Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area Hon Barr George Ariolu DSSRS, today asserted that education, both formal and informal is a powerful drive of development in any society and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty, improving health and sustenance of peace and engenders critical, logical minds.
The Council Boss made this assertion today, at the commissioning of the post graduate hostel of Rivers State University, remodelled and refurbished by his administration.
Barr Ariolu applauded the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON GSSRS for the construction of this project and described him as a visionary leader.
“From inception Obio/Akpor Local Government Area places high premium on education, the construction of this hall of residence for post graduate Students was initiated and executed by His Excellency Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON GSSRS when he was Local government chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. “
“It takes a visionary leader who understands the power of education to conceptualise and execute this project in Rivers State University, a Citadel of learning for the continous use and benefit of post graduate students from all walks of life and regions.”
“It is for this reason that we accepted the request of the post graduate Students of RSU and promptly embarked on this massive total renovation of this hall of residence. As a council, we have continued to place high premium on education through our post graduate grants and construction of public schools across the LGA. “
Ariolu while eulogizing the Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University, Prof Nlerum Okogbule DSSRS, for his remarkable contributions to the growth of the school, charged the students to exercise utmost caution and develop a proper maintenance culture for the facilities.
“I thank and appreciate the Vice Chancellor of this great University, my lecturer, Professor Nlerum Okogbule, DSSRS, a man whose humility is very infectious. Under your watch as the vice chancellor, there is a remarkable and outstanding transformation of this great university in leaps and bounds. I must appreciate you and members of your management team.”
“Let me specially thank the president of the Post Graduate Students, Comr. David Ordu for his purposeful and outstanding leadership qualities. I therefore charge users of this hostel and other facilities to exercise utmost caution while urging for routine maintenance of the hostel by the school authority. “
Giving His Remarks, Prof Nlerum Okogbule DSSRS, Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University lauded the Chairman for his remarkable approach to government and for making him proud.
“I like to first of all say that today I’m a very happy man, because my former students have made me proud. Every good teacher will always be happy when his students are doing well. Barr. George Ariolu did not just start as an alumnus of Rivers State University, but he is following the footsteps of another alumnus of RSU, the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the FCT, Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and both of them are from my Faculty, the faculty of Law and they are making us proud.”
“I want to specially appreciate you Mr. Chairman for your approach to governance and to say that the school will never forget you, what you have done here today and other projects carried out by your administration is worthy of emulation. History will be kind to you and you will go to higher places. “
For his part, the President of the post graduate Students Rivers State University, Comr Nelson Ordu while giving a description of the project expressed his gratitude to the Chairman for this landmark project.
“Let me specially appreciate the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon Barr George Ariolu DSSRS. I also call him the distinguished service star of post graduate students, whom out of his love for education and humanity saw reasons to the request we made and swinged into action and today we are here to celebrate this project.”
“This remodelling, renovation and refurbishment of this hostel is not just what we are seeing here, it consists of 125mm thickness of the floor, provision of potable water system, Toilet system fully replaced in all the hostels and Security Doors.
“These are good works of the Chairman and on behalf of the students, we must thank you, words are not enough. As a way of celebration of this landmark and good governance of the Chairman of obalga, we put together as a mark of honour ‘George Ariolu sports festival’ in honour of what our amiable chairman did for us. May the Good Lord bless you and prosper you always Sir.”
The commissioning was concluded with the presentation of prizes to the winners of various sports categories of the George Ariolu Sports Festival by the Council Chairman and had the presence of the Party Chairman, People’s Democratic Party Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; Hon Paddy Wali, the Deputy Chairman Obio/Akpor Local Government Area; Lady Chinyeru Agbara Esq, the Leader Obio/Akpor 9th Legislative Council; Hon Prince Achor Nna, Directors Of Rivers State University, Councillors Of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Supervisors of Council, Political Appointees and other dignitaries.
Ichenwo Goodluck
Chief Press Secretary
Obio/Akpor LGA
7/11/2023
