Rivers
Amaechi Eulogises PA Poroma …As Ikuru Extols Late Umesi’s Virtues
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says the State and Nigeria has lost an invaluable personality in late Pa Philip Poroma, father of the State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Joseph Poroma.
Governor Amaechi said this today during the Funeral Mass in honour of the deceased at St. James’ Catholic Church, Kpite in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, the Governor, admitted that late Pa Poroma lived an impactful life, noting that for him to have lived for advice for the living, condoling with the family and community on the irreplaceable loss.
“I very specially condole with the Poroma family over the loss of their beloved father. He may be 101 years but the loss of a father, the loss of a dear one still remains, in fact causes the same amount of tears. If anything the fact that he is old enough at the ripe age of 101 he has more advice to give the rest of us,” he said, adding that “his demise at this time is not only painful to the family to the community but indeed to the state”. He pointed out that “everyone of you should know that he had lived a good life. 101 years on earth calls for robust celebration,” regretting that his demise has created a vacuum not just in the family but in the State at large. In his message, the guest preacher, Reverend Stephen Deedua, urged the people to use the opportunity to reflect on what would be written on their epitaphs when they died, counseling them to be diligent in numbering their days, just as the Lord has commanded.
Speaking, the State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Joseph Poroma, who is also the chief mourner and first son of the deceased, described his late father as “a great man who fought a great battle and won most,” saying “we are proud to have called him our father, no word can describe what we thought of him,” stressing that the deceased maintained “a lifestyle that was a challenge to those of us he left behind”.
his chosen career, emphasizing that he is one of the few staff I feel proud of calling a good man without regrets during my tenure as the then Commissioner for Lands and Housing. I cant deny the fact that he is a man but if he says yes, I comfortably rely on that because his yes cannot be compromised.
Engr. Ikuru said the late Umesi has left a good footprint which people can testify about today, urging his family and those he left behind to maintain the same attribute, adding that it is beneficial to live and die with a good name than with much wealth.
Earlier in his exhortation and quoting from 1st Corinthians 5: 9-10, the Pastor of First Baptist Church, Rumuewhor, Pastor Wilcox Nabo, charged all Christians to live right and please the Creator because life on earth is nothing but a short journey, adding that the character of a man tells the story of how he lived his life here on earth, adding let your journey not be a sad tale at the last day when the glorious call would be made.
Also speaking, the younger brother of the deceased, Mr. Azunda Nkomadu, reiterated that the role of his elder brother in the family cannot be easily forgotten, thanking the Deputy Governor and all who stood by the family at a time like this.
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.