Business

Rivers Students Lead In High Brow Schools

Published

13 years ago

July 24, 2013

Several Rivers State
students on state government scholarship have emerged as leaders, as they were elected as prefects in high brow secondary schools in Nigeria. Their emergence as leaders in their various schools showed that they possess good leadership skills, excellent academic ranking and high social standing among their peers, inspite of their humble background from rural and semi-urban areas in Rivers State.
No doubt, their impeccable strides in learning and character earned them votes of the fellow students in keenly contested elections through which they emerged as prefects to serve in various capacities in their respective schools. Interestingly, these peculiar students are current beneficiaries of Governor Chibuike Amaechi initiated-scholarship programme, Greater Horizon Opportunities Programme (GHOP) – a programme funded by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and partly implemented by Development & Leadership Institute (DLI).
These students have made the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi proud in return for priority investment in human capital development through the scholarship programme. The GHOP was designed to broaden the horizon of the Rivers Child by creating access for talented but impoverished rural and urban slum beneficiaries to have quality education in topmost secondary schools across the country.
In 2007, on assumption of office, Governor Amaechi was appalled by the low quality of education and social exclusion triggered by poverty and limited opportunities for brilliant students from rural areas. He immediately swung into action by initiating a scholarship programme that offered instant opportunities for 123 students from the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State. These exceptional students were selected through a three-level comprehensive examination and sent to topmost secondary schools across the country.
The excellent performance of these students across the various secondary schools has been remarkable. They have consistently out-shone their contemporaries who attended elite primary schools. The fact is proven by the numerous outstanding awards in academics and sports won by them over the years.
On various occasions, the parents have expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Governor Amaechi for this wonderful gesture of providing an opportunity where their children and wards will live and learn together with the children of the wealthy in the society.
In Archdeacon Brown Educational Center (ABEC), Port Harcourt, Faith Obimba emerged as Head Girl while in Bells Secondary School, Ota, Chibuzor Odili was elected as Head Boy; Cecilia Mbee (Social Prefect), Emmanuel Jumbo (Food Prefect Boys), Angela Martins (Food Prefect Girls), Beatrice Benibo (Library Prefect) and Christaina Israel as Labour Prefect.
At the White Dove Secondary School, Lagos, Nkiru Pius emerged as Head Girl, Richman Jumbo (Head Boy), Merit Nwankwo (Sports Prefect Girls), Chimecha Mathew (Sports Prefect Boys), Sampson Nwobodo (Dining Hall Prefect) and Precious Roy as Chapel Prefect.
Dowen Secondary School, Lagos was not left out as Micheal Euphoris emerged as Head Girl, Eric Brown (Assistant Head Boy), Etiplanapu libi Bruce (Punctuality Prefect Girls), Justus Chukwe (Punctuality Prefect Boys), Obulor Chukwuka (Labour prefect Boys), Dokubo Catherine (Labour Prefect Girls), Nwamaoku Eunice (Social Prefect Girls) and Gibson Esther as Social Prefect.
At Brooke Stone Secondary School, Port Harcourt; Mary Monday (Dining Hall Prefect girls), Peter Woke (Dining Hall Prefect Boys), Ulee Teabah (Chapel Prefect), Faith Okwele (Welfare prefect).
Also, at Chrisland Secondary School, Lagos, Upadi Emeyi won as Assistant Sports Prefect, Victor Edugbom as Library Prefect for Boys and Stella Ntieren as Library Prefect for Girls.
Vivian Fowler Memorial Girls Secondary Schools was equally not left out, as Precious Amadi became Library prefect, Blessing Igakeh (Social Prefect) and Beauty Ofoegbu (Hostel Prefect).
At Olashore International Secondary Schools, Ijesa, Osun State, Tamunonengi came out as Academic Prefect.
More importantly, the students have continuously shown appreciation to the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) for exposing them to quality education by regularly acknowledging the fact that this rare opportunity has expanded their horizon and greatly positioned them for more opportunities in the future.

Tonye Nria-Dappa

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

11 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

11 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

6 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.