Rivers
NIESV, Stakeholders Brainstorm In PH
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
A professor of Parasitology and Public Health in the Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science at the Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, Prof. Gloria Ngozika Wokem, has advocated for the abolition of open water body latrine systems in rural riverine areas and open forest latrines in upland communities to eradicate water and food-borne diseases, popularly known as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), prevalent in Nigeria.
Prof. Wokem made this call while delivering her inaugural lecture at the 122nd inaugural lecture series of the university on the topic “Neglected Tropical Diseases and WASH Nexus: Breaking the Cycle for Human Sustainability” held in Port Harcourt, wednesday.
She described NTDs as a group of diseases prevalent among impoverished remote populations, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, with limited access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and other healthcare essentials.
According to her, there are about 20 known disease groups shortlisted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), such as Guinea worm disease, Endemic Treponema pallidum infection (Yaws), Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) (sleeping sickness), leprosy (Hansen’s Disease), and onchocerciasis (River blindness), among others, adding that they are listed by WHO as control targets for the 2030 NTDs goals.
Prof. Wokem stated that for over thirty years, she has been working in the field of Neglected Tropical Diseases, or in other words, water and food-borne diseases. “These diseases come to humans through what we eat, what we do, and are so prevalent around us that not much information is known about them, which is why they are called neglected.”
She noted that NTDs affect not only Nigeria but 57.3% of the world’s population, including Africa, Asia, South and Central America, adding that wherever sanitation, hygiene, and safe drinking water are in limited supply, these neglected tropical diseases will flourish.
The professor called for all stakeholders to join hands to fight against the eradication of the dreaded tropical diseases ravaging the society, saying, “There is a role government will play and there are parts individuals will do.”
She however recommended among other things the employment of graduate parasitology and public Health Scientists groomed by the university for the continuity of the medical laboratory science profession which is in high demand
Earlier in his remarks,the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obi, lauded the lecturer and described the lecture as a testament to her professional prowess and a justification of her professorial appointment by the university.
The vice chancellor who was represented by the provost of the post graduate school of the university,prof T S K.Abam ,the VC aligned with the position of the lecturer that living a clean environment and washing our hands regularly will help to eradicate the NTDs in the society.
The University of Port Harcourt, has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of insecurity in Nigeria by producing security experts through its Institute of Niger Delta Studies (INDS), with the institute inducting its first graduating students into the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS), with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General E E Emekah, delivering a quality lecture on the topic, “Promoting Blue Economy In The Niger Delta: The Place Of Security”.
In his lecture, Major General Emekah emphasised the importance of security in promoting the blue economy in the Niger Delta region.
He noted that the activities of the Joint Tasks Force (JTF) are geared towards maintaining peace on Nigerian waterways and promoting productivity, and also stressed the need for a non-kinetic approach to security operations, winning the hearts and minds of the communities, and collaborating with security personnel to fight insecurity.
The GOC charged the inductees to ensure that their study/training provides practical solutions to the pressing security challenges facing the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
He emphasised the significance of their studies in UNIPORT, given the prevailing security threat to lives and property, especially on Nigerian waterways.
The Acting Director of INDS, Dr. Chukwu-Okeah, expressed satisfaction that the occasion marks a new milestone in the history of the institute, noting that the Niger Delta has been besieged with environmental and security challenges, and it is time to rise up and build the region through the blue economy ideology.
The blue economy, he explained, emphasises the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.
He described the blue economy as the new oil well, with the potential to drive economic diversification, job creation, food security, and climate resilience in the region.
One of the inductees, Ayuba Tanimu noted that security is dynamic, and continuous learning and research have equipped them to serve their communities and Nigeria well.
He described the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS) as a body of security professionals that meets annually to craft security policies for the country.
The programme, which attracted prominent individuals from the academia, security, and other sectors had the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka, as its chairman.
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