Rivers
Woji Community Unveils Cars for Transport Company …Awards Chieftaincy Titles To Former Andoni LG Chairman, Others
Woji Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday, unveiled three vehicles to kick-start its transport company.
The community also conferred chieftaincy titles on a former chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Hon. Orom Nte Ereforokuma; Mr Ani Anthonio Onu and Engr. Andrew Aligbe.
Unveiling the vehicles yesterday during the thanksgiving service at St. Nicholas’ Anglican Church, Woji, to mark his seventh year anniversary as paramount ruler and Nyenwe-Eli Woji, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, said the community set up the transport company to generate funds for community development and provide employment for deserving persons.
He announced that the fleet of three Toyota Sienna vehicles would be integrated into the transport firm floated by the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria for easy management.
He highlighted several development projects executed in the community since his coronation seven years ago to include scholarships to indigent students, manpower development programmes for the youth, and support for indigent women of the community, among others.
Speaking while dedicating the cars, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, commended Woji community for its sense of unity and for setting the pace in community development since Eze Emeka ascended the throne of Eze Woji.
He urged neighbouring communities top borrow a leaf from Woji to ensure peace and development in their areas.
He prayed for God to sustain the leadership of the community and grant them the wisdom to continually maintain peace and development of the community.
In his sermon, the Vicar of St. Nicholas Anglican Church, Woji, Rev. Canon Kingsley Ohajianya, called on the people to put their trust in God always to ensure their unity and progress.
The cleric, who spoke on the topic “Obtain Help from Sanctuary” during his sermon, said God does not fail those who put their trust in him as the only place one can get help is from God.
The man of God said nobody should go to the occult world to seek for help as any power outside God has expiry dates.
On Saturday, Eze Emeka Ihunwo had conferred chieftaincy titles on three non-indigenes of the community. He conferred the title of Eze Chituru of Woji on Orom Nte. Ani Anthonio Onu was conferred with Eze Obanya obi of Woji while Engr Aligbe bagged Eze Chigozilemma of Woji.
Eze Woji charged the awardees to be good ambassadors of Woji Kingdom, adding that the kingdom does not sell its chieftaincy titles but will give to deserving persons who have excelled in their contribution to the development of the community.
Ihunwo said it has been the custom of woji to recognise non- indigenes living with them, adding that even foreigners have in the past been recognised awarded titles.
He said the community has also extended its scholarship programmes and employment opportunities to non-indigenes in the community, and urged others to reciprocate same in their communities as no community can be built by only indigenes.
He urged the inducted chiefs to build synergy with the community with a view to fast tracking its development and charged them to take the titles as one of those good fortunes of life.
The awardees who spoke to newsmen thanked the Paramount Ruler and the Woji Council of Chiefs for the honour, promising to remain law-abidding as well as support the development of the community.
By: John Bibor
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.