Rivers
LG Boss Lauds Military’s Sacrifice For Nigeria … Hails Fubara’s Efforts In Tackling Insecurity
Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, has praised the military in Nigeria for their courage and sacrifice in defense of the country.
The Chairman, who gave the praise, Wednesday, during events commemorating the 2025 Armed Forces Day in the LGA, said “They perform their duties in the most dangerous conditions, risking everything for Nigerians both at home and abroad. Many return with shattered hopes, some with life-altering injuries, and some never return”.
He also extended his respect to veterans and the Nigerian Legion for their unwavering support to soldiers and their fellow veterans.
Reflecting on the ongoing fight against terror and banditry, Dr. Cookey-Gam noted the progress made and called for continued federal and state support to the armed forces to bolster their capabilities.
Cookey-Gam also commended the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for what he christened his “steadfast commitment to addressing economic and security challenges in the state”.
He pledged his administration’s support to the armed forces towards ensuring peace and safety in the LGA and the nation.
Highlight of the event, which took place at the Government Field, Pembe, Opobo Town, was the Chairman’s inspection of the guard of honour and laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, a poignant tribute to the fallen heroes who gave their lives in service.
In his address, the Chairman of the Nigerian Legion Opobo/Nkoro Chapter, Rtd. Captain Iyowuna Andrew Jaja, urged Nigerians to honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes and support their families, especially in tough economic times.
He appealed to government agencies and private organizations to prioritize the welfare of veterans and their dependents.
The ceremony was graced by prominent dignitaries, including the Secretary of council, Hon. Mrs. Ukamaka Diri; Leader of the Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Senibo Samuel Nengia; and the Amayanabo Of Opobo Kingdom, HRM King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, who was represented by Alabo Godwin Bupo.
Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
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The Vice Chancellor (VC) of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, has charged matriculating students to live a life devoid of examination malpractices and other social Vices in order to take their studies seriously.
The VC, who gave the charge during the 17th matriculation ceremony on Saturday, encouraged the matriculant to form study groups, learn together, and explain critical topics to one another for better understanding.
”One way to study seriously is to learn together, form study groups, and explain things to each other, explain the subject matter to each other.
“I know that from experience, some students learn faster from their fellow students”, he stated.
The Vice Chancellor further adviced the matriculating students to make maximum use of the new library in the school to develop their skills and knowledge on different areas of research.
He noted that the total applications for admission received for regular students were 16, 237, while the total number of registered regular students were 8,248.
“For part time students, he said, total applications received were 1, 733 and total number of candidates admitted were 1,321, and 800 were cleared, while a total number of registered Part time student’s (matriculated) were 383.
“Total applications received from the Institute of Distance Learning (IDL) was 220, while number of registered students from the IDL are 104”, he explained.
The VC, mentioned that the Institution has seven (7) Faculties namely , Faculties of Administration and Management Sciences, Agriculture, Education, Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, Social Sciences and Vocational and Technical Education.
The Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences has eight (8) Departments namely Accounting, Banking and Finance, Marketing, Management, Office and Information Management, Entrepreneurship, Employment and Human Resource Management and Hospitality and Tourism Management.
‘The Faculty of Agriculture has six (6) Departments namely Agriculture Economics and Extension, Animal Science, Crop Science, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Soil Science and Forestry Wild Life.
‘The Faculty of Education on the other hand has thirteen (13) Departments namely Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, Educational Foundation, Educational Management, Educational Curriculum, Educational Technology, Adult Education, Special Education, Primary/Early Childhood Education, Business Education, Social Science Education, Human Kinetics and Sports Science and Health and Safety Education.
He stated further that the Faculty of Humanities has eleven (11) Departments namely, English and Literary Studies, Fine and Applied Arts, Foreign Languages and International Studies, Theatre and Film Studies, History and Diplomatic Studies, Music, Religious and Cultural Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mass Communication, Linguistics and Philosophy.
The Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences has thirteen (13) Departments namely Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Integrated Science, Geophysics, Industrial Chemistry, Software Engineering, Statistics, Micro Biology, Zoology and Information Technology.
He said that the Faculty of Social Sciences equally has nine (9) Departments namely; Economics, Geography, Political Science, Sociology/Social Studies, Social Works, Petroleum Economics and Policy Studies, Public Administration, Library and Information Science and Environmental Management.
According to him, the university which was established in June 13, 1971 as an Advanced Teachers Training College (ATTC) noting that the institution attained the University status in October 2009.
He, however, urged parents and guardians to support their children and wards by paying their school charges promptly, and endeavour to always monitor the academic performance of their children and wards.
By: Sogbeba Dokubo
The convener of the Fasthire CareerFest 2026, Richard Okiasi, has called on Nigerian youths to transcend local limitations and harness skills, visibility and innovation to thrive globally.
Okiasi made the call on Saturday during a career development and job creation event in Port Harcourt.
The event, held at the Celebr8 Event Center, Olu Obasanjo Road, attracted 944 participants, including 131 Corps members, five career coaches, aspiring entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts and career builders under the theme, “Borderless – Empowering Talents to Compete, Create, and Collaborate Globally.”
The visionary lead of Fasthire said in a world where borders are increasingly irrelevant for ambitious professionals, it is important for young talents to transcend local limitations and harness skills necessary to compete and thrive globally.
“If you want to provide value globally, start locally, don’t be idle while dreaming of Apple,” he advised.
Okiasi said the Fasthire CareerFest 2026 was organised with a view to equiping the youth with the mindset and tools to compete, create, and collaborate without boundaries.
“Our goal is to equip the next generation with the mindset and tools to compete, create, and collaborate without boundaries,” he said.
He emphasized how the festival bridged the gap between Nigerian potential and international opportunities.
The event featured a stellar lineup of resource persons, each bringing decades of expertise to inspire and educate.
Keynote speaker and Chief Executive Officer of Silicon Africa Technologies, Ajah Excel, delivered a compelling presentation on “Building Careers and Businesses Without Borders.”
Excel, who is also the convener of SMfest, and founder of the World Scholarship Forum, stressed the importance of proactive positioning.
“You must be willing to step out and meet opportunities,” he told the participants at the event.
He stated that ideas travel freely without visas, urging participants to let their names precede their passports through online visibility.
Excel said the youth could relocate financially without physical relocation by building bridges early and positioning as a global entity from the start.
The Managing Director of Xavina Consulting Limited, Catherine Kadiri, who delivered a lecture on “Building the Mindset to Create, Compete, and Collaborate on the Global Stage”, advocated intentional actions and curiosity as the foundation of creativity.
“You can never be fully ready, start before you are ready,” she advised.
Kadiri urged attendees to build connections with cultural intelligence, humility, and align applications with genuine skills and embrace slow but intentional growth.
The recruitment section had Airtel Nigeria, Xavina Consult, Elasot, Toppearl, Vodina West, and Aidela Africa in attendance.
The festival’s interactive depth shone through two panel sessions, fostering dialogue on practical strategies for borderless success.
The first panel session touched on “Positioning for Global Opportunities”, featuring the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aidela Africa, Atat Charles, as lead discussant, and Group Managing Director/CEO of Arrowconn Group, High Chief Emeka Ezekwe, as co-discussant.
While Charles warned of the power of social media and advised meticulous profile management, Ezekwe defined strategic positioning as “deliberate engineering of relevance,” cautioning that opportunities often appear disguised.
“What you post can build you up or pull you down,” Charles warned.
“Your certificate is just paper, skills and know-how differentiate you,” Ezekwe said.
The second panel session, which centered on “Work Smarter, Not Harder – Using AI Tools to Thrive in a Borderless Workplace”, explored AI’s role in enhancing productivity and global competitiveness.
Founder and Lead Consultant at Marach Consul Limited, Amarachi Stanley-Duru, who led the panel discussion, encouraged maximizing current opportunities through foundational skills.
“Learn and leverage AI to remain relevant,” she urged.
The Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Money University (KMU), Mr. Emeka Nobis, who delivered a paper on “From Skill to Income: Turning What You Know into Value”, advised identifying God-given gifts and translating them into buyable services.
“Start with what you have, where you are, and your unique story,” he advised.
The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) management to fund multilingual personnel to tackle language barriers at border posts, particularly among traders in the ECOWAS corridor and other frontiers.
Stakeholders, during a meeting held on Wednesday in Badagry, Lagos, also hailed the economic port regulator as Africa’s top Shippers’ Council, citing its sustainable facilities across the region.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Salami Nasiru Alasoadua, Special Adviser to NACCIMA’s National President and a stalwart of the West Africa Road Transport Union (WARTU), noted that language remains a major barrier for cross-border traders.
He added that the NSC has the capacity to address this if it funds personnel fluent in multiple languages.
Alasoadua stressed the need for the council to hire staff who can speak Yoruba, Hausa, French, and Fulani effectively to resolve these challenges.
Apparently determined to assist in tackling this deficiency, the trader explained that cross-border traders are eager to engage NSC officials at border posts, but many businessmen and women cannot speak English fluently, creating a significant obstacle to getting things done.
Cross section of Stakeholders and staff of NSC at the meeting held in Badagry Lagos on Wednesday
Alasoadua, who also serves as Vice President of the West Africa Cross Traders and Managing Director of Alsana Global Ventures, commended the council for sustaining its officers at Nigeria’s border posts., while adding that funding multilingual personnel would boost trade across international frontiers.
He lamented that most traders lack awareness of Border Information Centre (BIC) requirements.
According to him, “For the council to maintain its relevance in the borderless alliance, I want to thank the Nigerian Shippers’ Councilit’s number one across Africa, from East to North and West Africa.
“None of the other Shippers’ Councils have working border officers except Nigeria’s; most have been abandoned.”But the NSC needs to source funds.
“If you have a BIC at Seme border post and the manager cannot speak French, English, Egun, Fulani, or Yoruba, it’s a problem.”We need to resolve the challenges facing SMEs, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council has a critical role to play,” he added.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
