News
Ogeh, Diri Pay Tributes To Roselyn Wariso
The Chairman Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Judiciary and Training, Hon Samuel Ogeh says his mother-in-law, Mrs Roselyn Wariso will be greatly missed, as he urged the entire family to take solace in God.
Ogeh, who represents Emohua State Constituency in the assembly spoke in Opobo Town, headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area during the burial ceremony of late Mrs Wariso, at the weekend.
The legislator described his mother-in-law as a woman of honour, hardworking and God-fearing, noting that she would be greatly missed by all who had made contact with her while she was alive.
Calling on the family to be strong and bear the loss of their matriarch, Ogeh urged them to keep her legacy of peace and love for all humanity.
In his remarks, the legislator representing Opobo/Nkoro State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon Adonye Diri commiserated with Ogeh over the loss of his mother-in-law.
Diri, who was among other legislators who attended the burial obsequies of late Mrs Wariso in Opobo called on the Emohua-born legislator to bear the death of his mother-in-law with courage.
The legislator representing Opobo/Nkoro stated that Ogeh’s mother-in-law was indeed a woman of great parts, considering the huge turnout of people to pay their last respects to her.
In the same vein, President, National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Rivers State, Comrade Franklin Ajunwo said Late Mrs Wariso would be greatly missed, as she was a dedicated staff of the union.
Ajunwo urged the family to take solace in the fact that their mother lived a virtuous life, and touched so many lives when she was alive.
“What Governor Wike has done to the people of Etche has made the people indebted to him.”
He said before now, the road had been impassable because of its deplorable condition, and expressed regret that a son of the community was a majority leader in the Rivers State House of Assembly for four years but never made effort to see that the road was rehabilitated.
Anyanwu said the road was strategic as it would link many communities in the local government area, adding that food products which could not be transported to other parts of the state will now be easily transported, if the road is completed.
Anyanwu described Wike as the Necodemus of today for the people of Etche, adding that to appreciate the governor’s effort; no single vote would go to any other party during the 2019 elections but to PDP.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Rivers State, Hon Charles Nworgu said the event was historic in the sense that since the road was built by the colonial administration; no effort was made by past administrations to rehabilitate it.
“Over the years, people could not have access through the road; so also the agricultural produce from the communities which are predominantly farmers.
“Today, Governor Wike has flagged off this strategic road, and we are happy.
“We commend him for his efforts and assure him of strong support to his administration”, he said.
He assured that the project would be protected and that the contractor will enjoy the co-operation of the people to enable him complete the project on schedule.
The OnyeIshi Agwuru Igbo, Eze Samuel Amaechi also expressed excitement over the flag-off of the road project by the governor.
strong support for Wike’s administration and to vote for him enmass during the 2019 elections.
A Commissioner in the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Sir Ikechi Nwogu, also applauded the Rivers State governor for embarking on reconstruction of the road.
He said that not only people in the three communities but entire Etche found it difficult to pass through that axis of the local government area, adding that several appeals made to the past administration failed.
Nwogu said Wike has come to rescue the people of the area from hardship, stressing that the project will link Etche communities and make the transportation of agricultural produce to other parts of Rivers State possible.
In similar reaction, the Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor on Civic and Value Orientation, Andy Nwanjoku said people from the area could not bring out their farm produce to other parts of Etche and Rivers State because of the nature of the road, thereby resulting in huge wastages.
“But today, the governor has changed the story and the entire Etche people are very happy for what the governor has done to them.
“Etche people have no option than to vote massively for Wike and PDP. We are ready and waiting to pay him back with our votes for remembering us”, he added.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.
The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.
?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.
?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.
?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”
The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.
According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.
Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.
“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.
?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.
She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.
“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.
Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.
The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.
The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.
Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.
JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.
The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.
Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.
News
RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence
In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.
The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.
The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.
Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.
He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.
According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.
“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.
“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.
Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.
At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.
The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.
A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.
A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.
“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.
The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.
“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.
“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.
To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.
“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”
According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.
“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.
“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”
