Miffed by the dearth of comprehensive knowledge of Rivers State, its history and attainments by the citizenry, two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) based in the State have commenced a project aimed at addressing and reversing the trend.
The project organizers say they hope to achieve this through quiz and debate competitions which would draw participation from all the secondary and tertiary institutions in the State.
In a chat with National Network in Port Harcourt on Monday, the Project Director of Proudly Rivers Quiz and Debate Project, Mr. Emmanuel Kaldick Jamabo said the programme is the initiative of two Port Harcourt based NGOs, namely Roadmap Educational Consultancy and Creative Bibliophiles.
He said the project is designed for the benefit of both indigenes and non-indigenes in Rivers State, regretting that the people of the State, especially the younger generation, have lost touch with facts about the State, adding that the knowledge expected to be gained from the project would go a long way in restoring the dignity of the Rivers man and woman as well as making him or her very proud.
“We discovered to our chagrin that several students and residents of Rivers State have little or no knowledge about the cultural and educational heritage of the State in course of their studies. They go through the six years in secondary school; four years in tertiary institutions but they have little knowledge about Rivers State.
“Not just about the name Rivers State, but about the possibilities, potentials, investment opportunities and the historical icons that they can draw inspirations from”, said Jamabo whose Roadmap Educational Consultancy and Chidinma Ubakanwa’s Creative Bibliophiles have taken the gauntlet to redirect Rivers people to the path of knowledge about the State.
He stated that the project which is an annual event, would provide a credible platform to tell the true story of Rivers State to the younger generation using the instruments of quiz and debate from the perspective of true knowledge about the State.
“The Proudly Rivers Quiz and Debate Project is about promoting the pride and dignity of Rivers State. It is about changing the narrative positively”, he said.
Jamabo, a journalist cum educationalist disclosed that the project would commence from the JSS 1 to SS3 students and proceed to tertiary students, adding that even ‘out of school students’ would also be involved.
He said everyone ought to be involved because we are exploring the Rivers of Possibilities to enable them be abreast with the rich socio-political, economic and cultural heritage of Rivers State.
Speaking in same vein, the Director of Creative Bibliophile, Chidimma Ubakanwo said the project would be open to both public and private secondary/tertiary institutions, urging politicians and good spirited people of the State to identify with the project.
“It is about making their contribution to the development of the State. Nothing stops them from picking it up and ensuring it becomes a huge success”, she said.
Further underlining part of the objective of the project, Ubakanwa, a Librarian and Programmes Coordinator of the Port Harcourt Literary Society said it is intended to among others, “institutionalize the Rivers identity in the minds of the younger generations in the midst of globalization of our economy as well as make Rivers sons and daughters take
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