Rivers
RSG Urges Children To Speak Up, Defend Their Rights
In commemoration of this year’s International Children’s Day, Nigerian children have been urged to speak up and defend their rights.
The Assistant Director, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr. Alice Altride, gave this advice at an event organised by Christ Embassy, Port Harcourt, for school children to celebrate this year’s Children’s Day.
Speaking on the theme of the celebration, ‘Empowering Young Minds’, Dr Altride urged children to always speak up, defend their rights and stand for truth and justice, saying there are laws that protect children’s rights.
According to her, “Rivers State Government has enacted laws promoting children’s rights, the awareness and sensitisation is ongoing, but it’s sad that some parents are still in denial.
“Rights of children include rights to life, education, good health, survival and development among others. Rivers State Government also practices inclusive education for the physically challenged, hence, there should be no discrimination.”
On his part, the Group Pastor, Christ Embassy City Centre Group, Port Harcourt Zone 1, Pastor Strong Daniel, charged children on the need to engage their minds with productive and positive things as these are keys to their successes in life.
Pastor Daniel, who was represented by the Zonal Director of the church, Pastor Amaechi Udeaku, advised children to meditate on the words of God and guard their hearts with all diligence.
“What you see and what you hear are determinants of what goes on in your mind, hence be careful of what you watch and what you listen to. You must empower your minds to be successful by thinking on right things, obey your parents, yield yourself to instructions, obey God’s words, then the sky is just the beginning”, he said.
He also charged teachers to teach the children Godly virtues as contained in the Bible so that when they are old, the virtues will not depart from them.
The pastor explained that the mission of Inner City Mission and the Children Arm of Christ Embassy Church was to reach out to indigents children, bring them out of the slum and empower them with God’s words.
“All of these is our own ways of extending the love of Christ to the people”, Pastor Daniel stressed.
Also speaking, the Programme Director and Educationist, Rita Daniel Strong, described the theme as apt, noting that the children are tomorrow’s leaders and deserve to be empowered with God’s words to enable them have positive mindsets.
‘It all starts from the mind, if our younger ones can harness their thoughts and work on their minds, they will fulfil their goals in life because they will be able to use their minds positively”, she said.
A keynote speaker and Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Architects, Rivers State Chapter, Arc. Toku Fiberesima, enlightened students on who an Architect is and why it is important for them to take up Architecture as a career.
Speaking on the topic: ‘The Role of an Architect’, Fiberesima said: “Architecture is an integral part of our lives, without an Architect, there will be no where to live. With an Architect, we are able to build our cities, schools, markets, airports, among others.”
Highlights of the events include Bible quiz and Spelling Bee competition and debates.
At the end of the keenly contested competitions, the following schools: Dayton Model College, Noble Learning Int. School, Beryl Brooks Premier School, Readon Int. School, St. Maria Goretti Int’l School, Divine Anteo School, and Increase Int’l School went home with cash gifts and stationery materials.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
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A lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ibibia Worika, has called for stronger implementation of legal and policy frameworks to address the conflicts and environmental challenges facing the Niger Delta region.
Worika, who is the Director of the University’s Centre for Advanced Law Research, Faculty of Law, made the call during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Port Harcourt, with the theme, “Building Peace in the Fire.”
Worika, a Professor of Comparative Petroleum and International Environmental Law and Policy at the University of Port Harcourt, said the workshop was aimed at promoting dialogue to enhance the utilisation of legal and policy provisions.
He explained that such provisions were designed to combat extractive industry-related conflicts in the Niger Delta region.
In his paper titled “Addressing the Challenges of Hydrocarbon Mining and Related Conflicts: Towards Promoting Rights-Based Actions for Combating Climate Change in Rivers State”, he noted that pollution and environmental degradation in the region were widespread and well documented.
According to him, deliberations at the workshop focused on Nigeria and international legal frameworks that support oil extraction, while safeguarding environmental responsibilities and human rights.
Worika explained that although Nigeria’s Constitution did not expressly provide for enforceable environmental rights, the domesticated African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights contained provisions on environmental rights that courts could enforce when necessary.
He urged multinational oil companies operating in the region to comply with established international norms, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
“These companies are largely from OECD member countries. They should internalise biodiversity safety measures and other international standards in their operations in the Niger Delta,” Worika said.
The Professor also urged the Federal Government to establish an environmental remediation trust fund for the Niger Delta, similar to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project set up for Ogoniland.
He noted that while one billion dollars had been earmarked over 25 to 30 years for the Ogoni clean-up, other parts of the region suffering similar environmental damage required comparable intervention.
Worika further called for the effective implementation of the Host Community Development Trust provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with minimal political interference and equitable representation of host communities.
He emphasised transparency and accountability in managing the trusts, adding that communities should be fully informed about membership criteria and project implementation processes.
On the remediation of Ogoniland oil pollution, Worika advocated for greater community engagement and inclusiveness in project planning and implementation.
“I would like to see greater community engagement, especially in cases where agencies decide how and where to intervene without adequate consultation with those affected. That is certainly not a good approach”, Worika said.
He stressed that communities most impacted by environmental degradation should be included at the planning and design stages and integrated into the project implementation process.
According to him, while technical aspects may require specialised expertise, local residents can handle less technical tasks such as sand removal and soil excavation, thereby enhancing ownership and empowerment.
Similarly, the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Olu-Andah Wai-Ogosu, attributed rising youth restiveness and communal conflicts in Ogoni communities to poor mentorship and leadership failures.
“Our youths today are so much in a hurry. They don’t take time to understand issues before taking sides. They are easily swayed by short-term benefits and often fall prey to politicians”, he said.
He added that the crisis in traditional and political leadership had contributed to conflicts in the area.
Wai-Ogosu used the opportunity to urge parents and community leaders to instil discipline and moral values in young people to promote sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.
The workshop was organised by the Habitat Protection and Sustainabley Development Initiative, in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Law Research, Rivers State University.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
The newly appointed Rector of Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori (KENPOLY), Dr. George Chile Wadike, has said he would prioritize the welfare of students by improving the learning environment.
Dr. Wadike, who disclosed this to The Tide during an interview in his office, said his administration would reduce acts of social vices in the Polytechnic and make it more learning friendly.
“We want to ensure that the school environment is more peaceful and friendly to all.
“We also want to curtail the act of social vices, especially cultism experienced in the Polytechnic”, he state.
According to him, under his watch as Rector, he would ensure zero tolerance for social vices on campus.
On the infrastructures, the Rector said his administration would improve in the existing infrastructures in the school to enhance adequate learning.
He also said his administration shall improve electricity supply on campus to enable students read their books and better their academic performance
Kenpoly, Wadike said, would compete globally with its counterparts in all fields of learning.
“I promise to sow the seed of hard work, learning and teaching amongst others in the Polytechnic as a Rector.
“We shall also improve the Polytechnic by working with its Alumni and improve students welfare. That is why we are really here”, he said.
He assured on protection for students of the school in their academic pursuit and urged them to take their academics seriously.
On cultism and other social vices, Dr. Wadike said his administration shall partner with security agencies and the host community to eradicate acts of cultism in the institution
He also appealed to the students to embrace peace and take their academics seriously, rather than indulging in acts that will be inimical to their life.
The Rector further promised to build a cordial working relationship with the host and neighbouring communities, noting that such relationships shall improve the activities of the Polytechnic.
Dr. Wadike, an Accountant, who promised to reposition the image of the Polytechnic globally, said the activities of the Polytechnic would be publicised to the international communities to earn more credibility.
By: Chinedu Wosu
A former Accord Party Governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Dumu Lulu-Briggs, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinibu for his “pragmatic support” for State Police in Nigeria.
Lulu-Briggs lauded the President on Friday during an exclusive chat with Journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in Rivers State.
According to him, State Police will help in reducing criminal activities across the country, saying that the security of life and properities is essential and it is a collective responsibility.
The former Governorship candidate called on governments at all levels to support the State Police in order to make the society crime-free.
He said the State Police would not only reduce crime, but will also boost employments across the country.
Lulu-Briggs also used the medium to applaud President Tinibu for intervening in the face-off between the Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Rivers State.
He expressed happiness that peace has returned to the state, noting that the fued between the two organs of the governments has delayed the speed of developments in the state.
The two-time governorship candidate also expressed optimism that the peace accord will give more rooms for development and also create a better atmosphere for empowerment of the youths and Women.
“Now that peace has returned in the state, there is need to queue behind the peace to be sustained for the overall interest and betterment of all in the State..
“On the political tussle in the state, I thank President Tinibu on the recent reconciliation. Now that the problem has been settled by the aggressive parties, it is the responsibility of the people to embrace peace and work towards the growth of the state and continuous sustainability of developments in the state”, he said.
On 2027 election, the Kalabari-born politician said politics is not a do-or-die affair, and advised both the public and politicians to play politics in accordance with the rules.
“To me, politics is not a do-or-die affair, whoever that wins election is still our brother or sister, the important thing is that let them do the needful, they should develop the area and the people.
“The problem we are having in Nigerian politics is that some of our politicians in positions of trust sometimes abuse the opportunities given to them”, he said.
By: Enoch Epelle
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