Rivers State Government has urged youths in the state to consider a career in the Nigerian Army as an opportunity to serve the nation and build impactful careers.*

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, made the call at a sensitisation meeting between representatives of the Army Headquarters, traditional rulers and youth leaders from the 23 local government areas of the state.*

Wokoma said the strength and effectiveness of the military depends on the quality of young men and women who join its ranks.*

“Today’s recruits and junior officers are the senior commanders and leaders of tomorrow. Young people who join the military have the opportunity to build careers that positively affect their families, communities and the nation,” he said.*

*Earlier, leader of the sensitisation team from Army Headquarters, Abuja, Brig-Gen. B.U. Ugbaji, said following President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the recruitment of 28,000 personnel, it was important for Rivers youths to take advantage of the opportunity to fill the state’s quota.*

“As important as other vocations are, we must take our place in the affairs of the state. The quota from this region is reducing. In future, we may not have representatives,” Ugbaji said.*

He urged interested youths to apply for the ongoing 92 Regular Recruits Intake for trades and non-tradesmen and women, assuring that the Army provides opportunities for career advancement and educational development.*

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Gbenemene and Kasimene of Ancient Bangh Kingdom VIII, HRM King Suanu T.U. Baridam, pledged that traditional rulers would sensitise youths in their domains on the recruitment.*

The online application closes on October 21, 2026, via https://recruitment.army.mil.ng*

The Rivers State Government has extended its flood relief intervention to residents of Eneka in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, providing ?200,000 cash support to affected households and enrolling victims in the State’s health insurance scheme for one year of free healthcare.

The intervention, according to the Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Odu, is part of the State Government’s comprehensive response to the devastating floods that affected several communities across the State.

Odu, who spoke through the Head of Service of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown said the intervention was carried out on the directive of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

She stated this during  the distribution of the ?200,000 stipends to flood-affected residents of Eneka at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

According to her, the State Government had adopted a three-pronged approach to mitigate the impact of the flooding on affected residents.

She explained that the first phase involved the distribution of relief materials to affected communities, while the second phase focused on the enrolment of flood victims in the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme, providing beneficiaries with access to free healthcare for one year.

The deputy governor said the payment of the ?200,000 stipend constituted the third phase of the intervention, noting that while the financial assistance could not replace what residents had lost, it was intended to cushion the economic hardship caused by the disaster.

She urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the healthcare coverage provided by the State Government, saying they would be directed to designated health facilities where they could access medical treatment.

Odu also assured residents that the government was addressing some of the environmental factors responsible for the flooding.

She said officials of the Ministry of Environment were working to identify and clear blockages in waterways and drainage channels to facilitate the free flow of floodwaters.

The deputy governor further disclosed that the government was pursuing long-term measures to address the recurring flooding, expressing optimism that the current experience would not be repeated.

She assured the affected residents that Governor Fubara and the State Government shared in their pain and remained committed to finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting flood-affected communities.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Echebiri Wobidi appealed to the State Government to urgently rehabilitate and open up drainage channels in Eneka to address the recurring flooding.

He commended the deputy governor for leading the State’s flood intervention efforts and for personally visiting affected communities to assess the situation.

On her part, the wife of the Traditional Ruler of Eneka, Queen Blessing Woko, expressed appreciation to the State Government for its concern for flood victims, describing the intervention as an indication that the people had not been forgotten.

Queen Woko commended Odu’s humility and commitment, saying her visit to the community demonstrated genuine concern for the plight of the people.

Also speaking, the Youth Leader in Eneka, Mr. Gift Opurum, commended the Rivers State Government for its intervention and called for a permanent solution to the recurring flooding in the community.

He thanked the State Government for coming to the aid of affected residents, noting that the relief materials and ?200,000 cash support had provided some succour to the victims.

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has ranked seventh in Google Scholar Profile Submission in the 2026 Ranking of Universities.

The ranking was based on staff Google Scholar Profile submissions by various institutions.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, disclosed this at the Senate meeting held on Wednesday at the Postgraduate Hall of the university.

Onuchuku commended academic staff whose scholarly articles and publications were cited on Google Scholar, describing their contributions as instrumental to the university’s improved visibility and ranking.

He urged them to sustain the tempo in research, publication and academic engagement.

The Vice-Chancellor also expressed appreciation to the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for approving the implementation of the agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which, he said, had resulted in the new salary structure now being received by members of staff.

He further commended the IAUE ASUU Chairman, Professor Obinna Prince Ikechi, for his efforts towards ensuring the implementation of the agreement, as well as members of the University Bursary who worked to facilitate the process.

In another development, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved five new programmes for the university at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The programmes include Special Needs Education, Human Kinetics and Sports Management, Environmental Management and Toxicology, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and Cyber Security.

The approval followed the NUC’s visit to the university on September 8, to assess the readiness of the institution for the newly introduced programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor said plans were underway to appoint and announce qualified academic staff to head the new departments.

Meanwhile, the University Senate has expelled a final-year student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, over what the institution described as damaging content creation.

The Senate’s decision followed an interview by the student which went viral, during which she reportedly claimed that her project topic was “Citizenship”, although the university said there was no such topic in the Department of English and Literary Studies.

She was also reported to have claimed that her supervisor wrote the project for her.

According to the university, the Senate’s decision was intended to serve as a deterrent to other students who may engage in similar conducts capable of damaging the image of the institution.

Senate also approved the graduating results for the 2024/2025 academic session from the university’s faculties and affiliated institutions, including Peaceland University, Enugu, and the College of Education, Warri, as presented by the Postgraduate School through its Dean, Professor Helen Okujagu.

The Senate also approved the 2026/2027 academic calendar as presented by the Director of the Academic Planning Unit, Professor Joseph Kinanee.

Returning students, according to the calendar, are expected to resume on Monday, November 9, 2026, while registration for Year One students is ongoing.

Lectures are scheduled to commence for returning students on Monday, November 23, and for fresh students on Monday, November 30, with the Christmas break beginning on Friday, December 18, 2026.

Academic activities are expected to resume on Monday, January 4, 2027 after the Christmas break.

King Onunwor