News
‘Help Develop Children’s Interest In Sciences’ …As STAN 60th Confab Opens In PH , Today
The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has urged science teachers in the state to help the Rivers child develop interest in the core science subjects.
The deputy governor stated this during a courtesy visit to her by members of the Rivers State chapter of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
Banigo, who said she was pleased to note that a Rivers indigene, late Mr. Fenibo Ajumogobia, who taught Physics and Mathematics in Kings College, Lagos, as far back as 1957, was the founding father of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, also said that the STAN has put Rivers State on the global map.
The deputy governor, who expressed worries that children no longer have interest in Science and Mathematics, said ”These days, our children don’t seem to be interested in Science and Technology anymore.
“There is so much falling standard in Mathematics and engineering; it’s a bit saddening because that is the direction the whole world is going. Whatever you can do to propagate enhanced interest of our children in these core science subjects, government is ready to support you”, she said.
Banigo advised the science teachers to do more advocacy in churches, families and in any area they can to see that standards in the core subjects are brought up to speed in the schools.
She said teachers must go for training and retraining to equip themselves in order to impart knowledge that will enable the children compete favourably with their peers from other climes, stressing that teachers at all levels must avoid absenteeism and remain in the classrooms to teach the children.
According to Banigo, the education-loving Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has more or less declared an emergency in the education sector in order to reverse the backward trend education had suffered in the recent past.
“Our education-loving governor knows what it takes to improve education, having been a minister of education in the country himself; that is why he is renovating 175 primary schools, secondary schools, and has paid up the counter-part funding for the State Universal Primary Education Board, which was not paid for several years”, she disclosed.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Mr. Amadi Ebenezer, had said the Rivers State chapter of the association will be hosting the STAN 60th Anniversary Conference in Port Harcourt between August 14th and 19th.
According to him, STAN is a non-profit making body with no religious bias, whose aim is focused in building the capacity of all Science, Technology, and Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers through training and retraining programmes.
He acknowledged the developmental strides of the Wike-led administration, saying ”STAN joins well-meaning people to congratulate the governor for the giant strides in educational development of the state, especially regular payment of salaries of teachers and renovation works of some secondary schools with new facilities”.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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