Rivers
Stakeholders Want Resuscitation Of Reading Culture In Schools
As part of efforts to tackle the backwardness in the education sector for greater efficiency and productivity in Nigeria, stakeholders have called on governments at all levels, religious groups, corporate bodies, traditional institutions and the media, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to concentrate on the development of the people educationally through reading of books. This they say, is paramount before success can be achieved, as it will widen the scope of their knowledge.
Declaring open this year’s International Mother Language Day and the unveiling of a reading centre in Opobo recently, National Director of Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), Prof. Priye Iyalla-Amadi, disclosed that the greatest task facing experts and other scholars in the education sector, especially government, is to resuscitate the long-forgotten culture of reading in schools as it affects Nigerians. She noted that the absence of such culture in the school curriculum destroys the dreams of the founding fathers, as far as education is concerned.
Amadi said that despite the huge financial investment in the sector, many people, including teachers, still prefer the short-cut syndrome of copying other persons’ work as a result of poor reading culture. She decried a situation where most students and other individuals pick interest in social media, in stead of reading their books, adding that it does not speak well of the education system.
The Don used the opportunity to admonish Nigerians, especially youths, to shun the temptation of pirating people’s works due to lack of reading culture, as their success lies in the possession of sound orientation in their course of study.
Also speaking, Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon.Enyiada Cookey-Gam, lauded the association for the initiative. He urged students and Nigerians to embrace the opportunity as provided by the group to study their books.
Cookey-Gam assured of his administration’s preparedness to support the effort of the organisation to create awareness for the culture to be resuscitated.
In his remarks, Chairman of River State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amanyanabo of Opobo, His Majesty, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, called on parents, school heads, leaders in the sector to Join forces with the association to pass the message across in all schools. This he said, will help the students in their quest to achieve better academic feat, instead of being exposed to piracy, an act he described as inimical to the growth of education in Nigeria.
King Jaja, who was represented at the occasion by a one-time executive secretary of Opobo/ Nkoro Community Development Foundation (ONCDF), Senibo Dienye Bellgam, described the choice of Opobo for the hosting of the event, as a welcome development and thanked the organisers for the opportunity.
The monarch assured of his readiness to partner with the group to ensure that government resuscitates the eluded culture of reading books.
Meanwhile, President of Opobo Women Welfare Association (OWWA), Amaopuorubo Felicia Pepple, has thanked the group for partnering with the association to spread the message across.
By: Bethel Toby
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.