RivEthics

Greetings to the peace-loving people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that though we have a diversity of languages, a warm smile means the same thing in every language. Always remember to share a smile. Our topic this weekend is titled, Our Language, our Culture, in commemoration of the United Nations’ Mother Tongue Day which came up this week, on the 21st of February.

Language is the road map of any culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going. Language is the most powerful instrument of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

Research has shown that children can learn as many languages as they are taught. The challenge is the absence of good and enthusiastic teachers. This should remove the fear that our children by learning their mother tongue may impair fluency in English, the official language. This fear is unfounded and not based on research. Research has proved that the best way for a child to excel in English is to be good in his or her own native language.

Learning to speak in the mother tongue is very important for a child’s overall development. Being fluent in the mother tongue, which is also known as the native language, benefits the child in many ways. It connects children to their culture, ensures better cognitive development, and aids in the learning of other languages. The significance of knowing more than one major language is better appreciated when one realises that only 20% of the world population of 7.5 billion people speak English. Over 1.3 billion people speak Chinese.

Many of the world’s languages and cultures are in danger of disappearing in the coming decades for a variety of political, economic and social reasons. We are all concerned about this phenomenon. The challenge is to slow it down or stop it altogether, by promoting respect for linguistic and cultural rights, peaceful co-existence in multicultural societies and the preservation of our biocultural heritage. Respect for our individual culture and language will help us appreciate the language and culture of other people, helping us become better and more integrated global citizens.

Our guest speakers are Dr. Agu Ovuchi, the CEO of Rivers Language Centre and Dr. (Mrs.) Roseline Alerechi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, University of Port Harcourt. They will enlighten us more on the subject matter. Please enjoy the episode.

Our great Rivers people, don’t forget to always let your manners speak for you.

God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State.

Her Excellency, Justice (Mrs.) Suzzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, The Wife of the Governor of Rivers State and Initiator of the RivEthics Character Development Programme.

You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below

Greetings to the lovely people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that the emotions you allow in your life account for your attitude and wellbeing. Therefore do what you love and love what you do. Our topic today is Activating the Law of Large Numbers.

The law of large numbers or massive action is one of the fundamental principles of life. It works for everything, be it academics, business, sports, entertainment, etcetera. Everything in life is built on principles – plants, seas, birds. All of the natural elements of nature follow and obey certain basic fundamental principles. Principles are sacred, and there is a saying, that an army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot. Principles provide a thinking man or woman with a frame of reference and the springboard for decisions and actions in life. Principles are fundamental because of their far-reaching impact. When Bill Gates of Microsoft was being interviewed by the TV host Larry King on the reason for his huge business success, he rested it on a fundamental principle when he said, “I was in the right place at the right time…and I took massive and immediate action.” Bill Gates’ result is there for all to see. The need for massive action to accompany our plans and goals cannot be overemphasised.

There are other fundamental principles of success in life that we must endeavor to apply. Knowing them is not enough. Remember that applied knowledge is power. Some of these principles include the following:
• Be grateful and appreciative of what you have. This creates a positive outlook and gives you energy for the journey.
• Stay in the company of positive influencers. Your dreams and visions will be boosted by positive people who share your perspective. Negative people can become dream stealers.
• Use positive affirmations of your vision and goals. This helps to recharge and re-energise you as you battle obstacles along your journey to success.
• Set SMARTER goals along your journey. Goals define where you are going and when you will get there. They are indispensable for any journey, especially the journey to success. This point also cannot be overemphasised.
• Focus on growth and the big picture. Big picture thinking saves us from becoming parochial and narrow-minded.

There are many more fundamental principles of success. We should research on them, know them and apply them to ourselves. Knowing them and applying them are of equal importance. Many people know these principles but fail to apply them, and therefore continue to receive mediocre results. Let us endeavor to study and learn the application also and surely our success will be guaranteed.

Our guest speaker this week is Mr. Paul Foh, a certified public speaker and life coach. He will throw more light on the subject. Please enjoy the episode.

Our wonderful people of Rivers State, don’t forget to always let your manners speak for you.

God bless and keep you and your families and God bless Rivers State.

Her Excellency, Justice (Mrs) Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, the Wife of the Governor of Rivers State and Initiator of the RivEthics Character Development Programme.

You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below

Greetings to the lovely people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. We are in the Season of Love again, and I’ll urge you to please remember the golden rule to do unto others as you would love them to do unto you.

You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below

Our wonderful Rivers people, special greetings to you all, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that it is unwise to lose your health to gain great wealth, only to spend that wealth in regaining your health. Our topic today is on Prostate Cancer – towards the commemoration of World Cancer Day, 2018, with the theme, “WE CAN, I CAN”.

The World Cancer Day, taking place tomorrow, 4th of February, aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease. Prostate cancer, the 2nd highest killer cancer in the world, is a disease in which cancerous cells form in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. As we know, when it comes to health, prevention is far better than cure. Cancer prevention refers to actions taken to reduce the risks of getting cancer. Here are the primary prostate cancer prevention tips based on research.

1. Stop Smoking Cigarettes: You are never too old to quit smoking. Smokers are more likely to get an aggressive form of prostate cancer than non-smokers. There are numerous brave stories of addicted smokers who have said NO to smoking and won.

2. Exercise Frequently: Research indicates that men who exercise regularly are at a lower risk of prostate cancer than men who do not. Also, exercise helps reduce risks of heart disease and has many other health benefits. It also helps you to maintain a healthy weight. Please note that if you are changing your exercise program, you may need to consult your doctor to determine what activities are best for you.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet: Improved nutrition can lend itself to a reduced chance of prostate cancer, suggests research. A diet that is low in fat appears beneficial, as studies have shown that excess fat is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. Reduce fat by increasing the number of fruits and vegetables you eat daily. This guarantees more vitamins and nutrients needed to fight off cancer.

4. Reduce Your Weight: An obese man is at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer and, therefore, should work to lose the extra weight. Combine the consumption of fewer calories with an increase in exercise, after your doctor has approved this modification in your lifestyle. Weight reduction stems from a deliberate and conscious effort based on healthy choices and an active lifestyle.

We must always prepare ourselves with sound knowledge if we are to wage an effective war against cancer, either as individuals or as families, communities, organisations, etc. And the time to start is now, not tomorrow.

Our guest speaker this week is a distinguished medical practitioner and cancer expert, Dr. Jack Omodu. He will be sharing important insights on Prostrate Cancer. Please enjoy the episode.

Distinguished Rivers people, don’t forget to always let your manners speak for you.

God bless and keep you and your families. And God bless Rivers State.

Her Excellency, Justice (Mrs.) Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, The Wife of the Governor of Rivers State and Initiator of the RivEthics Character Development Programme.

You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below

Greetings to the good people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember this important quote on learning by the great Benjamin Franklin, which says, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Our topic today is Education: The Right of the Girl Child.

According to the United Nations, there are four guiding principles or core requirements that make it possible for all rights of the child to be realised, especially the right to education. The principles are:

• Non-discrimination: this relates to the rights of EVERY child, no matter their gender, religion, race, abilities, culture or whether they are rich or poor.

• The best interests of the child: any decision that is made, or any action that is taken, that may affect children must prioritise the best interests of the child, always.

• Ensuring the child’s survival and development: every child has the inherent right to life, and it is the responsibility of decision-makers to ensure they are provided every opportunity to develop and reach their potential,

• Participation: Every child has the right to express his or her opinion, and can provide advice and valuable insight into how their rights can best be protected and fulfilled.

The last requirement of involving children is so crucial (though often neglected), because children are able to create real change for themselves and their communities if given the opportunity.

There is the story in Sierra Leone of how some older children successfully delivered a programme preparing pre-school children to be ready to enter primary school by teaching the pre-schoolers early literacy and numeracy skills through the use of interactive learning games and activities. The older children in turn improved their academic grades and enhanced their self-esteem. In Nigeria, there is another story of a project, where children researched and solved a key health problem faced by their community. Supported by adult facilitators, they identified that the guinea worm challenge the village was facing was as a result of lack of clean drinking water. By changing the habits of the people in their community and ensuring access to clean drinking water, the children succeeded in eradicating guinea worm from their community.

These two stories demonstrate that if given the chance, children can really learn and develop to their fullest potentials when encouraged to participate fully in the learning process. Participatory learning is most effective for children and our schools and teachers should promote same, considering that children love to learn actively and to be given responsibilities.

This episode of Rivethics is in line with the same principle of involving children and giving them responsibilities. Our guest speaker this week is Miss Mildred Charles-Harry, a JSS 3 student of Education Plus International School in Port Harcourt. She is a 13 year old girl child who is very passionate about child rights. She is a loyal fan of Rivethics and we are very proud of her and are inspired by her clarity of vision and quality conversations. She wrote a beautiful letter to me and requested an opportunity to share her thoughts with our distinguished audience. And here we are. We encourage more involvement and participation for our children as they travel on their learning journey. Please enjoy the episode.

Great Rivers people, don’t forget to always let your manners speak for you.

God bless and keep you and your families. And God bless Rivers State.

Her Excellency, Justice (Mrs.) Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, The Wife of the Governor of Rivers State and Initiator of the RivEthics Character Development Programme.

You can also listen to and download the Pidgin English version of this Episode below