Rivers
Info Perm Sec Hints On Plan To Fence The Tide Premises … Training For Information Officers
The Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications says it has secured approval from the government for the fencing of the premises of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Tide Newspaper.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sir Honour Sirawoo, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on him by Executive of The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, further said the Ministry has also secured approval for the training of about one hundred information officers.
Sir Sirawoo said the ministry is working hard to start its online publication, adding that to this end, the Ministry’s website, which has been moribund for sometime now, is being revived.
According to him, “We are going to start an online publication. We feel that this ministry can generate revenue just like the media houses.
“Because the only difference between them and us is that we have a full administrative structure, and if we expect them to generate revenue, we should also generate revenue.
“I think they have commenced the process of working on the website.”
The Permanent Secretary further stressed the need for staff of the ministry and its parastataals to be regular at work, adding that the ministry under his watch will not condone absenteeism and lateness to work.
“You know that when you come to work, you must do the right thing even if you are my friend”, he warned.
He said Information Officers at the local government areas must work as a way to realize their expertise, adding that they must report events in their areas to enable the ministry properly inform people about the state.
Meanwhile, Sir Sirawoo has called for collaboration between the NUJ and the ministry.
“We must work together to see that we enlighten people on what is appropriate and what is not appropriate.
“I also want to say that as a union we serve the government of the day, even if you have to critique the government you must get your facts right”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary, who blamed successive leaderships of the union for the dilapidated nature of the NUJ Secretariat, said time has come for the union leadership to work out an arrangement whereby the union’s secretariat can be made to generate revenue and income for the union.
He said one way of doing this is by leasing the edifice to private investors for its management and maintenance.
Sirawoo congratulated the union’s leadership for the peaceful outcome of the just-concluded NUJ election and urged the leadership to work as a team for the realization of set goals.
Earlier, Chairman of the NUJ, Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia, described the posting of Sir Sirawoo to the Ministry of Information and Communications as a home coming.
Comrade Bazia expressed optimism that Permanent Secretary will do well in the ministry, especially with his background as a cub reporter who rose from the rank and file to a Permanent Secretary.
“You have grown through the ranks from a cub reporter to become a Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, covered NDDC, and various beats.
“You rose to become chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Rivers State on two occasions, President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, and you have become a Permanent Secretary.
“You have vast experience on the field as a journalist, and you are in deployment to the Ministry of Information and Communications at this time”, he said.
Mr. Bazia said the NUJ under his leadership is working hard to change the narrative of the state, adding in doing this the state-owned media houses must be revived to meet up its responsibilities.
According to the Chairman, “We are going to showcase the areas where the state has strength and where there are investment opportunities.
“We plan to also host a media summit later in the year around September to also look at the opportunities that we have in the blue economy, the tourism sector”, he said.
John Bibor & Edidiong Johnson
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor
