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Professionals, PDP-GSF Endorse Wike For 2019
Rivers professionals under the aegis of Rivers Professionals for Wike (RIVPROW) have endorsed Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for a second term.
The Rivers professionals announced their endorsement of Wike during their solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
Leader of RIVPROW, Mr Enemi Alabo George said that professionals in the state were satisfied with the performance of Wike, hence their decision to support his re-election.
He said: “As professionals, we subscribe to your vision. We are willing to work for the success of the New Rivers Vision.
“You were elected by Rivers people and you have proved to be a good governor. Professionals have resolved that they want to be part of the process and to add value.”
He added that the professionals are ever ready to make their contributions to ensure that Wike continues to succeed in the state.
George stated that the policies of Wike have led to the growth of the economy of the state and the emergence of growing small and medium sized businesses.
Responding, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike charged professionals to be directly involved in politics in order to shape the direction of the society.
He said it is unwise for professionals to allow hooligans to hijack the governance structure, noting that the society would suffer for professionals staying away from politics.
“Professionals cannot give their destiny to those who don’t know anything. Professionals must show interest in politics to churn out quality policies.
“Don’t be afraid. You have the tools to make contributions for the development of the society. Don’t hand over Nigeria to hooligans”, he said.
The governor challenged Rivers people who are well-to-do to contribute their quota to the growth of the state.
He wondered why some politicians continue to fight the administration instead of attracting development to the state.
“When I talk about Rivers people, I mean indigenes of Rivers State, people born in Rivers State and people who live and do business in Rivers State.
“If they allow the ports to work, jobs will be created in the state. If the airport is working, more jobs will also be created”, he said.
He berated the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government for failing the country, noting that the administration only intimidates Nigerians with insecurity.
He assured Rivers professionals that his administration would work with them by creating more employment opportunities for them.
Wike said that the state government would, in the coming weeks, employ 7,000 professionals into the state civil service and 14,000 teachers into the state education sector.
Highpoint of the solidarity visit was the presentation of the communique endorsing the governor by an official of RIVPROW, Golden Tamuno.
The group also presented a condolence letter to Wike through the Secretary, Prince Nyekwere.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Head of Service, Barrister Rufus Godwins and Commissioner of Sports, Boma Iyaye.
Also, the Rivers State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party-Grassroots Support Foundation, has endorsed the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for second term in office based on his sterling leadership qualities, commitment to grassroots development and prudence in the management of state resources for the good of Rivers people.
Addressing newsmen shortly after an indoor meeting of the group, the Rivers State Coordinator of the group, Comrade Bala Abiye, revealed that the endorsement was unanimously approved by the members of the group after considering the innumerable result-oriented projects executed by the governor since inception in 2015.
The state coordinator said the PDP-Grassroots Support Foundation, a non-profitable group affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party, could not afford to ignore the relevance and performance of Governor Nyesom Wike in sustaining democracy and good governance.
He opined that the governor, so far, had delivered government of transparency and accountability which had transformed the trajectory of governance from the woeful performance of the past.
According to him, the Wike-led administration has proved to all and sundry that it was delivering in her campaign promises and making lives of Rivers people much better through quality projects and programmes.
X-raying some of his achievements, Abiye said the governor was truly ‘Mr. Projects’.
“Everyone in Rivers State will agree with me that our jubilee governor is working. He started working on his very first day in office”, the state coordinator stated.
“Let me remind you that on the day of his inauguration on May 29, 2015, Wike declared ‘Operation Zero Potholes’ and had completed 23 out of the 26 strategic road projects inherited from the previous administration in the third year in office”, he said.
Abiye, confirmed that the group also saw on record the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of several roads, schools and hospitals, reclamation of lands, agricultural development and provision of other critical infrastructure across the state.
On human development and empowerment, among several others, the Wike-led administration, early this year, awarded a five-year full scholarship to 100 Rivers State indigent students to study medicine and surgery and other medical-related courses in one of the reputable indigenous medical universities.
“This, the governor promised, would continue for the next five years. Many other scholarships have also been awarded to several indigene students in different tertiary institutions”, Abiye said.
Abiye reiterated the commitment of the group, to work together with the governor and other pro-PDP organizations, stakeholders, countless members of the party and all well-meaning Rivers people in ensuring that ‘Mr. Projects’, was re-elected and returned as the governor of Rivers State come 2019.
Also speaking, Secretary of the group, Comrade Mbaba Smart, described the governor as Nigeria’s democracy icon who defends Rivers people.
His stout defence of democracy, according to him, has prevented the country from sliding into full-blown dictatorship.
Mbaba further disclosed that one of the greatest achievements of Wike was the creation of access to justice in the state.
“At inception, the governor opened the courts which had been closed down for two years by the past APC-led administration. Wike also swore-in the first female state Chief Judge and President of Customary Court of Appeal, and granted financial autonomy to the judiciary,” he said.
Commending the efforts of the governor, the Legal Adviser of the group, Barrister Tamunotoku Obelemabo, said the Wike-led administration has allocated a cumulative sum of over N12billion of the yearly budget to the relevant line-ministries to implement various youth and women development.
According to her, the administration has so far created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs through projects, family empowerment, among others.
“Just recently, the Rivers State Government has started the process of recruiting 10,000 teachers and 4, 000 non-teachers into all the state-owned schools”, Obelemabo 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.”