News
Education, Our Priority –Amaechi
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says the current investment in education by the State is the highest in the country while the increase in the budgetary allocation to education from 5 percent to 19 percent shows the seriousness his administration attaches to the wellbeing of children.
Governor Amaechi made these disclosures yesterday during the Interdenominational Church Service to mark the 2010 Children’s Day Celebration at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, at the event where the first and second lessons were read by Master Joseph Treasure of Model Secondary School, GRA and Miss Jessica Osiago of The Light Secondary School, Borokiri, all in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi listed the ratification of the Child Right’s Act, payment of primary school teachers’ salaries, construction of 130 new primary schools equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, training and retraining of teachers, provision of educational resources, among others, as his administration’s contribution to “better the educational lot of our children” .
He urged the clergy to do more to arrest the moral decadence in the society, saying “our society is at the brink and unless we begin to reorganize ourselves, our future will be bleak; our children must be made to know that they are the future and they have a responsibility towards the future”.
The State Chief Executive called on parents, religious leaders and other members of the society to engage in activities aimed at guiding and correcting the children, emphasizing that “if parents get it wrong, definitely the child will grow up to become a misfit in the society”.
In his sermon, Arch Bishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger Delta, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, dwelling on the theme of the celebration “Partnering for Improved Nutrition for Mother and Child” and quoting from Proverbs 22: 6, enjoined teachers to be dedicated to their duties and shun vices that could hamper the proper upbringing of children.
The clergy lamented that “in the Niger Delta, most of the nutrients and minerals in foods critical to the good health and proper development of our children have been destroyed because of environmental and industrial effluent discharge and spillage by the oil companies”.
He called on the nation’s leaders to prepare the children to take over from the present generation, stressing that each child should be given equal opportunity, noting that “gone are the days when the girl child was discriminated against, saying “such attitude must stop”. .
Dignitaries at the service include the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Dum Deekor, member representing Port Harcourt federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ike Chinwo, members of the State Executive Council, first Military Governor of old Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff and his wife, Eze Apara Rebisi and Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, HRM King Sunday Woluchem and his wife, and other traditional rulers, Bishop of the Niger Delta, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Bishop Raphael Ebirien, among other dignitaries.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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