Rivers
Rivers Education’s Operational Standards, Criteria, Excites School Proprietor … As Management Tasks Ministry On Policies For Public Schools
The Proprietor, Pele Idikaku memorial Academy (PIMA), Mbiama, in the Ahoad-West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Kalu Agwu Nnachi, has commended the Rivers State Government for setting high standard and criteria for ownership and operation of private schools in the state.
Nnachi gave the commendations midweek during the 12th graduation/prize giving ceremonies of the school which held at its campus in Mbiama.
He described the criteria and set standards in the state as stringent, affirming however, that it has ensured improvements in the basic and post primary education sectors in the state.
“I must say that amongst all the states in Nigeria, Rivers State has the most stringent criteria and standards for the operation of private schools.
“To operate a nursery school alone in Rivers State, you must amongst other criteria site the school on at least three plots of land.
“To run a nursery/primary, that school must be sited on at least six plots of land, including meeting several other criteria. And to have a private secondary school in Rivers State, part of the criteria to meet is to ensure that the school is sited on at least eight plots of land, amongst others.
“We know these set standards were to improve the quality of education in the state, but I want to task the Rivets State Ministry of Education to also implement the set criteria/standard for public schools in the state so that it doesn’t become one-sided.
“For PIMA, every year we’ve recorded some improvement. Last year was good, but this year is better. For this year, the 2024 graduation and prize giving ceremonies, a total of 26 pupils are graduating from Nursery three, in Basic one, a total of 22 pupil.
“On the other hand, seven pupils are graduating from basic six, while 18 students are graduating from basic nine, SS1, and 15 students are graduating from SS3”, the Proprietor said.
It would be recalled that in a bid to ensure a more qualitative education in Rivers State, the State Government has shown recommitment through concerted efforts on the inspection and certification of private schools in the state.
Speaking on behalf of parents of graduands, Mr. Johnson Awari lauded management of the school for maintaining standards, charging pupils and students of the institution, as well as management, to continue imbibing the culture of discipline noted in the school.
Meanwhile, in her valedictory speech, the valedictorian/general head girl of the school, miss Favour Jane Essien, called for cooperation between parents and management of the school towards a continued improvement in both academics and morals in the school.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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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
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
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
