Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has commended the immediate past Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo, for investing in the development of the Church.

The deputy governor gave the commendation during the dedication of the parsonage, the 10th memorial thanksgiving service for late Mrs. Justina Ihunwo, and the birthday thanksgiving of Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Oro-Igwe District, yesterday.

Describing the dedication of the new parsonage as a worthy act of service to God, Odu said the Bible teaches that those who sow into the house of God and fertile spiritual ground would reap abundant blessings.

She congratulated Ihunwo on his birthday and commended him for honouring the memory of his late mother through the memorial thanksgiving and construction of the parsonage.

She also pledged her support towards furnishing the new building, while urging other well-meaning individuals to join her in supporting the project, stressing that the benefits would extend to their families and future generations.

Odu thanked Bishop, clergy and choir for their contributions to the celebration, and prayed that God would continue to bless all those who support the Church.

She expressed optimism that the support would be sustained, stressing that it should not be a one-off gesture but an ongoing commitment to the work of God.

In his sermon, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, urged Christians to always acknowledge God’s faithfulness and celebrate the gift of life with gratitude.

Speaking from Psalm 71, the cleric said birthdays provided an opportunity for people to recognise God as the author and sustainer of their lives.

He noted that from conception and pregnancy through childbirth and the challenges of life, human survival remained dependent on God’s mercy and grace.

According to him, the Psalmist acknowledged God as the One who had sustained him from the womb, declaring, “My praise shall be continually of thee.”

Rev. Ordu further said grateful and wise people should acknowledge God’s role in their lives and celebrate their milestones in a godly manner.

He prayed for the celebrant to continue to enjoy God’s protection, grace and strength as he begins another year of life and service.

In his remarks  he celebrant, Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo, said the parsonage was constructed in memory of his beloved mother, who was a dedicated worker in the vineyard of God.

The Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital, has performed Nigeria’s first tele-robotic surgery.

The Tide source reports that the surgery was performed in real time on Saturday from a Toumai console at RHV on a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja.

The procedure was a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy performed to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.

Tele-robotic surgery, also known as remote surgery, is a technique that enables a surgeon to perform an operation on a patient from a completely different physical location.

Speaking after the surgery at RHV, Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, Professor of Urology and Transplantation, who led the surgery, explained the medical condition of the patient.

He said the procedure demonstrated that telesurgery could be safely performed on patients in different parts of Nigeria and the world.

Ekwenna-Davis, Co-Founder of RoboMed Global, said the development was a significant achievement for RHV and its partners.

“Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like,” he said.

The U.S.-based surgeon said the patient was in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours.

He said the procedure lasted about three hours, with brief stoppages to ensure that the equipment and systems functioned properly.

Ekwenna-Davis said the collaboration was significant as it marked the first time two hospitals in different parts of Nigeria successfully collaborated to provide surgical care to a patient.

He said the sustainability of the initiative would depend on continuous training, adding that a robotic academy would soon be established to train surgeons and other medical professionals.

According to him, the academy aims to train at least 150 surgeons within the next two years.

Ekwenna-Davis said the programme had the support of the Minister of Health and other government institutions, while calling for additional support from private and non-governmental organisations.

Earlier, Dr Adedamola Dada, Chief Executive Officer, RHV, said the development marked the first telesurgery in West Africa.

Dada said RHV was established to promote innovation and provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs.

“What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad,” he said.

He said the initiative was not primarily profit-driven but aimed at demonstrating what modern healthcare could offer Nigerians, in line with the vision of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Dada said the achievement had positioned the hospital as a gateway through which specialist skills could be transferred to patients across Nigeria.

He said the introduction of robotic surgery and telesurgery at RHV was aimed at reducing medical tourism and improving access to complex surgical procedures within the country.

The CEO said measures had been put in place to address possible connectivity challenges through the use of reliable networks.

He explained that weather conditions could sometimes affect connectivity, while the quality of equipment and availability of skilled personnel were also critical to the success of telesurgery.

Dada said the hospital was establishing a robotic academy in collaboration with RoboMed Global to train doctors, surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers and product specialists.

He urged the government to support and sponsor medical professionals interested in acquiring robotic surgery skills.

“My message to government is to support and sponsor Nigerians, the surgeons, the nurses, the biomedical engineers who would want to come and do this training here.

“They can award scholarships to them so that within two to three years, Nigeria will have a lot of professionals who are capable of performing robotic surgery,” he said.

Dr Ibrahim Wada, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Nisa Premier Hospital, said the facility had been a centre for robotic surgery in West Africa since November 2025.

“Today, our patient received specialist surgical expertise from across the country without leaving Abuja. This is what becomes possible when Nigerian institutions decide to build together,” Wada said.

Also, Dr Kunle Onakoya, Chairman, Board of RHV, described the development as historic and urged participants to recognise their roles in creating a milestone for Nigeria.

The Tide source reports that RHV is a faith-based 300-bed multispecialty hospital established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

The Tide source also reports that journalists watched the procedure live on television at RHV.

Rivers State Government has assured the people of Eleme Local Government Area that their losses arising from the recent flooding have not gone unnoticed.

The Deputy Governor of the State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, gave the assurance recently while presenting relief materials to flood victims in the local government area at Aleto Secondary School, Aleto Nchia, Eleme.

Represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, the deputy governor, who is the Chairman of the 2026 Flood Prevention and Management Committee, said experts have been assigned to study the area’s flooding patterns and recommend appropriate measures.

 She said, “The flood that ravaged your houses and your properties, the government of Sim Fubara, being a people-oriented government, a government that solves the problems of his people, heard about what happened and decided to bring some items to cushion the effect of the flood you have suffered, and that is why we are here to present these materials.

“These materials include perishable and non-perishable items.

“For the non-perishable items, we have 200 mattresses, 200 pillows, 100 blankets, 50 bedsheets, 200 towels, 200 plastic buckets, 200 bedroom slippers, 200 creams, 200 soaps, 200 toothbrushes, 200 pieces of toothpaste, 50 packs of washing soap detergent, 200 serving plates, 200 sanitary soaps, and 200 tablespoons.

“For food items, we have 150 bags of 25kg rice, 500 bags of 10kg beans, 30 bags of 25kg salt, 40 gallons of 10 litres palm oil, 14 cartons (196 packets) of seasoning cubes, 5 cartons (300 packets) of groundnut oil, 107 bags of 25kg garri, and 200 cartons of Indomie (40 pieces per carton). These are just some of the items the Governor has brought to you.

“It cannot solve the problem completely, but to cushion the impact of the flood on you and your family.

“I will take back the message the King has said about the road and assure you that the State Government is thinking about you; your welfare is paramount to him.”

Odu disclosed that experts from the Flood and Erosion Department of the Ministry of Environment had been assigned to work with the local government authority to study the area’s flooding patterns and determine appropriate measures.

The relief materials were subsequently presented to the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Hon. Obarilormate Ollor, who was represented by his Vice Chairman, Hon. Virtue Ekee.

Receiving the items, the chairman thanked the governor for considering the plight of flood victims and providing relief to affected residents.

Also speaking, the King of Eleme, HRM King (Dr.) Philip Osaro Obele, expressed joy over the relief materials, and thanked the governor and the local government chairman for assisting the flood victims in the area.

The king, who was represented by the Paramount Ruler of Nyada Community, Chief Engr. Isaac Osaro, said, “In Akamu area in Aleto, every building is flooded, properties worth billions have been lost, the people are suffering with no food and water.

“What the governor has done today by giving us relief materials will go a long way to lessen our suffering.

“I want to thank the governor and the local government chairman; they have done enough but there is still more to be done.”

He, however, appealed to the governor to come to their aid by constructing the road leading to Akamu community.

Mr. Bennett Paagoe who spoke on behalf of the victims, expressed appreciation to the State Government and members of the Flood Prevention and Management Committee for their prompt responses.

Kiadum Edookor