News

Journalists Not Targeted For Witch-Hunt, FG Claims

Published

3 years ago

November 3, 2021

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday, said that no Nigerian journalist was targeted for witch-hunt.
Disclosing this at a Policy Dialogue on Protection of Journalists in commemoration of 2021 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, in Abuja, organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice and Managing Conflict in Nigeria (MCN) Programme, noted that “Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy that guarantees freedom of expression thereby providing conducive atmosphere and veritable platforms that enable Nigerians their inalienable fundamental rights to unhindered ventilation of opinions.”
Asking journalists to be more professional in discharging their duties, Malami opined: “The Federal Government has provided an enabling environment for journalism to thrive. I call on journalists to refrain from fake news, defamation, sedition, hate speech, blasphemy, incitement of inflammatory statements in their reportage that could jeopardize our cooperate existence as a nation and hamper the peace we have been enjoying.
“National interest built in on corporate existence needs to bind our patriotic engagement in advancing the interest of the nation.”
Speaking further, the minister said that Journalism was not a crime.
According to him: “I am convinced that journalism is not a crime. Rather, there are apparent crimes committed by some people that claim to practice journalism.
“Journalists are not in any way targeted for witch-hunt. It is essential to note that Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy that guarantees freedom of expression, thereby providing conducive atmosphere and veritable platforms that enable Nigerians their inalienable fundamental rights to unhindered ventilation of opinions.”

News

PH Law Campus Graduates 52 First Class Students

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2024

The Tide

The Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School says 52 of its first set graduates that were recently called to the bar bagged First Class.

It, therefore, praised the students for making the campus proud.

Deputy Director General, Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Professor C. U. Mmouzoba, disclosed this during the unveiling of the Lady Justitia Statue constructed by the Elders Council of the 2023/2024 set of students of the campus in Port Harcourt.

Professor Mmouzoba said the campus recorded its first set of graduates with 52 First Class, Second only to the Lagos campus which had 54 First Class, which is the highest in the country.

According to him, out of the seven campuses of the law schools in Nigeria, Port Harcourt Campus came second with 52 First Class, while Lagos came first with 54.

He said this feat was made possible by the dedication to duty of its academic staff as well as students who took their studies seriously.

The deputy director general also praised the Rumueme community for its level of hospitality to staff and students of the campus, adding that with the unveiling of the lady Justitia symbol, Rumueme is now a community of law.

He described the lady Justitia monument as a symbol of justice and law and praised the Elders Council of the 2023)2024 set of students for coming up with the idea of erecting such as important Statue in the campus.

Also speaking chairperson of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mrs Cordelia Eke said the monument would stand the test of time as far as the campus was concerned.

Eke said the NBA in Port Harcourt is impressed with the students, stressing that the event has made the campus a landmark not just in Rumueme but also in the state.

She said the Association is looking forward to receiving some of the students into its fold.

Earlier, Chairman, Elders Council of the 2023/2024 set of students, Sir Emmanuel Fubara, said the absence of the all important law symbol in the campus was disturbing, adding that it was against this background that the Elders Council and The students Representative council decided to do something about It.

He said both the foundation laying and unveiling took four months to complete and commended the Authority of the institution for its cooperation and support.

The Nyenweli Rumueme, HRM Ndamzi Nsirim was represented at the occasion by Chief Henry Ehule.

John Bibor

News

Fubara Restates Primary Of Peace To Drive Governance, Dev

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has advocated the need for peace to propel conducive environment to deliver good governance and greater development of the State and the nation.

Accordingly, he has assured of his administration’s readiness to continue to promote peace in the State for the overall benefit of all living and doing business in the State.

Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received members of the International Association of World Peace Advocates, Eminent Peace Ambassadors, Rivers State Chapter on a Road Walk to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Peace at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Saturday.

Represented by the Head of Service, Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara, emphasized the need for residents to continue to preach the message of peace in the State and Nigeria at large, particularly at this time when the nation is at crossroads.

He thanked members of the association for embarking on the road walk to mark the International Day of Peace, and also identifying with the peaceful disposition of the present administration under his leadership.

He said, “Thank you for identifying with the Governor and the special qualities he possesses. Like you said, he has the capacity, but he refuses to fight back. That shows innermost strength, and that’s a very important ingredient for peace. Our Governor possesses it in exceeding volume.

“So, I want to thank you for marking today: the International Day of Peace. We need to preach peace to all corners of our State. We need to preach peace in our families, especially in this season that we find ourselves as Rivers people and as Nigerians'”, he asserted.

He assured that, “Our administration will continue to act in a way that will bring peace to the State, and at the end of the day, we will all be beneficiaries of the outcome of that peace advocacy.”

Earlier, Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, Eminent Peace Ambassadors, Rivers State Chapter, Juliet Wokocha, had said that the road walk is part of activities by the United Nations body to mark the 2024 International Day of Peace with the theme: “Cultivating a Culture of Peace.”

Wokocha, who noted that peace cannot be kept by force, but can only be achieved by understanding, stated that they were in Government House to show solidarity with the Governor for his peaceful disposition, pledge their support, and also urge him to sustain the peace so far achieved in the State.

She said, “We have notified the Governor through our letter that we will be undertaking a road walk to mark the day of peace, because we want to let people know that the answer to every situation is peace.”

According to her, “Our Governor is the best Governor as far as peace is concerned in the world, not Nigeria. His tolerance level is too much. Anybody with his capacity would have taken powers into his hands, and caused situations that would trigger unrest and affect the citizens. But he is not like that. He is saying, let us maintain peace, whether justice is done or not, let us maintain peace.

“And so, this association that is affiliated with the United Nations has come to say, we are supporting him. We have come here to tell him that we are pledging our support. We will keep supporting him, and we are also urging him to keep maintaining peace” for the good of the State.

She added, “Right now, as we are commemorating here in Rivers State, different parts of the world as far as you are UN affiliated in this association, are commemorating the peace in their areas. But we decided to do road walk so that people will see us and key in.

“So, please, let us maintain peace in this State. We need peace to survive, as peace promotes development, allows for growth, and every good thing the citizens would want from our present Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara,” she noted.

News

Made In Nigeria Exhibition Opens In PH …Expert Tasks Nigerians On Locally Made Goods

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2024

The Tide

An Energy expert, Obi Imemba, has called on Nigerians to patronize locally made goods.

Imemba who is The Executive Director JV Assets Total Energies, also blamed Nigeria’s economic woes on over-dependence on foreign goods.

Imemba who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 14th edition of the Made in Nigeria exhibition/conferences in Port Harcourt, said Nigeria over-dependence on importation was pilling pressure on the country’s currency, Naira.

He said that boosting local production of goods and services was the only way to change the narrative.

Imemba said that Nigeria must invest in skills production, stressing that time had come for the country to emphasize more on skills development rather than paper work.

According to him, Nigeria has a lot of book knowledge but lacks practical knowledge, stressing that Nigeria must seek out ways of developing her own technology to suit her environment.

He also urged Nigerians to patronize locally made goods as well as invest in local content development.

“Let’s try to encourage and support local production and the country should support young people to develop their talents,” he said.

The Executive Director JV Assets Total Energies who spoke on how energy drives the Nigerian economy said his company was committed to zero energy by 2050.

He stated that Total Energies was into solar, electricity, gas and other sources of energy, adding that “emphasize is now less on fossil fuel”.

Imemba described the exhibition as a 14-year consistent commitment to the development of local content in Nigeria

Speaking, the convener of the conference, Mr Uche Onochie, said this year’s edition had shown some improvements over previous years’.

He assured that the conference would continue to add value, stressing that in the next one week that the issues concerning the economy would be discussed.

Onochie, however, admitted that the economic situation of the country had impacted on this year’s edition.

John Bibor