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Rivers Turning Major Supplier Of Medical Personnel, Wike Declares
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has directed the state commissioner for health and attorney general and commissioner for justice to sign a new agreement with PAMO University of Medical Sciences for the training of Rivers students in medicine and related fields.
The governor said the renewal of the agreement would enable PAMO University to continue to support the state to accelerate the production of the much-needed skilled medical manpower and professionals to service the healthcare system and enhance healthcare delivery.
Wike stated this when the board of trustees, governing council and management of PAMO University of Medical Sciences led by the Pro-Counsellor and former governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, paid a courtesy call on him in Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The governor noted with excitement how PAMO University of Medical Sciences had, within just five years of its establishment, become a centre of excellence in the training of medical doctors, pharmacists, medical technologists, and other healthcare professionals for the state and the country at large.
“The agreement between the government and PAMO University is expiring by December. It will be proper for the interest of our children to have another agreement so that the government that is coming in will understand that we have an agreement with this university to train our children who want to be medical doctors, pharmacists, lab scientists, biochemists.”
Wike’s administration had in 2018 instituted a scholarship scheme and signed an agreement with the PAMO University of Medical Sciences for the training of not less than 100 indigenous students studying medicine and other related courses in the university.
The special scholarship programme has benefitted over 500 Rivers students who are pursuing various medical courses in PAMO University of Medical Sciences from inception to date.
The governor said the renewal of the agreement with PAMO University of Medical Sciences would avail more indigent students of Rivers extraction, who want to study medicine and other related courses, the opportunity to actualise their dreams.
“We will encourage our students who want to read medicine and other related courses. We are here for our children; we are here for our people, whatever money that comes in should be used maximally for the interest of our people.”
The governor reiterated that his administration remains committed to support any Rivers indigene willing to establish private university in the state.
He regretted that five years after he first made the offer, no one has dared to emulate Odili to establish a private university in the state.
Wike expressed delight that with the support of the state government, PAMO University of Medical Sciences now has the necessary educational infrastructure to continue to propel its growth and capacity to deliver on its mandate.
“As the first private university in the state, you have not disappointed us. There are some people who will come up to say they need support being the first private university in our state, and after two years, you will ask what is happening.”
The Rivers State governor assured that his administration would not relent in its support for PAMO University of Medical Sciences to enable it realise its mandate.
Wike said the Consul General of United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Will Stevens, after a tour of the Dr Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre has indicated interest to support the state government achieve its objective of establishing the world-class specialist hospital.
Earlier, the Pro-Counsellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Dr Peter Odili, had lauded Wike for the grants provided for the university as well as other forms of support to indigent students studying medicine and other related courses in the institution.
He said the scholarship offered to five hundred and fifty nine Rivers indigenes studying in the university would lift their families out of poverty.
Odili stated that when all the students on scholarship graduate, Wike would have succeeded in training no less than 400 medical doctors.
The pro-counsellor explained by December, 2022, the first set of students who studied Nursing Sciences would be inducted as qualified staff nurses, staff midwives, and public health nurses.
Odili, who described Wike as the best governor the state had produced, noted that the governor’s investment in the health sector would, in the near future, make Rivers State highest producer of medical professionals in the country.
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.