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Human Capital Dev, My Greatest Achievement – Awortu

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The Chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, Barrister Erastus Awortu, has described investment in human capital development as key economic enabler and a low hanging fruit towards achieving sustainable development.
Speaking at a dinner in Port Harcourt in honour of 15 Cadets of Andoni, who graduated recently from the Charkin Maritime Academy, under the sponsorship of Andoni Local Government Council, the council chairman said his greatest achievement in office was human capital development.
He urged the cadets to be of good conduct in their future endearvous and shun all acts inimical to the advancement of their career, so that the good effort of the council and of their parents and guardians will not go in vain.
“For me, human capital development is my greatest project and I know, God willing, and by His Grace, all of you will grow to become good ambassadors of Andoni, and the multiplier effect is enormous.
“You are working on a vessel, you are a big shot in a company, you must remember where you are coming from. If you have opportunity to employ people or to recommend people for employment, you must remember Andoni people who are qualified, and I know very soon you will all be going aboard ships for your proper training aboard the vessels and then your certification.
“We urge you don’t allow anything to distract you, when you go aboard the vessels, if you misbehave and you are blacklisted, all of your training will be in vain when you are kicked out. You have a duty to ensure that all the effort we have made as a local government does not go in vain”, he said.
On the forth-coming 3rd edition of the Andoni Unity Carnival, Awortu said his administration is making concerted effort to continuously showcase to the world the enormous tourism potentials of Andoni and the investment opportunities therein.
He said, “The idea behind the Carnival is to expose Andoni to the world and to let the world know that there are lots and lots of potentials and investment opportunities in Andoni.
“We have over the last two years made concerted efforts to expose the kind of wonderful beach line we have in Andoni, many people don’t even know that you can drive to Ikuru town, Ekede and all that and commune with the Atlantic.
“And, in the case of Andoni, our very fertile forest houses the elephant. As you know, elephant is the biggest animal, and there are other animals that are under the elephant.
“The forest we have in Andoni has an array of exquisite wildlife that everybody would want to see. They say knowledge is power, because people don’t know about what is happening or what we have in Andoni, they are not able to access Andoni, they are able to look for Andoni, so we are making concerted effort to let the world know what we have in Andoni”.
On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr Chisom Gbali, lauded the Andoni Council chairman for what he called his “exceptional achievement on human capital development”, especially on youth development.
He said this would have a huge multiplier effect on the local economy of Andoni in the foreseeable future.
“Chairman, you are crediting this people today, you don’t know what you are doing, you have watered the ground, they will cause erosion in Andoni, a peaceful erosion, a positive erosion, that is what you have done.
“The beneficiaries may be few, but the ripple effect is what we call spiral circle. Spiral circle is when you develop people, they will come back, they will reach and develop other people, and what you see is turning out the best in the society.
“Chairman, I want to tell you that you have made history today. You are not just making infrastructure, you are not just making Andoni hospitable, but you are building on the youth. The best way, any government that wants to move forward must start with the training of the youth”, he said. Also speaking, the Founder and Proprietor of Charkin Maritime Academy, Dr. Charles Wami, assured the Cadets of Andoni of his continued support to them until they attain the peak of their career in Seamanship and Seafaring.
He said, “I appeal to all of you, try and be Charkin Ambassadors, try and project that goodwill from your local government chairman, don’t let us down, try your best, we will try as much as possible to ensure that your programme continues from Cadetship to Sea-time Training which is almost around the corner.
“When you are back from Sea-time Training after one year, you come back to school for your OOW, after which you go back to the sea.
“Seamanship and Seafaring is a continuous learning. You will continue to learn until you get to the peak of your career”.
On her part, Speaker of the 9th Legislative Assembly of Andoni Local Government, Hon. Sheila Jacob Nte, thanked the council chairman for creating an enabling atmosphere that engendered good working relationship between the executive and the legislative arm.
She urged the Cadets not to forget their background wherever they found themselves in their career and live a life worthy of emulation so that efforts and resources expended on their training will not amount to a waste.
Some traditional rulers, including Okan-Ama Agwut-Obolo, Alfred Otobo-Alama (III), and Okan-Ama Okoloile, Sir Matthias Stanley (Ikwut VI), were among guests who graced the occasion.

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Ministry Lists Challenges To Health Sector 

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The Rivers State Ministry of Health says it has identified some key challenges affecting the healthcare sector of the state.
This, it said, include shortages in critical health cadre, imbalance in workforce distribution between urban and rural communities, and weak workforce data integration.
The rest are: ageing personnel, attrition pressure, limited fiscal space, and increasing demand for health care services.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said this while declaring opene a five-day Health Labour Market Analysis (HLMA) Methodology and Data Collection workshop for health officers in the state, in Port Harcourt.
He said the programme was crucial due to the growing pressure on health systems globally, adding that it would go a long way in addressing critical challenges and also strengthen health care service delivery in the state.
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Wachukwu noted challenges facing the health sector such as shortages of skilled personnel, unequal distribution of health workers, migration, attrition, productivity concerns, rising disease burdens, and limited financial resources.
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According to him, the strength of any health system depends largely on the capacity of its workforce, describing health workers as essential to service delivery, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child healthcare, and the achievement of universal health coverage.
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He restated the government’s commitment to adopting evidence-based workforce planning, backed by reliable data, strategic investment, and policy coordination rather than fragmented interventions.
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Wachukwu explained that the Health Labour Market Analysis would enable the state to evaluate workforce supply, demand, financing realities, and healthcare needs while identifying existing policy and investment gaps.
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“The exercise will help us develop practical strategies for building a resilient and sustainable health workforce capable of meeting the healthcare needs of our people”, he said.
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Wachukwu also acknowledged that although the state government has implemented reforms to strengthen the health sector, major challenges still persist.
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“This workshop comes at a very critical moment, not only for Rivers State, but for Nigeria’s health sector as well.
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“Across the country and indeed globally, health systems are increasingly confronted with major workforce challenges, shortages of skilled health workers, inequitable distribution, migration and attrition, productivity concerns, changing disease burdens and growing financial constraints”, the Permanent Secretary said.
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Emphasising the importance of collaboration and stakeholder participation, he noted that the success of the workshop would depend on the availability of quality data and institutional cooperation.
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He urged participants to contribute actively throughout the workshop and support the data gathering and analytical processes, stating that the outcome of the exercise would guide policy formulation, improve workforce performance, strengthen investments in the health sector, and enhance healthcare outcomes across Rivers State.
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The Permanent Secretary commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Clinton Health Access Initiative, World Health Organization, development partners, and stakeholders for supporting the initiative.
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Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Human Resources for Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, John Okobia, said the HLMA exercise was specifically designed to address the unique healthcare workforce realities and needs of Rivers State.
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Okobia explained that the policy framework expected to emerge from the workshop would not be merely theoretical, but tailored towards practical solutions capable of improving healthcare delivery and outcomes across the state.
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He advocated for deliberate interventions aimed at strengthening the health sector and improving access to quality healthcare services, expressing optimism that the five-day workshop would produce fruitful outcomes that would support effective health workforce planning and better health indices in the state.
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“The policy that we are going to generate from here is not going to be a theoretical policy, but  is going to solve the practical needs of the people of River State.
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“With a population of about nine million people, Rivers State requires deliberate support and strategic interventions. What we aim to achieve through this exercise is to identify practical ways to improve health outcomes across the state.
“On that note, I want to sincerely thank you all for receiving us, and we are hopeful that the next five days will be productive and impactful”, he  said.
The workshop was organized by the state Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Social Welfare, Clinton Health Access Initiative, World Health Organization (WHO), and other development partners.
By: John Bibor, Nwachukwu Lauritta, Chukwuma Divine Okwu, Ngerebo Patience
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Rivers

VIO Seeks Stronger Collaboration For Road Safety 

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Towards ensuring safer roads and improved transportation management in Rivers State, the Chief of the Rivers State Road Traffic and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Engr. Akobo Monibo, says there is need for strategic collaboration with transport stakeholders in the state.
He made this known while receiving a delegation of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUTON), led by the State Chairman, Lady Larencia Chioma, during a courtesy visit to his office.
The meeting, which focused on fostering a broad-based partnership and mutual understanding aimed at enhancing ease of operations for app-based drivers across Rivers State, was also intended to promote compliance with road safety regulations and traffic management standards.
Speaking during the visit, Engr. Monibo expressed appreciation to the AUTON leadership for their willingness to collaborate with the agency in ensuring orderliness, professionalism, and safety within the transport sector.
He emphasized that road safety remains a collective responsibility and called on all transport operators, especially app-based drivers, to continue supporting government efforts geared towards reducing road accidents and improving public confidence in transportation services.
According to him, “Road safety remains the hallmark of every responsible transport system. We appreciate the understanding, cooperation, and commitment shown by AUTON towards building a safer and more organized transportation environment in Rivers State.”
On her part, the AUTON State Chairman, Lady Larencia Chioma, commended the leadership of the VIO for its openness and readiness to engage stakeholders constructively.
She assured the agency of the union’s support and cooperation in promoting lawful operations and safer roads within the state.
The visit further highlighted the importance of synergy between regulatory agencies and transport unions in advancing efficient service delivery, public safety, and sustainable transportation development in Rivers State.
By: Michael T. Abraham
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CIFAL Global Network, UNITAR Webinar Series Holds At RSU … As Nigeria’s Energy Future Takes Centre Stage

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A coalition of international scholars and policy experts will shift global attention to Nigeria’s energy future as the second edition of a three-part webinar series examines the country’s struggle to balance economic growth, energy security and the global transition away from fossil fuels.
The webinar series, titled “The Politics of Power: Energy Security, Resource Wealth and the Global Energy Transition,” is being organised under the CIFAL Global Network and United Nations Institute for Training and Research, with sessions hosted by leading academic institutions in Australia, Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
At the session to be hosted by CIFAL Nigeria at Rivers State University (RSU), in Port Harcourt, will focus on the implications of the global energy transition for Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, amid mounting concerns over declining global dependence on fossil fuels and the challenge of expanding domestic energy access.
The organisers said the session would interrogate how Nigeria can sustain economic prosperity while pursuing a just and sustainable transition to renewable energy sources.
The webinar will feature presentations from leading scholars and energy experts, including Prof. Augustine A. Ikein, a Fulbright postdoctoral fellow and Professor Emeritus at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State; Prof. Kingsley Okpara of the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management (IGEM), Rivers State University; and Dr. Uduak Akpan, a postdoctoral researcher at SOAS, University of London with extensive experience in Africa’s energy and economic transformation, including work with the African Development Bank.
According to the organisers, the webinar series is designed to bring together global perspectives on one of the defining policy questions of the 21st century — how nations rich in natural resources can achieve energy security and economic stability while advancing a fair transition to cleaner energy systems.
Participants who attend all three sessions will receive certificates of participation from the CIFAL Global Network and UNITAR, while recordings will also be made available to registered attendees.
Stakeholders, policymakers, academics and industry players have been urged to participate in the discussions and contribute to shaping the future of global energy systems.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
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