Rivers

Group Predicts Garden City Status Return For Rivers … Lauds Fubara Over New RIWAMA Boss’ Appointment

Published

19 hours ago

March 5, 2025

An environmental health advocacy group in Nigeria, the Community Health and Advocacy Initiative (CHAIN), has said Rivers State will soon return to its Garden City status.

The South-South Project Coordinator of CHAIN, Engr. Sunny Andy Dimkpa, who stated this recently on the sidelines of a two-day workshop themed “Eat, Clean and Live” in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, said this is due to the leadership style and focus of the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

“Under the leadership of an astute administrator like Governor Fubara, who possesses extensive field knowledge in community health and the Rivers State environment, meaningful progress can be achieved”, he said.

Dimkpa used the fora to commend the State Governor for responding to the concerns of environmental stakeholders by strengthening waste management operations in the state, particularly with the appointment of Hon. Orukwem Amadi-Opareli as the Managing Director of the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).

He further praised the Governor for identifying young talents to drive key sectors of his economic reforms, noting that Amadi-Opareli’s leadership at RIWAMA signals the beginning of a transformative era for sanitation in Rivers State.

Describing Amadi-Opareli’s appointment as a clear testament to the Governor’s commitment to ridding Port Harcourt and its environs of filth, the CHAIN boss expressed optimism about the possibility of restoring Port Harcourt to its former Garden City status.

Towards this end, Dimkpa urged the new RIWAMA helmsman to “align the agency’s core mandate with Governor Fubara’s Sectoral Focus on Environment and Sanitation, while taking deliberate steps to engage communities and retraining of sanitation enforcement agents as a means of facilitating the efficient implementation of waste management policies”.

He also advocated for an improved sanitary culture among Rivers State residents, calling for the revival of the state’s monthly sanitation exercise.

Soibi Max-Alalibo

Rivers

Fubara Approves Building Admin Block, Hostels, Others For IAUE

Published

19 hours ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the construction of key infrastructural projects in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE).

The Governor, who gave the approval midweek during his maiden visit to the institution, was responding to requests made by the Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the university, Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka, said his administration will do everything possible to improve the current state of the University.

Addressing the crowd, comprising virtually the entire university community and its host community, after a tour of the Main Campus, the Governor explained that he had come based on the request made by the Governing Council Chairman to provide additional facilities in the school.

Earlier, the Governing Council boss, Amiesimaka, had stressed the need for the Rivers State Government to intervene urgently in critical areas of the institution.

He noted that the achievements and progress recorded by the institution in terms of infrastructural development were mainly those provided by TETFund, though the University is under the control of the Rivers State Government.

He, however, lauded the University’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, “for managing the institution very well despite the lack of government presence”.

In his response, the Governor automatically granted the request made for the building of new hostels for both male and female students, a new administrative block, a health center, and a sports complex.

Addressing students of the university, Fubara appealed to them to “use the rare opportunity provided for them to attain sound education”.

He also urged them to ensure that they remain focused and achieve the purpose for which they are in the university.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Rivers

Farmers Urge Govt, Corporate Bodies For Support … Wants More Youths In Farming

Published

19 hours ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

The Association of Farmers and Food Processors in Rivers State has called on government and corporate bodies to do more to support practicing farmers in the state in order to successfully tackle the issue of food scarcity and continuous increase in price.

President of the association, Chisom Dike, who made the call while speaking with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, said the aim is to make food available for Rivers people.

He said the agricultural sector comprises more of the elderly, adding that there is a need for young people to venture into farm business as it help to increase food production and processing across the State.

“We don’t have enough farmers in Rivers State. Also, there are more of elderly people farming in the agric industry. It is a challenge because we are not producing enough food.

“We need more young people, whether male or female, to invest in farming as it is equally a lucrative business”, he said.

The Association of Farmers further called on the government and relevant bodies to see how the effects of flooding can be managed, knowing that great losses have been recorded over the years due to flooding.

“Most times when these flooding occur we lose a lot of top soil which is a major ingredient for planting. We also lose our livestock and also our animals are exposed to infection due to the floods”, he stated.

Dike also commended the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his interest in the agricultural industry, and for the commissioning of a Board of Directors to oversee the intended projects.

“We will like to appeal to the Ministry of Agriculture and other corporate bodies to be involved in promoting farming and food processing.

“The basic need of everybody is food, and if we can produce these foods, it will help in reducing crime”, he stated.

According to him, the level of criminal activities will be reduced if the price of commodities decreases across the State.

He also called on the State Government to pally with farmers of the state in order to know what their problems are, adding that Local Government Areas need to be equipped to be able to support farmers as most farming are done at the rural levels.

Iragunima Benice

Rivers

RILTA Seeks Indigenous Language Centre Establishment … Marks Silver Jubilee

Published

19 hours ago

March 5, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Indigenous Language Teachers Association (RILTA) has advocated for the establishment of indigenous language centre in the two state-owned universities to enhance the training of language teachers in the state.

This, the association said, will help to preserve the various native languages from extinction.

President of RILTA, Dr. Ovuchi Justice Agwnu, made this call while speaking during the celebration of the 2025 Silver Jubilee Mother Tongue Day Celebration held at the association’s secretariat in Port Harcourt, Friday.

Agwnu noted that over 12 native languages in the state out of the 28 recognised native spoken languages have gone extinction, stressing that “language is like an organism which, if not cared for, can die”.

He used the opportunity of the celebration to call on the management of the Rivess State University (RSU), and the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) to align with the association and revisit the proposal for the establishment of indigenous language centres in their institutions.

According to him, they had earlier submitted curriculum for the establishment of the centres in the institutions so that native languages in the state can be preserved beyond the present generations.

“We have 12 native languages that have gone extinct in the state.This institutions should be a major centres that can produce the needed man power and award degrees in indigenous language”, he stated.

He called on the State Government to employ more indegenous language teachers to have one teacher per community school, stressing that one indigenous language teacher is equal to five teachers in other fields.

Dr. Agwnu said the essence of the celebration was to enable members of the association, as custodians of language in the state, gather to learn modern approaches on how to teach the subject so that it can be attractive to the children through Tik tolk, songs and others.

He also used the opportunity to commend members of the organisation for their steadfastness and diligence in preserving the native languages in the state.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Chief David Briggs, who was represented by a Board member, Dr. Mrs. Aloma Anya, commended the association for their dedication in preserving the native languages in the state and described them as “preserver of lives”.

Briggs urged them to go beyond government support and build partnerships with private and corporate organisations, stressing that native languages have power to influence, break barriers, and promote sense of belonging and brotherhood.

“In celebrating 25 years of existence, you need to do more and take this message to churches and traditional institutions which are custodians of cultures and natives languages.

“Engage on people’s approach, not government approach. As a board, we will continue to support you based on the limitations of our budget,” he stated.

Earlier in his lecture, Mr. Justice Egbilika, a linguist and language advocate in a topic, “Make Language Count For Sustainable Development”, called for a convocation of national dialogue on native spoken languages to address the inherent challenges hindering the development of indigenous languages in the state .

He also advocated for the review of the nation’s educational policies as regards the teaching of indigenous language in the state.

Akujobi Amadi