exclusively documented by The Daily Times and retained in its very rich archives.
“The historic exhibition shall showcase the history of Nigeria viz-a-viz the colonisation, the rise of Nigerian nationalism, pictorial exhibitions of historic constitutional conferences, emergence of political parties, the Nigerian independence pictures, The Daily Times first issue of June 1, 1926, the Daily Times independence edition, October1, 1960, landmark editorials of the Daily Times, photographs of the editors of The Daily Times publications and memorable front pages from Daily and Sunday Times,” noted the statement.
The Times Heroes Awards 2017, which comes as icing on the anniversary cake, will hold at the Abuja International Conference Centre, Main Hall from 6.30 pm on May 16, 2017.
The awards are instituted to honour deserving heroes who have distinguished themselves in various endeavours and whose activities have positively impacted lives, “a legacy the Times Nigeria has canvassed over the years.”
This year’s awards, the anniversary planning committee noted, is a consolidated in that the last awards by The Daily Times in 1996 marked her 70th anniversary.
According to the statement, “Henceforth, the Times Heroes Awards has now been instituted to be an annual award”.
It would be recalled that notable icons of the Daily Times are Sir Adeyemo Alakija, Ernest Ikoli and Alhaji Babatunde Jose.
Others are late Chief Innocent Oparadike; Araba Tola Adeniyi, Tunji Oseni, Onukaba Adeniyi-Ojo and others.
The event, expected to attract people from all walks, aims at “the promotion of humanitarian cause such as the issue of the Internally Displaced Nigerians (IDPs), the anniversary committee added.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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Rivers Chief Judge Grants Six Inmates Pardon

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The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.

By: AkujobiAmadi

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‘Fubara’s Administration Is Driving Transparent Public Procurement’

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The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.

By: Kevin Nengia

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NAPPS’ 19th Anniversary: Education Stakeholders Task Govt On Assistance

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The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.

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