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Fubara Lauds Evo Diocesan Schools On Quality …Pledges Collaboration, Thanks Diocese For Prayers.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has rated the Evo Diocesan Schools high on quality delivery of educational goals and objectives.
The Governor disclosed the assessment at the Synod Thanksgiving Service of the Diocese of Evo, Anglican Communion, which was held at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School (ACMGS), Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, last Sunday.
The state’s Chief Executive, who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr George Nwaeke, assured the Diocese of Evo of collaboration and support in infrastructure and other critical areas that would drive quality education in the State.
“I must say your Synod theme is timely as it seeks to remind all stakeholders of the essence of collaboration in our drive to raise the bar of education in the state,” he stated.
The Governor further applauded the Diocese for their fervent prayers, which, he said, have kept the government running and the sustenance of peace in the State.
“We thank you for your tireless prayers, which have sustained the peace in our dear State and kept our government running successfully.
“We therefore assure you of our poise to create an enabling environment with all necessary support in sustaining quality education in our State,” he said.
Delivering the sermon at the Synod Thanksgiving Service, with the topic: “How Will They Know, If No One Teaches Them,” with text from Deut. 6:6–12, former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dame Ibim Semenitari recounted some inspiring testimonies of her life, which she said were the centre of her sermon.
Dame Semenitari, who is a licensed lay reader, reminisced about her involvement in Kingdom ministry and activities from a tender age, which, according to her, has kept her in the faith.
She further recounted the ‘inspirational stories and songs’ that her grandmother narrated to her, which helped in moulding her life, thereby underscoring the importance of care and attention by parents in the upbringing of the child.
She harped on the instilling of honesty, diligence, respect, and other godly virtues in the nurturing of children, which she maintained would certainly help in transforming the individual for national development.
To the church, Dame Semenitari advocated for prayers and strategic involvement to fill the lapses noticed in parenting while tasking the state on adequate funding, provision of necessary infrastructure, and motivation, amongst others, in enhancing all-round education that would positively impact society and expedite the individual’s transformation for national development.
She concluded by expressing concerns about the content parents teach their children, total negligence in some cases, and the lack of the inculcation of the word of God in the upbringing of children.
However, she recommended discipline, encouragement, counselling, prayers, and sometimes allowing ‘children to test their faith muscles’ as strategies that would assist children in finding their path in the journey of life towards becoming useful leaders to the family, church, and nation.
In his address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Anglican Communion, and Proprietor of the Evo Diocesan Schools, The Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, appreciated the support of the state government in promoting quality education while urging them not to compromise quality and standard of education in the State.
Bishop Ordu also announced the preferment of Rev. Timothy Otuka as a Canon while also announcing St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Rumuobiokani Deanery, as the next Synod host.
The Bishop further appreciated the delegates, visitors, and the entire Evo Diocesan community for their patience, teamwork, and commitment, which resulted in the success of the Synod.
Recall that the 2024 Synod is the 3rd session of the 5th Synod of the Diocese was hosted by the Evo Diocesan Schools of Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School (ACMGS), Elelenwo; Bishop Crowther Memorial Secondary School (BCMSS) Rumuobiokani; and Woji Town Word of Faith School (WTWOFS), Woji.
The Synod theme was ‘Education for National Development and Transformation: The Role of the Family, Church, and State,’ while the text was taken from Deut. 6:7-8, Prov. 22:6, Eph. 6:4.”
The highlight of the service was the presentation of cash gifts and certificates to some outstanding students in the 2024 JAMB examinations by the Bishop and support of financial grants to some indigent widows of the Diocese by the Evo Diocesan Council of Knights.
The service was massively attended by some top government functionaries, members of the political class, captains of industry, traditional rulers, parents, teachers, and students of Evo Diocesan Schools.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.