L-R: Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma; Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu, Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, Chairman, Obio/Akpor LGA, Dr Gift Worlu and former Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru, during the commissioning of projects at Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, on Wednesday.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s educational system towards vocational and technical education, arguing that the overemphasis on academic certificates at the expense of practical skills is fuelling unemployment and undermining economic development.

Fubara made the call on Wednesday while commissioning three major infrastructure projects at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

The governor said Nigeria could not adequately prepare its young population for the demands of the 21st-century economy without deliberately realigning its educational curriculum towards practical skills, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

He recalled that the 6-3-3-4 education system adopted by Nigeria in the 1980s was designed to expose young people to vocational and technical training at the secondary school level, enabling them to acquire skills, trades and crafts before proceeding to polytechnics or universities.

According to him, the original concept was for students to acquire practical skills within the first three years of secondary education, allowing those with the requisite aptitude to become self-employed while others could pursue further academic training.

Fubara, however, regretted that the country had gradually deviated from the vision, resulting in a society where young people place greater value on degrees and certificates than on competencies required by the labour market.

“The Polytechnic system was designed in such a way that if you’re gifted with your hands; if you’re a technical person, you can go there and learn more, build your skills so that you can add value to our society,” he said.

The governor lamented that society had failed to attach sufficient importance to technical education, forcing many young people into university education even when their strengths and interests were better suited to vocational training.

He said the Entrepreneurship Centre at the polytechnic was conceived to provide young people with relevant skills that would enable them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers after graduation.

“For us as a government, what is important to us is not just about embarking on projects but executing projects that will touch the lives of the people; projects that will solve problems and projects that will bring advancement to our lives,” Fubara said.

He added: “Today, technology has taken over everything. So if we have to prepare our youths; if we have to prepare our dear state, for the challenge ahead, our educational programmes have to be very strategic.”

The governor urged the management, students and members of the host community to protect the newly completed facilities and equipment from theft and vandalism.

He advised them to regard the projects as their own and not merely as government property.

Fubara also urged residents of Obio/Akpor to embrace the prevailing peace in the state, stressing that political stability was essential for sustainable development.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peter Nwagor, said two of the commissioned projects comprised one-storey buildings constructed and fully furnished for the School of Engineering and the Entrepreneurship Centre.

He said each building occupies about 1,940 square metres and contains eight halls, 14 staff offices and 22 toilet facilities, in addition to workshops, administrative spaces, staff quarters and fully air-conditioned areas designed for practical training.

The third project, the Governing Council Building, was initiated under the administration of former governor Nyesom Wike but completed and fully furnished by the Fubara administration.

The Rector of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr Moses Neebee, described the projects as historic landmarks for the institution, saying the Entrepreneurship Centre and other facilities represented some of the most significant developments on the campus in nearly two decades.

The governor’s intervention, he said, would strengthen the institution’s capacity to provide practical, industry-relevant training and contribute to the development of skilled manpower for Rivers State and Nigeria.

CIFAL Nigeria, in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), has joined the global community in commemorating World Humanitarian Day 2026, paying tribute to humanitarian workers and all those who continue to serve vulnerable communities in times of crisis.

The Director of CIFAL Nigeria, Mrs Ihuoma Njemanze, said the occasion provides an opportunity not only to honour humanitarian heroes but also to renew the collective commitment to compassion, human dignity, solidarity and practical action.

Humanitarianism, rooted in the belief that every human life is valuable and deserving of dignity, has evolved from individual acts of compassion into a global movement dedicated to protecting and assisting people affected by conflicts, disasters and other crises.

According to Njemanze, the humanitarian cause remains particularly important in a world confronted by armed conflicts, forced displacement, climate-related disasters, food insecurity, poverty and other complex emergencies that continue to place millions of lives at risk.

The journey towards organised humanitarian action can be traced to the 19th Century, when Swiss businessman Henry Dunant witnessed the horrific suffering of wounded soldiers following the 1859 Battle of Solferino.

Deeply moved by what he saw, Dunant advocated a coordinated system for providing assistance to victims of war, laying the foundation for the modern humanitarian movement.

His vision contributed to the establishment of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863 and the adoption of the First Geneva Convention in 1864, which provided legal protection for wounded soldiers and marked a significant milestone in the development of international humanitarian law.

The movement expanded significantly after World War II with the establishment of the United Nations in 1945, strengthening international cooperation in responding to humanitarian emergencies around the world.

Today, humanitarian action extends far beyond the battlefield. Millions of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters, displacement, food insecurity and other emergencies receive assistance through emergency relief, refugee protection, healthcare, education, food assistance and climate resilience initiatives.

For CIFAL Nigeria and UNITAR, humanitarianism also underscores the importance of building knowledge, skills and institutional capacity to enable individuals and communities to respond effectively to humanitarian challenges.

Njemanze emphasised the need for sustained investment in education, training and capacity development, particularly for professionals, young people and community leaders who are at the frontline of responding to emerging challenges.

She noted that humanitarian action should not be limited to emergency intervention after crises occur, but must also encompass prevention, preparedness, resilience and sustainable development.

The global humanitarian community, she said, must continue to recognise the courage and sacrifices of aid workers who operate in difficult and sometimes dangerous environments to reach people in desperate need.

In recognition of their commitment, the United Nations designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day in 2008. The day honours humanitarian workers and communities affected by crises while drawing attention to the principles of compassion, solidarity and human dignity.

Dunant captured the essence of humanitarianism when he spoke of “the moral sense of the importance of human life” and the desire to ease the suffering of vulnerable people.

As the world marks World Humanitarian Day 2026, Njemanze said the challenge is to move beyond remembrance and awareness to concrete action.

She called on individuals, governments, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to support humanitarian causes, volunteer their time and expertise, advocate for vulnerable populations and promote initiatives that protect human dignity.

For CIFAL Nigeria and UNITAR, the message is clear: humanitarianism must translate compassion into action and knowledge into solutions.

At a time of growing conflicts, displacement, disasters and climate-related emergencies, the humanitarian ideal remains as relevant as ever — that no person should be abandoned in their moment of greatest need.

And as humanitarian heroes are celebrated around the world, the greater tribute may lie not merely in remembering their sacrifices, but in continuing the work they began.

Every act of compassion, however small, can contribute to a more humane and resilient world.

WorldHumanitarianDay #ActForHumanity #ForHumanity #LeaveNoOneBehind #Humanitarianism #WHD2026 #CIFALNigeria #UNITAR

His Royal Highnesss Eng. Hope Torru, Ebedaowei of Kabuowei Clan, Bayelsa State.

Stakeholders of Kabuowei Clan in Bayelsa State have called for stronger collaboration among traditional rulers, community development committees, development unions and security agencies to tackle insecurity and accelerate sustainable development in the clan.

The stakeholders made the call after a meeting held at the palace of the Ebedaowei of Kabuowei Clan in Trofani, where they adopted a four-point communique on peace, security, community administration and economic development.

In the communique signed by the Ozituaowei of Kabuowei Clan, Bayelsa, High Chief Freston Akpor, the stakeholders welcomed the community administration organogram issued by the state Ministry of Community Development.

They, however, clarified that while development unions were legally recognised as instruments for advancing development under their respective constitutions, they should not assume sole responsibility for administering communities.

Rather, the unions, they said, should work alongside traditional institutions, community development committees, youth and women groups and other recognised organs to promote peace, stability and development.

Concerned by the growing insecurity across the country, the stakeholders urged the seven Kabuowei communities in Bayelsa to develop community-specific security structures capable of addressing their peculiar security challenges.

They proposed that such structures should be coordinated at the clan level to promote uniformity, intelligence gathering and information sharing, while strengthening collaboration with state security agencies.

The stakeholders also endorsed recognised paramount rulers as chief security officers of their respective communities, urging them to work closely with CDCs and other stakeholders to achieve common security objectives.

They called for harmonious coexistence among the various groups within Kabuowei communities, warning that activities of development unions must remain within the limits of their constitutional mandates.

“Development unions should be guided by their specific functions and constitutions and their activities must not conflict with the administrative structure and organs of Kabuowei communities such as the paramount ruler, CDC, youth and women executives as provided for in the communities’ constitutions and the laws of Bayelsa State,” the communique stated.

On economic development, the stakeholders urged the seven Kabuowei communities to revive and modernise traditional occupations, particularly fishing, farming and trading, through the adoption of innovative practices.

They also encouraged the communities to explore funding opportunities from government agencies, donor organisations and non-governmental organisations to support local economic initiatives.

The stakeholders further called on development unions to collaborate with paramount rulers to ensure that Kabuowei communities benefit equitably from proceeds derived from natural resources, particularly oil and gas.

They recommended that government interventions and economic activities within the communities be supervised and coordinated at the clan level to prevent duplication of efforts and ensure equitable distribution of benefits.

The meeting ultimately urged the Bayelsa State Government and relevant agencies to support the implementation of the resolutions, stressing that coordinated action among community institutions would strengthen peace, security and sustainable development across Kabuowei Clan.

Okan-Ama and paramount ruler of Asuk-Oyet Community, His Royal Highness, King Brown Asuk VI.

The Okan-Ama and paramount ruler of Asuk-Oyet Community in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, His Highness, King Brown Asuk VI, has appealed against a recent judgment of the Rivers State High Court removing him from office.

Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, in a judgment delivered on July 20, 2026, ordered King Asuk VI’s removal and granted a perpetual injunction restraining him, his agents and servants from parading himself as the Okan-Ama and paramount ruler of Asuk-Oyet.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the monarch, through his counsel, Chief V. O. Egbuawa & Co., filed an appeal on July 29, 2026, challenging the decision in Suit No. PHC/3500/2019.

In the three grounds of appeal, the appellant contended that the trial judge erred in law and arrived at what he described as a “miscarriage of justice.”

King Asuk VI argued that the judgment was based on what he described as a “preconceived decision”, alleging that the court relied substantially on the evidence of the sole founder of the respondent, which, according to him, was not corroborated by any credible witness.

He further relied on evidence which he said was presented by credible witnesses conversant with the customs and traditions of the Andoni people, insisting that the trial court failed to properly evaluate the evidence before reaching its decision.

In the application filed before the appellate court, the appellant sought an order setting aside the judgment of the lower court and staying its execution pending the determination of the appeal.

“We, therefore, respectfully pray your lordship to grant this application staying the execution of the judgment of the lower court in the overall interest of justice as same will not prejudice the respondents, pending the determination of appeal at the Court of Appeal,” the appellant stated.

In an eight-point affidavit filed in support of the motion on notice, King Asuk VI said he was dissatisfied with the judgment of Justice Nwogu and had consequently exercised his constitutional right of appeal.

He maintained that granting the application for a stay of execution would not prejudice the claimants/respondents, arguing that it would serve the interest of justice to preserve the status quo pending the determination of the appeal.

The applicant also averred that he made the depositions contained in the affidavit in good faith, believing them to be true and correct in accordance with the Oaths Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The matter now awaits further proceedings on the application for a stay of execution and the substantive appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Prof. Ugbomeh.

A Professor of Rivers State University (RSU), Adaobi Patricia Ugbomeh, has raised fresh concerns over the effectiveness of environmental remediation efforts in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, saying soil samples from some officially remediated sites still contain dangerous levels of hydrocarbon contamination.

Ugbomeh, who spoke during the 137th Inaugural Lecture of the university in Port Harcourt last Wednesday, disclosed that her research team conducted a post-remediation assessment of sites in Eleme in 2025, which led to the conclusion.

The lecture, titled “Samples Tell A Story: Challenges and Impact of Pollution on the Niger Delta Aquatic Environment,” examined the persistent environmental consequences of pollution in the Niger Delta and the need for evidence-based approaches to environmental restoration.

According to the professor, the research team assessed Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in soil samples collected at different depths from sites remediated under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

She said while one of the sites recorded TPH concentrations below the regulatory target, two others were only partially remediated, with soil samples showing contamination levels significantly above the 50mg/kg target value formerly used by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

“Of particular concern was the increase in TPH concentrations with depth at one of the sites, suggesting continued downward migration of hydrocarbons,” she said.

Professor Ugbomeh said the findings demonstrated that environmental restoration could not be judged solely on the basis of administrative certification, stressing that successful remediation must ultimately be reflected in the condition of the environment.

She noted that, in the case of the Eleme sites studied, soil samples continued to provide evidence of contamination despite official cleanup efforts.

“The post-remediation assessment of crude oil-polluted sites in Eleme exposed a dangerous gap between administratively certified environmental recovery and the reality revealed by soil samples, where Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons concentrations continued to exceed regulatory targets long after official cleanup declarations,” she said.

The professor called for greater reliance on scientific monitoring and post-remediation assessments to determine the actual effectiveness of environmental cleanup programmes, particularly in communities that have endured prolonged oil pollution.

Professor Ugbomeh stressed that environmental samples remain critical evidence in determining whether polluted ecosystems have truly recovered, warning that certification without sustained scientific verification could leave communities exposed to lingering contaminants.