By Bestman Orji PH
Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo has described Education as the key to the total emancipation of the Girl Child and a major factor in development.
She made this known during the 2017 Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service/ Dedication of Parsonage of Assemblies of God, Nigeria, Rumuodomaya 1 (City Of Joy) at Elibolo Road in Port Harcourt, where she announced a surprise scholarship as part of deliberate efforts to encourage female students with flair for science subjects noted that with good education girls will turn out to be better women in future.
According to Dr Banigo, “God has laid it in my heart to provide for 12 exceptional girls who are members of this congregation a scholarship. They must be girls in public schools with interest in science subjects. I want to personally mentor them”.
She expressed gratitude to the Women of Assemblies of God Nigeria who paid courtesy calls and prayed for Governor Wike and herself during the turbulent period of election litigations, reaffirmed the fact that Rivers State is a Christian State.
On her part the Chairman Care Taker Committee (CTC) of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Mrs. Ozioma Goodnews Amadi, advised parents especially mothers to be alive to their responsibilities by taking care of their children, because the children are our future.
In his sermon the guest Rev. Loveday Akah expressed the need for Christians to be thankful to God for His Grace and Sustenance.
Highlights of the occasion were the conferment of an award of Excellency on the Deputy Governor as well as the commissioning of the church parsonage.
In another development the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reiterated that his Administration is firmly rooted on Jesus Christ the Solid Rock.
The Governor made this known through his Deputy Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo during the Rivers District Golden Jubilee Celebration of Assemblies of God Nigeria in Port Harcourt, who said that Rivers State has a goodly heritage based on the foundation of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the Prince of Peace.
He said he appreciates the spiritual and physical contribution of the church towards the development of the State, noting that the effective fervent prayer of the righteous attracts a lot of blessings from God.
The Governor equally advised members of the church to keep their eyes focused on the author and finisher of our faith, the one who was and is to come, said the Golden Jubilee is a season of liberty, restoration and victory on all sides.
In his address the Superintendent, Rivers District Assemblies of God Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Daddy Ibulubo said it was in the Rivers District that Assemblies of God Nigeria, as well as the cradle of the Pentecostal movement started, following the descent of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues by the founding fathers.
According to him the District was created in 1967, with only two sections and a sparse membership which has now grown and produced 13 other Districts.