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Aftermath Of Global Award: Rivers, 73 Cities To Host UN HABITATS
Following the recent award by Global Human Settlement Outstanding Contribution in New York recently on the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, Rivers State has been selected among 74 other cities across the globe to host the UNHabitat Urban Thinkers Campus Committee.
The Commissioner of Housing, Elder Chinedu Nwobueze Tasie who announced the selection in Port Harcourt yesterday expressed enthusiasm with the selection, saying it was not surprising as the Governor’s passion for human settlement and sustainable cities development fetched him the prestigious award on Global Human Settlement Outstanding Contribution in New York recently.
He urged participants to deliberate to bring solutions to the pending challenges of slum upgrading, reduction of forceful evictions and construction of decent affordable housing for all through ‘informed planning and design of ‘The City We Need’.
Speaking while hosting United Nations Habitat 3 Urban Thinkers Campus delegates in Port Harcourt, the Governor, reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable urban development as a critical step for realising the urbanisation agenda of Rivers State through a coordinated manner that will involve the participation of all relevant actors.
According to Hon Kenneth Kobani, Secretary to the State Government who represented the Governor at the event, the theme of the Urban Thinkers Campus, ‘The City We Need’, is already being implemented in Rivers State with the upgrade of infrastructures such as roads, parks and gardens, medium and low income houses, market, etc in line with the administration’s NEW vision on urban and rural policy tagged, NEW Rivers Vision for Urban and Rural Development.
He said the UN urban agenda of rural development can further be noted in the state with the massive investment in road construction to ease traffic flow and connect other parts of the state.
Wike however, stated that the NEW urban goal is not without challenges as issues such as waste generation, slums with attendant criminality, overcrowded schools and hospitals were obvious challenges.
The Executive Director of International Women Communication Centre, Dr Limota Giwa during her briefing on Urban Thinkers Campus and importance of the meeting said, the “City We Need’ in Nigeria Project will take place in five States, Rivers, Lagos, Kogi, Kwara and Katsina States to give geographical spread of all regions of Nigeria.
She said objectives of the urban campus is centred on infrastructure, human capital development and human right through slum upgrading and desertification, safer city and security of land tenure, advocate for improving situation of poor dwellers and access situation of government action towards securing decent housing and safer city.
She noted that following the world urban campaign steering committee instruction from 29 June 2015 to 20 February 2016, a series of 26 urban thinkers campaigns were organised around the framework of The City We Need 2.0 engaging 7,847 men and women from 124 countries and 2,137 organisations representing 14 constituent groups. The outcome of the report from all UTC, the world urban campaign drafting committee developed and launched The City We Need 2.0 on 12 march, 2016.
The commissioner of Information and Communications, Barr Emma Okah, presenting his paper on The Role of Media in Domesticating the City We Need Project and World Urban Campaign stressed that agenda setting in actualising the Habitat3 Project cannot be ignored through the mass media to achieve behavioral and agenda setting.
Dr Constance Amadi, the Director General of Mind Development Initiative, speaking on the Role and Place of Grassroots Women in City Planning, stated that the importance of women involved in city development through reproductive, productive and cultural roles in society cannot be undermined.
Other keynote speakers include Prof I Apriiku on City Resiliency and Youths in the 21st Century. Dr V C Obinna who spoke on Sustainable Cities in Line with SDG while Mr Tonte Davids spoke on the Journey Towards New Urban Agenda and the Way Forward.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.