Rivers
RSG Wants Drug-Abuse Counselling Units In Schools
The Rivers Government, on Thursday advised secondary school principals in the state to set up drug abuse counselling units in their schools to combat the social menace.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, gave the advise at a town hall meeting organised in Port Harcourt by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Port Harcourt Zone ‘N’, in collaboration with the State Government.
The sensitisation on the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) was organised for principals of secondary schools in the state.
Odu, represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Mrs Nye Oyi, encouraged the principals to embrace the WADA campaign by the agency “to save the lives of young people in schools”.
She also urged them to ensure that they put all the necessary facilities in place to enable them to identify drug abuse early in the day for their quick intervention.
The Zonal Commander of the agency, Anthonia Edeh, said the essence of the sensitisation was to collectively map out strategies that would stem the increasing use of narcotic drugs and other substances of abuse by the youths.
Edeh, who was also the convener of the event, said drug abuse and illicit trafficking posed significant threat to the socio-economic well being of every family, community and nation.
According to her, drug abuse has been identified as one of the major factors that fuel the rise in crime rates and several security breaches, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, among others.
“The devastating effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking are often associated with anarchy, violence and under development.
“Everyone should be concerned about the drug scourge because a lot of families are suffering its consequences.
“People at the grassroots should know and understand that drug abuse is bad and inimical to public health.
“Having identified the circumstances of drug abuse, we can no longer be in denial that we did not have a drug problem in our society, the question now becomes, what is the way forward?” she said.
Edeh said NDLEA in its proactive nature set up an advocacy programme, WADA, to curb the menance of drug abuse in society.
She advised school managements to find a way of engaging the students by organising educational programmes, like debates, quiz competitions, sporting activities, like football, basket ball, other general games and establishment of WADA clubs, etc.
Edeh promised that the agency would partner with the state Ministry of Education to train counsellors and create evidence-based school programmes, positive school and classroom environment.
In a remark, Mr Innocent Umesi, the state President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, urged his members to key into the WADA initiative and join the NDLEA in evolving a drug-free society.
The NDLEA State Commander, Ahmed Mamuda, urged the public to support NDLEA by providing useful information to help in the arrest and prosecution of drug dealers in the state and nation at large.
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The Mentoring and Career Development Institute of Nigeria (MCDI) has inducted about 150 new members into various categories of membership during a special induction ceremony and dinner in Port Harcourt.
Aimed at expanding the institute’s membership base, the event offered new inductees an opportunity to engage with senior members and integrate fully into the organisation’s professional network.
The induction ceremony was part of the 2025 national conference of the institute.
National President of MCDI, Dr. Collins Edebiri, administered the oath, while the new members promised to carry out their duties faithfully, following the institute’s rules and constitution.
Dr. Edebiri emphasised the institute’s core mandate of instilling values that will shape individuals and institutions.
He emphasised the theme of the conference, “Mentoring for Individual and Corporate Leadership”, noting that last year’s focus centred on national development and value reorientation.
Edebiri explained that the induction ceremony is a key feature of the institute’s annual conference, though inductions also occur quarterly.
On the criteria for membership, he said the most important factor is the desire to be mentored or the readiness to mentor others, and urged the new inductees to become ambassadors of value-driven leadership in their respective workplaces.
Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who was a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), shared her experiences from her early days in journalism, attributing much of her professional growth to strong mentorship.
She encouraged members to embrace mentorship as a catalyst for personal and societal advancement.
Seminitari was later presented an award.
New members, including Wisdom Egberi Woniepiriye, and Mrs. Grace Ajinwanyiekwu, expressed their excitement and hope to be mentored well so they can eventually mentor others.
There were a dinner and networking session, marking another success for MCDI in its efforts to build leadership values nationwide.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has commended a renowned fisherman, Mr. Ricky Brown Owunari, for what it described as a remarkable stride in global engineering content creation.
In a congratulatory message signed by the Association, weekend, the SPE said the patented “Dewaxer Flow Enhancer and Downhole Tool” had secured official endorsement under U.S. Patent No. 12,448,868 B2.
They said the development has been highlighted as a significant indicator of Rivers State’s growing intellectual and technological capacity, with observers noting that such breakthroughs position the state as a rising hub for innovation.
According to those familiar with the innovation, the achievement serves as proof that Niger Deltans have moved beyond the era of militancy and are now producing world-class content, research outputs, and technical solutions.
The SPE officials described the patented technologies as timely tools designed to tackle wax deposition in crude oil wells, a major challenge that frequently disrupts production and increases maintenance costs.
They further stressed that the milestone underscores the need for Rivers State to invest more in supporting innovators whose works demonstrate global potential.
Industry experts revealed that the tool originated from years of field observation, experimentation, and rigorous research aimed at improving flow assurance in challenging well conditions.
They also urged the Federal Government to show greater appreciation for home-grown innovations, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally recognise and encourage technological breakthroughs emerging from the Niger Delta.
Stakeholders at the event warned against piracy, emphasising that unauthorised copying of patented technologies undermines national progress and discourages genuine innovators.
Analysts observed that the breakthrough strengthens the narrative of a new Rivers State built on creativity, content development, and technical excellence rather than conflict.
The session concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government authorities and industry players to protect intellectual property and position Rivers State as a greenhouse for innovation-driven content.
The content, The Tide gathered, is expected to solve critical challenges in the oil and gas sector, as well as other relevant areas of the national economy.
By; King Onunwor
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has warned against mass abductiond and targeted killings in Nigeria.
President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, who gave the warning, noted that Nigeria was faced with a growing wave of violence following fresh attacks in Kebbi and Borno States.
The association issued the warning after terrorists attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga on November 17.
According The Tide’s source, the gunmen killed a teacher and abducted at least twenty-five students during a shootout with security personnel.
The President said the latest attack shows the country has become unsafe for schoolchildren and civilians.
He further noted that Nigeria also lost Brigadier General M. Uba earlier that day in an ISWAP ambush in Borno State.
According to Osigwe, the nation was witnessing a rise in terrorism, kidnapping, and lawlessness that has overwhelmed security agencies, adding that rural communities, travellers, farmers, and security officers are all exposed.
The NBA President also warned that Nigeria was facing a dangerous breakdown of public safety.
Quoting recent reports, he said about 145 people went missing in mass abductions across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara within four days.
“The country must stop recording deaths while hoping for peace through negotiations with terrorists”, he said.
The NBA further revealed that recent intelligence alerts, including the DSS warning of ISWAP plans to strike in Ondo and Kogi, show a widening threat.
Osigwe questioned why terrorists still control forests and highways without challenge, with criminals levying taxes on communities, displace families, and attack convoys.
The NBA demanded an urgent national security overhaul with transparency and strong political will.
Osigwe, however, praised the teacher who died in Kebbi while protecting students.
By; King Onunwor
