The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has called on the Rivers State Government to urgently recruit personnel into government-owned media establishments to address the acute shortage of staff caused by the retirement of many experienced workers.

The Union said the persistent manpower deficit has continued to affect the efficiency and productivity of state-owned media organisations, stressing that prompt recruitment would strengthen information dissemination and improve service delivery across the sector.

The resolution was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the State Congress of the Union held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt, recently.

By: King Onunwor

Spain last night emerged winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging Lionel Messi inspired Argentina opposition 1-0 in New Jersey, USA in a one sided final to become world champions for the second time in history after their historic victory in Africa in 2010.

The history continued with the Spanish team under Fuente becoming European and World Champions at the same period also for the second time.

The Spanish performance in the final proved a good advertisement for team cohesion, high work rate and dedication to culture as they demonstrated why many rated them as the best team of the tournament.

It was a final that many saw as a swansong for one of the game’s greats, Messi, and an opportunity to bow out of the world stage in glory. In fact, many would have seen the diminutive Argentine as the greatest player ever, if it he had led his country men to a consecutive word title.

But it turned out to be a final that demystified the aggressive and robust playing Argentines as Spain, in full flow of their possession- based football annihilated any threats that Argentina harboured.

Spain, despite lack of cutting edge for most of the game dominated and stifled Messi and co to the extent that the South Americans had neither shot nor one on target for almost 85 minutes.

Argentina, which had rode on the rub of the green and controversial victories to get to the final hardly laid a glove on the Spaniards as they relied on last ditch defending and dark arts to keep Spain at bay and took the tie to extra time.

The match was, however, at times overshadowed by the antics of the Argentinians.

However, their so-called luck, ultimately ran out as Spain rallied after being denied a goal to find a winner.

It came through Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. After a ball was swung in from the right, Nico Williams nodded a header down from the far post, which the Barcelona striker latched on to and fired into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes.

The South Americans applied pressure of their own in search of a goal late on and Tottenham Hotspur defender Marcos Senesi almost levelled from close range.

But, in the end, it was not to be for Lionel Messi on what could be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage as Lamine Yamal and his Spanish team-mates held on for a historic victory.

With the loss last night, Argentina ties Germany as the highest losing world cup finalists. This is the fourth time Argentina has been the FIFA World Cup runner-up in their history, equaling Germany as the team with the most FIFA World Cup runner-up finishes.

Argentina had previously been FIFA World Cup runners-up three times in 1930, 1990, and 2014, while Germany had been runners-up four times in 1966, 1982, 1986, and 2002