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Invest In The Poor, Rich Nigerians Told
The wife of Rivers State Governor, Justice Suzette Nyesom-Wike has stated that investing in the lives of the poor, less-privileged children and the physically challenged would engender greater development as more people would be equipped to contribute to societal growth.
She spoke in Port Harcourt during her visits to ‘The Child’ Special School, Home for the Elderly and the Port Harcourt Children Home, as part of activities to commemorate the 2016 International Women’s Day Celebration.
Mrs Wike noted that providing quality education to children with special needs will equip them with the right skills to live productive lives.
At the home for the elderly, Justice Nyesom-Wike stated that there should be constant respect and compassion for those who have dutifully served the society so that they can live the rest of their lives gracefully.
Responding at The Child Special School, Reverend Sister Sylvia Anyanwu, said that the school was a project of the Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt aimed at educating children with intellectual disabilities, especially those living with down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other crippling disabilities.
At the Home of the Elderly, Reverend Sister Mary-Jane Raphael Agubosi, said the home improves lives of the elderly who are facing significant physical, psychological and dementia challenges.
At the Port Harcourt Children’s Home, the sister in-charge, Mrs Barile Nwankor, said that the home needed expansion as the abandoned children are grown up, and have nowhere to go.
Barile further said that the home needed a bus as the old one was no longer functional.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri, said that the visit to charity homes was part of her ministry’s idea to identify with the less-privileged children and the elderly as they could play major roles in their little ways.
Oyaghiri emphasized that in line with the theme of this year’s celebration: “Planet 50-50 for 2030, Step It Up For Gender Equality,” the ministry planned to go beyond the 35 per cent affirmative action, and was now seeking for 50-50, adding that the “Pledge for Parity,” in gender balancing, equal treatment to women and the girl-child was a target that must be achieved.
The inmates of the homes also rendered songs to the delight of the wife of the governor and her entourage.
The governor’s wife was accompanied to the homes by wives of political appointees, female political appointees and elected officials in the state.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has reassured women in the state of his administration’s commitment to the advancement of their rights for the development of the state.
Speaking during 2016 International Women’s Day celebration in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said that his administration has appointed women into key positions and given them strategic responsibilities as recognitions for their roles in the development process.
”As a government, we will continue to do our very best to enhance and protect the advancement of women in the state, it is not just appointing women into key positions, it is about empowering them to do what they are suppose to do in order to move our society forward”, Wike stressed.
Wike, who was represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Kenneth Kobani, explained that the state government is driven by women, who cut across the three arms of government.
He challenged women in the state to rise up and speak for their rights, adding that deprived and poor women should be assisted through empowerment programmes.
In a keynote address, the Wife of the Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesom Wike while expressing her extreme delight of the unprecedented gathering of Rivers Women at the International Women’s Day Celebration in the State, said women are the super-structure, the strong pillar for growth and the development of the human race.
Similarly, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has felicitated with Rivers women on the commemoration of 2016 International Women’s Day celebration in the state..
The deputy governor urged Rivers women, as role models to justify the public offices or positions entrusted to them as co-drivers’ in the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration.
She, however, challenged women to be more vocal on issues of violence against them, obnoxious traditional practices and all forms of discrimination perpetrated against women in the society.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.