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We Won’t Politicise Education In Rivers, Says Fubara …Inaugurates Senior Secondary Schools, UBE Boards
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that great care has been taken to choose seasoned educationalists to administer two strategic schools’ boards without compromising the process with political considerations.
The Governor insisted that if a better Rivers State that is educationally prosperous is to be achieved, then things must be done rightly at the foundation levels of education.
Governor Fubara made the remark while inaugurating chairmen and members of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and the State Universal Basic Education Board at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The Governor stated that it is important to him to constitute the boards because of his passion to change the trajectory of education in the State and provide a system that will effectively groom Rivers children.
Governor Fubara explained: “I have been very patient on carrying out this assignment because I know the importance of these two boards, more especially the board of the Universal Basic Education. This is because it is the foundation of all the educational developments of everybody.
“You cannot get it right, if you make mistakes from the UBE. That is why I have been really patient in inaugurating these boards after the expiration of the tenure of the past board members.
“I believe that at this point in time, we shouldn’t play politics with everything. We should get some things right, build a foundation for a better Rivers State,” he emphasised.
Governor Fubara reiterated that the priority areas of his administration for 2025 remain education, health and agriculture, which, according to him, will be given the needed attention through policy implementation and budgetary allocation to achieve the desired targets.
He said: “So, the inauguration of these boards today is the beginning of our 2025 programme for the good people of Rivers State, and I believe strongly that we are going to achieve it together as one people who believe in a better Rivers State.”
Governor Fubara charged the board members not only to count themselves lucky to have been appointed but to be committed also to their assigned duties and bring about the needed transformation in the sub-sector.
He said, “So, I can proudly say that, I have no doubt in the capacity of these ones that are here, that are fortunate in the midst of over seven million people that are our supporters and wonderful people of Rivers State.
“I count you very lucky, and I believe strongly that this assignment that the Rivers State Government is giving to you, you are going to deliver on it with all amount of commitment. I believe that a lot of good things will happen in our educational sector.”
Governor Fubara, who urged the board members not to disappoint the confidence reposed in them, particularly enjoined the Chairman of the UBEB, Chief David Briggs, to ensure that he improved on the existing standard at the board.
The Governor said, “For the UBEB, I know that there is a standard that is already set. The immediate past chairman did his best. He might not be correct or right in everything, but I know that there is a level of discipline in that section of our educational system.
“I am saying this to you here because I will not tolerate anything that will bring down that standard. Rather, I will want that standard to be improved upon,” he said.
Governor Fubara also charged the State Senior Secondary Schools Board to commence the promotion exercise for teachers, which, he said, has been delayed because there was no board in place.
Speaking on behalf of his members, the Chairman of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Dr. Sam Emejuru, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity out of over seven million people in Rivers State.
He said: “What I want to assure you is that we are not going to disappoint you. We are going to carry out our duties efficiently, diligently and with fairness to everyone.
“We take cognizance of the fact that we know you are very passionate about education. So, we are not going to joke with this responsibility assigned to us.
“We are assuring you that we shall not be found wanting. We are going to deliver as you have trusted us to give us this assignment.”
In his speech, on behalf of his members, the Chairman of Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief David Briggs, expressed gratitude to God and to the Governor for reposing high level of confidence in them with such assignment.
He said: “Our commitment will be unalloyed. We are assuring you that we will not disappoint you, knowing how meticulous, detailed, passionate, and of course, how result-oriented you are.
“We will not disappoint you. We will not disappoint your government, and in totality, we will not disappoint the people of Rivers State. We will be at your side, as your foot soldiers to realize the educational heights you have as a vision for Rivers State.”
Those inaugurated for the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board included: Dr. Sam Emejuru as chairman, with Mr. Francis Jacob, Dr. Grace Jaja, Mrs. Jemina Margaret Briggs, and Mrs. Love Aguma as members.
For the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. David Theophilus Briggs is the chairman with Nwuke Anucha, Dr Alom Anyanya Austin-Mba, Dr. Walson Ominini as members, while Mrs. Ibiere Pepple is secretary.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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