Heads of tertiary institutions in Rivers State are expected to attend the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya, next year.

The conference is billed for January 13-15, 2027.

Those expected to attend the conference are the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi; Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchukwu; and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni, Prof. Chinedu Mmom.

Others are the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill; Vice-Chancellor of Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Prof. Marwan Al-Akaidi; and Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Prof. Christie Nwidu Mato.

Also expected at the three-day event are the Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses Neebee; Provost of Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. Peace Chigozirim Amadi; Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Dr. Fori Dori Okoroh, and Rector of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Dr. George Chile Wadike.

Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, the spokesperson for the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), Dr. Emmanuel Nkweke, said registration of delegates for the conference has commenced.

Nkweke said that the theme of the conference is ‘Learning in Action, Shaping Our Future,’ adding that the conference is expected to be one of the largest educational gatherings ever held in Africa.

According to him, the conference will serve as a platform to bring together education leaders, policymakers and development partners from different parts of the world to deliberate on the role of education in advancing and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said the decision to invite more educational leaders from Rivers State was informed by the State’s recent performance as one of the best in quality education assessment in the federation.

Nkweke added that IAWPA is ready to partner with the Ministry of Education to promote quality education in the State.

“Interestingly, IAWPA had earlier this year announced the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Saakpenwa/Koroma, Ogoni, as one of the SDG Centres in Africa, which is a very big plus for Rivers State,” he said.

The IAWPA spokesperson added that the conference would feature side events where vice-chancellors from Rivers State will be called upon to present papers on education.

It would be recalled that through IAWPA, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Saakpenwa/Koroma, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, led a high-powered delegation to the United Nations Innovate for Cities Conference held on June 21, 2026, at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

President Bola Tinubu has signed the Appropriation (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill, 2025, extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from September 30, 2026, to December 31, 2026.

The amendment was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, before being transmitted to the President for assent.

According to a statement issued last Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the extension will give Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) additional time to complete ongoing capital projects.

The statement said the move would ensure that funds already appropriated are fully utilised without disrupting critical government programmes.

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“The extension gives Ministries, Departments and Agencies more time to complete ongoing capital projects,” the statement said.

“It ensures that funds already appropriated are fully put to work for Nigerians, without disrupting critical programmes.”

Tinubu also commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the statement described as the prompt consideration of the amendment.

The president said the development demonstrated continued cooperation between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in the interest of the country.

The amendment therefore allows the Federal Government to continue implementing the 2025 budget until December 31, 2026, instead of the earlier September 30 deadline.

As part of efforts to boost maritime security in the Niger Delta, Active Marine Surveillance and Coast Guard, a paramilitary security organisation, has embarked on restructuring through the creation of three departments.
The departments are that of Operation and Media, Administration/Finance/Provost Marshal and Business Development and Strategy.
Director General, Active Marine Surveillance and Coast Guard Command, Godwin Amare told newsmen during the presentation of certificates to heads ot the newly created departments that the move was part of the effort by the management outfit to improve Maritime security in the Niger Delta.
Amare said the newly created structures was to enable the paramilitary organization to discharge It’s responsibility to the people of the region.
“We are a private maritime support security,that support other security agency as a private organisation,so today we have a structure that we have built and for the structure to stand fame and to last longer, we have consider to issue appointment letters to the Executive Directors
He charged the new Directors in charge of the three departments to ensure both the Governments and the people of the region feel the impact of Active Marine surveillance and Coast Guard.
Amare also called for discipline among the ranks and files of the outfit, stressing that the organization will not condone any act of indiscipline while proper records must be kept always
He particularly charged the Director in charge of Administration to ensure proper records keeping as the Federal Government may one day request for it.
“The organisation has a disciplinary officer that will discipline their members,also as in charge of administration and finance what ever thing that has been given to us they know that we have admin that will manage them well not to collect money and eat them. And admin to take proper records because tomorrow if federal government want to engage us they will request for all this thing and they will do update for us to be serious
As a serious organisation,we need head of administration to take records and lastly we have the head of Business Development and strategy this is the person that on our behalf goes to other companies to strategize with them and develop business idea with them
He said the group has been working with both The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA ) NIMASA and other federal government agencies to improve security on the waterways as well as assist victims of flood disaster across the Niger Delta region
, “This is what we can do, interms of flood we can work with NEMA and we can work with NiMASA to actually coordinate the flood and do search and rescue operations“We can volunteer do that,if they absolve us” he said
The Director General further assure that the organization will ensure that logistics and necessary support needed for their operation will be made available to them.
Speaking the head administration, finance/Provost marshal,Emberru Michael assured of thei readiness
Among those presented with certificates are, Captain Emberru Michael as Director in charge of administration, finance/provost marshal, Blessing Odida for Business Development and strategy and captain Elekima as head of operation/media.

By: John Bibor