The Pillar of Associations, Rivers State, the umbrella body of trade and business bodies in Rivers State, has taken steps to strengthen its structure towards effective governance, service delivery and protection of members’ interests by revamping the makeup of its Board of Trustees (BoT).
This follows the nomination and appointment of 11-man BoT members by the Governing Council of the organisation during their general meetings of 25th September, 2026 and that of 16th October, 2026 that ratified the appointments.
Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the meeting, the President of the Association, Comrade Hyacinth Ihennacho, while addressing newsmen, said the appointment of the new BoT members became pertinent after the board was hamstrung following the death of virtually all its members. “You know the Pillar of Associations Rivers State is an age-long association, which has been around for close to three decades now. Out of the statutory eleven BoT members, only few are still alive today.
“So, it became expedient to maintain the constitutional provisions and functionality of our association, hence the need to reconstitute another set of BoT members for the association and present them to the general House for ratification.
“Thankfully, the general House has graciously ratified their appointments. That’s what we did here today”, Comrade Ihennacho stated.
The reconstituted BoT membership has Comrade (Elder) Irondi Sammy as Chairman; Comrade Akosim Nnanna Nduka as Secretary; Comrade (Elder) Remgius Chijioke Nwaiwu; HRH Eze Ukeoma Livinus; Elder Chime Linus; Comrade (Engr.) Hyacinth Ihennacho; HRH Eze-Elect Ekeh Maxwell Okafor; Comrade Nwosu Vitalis Uchenna; Comrade Onyekwum Emeka Ndukwe; Elder Dike Humphrey Chinedu; and Comrade (Princes) J. Ibe as members.
Before the reconstitution of the BoT, the Pillar Of Associations, Rivers State, had been mourning the demise of Alhaji Adedeji Kareem, the immediate past Chairman of the BoT, who died on the 16th of August, 2026 after a brief illness, while serving as Chairman of the Board. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
Until his death, Alhaji Adedeji Kareem was a member of the Traditional Garment Designers, an affiliate of Pillar Of Associations, Rivers State.
Pillar of Associations, Rivers State, has been the rallying body of various Traders’ Unions in Rivers State, which came together at a time when there were different kinds of harassment on trading/business communities in the state over collection of levies and taxation, especially by touts and hoodlums alike.
As a result, various Traders’ associations came together and formed the umbrella body of the Traders’ Union in the State.
Pillar of Associations, Rivers State, was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 1998 to be domiciled in Rivers State, and has been standing as a Pillar to Traders’ Unions welfare, and by extension business communities in Rivers state.

The Executive Director of Leadership Challenge Foundation (LCF), Dr. Joy Success Ikpe, has called on the Rivers State Government to improve the welfare of artisans in the State and provide them with the necessary orientation to enhance their self-worth and productivity.
Ikpe made the call recently during an interaction with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 Artisans Conference and Exhibition held in Port Harcourt.
She said government should partner with NGOs and other relevant organisations to address the low self-esteem among artisans and help them appreciate their importance in the society.
The LCF Executive Director stressed that artisans play significant roles in the economy and should be accorded the recognition and support required to improve their productivity.
She also urged artisans to embrace professional certification and regularly upgrade their skills to remain competitive in their respective fields.
Ikpe noted that the changing technological environment had made it imperative for artisans to acquire relevant digital skills and collaborate with institutions and organisations capable of providing quality training and certification.
Chairman of the conference and Area Manager of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Cabral Angereke, commended the Leadership Challenge Foundation for bringing artisans together through the initiative.
Angereke encouraged the participants to take advantage of the ITF platform to acquire professional certifications that would enhance their businesses and improve their performance.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of LCF, Prof. Ogechi Adeola, represented by Nnenna Sam-Okoro, urged artisans to remain committed to continuous skills development for greater productivity.
Founder of Hope Aglow Charity Foundation, Prof Cynthia Amaka Obiorah, emphasised the importance of teamwork and networking, and urged artisans to partner with organisations capable of advancing their businesses.
A member of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, advised artisans to maintain high self-esteem, noting that their contributions were essential to the development of society. society.
The National President of Rivers State Artisans, Comrade Hero Jack, thanked the organisers for their support, while the Guest of Honour, Alabo (Engr.) Austin Bob-Manuel, General Manager of Oil Serve Limited, urged artisans to utilise opportunities provided by the conference to improve their skills and businesses.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Bourdilion Omueh, former Director of the Centre for Information and Telecommunication Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, warned that artisans who failed to acquire digital skills risked losing their relevance in the near future.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, Ruhuoma Kejeh, represented by Tariah-Damiete Boma, assured of the state government’s commitment to supporting artisans and promoting their development.

Dr. Tina Uhuenkpeoma Irimoren has emerged as the first female Chairman of the Rivers State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) following the inauguration of a new executive committee for a four-year tenure.
Irimoren’s emergence marks a historic milestone for the humanitarian organisation, which has elected an executive committee to steer its affairs and strengthen its interventions across the 23 Lccal Government Areas of Rivers State.
The election and inauguration, held at their office along Station Road in Port Harcourt, was supervised by officials from the NRCS National Headquarters.
The electoral process was conducted by a committee led by the branch’s Sole Administrator, Mr. Sydney Osawaro, with the Chairman of the Cross River State Branch, Professor Chris-Valentine Eneji and the Secretary of the Bayelsa State Branch, Uzobo Emmanuel Job, all serving as members.
The National President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, with Professor. Uche Dike, a former Chairman of the Rivers Branch and current member of the National Headquarters’ Risk and Audit Committee, and the Rivers Branch Secretary, Chief Roland Ayotamuno observed the exercise.
The new executive committee was elected by an electoral college comprising 18 divisional coordinators, bringing together members with varying levels of experience and expertise to advance the organisation’s humanitarian mandate.
Speaking at the inauguration, the National President commended the electoral committee for conducting what he described as a transparent, peaceful and credible election.
He urged the new leadership to promote unity among members and expand the branch’s humanitarian activities across the state’s 23 local government areas.
In her acceptance speech, Irimoren expressed gratitude to members for the confidence reposed in her, describing her election as a responsibility to serve rather than merely an opportunity to occupy an office.
“I am deeply grateful for your trust and confidence. This is not just a position; it is a sacred trust to serve. Every voice matters, every volunteer counts, and everyone has a role to play”, she said.
She called for collective commitment to building a stronger and more united organisation, stressing the need for inclusiveness and active participation by members.
“There is room for all of us at the table. You have brought in capable people that will work. Together, let us build a stronger, more united and impactful Rivers State Red Cross.
“One Branch. One Family. One Mission. Together, we will thrive a powerful discuss for Rivers State and go by the tenets of Red Cross”, she added.
Other members of the newly inaugurated executive committee are Dr. Kareem Akanbi Kasim, Vice Chairman; Mrs. Jumbo Gladys Fubara, Division Development Adviser; Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo, Information and Advocacy Adviser; and Eze Ahiakwo, Legal Adviser.
Others are Mrs. Baaba Rosemary Lekawa, Youth and Gender Adviser; Mr. Caisy Gidson, Programme Planning Adviser; Mr. ThankGod Sunday Muangah, Disaster Management Adviser; Mr. Nathaniel Aniekan Moses, Resource Mobilisation Adviser; Dr. Lucy Nwigo Mama, Health and Care Adviser; Mr. Gilbert Egop, Finance and Property Adviser; and Mr. Moses Limejuice, Divisional Development Adviser.
The new leadership is expected to build on the organisation’s humanitarian work while strengthening volunteer participation, disaster preparedness, health interventions and community support throughout Rivers State.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society is a voluntary humanitarian organisation and part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Its mandate is to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it occurs, without discrimination.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick