News

Ariolu Applauds Wike’s Economic Empowerment Drive

Published

3 years ago

November 7, 2022

Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, has hailed the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for his efforts in reducing the high rate of unemployment in the state.
Ariolu said, while reacting to the inauguration of the second batch of Special Assistants to the Governor on Political Units Affairs at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area, that the Wike-led administration has continued to ensure his programmes and policies get to the grassroots.
He added that the economic empowerment programmes of the governor were unprecedented.
“This is a government that is taking it upon itself to get down to the grassroots to appoint people, and pay them on monthly basis.
“It is unprecedented in the political history of this country, and it is worth commending of the governor of Rivers State,” he added.
He described as enormous the socio-economic benefit of the recent appointment of political advisers to the governor on citizens, adding that the economic advantage would be huge.
The chairman advised the recently appointed political appointees to ensure prudent management of scarce resources allocated to them by the state government following their appointments as special assistants.
Ariolu stated, “That’s what we are talking about. It gives you the positive effect of employing somebody, as you employ the person; the person earns an income and is empowered to pay his children’s school fees, to pay rent and to do other necessary things.
“So, the multiplier effect is enormous, the economic advantage is a very huge one.”
He also encouraged them to invest the monies from the state government in lucrative businesses that would yield profits in the future.
“Of course, fundamentally, it’s your ability to manage the scarce resources that gets into your hands.
“Look for one other thing to invest it in so that it will multiply in the nearest future, and you won’t come back to square one when the tenure ends,” Ariolu explained.
Wike, during the inauguration, announced an increase in the number of special assistants from the initial 100,000 to 200,000 persons.
He explained that the increase in number of special assistants was necessitated by the inundating requests from Rivers people who appeal to be considered for the appointment.
He further directed political leaders across various local government areas to return to their respective units to search for trustworthy people who were willing to assist the state in retaining its position in the comity of states.
Wike, who congratulated the appointees, disclosed that the appointment of special assistants would help his administration to finish strong.
Those first inaugurated by the governor at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Omagwa, were Special Assistants to the Governor on Political Units Affairs from Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Ikwerre, Emohua, Etche, Omuma, Okrika and Ogu-Bolo, respectively.

News

HYPREP Tightens Security At Project Sites

Published

3 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

Following the rupture of the ground tank of its water facility in Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has tightened security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

HYPREP, which dropped this hint in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey had given the directive for security to be tightened across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

Mba-Nwigoh noted that the tightening of security across the project sites has become necessary to forestall interference with the facilities.

He further disclosed that following the rupture of the ground tank of the Ebubu water facility, a team led by HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi has visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation, stressing that the water facility has been cordoned off for public safety.

The statement indicated that following the incident, HYPREP has henceforth barred non-project personnel and non-facility staff from gaining access into any of its active project sites in Ogoniland without authorisation.

While appealing to residents of Ebubu Community and the public to remain calm, the Head of Communications assured them that the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community, saying, the cause of the unfortunate incident is being investigated.

He equally noted that the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP has been directed to immediately tighten security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

The statement said HYPREP is deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that despite the setback, the Project reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

7 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

7 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa