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Fubara Wants Rivers Youths To Acquire Useful Skills
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advised youths in the State to take up interest in learning useful but technical skills to enhance their competitiveness in the labour market.
Governor Fubara particularly commended Mr Decency Tompson, a Rivers youth who walked on foot from Nasarawa State to Port Harcourt between April 8 – 25, 2024, to create awareness on the level of unemployment that youths face after graduation from the university and the need to change the narrative.
The Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, on Thursday evening, received Mr Decency Tompson, on behalf of Governor Fubara, at the gates of Government House in Port Harcourt.
Governor Fubara emphasised that Rivers State remains the treasure base of Nigeria, adding that youths in the State should ordinarily entertain no fear about how to be gainfully employed after graduation.
The Governor regretted that poor planning, haphazard implementation of some policies and the near lack of interest in pursuing sustainable economic growth in all facets of the State by leaders had dampened the business environment in the State.
He, however, said: “There is good news for us now. The Governor that we have now, serving us, is the Governor that is thinking of how to fix the situation.
”The Governor is working round the clock to ensure that investors who left the State returned because jobs are created when there is heightened productive activities.”
Governor Fubara further said: “We are the base of the oil industry. As investors begin to come back, more jobs will be available.
”So, I will say to you, as youths, key into this particular agenda so that we can create decent jobs. But they are not the jobs of carrying guns, pointing them at someone, and chasing them.
”It is also not to make people to carry caskets to companies to block the gates, and stop the companies from their operations,” he said.
Governor Fubara stated that the negative behaviours of youths contributed to closing the doors of job opportunities that would have been more available for youths in the State.
He emphasised that Rivers has now become a very peaceful State, stressing that efforts are in top gear towards rebuilding the environment and making it more attractive for investors.
The Governor explained that with the clear strategic policy thrusts of the Administration, in no distant time, the results will start manifesting.
He noted, “But let us also mention that decent jobs do not start paying fat from the first day. Let your heart be circumcised that if you want decent jobs, then you need to go for the right education, go for the right training.
”Go around and search out the skills in demand by these companies and acquire the acknowledge that will make you attractive to be hired. As Rivers youths, put yourselves together, let trainers also develop structured courses that will provide skills required in companies to achieve optimum capacity utilisation.
”Our Ministry of Youths Development has a lot of training programmes for the youths. The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs has training programmes where youths can go and acquire skills.
“I also want you to go and improve on your skills in Information and Communications Technology, so that when the job openings are announced, you won’t be rejected as one who is not qualified,” he added.
In his speech, Mr Decency Tompson, said he had decided to embark on a trudge from Nassarawa State where he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to Rivers State to create awareness against the evil of youth unemployment.
Mr Tompson emphasised that youths who are strong, fit and ready for gainful employment, do not always have their productive strength engaged in areas that contribute to economic growth.
He said, as part of the awareness creation, he had created a platform where Government and companies in the State can feed in data on available jobs per time and youths can just log in, search for jobs that suit their education and skills, and apply to be engaged.
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.