Rivers
RSNC To Partner Rainbow Book On 2014 World Book Capital
The Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC), publishers of The Tide Newspapers has promised to partner with Rainbow Book in ensuring the successful hosting of the 2014 World Book Capital in Port Harcourt.
The General Manager of the corporation, Mr. Celestine Ogolo gave the assurance, while receiving the management team of Rainbow Book Club on a courtesy call to the corporation yesterday.
The General Manager thanked the Rainbow Book Club for the visit and recalled that The Tide had made meaningful contributions to the success story of the annual literary festivals in Rivers State.
The General Manager pointed out that The Tide had been pivotal in projecting government programmes, especially in public sensitisation to promote reading culture in the state.
In her response, the Director of Port Harcourt World Book Capital, and CEO of Rainbow Book Club, Mrs Koko Kalango, said the organisation was on the courtesy call to intimate the corporation on the need for a stronger partnership to make the World Book Capital project a success.
Mr Kalango called for collective efforts by stakeholders towards the achievement of the project which she described as a rare feat.
She emphasised that “Port Harcourt was the first city in Sub-Saharan Africa to get the mandate and the first city in Africa to be nominated through a competitive bid”.
She described the nomination as an international endorsement of the giant strides of the Rivers State Government in the education sector, and a recognition of the rich literary heritage of Rivers State, which has produced writers, like Elechi Amadi, Gabriel Okara, late Ken Saro Wiwa among others.
She added that the project would boost tourism, encourage business in the book chain industry and also enhance reading culture in the state.
Mrs Kalango also disclosed that a multi-sectional committee headed by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Engr Tele Ikuru had been set up by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to oversee the project.
Taneh Beemene
Rivers
Rivers CJ To Sanction Lawyers Who Refuse To Comply With ADR Compliance
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi