The Rivers State Commissioner for Environment Dr. Nyema Weli has charged students of Oro-Igwe in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to study to excel in their chosen disciplines rather than engage in distractive activities.
Dr. Weli gave the advice in his office when the students paid him a courtesy visit.
The Ministry of Environment Boss, who described education as competitive, stressed that knowledge acquisition is fun.
According to him, education enhances the benefactor and enables him to render necessary contributions towards the development of the community.
Dr. Weli, while commending the students for conceiving laudable projects that would assist the future of their communities, advised them to approach the Oro-Igwe committee of friends which according to him, is capable of providing the infrastructure and maintaining them.
The commissioner said he has sponsored football competitions in the community for three years and indicated interest in assisting handicap students on special disciplines such as medicine.
Earlier in his speech, the president of Oro-Igwe Students Union, (OSU) comrade Wachukwu Martins, who spoke on behalf of the students, congratulated the commissioner on his appointment, stressing that they were not surprised going by his track record and solicited the commissioner’s assistance in organizing quiz competitions, donating exercise books to primary schools in Oro-Igwe and renting of secretariat that would be used for students computer training.
Others include, award of scholarships to students of the area, sponsoring of the year’s education enlightenment programme seminar.
In another development, Dr. Nyema Weli charged communities withinPort Harcourtand its environs to compliment government in her desire at ensuring that the environment is cleared of refuse.
The Commissioner gave this charge on Friday inPort Harcourtwhile inaugurating a 15 man intervention committee on waste management in collaboration with theRiversStatesanitation Authority boss, Isobo Jack.
Dr. Weli requested the communities to assist the waste management intervention 15 man committee by not dumping waste on unauthorized places.
Explaining the need for the intervention committee, the commissioner said, it became necessary to caution the lapses arising from the refuse contractors.
He also told the 15 man waste management committee that their duty requires them to work day and night so as to meet with the sanitation expectations of the people of the state. “And that is to prove government willing desire to see the people of the state live happily without any form of attracting diseases or sickness to themselves through dirty environment,” he said.
In his speech, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Rufus Godwins, charged the committee to work without fear as theRiversStategovernment is behind them in executing their assigned job, and congratulated them for accepting to serve the state.
Also speaking, the chairman of Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr. Isobo Jack, said the duty of the Intervention Committee is to succeed in environmental cleanliness of the state.
According to the sanitation boss, for easy function of the committee,Port Harcourtcity and its environs have been divided into six zones, adding that the committee would be assisted by employed unskilled labour.
In his acceptance speech, on behalf of the committee, the chairman Mr. Napoleon Ewule, said that his committee members would work selflessly to accomplish the trust reposed on them.
Mr. Ewule who is the Director of Sanitation and Safety in the ministry disclosed that the committee would employ the services of information to be able to locate unattended wastes.
Members of the committee include, U.S Nmegbu, Ephraim Etitinwo, Abel Jeremiah, Biteye Amachree, Kadilo Kabari, Onengiye Franklin, Alabi Fredrick and Faye Douglas.
Also included are Wobasi Ogbonda, Minabo Jack, Boyd Njiowhor, Clarence Weli, George Okene and Francis Macaulay.###
Emeka Jilly Emeka
