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Fubara Pledges Support For Journalists, Receives Champion Of Peace Award …As The Tide Shines At Rivers NUJ Award Night
Rivers State Governor, Sir. Siminialayi Fubara, has reiterated his support for journalists in the State.
The governor made this pledge on Sunday while receiving the ‘Champion of Peace Award’ at an Award Night organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, to mark the end of its week-long Press Week celebrations.
The award was bestowed on the governor by the Council for his peaceful disposition and demeanour, and quest to deliver democracy dividends despite present political challenges in the State.
Fubara, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, described the award as a motivation to deliver more democracy dividends to the people of the State.
He described the Press as partners in progress and assured that his administration is always ready to work with the media for the betterment of the State.
On his part, President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, expressed satisfaction with the cordial relationship between the State Government and the media, and urged the governor to sustain the tempo.
Isiguzo also used the event to call on the Federal Government to ensure that the rights of journalists are always protected, as he frowned at the treatment meted out to newsmen during the recent #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest.
According to him, the Nigeria Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and rights of journalists to their duties.
Chairman of NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Stanley Job Stanley, thanked Governor Fubara for his support towards the successful hosting of the Press Week, and expressed hope for better relationship with the Union in the future.
Meanwhile, The Tide Newspapers, published by the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC) has emerged top winner at the 2024 NUJ Award ceremony in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Out of 47 distinguished journalists recognised during the award, The Tide took home over 10 awards, showcasing its excellence in journalism.
Six senior editors from The Tide received Special Recognition Awards, while two others bagged Meritorious Service and Reporters Awards, respectively. Notable awardees include RSNC’s General Manager, Chief Ernest Chinwo; The Acting Editor of The Tide, Reward Akwu; former Acting Chairman of The Tide Editorial Board, who is now the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Nelson Chukwudi; Group News Editor, Boye Salau, and Group Sports Editor, Gabriel Nwanetanya.
Other recipients of Special Recognition Awards include former NUJ secretaries, media executives, and senior journalists from various organisations. These include The Business Editor, Soibi Max-Alalibo, and the incumbent NUJ Secretary, Ike Wigodo, who retired from The Tide a few months ago.
The remaining 10 awardees in the Special Recognition Award category emerged from eight other media outfits. The recipients include two former NUJ secretaries in the State, Mr. Samuel Iyoyo, and Tamunoisela Toby; the General Manager of the Rivers State Television (RSTV), Fengecy Onisoya; Business Manager of Super FM, Pastor Segun Owolabi; Publisher of The Gist Newspaper, Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton; South South Bureau Chief of The Guardian, Mrs Ann Godwin, and Head of News, Rhythm 93.7FM, Clem Ofuokwu.
Others are the Deputy National President of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and senior editor with the RSTV, Dr (Mrs) Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu; former senior correspondent with The Nation Newspapers, Mrs Clarice Azutalam; and Baridorn Sika of the Radio Rivers.
The Tide also excelled in the Meritorious Service Award category, which was reserved for past chairmen of the State Council of NUJ, with former General Manager, Elder Vincent Ake, and Political Editor and Vice President, NUJ Zone F, Opaka Dokubo, receiving honours.
Five others in this category include the first chairman of NUJ, Rivers State Council, Chief Wofuru Oparaolu; Chief Bobo Brown, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, Omoni Ayo-Tamuno and the incumbent chairman of the Council, Stanley Job Stanley.
In the Reporters Award category, The Tide’s John Bibor was among 12 recipients, alongside journalists from other media outlets. The 11 others include Peter Abaje of AIT, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia of Radio Rivers, Obiandu Madume of RSTV, Anayo Onukwugha of Leadership Newspapers, Allwell Ene of Megaletric, and Rachael Ramson of Rhythm 93.7FM.
Other reporters awardees are Okechukwu Gabriel of Treasure FM, Wariso Wariso of Independent Monitor, Paul Bazia of the State Ministry of Information and Communications, Doris Dogini Nwankwo of the Federal Ministry of Information, and Stephen Momoh of TVC who received Reporters Award in Video.
Additionally, two former General Managers and two former editors of the RSNC received Lifetime Achievement Awards, along with seven other veteran journalists. They are: former Chief Executive Officer/Editor-In-Chief of the RSNC, Mr. Dagogo Ezekiel-Hart; former RSNC General Manager, Mr. Celestine Ogolo; former editor of The Weekend Tide who retired as a Permanent Secretary in the State Civil Service, Ms Kadilo Brown, and another former editor of The Tide, who is currently serving as Permanent Secretary (Cabinet), Mr Hamilton Amadi.
Also in this category are three former Commissioners for Information and Communications in Rivers State – Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, Dame Ibim Semenitari, and Pastor Paulinus Nsirim.
Other recipients are former President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Scholarship Board, Sir Honour Sirawoo; Regional Manager of Business Day, Elder Ignatius Chukwu; Publisher of National Network, Pastor Jerry Needam, and Mr Blessing Wikina, who was former Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The Posthumous Meritorious Service Award went to the former General Manager of the RSNC, Late Augustine Nwikinaka; Late Karibo Botoye, Late Ndagene Akwu and Late Paul Alozie who, at various times in their lifetime, served as chairmen of the NUJ, Rivers State Council.
The Tide also had a good outing in the Posthumous Special Recognition Award category, with two former editors of The Tide, Late Soye Jamabo and Late Juliet Njiowhor among the five recipients. The three other awardees are late Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of The Beacon Newspaper, Minere Amakiri; late Publisher of the Independent Monitor, Evans Osi, and former chairman of NAWOJ in Rivers State, Late Uche Atuzie.
Speaking with The Tide, shortly after the event yesterday, the Chairman of the Press Week Committee, Olalekan Ige, explained that the 11 distinguished journalists who received the Lifetime Achievement Award “have consistently, throughout their careers, brought great honour and pride to the NUJ, in addition to rising to the pinnacle of the profession.
Ige also stated that those given the Special Recognition Award are “senior journalists who have attained great heights in the media profession and have maintained a high level of excellence in journalism.”
He added that NUJ also decided to honour some past chairmen of the Council for their meritorious service and leadership at various times, while reporters who have consistently demonstrated excellence in news reporting and have brought pride to the NUJ were also recognised.
Boye Salau & Kevin Nengia
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.