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Wike Charges NCE On Functional Education
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has called on members of the National Council on Education (NCE) to make the nation’s educational system functional and self-reliant through positive policies that would enhance the education sector.
The governor added that making the education self-reliant was the only way to bring true freedom to the nations’ prosperity.
Wike made the call, last Monday, while declaring open a five-day technical session at the ongoing 64th meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) holding at Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, the governor, who said that he believed in the power of education as a catalyst for social change to foster prosperity and development, explained his unreserved commitment to ensuring the delivery of quality education to all and sundry across the state.
He described the theme of the 64th NCE meeting “Education For Self-Reliance, A Tool For The Achievement Of Education 2030 Agenda”, as very apt, adding that it was relevant to the NEW Rivers Vision of his administration.
The governor said, “As policy makers, we have a responsibility to make education functional for our children.
“As a government, we have constructed, renovated, and upgraded several schools; we have streamlined the process of private participation in the provision of quality, inclusive and equitable education delivery.
“Above all, in providing dividends of good governance to our people, this present administration is guided by the vision that except we make education functional and relevant to the needs of the individual, the prosperity of the future cannot be feasible”, he stated
The state chief executive used the opportunity to remind the delegates of their crucial role to transform the educational sector, adding that as technocrats, the decision of any government depended on their advice.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Architect Sonny Echono said the Federal Government has through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) issued certificates to 70 newly-approved private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to increase access to technical education as well as provide alternative route to higher education to advance technology and science development in the country.
Echono averred that the effort was geared towards shaping responsible and accountable citizens in the community, which was consistent with the national developmental objectives as articulated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERCP) as well as Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
According to him, the present administration has exhibited not only political will, but also committed the required resources towards guaranteeing functional education and life-long learning through establishment of more centres for adult education, Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTCs) and polytechnics.
“The implications of establishing additional public polytechnics and issuing licence to private polytechnics as well as Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) is that future graduates will create wealth and employment which shall alleviate poverty and enhance the ability of citizens to sustain themselves”, he stated.
The permanent secretary opined that the importance of education for self-reliance cannot be over-emphasized.
Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Mr Dagogo Adonye Hart, had said the educational goal of the government was to provide quality education at all levels and achieve improved learning outcomes for children in the state, adding that the government has taken systematic steps towards increasing the tempo to ensure the delivery of inclusive, equitable and quality education, through the provision of resources, infrastructure and competent teachers needed to increase learning in line with global best practices.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.