Rivers
Don Sues For Leadership Assessment Centre In IAUE
A Professor of Educational Management and Leadership in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Professor Veronica Emem Okogbaa, has recommended the building of a Leadership Assessment Centre (LAC) in the University.
She made the recommendation recently while delivering the 67th inaugural lecture of the institution at the university’s auditorium.
Speaking on the topic, “Leadership in Education”, the 67th Inaugural Lecturer stated that if built, the Centre will provide opportunities for the assessment of an individual’s leadership capacity based on set criteria and customised procedures.
She further stated that the Centre will develop and offer general and specialised leadership training and a support system for the development of leaders.
Okogbaa called on organisers of seminars, workshops and conferences to desist from presenting certificates of participation to participants who actually do not partake but wander in and out of the venues without actually devoting time to be involved in the activities lined up for capacity building and development.
While calling for more funding for the system because educational leaders cannot function without adequate funds at their disposal, she enjoined Government and Proprietors at all levels not to simply support appointing teachers with long years of experience into school leadership positions.
Educational leaders, according to her, “should have a specific training for their roles based on which appointments should be made”.
The former Dean of Students Affairs Unit urged the educational leadership to be passionate, intentional and mindful of their actions as they play their roles each day, stressing that their positive examples can inspire, persuade and influence subordinates to perform tasks more willingly to assure goal attainment.
Professor Okogbaa also affirmed that professional development should be seen as a must for all levels of staff, the leader inclusive, noting that when everyone’s capacity is built, confidence level will increase and resourcefulness will be the order of the day to enhance social attainment.
The University Don stated that effective school leadership must place emphasis on clarifying educational goals and in engaging in corporate collaboration and comprehensive management to achieve them.
She called on stakeholders to join in the clarification of the statement of their goals and also agree on the strategies to achieve them for effectiveness.
School-based strategized leadership, she explained, is essential for effective goal attention and that all hands must be on deck to actualize this.
She highlighted the need to promote school improvement with the necessary steps outlined to harmonize the sometimes differing expectations of teachers, students, boards and parents.
School goals and plans, she hinted, are for school effectiveness and to firmly direct all efforts towards meeting current and anticipated needs of all.
While calling on leaders to manage educational institutions optimally, she noted that the goals and paths to goals should serve as the basis for work in the whole school progress and development.
The educational leader, she also suggested, “should take the reins as it is expected, be intentional and mindful to lead the system to success”.
Speaking, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, lauded the 67th Inaugural Lecturer for professing what she has been doing over the years that led to her elevation to the rank of a Professor.
While commending her for doing the needful, he agreed that leaders must possess skills or specialised abilities required for their roles in addition to taking training seriously.
Professor Onuchuku in substantiating the need for educational leadership to have special skills, training and knowledge as recommended by the inaugural lecturer, explained how the University’s Management recently looked at the number of candidates that subscribed to the institution before deciding on the cut off Mark for the University.
He added that if the University Management did not have the data or requisite information, it would have been difficult to effectively arrive at the decision that they took regarding the matter.
He praised her for highlighting the importance of specialised skills and trainings for educational leaders.
In a vote of thanks, Professor Reginah Nchelem Azuwena expressed gratitude to all attendees who graced the occasion and listened patiently till the end of the lecture.
She expressed optimism that the recommendations proffered by the 67th Inaugural Lecturer would be implemented.
Sogbeba Dokubo
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Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Dr. Benibo Anabraba, has reiterated the commitment of the Rivers State Government to the welfare of military veterans, widows of fallen heroes, and officers currently serving in the State, saying they will be honoured this year.
Dr. Anabraba made this known during the Central Planning Committee meeting for the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held in Port Harcourt.
He commended members of the Committee for their contributions to the successful Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently conducted in the State and urged them to intensify efforts to ensure a resounding success in the remaining activities lined up for the celebration.
According to him, activities commenced with Juma’at Prayers on Friday, January 9, at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township.
As part of events marking this year’s event, a special engagement was also hosted by the wife of the State Governor, Her Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, to honour, celebrate, and interact with widows and veterans.
On Saturday, January 10, a Humanitarian Outreach, Family and Community was hosted for widows and veterans by Her Excellency, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, wife of the State Governor.
Yesterday, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service was also held at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township.
The grand finale, the Wreath-Laying Ceremony, is billed to take place on Thursday, January 15, at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph, Port Harcourt.
Dr. Anabraba noted that a major highlight of the programme would be the laying of wreaths by the Governor alongside heads of security agencies in the State.
Rivers
Police Recover Remains Of Missing Man, Arrest 2 Suspects In Rivers … 12 More Suspects Over Mbodo-Aluu Attack
The Police Command in Rivers State has recovered the remains of the late Sampson Worianime, who was declared missing on November 11, and arrested two suspects linked to the case.
The Command’s spokesperson, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt, stating that the suspects were arrested following investigations into the crime.
Iringe-Koko recalled that Worianime was declared missing after accompanying an unnamed community youth leader from Ogbogbo Community in the Okrika area of Rivers State to inspect and measure a parcel of land.
She explained that following the report to the police, the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit launched an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding Worianime’s disappearance.
“Upon receipt of the petition, we commenced intelligence-led policing, which led to the arrest of two suspects, including the Chief Security Officer of Aleto-Eleme Community”, she said.
According to her, the suspects, during investigations, confessed to abducting two youths from Okrika Local Government Area.
She said one of the victims, whose identity was not disclosed, escaped, while Worianime was killed.
She added that the suspects later led police operatives to the location where the victim’s remains were recovered from a shallow grave.
“The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with investigations.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to apprehend other accomplices involved in the crime”, Iringe-Koko stated.
In a another development, the Police Command also announced the arrest of 12 suspects in connection with a violent attack of Unity Estate on Mbodo-Aluu Road in Port Harcourt.
Iringe-Koko said the suspects, alleged to be members of a vigilante group, alongside hired thugs, reportedly invaded the estate on January 5, armed with pump-action guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
“The assailants allegedly fired gunshots indiscriminately, causing panic and fear among residents”, she said.
She continued that the estate suffered significant damage, with several vehicles destroyed during the attack.
“One of the residents, Stephen Nmacha, sustained a shattered leg from gunshot injury and was subsequently abducted by the attackers.
“He was later rescued by police operatives and is currently receiving medical treatment at a healthcare facility”, she said.
Iringe-Koko further disclosed that several other residents sustained varying degrees of injuries while fleeing into nearby bushes to escape the violence.
She listed the items recovered from the suspects to include one automatic pump-action gun, a live cartridge, spent cartridges, charms, five motorcycles, two minibuses and a Sienna bus.
Speaking on the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, Olugbenga Adepoju, described the attacks as reckless and reprehensible.
He noted that vigilante groups were legally required to operate strictly under police supervision, and questioned why the group failed to coordinate with the police.
Adepoju said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects involved in the attacks, including the Akpor Commander of vigilante group, currently at large.
“We call on members of the public to provide credible information that will assist the Command in apprehending the fleeing suspects”, Adepoju urged.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
The people of Jumbo Akatikpo Park Community of the Jumbo Chieftaincy House in Bonny have accused TotalEnergies, Amni International and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited of sidelining legitimate landowners in Bonny, Rivers State, in a manner community leaders warn could trigger unrest.
This, they said, will likely negatively affect ongoing construction projects along the Bonny 48” Offshore Loading Line.
A statement issued by the Jumbo Akatikpo Park Community of the Jumbo Chieftaincy House spokesman, Dr. Fidelis Jumbo, alleged that the companies have been dealing solely with the Brown House while neglecting the joint ownership structure legally established for the land where the project sits.
“This stretch of land belongs jointly to the Jumbo House, the Brown House, and Bonny Kingdom on a 30-30-40 basis.
“For the Brown House to present itself as the sole landlord is bereft of altruism and sincerity. TotalEnergies, Amni and Renaissance must retrace their steps to forestall avoidable crisis”, Dr. Jumbo said.
The land in contention hosts the pipeline route being constructed by TotalEnergies to convey gas from Amni International’s offshore facility to the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT) operated by Renaissance.
Referencing a 1972 agreement signed by representatives of the Jumbo House, Brown House and Bonny Kingdom, Dr. Jumbo noted that all six original signatories had long passed, stressing that no party has the authority to unilaterally alter the established structure.
Chairman of the Jumbo Akatikpo Park Community, George Sunju-Jumbo, said peace in Bonny depends heavily on respect for due process.
“We want peace in this Kingdom. Whatever our forebears agreed on must be upheld. Why should the Brown House present themselves as the only family TotalEnergies should talk to? We cannot take it. We will not allow it”, Sunju-Jumbo said.
He stressed that the Kingdom ought to show greater interest in the project, given its implications for the two primary families and Bonny’s traditional authority.
Despite protests, checks at the project site confirmed that construction continued uninterrupted, a development some observers described as “corporate insensitivity.”
Community leaders allege they were excluded from a November 12, 2025, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) review meeting in Port Harcourt.
A former senior oil and gas executive, who requested anonymity, criticized the companies’ posture.
“In this age where everything is being done to de-escalate tension in the energy sector, such corporate misdemeanour is shocking”, he said. “How do you disrespect and disenfranchise landowners of their own property? Bonny Kingdom is taking a whole lot of nonsense.”
As of press time, TotalEnergies and Amni International were yet to react on the matter.
By: Enoch Epelle
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