The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has warned that digital destruction may lead to a breakdown of law and order in the 2027 general elections in the country if Public Relations practitioners fail to guide against it.

National president of the institute, Dr Ike Neliaku, gave the warning in a goodwill message at the Rivers State Public Relations week in Port Harcourt.

Neliaku, who was represented by Dr Ahmed Sajoh, said Public Relations practitioners must geared up to protect the country from the possible  breakdown of law and order that may be caused by digital destruction.

He also announced plans by the institute to open the first public relations university in the world in Nigeria before the end of the year.

Neliaku said the Rivers State chapter has earned the respect of the national office by setting the pace in the practice of public relations in the country.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Casca Ogosu, described the event as unique as it was the first time the institute would dedicate a whole week to its activities.

Ogosu also commended the state chapter of the NIPR for nurturing younger ones as future public relations practitioners.

He stressed the need for the Rivers state Government to strengthen its collaboration with the institute with the view to properly informing the people about its activities.

Ogosu described the theme of the week which was “Repositioning Public Relations For Sustainable Development and Digital Transformation in Rivers State” as appropriate, saying the world is in an era when information travel at unprecedented speed.

In his welcome address, the state chairman of the NIPR, Rev. Francis Asuk, said public relations has gone beyond simply managing information, as the rise of Artificial intelligence, social media, data-driven communication, digital platforms and emerging technologies present both opportunities and challenges to public relations practitioners to continuously upgrade their capacities.

Asuk said the Rivers State Public Relations week was conceived to reposition the profession for the future.

According to the chairman, public relations week must help in bridging the gap between institutions and the people they serve as well as promote understanding, manage expectations and create platforms for constructive engagement.

“The Rivers State public Relations week is, therefore, conceived not merely as another professional event but as a platform for learning, reflection networking collaboration and repositioning our profession for the future,” he said.

John Bibor, Kenneth Chinaza & Jennifer Michael

Rivers State Government has urged youths in the state to consider a career in the Nigerian Army as an opportunity to serve the nation and build impactful careers.*

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, made the call at a sensitisation meeting between representatives of the Army Headquarters, traditional rulers and youth leaders from the 23 local government areas of the state.*

Wokoma said the strength and effectiveness of the military depends on the quality of young men and women who join its ranks.*

“Today’s recruits and junior officers are the senior commanders and leaders of tomorrow. Young people who join the military have the opportunity to build careers that positively affect their families, communities and the nation,” he said.*

*Earlier, leader of the sensitisation team from Army Headquarters, Abuja, Brig-Gen. B.U. Ugbaji, said following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the recruitment of 28,000 personnel, it was important for Rivers youths to take advantage of the opportunity to fill the state’s quota.*

“As important as other vocations are, we must take our place in the affairs of the state. The quota from this region is reducing. In future, we may not have representatives,” Ugbaji said.*

He urged interested youths to apply for the ongoing 92 Regular Recruits Intake for trades and non-tradesmen and women, assuring that the Army provides opportunities for career advancement and educational development.*

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Gbenemene and Kasimene of Ancient Bangh Kingdom VIII, HRM King Suanu T.U. Baridam, pledged that traditional rulers would sensitise youths in their domains on the recruitment.*

The online application closes on October 21, 2026, via https://recruitment.army.mil.ng*

The Rivers State Government has extended its flood relief intervention to residents of Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, providing ?200,000 cash support to affected households and enrolling victims in the State’s health insurance scheme for one year of free healthcare.

The intervention, according to the Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Odu, is part of the State Government’s comprehensive response to the devastating floods that affected several communities across the State.

Odu, who spoke through the Head of Service of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown said the intervention was carried out on the directive of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

She stated this during  the distribution of the ?200,000 stipends to flood-affected residents of Eneka at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

According to her, the State Government had adopted a three-pronged approach to mitigate the impact of the flooding on affected residents.

She explained that the first phase involved the distribution of relief materials to affected communities, while the second phase focused on the enrolment of flood victims in the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme, providing beneficiaries with access to free healthcare for one year.

The deputy governor said the payment of the ?200,000 stipend constituted the third phase of the intervention, noting that while the financial assistance could not replace what residents had lost, it was intended to cushion the economic hardship caused by the disaster.

She urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the healthcare coverage provided by the State Government, saying they would be directed to designated health facilities where they could access medical treatment.

Odu also assured residents that the government was addressing some of the environmental factors responsible for the flooding.

She said officials of the Ministry of Environment were working to identify and clear blockages in waterways and drainage channels to facilitate the free flow of floodwaters.

The deputy governor further disclosed that the government was pursuing long-term measures to address the recurring flooding, expressing optimism that the current experience would not be repeated.

She assured the affected residents that Governor Fubara and the State Government shared in their pain and remained committed to finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting flood-affected communities.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Echebiri Wobidi appealed to the State Government to urgently rehabilitate and open up drainage channels in Eneka to address the recurring flooding.

He commended the deputy governor for leading the State’s flood intervention efforts and for personally visiting affected communities to assess the situation.

On her part, the wife of the Traditional Ruler of Eneka, Queen Blessing Woko, expressed appreciation to the State Government for its concern for flood victims, describing the intervention as an indication that the people had not been forgotten.

Queen Woko commended Odu’s humility and commitment, saying her visit to the community demonstrated genuine concern for the plight of the people.

Also speaking, the Youth Leader in Eneka, Mr. Gift Opurum, commended the Rivers State Government for its intervention and called for a permanent solution to the recurring flooding in the community.

He thanked the State Government for coming to the aid of affected residents, noting that the relief materials and ?200,000 cash support had provided some succour to the victims.