Rivers
CAN Tasks Christians On Obnoxious Customs, Vices In Rivers Community
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Etche Chapter, has called for the unity of churches in order to fight some obnoxious customs and traditions, as well as vices such as land grabbing and kidnapping in the area.
CAN said this recently at the 2024 annual Etche Praise Day organised by the Association at Egbu in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The praise Day has as its theme “Let Glory come Down”.
Etche Chapter Chairman of CAN, Senior Apostle Succees Elemuwa, told newsmen during the service that some cultural practices in Etche need to be abolished for the kingdom to move forward.
He also said land grabbing kidnapping and other antisocial behaviours is taking Etche backward.
According to him, people are afraid to invest in Etche because of some of these practices.
He said for the area to withness a new lease of life, the Christians, irrespective of denomination, must unite in prayers for God to intervene in the affairs of Etche ethnic nationality.
Earlier in his welcome address, Elemuwa said the event was to thank God for his kindness, protection and grace towards the good people of Etche.
He particularly said Etche ethnic nationality is happy that for the first time since the creation of Rivers state, an Etche son is in the Senate.
“Permit me to use this opportunity to thank God for the last year, 2023, election that allowed us to occupy the Senate seat in Abuja that we have never tested before.
“Our prayer is that one day, one of us shall become the Governor of Rivers state”, he said.
He said CAN is also grateful that Etche is fully represented in the Federal House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Elemuwa listed the problem facing the Association to include lack of a bus for evangelism, standard musical instruments and funds for the development of three plots bought by the Association along the Egwi/Afara Road.
Also speaking, former Chairman of CAN Etche, Rev. Father Paul Iroulor. said the annual Etche Praise Day has attracted abundant blessings to Etche land.
He said CAN will continue to pray against harmful cultural practices in Etche land.
The cleric said the Association needs support to enable it properly evangelize the people, adding that once the people are properly evangelized, incidences of harmful cultural practices will be a thing of the past.
Also, Secretary of CAN, Etche, Apostle Anderson Njoku, said the people will continue to thank God for His divine protection .
In the same vein, Chairman, planning Committee for the event, Rev. Chaplain Uche Nkume, said CAN will continue to pray for the development of Etche land.
He said the people need to be properly sensitized against involvement in some obnoxious customs in the area.
Highlights of the event was the conferment of distinguished Awards on 27 spersonalities in the area.
The awards were in three categories: Philanthropic, Excellent Leadership, and Defenders of the Faith Awards.
Some of the awardees include: Evangelist Ndionye Collins, Dr Onu Austin Iroegbulam, Pastor Joseph Opurum, Professor Samuel Amadi, and Regina Elikee.
By; John Bibor
Rivers
Rivers Judges Resumes Duty After Easter Holidays
Judges of the High Court, Rivers State state Port Harcourt have resumed their normal Court sitting on Wednesday 30th April 2025 after spending fifteen days this year’s Easter holidays.
It will be recalled that the State High Court Judges had proceeded on Easter vacation on Monday April 14 to 29th ,2025 on the approval of the state chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi.
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar, High Court Rivers State, Port Harcourt, David Ihua _maduenyi, esq said the judges are to resume court sitting on Wednesday 30th April, 2025 in line with the earlier directives from the state chief judge and urged the general public to take notice of the resumption date.
“This is to inform the general public that the judges of the High court of the Rivers state shall resume normal Court sitting after Easter vacation on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.
“Recall that the chief judge of Rivers state, Hon justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi had earlier directed that judges of the high court of Rivers state, should proceed on Easter vacation from Monday, 18 April 2025 to Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.”
“The general public should take notice:the High court of Rivers state shall resume sitting on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.”
Rivers
RSU Promotes Staff Well Being through Free Medical Checks
The Management of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, has approved annual free medical checks for all staff of the University. The move is to promote staff sound health and productivity at work place.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this during the third edition of the “Walk for Life” health, wellness and fitness exercise, held last Saturday.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the new health policy will enable every staff member of the University to undergo free comprehensive medical check-up on their birthdays, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of staff members.
Professor Zeb-Obipi emphasized that regardless of whether a staff member’s birthday falls on a weekend, the initiative applies to all Rivers State University employees, expressing optimism that the Health Services Department has the required manpower and facilities to manage the novel health policy.
To achieve the policy, the VC said that the Establishment Division will liaise with the Health Services to compile the birthdays of all staff and send notification two or three days before the days their birthdays fall, reminding them to go for their free medical check-up.
Highlighting the importance of active leadership, the Vice-Chancellor stated that leadership requires direct engagement with the people, a principle he called “management by walking the floor,” rather than managing from behind closed doors. He emphasized that policies should be crafted from direct engagement with employees to understand their challenges.
He noted that this edition of the “Walk for Life” health fitness programme serves as a practical example of this management style, allowing him to interact with members of the university community and observe firsthand the need for regular health checks. He described the walk as a “worthy exercise,” pointing out that since most university work is sedentary, periodic physical activities such as the Walk for Life are crucial for the health and productivity of the staff.
The Vice-Chancellor also noted that this month’s “Walk for Life” coincides with the World Malaria Week, underlining the University’s commitment to supporting global health initiatives with the pledge that “Malaria must end with us.”.
Earlier, the Director of Health Services Department, Dr. Dagogo Cookey-Gam, charged the university community to visit the Medical Centre for testing before treatment of malaria. He said parents should watch out for children under 5 years because they can come under severe malaria attack, adding that pregnant women should also be mindful not to be exposed of having malaria due to their low immune system.
Dr. Cookey-Gam noted that malaria can be prevented by maintaining a clean environment and using mosquito nets.
On his part, the Director of the University Sports Unit, Prof. Joseph Vipene, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for sustaining the monthly “Walk for Life” initiative, assuring that the programme which has come to stay has placed the University in an enviable position for others to emulate.
Rivers
Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.