Rivers
Trust Fund Doles Out N3m Grant To 25 Ke Students
The King Agolia Education Trust Fund (KAETF), a non-profit making organisation, has awarded a total of N3million education grant to 25 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, who are indigenes of Ke Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The award, which took place in the Old Town Hall square of the community on boxing day, marked the first of its kind in Ke Kingdom for an individual to give grants to students in tertiary institutions in the country.
Each of the 25 students were awarded a total of N120,000 comprising N100,000 award grant, and N20,000 transport fare from Port Harcourt to the community and back.
At the end of the event, however, 23 of the successful candidates, who were physically present at the ceremony, got the award of N100,000.00 each.
In his address during the award presentation ceremony, the founder and sponsor of the KAETF, HRH (Rt. Hon.), King Agolia Aboko, Omoni, JP, King Omoni XII, Amanyanabo of Ancient Ke Kingdom, briefed awardees and members of the community on the reason for the award.
He said it was first in reaction to the disappointment meted to indigenes of Ke Kingdom, by a company that promised scholarship to students of Ke origin, but later rescinded its decision, after making the applicants undergo rigorous time and money consuming processes.
“My heart bled when this company came and made our children go through such processes, only for the company to go numb about fulfilling their promise to pay the bursary: the embarrassment, not just to the affected students and families, but also to our community was something that became a sour taste in my mouth.
“So, I decide to not just ease the pain warranted by the disappointment, but also to come up with a Trust Fund that can focus on easing the financial burden of education on my people by providing qualified students of Ke Kingdom origin who are in any tertiary institution in Nigeria, with what I can afford.
“I’m, therefore, happy that this maiden edition of the grant has been successfully organised by the committee assigned for it. God willing, we shall hold the second edition next year”, the Amanyanabo stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of the King Agolia Education Trust Fund (KAETF), Dr. Igboye Aboko, had explained the rigorous processes the committee adopted to finally pick the 25 awardees.
He said the applicants went through both written and oral interviews, which were held from October, through November, after which the 25 successful Candidates were each paid N20,000.00 on the 20th of December, to enable them make the trip to their community and go back.
At the end of the awards, 23 of the candidates who were present at the award presentation ceremony, were given dummy checks of N100,000.000 each, and the sum paid into their accounts the same day, in accordance with the mandate of the committee that no one will be paid by proxy.
The 23 awardees were: Marcus, Esther Tamunotonyemiete; Alalibo, Ingiwari-bi I. Max; Alalibo, God’sfavour D. Max; Pennuel, Soibi Halima; ThankGod, Bernard Favour; Agarag, Ibifiri Favour; Sepiribo, Elekima; Duke, Ibiso Grace; Ekine, Soibi-emi; and Aginah-Obu, Ibim Ngoba.
Others are: Anthony, Harry Damiete; Igolima, Tombodia Bright; Pennuel, Osaki Amina; Ibinabo, Ibiso Tracy; Natrebo, Sepiribo Daniel; Natrabo, Luke Favour; Sokari, Favour Boma; Romeo, Idaerefa-a; Cookey, Onengiye-ofori Abigail; and Dokubo, Bethel Tamunomiete.
There were also Aboko, I. Tamunomiete; Joel, Ibiteim Okonte; and Alex, A. Ibiso.
In attendance at the ceremony included the Amanyanabo of Ancient Ke Kingdom, HRH King Agolia Aboko; his wife Queen Aboko; the Ke Council of Chiefs led by its Chairman, Alabo Prof. Togwel Ojuyesunday Aginah-Obu Naye-Benebo VI; elders of the community; and parents of the awardees.
By: Soibi Max-Alalibo
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In response to the recent flood disaster that displaced families, destroyed farmlands, and worsened economic hardship in Ogu/Bolo Community, The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has distributed relief materials to residents of the community.
Presenting the items on behalf of the Managing Director, the Director II, Education, Health and Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Onolejoloni, said the intervention underscores the commission’s commitment to alleviating the plight of vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.
According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the gesture followed the devastating impact of flooding on livelihoods in the community.
The Managing Director noted that the commission, in collaboration with the Derek and Davia Foundation, provided financial support to facilitate the distribution of essential food items and household materials to affected residents.
He described the initiative as part of efforts to address pressing needs, adding that it also reflects government’s solidarity with citizens facing economic challenges.
“This intervention goes beyond palliatives. It is a demonstration of government’s presence, compassion and commitment to supporting families in distress, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President,” he said.
He urged community leaders to ensure fair distribution of the items and encouraged residents to sustain peace and support development programmes.
The Paramount Ruler of Ogu-Bolo, Chief Joachim Amachiri, commended the Commission for the timely intervention, noting that it would provide much-needed relief to victims of the flood.
He reaffirmed the community’s support for NDDC initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in the region.
Also speaking, a consultant on the programme, represented by Dr. George Smile, praised the commission’s responsiveness to disaster-affected communities, disclosing that plans were underway, in partnership with development stakeholders, to extend similar support to neighbouring areas.
Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick
Rivers
Don Traces Nigeria’s Highway Woes To Design Failures … Proposes Mechanistic-Empirical Design Approach
A lecturer at the Rivers State University (RSU), Professor Emmanuel Osilemme Ekwulo, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s highway pavement systems, stating that poor design practices and weak standards, not just inadequate funding, are at the heart of the country’s persistent road failures.
Delivering the 128th inaugural lecture at the Rivers State University, titled “Removing Roadblocks: Rebuilding The Foundation For Reliable Highway Pavement Infrastructure”, Ekwulo argued that Nigeria’s roads will continue to deteriorate prematurely unless critical engineering principles are strictly applied and enforced.
According to him, recurring defects in the nation’s highways stem from a combination of faulty design processes, substandard construction materials, weak regulatory enforcement, poor drainage systems, and widespread disregard for professional ethics.
He stressed that these systemic failures have undermined the durability of road infrastructure despite significant financial investments.
“Premature pavement failures in Nigeria are not due to lack of funds alone, but largely due to poor design decisions, weak material standards, and absence of accountability,” he said.
Ekwulo proposed the adoption of the mechanistic-empirical design approach, a scientifically grounded method for predicting pavement performance, as a pathway to improving road quality.
He also advocated for the development of a localized framework, the Nigerian Empirical and Mechanistic Pavement Design System (NEMPADS), to reflect the country’s unique environmental and material conditions.
He further recommended stricter quality control measures, including independent audits, the establishment of a national database for material characterization, and compulsory traffic load analysis for all road projects.
The use of modified binders and advanced materials, he added, would enhance pavement resilience.
To ensure sustainability, the Professor called for the implementation of a National Pavement Management System to coordinate maintenance and monitoring efforts nationwide, noting that consistent upkeep is essential to prolonging road lifespan.
Ekwulo emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, urging universities to lead applied research initiatives and pilot projects that can deliver practical solutions to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said universities must play a frontline role in addressing national development issues through research-driven interventions.
He described the lecture as timely, noting that the neglect of core engineering standards has contributed significantly to the country’s failing highways.
The event, held at the Dr. Ezenwo Wike Senate Building in the campus, also featured the formal decoration of Ekwulo as the institution’s 128th inaugural lecturer.
Reiterating his position after the lecture, Ekwulo stated that with proper design methods, quality materials, and strict adherence to global standards, Nigeria’s roads can achieve their intended lifespan of 10 to 20 years or more.
“Without a return to engineering fundamentals and accountability, investments in road infrastructure will continue to yield poor results”, he concluded.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has assured residents of the command’s commitment to upholding human rights and delivering people-oriented policing.
He stressed that officers under his watch would continue to operate within the confines of the law, while strengthening community relations.
Adepoju gave the assurance during a sensitisation walk organised by the State Police Command as part of activities marking the National Police Day in Port Harcourt.
He noted that the exercise was aimed at fostering trust and enhancing cooperation between the police and the public.
While expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a special day for the Nigeria Police to celebrate its achievements, he described the gesture as a morale booster that would spur officers to greater efficiency and professionalism in service delivery.
The CP also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for initiating a week-long celebration, which he said had provided an opportunity for the police to reconnect with citizens and showcase reforms within the force.
According to him, the large turnout of residents, stakeholders and members of the business community during the exercise was a clear indication of the growing confidence reposed in the police by the people of Rivers State.
He reiterated that the Command would sustain its sensitisation efforts, adding that officers had been adequately briefed to respect the rights of citizens, maintain professionalism and work closely with the media to promote transparency and accountability.
Adepoju disclosed that the week-long activities commenced with environmental sanitation across commands and divisions, alongside public enlightenment campaigns targeted at strengthening police-community relations.
He further revealed that the Command had also embarked on free medical outreach for both officers and members of the public, as part of its corporate social responsibility and commitment to public welfare.
The CP added that financial support would be extended to widows of fallen police officers through the presentation of cheques, in line with directives from the police high command, to cushion the effects of their loss.
In his response, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state, Voke Emore, said the initiative was geared towards rebuilding trust between the police and the communities they serve.
Emore noted that the renewed synergy between the police and residents in Rivers State had created an enabling environment for effective policing, urging the public to continue supporting security agencies with useful information.
Also, a representative of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs. Chima Nnaji, said the group participated in the walk to show solidarity with their spouses.
The event drew attendance from senior police officers, members of the PCRC, and stakeholders from various sectors of the state.
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