Niger Delta
VC Charges Students On SIWES
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, has charges students of the university to take the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) seriously for them to be self-reliant and self-sufficient.
He gave the charge during the SIWES orientation workshop held recently at the university auditorium.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Head of Ndele Campus and Dean, Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, Professor Isaac Ogundu, said the workshop would provide solutions to most of the likely problems that they would encounter in society.
He emphasized that SIWES is a vital tool for combating poverty, unemployment and other economic challenges, and advised them to pay rapt attention and ask relevant questions to be guided.
The Acting Director, SIWES Dr. Silverline Igweagbara, in her address, expressed gratitude to the Acting Vice Chancellor for his support towards the programme and to staff who assisted in making the programme a success.
She thanked students who found time to participate, noting that “though the economy is hitting everyone hard, those with SIWES knowledge would none-the-less survive the hardships because they are equipped with the right training”.
Dr. Igweagbara expressed optimism that the students would make the university proud as they enter the workforce. She also expressed hope that they would use the requisite skills acquired and not bother about the ups and downs of the labour market, especially as the two certificates (theory and practical) acquired would expose them to both the white collar job and the practical skills to survive on their own.
She, however, warned that there are penalties for every mistake resulting from ignorance of the important aspects of their programme.
In his remarks, the Area Manager and Assistant Director of Training, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Rumuokwuta Area Office, Mr. Cabral Angereke, noted that the 2024 SIWES orientation marks a significant milestone in the process of equipping students with the desired knowledge and practical experience through their participation in Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
He disclosed that the exercise is necessary as it affords students the opportunity of getting detailed information on the standard of behaviour and performance standards that is expected of them before, during and after the period of their SIWES attachment.
Mr. Angereke informed that “SIWES is a skill training programme designed to expose and prepare students to fit in properly in industrial work situations after graduation”.
He further stated that the scheme “provides students with the opportunity to expose and familiarise themselves with the gained experience in handling equipment and machinery that are usually not available in their institutions”.
While thanking the Acting Vice Chancellor and his Management team for their support in carrying out the Federal Government mandate in SIWES, he urged the students to listen and ask constructive questions that clarifications can be given to equip them properly for the experience and in order to minimise mistakes during the attachment period.
The orientation, according to Angereke, “will x-ray the roles of various stakeholders in the SIWES programme, and the use of various forms and documentations before, during and after the SIWES attachment”.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director of Training and Head of Training, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Rumuokwuta Area Office, Mrs. Gloria Henry Ekwuruke, informed that the scheme was established because of the growing concerns amongst industrialists that graduates of Nigeria Tertiary Institutions of Higher Learning lacked adequate employable skills in industries.
She noted that employers were of the opinion that the theoretical education going on in Higher Institutions do not match the skills needed by the employers of labour, this therefore, necessitated the initiation of the Industrial Training Fund, a scheme introduced and designed to equip students with necessary skills of handling employers’ machinery and equipment as well as gaining the needed practical skills in the course of learning.
Mrs. Ekwuruke stressed the need for students to take the programme seriously, explaining that as a former student of IAUE, the experiences that she gained from “School to Land” where she did her SIWES attachment as an Agricultural Science student helped her to secure an A grade in her examination because she wrote from the practical experiences that she gathered from the programme.
She also stressed the need for students to be safety conscious and to apply safety rules and measures while carrying out their duties during the period.
On her part, the SIWES and Principal Accountant of ITF, Mrs. Adejare Opeyemi, admonished the students to be “good ambassadors, leave good legacy, and not mess up the place with your bad attitude and deprive others behind you of the opportunity”.
She told the students that though the stipend that is given to them is small, the knowledge and experience that they stand to gain from the scheme cannot be quantified in monetary value.
Mr. London Ajoku, SIWES Schedule and Principal Training Officer, also enlightened the students on how to fill their log books, general administration and documentations during the six months exercise where they are expected to apply theoretical concepts to real world problems and to develop essential skills in communication, team work, time management, network building and problem solving to prepare them for their future career.
The SIWES is a programme designed for Nigerian students in Tertiary Institutions to gain practical experiences in their chosen field of study.
The scheme provides students with hands-on experience and bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It enhances their employability skills after graduation and foster collaboration between academia and industry.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has restated his administration’s commitment to providing more support to security agencies operating in the state.
He stated this on Tuesday when he received heads of security agencies, including Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral N.M. Madugu, Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, and the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa, Tolani Alausa, in Government House, Yenagoa.
The Governor assured security agencies across board that his administration would collaborate with them to protect lives and property as well as critical national assets on land and the waterways by providing patrol vehicles, boats and other necessary logistics.
He informed the new OPDS Commander that the task force had a responsibility to protect critical national, state and community assets contributing not only to the daily oil production output for the federal government but also to development and growth of the state.
The Governor stressed that the partnership between the state government and the task force had ensured that crime rate in the state was reduced.
“As a government, we are working round the clock with the security agencies so that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed and also ensure that national assets are safe for the benefit of the people and the government.
“Often, it is misconstrued as though these assets are only for the federal government. Rather, they are for the state, communities and the federal government. So we must work hand-in-gloves to ensure they are safe.
“Therefore, it is our responsibility to always ensure that these critical national, state and community assets are kept safe”, he said.
Responding to the request of the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ahmed Gaya, the Governor stated that he had signed the Certificate of Occupancy of the land allocated to the Nigerian Navy at the New Yenagoa and approved a secondary school at Toru-Ebeni in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
He said the State Government was waiting for the naval authorities to commence development of the land.
The new JTF Commander, Rear Admiral Madugu, stated that the visit was to formally introduce himself and to solicit the government’s support to achieve his aim of protecting the critical oil and gas facilities in his area of operation and fulfil the presidential mandate of increasing oil production to 2.5mbpd.
While promising to work with the Nigerian Police to maintain peace in the state, Diri admonished AIG Tolani to be repentant and be more professional in his duties having attained a top position in the force.
The Governor, who recalled the role Tolani played when he was Commissioner of Police in the state during the 2023 governorship election, said: “Let bygone be bygone and work according to your conscience. Ensure that you are repentant and do what is right. Your zone covers Bayelsa and Rivers states and let the interest of both states be uppermost on your mind.”
On disputes among community youth associations, the state’s helmsman wielded the big stick and announced the dissolution of such body in Famgbe Community in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
He directed the Commissioner for Youth Development, working with the Commissioner of Police, to ensure a proper election is held in the community.
Diri also warned that traditional rulers whose communities were embroiled in conflicts would be sanctioned.
“Every other feuding community, including Ogboinbiri, we are still watching you. I have told all traditional rulers, if you cannot ensure peace in your domain but waiting for my wrath to dangle on you, then both traditional rulers and youth bodies will be sacrificed”, Diri said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has said no profession in the health sector was superior to others, saying there was need for cooperation among workers in every health facility to achieve optimal results.
He stated this during a courtesy visit by the Bayelsa branch of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) to his office in Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
He assured that a good number of certified and competent medical laboratory scientists, as well as other medical and health practitioners would be employed based on the needs assessment indices at government’s disposal in the ongoing civil service recruitment exercise.
While appreciating their contributions to quality healthcare service delivery, he said government was ready to collaborate with the Association and other critical stakeholders in the sector to make health services more affordable and accessible to people of the state.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, said the current recruitment drive was aimed at addressing manpower needs in some critical sectors, including health, to improve service delivery in the state.
“We’re making progress in the health sector in Bayelsa. But we also admit that there is still much room for improvement.
“As you’re aware, applicants are applying to the state civil service, and some employment slots have been approved for Medical Doctors and Laboratory Scientists to be employed.
“We need competent and highly qualified personnel to be employed into the service to provide quality services.
“Every health worker has a role in health promotion. No profession in the health sector is superior to another. We are ready to collaborate with you to make health services more affordable and accessible to all Bayelsans”, he said.
Earlier in her presentation, the State Chairman of the AMLSN, Eunice Ayamaere Lelei, said there was need for government to employ more qualified laboratory scientists, and provide modern laboratory equipment in all its medical facilities across the state.
Lelei, who emphasized that laboratory scientists play a critical role in healthcare services in Nigeria, called for the implementation of the approved call duty allowance for members of the Association, and funding support for their Mandatory Professional Continuing Development programmes.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa