The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, has urged corps members deployed to Rivers State to embrace the challenges of the orientation course and equip themselves with the skills required for effective leadership.
He gave the charge on Monday while addressing members of the 2026 Batch C Stream I at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He urged the corps members to participate actively in camp activities, stressing the need for them to become leaders capable of making meaningful contributions to national development.
He also advised them to take the in-camp and post-camp Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme seriously, noting that the initiative would help them create sustainable wealth and develop multiple sources of income.
The NYSC Director-General further cautioned the corps members against activities that could expose them to danger, and urged them to remain security-conscious, avoid night travel, and refrain from the irresponsible use of social media and other negative practices.
Earlier, the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, told the visiting Director-General that the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, had approved an immediate increase in the state allowance paid to corps members serving in the state.
According to Oleghe, corps members posted to urban areas would receive ¦ 20,000, while those deployed to rural communities would receive ¦ 35,000.
He said the improved allowance, alongside other achievements recorded under his administration, had distinguished the state’s NYSC programme.
Nafiu was accompanied on the visit by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Carol William Embu; Director of Special Duties, Mr. George Mfongang; and Acting Director of the NYSC South-South Area Office II, Port Harcourt, Mrs. Olayinka Diana Nasamu.

The Rivers State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of the girl child and creating opportunities for them to thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, (DR) Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, gave the assurance in her message to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11, and themed ‘End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights’.
Davies- Dimkpa insisted that the state government, under the leadership of Sir Siminalayi Fubara, recognises the importance of safeguarding children’s rights and promoting their wellbeing, even that of the girls.
Highlighting efforts by the state to strengthen children’s rights, particularly those of the girl child, Davies-Dimkpa noted that Rivers State now has a functional Children’s Parliament, which provides a platform for children to express their views and participate in discussions on issues affecting their welfare and development.
She identified the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at Borokiri, in Port- Harcourt City Local Government Area, as a key intervention to address sexual violence by providing survivors with access to support and relevant services.
The Permanent Secretary also emphasised the Ministry’s partnerships with UNICEF, ActionAid and other stakeholders to combat child marriage, female genital mutilation, gender-based violence and other harmful practices, all geared towards promoting the rights, protection and empowerment of the girl child in Rivers State.
According to her, this year’s theme, underscores the need for concerted action to protect girls from child marriage, abuse, harmful practices, exploitation and discrimination, and ensuring access to education, healthcare and other essential services. In her words, “child marriage deprives girls of their childhood, disrupts their education, threatens their wellbeing and limits their opportunities to realise their full potential.
She stressed that “every girl deserves to grow up in an environment where her rights are respected, her dignity is protected and her voice is heard”.
To address this, the Permanent Secretary called on parents, and other harmful practices.

guardians, caregivers, community leaders, religious institutions, schools and relevant government agencies to work together to discourage child marriage and other harmful practices.
She also called on all stakeholders to translate the message of the day into concrete action to protect girls and uphold their rights, maintaining that protecting the girl child and investing in her future is essential to the development of Rivers State and society at large.
Davies-Dimkpa further called on girls to remain focused on their education, recognise their worth and speak up when their rights are threatened, while urging families and communities to provide the guidance and support they need to succeed.

Lady Godknows Ogbulu

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has said the newly established Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) will strengthen the fight against kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the state, while promoting accountability and public confidence in policing.
He stated this during the launch of the VCRU and the inauguration of a civilian oversight board committee at the State Police Command in Port Harcourt, weekend.
The initiative followed a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for the establishment of the unit across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The police commissioner said the establishment of the VCRU was a strategic response to prevailing security challenges, particularly kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
He said the initiative was also designed to strengthen police-community relations and integrate residents into the state’s security architecture, stressing that effective crime prevention depended largely on public cooperation, trust and timely intelligence.
According to him, residents were often the first to notice suspicious movements, identify emerging security threats and provide information capable of assisting security agencies in preventing or investigating criminal activities.
He explained that the civilian oversight board would provide a structured platform for community leaders, civil society organisations, legal practitioners, traditional institutions and other credible stakeholders to contribute to the unit’s operations.
The Police Commissioner stated that the initiative was not intended to transfer police responsibilities to civilians, but to establish a reliable channel for communicating security concerns, observations, feedback and credible intelligence.
He added that the board would monitor the conduct and effectiveness of VCRU personnel, strengthen police-community relations and facilitate the timely sharing of information on suspicious activities and violent crimes.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Grant Ofor, described the launch of the unit and the inauguration of the oversight board as significant steps towards improving public safety in Rivers State.
Ofor said residents, including parents, traders, workers and safer environment. children, deserved to conduct their daily activities without fear of violent attacks, and expressed optimism that the new unit would contribute to crime prevention and a safer environment.
He urged officers of the VCRU to combine firmness in tackling criminality with fairness and professionalism in their dealings with members of the public.
“Be firm in confronting crime and fair in dealing with people”, he advised the officers.
Ofor also congratulated members of the civilian oversight board, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them by promoting transparency, accountability and public trust.
He called on traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, business owners and other residents to support the police by providing credible information and promptly reporting suspicious activities.
The chairman stressed that public cooperation would depend on the assurance that information supplied to the police would be handled responsibly and that the concerns of residents would receive appropriate attention.
He further noted that security remained fundamental to economic growth, investment and the creation of opportunities for young people.
Ofor also called for adequate  equipment, regular training and retraining for police personnel to improve operational effectiveness, while urging the public to remember officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
In his address, the Commander of the VCRU, CSP Julian Wealth, said the unit was established to prevent violent crimes, respond swiftly to emergencies, conduct professional investigations, rescue and protect lives, and ensure that offenders were brought to justice.
Wealth listed kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence, terrorism, piracy, murder and other forms of organised crime among the offences the unit was strategically positioned to combat and investigate.
He charged the officers to operate strictly within the law, respect human rights, maintain discipline and uphold professional standards in the discharge of their duties.
“Rivers State will not be surrendered to criminals. We shall protect the innocent. We shall pursue violent criminals professionally and relentlessly. Above all, we shall remain accountable to the people we have sworn to protect”, he declared.
The highlight of the ceremony was the formal launch of the VCRU and the inauguration of the civilian oversight board committee by the commissioner of police.
Responding on behalf of the board, its chairman, Mr. Innocent Nwakpudolu, a lawyer, pledged that members would discharge their responsibilities with fairness, integrity and a strong commitment to accountability.
Those present at the event included the Chairman of the Khana Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM King Suanu Baridam; other traditional rulers; and the Rivers State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Dr. Voke Emore.
Others were the Deputy Commissioners of Police in charge of Operations and Finance and Administration; Assistant Commissioners of Police; Divisional Police Officers; tactical commanders; representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; and senior military officers.

King Onunwor