Rivers

Ngozi Odu Holds Interactive Session With Egi Women

Published

1 year ago

March 3, 2023

The Deputy Guber Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State, Professor (Mrs) Ngozi Nma Odu, held an interactive session with Egi women at her country home in Akabuka town, Ogba/Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
Women of Egi clan from the four zones (Ahia-Ahu, Etiti, Umu-Obor and Usozimin) came out massively to welcome Prof. Ngozi Odu in a grand reception.
Egi Women Welfare Association (EWWA) Presiden Mrs Patience Manasseh,t in her welcome address described the gathering as a victory celebration in advance for an illustrious Egi daughter, Prof. Mrs Ngozi Odu and her principal, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Further more EWWA President urged all the women in Egi clan, ONELGA, Rivers West Senatorial District and Rivers State at large to do the needful by supporting the PDP with votes to clinch victory.
The Local Government Chairman of ONELGA Hon. Vincent Job , represented by the Deputy Chairman Dr Stella Agadah commended Egi woman for honouring the call of Mrs Odu as it is a show of unity,love and support, she also added that Rivers State Government under Governor Wike’s administration has given women of Rivers State a chance in governance which was an untapped resource., Commissioner for Women affairs Rivers State,
Hon. Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri in her remarks enlightened the women of Egi clan on the importance of women in politics, she opined that it takes a woman to make a difference in politics the same way our homes are built by women, PDP woman Leader in Rivers State
Hon. Mrs Miriam Ogbonna took time to sensitize the Women of Egi clan present at the event on the voting process in order to curb invalid voting.,
PDP Party Chairman ONELGA,
Hon Princewill Ejekwu appreciated the women of Egi clan for their massive turn out as he introduced the PDP candidates in Rivers West Senatorial District to the women of Egi clan , which include ; Her Excellency Ipalibo Harry-Banigo for the Senate , Engr Victor Obuzor for the House of Representatives , Dr Franklin Nwabochi representing ONELGA constituency 1 and Deconess Nkemjika Ezekwe Representing ONELGA constituency 2.
Mrs Odu in her remarks expressed gratitude as she urged the women of Egi clan, ONELGA and Rivers State to see her emergence as a mechanism to further build on the legacies of His Excellency Gov. Wike, who has always been an advocate of effective women particpation in politics.
Prof Mrs Ngozi Nma Odu lauds Wike for giving an illustrous daughter of ONELGA the chance to Serve next to Sir Siminalayi Fubara as Deputy to Rivers people.
Furthermore she charged the women of Egi clan to support her principal Sir Siminalayi Fubara and all PDP candidates in the state as that will propel good governance and continue in Consolidation of the good works of the present administration of Governor Wike.
Other dignitaries in attendance during the event includes, Hon Christian Ahiakwo, Hon Bridget Oreke, Hon Nathaniel Uwaji, Mrs Elizabeth Oris Onyiri, Hon Ogbogu Chuks and Prof. Daniel Ogum.

By: Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

FG inaugurates PH-Aba Rail Project … As Train Service Begins

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

The Tide

The Federal Government has inaugurated the 6.2 kilometre (KM) Port Harcourt-Aba railway project, marking the start of train operations between Abia and Rivers States.

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Alkali, who said this at a ceremony in Port Harcourt, noted that the project was a crucial part of the 1,443km Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge rail project.

He said the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the project was the initial part of the Eastern narrow-gauge railway, aiming to connect five geo-political zones of the country.

“The Federal Government is pleased to inaugurate the train service from Port Harcourt to Aba, a key priority area of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“We are grateful to God for the completion of the Port Harcourt to Aba section, which will bring succour to the people.

“The Eastern narrow gauge covers five geo-political zones of the country, including South-South, South-East, North-Central, North- West and North-East”, he said.

Alkali said following the completion of the first segment and the start of commercial operations, work on the remaining part of the rail line would begin immediately.

“Shortly, we will take a train ride from Port Harcourt to Aba, which means that from today, passenger train service has commenced.

“We will continue the project from Aba to Enugu and from Port Harcourt to both Onne and Port Harcourt seaports for freight services.

“The ministry is currently in discussion with an investor to convert our locomotive from diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce transportation cost further”, he said.

The Minister assured Nigerians that arrangements were being made with security agencies to ensure adequate security along the rail routes.

He also announced free train rides from Port Harcourt to Aba between May 1 to May 4.

“The train will depart from Port Harcourt to Aba at 8 a.m. daily, while it will leave Aba to Port Harcourt at 3 p.m. daily.

“Full commercial operations will resume on May 7, 2024″, he said.

Muhammad Zakari, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, said the project when completed would boost trade, enhance mobility and connectivity between the Southern and Northern part of the country.

He said the segment of the project was contracted to Messrs China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) on October 16, 2020, with a 36-month completion timeline.

“But due to technical and contractual issues, the project commenced in March 2022, involving the construction of modern stations and procurement of new rolling stock.

“The railway line will also connect the seaports of Onne, Bonny, and Port Harcourt to facilitate evacuation of goods and sundry freight through the Eastern corridor”, he said.

Zakari emphasised that upon completing the Port Harcourt to Aba railway, the Federal Government would push CCECC to expedite the completion of the 181km Aba-Enugu section of the project.

He said he was optimistic that inauguration of the Port Harcourt to Aba rail service would stimulate economic activities between the South-South and South-East zones of the country.

Rivers

Run Higher Education As Private Enterprise – Don

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

The Tide

A lecturer at The University of Port Harcourt, Professor Chineze Monica Uche, has advocated that higher education be run as a private enterprise in Nigeria.

Uche, who said this at the 187th inaugural lecture of the University, said higher education should be run as an enterprise and be managed with enterprising leadership skills.

The lecture was titled, “Twenty First Century University Administration in Managing Higher Education As An Enterprise”.

According to the university Don, tertiary institutions need to transform their research products to enterprise and not just for library shelves, offices and homes.

She emphasized that the mantra, “publish or perish”, should be changed to “publish, patent and prosper”.

Professor Uche said “institutions have to be entrepreneurial and investment friendly, internationalized, globalized, ICT compliant, quality assurance driven, engaging in collaboration, partnerships and be anchored on effective and efficient leadership that is enterprising and profitable”.

She emphasized that a 21st century higher education should be quality based and technologically driven, noting that in managing higher education as an enterprise, the adminstrator should be an administrator per excellent and efficient manager.

“He’s a bureaucrat, a friend, colleague, politician and visionary transformation leader. If we manage our work well, be it teaching, research, learning, administration, we will prosper and make profit to ourselves, institutions and society at large. If not, we will be at loss and our stay here will be a waste”, she opined.

Professor Chineze Uche, whose husband, Sir igweka Uche, is a renowned entrepreneur, recommended among others, self development among higher education administrators, saying that “money is key to open doors, strategic innovation and alternative funding method should be involved in curriculum development”.

Peculiar Imegi

Rivers

Christ Embassy Lays Foundation For Tuition Free School In Rivers

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

The Tide

Christ Embassy Church has laid foundation for the construction of a tuition free school for the vulnerable in Rivers State.

The foundation for the school, which will accommodate over five hundred indigent pupils were laid at Atali in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has pledged to strengthen its partnership with the church in the promotion of education in the state.

The State commissioner for Education, Professor Chinedu Mmom, said this at the ground breaking ceremony of the inner city mission school building organised by Christ Embassy at Atali, Obiakpor Local Government Area.

Mmom, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr. Austin Ezekiel Hart, said the government will continue to partner with the church in raising children.

While thanking the Inner City Mission of Christ Embassy for the initiative, he said the government and the church will work together to uplift education in the state.

The Commissioner, However, said whatever school built by the church will be regulated by the Government.

Also speaking, the Zonal Pastor of Christ Embassy, Zone 1, Pastor Ameachi Udeaku, thanked the founder of the Church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for the vision of bringing education to the doorstep of every Nigerian child.

He said the school, which will be tuition free, will provide quality education to indigent children, not only in Atali Community, but in all other adjoining communities.

According to him, the construction of the school building, which will start immediately, will be completed in the next few months.

In a welcome address, the Director, Inner City Mission for Children Education, Christ Embassy, Pastor Omo Alabi, said the school, which is the 16th globally and the 13th in Nigeria, will cater for the education of indigent children.

Omo Alabi said the school is located in all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

According to her, the Atali project was the third so far in Africa within a month, adding that Malawi and Liberia were beneficiaries of the gesture.

She recommended Pastor Chris for the initiative, which, she said, will improve the education of indigent children not only in Africa, but across the world.

In his speech, the Paramount Ruler of Atali Community, HRH T. Eze . A. O. Ejekwu, commended the church for considering his community for the project.

King Ejeku said the school will not only provide education for vulnerable children in Atali and other Communities, but will boost the economy of the area.