Re-inventing Bonny: What the youths can do 

By Godswill Jumbo 


It is no longer news that Bonny as a community is burdened by the saddening outcomes of the failure of leadership. This leadership crisis is unanimously agreed to be coming from all fronts - traditional, religious, and political. The myriad, hydra-headed problems facing the area is the harvest for this failure. 


However, the issue now is not what the problems are as most of us are abreast with them in the various hues they show themselves. What is important now is the way forward and more importantly the role the youths can play to reshape the destiny of this great kingdom. 


So far diverse fora have been thriving especially online where ideas are being harvested on what's the way forward for our community. These include the Facebook pages such as Bonny Youth Federation, BYF360, Bonny Vanguard, Bonny for Credible Candidates, Rivers Ijaws, and several others. There are also Yahoo groups such as Bonny Graduates Forum, Bonny Light House, amongst others. Those who have participated in discussions on these fora attest to the dynamism, freshness and pungency of ideas therein cross-pollinated. Problem is to what extent have actions matched the words said so far? 


But for starters, what forms the items articulated by consensus on these discussion forums as the critical need profile of the Kingdom, politically, socially, economically, educationally, health-wise, and other areas? What and what does Bonny need? For the youths, for the women, for the old and aged, for the traditional institution, for the non-indigenes residing amongst us, what do we need? 


Interrogating this need assessment profile would throw up several issues. But it behoves the youths themselves to take up the gauntlet and direct the discourse in the direction of articulating the general and specific needs of the community. Every concept is valuable as at now. Like I posited sometime ago, every Bonny man and woman wherever we find ourselves should begin the revolution of directing value and positive impact homewards. 


Those in the public and private sector, development and social activists, public opinion leaders, the traditional institution, religious leaders, everyone has a role to play in saturating the discourse with the Bonny Project, to borrow the political jargon of the incumbent Chairman of the local government area. But the greater responsibility rests on the shoulders of the youths, reason being that it is their time. 

Need I say, that the precious time squandered online posting pictures of their beauty by our young ladies and that by our young men abusing each other can be channelled into conceptualising how to turn around the fortunes of our community. 


From my own perspective, there's need to dust up the Bonny Masterplan, the Joint Industries Committee blueprint, and any other extant document articulating the need assessment profile of Bonny Kingdom. These would provide the needed raw materials for drawing up a marshal plan for developing the area. Without prejudice to whatever those documents contain I need to say it here that top on the agenda would be the following: 


1) Opening up Bonny to the rest of the world by getting the Bonny-Bodo Road completed. Can someone volunteer to put up Google Maps and Google Earth pictures and on the spot assessment pictures of the state of the road on a regular basis? This would counter any stupid lies our politicians would bandy about. 


2) We, the youths need a thriving resource centre. The Bonny Library can serve this purpose if transformed and fitted with Internet resources. Out of context, right? But we need to research. That's how knowledge comes and flows. 


3) A database of our resources won't be a bad idea, or would it? We don't know who is where, doing what or achieving what. We don't have a formal platform for warehousing our resources be they human or otherwise. V-Connect, LinkedIn, and others like them is what I am looking at. If I need someone in a particular field or occupation I can call up that information quickly via such a database. The Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre would also find such a database very handy in the pursuit of its objectives. 


4) The youths need a think tank of sound intellectuals to interrogate any and every policy, programme or project coming our way whether from the public or private sector and determine their suitability or otherwise to the interest or needs of the community. This would eliminate to the barest minimum situations where politicians or companies come with their hogwash to deceive us. 


5) A trust fund to drive certain projects would do us a world of good. Scholarships, grants and community projects can be driven through such fund. This trust fund when established can warehouse all accruals from royalties, tenement rate, intervention funds, donations, etc from wherever coming to the kingdom. To inure it from pilfering, an e-accounting system could be integrated into its management which can be accessed by anyone anytime. 


6) The Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF), and other youth bodies needs to be harmonised and strengthened to deliver more on their goals. 


7) The advocacy drive for driving development homewards should also begin to bite. This would be profoundly effective where we eschew acrimony and other self-defeatist tendencies. I grapple with a lot of drivel in my interactions with our brethren. Misunderstandings of yesteryears are made to look like they are happening live when ordinarily they should have found comfort in the waste bins of history. 


8) Last but not the least, every Bonny Youth should focus on building capacity, personal development and economic self-sufficiency to reduce the problem of dependency on politicians who tie their support to our blind loyalty. For the fact that they feed us they expect us to take their trash and swallow it hook line and sinker. Ridiculous as it sounds that's reality for many of our youths. 


This does not in any way sum up the imperatives for our youths. They are just the ruminations of my restless mind. You need to add yours so we can hit the ground running. Obviously we are behind schedule as to where our beloved homeland should be in terms of social, economic and other aspects of development. Let the discourse continue. 

Re-inventing Bonny as an investment destination  

Godswill Jumbo 

Most people from Bonny community grew up with stories of achievements made by many sons and daughters of the area in diverse fields of human endeavour. The general positive and adventurous spirit of the average Bonny man or woman is one that is inborn and deeply etched on the psyche. Reason for this is not far-fetched because ahead of every generation of Bonny indigenes lie an array of men and women who have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions or calling. 


From the first indigenous Nigeria Air Force general and Chief of Air Staff, General George Kurubo, down the line the list is endless. In business we have greats like the late Adango Kalada, who was at one time Chairman of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, was pioneer Director General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), among others. In politics, there formerly Tonye Long-John, and currently, Randolph Brown, as members of the House of Representatives; George Tolofari, Aye Pepple and currently Abinye Pepple, at the State House of Assembly; Amal Pepple was Minister of Housing while the late Friday Tolofari, his son, George Tolofari, Toru Ofili, and Patricia Simon-Hart have been at various times Commissioners in Rivers State. Even the United Kingdom Parliament has been graced by notable Bonny indigenes like Meg Halliday, amongst others. 


Other facets of society has witnessed the professional imprint of a Bonny indigene. Just recently, Bonny indigenes, Henry Halliday served as Chief of Protocol to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Clinton Dan-Jumbo served as Manager, Government Relations and Technical Assistant to the Executive Director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Boma Willie-Pepple served as Special Assistant to Senator Magnus Abe, his younger brother, Fubara, Sofiri Ezekiel-Hart, both served as Special Assistants to the immediate past Commissioners for Water Resources and Finance, respectively, while Godswill Jumbo served as Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past Deputy Governor. Also, Frederick Tolofari served on the State House of Assembly Commission, amongst several others in diverse fields. 


However, the question remains to what extent have these forays into diverse career paths and successes impacted positively on the fortunes of the Ibani nation. Though Bonny names dot the landscape of successful careers across Nigeria's multifaceted national life it is yet to rub off on how the community fares in terms of development and economic fortunes. The leadership question still stares us in the face in a very uncomfortable way. 


Bonny as a community, though enjoying 24/7 electricity on the mainland, yet a has large swathes  of its hinterland comprising several towns and villages that make up the local government area living in darkness with no access to electricity. Water has yet to run in homes as it is still being conveyed in rickety tankers mainly on the mainland while the hinterland grapples with the abject lack of portable, drinking water. Most roads across the island are generally not motorable due to their being riddled with potholes,lacking drainages and very narrow. The towns and villages in the hinterland are all cut off from the mainland due to the suspension of the Bonny Link Road and Bridges that would have linked them to the mainland. Bonny itself is disconnected from the rest of Nigeria as the Bonny-Bodo Road that would have linked her with other parts of the State is yet to be completed despite repeated promises by successive administrations. 


All these factors combine to hamper the economic boom the community should have been revelling in. Most traders have to suffer the stress of sea travel and the exorbitant fares of transporting their wares to the island. Consumers are forced to compensate this hardship by buying such commodities at highly exorbitant prices thus jerking up the cost of living on the island. Workers of the various multinationals on the island have had to sustain the capital flight associated with living and investing off the community. They earn here but spend the money elsewhere. This has become inevitable because of the security challenges that has compromised the serenity of the area once regarded as the most peaceful community in the Niger Delta. These security challenges have been caused mainly by first the sporadic visits of armed robbers attacking banks on the island in speedboats, then the sordid militancy era and more recently pistol-wielding  petty thieves and cult-related clashes across the community. Not to mention the activities of sea pirates that attack on the sea route to and from Port Harcourt. 


These sorry situation, as  inexplicable as it is, is made worse by the fact that the community is host to several facilities belonging to international oil and gas companies (IOCs) such as Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant, Chevron, amongst others. It is also home to the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Abalamabie. 


The Bonny River serves as gateway into the nation's South-Eastern economic hub viz Port Harcourt, the business capital of the Niger Delta, Onne, host of Federal Ocean Terminal, Oil and Gas Free Zone (OGFZA), and the Institute of Oceanography, Eleme, host to Indorama Petrochemical Complex and co-host with Okrika of the Port Refinery. 


These facts come handy given the irony associated with the community that serves the economic interest of a country like Nigeria in no small way reeling under the throes of the abject lack of social amenities, dearth of economic opportunities, and an economically disenfranchised population. The said multinationals have brazenly and shamelessly shirked and continue to run away from living up to their corporate social responsibilities to their host community. The Federal Government itself the major beneficiary of the economic activities on the island that is negatively impacting the environment as a result of the gas flaring has shown no seriousness in compensating the community adequately. 


For a very long while successive administrations have looked the other way when issues affecting Bonny comes into focus. However, those issues are too germane to the corporate wellbeing of Nigeria as a nation to be wished away. The questions that should be asked are: can the number of soldiers deployed in Bonny be able to manage any uprising that would result from the resentment of the people when it boils over? Does it serve the cause of social and environmental justice for a people's resources to be utilised for the general benefit of a nation while the owners are unjustly disenfranchised from such benefits? Is it the proper way of addressing the justified agitation and demands of a community by dealing with their leaders even when such dealings have been found to not serve the interest of the generality of the people? What is the cost of addressing the compensatory fallout of utilising the natural resources of the people? 


If the answers to the above questions are in the negative rather than affirmative then it calls to question why addressing the issues they remain a mirage. The blame ordinarily would go to the gatekeepers of the community being the political, traditional, religious and opinion leaders. Every Bonny indigene cannot walk to the Presidency to ask for one benefit or the other. It behoves those whose responsibility it is to promote, project and defend the interest of the generality of the people to utilise every avenue to put in the front burner issues germane to the progress and development of the area. It is their duty to make demands and be unabashed about it with a view to maximising available opportunities for the betterment of the people of the area. 


Why can't the whole of Bonny be connected by roads and bridges? Why can't water run in homes like electricity is on the mainland? Why can't the rural communities such as  Orupiri, Oloma, Iloma, Ayaminima, Sangama, Burukiri, Georgekiri, Polokiri, Agbalama, Banigo-Isile, Dan-Jumbo, Iyoba, Ererekiri, Fibiri, Kalaibiama, Dema-Abbey, Beresiri, Ayama, and several others be connected to the electricity grid that serves the island? Why can't the roads in and around Bonny be remodelled with drainages and pedestrian walkways and possibly medians integrated into them? This would make them safer, more motorable and also preserve more pedestrian lives. So far the only major medical facility on the island is the Bonny General Hospital. Presently it is as antiquated as antiques in a decrepit and long abandoned monastery. The facilities are begging for critical overhaul. Not only is it understaffed, the staff are severely behind the times in terms of hands-on professional know-how. The educational sector is worse off. 


Then there is the surging population of unemployed youths both graduates and non-graduates. Many of these youths on both sides of the divide I understand have competences in diverse areas. The natural and worrisome fallout of having such mammoth crowd of unemployed youths in any community is primarily the natural predilection to resort to crime to survive. Then there is the availability for unwholesome tendencies such as thuggery, politically motivated violence and restiveness. All these are very discomforting scenarios that are basically needless where the leadership chooses to do the needful. 


Doing the needful would begin with harnessing the opportunities, varied as it may, available to the Ibani nation. Who is where and doing what? Those opportuned to be at the legislative houses in the country be it Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, and Local Government Legislative Assembly should rise to the occasion by sponsoring, supporting and influencing the enactment of laws that would directly or tangentially benefit the community. Those serving in any aspect of the executive arm of government from federal to state to local government should initiate or cause to initiate policies, programmes and projects that would positively impact the area. Bonny indigenes in the private sector should consider investment opportunities that would open up the area, create jobs, create wealth and build entrepreneurs in and around the community. Opinion leaders should become vocal and proactive in their advocacy of issues that are germane to the holistic development of the area. Political, religious and other mundane, pecuniary and pedestrian considerations should be set aside at this time as they would be defeatist, counterproductive and utterly unhelpful to us as a people. 


Corporate entities doing business on the island should no longer sleep with their two eyes closed when the surrounding environment of where they make their billions are grossly inadequate. They should not wait to be told to rise to the occasion and discharge their corporate social responsibilities. It is not that they are completely obdurate but they need to do more to meet up with what is commensurate to what they are taking out of the area. Nasty stories of compromises in the engagement processes such as bringing in non-indigenes to fill up indigenes positions are to be modest unacceptable and worse still insane and provocative. A maddening dimension to it is bandying illogical excuses like "there are not qualified or competent indigenes to man critical positions giving rise to the need to bring in outsiders". Such rationalisation of wrongdoings smacks of taking a whole community cum ethnic nationality for granted and poking spite in their faces. Such trend have the unpalatable outcome of fostering acrimony and generating an aggressive attitude from the victim community towards the culpable companies and should be discarded for the better and more rewarding benefit of host community/investor relations. 


The Federal Government on its part should be forthcoming in accommodating host community agitations and interests in its bid to drive foreign direct investments (FDIs) homewards. While we appreciate the fact such FDIs when consumated locally will provide jobs, empower individuals and communities and boost the economic potentials of the nation and its federating units it is trite that the investors cum multinationals get up close personal with the CSR imperatives associated with doing business here. In their quest to privilege us with investments in our country they also reap huge economic benefits, provide their citizens with overseas work experience, and boost the international outlook of their businesses, nationals and home economies. On the other hand our environment is negatively impacted, our livelihoods destroyed, our people intimidated and impoverished and a lot of other negative consequences. We deserve commensurate compensation for these. 


The advantages that Bonny as a community holds are myriad. It is the home of civilization South of Nigeria. Historians have found this very helpful. It is beautifully bequeathed with verdant vegetation and virgin environment waiting to be harnessed investment-wise. It is a natural tourism destination with beautiful, azure shores lining the Atlantic Ocean from Fibiri on the Western flank to Finima in the centre and then to Agaja and Ifoko on the Eastern end bounding Oyorokoto, the largest fishing port in West Africa at the boundary between Bonny and Andoni local government areas. Its seas, Rivers and rivulets are home to millions of species of edible fish rich in proteins. Above every other positives about her is the tremendous hospitality of her people. It's a destination of excellence in many respects and as such should given the right attention to develop it holistically. 


Godswill Jumbo, a development analyst, journalist, political scientist, and social critic, was the Chief Press Secretary to immediate past Deputy Governor of Rivers State

KIDNAPPED CORPERS’LL REJOIN FAMILIES SOON – AMAECHI

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says everything possible is being done to expedite the release of the five members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) kidnapped recently in Port Harcourt.

The Governor said this today during the Passing-Out Ceremony of the 2010 Batch ‘B’ Corps members in the State at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt.

Represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi promised that “the kidnapped youth corpers would soon rejoin their families as we’re doing everything to secure their release,” while commending the NYSC scheme for it contributions to “engendering harmony, national unity and productive integration”.

He commended the corps members for their role in “the effective campaign against HIV/AIDS, implementation of MDGs programmes, mass literacy, Legal Aid, healthcare delivery, charity and most recently, the successful voters’ registration and General Elections”, describing their contributions as “noteworthy”, urging them to be self-reliant. 

Earlier, Chairman of the State NYSC Governing Board, Mr. George Feyii announced that seven corps members will receive State Honours Award, seven of them will receive Chairman’s Award for outstanding performance while others will receive commendation letters for their contribution to their host communities.

Mr. Feyii, who is also the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), disclosed that 19 corps members who absconded from service will repeat the service year, while 28 will have their service year extended ranging from two weeks to five months, urging them to work for the unity and development of the nation.

Speaking, State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Esther Wogbo, said the outgoing corps members have meritoriously served their fatherland and satisfied the conditions for the award of certificate of national service, commending them for the positive impact they have made in their host communities and places of primary assignment.

She commended the Governor Amaechi-led administration in the State for the tremendous support given the scheme, saying “his fatherly support has opened up the enabling environment for the scheme to thrive successfully, using the opportunity to congratulate the new Chairman of the State NYSC Board and SSG, Mr. Feyii on his well deserved appointment.

Rivers Deputy Governor endorses Forever Living Products

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says the products and services of Forever Living Products (FLP) Limited are providing answers to the health and economic issues affecting Nigerians, urging people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the company to improve their health and financial standing.

Engr. Ikuru, who said this during a Workshop on Effective Service Delivery for personnel of his office at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, in the same vein urged public and civil servants in the State must brace up for improved service delivery in the next four years.

Concurring with the Deputy Governor, guest speaker at the event and Managing Director of FLP Ltd, Nigeria and Benin Republic, Mr. Cornelius Olanrewaju Tay, in a paper titled, Healthy Living, Productivity and Prosperity, said that poor health conditions undermine workers’ productivity levels and as a consequence impacts negatively on the economy.

Mr. Tay, an Integrated Marketing Communications, Social Marketing and Wellness Consultant, with 36 years experience in varied products and project categories as a registered consultant for major international organizations and foremost Nigerian companies, challenged Nigerians to take responsibility for their personal health and imbibe good health habits to ensure longevity and enhance their productivity.  

According to him, “Nutritional medicine and non-drug therapies enable us to take responsibility for our own health,” advising them to “find the optimum nutritional supplements and products, including lifestyle that will re-programme your complex biological ecosystem,” stressing the importance of exercise, watching their weight and meditation.

The FLP boss said FLP as a successful company with over $3billion annual sales and currently operating in 148 countries, is currently the number one grower of Aloe Vera in the world and the only manufacturer of patented stabilized Aloe Vera Gel.

He announced that FLP is harnessing the power of nature to help people and currently producing over 200 natural products all helping millions all over the world to enjoy excellent health and fulfilling lifestyle.

He declared that FLP has created a unique and powerful family of products that bring the remarkable, healing properties of Aloe Vera and the beehive to the entire body, adding that the company is committed to helping people across the globe achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of health which is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of infirmity”.  

Ignatius Ajuru UOE: Faculty of Humanities holds 1st Anniversary



Acting VC of the university, Prof Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, making a speech



Acting Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Professor Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, has called on the academic community to proffer solutions to the socio-economic and socio-political problems facing the nation.

Prof. Green-Osahogulu stated this at the First Anniversary and Orientation of fresh students of the institution’s Faculty of Humanities. 

She noted that the faculty has made giant strides within the past one year since it was created, expressing the hope that it would continue to positively impact the society through the quality of its academic work, charging the lecturers to always do what is right.

The Vice Chancellor, however, challenged students of tertiary institutions in the country to stand up against every form of injustice in the nation’s university system, urging them to take concerted action aimed at ridding the system of perverse activities, saying “when intimidated shout,” adding that “it’s time for students to have the boldness to expose injustice done to them by lecturers and other staff of the university”.

In her Welcome Address, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Mrs. Rosetta Da-Wariboko, noted the invaluable role to the Humanities to the development of society and entrenchment of societal values, expressing the hope that the achievements of the past one year will serve to bolster the university’s drive at improving educational standards.

In his paper, Strategies for Effective Studies at School, Head of the Department of Curriculum Studies and Instructional Technology, Dr Nayeiyi Agina-Obu, said the need for effective study methods by students have become imperative in order to ensure quality and quantity of behavioural change, stressing that “students must always be reminded that discipline and hardwork have no substitute”.

In the second paper, Grading System and Computation of Degree Results, Mr. Matthew Okeremeta of the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, informed the freshmen that the university’s Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) computation method in use in the faculty is a universally accepted computation guideline, adding that it enables departments, faculties and the university to monitor students’ performance, urging them to work hard to make good grades and graduate in flying colours. 

REPOSITION FOR BETTER SERVICE DELIVERY...Ikuru urges RSG staff



Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, flanked right to left by sectional heads in his office, Director, Finance and Supplies, Mr. Atukomi, Press Secretary, Biobele Da-Wariboko, Head, Protocol, Orom Finomo, SSA, Political Matters, Christopher Christopher, Director, Admin, Nnamdi Okpu, Director, Works, Innocent Koko, resource persons, George Imayen, Mike Whetode and Chief Detail, godwin Olatunbosun, addressing participants at the workshop

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says public and civil servants in the State must brace up for improved service delivery in the next four years of the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led administration.
Engr. Ikuru said this today during a Workshop on Effective Service Delivery for personnel of his office at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

Urging them to commit themselves to improved work ethics and optimum performance, the Deputy Governor called for consensus among workers in the state, urging them to put their acts together to deliver more in order to “move faster and create more impact”.

He commended them for their services to the administration for the past four years, stressing that “we can do more in the next four years if we bond ourselves together,” enjoining them to “do more relate better and aspire to greater things”.

Earlier, in his Welcome Address, Director of Administration in the Deputy Governor, Mr. Nnamdi Okpu, expressed the hope that the workshop will stimulate interest on issues bordering on ethics and team working and draw attention to those elements deemed capable of promoting and enhancing efficiency in the service.

Director, Admin in the Rivers Deputy Governor's office, Nnamdi Okpu, giving his welcome address

In his presentation, Overview of Work Ethics and Personal Effectiveness for Staff of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, the guest speaker and Zonal Director of the Administrative Staff Council of Nigeria (ASCON), South-South Zone, Mr. Mike Whetode, said good work ethics assists the achievement of organizational objectives and goals, maintenance of discipline and guarantees peace in the workplace.

In the second paper, Healthy Living, Productivity and Prosperity, Managing Director of Forever Living Products (FLP) Limited, Mr. Cornelius Tay, charged Nigerians especially workers in the State to take responsibility for their personal health, emphasizing that poor health conditions undermine workers’ productivity levels, urging the workers to imbibe good health habits to ensure longevity and to produce better.




Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (centre) in group photograph with his staff after the workshop

Former Director of Studies of ASCON, Mr. George Imayen, in his paper, The Essentials of Team Building and Team Work, observed that staff of every organization needs to build consensus and synergy to deliver effective and efficient services, stressing that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

GOD EXALTS PEOPLE TO ASSIST THE POOR – IKURU



Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (centre) in group photograph with his classmates and members of the Old Boys Association (1985 set) of Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma in Government House, Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says God uplifts certain people to exalted positions on trust in order to assist the majority of the people.

Engr. Ikuru said this today when the Old Boys Association (1985 set) of the Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma, fondly called “KANACOL ‘85” visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt.

Emphasizing the fact that challenges are easily overcome when shared with others, the Deputy Governor noted that this process of sharing challenges enabled the 1985 set of the college to excel, reiterating that his position is not only to serve himself and immediate family but is given him by God on trust for the benefit of his community, friends, State and nation.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (2nd right) exchanging pleasantries with his class of Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma, shortly after the courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt.

“I am not the most brilliant, handsome or worthy but by the grace of God Almighty who has placed me here on trust to serve my nation, State and friends,” he said, assuring that he would continue to assist the people whenever he is called upon to do so.

Earlier, president of the association, Mr. Iwoyeofori Wokoma, said that the major challenge facing the association is on how to restore the fame of the college, lamenting the lack of adequate teachers, infrastructure and other amenities, while appealing for assistance.



Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru (left), receiving a plaque from the President, Old Boys Association (1985 set) of Kalabari National College (KNC), Buguma, Mr. Iwoyeofori Wokoma, during a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.

 Mr. Wokoma also pointed out that some of their colleagues are yet to be gainfully employed and as such unable to with life challenges, calling on the government to initiate people-oriented policies that would generate employment for majority of the people.    

IGNATIUS AJURU UOE MATRICULATES 1,350,…VC tasks students on national dev

 


Professor Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, Acting Vice Chancellor, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt

 

Acting Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Professor Rosemund Green-Osahogulu, has called on students to study hard and deservingly obtain high flying credentials which would enable them make meaningful contributions to national development.

Prof. Green-Osahogulu stated this at the university’s 2010/2011 Matriculation Ceremony on Thursday, June 2, 2011 where 1,350 new students were admitted for the 2010/2011 Academic Session.

Prof Green-Osahogulu arriving the venue

While 1,252 of the matriculants are into programmes leading to the award of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree, 99 are on National Certificate of Education (NCE) programmes.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the new dawn in the country needs critical intellectual input to ensure progress in different sectors of the national life and students of tertiary institutions, pointing out that the university is being repositioned to positively impact the human capital development efforts of the Rivers State government.

Cross section of the matriculants at the event

She, however, warned students of the institution to focus on their studies or be shown the way out as “the university management will not hesitate to expel students who fail to cope with the high academic and moral standards for which the institution has been noted for over the years”.

She enjoined them to eschew “despicable criminal manifestations as stealing, lesbianism, homosexualism, alcoholism, drug abuse, indecent dressing and every other dishonourable act,” emphasizing that “this university is determined to enforce the highest acceptable moral and ethical standards obtainable in civilized societies worldwide”. 

Prof. Green-Osahogulu stated that “individuals or groups choosing to constitute an intolerable nuisance ad security risk to the university community would be handed over to the law enforcement agencies,” advising them to resist all persuasions or intimidations capable of putting them on collision with constituted authority within or outside the campus”.

Cross section of the dignitaries at the event

The Professor of Science Education commended parents and guardians of the matriculants, encouraging them to “pursue this noble decision of yours to a fulfilling end,” assuring that the institution would continue to create an enabling environment for teaching and learning as well as other extra-curricular activities that will enhance the students wellbeing.  



Earlier, the university’s Choir and Orchestra performed to the delight of the audience with inspiring renditions of both classical and contemporary Christian songs. 

PROVOST URGES STUDENT LEADERS ON INTELLECTUALISM

The Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology (RIVCOHSTECH), Dr Nnanna Victor Onyekwere, has called on student leaders to provide leadership based on intellectualism and integrity.

Dr Onyekwere, who made this call when he inaugurated a new executive for the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution for the 2009/2010 academic session in Port Harcourt, advised the new executive to balance their academics with the challenges of leadership.

The Provost, represented by his deputy, Pastor Pius Jeremiah, enjoined the students to be upright and live above board, saying “whatever you do leaves a footprint, learn the good part of life and prepare yourself for leadership”.

Also speaking, Dean, Student Affairs of the institution, Chief Adolphus Okachukwu, commended the Independent School Electoral Committee (ISEC) led by Jokine Chienyem Ogbu, 300-level, Dental Technology, for the success of the elections adjudged free, fair and peaceful and thanked the contestants for the maturity exhibited during the process.

According to him, it is the management’s policy to create conducive atmosphere for the students to freely choose their leaders, noting that the support of the students was critical to the success of the new leadership, urging the newly sworn-in executive to lead with an open heart and be accessible, transparent and honest in their dealings.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected SUG President, Godswell Michael Binyen, a 200-level Health Information Management student of the institution, thanked the students for voting him into office and pledged to improve on the existing cordial relationship with the management while addressing the interest of his colleagues.

The new executive led by, has Uwitetu Faith Ozuzu (Vice-President), Kingsley Amadi Kingsley (General-Secretary), Chujor Juliet Owate (Assistant General-Secretary), Ikechukwu Akani (Financial Secretary) and Boma John Strongface (Treasurer).

Others are Minini Romeo (Public Relations Officer), Richard Amadi (Director of Welfare), Chivueze Echem (Director of Transport), Bennett Emughibula (Director of Sports), Dickson Owoh (Director of Socials) and Nwuche Mbuchi (Provost).

KIDNEY TREATMENT UNDERWAY IN RIVERS STATE

The health-care revolution of the Chibuike Amaechi-led administration in Rivers State will soon be expanded to include treatment of kidney diseases as experts in that field of medicine from the United Kingdom will soon arrive the State for this purpose.

This was disclosed by a consultant on kidney treatment and a son of the State, Dr Ibiwari Erekosima, in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt. 

Dr Erekosima, a 1988 graduate of the University of Port Harcourt and foremost kidney consultant in the United Kingdom, works with Hope Hospital Teaching Hospitals, Manchester, UK.  

The kidney expert said, against the backdrop of the subsistent level of kidney services and the resolve of the present administration to develop health-care in the State, his group is set to collaborate with the State Government in providing treatment for those with kidney problems.

According to him, a multipronged approach aimed at checkmating the disease has become necessary “or else in the nearest future it will go into epidemic proportions, a situation where one in every five adults will have the disease”.

The medical expert explained that the aim is to create a care pathway which will include establishing renal clinics for detection of kidney damage, surveillance of progress of treatment, administration of dialysis and transplant of kidneys.

Regretting the dearth of relevant data on the disease, Dr Erekosima stated that hospital based studies indicate an epidemic proportion of increase in renal diseases and called on the government to subsidize the cost of dialysis for kidney patients, saying dialysis is not sustainable anywhere in the developing world because of poverty”.

Noting that the training of medical personnel is critical to the success of the kidney programme, Dr Erekosima said “it is not enough to buy machines, they have to be maintained and supported to be useful,” adding that “doctors will be trained to do transplant, and when we do these it will begin to have impact on those that have the disease”.

He described diabetes and hypertension as “the commonest cause of kidney disease worldwide,” and lamented the level of ignorance regarding kidney diseases, saying “when you create awareness then you can identify those with organ damage from diabetes and hypertension and organ damage of their kidneys.

The medical consultant condemned the habit of buying drugs off the counter and using herbal medicines, warning that “such could be toxic to their health” and urged the government to set up a viable data collection system which is critical to monitoring of reduction in incidence of kidney failures.

ELECTORAL REFORMS: Electoral bodies should be non-partisan - Don

Undue interference and imposition of candidates by those in authority during elections have been described as having negative impact on the electoral process and hindering the growth of democracy in the country.  

This was the position of the Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology (RIVCOHSTECH), Dr Nnanna Vincent Onyekwere, while speaking with newsmen shortly after elections were held into positions in the executive of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution in Port Harcourt.  

Dr Onyekwere decried the imposition of candidates by those in authority, saying such actions create unnecessary problems in the polity and urged election officials to be forthright and resist the temptation to favour one candidate above others.

Expressing optimism that elections can be free and fair where there is no interference by the electoral bodies, he noted that for elections to be conducted in an atmosphere of peace the umpires have to be non-partisan.

“The electorates are the most important people in an election…they should be carried along in the process,” the academic don stated and called on the management of tertiary institutions to “stand on the truth because that is what will take away all the tension”.

At the end of the elections, Godswell Binyen, a 200 level student of Environmental Health Technology emerged President polling 399 votes ahead of Goodnews Opurum, 200 level, Health Information Management, and Chukwundah Mac-Charlie, 200 level, Community Health, who polled 326 and 281 votes respectively in the voting process adjudged by many students as free, fair and transparent.

Also elected into the executive are Uwitetu Faith Ozuzu (Vice President), Kingsley Amadi (General Secretary), Chujor Juliet Owate (Assistant General Secretary), Akani Ikechukwu (Financial Secretary), Boma Strongface John (Treasurer), Richard Amadi (Director of Welfare), Minini Romeo (Public Relations Officer), Chivueze Echem (Director of Transport), Emughibula Bennett (Director of Sports), Owoh Dickson Owoh (Director of Socials) and Mbuchi Nwuche (Provost).   

NEPAD PLEDGES INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTIVITY IN RIVERS STATE

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has expressed its commitment to increase food productivity by revitalizing the agricultural sector in Rivers State.

SA to the Governor and State Coordinator of NEPAD, Dr Tex Wariboko, who stated this in a chat with newsmen, said NEPAD is working on involving all sectors of society in farming with a view to implementing its agricultural action plan by engaging necessary skills and expertise in food production. 

Dr Wariboko explained that to bridge the unemployment gap youths would be encouraged to engage in agriculture and stressed the need to train a new generation of farmers by teaching young people new methods and ways of farming thus creating viable means of generating revenue.

The NEPAD Coordinator said the body is currently working on its action plans in Infrastructural Development, Capacity Building for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), Agriculture, Education and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and creating partnerships and synergies to involve all sectors of society in raising the living standards of the people.

He disclosed that NEPAD is also dealing with climate change and pollution as captured in its environmental action plan, stressing that the effects of climate change is impacting negatively on the agricultural sector.

Calling on the Federal Government to address the negative impact of oil exploration in the Niger Delta region, Dr Wariboko said “because we earn for the whole country and because we bear the brunt of the consequences of oil exploration, the Federal Government needs to pay special attention to the region,” and “provide incentives to discourage the ex-militants from returning to the creeks”. 

He revealed that NEPAD will establish integrated farms in the 3 senatorial districts of the State and engage about 15,000 youths in agriculture, adding that his agency is partnering with the State Social Rehabilitation Committee to reintegrate and rehabilitate the ex-militants. 

“NEPAD’s agenda,” he said “is the grassroots,” and disclosed that the body aims to avert political interference by involving all stakeholders in its programmes.

He enjoined the citizens to stand up for their rights and insist on the kind of leadership they desire by casting and ensuring their votes count in the 2011 elections, urging the Federal Government to urgently review the electoral laws to ensure credible elections in 2011.