Rivers

VC Wants Association To Assist Govt Check Infectious Diseases Spread

Published

2 years ago

November 29, 2023

Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt Prof Owunari Georgewill, has called on the Nigerian Biological Safety Association (NIBSA) to assist the government curb the spread of infectious dieseases in the country.
Georgewill said this in Port Harcourt while declaring open the association’s conference.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics of the university, Prof Kingsley Owete, he described the conference, which held at the Institute of Petroleum Studies, Uniport, as a welcome development in view of the challenges caused by infectious dieseases in the country.
The Vice Chancellor expressed the hope that the conference will come up with blazing innovations that will curb the trends of infectious dieseases in the country.
He also declared the readiness of the institution to support the association in all its activities.
In his welcome address, the National President of the association, Prof Abiodun A. Denloye, said members of the association have been providing skilled manpower for the diagnostic and analytical interventions in the fight against pathogens and diseases.
“Also, the Academic NiBSAItes have been involved in research as well as curriculum development and delivery in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
“Furthermore, our members have taken their pride of place in regional biosafety and biosecurity initiatives, including the West African Biorisk Management Network and the African centre for Dieseases Control”, Denloye said.
He also said membership strength of the Association has grown to over 750 across the country.
“With this, we have been fanning the embers of biological safety so much so that job follos have now included biosafety and our members appointed as biosafety officers in Research Institutes and diagnostic laboratory facilities.
“Also tertiary institutions also appoint our members to Institution biosafety committee and biosafety research ethics committees”, he said.
Also, chairman of the planning committee for the conference, Dr Austin Edache Abah, said the event marked the beginning of a journey of enlightenment towards knowing the critical point of intersection of biosecurity global health security and sustainable development.
“As we gather here, surrounded by the brightest minds and most dedicated professionals in the field, we are reminded of the profound significance of our work, be it biological and biomedical researchers, medical laboratory scientists, veterinarians, environmental scientists, medical doctors, nurses and other health professionals, agriculture education, and law engineering politics.
“Our collective commitment to exploring innovative strategies and fostering collaboration is fundamental to safeguarding our planet’s health and ensuring sustainable future for all”, he said.
Abah said the conference serves as a platform for bringing up insightful conversations exchanging ground breaking research and cultivating invaluable connection that transcends geographical boundaries.
In his words, “Through dynamic discourse and the sharing of best practices, we aim to unearth sustainable solutions that will address the multifaceted challenges of biosecurity in the context of our global health security agenda”.

Theme for the Conference was, “Deploying Biosecurity for Fulfilling Global Health Security Agenda and Sustainable Development”.

By: John Bibor

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.

OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”

Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.

“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.

According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.

“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.

“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.

He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.

The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.

He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.

The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).

The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.

Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.

He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.

“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.

Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.

Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.

“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.

He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.

Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.

Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.

The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.

It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.

According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.

It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.

The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.

It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

By: King Onunwor