Rivers

Association Concludes Advocacy In Five Rivers LGAs

Published

3 years ago

September 26, 2022

In its effort to fill gaps in the health sector, particularly as it relates to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (ATM), the Association of Civil Societies in Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) has concluded its advocacy visits to five Local Government Areas (LGA).
ACOMIN took its advocacy against ATM to Tai, Khana, Obio/Akpor, and Port Harcourt LGA Headquarters, as well as the Primary Healthcare facility at Eleme LGA.
In her opening remarks during the visits, which lasted three days, the Rivers State Programme Officer, ACOMIN, Mrs. Maryjane C. Akwuaka, explained the reason for the visit.
“We, the State Advocacy Team for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, are here to introduce to you the programme called COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C-19 RM) Project for health.
“The project is all about identifying gaps in health facilities in our various Wards. When we identify these gaps, we’ll advocate for solutions to them”, she said.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Coordinator, Network of people Living With HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Blessing Chigozim, explained that beyond identifying the gaps, efforts are made to ensure that such gaps are closed.
“The major concern of this programme is not just to identify gaps, but to also ensure that the gaps are closed.
“Towards this end, all the Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) working in the communities are to work together as a team to ensure that the purpose and objective of this (ATM) programme is achieved in the LGAs”, she said.
The gaps, according to the State Chairman, ACOMIN, Pastor John Ihua-Maduenyi, includes issues and or factors that constitute impediment to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria patients from accessing services in health facilities in various communities.
He said: “Some of the gaps may be that people complain about the distance to the facility, or, for pregnant women, that they prefer Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). The facility may be inaccessible due to the bushy nature of the path to it, etc.
“These gaps when noticed are to be reported to the leadership of the community by the Ward Development Chairman (WDC) for solution, because it’s a community project, communities are expected to own the facilities.
“When the challenge is beyond the communities, it’s escalated to the LGAs. It’s when the LGAs cannot handle it that ACOMIN comes in to escalate escalate it to the State Healthcare Board for solutions”.
For every gap noticed, advocacy is taken to well meaning individuals, companies, organisations and government at various levels for solution, she explained further.
“That’s what this programme is all about: up-take and good service”, the ACOMIN boss concluded.
At the Tai LGA Headquarters, the Supervisor for Health, Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Hon. Lesor Mascot Friday, who represented the LGA Chairman, assured ACOMIN that the LGA will always support any venture that will be beneficial to it’s citizenry.
In Eleme LGA, the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) at the LGA’s Primary Healthcare Center, Dr. Tonye Lawson-Jack, while assuring ACOMIN of necessary collaboration, used the opportunity to eleborate on internal efforts already in place.
“We have actually explored the approach you intend to use in the past. However, there’s no number of times you will say is too much to keep trying. So, we are glad that an independent body is taking it upon itself to synergise with the advocay for which we already have a unit”, he said.
The MOH of both PHALGA, and Obio/Akpor LGAs, Dr. Obellay E. Abbey and Dr. Stanley Amadi respectively also assure on collaborating with ACOMIN in the ATM Project.
It was the same assurance at the Khana Primary Healthcare Center, where the Local Immunization Officer (LIO), Monica Kpugimaape, spoke on behalf of the MOH.

By: Soibi Max-Alalibo

Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.

Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.

Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.

The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.

Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.

This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.

Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.

Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.

Rivers

VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.

Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.

“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.

Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.

He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.

He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.

“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.

Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and effective library.

She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.

Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.

High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.

Akujobi Amadi

Rivers

Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH

Published

2 days ago

July 11, 2025

The Tide

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided by Justices P. I. Ajoku, P. I. Ayua and S. I. Mark has convicted and sentenced four middle aged men to various jail terms over their involvement in fraud.

They are Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo, Timi Olamide Samuel, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, and Emmanuel Linus, who may be dwellers on the Port Harcourt Correctional facility until their bail conditions are met.

Their prosecution is at the instance of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges.

The charges, the Court noted, bordered on impersonation, Advance Fee Fraud, and Obtaining Money under false pretence.

The charge against Chinweobo reads: “That you, Daniel Ebubechi Chinweobo (a.k.a. Philip James) sometime in 2024, in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained the sum of One Thousand Great Britain Pounds (£1,000 only), from Marinela Gabriela, a Caucasian American, when you represented yourself to be Philip James, a military man from California, serving in Syria, who pretended to be in a marital relationship with Marinela Gabriela, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

That of Ugochukwu reads: “That you, Chibueze Thaddeus Ugochukwu, on or about the 14th day of May, 2025, at Alakhahia axis of Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently obtained from one Grey the sum of Eight Hundred United States of America dollars ($800 only), under the false pretence that you are Amanda Pappers, a citizen of the United States of America which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded guilty to their charges, following which prosecution counsels, A. Chukwuegwu and G. C Ngborokwu, tendered incriminating documents in evidence against them and urged the courts to convict and sentence them accordingly.

The Defence counsels, G. N. Chukwu, Yemi Ogunleye, A. O. Secondus and Chigozie Umunnakwem, on their part, prayed the courts to temper justice with mercy on the ground that the defendants were first time offenders.

Justice Ajoku, however, convicted and sentenced Chinweobo and Linus to 30 months in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, each or to pay N200,000 respectively.

Their sentences are to run concurrently and began from the date of their arrest.

Justice Ajua convicted and sentenced Ugochukwu to one year jail term or to pay 50,000 fine, while Justice Mark convicted and sentenced Samuel to two years in prison or to pay N900,000 fine.

In addition to their jail terms, they deposed to affidavit of good behaviour and forfeited a Techno mobile phone, a Samsung Galaxy phone, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone X, iPhone 16 Pro, an iPad and Lexus ES 350, recovered from them at the scene of their arrest to the Federal Government.

The convicts’ journey to the correctional centre began with their arrest by the Commission, sometime in April, 2025, following credible intelligence that exposed their fraudulent internet activities in Port Harcourt.

King Onunwor