The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment to prioritize healthcare education in the State.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, stated this during the Commissioning of the 400 seating capacity classroom block constructed by the State Chief Executive, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, at the Rivers State College of Nursing Sciences, Emekuku Street, D/Line in Port Harcourt yesterday.
Prof Odu said the new facility represents a significant step forward in the Governor’s commitment to healthcare education in compliance to the Nursing and Midwifery guideline.
According to the Deputy Governor, “As we dedicate this classroom block, we are not just opening a building, we are expanding opportunities for our future nurses and healthcare professionals”.
Prof. Odu, who said this investment in education is also an investment in health, insisted that the increased capacity would allow the State to train more skilled nurses to address the growing healthcare needs of our communities, noting that Nigerian nurses are the most sort after in the world over.
She expressed appreciation for Governor Siminalayi Fubara and commended the State Ministry of Health, the College Administration and all those who were involved in bringing the project to fruition.
In her remarks the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, said there are four classrooms with a seating capacity of 100 each, fitted with offices and conveniences, noting that there are also digital learning equipment’s and projectors.
The Commissioner revealed that they have a total of 615 students, which comprises 397 in midwifery and 218 students in nursing, stressing that the project would create an enabling environment for teaching and learning, while thanking Governor Siminalayi Fubara for making the project a reality.

The Presidency has stated that 24 million Nigerians are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s Human Capital Development initiative, which aims to improve education, healthcare, and skills training across the nation.
The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the HCD core working group, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, along with the Acting Coordinator of HCD and Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai, gave the assurance at the strategy validation stakeholders engagement workshop, held in Abuja, yesterday.
They highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s intention to address the ‘japa’ syndrome through strategic investments in education, health, and skills development.
While talking to journalists, Hadeija emphasized the crucial importance of Human Capital Development (HCD), noting that President Tinubu plans to build on the successes achieved by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In response to a question about how this will curb “japa” (a Yoruba term meaning to leave for better opportunities), the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President encouraged Nigerians to participate in all HCD initiatives to help address their challenges.
He said, “We live in a global setting, and with technology, the world is borderless. First of all, we can’t stop people from leaving Nigeria. What we will do is embrace the HCD initiative that creates opportunities for people to stay at home. This way, they don’t need to leave the country to earn a living. With the HCD initiatives, they can do that here in Nigeria.”
Hadeija assured that by increasing access to quality education, enhancing healthcare services, and offering skills training and employment opportunities, many Nigerians will experience improvements in their lives.
“Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future-ready workforce,” he said.
He added, “This workshop is an avenue to deliberate on and validate our strategies. This is the day to acknowledge that the solutions we seek lie within our collective wisdom and experience. By sharing insights, best practices, and innovative ideas, we can identify the most effective pathways to achieving our goals.
“It is through our combined efforts that we can create a comprehensive and sustainable framework for human capital development that will benefit generations to come.
“Through collaboration, learning, and growth, we will shape the quality and effectiveness of the Human Capital Development Programme in building resilient healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to education, and fostering an inclusive, future-ready workforce.”
In her remarks, the Acting Coordinator of HCD emphasized that Human Capital Development is the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth and social progress.
She stated that investing in people’s education, health, and skills not only improves individual well-being but also fosters innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness.
Rukaiya revealed that “ The HCD 2.0 target 24 million additional healthy (under-five-year-old children surviving and not stunted), educated (completing secondary school) and productive (youth entering the labor force) Nigerians by 2030.”
According to her, “Our goal is ambitious yet achievable: to develop a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses the unique challenges we face but also leverages the vast opportunities available. This strategy must mainstream gender, ensure equal opportunities for all, and incorporate climate change and climate action, recognizing the critical intersection between human capital and environmental sustainability.
“As we collaborate over the next few days, I encourage each of you to share your insights, challenge assumptions, and propose innovative solutions. Your expertise and experiences are invaluable, and together, we can craft a strategy that truly transforms lives and drives sustainable development.”
Highlights of the event included a panel discussion, presentation on the HCD regional strategy, and a strategy validation and collaboration session, among other activities.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Gates Foundation, the World Bank, ECOWAS, the Dangote Foundation, and the United Nations Development Program, among others.
Recall that in 2018, the National Economic Council launched the National Human Capital Development Programme to tackle poverty and promote sustainable economic growth, emphasising the importance of HCD.
This initiative aims to expedite targeted investments in people, fostering equitable economic growth across Nigeria.

First Lady of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, has presented 2,400 bags of rice and cash to the poor, vulnerable and physically challenged residents in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Speaking at the event which took place at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday, Lady Fubara said the gesture is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Security Programme (FSP) steered by the wife of the President of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
She explained that through the RHI, Senator Tinubu is working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to bring succour to Nigerians who are experiencing excruciating economic conditions with the aim of rekindling hope in them.
Lady Fubara said, “The reason why we are gathered here is, our mother, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, presented to every state of the federation a gift of 25kg bags of rice.
“For Rivers State, we received the total of 2,400 bags of 25kg rice. So, we say a big thank you to our mother.
“And, as part of our own little way, the Rivers State Government also has attached cash to the bags of rice that will be distributed to the 23 Local Government Areas, including the National Council for Women Society (NCWS) and non-indigenes.
Lady Fubara stated further that: “Every LGA is going home with 90 bags of rice each. I believe that every LGA is represented here.
“And please, I want to plead with you, when you take it to the LGAs, ensure that it gets to the right people that it is supposed to get to: the vulnerable, the physically challenged, less-privileged people. You know those that really need these bags of rice.”

Lady Fubara warned that the gift of bags of rice and the accompanying cash should not be used for what she described as: “something to use to make friendship or make family relative happy”.
She charged those who represented their various local government areas to receive their donations with heart of gratitude, and ensure they resist the temptation of truncating the purpose that has been clearly stated.
In her remarks, the Rivers State President of National Council of Women Society (NCWS), Mrs Jetiba Soberekon, who received on behalf of her association, said they were happy that women are carried along with the scheme.
She assured that what they have received will be strictly distributed to the less-privileged and vulnerable among them to give them a lease of life.
In her reaction, Dr. Juliet Berewari, who represented Ahoada East Local Government Area to receive 90 bags of rice and cash, expressed appreciation to Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara for the gesture that, according to her, will contribute to putting food on the table of the venerable people in the rural areas.
Also speaking, Mrs Princess Sokariba Youdowei, who received on behalf of Ahoada West Local Government Area, said they were extremely excited for the thoughtfulness of their mothers who have remembered to extend such gesture to those who are barely struggling to survive, stressing that the gifts will offer better hope to them.
For Bonny Local Government Area, Mrs Sarah Georgewill, who received the 90 bags of rice and cash, noted that people were really finding it difficult to feed, adding that this gesture will wipe tears off their eyes and rekindle hope that they are remembered and cared for by kind-hearted mothers like Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara.
The bags of rice and cash gifts were also extended to the Motherless Babies’ Home, Borokiri; Cheshire Home, Port Harcourt Township; and Home for the Elderly, Harbour Road; all in Port Harcourt.