Rivers
OPM Set To Sponsor 50 Students On Scholarship In Cyprus
Buoyed by the compelling need to give the less privileged in the society, especially young people a sense of belonging and a brighter future, the Omega Power Ministries (OPM) has set machinery in motion to sponsor another set of 50 students on scholarship in universities in Cyprus.
The 50 lucky beneficiaries were selected at random, and are currently undertaking documentations, preparatory for the trip.
Among them are two former security guards of Chicken Republic, an eatery in Aba, Abia State, who were recently relieved of their duties for dancing on duty. Another lad, one Caleb, who highlighted the plight of the duo on social media, is also selected to accompany the Cyprus-bound young men and women on the trip to study Computer Science.
The General Overseer of OPM, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, who gave this indication in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the 50 selected students would be heading to Cyprus to study courses of their choice in various universities in the country.
He hinted that the church was targeting to sponsor 500 students on foreign scholarship this year, contending that the church spends millions of naira annually on such ventures.
According to him, over 2,000 students have so far benefitted from OPM’s foreign scholarship programmes and are either currently studying or working in several countries of the world.
Chinyere further disclosed that his recent trip abroad to enroll 15 other beneficiaries was successful, as a German company volunteered to partner with the church on its free school programme in Nigeria, and added that all the beneficiaries of the church’s foreign scholarship he visited during the trip in Dubai, Turkey and other countries were doing fine with their studies.
Commenting on the former security guards of Chicken Republic, who are billed to travel to Cyprus on scholarship, the General Overseer said he decided to include them in the programme because, going by their ages, they were too young to work as security guards instead of rather furthering their education.
He said it was not as if he was supporting workers who dance on duty instead of taking their jobs seriously but that the victims actually needed to go to school to improve themselves educationally.
It would be recalled that the duo, Mathew Precious Kelechi is 18 years old while his colleague, Johnson Ifeanyichukwu is 19 years old.
In an interview with The Tide, they thanked Apostle Chinyere for the gesture, and promised not to disappoint him.
The General Overseer urged the people of the world, particularly in the larger society to imbibe the spirit of always sharing little kindness.
The Tide gathered that Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, on Monday at his residence in Port Harcourt presented a cheque of N1 million to a young man, Charles Samuel for winning a monthly competition organised for those residing with the General Overseer.
Also, parents of beneficiaries of OPM scholarship in Turkey, among other members of the church, last Friday thronged the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa to welcome the General Overseer back home after spending three weeks abroad. They sang and danced while awaiting the arrival of the man of God.
By: Donatus Ebi
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.