News
Your Scholarship Grants, Dream Come True, Ariolu Tells Beneficiaries …As LG Spends N60m To Upscale Human Capital Dev
Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Local Government Area, Barrister George Ariolu, has said that his administration would continue to add value to the lives of indigenes and residents of the area.
The chairman gave this assertion during a meeting organised by the council to address successful candidates and beneficiaries of the Ph.D and Masters scholarship grants initiated by his administration.
Ariolu while addressing beneficiaries at the newly furnished council multi-purpose hall, expressed happiness with success of the initiative thus far, with the presentation of the grants.
He added that it was a dream come true for him, the council and beneficiaries.
“I’m highly elated to address you, the awardees. I’m seeing it as a dream come true. It all started as a dream and came out as a proposal. We are here today trying to actualize that proposal as we thank God for giving us this laudable project”.
He further reiterated that his administration was still focused on human capacity development.
He said the decision to embark on the scholarship programme was informed by the council’s desire to impact positively on the lives of the masses.
The chairman also appreciated God Almighty for enabling his administration to achieve huge developmental strides within such a short time, adding that it was the first of its kind in any LGA in Rivers State.
According to him, governance is a serious business and it’s all about the people and how to add value to the masses.
He also noted that the council desires to have a paradigm shift in its desire to reach out to the people.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, he disclosed that N500,000.00 and N700,000.00 would be received by each Masters and Ph.D, respectively.
This shows that the council is spending N25million for the Masters students and N35million for the PhD students.
Similarly, he stressed that out of over 2,000 persons that applied for the grants, 100 were successfully screened, with 50 selected for Ph.D and another 50 for Masters.
In his admonition, he encouraged beneficiaries to be studious and hard working as the council expects to have over 30 persons growing to the ranks of Professors within the LGA.
The chairman, who maintained that his administration was conscious of its commitment to the people, added that not only indigenes of Obio/Akpor benefitted but others from neighbouring LGAs and states who were resident in the area.
Also, he disclosed that the payment would be made in two tranches to further ward off misappropriation of funds by beneficiaries.
To this end, he said that 50percent would be disbursed to enable beneficiaries pay their fees and other sundry obligations, while the remaining 50percent would be paid during the examinations and thesis period, adding that he expects a better result from them.
He further revealed that the committee saddled with the responsibility to screen beneficiaries would in the period under review, monitor activities and progression of beneficiaries in their various schools as the grant issued to them was not a largesse.
He said the council expects returns in the form of positive results as it has expended a huge sum to ensure that beneficiaries get the best of quality education.
Ariolu urged beneficiaries to always project the LGA in good light as he intends to rewrite the narratives of the LGA using beneficiaries as ambassadors of Obio/Akpor to the world.
In his remarks, Secretary of the Screening Committee, Barrister Kelvin Akani, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the chairman for his foresight towards engaging the youths meaningfully in the core areas of societal interest.
He also commended the chairman for his non-interference throughout the selection process by the committee.
Akani made it clear to the beneficiaries that the council expects nothing short of success stories from them.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
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.