Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Obi of Onitsha,His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe, are among dignitaries expected at the coronation of the sixth Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Majesty, Charles Douglas MacPepple-Jaja next month.

This follows a visit by the Amanyanabo-elect and Opobo Council of Alapu to the ex-President Jonathan’s residence in  Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

King MacPepple-Jaja became Amanyanabo-elect following the death of King Dandeson Douglas Jaja.

The former president while describing Opobo as a historic kingdom, said its monarch had made significant contributions to Nigeria’s history.

“Opobo Kingdom is a place with history, and this visit is a big honour,” Jonathan said.

Confirming his attendance at the coronation,  Jonathan said “We will come to honour you back.”

The former President congratulated the Amanyanabo-elect and acknowledged the importance of the Opobo throne to the history of the Niger Delta.

On his part, King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja said the visit was intended to rub minds on issues of common interest in the region and to formally invite the former President, a foremost ijaw son and Nigerian leader to the coronation.

“We cannot coronate an Opobo monarch without coming to see you,” King Charles told Jonathan.

The Opobo monarch and his delegation had earlier visited the Obi Of Onitsha at his palace in Onitsha, Anambra State during which they intimated the monarch of the forthcoming coronation.

The Obi of Onitsha who received the Opobo delegation recalled old ties between the two kingdoms, saying both were key trade allies in the 19th centuries.

Achebe assured King Jaja VI of his presence to witness the coronation next month.

The coronation was scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 26.

The Tide reports that Opobo monarchy was established by King Jaja of Opobo, who became a major political and commercial authority in the 19th Niger Delta.

Following the Bonny civil conflict of the late 1860s, Jaja and his compatriots established Opobo as an independent political and commercial centre, developing a trading network and exercising significant influence over the palm-oil trade between the Niger Delta hinterland and the Atlantic coast.

Britain then entered into a commercial treaty with Jaja in 1873, formally recognising him as King of Opobo.

Jaja later clashed with British commercial and imperial interests and was arrested and exiled in 1887, an episode that remains part of the history of colonial relations in the Niger Delta.

Other dignitaries expected at the coronation include traditional rulers, political leaders, members of the diplomatic community, business leaders and Opobo indigenes from Nigeria and abroad.

 By: Kevin Nengia

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has charged students of Kenule Beeson Saro Wiwa Polytechnic (Kenpoly) not to see themselves as jobs seekers but as job creators.

The governor, who is the Visitor to the Polytechnic, urged the students to embrace technical and vocational education in their various careers.

Fubara gave the charge at the 25th to 32nd Convocation Ceremony of the polytechnic in Bori at the weekend.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, the governor urged the students and graduands to strive towards becoming employers of labour with their skills.

According to him, “Technical and vocational skills rules the world.”

He commended the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr George Chile Wadike, and his management for the successful hosting of the convocation ceremony, advising the graduands to be good ambassadors of the polytechnic.

Earlier in his address, Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof Friday Barikpe Sigalo, appealed to the Rivers State Government to upgrade the polytechnic to a degree-awarding institution.

The Chairman said upgrading Kenpoly to a degree awarding institution would significantly enhance access to university education by ambitious populace in the zone and region.

According to him, such will reduce education migration, promote regional equity and stimulate socio-economic development in the South East Senatorial zone of the country.

Sigalo thanked the governor for his unprecedented support which helped the institution to overcome various challenges.

He advised the graduands, not to “throw away the skills and knowledge acquired during your training in the Polytechnic, but continue to innovate and develop additional skills to meet up with the competition that prevail on our contemporary society so that your training can add value to your life, family and the society.”

Also speaking, the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr George Chile Wadike, disclosed that a total of 24,842 graduands passed out in eight session from 2017/ 2018 to 2024/2025.

The Rector who gave a statistical breakdown of the figure said 11,643 students had National Diploma while 13,208 graduates had  Higher National Diploma.

He said the figures represent thousands of individual stories of perseverance, parental sacrifice, academic commitment and institutional efforts.

The Rector appealed to governor to approve the recruitment of new staff to fill critical academic and non academic vacancies in the newly accredited programmes in the polytechnic.

The Rector als appealed for the approval and release of funds for the construction of hostels for students and administrative offices, official vehicles for principal officers and approval and release of our dues which has been withheld before his administration came onboard in 2023.

He also called for the state government’s intervention in the areas of power supply, improved infrastructures and security of lives and property in the institution.

On his achievements, Wadike said all the four new Higher National Diploma programmes presented for resource verification by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) were approved for 2026/ academic session 2027.

He also said the Polytechnic had taken steps towards resolving the challenges associated with graduates mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He charged the students and graduands “to be disciplined in their conduct, be honest in your dealing, be innovative in solving problems and be willing to learn new skills.

“The world you are entering will demand adaptability, technologies will change, industries will evolve, some professions will be transformed by artificial intelligence and automation, your capacity to remain relevant will depend on your willingness to continue learning and developing new competencies.”

Highlights of the ceremony was the awards of fellowship to friends of the Polytechnic.

Dignitaries at the event include Commissioner for Education, Peter Wago, traditional rulers, clergies and friends of the Polytechnic.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, says the rehabilitation of the runway at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt reflects the strength of collaboration between the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Air Force in tackling national security challenges.

Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka  Nzeshi, disclosed this at the commissioning ceremony of the runway last Thursday, describing the project as a “statement of intent” that Rivers State stands firmly with the Armed Forces.

“It is a great pleasure and a distinct honour to be here today at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, for the commissioning of this rehabilitated runway. What we commission this day is more than concrete and asphalt. It is a statement of intent — a declaration that Rivers State stands firmly with those who stand guard over Nigeria,” he said.

The governor said the government and people of Rivers State are proud to be associated with the historic intervention, noting that the NAF remains one of the institutions upon which Nigeria’s unity rests.

“We recognise the Nigerian Air Force as one of the pillars upon which our nationhood rests — an institution whose men and women continue to make enormous sacrifices in defence of our territorial integrity, in the protection of our critical national assets, and in the pursuit of peace and stability across the length and breadth of this country,” Fubara stated.

He acknowledged President Bola Tinubu for providing leadership that continues to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

He explained that national security is the foundation for every other area of development.

“As Commander-in-Chief, Mr. President has remained firm in his commitment to equipping and repositioning our security institutions, in the clear understanding that national security is not merely one item on the list of national priorities — it is the foundation upon which every other item rests. There can be no thriving economy without security,” he said.

Fubara stressed that because Rivers State is the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the security of the state is directly tied to the security of the nation.

“Rivers State occupies a strategic position in the economic life of this nation. As the heart of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, our communities, our waterways, our industries and our infrastructure carry a burden of national significance. The security of Rivers State is therefore inseparable from the security of Nigeria itself,” he said.

Describing the runway rehabilitation as a product of that sense of duty, the governor said it is a duty for a responsible state government to support institutions mandated to safeguard national assets.

“That is the spirit in which this runway was rehabilitated. It is a demonstration of our administration’s conviction that meaningful progress is built on genuine collaboration between the Federal Government and the sub-national governments. Security is a collective responsibility,” he stated.

According to him, the facility will deliver immediate operational gains for the NAF in the South-South.

“The benefits of this facility are practical and immediate. It will enhance the operational capability of the Nigerian Air Force Base, Port Harcourt. It will improve the efficiency and the safety of aerial operations. It will strengthen rapid-response capacity in those moments when time itself is the difference between order and disorder,” he said.

Fubara added that the rehabilitated runway would also support the Federal Government’s campaign against economic sabotage in the Niger Delta.

According to him, it will boost the ongoing campaign against crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandalism, and the other criminal enterprises that continue to bleed the national economy.

He noted that the ceremony also reflects the excellent working relationship between the state and the Air Force, which extends beyond infrastructure to personnel welfare.

“Today’s ceremony is also a reflection of the excellent working relationship between the Rivers State Government and the Nigerian Air Force. Beyond this runway, our administration has continued to provide support directed at improving operational effectiveness and at advancing the welfare of the gallant officers and personnel who serve here,” he stated.

The governor commended the Chief of Air Staff and personnel of the NAF for their sacrifice, and all those who worked on the project.

“As this rehabilitated runway is commissioned today, we renew our pledge of partnership, of patriotism, and of service to our dear nation. May this facility stand as an enduring symbol of cooperation, of strength, and of our shared commitment to the peace and prosperity of Rivers State and of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, who performed the ceremonial rituals of commissioning the facility, hailed the Rivers State Government on the successful completion and unveiling of the newly rehabilitated runway.

Aneke said it was an eloquent testimony of the  robust collaboration between the Nigerian Air force and the Rivers State Government in the security sector.

The new facility, Aneke said, will enhance the operations of the Nigeria Air force particularly in the task of protecting critical national assets and infrastructure in Rivers State.

He  described the rehabilitated runway as timely and critical to ongoing air operations, training, and disaster response missions in the South-South region.