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FG Hails Rivers Top Spot In Literacy Education Dev

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The Federal Government has commended the Rivers State Government over its concerted efforts in the development of basic education that has guaranteed the state the highest ranking in literacy education in the country.
The state scored 70per cent ahead other states of the federation in a recent national ranking.
The Coordinator in charge of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), Federal Ministry of Education, MrsAminaHaruna made the commendation, while speaking at a one-day state Technical Workshop on improving BESDA implementation at Bougainvillea Hotels in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Haruna said it was of good note that Rivers State has shifted to where it was before and attained a commendable height in the development of literacy education, adding that such feat was worth celebrating.
The BESDA coordinator, disclosed that Rivers State has also taken the lead to replicate the just concluded performance review meeting held in Abuja, recently, adding that the technical meeting was essentially designed to bring all stakeholders in the BESDA together to brainstorm on way forward.
She said that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that the menace of out-of-school children in the country was resolved, adding that it was what informed the Federal Government decision to borrow $11million to tackle the menace headlong.
She called on parents to ensure that they give their children the right to education, adding that the importance of education in the society cannot be over-emphasised.
“Rivers State has done well in literacy education, and they are ahead of other states. So, whoever that has done well; praise him or her”, she stated.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku said one of the cardinal policy trusts of the present administration led by Governor Nyesom Wike was to provide access to quality and qualitative education for children in the state, saying that BESDA programme was one of the links to actualise it.
Ebeku thanked the Federal Government and the World Bank for initiating the BESDA programme, adding that it has given hope to many out-of-school children to have access to education literacy, saying that the cult clashes that ravaged some communities was responsible for the over-crowded nature of schools in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas of the state.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of both teachers and pupils in the BESDA schools in the state, adding that children in the conventional schools were not doing better than the ones in the BESDA schools.
He, therefore, solicited for cooperation among all stakeholders in driving the programme, and assured that the state Ministry of Education would drive the supervision and monitoring to ensure it achieves set objectives.
In his speech, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ven. Fyneface Akah said the workshop was organised to replicate the Federal Government’s model on peer review performance by getting all stakeholders involved in achieving gaining more grounds in the BESDA programme in the state.
Akah said the board under his leadership was determined to ensure both children of fishermen and those who are out-of-school have access to quality education, which he said, was essential.
“It is not about the reward but the effort and impact. We are organising literacy content to ensure that those children in the programme read, write and understand numerical skills, and whoever that acquires literary skills has acquired the knowledge for further education”, he stated.
In her remarks, the RSUBEB Director in charge of Physical Planning, Mrs Joy Ojirika, who doubles as the state BESDA focal person, gave a scorecard on the progress of the programme in the state.

By: Akujobi Amadi

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ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay N52m compensation to Rivers, Lagos Evictees

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The ECOWAS Court has ordered Nigeria to pay two million Naira compensation each to 26 people who were forcibly evicted from various communities in Lagos and Rivers between 2004 and 2013.

The Tide source reports that the applicants, Mr Edwin Lenyie and 25 others had filed the suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/34/17), seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

They also prayed the court to compel the Nigerian government to pay them compensation for forcefully evicting them from their communities without prior notice, compensation, or alternative shelter, rendering them homeless.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the court held that the Nigerian government failed in its responsibility to ensure access to legal remedies for the victims.

According to the community court, the action of the Nigerian government was in violation of Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

It held that the Applicants’ rights under Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which guarantees the right to a fair trial and access to justice, were violated.

The court said that the hearings on the matter, which were held by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) “were never concluded, and no alternative means of redress were provided for them.”

“Inspite of initial hearings by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2014, the proceedings were suspended indefinitely, leaving the Applicants without legal recourse,” the court said.

The court further dismissed Nigeria’s objections that the Applicants should have pursued their claims in Nigerian courts and on jurisdiction, saying it had the locus standi to entertain the case.

It further struck out the NHRC as a respondent in the case, and ordered that the Federal Government must bear full responsibility for the actions of its agencies.

The three-member panel of the court which has Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding); Sengu Koroma (judge rapporteur); and Gberi-Bè Ouattara (member) held that the compensation/reparation would ensure that justice is served the victims.

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RSG Moves To Boost Immunization, Commissions Solarized Cold Room, Vehicles

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As part of efforts to ensure efficient immunization and vaccine efficacy, the Rivers state Government has commissioned a solarised walk-in cold room for vaccine preservation and vaccine vial crusher.

 

Also commissioned were nine operational Hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles for disease surveillance across some local government areas in the state.

 

Rivers Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, who commissioned the facilities at the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board premises in Port Harcourt, said the development marks a significant milestone in the government’s unwavering commitment to the health care and wellbeing of Rivers people.

 

The Deputy Governor said that with the ceremony, the state government is not only inaugurating the equipment but also strengthening the foundation of the health care delivery system

 

She said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people.

 

“As we commission the solarised work in cold room to the surveillance motorcycles, we are not only inaugurating the equipment, we are strengthening the foundation of our health care delivery system.’

 

Professor Odu further said the installation of the cold room also represents the government’s dedication to maintaining vaccine efficacy as well as ensuring that every child and citizen receives life savings immunization.

 

According to her, the commissioned Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for disease surveillance also demonstrate the government’s proactive stance in safeguarding health facilities across the local government areas.

 

She said the present administration, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has consistently prioritised health care infrastructure in the local government areas.

 

Professor Odu commended the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), the World Health Organization WHO, and others for their immense support.

 

In her remarks, Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who spoke through her Permanent Secretary, Dr. Comfort Mekele Igwe said the commissioning would greatly enhance vaccine storage, handling, and distribution and underscores the government’s commitment to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Primary Healthcare System

 

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB), Professor Kinikanwo Green, said the commissioning is to strengthen health care delivery system in the state.

 

Green described the solarised walk-in cold room as one of the best in the country, stressing that it would take care of all vaccines.

 

He also explained that the vehicles will help health officers, especially in the rural areas to ensure proper supervision of immunisation as well as easy dispatches of vaccines to its destination.

 

According to the Executive Secretary, the situation will also enable the state to achieve universal health coverage

 

Speaking in similar vein, the chairman of RSPHCMB, Professor Blessing Jaja, said the board will continue to deliver on it core mandate and commended Governor Fubara for ensuring regular subvention as well promotion of its staff.

 

In their separate speeches, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Kolude Oluwafunmilola, and Dr Anselem Audu of UNICEF said the ceremony represents Rivers state’s commitment to quality health care.

 

They also commended the government for its efforts in advancing immunization in the state and assured of their continuous collaborations.

 

John Bibor

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Fubara Tasks New Surveyor-General On Professionalism  …Says Appointment Based On Merit

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the Surveyor-General of the State to work differently with professionalism, diligence and integrity, and ensure that every tenable, pragmatic module is deplored to enhance effective delivery of his duties and responsibilities.

 

Governor Fubara gave the charge shortly after swearing in Surveyor Peter Ogolo as the Surveyor-General of the State and Permanent Secretary of the Survey Department at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.

 

The Governor described Surveyor Ogolo as a long serving public officer who ranks high among his peers, and has contributed immensely to the establishment of most development roadmaps for the State, stressing that his appointment was based purely on merit.

 

He said, “If you go into the history of how the then Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority was established, if you go into the history of other developments in this State, if you check the survey plans, you will see that Ogolo was the one who signed virtually all those things.

 

“This appointment is not because he is from Opobo. He is the most senior, most qualified, and even the one who interviewed the person he is succeeding now. The records are there with the Civil Service Commission.”

 

Governor Fubara stated: “So, I don’t need to give you any charge. You are already there. You know what the office entails. You just read your oath of office: do what is right. It is not about the faces you are going to see, do what is right. Be professional, defend and protect the interest of the State. I wish you all the best. God will guide you.”

 

Governor Fubara recalled the challenges that Surveyor Ogolo encountered that would have ended his career quite early but quickly added that because he listened to wise counsel, he is now celebrating being the Surveyor-General of the State.

 

He explained,  “But something happened in the course of his service. He was between losing his job or fighting for his life. He came to me, and I advised him: why don’t you leave, maybe, wait to fight another day.

 

“And that is why today he is alive to be the Surveyor-General. If he had stood to fight, that he is the most senior, that he is the most qualified, he wouldn’t have been here today,” he stated.

 

He advised the new Surveyor-General to serve the State selflessly and honestly, with abiding integrity, so that posterity will remember his legacies forever.

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