Rivers
N’Delta: 8,145 Get SPDC Scholarships In Five States
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC/Shell/Total, Agip Joint Venture, has said that in the last six years, more than 8,145 students from its host states of Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers, had benefited from its regular secondary school scholarship scheme in the Niger Delta.
The company disclosed this while presenting the 2016/2017 batch of the scholarship worth N81million to 540 beneficiaries to enable them fully undertake and complete their secondary school education.
Speaking while presenting the awards to the students during a ceremony at the Port Harcourt Library Complex, in Port Harcourt, last Thursday, Shell External Relations Social Performance and Investment Manager, Mrs Gloria Udoh, stated that the lucky students were selected based on merit.
Udoh, the general manager explained that SPDC now runs four scholarship schemes, and listed them to include the regular secondary school scholarship scheme, the cradle-to-career scholarship programme, the SPDC JV university scholarship scheme, and the Niger Delta Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.
The social performance and investment manager, stressed that the NNPC/SPDC/Total, Agip Joint Venture was committed to upholding a legacy of sustainable relationship with host communities through its social investment portfolios, adding that its intervention programmes are not limited to scholarships, but education infrastructure development, such as classroom blocks, science equipment and laboratories, and establishment of centres for excellence in some universities, with a view to enhancing human capacity and knowledge-base needed to support the economic growth of the country.
She commended the unflinching support and collaboration of the JV partners, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the tremendous support of the various Ministries of Education of Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers states in making the process a huge success.
On his part, the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Chief Gertrude Ego Oduka, said the investment would help wipe away illiteracy in the communities, and create a pool of human capital needed to drive the development process in the respective states, and the nation in general.
Represented by the Director, Imo State Scholarship Board, Mrs Stella Nwagwu, Oduka commended the management of SPDC for initiating and sustaining the scheme, and urged other corporate organizations to emulate the proactive policy to help governments at all levels overcome illiteracy, poverty and ignorance in the society while contributing to national development.
Also speaking, a representative of the Abia State Commissioner for Education, who is the Director, Abia State Scholarship Board, Reverend Christy I. Ibefi, said the state government was excited with the good works SPDC was doing in uplifting the quality of lives through investments in education in host states and communities, and prayed for the continued support of the company to efforts of governments to empower the people and develop the society.
In her speech, a motivational speaker, Akpesi Ogdigme, urged the beneficiaries to be studious and commit themselves towards achieving excellence in their undertakings.
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.