Rivers
Senator Tasks Journalists On Re-Evaluation Of Profession
The former Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe, has tasked journalists on the need to re-evaluate the journalism profession in order to prevent it from going into extinction.
Abe gave the charge when he led his ‘Project SMA 2023’ team on a condolence visit to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, over the death of some of its members, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He said that the journalism profession was too important to the society for it to go into extinction.
According to him, the call became imperative due to the close challenge from the social media operators.
The Senator, who is a former Commissioner for Information and governorship hopeful in the state, maintained that journalism is a noble profession that must be protected jealously.
“You must do everything within your reach to protect the profession. You must show skill. Journalism is a noble profession and must not go like that”, he said.
Senator Abe also called on media heads to be discreet with their jobs so as to avoid some avoidable errors, appealing to the media to go back to the drawing board and do the needful.
He recalled that in the past, journalists were so careful that one would hardly find errors in print publications, and when such errors occurred, papers would apologise to their readers promptly while correcting the error.
He regretted that newspaper publications were now ridden with so many mistakes that you would hardly find interesting to read.
The Senator condoled with the NUJ, Rivers State Council, over the death of four of their colleagues in recent times, and prayed to God to give the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the losses.
Abe assisted the families of the deceased who were also present during the visit with some amount of money.
About his ‘SMA Project’, he said it would operate an all inclusive government that will drive away all known challenges, if elected.
He said that it was time to listen to voters’ plight, adding that the 2023 general elections should not be business as usual.
Earlier, the Chairman of NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley, had commended Senator Abe for always identifying with the Press, describing him as one of the best Commissioners for Information Rivers State has ever produced.
According to him, Senator Abe distinguished himself as a friend of the media when he was Information Commissioner and has continued to identify with journalists even after leaving office.
Job also thanked the visitor for his solidarity, saying his visit does not only boost the morale of journalists in the state, but also gives succour to the families of the deceased.
By: King Onunwor & Tonye Nria-Dappa
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.