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Work Daily For God, Banigo Charges Christian Women
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has charged Christian women to develop a daily work with the Lord Jesus Christ by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Banigo gave this charge while speaking during the Young Adults and Youth Affairs Sisters’ Programme at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Jesus House, Rumuibekwe Housing Estate in Port Harcourt, last Saturday.
She said, “Being saved is the first and bringing the flesh under the submission of the Holy Spirit is key to living a fruitful and ever-increasing Christian life, and I encourage you to spend the few hours in the morning in His presence.”
According to the deputy governor, God wants us to touch His Heart by the art of worship, reverence and adoration, adding that in that place, there was an outpouring of His Spirit.
The deputy governor disclosed that shortly after her election into the office, she started running the Protect the Girl Child Initiative as a voice for the protection of the girl-child, and of course, the boy-child.
She said they have used the platform to mentor the young ones to understand that their body was the temple of the Holy Ghost and to protect their bodies from familiar persons and others.
“We have interfaced with various ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs) and non-governmental organisations, such as FIDA, Medical Women Association, Doctors without Borders, and others. We have also sponsored and mentored girls into academics, in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics. We have provided scholarship for students in higher institutions of learning.
“At the moment, we are running Peer Group Club, which was inaugurated in Federal Government College, Port Harcourt, to encourage peer enlightenment and support so that children would know how to support and encourage each other to stay and keep their bodies as temple for the Holy Spirit”, the deputy governor said.
Banigo disclosed that the Caywood Brown Foundation, which was inaugurated in 2006 as a non-governmental humanitarian foundation, serves as an intervention platform to reach out to the vulnerable in society.
“We train and retrain in various skills, some of the programmes include free computer acquisition, establishment of film academy in PH, breast cancer awareness campaign, mental health awareness seminar for women and youths, training in the digital economy,” Banigo further said.
In her remarks, the wife of the International Youth Pastor of RCCG, Pastor Tamunoemi Obunge, described the programme as a test run, to bring them together because a lot of them have become lukewarm.
She thanked the Almighty God for the Holy Spirit, which has continued to recharge them while urging them to go and spread the message of unity and love in their midst.
Obunge expressed the need for all RCCG members to unite and support each other, saying, “If you are an RCCG youth, anywhere you hear of a youth programme, you are part of it, we are one. We should support each other, whenever we have the opportunity to worship together, forget your region, province, zone or area, and worship the Lord Jesus Christ”, she stressed.
Highlights of the occasion were ministrations from various choirs, drama and sermon by Pastor Lawrence Oyor.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
