Rivers
RSG Nabs Man For Impersonation At Verification Exercise
The Rivers State Government has nabbed a man who impersonated his late brother in the ongoing Rivers civil servants verification exercise.
The government also confirmed the arrest of many other impersonators in the ongoing exercise.
Acting Head of Service, Rivers State, Dr. Inyingi Brown, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen while parading the impersonator at the state secretariat in Port Harcourt.
The man, Mr. Nnodim Uzoma, who hails from Igbodo Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of the State, confessed to newsmen that he actually impersonated his late brother, Nnodim Gift Azubuike, who died in April, 2025.
He claimed that the late Azubuike, a teacher in Umdi Primary School, Igbodo, Etche, died on the 27th of April 2025 and was buried on the 11th of July 2025.
“The truth about it is that my brother, Nnodim Gift, died on the 27th of April this year and burial took place on the 10th and 11th of July.
“So, he left six children and the burden is so much on me. So, when I was told that verification was going on, I decided to come without having knowledge that I will be arrested”, the victim said.
Uzoma, who admitted having fallen foul of the law, however, pleaded for forgiveness and mercy as nobody told him of the implications of his actions.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government says it would investigate the level of collision of Mr. Uzoma with the headmistress of Umdi Primary School, Igbodo Etche.
Dr. Brown, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, also said the law will be made to take its course as far as the matter was concerned.
“The man will be prosecuted for impersonation,. The law is very clear on that.
“There are procedures in the law for impersonation. The criminal code has penalties for impersonation and the penalties will apply to whoever impersonates”, she said.
The Acting Head of Service said since the commencement of the verification exercise, several cases of impersonations have been uncovered.
“Since we began this exercise, verifying civil servants, we have caught so many impersonators and today we wanted Rivers people to see one of them.
“This young man here came to pass through the exercise to impersonate his late brother but was caught at the venue, and so we decided to bring him to your knowledge so that you can ask him questions why he did it.
“He is begging for mercy now but people don’t know what we are seeing in this exercise. We know that there are some people that are late and people are colluding and collecting their pay.
“That is what is happening. His brother died and because he has his ATM card, they are collecting his salaries.
“This is what verification does. It throws up people who are no longer alive”, she stated.
Brown said the purpose of the verification exercise was “first to know the people that are active and working for us, to also know the people that are no longer with us.
“People that may have passed on through death or may have left the service”.
She expressed regret that instead of reporting to the government those who have passed on with the view to processing their death benefits, people are colluding to collect their salaries, warning of dire consequences for anyone caught in such acts.
By: John Bibor
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The President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Eze Godspower Woke Onuekwa, has reiterated that the Ikwerre people have no affiliation with the Igbo ethnic group.
Onuekwa made this statement during the August Meeting of the Okpo Club, hosted by Professor Samuel C. Dike in Port Harcourt, weekend.
He expressed concern that despite the numerous challenges facing the Igbo people, they continue to focus disproportionately on asserting a perceived Ikwerre-Igbo affiliation.
According to him, Ikwerre has its own unique historical and cultural identity, and should be free to associate with any ethnic group of its choice based on mutual respect and free will, not coercion or imposed affiliations.
The Ogbakor Ikwerre leader also stated disappointment that some Ikwerre natives still claim Igbo ancestry, even in the face of overwhelming evidence of their distinct heritage.
In a bid to strengthen the intellectual foundation of the Ikwerre nation, Onuekwa called for a deliberate push to produce at least 700 professors in the near future.
He emphasized that such a move would elevate the Ikwerre people’s status in Nigeria’s competitive academic and socio-political landscape.
“Some tribes in Nigeria already have up to 600 professors. With the current momentum in academia, Ikwerres may soon surpass that figure if we remain focused”, he stated.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the Okpo Club, Dr. Promise Iwezor, pledged to provide visionary and inclusive leadership that will drive the group and the entire Ikwerre nation towards its academic and developmental goals.
Iwezor emphasized the need for unity, commitment, and collaboration from all stakeholders, stating that these are key ingredients in overcoming any obstacles to progress.
The host of the meeting, Prof. Samuel C. Dike, a renowned Environmental Law expert, expressed appreciation to members who braved unfavorable weather conditions to attend the event, especially OCJ Okocha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the growth and success of the association.
The Tide gathered that the Okpo Club’s 2025 End-of-Year Meeting and Thanksgiving will include a special honor for Emeritus Professor, Semion C. Achenehu, and Hon. Blessing Eddie-Amadi, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to academic advancement in Ikwerre land.
By: King Onunwor
The Evo III of Evo Kingdom, HM King Leslie N. Eke, Chairman Supreme Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, Eze Gbakagbaka, has again called for greater unity, peaceful coexistence, and a renewed national focus on development that benefits all Nigerians.
Eke made this known during a media interaction at his palace in Woji, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area at the weekend.
Speaking in a calm and thoughtful tone, the revered Eze Woji XII/Nyerisi Mbam Oro Evo, noted that the strength of any nation lies in the unity of its people.
He also encouraged Nigerians from all walks of life to embrace tolerance, understanding, and dialogue as a way forward for sustainable peace and progress.
“Nation building is a collective task. Every citizen has a role to play, whether in leadership or followership. We must all begin to see ourselves as partners in progress, not as rivals or opponents”, he said.
Eke, who is also the President of the Association of Christian Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, highlighted the importance of traditional institutions in fostering communal harmony and development.
The Evo apex King noted that governments at various levels have made efforts, stronger collaboration with traditional rulers would help deepen trust and improve policy implementation at the grassroots.
On youth development, he advised the younger generation to remain focused, innovative, and positive-minded.
He stressed the importance of education, skill acquisition, and good character as tools for personal and national advancement.
“Our young people are full of potential,” he said. “With the right support and encouragement, they can become drivers of change and not just beneficiaries of it.”
On achievement in infrastructure and social development in Rivers State, he said it’s commendable, but expressed hope that more communities, especially in peri-urban areas, would feel the direct impact of government programmes.
Responding to questions from journalists, the monarch emphasized that peace and development go hand in hand.
He urged families, schools, religious bodies, and community leaders to teach values that promote honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Eze Eke reassured the people of Evo Kingdom of his continued commitment to justice, fairness, and the general wellbeing of all residents.
He pledged to work closely with government agencies and stakeholders to ensure his domain remains peaceful and progressive.
He concluded with a message of hope, expressing confidence in Nigeria’s future.
“Let us not lose hope”, he said, “with patience, dialogue, and determination, we can overcome our challenges and build the Nigeria of our dreams.”
By: King Onunwor
Experts have decried abusive use of the digital space by youths and adolescents, and made a strong case for maximisation of opportunities digital technology offers to improve their lots in the society.
The Keynote Speaker at the opening ceremony of the 4th Nigeria Conference on Adolescent and Youth Health Development held on Thursday, 14th August, 2025 in Port Harcour, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, made this known in her presentation.
El-Imam, who is also the Commissioner for Health, Kwara State, spoke on yhe theme of the conference, “The Evolving Adolescent and Youth in a Digital Age : Building Resilient Young People in a Changing World.”
In her presentation, she said, “digital addiction can lead to decreased physical activity and poor mental health.”
While acknowledging that “enhanced communication using digital technology fosters social connectivity and opens doors for innovation”, she said it has its downsides, such as “cyber bullying, fraud, misinformation, stress, and anxiety.”
She, therefore, advocated that youths must build resilient through “digital literacy, responsible use of digital technology, mental strength and emotional intelligence.”
Resilience, she explained, is “the capacity of anybody to adapt positively to adversity and change”.
Welcoming participants to the event, the President of Society for Adolescent and Young People’s Health In Nigeria (SAYPHIN), Professor Adesegun Fatusi, said this year’s conference “focuses on one of the greatest developments, dynamics and dilemmas in the annals of the world and development of young people – digital technology.”
A renowned Professor of Community Medicine, Fatusi, described the conference as the biggest convening of stakeholders in the adolescent and young people’s health and development field in Nigeria,
“Digital technology has so much potential for good and yet an open door to so many challenges”, he said.
Fatusi continued that the conference is designed to see how participants can be “better positioned to harness the amazing opportunities that digital technology presents for a better future for our young people and nation, equip them with new knowledge, skills and partnerships to address huge challenge that comes from compulsive and abusive use of digital technology by some young people”.
To ensure that the interventions from the conference are pragmatic and implementable, the Chairperson, Local Organising Committee of the Conference, Professor Omosivie Maduka, said, “we are organising this conference with the adolescents and youths across Nigeria. This is to know the challenges they face and solve them collectively.”
The conference, which was organised by the SAYPHIN, was attended by youths and adolescents in Nigeria, academics, policymakers and supported by development partners, such as UNICEF, UNFPA, and Girl-Effect.
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