Rivers
Lady Fubara Restates Rivers Support For President’s Programmes
Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara has declared that the Rivers State Government will continue to support all good programmes and policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government geared towards improving the lives of Rivers people.
Lady Fubara made the declaration while speaking to journalists after the flag off of the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP) by the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday.
The wife of the Rivers State Governor, who is also the Renewed Hope Initiative Coordinator for Rivers State, described the flag off performed by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Kashim Shettima, as a huge success.
Lady Fubara explained that the beneficiaries of the programme from Rivers State have already been supported by the President’s wife with N10million fund to boost their agro businesses.
She said, “The programme was a success, and I say a very big thank you to our mother, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was fully represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Kashim Shetima.
“The farmers in Rivers State were present and they will receive the cheque of N10million handed over to me as the State Coordinator for onward disbursement to the 20 beneficiaries to support them in their agricultural projects”, she said.
Lady Fubara spoke of the importance of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, which long term benefit will impact on all and sundry.
She noted that it was for that reason that the Rivers State Government has always supported the programme of the First Lady aimed at empowering women and curtailing food shortage in the country.
“As the First Lady has rightly said, she is of the opinion that the monies being given to the farmers be utilized for the agricultural projects to empower the women, to help reduce shortage of food in Nigeria.
“This is why the Rivers State Government is always in support of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady, because it is a programme that is going to be beneficial to all and sundry.
“So, Rivers State women, of which I am the Coordinator, will support the programme to its fullest, and whatever is needed to improve the lives of our people, the Rivers State Government is fully in support of it”, she declared.
Earlier, wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, had launched the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP) in the South-South geo-political zone and Renewed Hope Initiative Financial Empowerment Support Programme for People with Disabilities Small Business Owners.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, the wife of the President, who is also the National Chairman of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), announced the support of N500,000 each for 20 women farmers in each of the South-South states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Cross River.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President and National Vice Chairman, RHI, Hajia Nana Kashim Shettima, Senator Tinubu noted that the Initiative is committed to supporting women farmers, cognizance of President Tinubu administration’s recognition of the important role agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recognises the important role agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency in the nation.
“Therefore, the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligns with the broad national agenda to strengthen the agriculture sector.
“Today, we are supporting 20 women farmers per state in the South-South zone with the sum of N500,000 each. To this end, a draft of N10million per state for the South-South zone will be handed over to the First Ladies of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, who are also Renewed Hope Initiative State Coordinators for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective states”, she said.
According to Senator Tinubu, “the flagging off of the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Support Programme for the South-South zone is in fulfilment of our promise to continue to promote the women folk, particularly farmers across the nation.”
She noted that “currently, this programme has been successfully held in all the five geo-political zones, namely North-Central in Plateau State, North-East in Borno State, North-West in Kebbi State, South-East in Imo State, and South-West in Ogun State. I commend the dedication of the beneficiaries in these zones, and it is my trust that very soon, we will begin to reap bountiful harvests.”
The wife of the President hinted that the RHI will be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower potential farmers while also carrying along already identified women farmers in the 36 states.
She also implored the beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity to grow their businesses and contribute to the nation’s food production while also serving as role models for others.
“In a short while, the RHI will be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower potential farmers in these states. 70 percent of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers, while 25 percent will be for our young male farmers. They will be all specially identified, trained and empowered.
“Also, the pre-identified 80 women farmers in each state for our agricultural support programme will be carried alone.
“I want to urge our women farmers who are receiving support today to seize this opportunity to extend their agricultural ventures, contribute to local and national food production and serve as role models for others aspiring to join the agricultural sector”, she said.
She also announced the empowerment of 100 people with disabilities with the sum of N100,000 each in Akwa Ibom State to recapitalize their existing businesses.
According to her, “Given the mood of today, we have decided to have a twin events. The Renewed Initiative Social Investment Programme, will be empowering 100 persons with disability small business owners in Akwa Ibom State with the sum of N100,000 each to recapitalize their existing businesses. All pre-selected recipients of the grant will receive the funds today through our Renewal Hope Initiative Coordinator for Akwa Ibom State, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno.”
In his goodwill message, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, thanked the wife of the President for her humanitarian disposition through of the RHI that had impacted vulnerable groups across the country financially, with 250 elderly persons in Akwa Ibom benefiting N100,000 each.
Governor Eno said the State Government has so far supported and adopted the initiative by launching the ARISE Initiative for the Elderly, which elders from the 369 wards in the state, especially the vulnerable ones, are given N50,000 each to take care of their needs, especially foods and medicines.
In her welcome address, the wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor and State Coordinator of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Pastor Patience Umo Eno, who noted the challenges women in agriculture face, including limited access to resources, land and poor education, described the programme as crucial step towards a more inclusive and sustainable society.
She commended the wife of the President for empowering women in agriculture and supporting individuals with disabilities, a development she observed promotes equality and leads to innovation and diversity.
Also speaking, the wife of the Bayelsa State Governor and Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), South-South Zonal Chairman, Dr. (Mrs) Gloria Douye Diri, said the programmes of RHI were a paradigm shift from the usual, making lasting positive impacts across six geo-political zones of the country.
She noted that, “No doubt, the farming tools, inputs and cash grants will boost economic growth and stimulate new horizons for all the beneficiaries towards enhancing and achieving food availability and sufficiency in South-South zone”.
Highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of cheques to the wives of the South-South States’ Governors and Renewed Hope Initiative State Coordinators, and empowerment grants to some beneficiaries of persons with disabilities business recapitalization grant in Akwa Ibom by wife of the President.
The event was attended by wives of the governors of Rivers – Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara; Bayelsa – Dr (Mrs) Gloria Douye Diri; Delta – Deaconess Tubore Oborewvori; Akwa Ibom – Pastor Patience Umo Eno; Edo – Dr (Mrs) Betsy Obaseki; and Cross River – Rev (Mrs) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu.
Others are wives of governors of Imo – Barrister Chioma Uzodimma; Osun – Titilola Adeleke; and Ogun – Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun.
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.