Rivers
SEEPCO Initiates Blood Donor Club in Nigeria
Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) since inception has been committed to providing its employees with all the necessary healthcare facilities and support structures in case of any emergency across work locations in Nigeria.
The company , one of the fastest-growing oil exploration and production companies in Africa, is also dedicated in serving its host communities with significant healthcare outreach programmes and regular medical camps covering health issues including high, cough, malaria, typhoid, blood pressure, skin rashes and other ailments in different LGAs providing free consultations, medicines and basic laboratory tests on spot.
As a part of this strong commitment to healthcare, the company employees also decided to take a step forward for giving back to the community through the formation of SEEPCO Blood Donor Club .
The primary aim of this club is to create a reliable platform through which LSBTC, and other healthcare providers can reach out for blood donations in times of emergency.
Sterling Oil’s supported non-profit organizations especially VCDF (Vcare for Development) Foundation) are already working in partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other health organisations in their initiatives of blood donation drives for issues encompassing critical blood shortage, emergency patients need, mothers in childbirth, accident victims, and sick children, to access life-saving blood.
Since 2022, VCDF, along with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) has been organising annual blood donation drives involving volunteers from Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), Through this initiative, VCDF has contributed more than 850 pints of blood to the state’s blood bank helping over 2000 patients and their families.
This milestone underscores VCDF’s unwavering commitment to saving lives, fostering a culture of voluntary blood donation, and addressing Nigeria’s critical blood shortage issues.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony,Dr. B. I. Osikomaiya, Executive Secretary Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee (LSBTC) stated “This is a laudable initiative and aligns perfectly with our goal of ensuring a safe, sufficient, and readily available blood supply across Lagos state.
” The creation of a structured donor club will provide a sustainable and dependable platform for emergency blood mobilization, especially in critical times. We are particularly pleased to know about this voluntary donor club comprising SEEPCO employees.”
Also Speaking at the event, Mrs. Olayinka Animashaun, Head of the Donor Recruitment Unit at LSBTC, praised SEEPCO and VCDF’s commitment and highlighted the positive impact the campaign has had on public health.
She averred that blood donation drives like the one with SEEPCO should be held twice a year to help bridge the existing gap in blood availability.
On his own contribution,Dr. Chris Offokansi Chief General Manager Human Resource & Industrial Relations (SEEPCO) said “Through this initiative, Sterling Oil continues to reaffirm its commitment to support public health and life-saving efforts across Nigeria. The Blood Donor Club will actively promote voluntary blood donation among employees raise awareness and working together as partners fostering a culture of giving, Sterling Oil will continue its work towards making a meaningful and lasting impact in the communities we serve.”
Judges of the High Court, Rivers State state Port Harcourt have resumed their normal Court sitting on Wednesday 30th April 2025 after spending fifteen days this year’s Easter holidays.
It will be recalled that the State High Court Judges had proceeded on Easter vacation on Monday April 14 to 29th ,2025 on the approval of the state chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi.
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar, High Court Rivers State, Port Harcourt, David Ihua _maduenyi, esq said the judges are to resume court sitting on Wednesday 30th April, 2025 in line with the earlier directives from the state chief judge and urged the general public to take notice of the resumption date.
“This is to inform the general public that the judges of the High court of the Rivers state shall resume normal Court sitting after Easter vacation on Wednesday, 30th April, 2025.
“Recall that the chief judge of Rivers state, Hon justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi had earlier directed that judges of the high court of Rivers state, should proceed on Easter vacation from Monday, 18 April 2025 to Tuesday, 29th April, 2025.”
“The general public should take notice:the High court of Rivers state shall resume sitting on Wednesday, 30th April 2025.”
The Management of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, has approved annual free medical checks for all staff of the University. The move is to promote staff sound health and productivity at work place.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, disclosed this during the third edition of the “Walk for Life” health, wellness and fitness exercise, held last Saturday.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the new health policy will enable every staff member of the University to undergo free comprehensive medical check-up on their birthdays, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting the health and wellbeing of staff members.
Professor Zeb-Obipi emphasized that regardless of whether a staff member’s birthday falls on a weekend, the initiative applies to all Rivers State University employees, expressing optimism that the Health Services Department has the required manpower and facilities to manage the novel health policy.
To achieve the policy, the VC said that the Establishment Division will liaise with the Health Services to compile the birthdays of all staff and send notification two or three days before the days their birthdays fall, reminding them to go for their free medical check-up.
Highlighting the importance of active leadership, the Vice-Chancellor stated that leadership requires direct engagement with the people, a principle he called “management by walking the floor,” rather than managing from behind closed doors. He emphasized that policies should be crafted from direct engagement with employees to understand their challenges.
He noted that this edition of the “Walk for Life” health fitness programme serves as a practical example of this management style, allowing him to interact with members of the university community and observe firsthand the need for regular health checks. He described the walk as a “worthy exercise,” pointing out that since most university work is sedentary, periodic physical activities such as the Walk for Life are crucial for the health and productivity of the staff.
The Vice-Chancellor also noted that this month’s “Walk for Life” coincides with the World Malaria Week, underlining the University’s commitment to supporting global health initiatives with the pledge that “Malaria must end with us.”.
Earlier, the Director of Health Services Department, Dr. Dagogo Cookey-Gam, charged the university community to visit the Medical Centre for testing before treatment of malaria. He said parents should watch out for children under 5 years because they can come under severe malaria attack, adding that pregnant women should also be mindful not to be exposed of having malaria due to their low immune system.
Dr. Cookey-Gam noted that malaria can be prevented by maintaining a clean environment and using mosquito nets.
On his part, the Director of the University Sports Unit, Prof. Joseph Vipene, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for sustaining the monthly “Walk for Life” initiative, assuring that the programme which has come to stay has placed the University in an enviable position for others to emulate.
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.