Rivers
Stakeholders Urge RSG To Invest In Entertainment Industry
Some stakeholders in Rivers State are calling on the state government to invest in the entertainment industry with a view to creating a conducive environment for youths to develop their talents.
They said this at the unveiling/media launch of “The Bonny Has Talent Show, 2023” in Port Harcourt.
Convener/Executive Producer of the programme, Mrs Tammy Clarizer Abusi, said the show will create an enabling environment for young people to harness their talents.
“The Bonny Has Talent Show project is that opportunity and platform that will create enabling and support system to the young people of our community, giving them the tools they needed to succeed.
“It is not just investing in our future, it is about investing in our hope. It is about investing in the potential of every young person in our community”, she said.
Abusi continued that the show will also provide personality value training, mentorship and access to career opportunities for young people, adding that this will enable them gain skills and experience they need to secure employment and build a brighter future for themselves and their families.
“The young people of our community are our future leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. They are key to our success”, she stated.
She called for the support of all and sundry to ensure the success of the programme.
“I implore you to join us in this effort, so that we can build a better world for generations to come”, she said.
Also speaking, Lady Ibitoru Green, popularly known as “lady IB”, urged government to encourage the entertainment industry in Rivers State.
She said the industry, which is huge, is capable of creating millions of jobs for youths in the state.
IB, a former State Chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria and currently a national officer of the Association, said though the event is starting from Bonny, efforts will be made to take it round the state.
She also urged for unity among Bonny people.
On his part, the Legal Adviser of the programme, Barrister T. D. Jamaica, said the programme is to keep the youth away from all forms of anti-social behaviours.
Jamaica said the show will be expanded beyond Bonny to other parts of Rivers State and Nigeria.
He said what is needed now is for both government and individuals to support it to enable it succeed.
Also speaking, a communication Expert, Dr Emmanuel Nwabrije, said the event will create opportunity for youths in Bonny to develop their natural talent.
Dr Nwabrije said many young people are idle because of a lack of opportunity to develop themselves and urged the organizers to ensure that the event does not end up in Bonny, but taken round the state.
By: John Bibor
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.