News
Fubara Lauds Dame Toby’s Contributions To Educational Dev …As Mary Odili Bemoans Scrapping Of Teachers Training Colleges
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has showered encomiums on an educationist and school proprietor, Dame Christie Toby, for her contributions to educational development in the State.
According to a statement by the Head of the Press Unit,Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Juliana Masi, Fubara gave the accolades during the public presentation of the book: Dr. Christie Toby: Touching Lives, Raising Leaders,” in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, observed that Dame Toby, who is the wife of former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, has lived a remarkable life of passion and selfless service to humanity.
Fubara said, “Your life is a remarkable one. Everything we have seen and heard today present an exemplary life of a teacher, educationist, school proprietor, philanthropist, and so much.
“I must say, one tread that runs through your life which I commend to everyone is the show of passion and selflessness. If you were not passionate and selfless, you would not have been what you are as a teacher.
“It is heartwarming that the author took the time to catalogue your life so that we all can read and better our lives and services to humanity. This is a book I commend everyone to read.”
The governor reiterated that because education is the bedrock of every society, his administration will remain committed to best educational development and practice by grooming teachers in the state.
“Education is one of the cardinal pillars of our administration, and our government will always honour those who have sacrificed their lives selflessly for the pursuit of good education in the State,” he stressed.
To further advance the educational development of the Christie Toby Education Centre, the governor launched the book with N20million.
The Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of the Rivers State University, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, who served as chairman of the book presentation, described Dame Toby as a conscientious teacher, who went through the ranks to become the celebrated teacher she is today.
The retired Justice of the Supreme Court, however, regretted that the foundation laying institutions for teachers –Teachers Training Colleges- in the country were scrapped and has thus allowed infiltration of poorly trained teachers into the classroom.
“When I was told to be chairman of today’s occasion,… I simply saw the opportunity as God’s answer to my internal cry to have the chance to be heard on a government policy …which has made us lose our way in education.
“It is providential that I use the book presentation of this erudite scholar and a great lady of many parts as a platform for me to bring to the public domain, a missing link in our progress as a people to nurture the present and future generations… I do not know what informed the authorities to phase out the teacher training colleges. That is why we are now presented with some half-baked teachers who have very high degrees and academic qualifications but without a foundational base to properly teach our young ones. That faulty foundation is what has led us to the situation we know find ourselves where untrained persons are now training our future leaders in all spheres of life,” she stressed.
She further called on the authorities to revisit the reestablishment of teacher training colleges so as to harness the young properly and appropriately.
The book reviewer, Dr. Williams Wodi noted that the book, ‘Dr. Christy Toby Touching Lives, Raising Leaders’, is episodic, which combines ecclesiastical history, ethnography, cultural and political anthropology, psychology, philosophy and sociology that grips the reader from the beginning to end of the narrative.
According to him, “This book is a biographical account of a woman of faith, great moral priority, and courage. The author wonders in divers directions to unearth all aspects of her life. It has characteristically interwoven a narrative that would hold the attention of the reader from end to end. The author masterly beholds Christie Toby as an educationist, philanthropist, civil servant, activist, and a woman of faith who continues to lead a life of service especially to the under-served in a society that continually stricken itself of fellow feelings and empathy that compels us to reach out and touch other lives.”
Several dignitaries, including former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Tele Ikuru and his wife, former Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr Abiye Sekibo; serving and past commissioners, traditional rulers, among others also attended the event.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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