News
Bring More Cultural, Arts Events To PH, Fubara Tasks Abuja Carnival Organisers …•To Launch Talent Hunt For Rivers Youths Soon
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has challenged organisers of the just-concluded Abuja International Carnival 2024 to prove their conviction as true by bringing mega cultural and arts events to the city of Port Harcourt.
The organisers had said that their visit to Port Harcourt was first-hand experience to correct the negative media framing of Rivers State, which they described as orchestrated to deny the State of the benefits of culture and tourism-related activities.
The Governor vehemently pointed to the heritage-rich and blossoming hospitality of Rivers people, prevailing peace, the abundant infrastructural components, beautiful public facilities and ongoing regeneration of neighborhoods that can offer unforgettable experience to participants of such shows when organised in the State.
Governor Fubara gave the challenge when the Rivers State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Israel Lebura Ngbuelo, led organisers of the Abuja International Carnival 2024 and delegation of the Rivers Team to the carnival, to present the trophy they clinched as the overall winner of the festival, and other laurels at Government House in Port Harcour, last Tuesday.
Rivers troupe topped the medal list with the ‘Best Carnival Float’, ‘Best Carnival King’, ‘Best Carnival Queen’, ‘Best Performance’, ‘Best Carnival Costume’ and ‘Best in Indigenous Nigerian Fashion Parade’, and emerged as the Overall Winner of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival competitive events.
The Governor said, “This is one of the most peaceful States, that is the truth. Apart from the political propaganda that you hear and read on social media, we are a very peace-loving and accommodating people.
“So, we want to thank the organisers too for organising this wonderful festival in Abuja. Over the years, Rivers State has always been outstanding when it comes to these festivals.”
Governor Fubara stated: “To the organisers, when you are coming again, come with more things. You have seen that Rivers State is a fertile ground for events, bring good events that will engage our youths. Don’t bring those things that will create problems for us. Bring things that will promote the good side of the State. So, we will be expecting to hear from you.
“Just let it be a package that will be educative, motivate our people positively, and also help us economically. It is important because I need more money to do more things for our people while we are here.”
Governor Fubara, on behalf of the State Government, congratulated the Rivers troupe for being worthy ambassadors of the State and doing it proud with the prizes they won, saying that it is often not enough to sponsor participants to a carnival, insisting that the outcome must justify the spending.
Governor Fubara noted that the Rivers troupe conquered the festival and returned home gloriously, noting: “And I also believe that it will not be in our own administration that things will now start falling apart in our hands. You need to do better and better. So, I am happy that we came back with the overall best and with a lot of other awards. It shows that we were really prepared, and we showed our preparedness in that event.”
He expressed delight at the kind words used by the Chief Executive Officer, Abuja International Carnival, Mr Kehinde Adegbite, when he described the rich experience of a peaceful Rivers State, enviable night life, hospitable and courteous people, serene and clean roads, and lovely environment.
Governor Fubara challenged the media to rise above the deliberate injection of negativity on the minutest one-off sad episode in Rivers State which they used to represent the State consistently, urging that the negative portrayal of Rivers in the media must stop because it serves as a disservice to the State.
He explained some of his plans towards giving culture and tourism a boost with platforms created to discover talents, saying, “What is the duty of government? Is it not to provide the enabling environment, give the necessary support, and make the people happy?
“You can imagine what we have done here. We didn’t make announcement, and we didn’t advertise it. But the number of youths from our State that were involved in that Abuja International Carnival was overwhelming. Within that period, some little stipends were paid to them and they also showcased their talents.
“That brings me to that part of our story, which you will start hearing soon. We intend to start a talent hunt programme where some of our youths, those of them gifted in the field will come and showcase their talents, and when you do well, from there, we can begin to push you higher.”
Governor Fubara also charged the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism not to rest on his goal but think outside the box and come up with an enduring programme that can further promote talents and showcase the rich culture of the State.
He said: “So, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, your duty is not just going to win awards for us in Abuja carnival. Look for a way to bring our best talents together. In this State, we can bring our best together, have one TV programme or, and it can be in series that will showcase the culture of Rivers State. It will become legendary.”
Governor Fubara said the success that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is celebrating is also a success to reckon with his administration, and thanked the Commissioner for working cooperatively with his Permanent Secretary to achieve the feat.
In his speech, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Israel Lebura Ngbuelo, informed the Governor that the support he provided the ministry energized them to attend the carnival, and emerge as overall best.
Also speaking, the CEO/Executive Director, Abuja International Carnival, Mr Kehinde Adegbite, who is also known as Mallam Yankee, said from the day they arrived to the very last day of the carnival, Rivers Team distinguished itself, was outstanding and adjudged the overall best.
Mr Adegbite promised that his experience of Port Harcourt has erased all negative portrayal of the State, adding that he is more determined to bring more shows to the city of Port Harcourt because it is alluring than most of the cities that international and national shows are staged.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of the prizes won by the State Team in different categories, the Overall Best State, and Best Supportive Governor to the State Chief Executive.
A Professor of Human Anatomy, with specialty in Physical and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has expressed delight over the successful delivery of the 207th Inaugural Lecture of the university, describing it as a significant milestone in his academic career.
This is even as he commended the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Owunari Georgewill for his tremendous support in achieving the feat.
Speaking in an interview following the lecture in Port Harcourt, the scholar said presenting an inaugural lecture represents one of the highest achievements in a university career, particularly after attaining the rank of professor.
“I feel good. It is a form of achievement. An inaugural lecture is one of the peaks of an academic career in the university, especially after becoming a professor. By the grace of God, I was able to achieve that and also let the world know my area of specialization and what we have been doing over the years. It makes me feel elated,” he said.
Prof Oladipo, who was elevated to the rank of professor in 2018, noted that the journey to the inaugural lecture was built on years of focused research and dedication to his field.
Tracing the motivation behind his research trajectory, he explained that his interest was sparked and rekindled as far back as 1998 during his undergraduate studies.
According to him, he observed that much of the data used in his area of medical research were sourced from foreign populations.
“I noticed as a medical student that most of the data we used were foreign data. I felt we needed local data that are ethnicity-specific. That was the genesis of the whole journey,” he explained.
He said the realization guided his academic pursuits through his master’s and PhD programmes, as he consistently worked towards generating research findings relevant to local populations.
On the reception of his inaugural lecture, the professor expressed satisfaction with the feedback from colleagues and attendees.
“I was happy because I was able to drive home my points, and people clearly understood my presentation. I also received very encouraging commendations from some colleagues,” he said.
The academic also acknowledged the support of the university’s leadership, describing the Vice Chancellor as “highly supportive” of his aspirations and professional growth, saying, “the way the university system runs, if the Vice Chancellor does not approve your inaugural lecture, you cannot present it.”
Inaugural lectures at the University of Port Harcourt provide a platform for newly appointed professors to formally present their research contributions and academic journey to the university community and the wider public.
Prof Oladipo, however, clarified that the Head of Department(HOD) of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt currently functions in acting capacity, in the person of Dr J S Hart.
The Africa Global Development For Positive Change Initiative (ADIAfrica), in collaboration with Stephen Igwe and Judith Igwe International Educational System, has concluded a free eye screening outreach for residents of Rivers State.
The outreach, which was flagged off in Port Harcourt, targeted more than 300 individuals with various eye conditions. Speaking at the event, the International President of ADIAfrica, Prince Dan Mbachi, said the initiative was designed to provide access to essential eye care services for underserved communities.
According to him, the first phase of the exercise commenced in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and is expected to extend to Etche and Ikwerre Local Government Areas, while the second phase will cover other parts of the state.
Mbachi described the outreach as part of the organization’s commitment to promoting quality healthcare, equity, human dignity, and sustainable development. He emphasized that vision challenges go beyond medical concerns, noting their impact on education, economic productivity, and family wellbeing.
“At ADIAfrica International, we recognize that vision is not merely a medical issue; it is also economic, educational, and social. A child who cannot see clearly struggles to learn. A trader with impaired vision struggles to work. When sight is compromised, opportunity is limited,” he said.
He explained that the exercise provided eye tests, medications, visual field assessments, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and related accessories, stressing that the intervention was aimed at transforming lives rather than serving as a mere charitable gesture.
Mbachi further noted that the initiative aligns with ADIAfrica’s broader mission of advancing sustainable development through practical and people-centered solutions.
Also speaking at the event, a chief from Rumueme Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chief Livingston Akaninwo, commended the organisation and its partners for supporting vulnerable members of society. The traditional ruler expressed concern that many people with eye conditions suffer silently due to poverty and limited access to healthcare.
He called on the government and well-meaning individuals to support ADIAfrica’s efforts to enable the outreach to reach more communities across the state.Some beneficiaries, including Mrs. Veronica Peters Olera Pere, expressed gratitude to the organizers for the initiative and appealed for the programme to be extended to other parts of Rivers State to benefit more residents.
By: John Bibor
A three-day intensive training programme aimed at empowering adolescent girls with knowledge, life skills, and advocacy tools to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and promote their wellbeing has ended at Okogbe Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The programme, which held from February 26 to February 28, 2026, was organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation. It brought together adolescent girls aged between 10 and 19 years drawn from five communities in the area, including Ubeta, Okogbe, Okaki, Akinima, and Akoh.
The training was designed to reactivate and strengthen girls’ clubs across Ahoada West, Abua/Odual, and Emohua Local Government Areas, with a strong focus on ending harmful traditional practices and equipping participants with knowledge to improve their health, safety, and social wellbeing.
Throughout the three days, facilitators engaged the girls in interactive sessions covering a wide range of topics such as menstrual hygiene, puberty education, communication skills, gender-based violence, child rights, personal hygiene, emotional intelligence, and the importance of empathy and peer support. Particular attention was given to the dangers and long-term consequences of FGM, which experts described as a serious violation of the rights of women and girls.
One of the facilitators, child protection advocate, Inyingi Irimagha, specifically of the Child Protection Network(CPN), emphasised the need to challenge harmful cultural practices that negatively affect girls, noting that culture should evolve when it threatens human dignity and health.
UNICEF Desk Officer at the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Victor Iseberetonma, also stressed that empowering young girls with knowledge and confidence remains one of the most effective strategies for eliminating FGM.
He attributed the successful organisation of the programme to the doggedness and commitment demonstrated by UNICEF, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, and others in making sure that no stone was left unturned for the smooth take-off of the programme, and particularly thanked UNICEF for the great work it is doing in the State.
Other facilitators, including Mr Unah Uchenna and Miss Lucy Uzodinma shared similar sentiments, and called for total elimination of FGM in the society.
Many of the participants described the training as enlightening and transformative, saying, it exposed them to important life lessons they had never received before. One of the girls said the programme helped her understand not only the dangers of FGM but also how to support others emotionally.
“It has educated us about what is wrong, especially about FGM and other issues affecting girls.
“We learned how to talk to people, how to empathise, how to console someone, and how to make others feel relaxed and understood,” Morrow Onisokien Burebure said.
Another participant explained that the programme went beyond discussions on harmful practices to include personal development and daily living skills.
“We learned about our values and how we should live our lives,” she said. “They taught us about menstrual hygiene, how to use sanitary materials properly, how to keep our bodies clean, wash our hands, and how to be friendly even with people we don’t know,” said Dowel Victory Bakewari of Community Secondary School, Akinima.
The participants also pledged to become advocates for change in their communities. One of them stated that she would share the knowledge gained during the training with others back home.
“I will tell people about the effects of FGM and how to stop it.We need to create awareness so that people will understand why it should not continue,” Ake Beauty enthused.
Another participant noted that the training gave her a better understanding of her body and the responsibilities that come with adolescence.
“It is good because we were taught what we need to know about our bodies as girls,” she said. We learned things we should do and things we should not do, and the dangers of FGM. I will tell people in my community that they should stop practising it,” Ebere Testimony Kenneth of Akala-Olu Community Secondary School, Ula-Upata said.
Some participants also expressed appreciation to the organisers for bringing the programme to their in communities, describing it as a life-changing opportunity. One of them simply said, “We thank the organisers for what they have done so far. They have helped us learn things that will protect our future.”
Facilitators at the programme explained that FGM remains deeply rooted in cultural traditions in some communities, which makes sustained awareness and community engagement essential. They noted that while culture plays an important role in society, harmful practices must be abandoned once they are recognised as dangerous.
According to the organisers, the programme successfully met its objectives by equipping participants with practical knowledge, leadership skills, and the confidence needed to speak out against harmful practices. They emphasised that the girls trained would serve as peer educators and change agents within their communities.
The organisers furthermore reaffirmed their commitment to continuing advocacy in efforts, strengthening girls’ clubs, and expanding grassroots awareness campaigns across Rivers State.
As the programme came to a close, the atmosphere was filled with optimism and determination. For the young participants, the training was not just an educational exercise but a call to action — one that has placed them at the forefront of effort to protect the rights, health, and future of girls in their communities.
By: Donatus Ebi
