Rivers

FGN Securities, Most Rewarding Naira Denominated Investment – DMO

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2023

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has assured Nigerians that Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Securities are the most rewarding Naira denominated investment.
Director-General of the DMO, Patience Oniha, gave the assurance in Port-Harcourt, during the FGN Securities Issuance Awareness Programme in Port-Harcourt.
Oniha, who was represented by Mr Alfred Ekiye, Deputy Director, Administration, DMO, called on residents of Rivers State to take advantage of the opportunity in the FGN Securities to invest and earn regular income.
The Tide’s source reports that the awareness programme was organised by the DMO in collaboration with CSL Stockbrokers Ltd., the stockbroking firm for the Federal Government,
Oniha said the risk-free nature of FGN securities made them an attractive and secure investment option for Nigerians.
She said the different products provided by FGN Securities provided a rare opportunity for all Nigerians to invest based on their financial capacities.
According to her, the Federal Government had introduced additional products to make it more inclusive and to meet the aspirations and demands of investors.
She said all Nigerians, irrespective of their financial status, were qualified to invest and get good and safe returns on their investments.
Oniha explained that FGN Securities were attractive because they provided citizens with the opportunity to contribute to national development.
According to her, it also helps to provide some of the funds needed by the government to address deficit in infrastructure.
“The purpose of this forum is to create more awareness on investment opportunities inherent in FGN Securities that the DMO offers to Nigerian investing public.
“It is particularly about the FGN Savings Bond, which is designed for retail investors.
“Investment in FGN Securities is one of the safest Naira investments that you can have; there is nothing to worry about in terms of security of the investment”, she said.
She assured that the awareness programme would be taken round the country to be of benefit to many more Nigerians.
Also speaking, Mr Abiodun Fagbulu, the Managing Director of CSL Stockbrokers Ltd., said that the federal government issued various security instruments to raise funds to finance most of its projects.
Fagbulu, who was represented by Mr Richard Akinmoladun, from CSL said that FGN Securities were best suited for all categories of Nigerians, irrespective of status.
He urged Nigerians to invest in the various products available, as they would have no need to worry in view of the safety that comes with such investment.
He listed some of the products as FGN Bond, FGN Savings Bond, Nigerian Treasury Bills, FGN Sukuk and the Green Bond.
“With as little of N5,000 you can invest in the FGN Savings Bond”, he said.
The source reports that the FGN Securities Issuance Awareness Programme, which commenced in Lagos in March, 2022, has earlier been taken to Enugu, Ibadan, Kano, Yola, Umiahia, Gombe and Osogbo.
It is scheduled to hold in Benin, Edo State on May 18.
In January, the DMO had also created an FGN Securities portal to make subscriptions to the various products seamless and to attract more investors, especially young Nigerians, to FGN Securities.

City Crime

Association Raises Alarm Over Increasing Migration Of Young Pharmacists Abroad

Published

8 hours ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the growing shortage of academic pharmacists in the country.

National Chairperson of NAPA, Prof. Catherine Stanley, made the appeal during the opening of the 23rd Annual National Scientific Conference of NAPA, held at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), midweek.

The event had as its theme: “Pharmacy Practice in the New Global Economy: Education, Technology and Collaborations”.

Stanley attributed the shortage of pharmacists to increasing migration of young professionals to Europe and North America in search of better opportunities.

She described pharmacists in academia as “an endangered species”, citing their migration to foreign countries and the lack of replacements for retirees and deceased colleagues.

“There is an acute shortage of needed manpower in critical sectors of pharmacy education. This trend should not be allowed to continue”, she pleaded.

Stanley urged the government to prioritise the welfare of academic pharmacists to ensure sustainability in pharmaceutical education and research.

According to her, the current situation poses a threat to the future of pharmacy training and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

In a keynote address, Prof. Charles Esimone, a former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Enugu, attributed the dearth of pharmacists to new global challenges confronting the profession.

Discussing the theme of the conference, Esimone noted that the world was more interconnected than ever, and blamed globalisation for some of the difficulties facing the education sector.

He stressed the need to balance local requirements with a global outlook.

“This realisation has fuelled a push towards purposeful best practices in curriculum development, faculty exchanges, and addressing regulatory issues across borders.

“Our curricula must train pharmacists to be effective both locally and globally, ably to understand local health traditions while applying international standards”, he said.

Esimone explained that the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and other global bodies have been working on developing a Global Competency Framework to harmonise pharmacist training worldwide.

He said the goal was to align education with the competences required to deliver essential services in any country.

He also highlighted the impact of advances in technology, which are revolutionising every aspect of pharmacy practice from dispensing processes to patient counselling, noting that the pace of change was accelerating.

“Pharmacists have increasingly embraced digital health tools, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their services.

“However, technology in pharmacy is a double-edged sword, it can greatly enhance our practice, but must be wielded with care”, he warned.

On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, called on pharmacists in the academia to adopt practical and innovative approaches that would transform pharmacy education and practice in Nigeria.

Represented by the institution’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Chukwudi Onyeasor, Georgewill urged practitioners to move beyond theoretical discourse, embrace technology, strengthen collaborations, and align pharmacy with global standards.

“This is necessary to produce professionals who are equipped to serve a rapidly evolving healthcare system”, he concluded.

The Tide reports that the conference brought together pharmacists, researchers, educators, and policymakers from across the country to discuss innovations and strategies for advancing pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

Ikwerre Traditional Rulers Urge Council Chairmen On Unity, Development

Published

8 hours ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Supreme Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognised Traditional Rulers has advised the chairmen of the four Ikwerre-speaking Local Government Areas in the State to embrace unity, collaboration, and community-centred governance as the basis for sustainable development across the region.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the body on behalf of the forum, the Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom (Eze Woji XII), HM Prof. Leslie N. Eke, Eze Gbakagbaka, and Nye Nwe Ali Omerelu, HRH, Eze (Engr.) Ben O. Ugo, Elumoha VIII, respectively, at the end of its monthly meeting held at Atali, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Saturday.

The Forum, in the statement, said it was compelled to address the need for synergy between political leadership and traditional institutions in Ikwerre land.

It specifically addressed the chairmen of Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City, Ikwerre, and Emohua Local Government Areas, urging them to pursue policies that reflect the collective interest of the Ikwerre people.

“It is no longer acceptable for each council chairman to operate in isolation. We are one people, with shared history, culture, and destiny. Our political leaders must not forget that their strength lies in unity”, the statement read.

The royal fathers expressed concern over what they called “political fragmentation” among Ikwerre leaders, warning that failure to close ranks could hinder future development initiatives and diminish the influence of the Ikwerre ethnic group in the state’s political landscape.

They also called for regular inter-council meetings to harmonise development strategies, share best practices, and address cross-boundary issues such as insecurity, youth restiveness, and infrastructural decay.

The Forum further cautioned the chairmen against sidelining traditional rulers in the administration of grassroots affairs, noting that many local councils were taking major community decisions without due consultation.

“Traditional rulers are not political spectators. We are custodians of our people’s values and should be engaged on issues that affect our communities”, the Forum stressed.

The monarchs urged the council bosses to invest more in youth empowerment, skill acquisition, and educational programmes to reduce unemployment and the lure of criminal activities among young people in the area.

They decried the increasing rate of cult-related violence, drug abuse, and communal clashes in parts of Ikwerre land, calling for joint security task forces supported by the local councils in collaboration with traditional institutions.

“Security cannot be left to the state government alone. The councils must take the lead in creating safe environments for commerce, learning, and peaceful living”, the statement noted.

In addition, the Forum advised against the politicisation of development projects, warning that no community should be denied infrastructural development due to perceived political affiliations or past voting patterns.

“The mandate of the council chairmen is to serve all constituents without discrimination. The people are watching, and posterity will judge”, it stated.

The Forum also proposed the institution of an annual “Ikwerre Unity and Development Summit” to bring together traditional rulers, elected officials, youth leaders, women groups, and civil society organisations to chart a common course for the ethnic nation.

While congratulating the chairmen over their electoral victory, the traditional rulers reaffirmed their commitment to working with them and the State Government to promote peace, cultural preservation, and inclusive development in Ikwerre land.

King Onunwor

Rivers

IAUE Emerges Winner Of National Campus Debate, 2025

Published

8 hours ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni, Rivers State, has been declared the state winner of the ongoing National Campus Debate 2025.

Following this victory, IAUE will represent Rivers State at the zonal face-to-face debate competition, scheduled to take place from September 15 to 22, 2025.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, congratulated IAUE on its achievement and wished the university continued brilliance in the next phase of the competition.

A statement from the institution’s Public Relations Office said the debate competition, which focuses on the topic “Unity in Diversity: Designing National Identity in Nigeria’s Multicultural Society”, aims to strengthen youth engagement, promote education, and foster national values and dialogue among students.

The competition offers significant rewards, with the national winner set to receive ?50 million, while the first and second runners-up will take home ?30 million and ?20 million respectively.

According to the statement, the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako, and the Coordinator of IAUE Debate Council, who is also the Director, Ideas, Creativity, and Innovation, Professor Samuel Amaele, trained the team that made the University proud.

It further stated that the university’s achievement reflects its commitment to intellectual excellence, civic engagement, and nation-building.