News
Fubara Lauds Dame Toby’s Contributions To Educational Dev …As Mary Odili Bemoans Scrapping Of Teachers Training Colleges
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has showered encomiums on an educationist and school proprietor, Dame Christie Toby, for her contributions to educational development in the State.
According to a statement by the Head of the Press Unit,Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Juliana Masi, Fubara gave the accolades during the public presentation of the book: Dr. Christie Toby: Touching Lives, Raising Leaders,” in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, observed that Dame Toby, who is the wife of former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Sir Gabriel Toby, has lived a remarkable life of passion and selfless service to humanity.
Fubara said, “Your life is a remarkable one. Everything we have seen and heard today present an exemplary life of a teacher, educationist, school proprietor, philanthropist, and so much.
“I must say, one tread that runs through your life which I commend to everyone is the show of passion and selflessness. If you were not passionate and selfless, you would not have been what you are as a teacher.
“It is heartwarming that the author took the time to catalogue your life so that we all can read and better our lives and services to humanity. This is a book I commend everyone to read.”
The governor reiterated that because education is the bedrock of every society, his administration will remain committed to best educational development and practice by grooming teachers in the state.
“Education is one of the cardinal pillars of our administration, and our government will always honour those who have sacrificed their lives selflessly for the pursuit of good education in the State,” he stressed.
To further advance the educational development of the Christie Toby Education Centre, the governor launched the book with N20million.
The Pro-Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of the Rivers State University, Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, who served as chairman of the book presentation, described Dame Toby as a conscientious teacher, who went through the ranks to become the celebrated teacher she is today.
The retired Justice of the Supreme Court, however, regretted that the foundation laying institutions for teachers –Teachers Training Colleges- in the country were scrapped and has thus allowed infiltration of poorly trained teachers into the classroom.
“When I was told to be chairman of today’s occasion,… I simply saw the opportunity as God’s answer to my internal cry to have the chance to be heard on a government policy …which has made us lose our way in education.
“It is providential that I use the book presentation of this erudite scholar and a great lady of many parts as a platform for me to bring to the public domain, a missing link in our progress as a people to nurture the present and future generations… I do not know what informed the authorities to phase out the teacher training colleges. That is why we are now presented with some half-baked teachers who have very high degrees and academic qualifications but without a foundational base to properly teach our young ones. That faulty foundation is what has led us to the situation we know find ourselves where untrained persons are now training our future leaders in all spheres of life,” she stressed.
She further called on the authorities to revisit the reestablishment of teacher training colleges so as to harness the young properly and appropriately.
The book reviewer, Dr. Williams Wodi noted that the book, ‘Dr. Christy Toby Touching Lives, Raising Leaders’, is episodic, which combines ecclesiastical history, ethnography, cultural and political anthropology, psychology, philosophy and sociology that grips the reader from the beginning to end of the narrative.
According to him, “This book is a biographical account of a woman of faith, great moral priority, and courage. The author wonders in divers directions to unearth all aspects of her life. It has characteristically interwoven a narrative that would hold the attention of the reader from end to end. The author masterly beholds Christie Toby as an educationist, philanthropist, civil servant, activist, and a woman of faith who continues to lead a life of service especially to the under-served in a society that continually stricken itself of fellow feelings and empathy that compels us to reach out and touch other lives.”
Several dignitaries, including former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Tele Ikuru and his wife, former Secretary to Rivers State Government, Dr Abiye Sekibo; serving and past commissioners, traditional rulers, among others also attended the event.
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.
