Rivers
NYSC Applauds RSG Over Facilities Upgrade …Tasks Corps Members On SAED
National Governing Board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has lauded the Rivers State Government over what it called the government’s unflinching support in upgrading facilities in the state’s NYSC Orientation Camp.
Chairman of the Board, Amb. Fatima Balla Abubakar, gave the commendation during the 2022 Batch B, Stream1 Orientation Course Over Sight Tour of the board to the State’s Permanent Orientation Camp at Nonwa Gbam in Tai Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists, Abubakar said the visit to the state’s NYSC camp was to reaffirm the lofty strides of the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, towards the development of the facilities in the camp.
“Worthy of note was the state-of- the- art auditorium at the centre of the camp”, she said.
Abubakar, who noted that it was incumbent upon state governments to build and maintain the camp for corps members and its facilities, insisted that Governor Wike had kept the pace and his earlier promise of providing a number of facilities in the state’s NYSC Camp with the project at the stage of about 97 percent completion.
Describing the auditorium as a wonderful edifice, Abubakar said “one of the reasons we came to Rivers State was because we are aware of this project. My colleagues were here when this project began and we came this time around hoping that we will see the Governor.
“If we had seen him, one of the things we are going to do is to say thank you for this wonderful edifice that he has put in place for corps members of the State.
“We thank the Governor, government and people of the State for doing this for the NYSC in the State. We like this because with this kind of facility put in place for use for the corps members, many things will be made comfortable and easier on camp and believe he will do more.
“Unfortunately, this time around, we did not have the opportunity to see the Governor to put forward other things that we require in the camp as we understand the Governor is out of the country.
“But we will follow it up with letters and believe that since he has given his word that he will do something in terms of facilities that we require, he will do it”, she stated.
The board chairman further charged the corps members to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Department (SAED) designed by the scheme to fill the gap of the unemployment challenge of the country after their service year.
”In the camp, there is what we call the SAED where corps members are taught different trades. We also make provision for them to get agricultural loan for those of them who want to go into any kind of farming.
“The essence of this programme is to sort of help the lack of jobs that we have in this country. They are given this opportunity of different trades so that, if they don’t have white collar jobs, they can undertake something to help sustain their lives”.
She further urged the corps members to” keep safe, stay within the camp, listen to instructions of the State Coordinator and Staff and maintain camp rules and regulations”.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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.