Rivers
Students Praise Old Boys/Girls 83 Set Over African Child Day Celebration
Students of Government Comprehensive Secondary, Borikiri, in Port Harcourt, have lauded members of the Rivers Secondary Schools Old Boys and Girls 1983 Set Association for organising the International Day of the African Child at the school.
The commendation came as the body feted the students with talk shows, drama, and other entertainment to mark the day commemorated by UNICEF and celebrated worldwide.
One of the students, Lawson Inye Jackson, said he felt joy and motivated by the event.
“It taught me a moral lesson. I need to be studious and stop bullying younger students”, he said.
Another student, Wisdom George, said, “I learnt a lot today. This will make me focus on my career because I want to be a doctor”.
In his remarks, President of the body, Barrister Tubokomba Harry, said the day of the African Child is commemorated to highlight challenges facing children in the continent and to find solutions to them.
Harry, who is also an Old Boy of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Port Harcourt, stated that the association has taken it as a challenge for the second year running to mark the day in order to encourage young students on the need to focus on their studies and motivate them for future career.
He assured that the African Child has great future and prospects, once they are prepared to lead.
On his part, former Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch, Barrister Sylvester Adaka, enjoined the students to be obedient and focused on their studies.
Barrister Adaka, who is also an Old Boy of the school, while highlighting the importance of the day, recalled that the event of June 16th in Soweto, South Africa, gave birth to the day.
Due to the plight of children who suffered during the uprising, the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had to fix that day to showcase the world on why the African Child should be given a pride of place.
He reminded them that early career choice will help them to be greater leaders and people of influence in the future.
on his part, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association, Chief Hope Kuku, emphasized that success stems from curiosity and creativity.
Kuku, also an Old Boy of the school, urged the students to “read books to become better persons, and not just to pass exams.”
Another member of the association, Barrister Ngozi Ajayi, in her speech reminded the students that they are leaders of tomorrow, who should be focused and committed to improving their society.
She said the day afforded them time to reflect while harping on the need for them to be self-confident and obedient to their parents and teachers.
Secretary-General of the Association, Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo, in an interview with journalists, outlined that the programme is one of the key projects of the association aimed at socialising with the various Alma Maters.
She said the annual celebration will be expanded in the future with the engagement of both government and private sectors to improve the plight of the children.
The event witnessed the presentation of cash gifts to best students in Mathematics and English in the Senior and Junior sections, and also donation of educational materials to the school by the Association.
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor