Rivers

BoI, CloudNotte Task Educators On Strategic Funding For Dev

Published

4 months ago

August 4, 2025

The Bank of Industry (BoI) Limited has called on school owners to embrace its robust plan to support schools across Nigeria with patient, innovative, and accessible financing.

The BoI Divisional Head, Medium Small Macro Enterprises (MSME), South-South, Mr. Pacqueens Irabor, made the call during a workshop, tagged “Educator’s Insight”, held in Port Harcourt.

Irabor said the bank’s plan was designed to drive national development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the workshop was organised by the bank, in collaboration with Cloudnotte Limited, adding that the event had the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, with over 700 school owners and administrators in Rivers in attendance.

According to him, the programme aims to train and empower school owners with digital knowledge, skills, and tools to access MSME funds to improve learning and teaching in the country.

Irabor said the bank’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan is focused on impact-driven development financing, structured around six priority themes under the acrostic D-MYGIC – Digital Economy, MSMEs, Youth and Skills, Gender, Infrastructure, Climate and Sustainability.

Schools, he explained, are uniquely positioned to help the bank achieve all the six focused areas of the strategic plan.

He introduced the project “Education Around Sustainable Enterprises” (EASE), a groundbreaking initiative, designed to transform schools from traditional learning centers into business-integrated environments, where students learn by doing.

“Project EASE proposes the integration of entrepreneurial ventures within school premises, such as digital hubs, agribusiness units, creative workshops, and clean energy labs.

“These ventures serve both as practical training platforms for students and additional revenue streams for school proprietors”, he said.

Irabor continued that the bank was ready to provide financing to schools for the acquisition of productive capital, including digital systems and educational software, solar energy solutions and inverters, and assets for commercial ventures and skills hubs.

He said the initiative was a strategic catalyst for achieving several UN SDGs, including SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 5 – Gender Equality, SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 13 – Climate Action.

He listed the benefits of the initiative as hands-on exposure to real-world enterprises for students, access to affordable finance for school owners, new income streams from in-school enterprises, and improved learning outcomes for parents.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, CloudNotte, an education technology company, Mary Matthew, said the company understood the problems faced by school owners, including access to finance, and deemed it necessary to collaborate with BoI to provide funds to schools.

Matthew stated that the company provides schools with technology and organises capacity building programmes for school owners, leaders, administrators, and decision makers.

She affirmed that CloudNotte’s goal was to position Nigerian schools on a greater pedestal, enabling them to confidently compete globally.

“We are committed to empowering educators with digital tools and innovation to facilitate access to quality and inclusive education for all learners in Africa”, she said.

Matthew advocated for equity education and called on the Federal and State Governments to invest more on education.

“Governments are trying, but they need to do more. The private sectors are trying, but when you look at the government schools, there is much to be done.

“We call on the Federal and State Governments to step up. Government should empower schools and also ensure that they provide them with access to the basic amenities that they need in order to improve the delivery of education in Nigeria”, she said.

She advised school owners to leverage the BoI School MSMEs Loans to grow smart schools.

She also urged them to prioritise spending that drives learning and enrollment, maintaining emergency funds and spending.

On their oart, she advised school owners to use computer-based test (CBT) system for their exams to improve in external exams, such as Joint Admission Matriculation Board examination.

By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election

Published

23 hours ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.

Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.

The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.

The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.

The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.

Rivers

Police Arrest Workman Over Attack On Supervisor

Published

23 hours ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The Boundary Police Division in Aluu Community, in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has arrested a workman identified simply as Joshua for allegedly attacking a site supervisor, Sopiriala Sokari, with a broken bottle, leaving him in coma.

According to information gathered by The Tide, the suspect remained in police custody over the weekend while medical personnel struggled to save the victim’s life at an undisclosed hospital in Aluu.

Speaking with journalists after regaining consciousness, Sokari explained that he had hired the suspect to carry out some work at the site for ?20,000.

Trouble reportedly began when Joshua rejected a ?10,000 part payment, which Sokari had offered with a promise to complete the balance after inspecting and confirming the work.

Sokari narrated how the suspect later trailed him to an eatery near the Obiri-Ikwerre Flyover, where he attacked him with a broken bottle even after a food vendor handed the full ?20,000 to the suspect in an attempt to prevent the incident.

“I am calling on Nigerians to help me. I have spent a lot of money. I need justice”, the victim pleaded.

An unverified video clip circulating online showed Sokari with multiple injuries allegedly sustained during the attack.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, the suspect has been arrested. An in-depth investigation is ongoing”, she said.

By; King Onunwor

Rivers

Degema LGA Affirms Ngeribrama As Autonomous Community

Published

23 hours ago

December 8, 2025

The Tide

The authority of Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State has affirmed the autonomous status of Ngeribrama Community in Kalabari land, in the LGA.

A letter signed by the Chairman of the LGA, Dr. Michael John Williams, said to he affirmation was to give clarity and uphold dignity of the traditional institutions.

In his words,”the Council wishes to formally communicate its position regarding the status of Ngeribrama and its satellite communities.”

He disclosed that “following review of historical and administrative records, and confirmation of existing traditional structures, the Degema Local Government Council affirmed that Ngeribrama and its satellite communities were officially recognized as a fully autonomous community within Degema Local Government Area.”

He also noted that the community enjoys a distinct and independent traditional institution, acknowledged under local customs and traditions.

Against this backdrop, he emphasized the Council’s recognition of HRH, Daniel Ngeribrama (Ikata II) as the legitimate and duly acknowledged Amayanabo of Ngeribrama and its satellite communities.

The recognition, the Council’s Chairman further stated, “reflects the Council’s commitment to strengthening traditional authority, enhancing community identity, and promoting peaceful coexistence across all communities in the Local Government Area.”

Affirming the legitimacy and status of the amayanabo, Dr. Williams reiterated the Council’s readiness to collaborate with the traditional ruler to advance development, peace, and unity across Ngeribrama and Degema LGA at large.

Meanwhile, in an earlier statement the Amayanabo, chiefs and community leaders of Ngeribrama in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State have condemned recent attempts to diminish the status and autonomy of the ancient Kalabari community.

A statement signed by the Secretary of Ngereribrama and Satellite Communities, Prof. Olomabo Gillis Harry, said the clarification has become pertinent as there have been recent attempts to diminish their status and role in Kalabari land.

The statement said, “The leadership of Ngeribrama and its satellite communities wishes to issue this public clarification for the benefit of the general public, stakeholders, and the wider Kalabari Kingdom.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Ngeribrama and its satellite communities do not fall under the authority of any town or village within the Kalabari Kingdom.”

It explained that Ngeribrama constitutes a fully autonomous community, with a long-established and widely acknowledged traditional institution headed by His Royal Highness, Daniel Ngeribrama, Ikata II, the Amayanabo of Ngeribrama and Its satellite communities.

The statement noted that the autonomous status of Ngeribrama was recognised across Kalabari Kingdom and affirmed historically, culturally and traditionally.

It urged the public is to disregard any claims, statements, or insinuations suggesting that Ngeribrama is under the jurisdiction of any other community.

“Ngeribrama, located within Degema Local Government Area (DELGA), maintains its own traditional governance structure”, the statement emphasised.

Enumerating the traditional structure and levels of leadership in the community, it stated that the Amayanabo of Ngeribrama has other supporting structures with a duly constituted Council of Chiefs.

One of the chiefs is a senior member of the Royal Family, Chief Hon. Dr. Dax Kelly George, who is Da-Daigbani II.

The community, it further stated, has Elders’ Council, as well as Women and Youth Leadership.

“For historical clarity, our revered progenitor, Ngeribra, had only one child, his daughter, Princess Iwori, whose lineage forms the foundation of the Ngeribrama Community”, the statement continued.

It concluded that “Ngeribrama and its satellite communities remain committed to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and continued collaboration with sister communities within the Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

By: Kevin Nengia