Late Simeon Nwakaudu: Rivers State Govt. announces N50 Million endowment fund for Late Simeon Nwakaudu’s Children

BY IBRAHIM BAKARE

Rivers State Government has announced a Fifty Million Naira Endowment Fund for the training and welfare of the children of the late Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu.


Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike announced the endowment fund today during the burial of Mr. Nwakaudu at his home town, Umuanya Ogbodikwu in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia  State.


Governor Wike who described the demise of his late media aide as most unfortunate, said he distinguished himself by serving the State and Government with utmost dedication and loyalty.


Represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Governor Wike noted that  the late Nwakaudu also sacrificed his time, energy and life to the service of the State.


According to him,  Nwakaudu was bold, brilliant and insightful while informing and disseminating government policies and programmes.


He did not  also forget his colleagues in the journalism profession as he ensured that there was no friction between the government and the media in the country.


The Governor assured the Nwakaudu family of his commitment to ensure that the relationship that existed between him and his late aide would continue to flourish.


Also speaking the Chairman, Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State, Chief Ernest Chinwo, who spoke on behalf of the NUJ in the State, said the union  lost a thorough bred professional.

He noted the valuable contributions of late  Nwakaudu to the journalism profession, saying  he would be greatly missed.

In her speech, the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Monica Nwakaudu described the death of her husband as unexpected and a big blow to the family.


Speaking on behalf of the Nwakaudu’s family, Chief E.O. Nwakaudu, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government for the support given to the family.


Earlier in his sermon titled “Prepare to Die,” Pastor Innocent Aleke of City of Faith Ministry International admonished sympathisers to live good lives.

Late Simeon Nwakaudu,aide to Governor Nyesom Wike 

Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Representing Governor Nyesom Wike at the burial of  late Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu at his home town, Umuanya Ogbodikwu in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia  State.

Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, and  Mrs. Monica Nwakaudu the wife of Late  Simeon Nwakaudu at her husband burial.

Chief of Staff, Government House, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, and his entourage arriving the burial ground

Members of Government House State at the Burial

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 WIke urges to companies to improve their partnership with Government

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has urged companies operating in the State to build strategic partnership with Government to promote rapid development.

He said such partnerships would make business activities to thrive in the interest of the organisations and Rivers people.

Governor Wike gave the charge when the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Engr. Ahmed Dikko led the management team of the company on a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.


The Governor noted that there are many areas of mutual interests that could be explored in a State that is the headquarters of the hydrocarbon industry.


He enjoined the company to rehabilitate the access road leading to their operational base.


“Each time I go to Okrika and get to the Refinery,  I get uncomfortable. You have such a  Company yet the road leading to your establishment is very bad.  


“Why is it that nobody has bothered.  Is it because it is in Port Harcourt.  Would anybody had agreed if it were in another State?


“Now that you are  budgeting to rehabilitate the refinery, you should include the Road,” he stated.

He announced that government had paid 40 percent mobilization fee to the contractor handling the Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road project.


The governor also berated the company for not supporting the State Government  in its fight against coronavirus pandemic.

“During the pandemic lockdown,  all I saw were requests. You asked for approval for the movement of your products. You did not  support the  government to fight  COVID-19 pandemic.


“Now you want government to help you to stop land encroachment but you will not  support us.


“However, as a government, we shall continue to carry out our social contract with the people by supporting corporate organisations to carry out their legitimate businesses, ” he added.

The Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited,  Engr. Ahmed Dikko said their visit was to inform government about the strategic actions taken by the  management to revitalise the Port Harcourt Refining Company.


According to him,  the processes of tendering and selection of contractors that will carry out the rehabilitation of the refinery is in progress.


He assured that the rehabilitation and upgrade at the Port Harcourt Refinery would be concluded in the first quarter of 2023.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, addressing management team of  Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt today.