Rivers
Human Capital Dev, My Greatest Achievement – Awortu
The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, Barrister Erastus Awortu, has described investment in human capital development as key economic enabler and a low hanging fruit towards achieving sustainable development.
Speaking at a dinner in Port Harcourt in honour of 15 Cadets of Andoni, who graduated recently from the Charkin Maritime Academy, under the sponsorship of Andoni Local Government Council, the council chairman said his greatest achievement in office was human capital development.
He urged the cadets to be of good conduct in their future endearvous and shun all acts inimical to the advancement of their career, so that the good effort of the council and of their parents and guardians will not go in vain.
“For me, human capital development is my greatest project and I know, God willing, and by His Grace, all of you will grow to become good ambassadors of Andoni, and the multiplier effect is enormous.
“You are working on a vessel, you are a big shot in a company, you must remember where you are coming from. If you have opportunity to employ people or to recommend people for employment, you must remember Andoni people who are qualified, and I know very soon you will all be going aboard ships for your proper training aboard the vessels and then your certification.
“We urge you don’t allow anything to distract you, when you go aboard the vessels, if you misbehave and you are blacklisted, all of your training will be in vain when you are kicked out. You have a duty to ensure that all the effort we have made as a local government does not go in vain”, he said.
On the forth-coming 3rd edition of the Andoni Unity Carnival, Awortu said his administration is making concerted effort to continuously showcase to the world the enormous tourism potentials of Andoni and the investment opportunities therein.
He said, “The idea behind the Carnival is to expose Andoni to the world and to let the world know that there are lots and lots of potentials and investment opportunities in Andoni.
“We have over the last two years made concerted efforts to expose the kind of wonderful beach line we have in Andoni, many people don’t even know that you can drive to Ikuru town, Ekede and all that and commune with the Atlantic.
“And, in the case of Andoni, our very fertile forest houses the elephant. As you know, elephant is the biggest animal, and there are other animals that are under the elephant.
“The forest we have in Andoni has an array of exquisite wildlife that everybody would want to see. They say knowledge is power, because people don’t know about what is happening or what we have in Andoni, they are not able to access Andoni, they are able to look for Andoni, so we are making concerted effort to let the world know what we have in Andoni”.
On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Chisom Gbali, lauded the Andoni Council chairman for what he called his “exceptional achievement on human capital development”, especially on youth development.
He said this would have a huge multiplier effect on the local economy of Andoni in the foreseeable future.
“Chairman, you are crediting this people today, you don’t know what you are doing, you have watered the ground, they will cause erosion in Andoni, a peaceful erosion, a positive erosion, that is what you have done.
“The beneficiaries may be few, but the ripple effect is what we call spiral circle. Spiral circle is when you develop people, they will come back, they will reach and develop other people, and what you see is turning out the best in the society.
“Chairman, I want to tell you that you have made history today. You are not just making infrastructure, you are not just making Andoni hospitable, but you are building on the youth. The best way, any government that wants to move forward must start with the training of the youth”, he said. Also speaking, the Founder and Proprietor of Charkin Maritime Academy, Dr. Charles Wami, assured the Cadets of Andoni of his continued support to them until they attain the peak of their career in Seamanship and Seafaring.
He said, “I appeal to all of you, try and be Charkin Ambassadors, try and project that goodwill from your local government chairman, don’t let us down, try your best, we will try as much as possible to ensure that your programme continues from Cadetship to Sea-time Training which is almost around the corner.
“When you are back from Sea-time Training after one year, you come back to school for your OOW, after which you go back to the sea.
“Seamanship and Seafaring is a continuous learning. You will continue to learn until you get to the peak of your career”.
On her part, Speaker of the 9th Legislative Assembly of Andoni Local Government, Hon. Sheila Jacob Nte, thanked the council chairman for creating an enabling atmosphere that engendered good working relationship between the executive and the legislative arm.
She urged the Cadets not to forget their background wherever they found themselves in their career and live a life worthy of emulation so that efforts and resources expended on their training will not amount to a waste.
Some traditional rulers, including Okan-Ama Agwut-Obolo, Alfred Otobo-Alama (III), and Okan-Ama Okoloile, Sir Matthias Stanley (Ikwut VI), were among guests who graced the occasion.
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.