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NIESV, Stakeholders Brainstorm In PH

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Members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV, government functionaries and policy makers as well as operators and regulators of the real estate practice and other stakeholders have converged in Port Harcourt, Rivers state for the 52nd National Annual Conference of the institution, which commenced on Monday and would end by Saturday.
The Conference is an annual event and a gathering where stakeholders across the globe in the real estate industry and members of the academia brainstorm on strategic issues, share notes and ideas on the roles, relevance and power of the real estate in driving the national economy on a sustainable path.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Obi Wali Conference centre in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, President of NIESV and Chairman of the 52nd Annual Conference, ESV Emmanuel Wike said that at the end of the conference with the theme, “Cities of the future: Development, Infrastructure and Sustainability”, the Institution would make available to the government and policy makers, resolutions that would enable them come up with policy thrusts that would enhance national development. “We would also avail our members and all the relevant stakeholders the Communiqué for the purpose of using the conclusions for re-appraisal and aligning of real estate practices, strategies and operations with the best global practices”, said the president.
“Depending on how they are planned, managed and financed, cities play multi-faced roles in all societies. Cities are drivers of economic growth and at the same time, the breeding grounds of poverty, environmental hazards and communicable diseases among other ills. Most African cities, Nigeria inclusive are growing without corresponding economic transformation – they are largely unplanned; highly fragmented and disconnected; pantry investment in physical, social, economic infrastructure and services; and characterized by informal modes of social protection, infrastructure and service provision and dysfunctional municipal administration, to mention a few. A major drawback and cause of our malfunctioning cities is the failure to plan the city growth or failure to adhere to prescriptions and regulations and pay close attention to land use management as prescribed in the city plan.
‘We must be serious at solving this most pressing national problem. The transformation of our cities to make them more livable and functional should be a priority. Failure to transform our cities would amount to failure to meet the targets set out in the Sustainability Development Goals which was adopted by 193 countries including Nigeria. Otherwise referred to as the Project 2030, the Sustainability Development Goals is a global endeavour aimed at putting an end to poverty, securing the planet, while ensuring that everyone enjoys peace and prosperity by 2030. The project is also aimed at ensuring three critical issues of functionality, economy and aesthetics which are largely lacking in Nigeria’s present cities”, he added.
According to him, key challenges of future city development and solutions, as well as necessary interventions to solve the hydra headed problems would be examined by this Conference and suggestions would be passed to the appropriate quarters for necessary consideration and implementation.
To achieve these objectives, carefully assembled as resource persons are array of subject matter experts and highly renowned industry futurists with sharp eyes to observe relevant trends, innovations and developments across the world which can be applied in our country.
Speaking further, he said that the 52nd Annual Conference is very unique because the theme basically addresses or provides the direction to the outlook of our cities in the future and how they could be sustained basically through infrastructure for economic development, As they are presently, our cities does not guarantee healthy living, long life and welfare.
He believes that how our future cities would look and function depend on the decisions of the policy makers, the private sector and professionals in the built-environment. However, we should endeavour to build cities with the combination of the advantages of urban and rural settings, but without their disadvantages. We should endeavour to build sustainable cities where the ecosystem is holistically ensured, where the aspects of the city system works in tandem for its people and the environment, and where the lives of all people who inhabit them will be enriched.
The president used the opportunity to commiserate with the government and people Ondo state over the recent killing of worshippers in a church in Owo.” We condemn the gory and mindless attack in the strongest terms and urge the Government and the security agencies to painstakingly investigate the ugly incident to unravel and promptly bring to justice the perpetrators”.

By: Gabriel Nwanetanya

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Ministry Lists Challenges To Health Sector 

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The Rivers State Ministry of Health says it has identified some key challenges affecting the healthcare sector of the state.
This, it said, include shortages in critical health cadre, imbalance in workforce distribution between urban and rural communities, and weak workforce data integration.
The rest are: ageing personnel, attrition pressure, limited fiscal space, and increasing demand for health care services.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said this while declaring opene a five-day Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA) Methodology and Data Collection workshop for health officers in the state, in Port Harcourt.
He said the programme was crucial due to the growing pressure on health systems globally, adding that it would go a long way in addressing critical challenges and also strengthen health care service delivery in the state.
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Wachukwu noted challenges facing the health sector such as shortages of skilled personnel, unequal distribution of health workers, migration, attrition, productivity concerns, rising disease burdens, and limited financial resources.
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According to him, the strength of any health system depends largely on the capacity of its workforce, describing health workers as essential to service delivery, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child healthcare, and the achievement of universal health coverage.
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He restated the government’s commitment to adopting evidence-based workforce planning, backed by reliable data, strategic investment, and policy coordination rather than fragmented interventions.
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Wachukwu explained that the Health Labour Market Analysis would enable the state to evaluate workforce supply, demand, financing realities, and healthcare needs while identifying existing policy and investment gaps.
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“The exercise will help us develop practical strategies for building a resilient and sustainable health workforce capable of meeting the healthcare needs of our people”, he said.
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Wachukwu also acknowledged that although the state government has implemented reforms to strengthen the health sector, major challenges still persist.
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“This workshop comes at a very critical moment, not only for Rivers State, but for Nigeria’s health sector as well.
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“Across the country and indeed globally, health systems are increasingly confronted with major workforce challenges, shortages of skilled health workers, inequitable distribution, migration and attrition, productivity concerns, changing disease burdens and growing financial constraints”, the Permanent Secretary said.
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Emphasising the importance of collaboration and stakeholder participation, he noted that the success of the workshop would depend on the availability of quality data and institutional cooperation.
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He urged participants to contribute actively throughout the workshop and support the data gathering and analytical processes, stating that the outcome of the exercise would guide policy formulation, improve workforce performance, strengthen investments in the health sector, and enhance healthcare outcomes across Rivers State.
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The Permanent Secretary commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Clinton Health Access Initiative, World Health Organization, development partners, and stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
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Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Human Resources for Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, John Okobia, said the HLMA exercise was specifically designed to address the unique healthcare workforce realities and needs of Rivers State.
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Okobia explained that the policy framework expected to emerge from the workshop would not be merely theoretical, but tailored towards practical solutions capable of improving healthcare delivery and outcomes across the state.
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He advocated for deliberate interventions aimed at strengthening the health sector and improving access to quality healthcare services, expressing optimism that the five-day workshop would produce fruitful outcomes that would support effective health workforce planning and better health indices in the state.
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“The policy that we are going to generate from here is not going to be a theoretical policy, but  is going to solve the practical needs of the people of River State.
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“With a population of about nine million people, Rivers State requires deliberate support and strategic interventions. What we aim to achieve through this exercise is to identify practical ways to improve health outcomes across the state.
“On that note, I want to sincerely thank you all for receiving us, and we are hopeful that the next five days will be productive and impactful”, he  said.
The workshop was organized by the state Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Social Welfare, Clinton Health Access Initiative, World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners.
By: John Bibor, Nwachukwu Lauritta, Chukwuma Divine Okwu, Ngerebo Patience
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Rivers

VIO Seeks Stronger Collaboration For Road Safety 

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Towards ensuring safer roads and improved transportation management in Rivers State, the Chief of the Rivers State Road Traffic and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Engr. Akobo Monibo, says there is need for strategic collaboration with transport stakeholders in the state.
He made this known while receiving a delegation of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUTON), led by the State Chairman, Lady Larencia Chioma, during a courtesy visit to his office.
The meeting, which focused on fostering a broad-based partnership and mutual understanding aimed at enhancing ease of operations for app-based drivers across Rivers State, was also intended to promote compliance with road safety regulations and traffic management standards.
Speaking during the visit, Engr. Monibo expressed appreciation to the AUTON leadership for their willingness to collaborate with the agency in ensuring orderliness, professionalism, and safety within the transport sector.
He emphasized that road safety remains a collective responsibility and called on all transport operators, especially app-based drivers, to continue supporting government efforts geared towards reducing road accidents and improving public confidence in transportation services.
According to him, “Road safety remains the hallmark of every responsible transport system. We appreciate the understanding, cooperation, and commitment shown by AUTON towards building a safer and more organized transportation environment in Rivers State.”
On her part, the AUTON State Chairman, Lady Larencia Chioma, commended the leadership of the VIO for its openness and readiness to engage stakeholders constructively.
She assured the agency of the union’s support and cooperation in promoting lawful operations and safer roads within the state.
The visit further highlighted the importance of synergy between regulatory agencies and transport unions in advancing efficient service delivery, public safety, and sustainable transportation development in Rivers State.
By: Michael T. Abraham
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CIFAL Global Network, UNITAR Webinar Series Holds At RSU … As Nigeria’s Energy Future Takes Centre Stage

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A coalition of international scholars and policy experts will shift global attention to Nigeria’s energy future as the second edition of a three-part webinar series examines the country’s struggle to balance economic growth, energy security and the global transition away from fossil fuels.
The webinar series, titled “The Politics of Power: Energy Security, Resource Wealth and the Global Energy Transition,” is being organised under the CIFAL Global Network and United Nations Institute for Training and Research, with sessions hosted by leading academic institutions in Australia, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
At the session to be hosted by CIFAL Nigeria at Rivers State University (RSU), in Port Harcourt, will focus on the implications of the global energy transition for Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, amid mounting concerns over declining global dependence on fossil fuels and the challenge of expanding domestic energy access.
The organisers said the session would interrogate how Nigeria can sustain economic prosperity while pursuing a just and sustainable transition to renewable energy sources.
The webinar will feature presentations from leading scholars and energy experts, including Prof. Augustine A. Ikein, a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow and Professor Emeritus at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State; Prof. Kingsley Okpara of the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management (IGEM), Rivers State University; and Dr. Uduak Akpan, a postdoctoral researcher at SOAS, University of London with extensive experience in Africa’s energy and economic transformation, including work with the African Development Bank.
According to the organisers, the webinar series is designed to bring together global perspectives on one of the defining policy questions of the 21st century — how nations rich in natural resources can achieve energy security and economic stability while advancing a fair transition to cleaner energy systems.
Participants who attend all three sessions will receive certificates of participation from the CIFAL Global Network and UNITAR, while recordings will also be made available to registered attendees.
Stakeholders, policymakers, academics and industry players have been urged to participate in the discussions and contribute to shaping the future of global energy systems.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
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