Rivers
Stakeholders Proffer Solution To Insecurity In N’Delta
Towards curbing the spate of insecurities in communities in the Niger Delta, stakeholders have called for synergy between the traditional institution and other level of governance in the society.
They also called for the strengthening of the traditional institution in the country to enable them perform their functions effectively.
This, according to the stakeholders, will include the inclusion of the traditional institution in the highest decision-making level in the country.
This was part of resolutions at the end of the Annual OB Fubara Memorial Gold Lecture organized by the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Port Harcourt.
According to the stakeholders, criminality always thrive where the traditional institution is weak.
Consequently, they urged traditional rulers to work with chairmen of local government councils on issues concerning insecurity in their communities.
Meanwhile, the Nyeweli of Oro Evo Kingdom, HRM Eze Leslie Nyebuchi Eke, has blamed the non-inclusion of the traditional institution in policy making and manipulation by successive administrations as factors impeding the effective performances of the traditional institution in ensuring peace in their domain.
The First Class monarch said this at the annual OB Fubara Memorial Gold Lecture/Annual General Meeting be organized by the Rivers state chapter of the NIPR in Port Harcourt.
The event had as its theme: “Re -Engineering the traditional institution for Community Development Peace And youth Development In the Niger Delta”
Eze Eke said the traditional institution is also poorly funded, stressing that the situation has made it imperative for the role of the traditional institution to be properly defined in the face of the current crisis in the Niger Delta.
The traditional ruler said the Niger Delta is densely populated but heavily polluted by by oil spills.
According to him, the region needs a focused community development blueprint and commended the institute for the annual lecture.
Speaking, the National President of the NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, said the institute is using the late OB Fubara as a yardstick to measure the role of the traditional institution in peace building in the country.
He also said members of the institute can function effectively if they understand their environment very well.
The NIPR President also urged for value reorientation, adding that “OB Fubara is being celebrated because of his footprints in the sands of time”.
He said the society must cultivate the culture of mentorship, and that of service, saying service should never cease among people in the country.
“We must go back to service as it makes the way and redefines everything about ourselves”, he said.
Neliaku said the institute will continue to engage on issues that will advance the development of the country.
He said the institute will established energy public Relations Hub in Rivers State because of the enormous contributions of the state to the nation.
Also speaking, a former Commissioner in Rivers State, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, stressed the need for value re-orientation in the society.
Nsirim, who is a Governing Council member at the Board of the NIPR, said “the traditional institution can only be re-engineered if our value system is brought back”.
He noted that OB Fubara has left indelible footprints on the sands of time, adding that present generations must learn from the likes of Alabo OB Fubara .
Rivers State Chapter Chairman of the institute, Dr Rita Innoma Abbey, said the institute is one of the oldest professional organizations in the country.
She said the theme of the event was carefully crafted in view of the importance of the traditional institution.
By: John Bibor & Mercy Nobert
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.