Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has conferred one of the highest awards in the state on the Bishop of Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, JP.
The award, Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS), is the second highest distinction in the Rivers State Order of Service Awards and is conferred on individuals in recognition of their exceptional service in any field of human endeavour for the progress of the state.
The award ceremony, which took place last Saturday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, was attended by people from all walks of life.
Wike said the honour was to show gratitude publicly to indigenes and friends of Rivers State who stood out in their various endeavours.
Rt Rev. Ordu of Evo Diocese has, in the past 13 years as a Bishop, distinguished himself as a true shepherd who has dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.
This year alone, the Diocese of Evo has hosted the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as well as the Joint Council of Knights, which in a way showcased the safety of Rivers State and the hospitality of the Rivers people.
In just 13 years, Bishop Ordu, through exemplary and visionary leadership, has taken the diocese to new heights in the league of notable dioceses in the Church of Nigeria.
At the last all-Nigeria Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON) of the church, held in Abuja last month, Evo Diocese came first in terms of having the highest number of registered attendees at the event.
The entire faithful of the Diocese of Evo congratulate and felicitate with his lordship, the Rt. Rev. Ordu, on this well deserved honour bestowed on him by the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Wike.

A professor of Industrial Chemistry, Rivers State University (RSU), Professor Isaac Dokubo, has called for more budgetary allocations to vocational education in the country.
Prof. Dokubo said this at the 82nd Inaugural Lecture of the university in Port Harcourt.
The lecture, titled “Man and Vocation: The Inseparable Twins, The Vocationalist and Construction Cost Analyst Perspective”, Dokubo said Federal Government should increase budgetary allocation to vocational education in line with UNESCO recommendations of 26 percent of annual budget.
He expressed regret that Nigeria’s budgetary allocation for education for the last six years was less than 10 percent, stressing that the country will continue to grapple with the problem of industrial development if the vocational sector is continously neglected.
The university don also called for private sector involvement in vocational educational education.
He commended the Rivers State University for setting up the Department for Technical Education and urged other universities to follow suit.
Accordimg to him, Nigeria’s industrial development lies with vocational education.
Speaking, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Nlerum Okogbule, said the university has taken far reaching steps towards improving vocational educational in the institution.

By: John Bibor

Students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Rumuolumini, have hailed the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, over the appointment of Donald Okogba as the Acting Registrar of the university.
Some of the students who spoke with The Tide at the university campus, said the appointment was divinely made.
A student of the Faculty of Humanity who gave his name as Ikechi Amadi, said Okogba had done so much for the school and deserved a reward from the system.
She noted that Okogba left indelible imprints in all the areas he had previously headed in the institution, saying such should be the hallmark of a public servant.
Another student, Charles Igwe, who described Governor Wike as a goal-getter, said his decision to appoint Okogba was the best for the institution.
Igwe expressed optimism that the appointment would not only spur the new Registrar to action, but would also make him to right some wrongs in the institution.
Describing the Acting Registrar as a no nonsense man, he called on both the staff and students of the university to give him thier support to enable him succeed.
A staff who pleaded anonymity recalled how the new acting Registrar performed excellently when he served in his previous assignment as Director of the Senate House.
“Some appointments may be viewed as political, but to me, this Mr. Okogba’s own is just on merit. He has been too professional in all tasks given to him in the school”, he said.

By: King Onunwor