News

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

Published

9 years ago

May 10, 2017

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

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

Here is a clean, professional, publication-ready edit of your report with improved flow, clarity, and SEO strength while retaining all facts:

News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.