All Episodes

Episode 198: Daisy Jonathan – United Nations World Autism Day

April 4, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to the great people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that it is in our interest to curtail the spread of Coronavirus by obeying the announced safety guidelines and staying positive in faith, as efforts and resources are channeled towards eliminating the pandemic. This episode is in commemoration of the United Nations Autism Awareness Day, which came up on April 2.

Autism is a lifelong neurological condition that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race or socio-economic status. The term Autism Spectrum refers to a range of characteristics. Appropriate support, accommodation and acceptance of this neurological variation allow those on the Spectrum to enjoy equal opportunity, and full and effective participation in society.

Autism is not a disability, it is a different ability. This is so notwithstanding that the definition of autism is loaded with words like “deficit,” “disorder,” “impaired” and “restricted.” That is to say that autism does not diminish a person as a human being. Autism is not a disorder of thinking or a lack of intelligence. Autism is not a disease that we should try to cure. Rather, it is a challenge we should try to understand. We must be aware that kids with autism can experience sensory overload and that creating teaching opportunities around an autistic child’s interests can help him learn.

Therefore, our responsibility is to presume that people with autism are competent, and then go about looking for ways to help them demonstrate it. If you’re a parent, tell your child what’s going on in the family, in the world — all the interesting things that you would share with another child. Hold up your end of the conversation even if they don’t hold up theirs. Create teaching opportunities out of their own interests. Give them the dignity to be embraced as ordinary people who need to discover themselves. Teach them and read to them even without needing a test at the end. Assume that they listen; that they appreciate; that they love, while we keep looking for ways for their mouths or their hands to tell us.

Love is essential here. We must love them as they are. Not love them for who they might have been without autism, or for who they might be if they were “cured,” but as people who need to be nothing other than who they are, to be loved and accepted. Because when we do that, we open the door for them to share a meaningful life with us.

Our guest speaker for today is Mrs. Daisy Jonathan, a special educator, autism Mom and Certified Autism Service Provider. She will throw more light on the topic. Please enjoy the episode.

Our wise Rivers people, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.

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

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Episode 197: Evi Ifekwe – Managing Human Relationship At Business and Work Place

March 28, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to our kind-hearted people of Rivers State and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that in business, relationship is so golden that your network determines your net worth. This episode is titled “Managing Human Relationships in the Work Place.”.

Excellent management of human relations is of substantial value in any workplace. Human relations is the process of training employees, addressing their needs, fostering a workplace culture and resolving conflicts between different employees or between employees and management.

Human relations in the workplace is a major part of what makes a business work. Without a stable and inviting workplace culture, difficult challenges can arise both in the logistics of managing employees and in the business bottom line. Businesses with engaging workplaces and a well-trained workforce are more likely to retain and attract qualified employees, foster loyalty with customers and more quickly adapt to meet the needs of a changing marketplace.

The quality of workplace relations is critical to employee retention. Managers know that staff turnover is financially very costly for a business. Every new employee requires a substantial investment of time and energy in their recruitment and training.

Workplace relationships provide a source of employee motivation, which is important to maintaining productivity. Employees who are interested in their work and in the well-being of other employees tend to be more productive than those who are not. This productivity pays obvious financial dividends to the company, as it can get more done in less time with fewer costs. Building relationships, by both recognizing employees’ value to the company and a concern for their needs, often goes a long way in positioning the workforce for great achievements.

In the modern business environment, the employees’ creativity is often dependent on their ability to communicate with other employees and share ideas. Without quality workplace relationships, employees are less likely to be able to develop and share the solutions that a business needs to survive or thrive.

Let us listen to our guest speaker today as she expounds on the subject. She is Mrs. Evi Ifekwe, a human resource expert based here in Rivers State. 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.

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Episode 196: Nera Kadiri-Ene – World Tuberculosis Day

March 21, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to the wonderful people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that the highest cause of death in the developing world is ignorance, not disease. Our topic today is on the Disease Tuberculosis, in commemoration of the World Tuberculosis Day, which comes up on Tuesday, March 24th.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. It is a global public health scourge that has attracted global attention. According to former UN General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon, “Efforts must begin now to ensure the effective global roll-out of the End TB Strategy and to stimulate the research that will underpin its success.”

To roll-out the Strategy, countries and all partners have been advised to, among other things:

1. Assess TB situations by knowing the facts about the epidemic, understanding current status of response and health system capacity, and operate within the policy and regulatory environment of their communities.
2. Collaborate across relevant ministries and departments, such as health, finance, education, food, social-welfare, justice, labour, transport, etc. They should also collaborate with patients, affected communities, civil society, the private sector, national and international supporters and partners.

The United Nations Special Envoy on TB, Dr. Eric Goosby, summarised the way forward perfectly when he said the following: “The progress that has been made in combating TB has been hard won and must be intensified if we are to wipe out the TB epidemic. The End TB Strategy offers new hope to the millions of people suffering and losing their lives to TB each year. It is time to join forces to create a world free of TB.”

Going forwards, the 2025 targets require effective use of existing tools to combat TB, complemented by universal health coverage and social protection to:

• Push down global TB incidence rates from an annual decline of 2% in 2015 to 10% by 2025.
• Reduce the proportion of people with TB who die from the disease from 15% in 2015 to 5% by 2025.

Here in Rivers State, both diagnosis and treatment are free. TB patients should take full advantage of such services, and thereby reduce the spread of the disease in families and communities.

Our guest speaker today is a Consultant Public Health Physician, Dr. Nera Ene. She will share her insight on the topic. Please enjoy the episode.

Our good 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.

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Episode 195: Golden Owhonda – Measures to Prevent Communicable Diseases; COVID-19

March 14, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to our wise Rivers people and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that health is wealth in every sense of the word. Keep yourself healthy. This episode is titled “Measures for Prevention of Communicable Diseases With Major Focus on Coronavirus”.

The advent of the new Coronavirus has given rise to so many concerns, rumours and myths that could confuse citizens who seek to take proper precaution and avoid being infected. It is important therefore to have up to date and accurate information about the Coronavirus and apply same in the true sense of the saying, that applied knowledge is power.

Considering that many countries have already recorded cases of the Coronavirus, Nigerian should naturally expect more cases of infections, no thanks to our porous borders and poor enforcements of policies and guidelines. Of course we pray that the opposite will be the case so that we are spared of this pandemic.

The need for being deliberate and intentional to follow the safety measures stipulated by experts and the World Health Organisation (WHO) cannot be over emphasized. In addition to the information that the guest speaker will share, let me drop a few of the hints I found in the course of personal research on the new Coronavirus:

1. Instead of being petrified with fear about the new Coronavirus, we can channel our concerns into actions to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. First and foremost among these actions is regular and thorough hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene. Secondly, keep informed and follow the advice of the local health authorities including any restrictions put in place on travel, movement and gatherings.

2. On how long the Coronavirus stays on surfaces, it is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment). If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.

Let us listen to our guest speaker today as he expounds on the subject. He is, Dr. Golden Owhonda, Director of Public Health and Disease Control, Rivers State. Please enjoy the episode.

Our good 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.

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Episode 194: Nonyem Numbere – UN International Women’s Day

March 5, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to the kind and generous people of Rivers State, and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that Equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. Our topic today is in commemoration of the United Nations International Women’s Day, which comes up on March 8th.

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

Since after the Charter of the United Nations was signed in 1945, as the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men, the UN has continued to help create a historic legacy of internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide. Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN’s efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe. The UN deserves kudos for lighting the flame and leading the charge.

Gender equality is essential for economies and communities to thrive. A gender equal world can be healthier, wealthier and more harmonious. That is what we all wish for. Yet that is not the case, as the following statistics show:

• Women earn 23% less than men globally.
• Women occupy only 24% of parliamentary seats worldwide.
• 1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence,
• 200 million girls and women have suffered genital mutilation.

The emerging global consensus is that despite some progress, real change has been agonizingly slow for the majority of women and girls in the world. Today, not a single country can claim to have achieved gender equality. Multiple obstacles remain unchanged in law and in culture. Women and girls continue to be undervalued; they work more and earn less and have fewer choices; and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces.

The race is on for the gender equal boardroom, a gender equal government, gender equal media coverage, gender equal workplaces, gender equal sports coverage, more gender equality in health and wealth. We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements. We have surely made advances in Rivers State, but more grounds are yet to be covered.

Let us listen to our guest speaker today as she expounds on the subject. She is, Pastor Dr (Mrs) Nonyem Numbere, President of Greater Evangelism Women Fellowship International and wife of the founder Of Greater Evangelism World Crusade. Please enjoy the episode.

Our lovely 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.

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Episode 193: Adeyemi Adegoke – Financial Discipline

February 29, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to our smart people of Rivers State and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that in the school of life, the principle of the more you learn the more you earn works well as in the campus. This episode is titled “Financial Discipline”.

Financial discipline can be said to be the bridge between financial goals and accomplishment. Among other things, financial discipline teaches us to never depend on a single income but rather to create multiple streams of income as quickly as we can. That singular step ensures an organic and dynamic growth of one’s net worth.

We also learn through financial discipline to take calculated risks in business. The rule is to never test the depth of a river with both feet. The same rule enjoins us when it comes to investing, to never put all eggs in one basket.

We all know that saving is a major part of financial discipline, but maybe some have been trying to do it the wrong way. The wrong way is to try to save what is left after spending. The right way is to spend what is left after saving.

Financial Discipline teaches the difference between needs and wants. Things needed are essentials whereas wants are merely desirable. If you buy things you don’t need, soon you will be selling things you need for sustenance.

Financial discipline teaches us to be aggressive in growing our net worth. You have to do whatever you can to improve your net worth, either by reducing your debt, increasing your savings, or increasing your income. Preferably all of the above measures should be applied. Look for new ways to make money, or to get paid more for what you do. Over the course of months, if you calculate your net worth each month, you’ll see it grow. From there you are motivated to do more and scale up.

The most important step to take in achieving financial prudence is to study personal finance. We should both study and apply the knowledge gained. The experts say that personal finance is 80% behaviour and 20% head knowledge. The more you educate yourself, the better your finances will be. Knowledge of personal finance gives you control and keeps you on the driving seat on money matters. There are literally hundreds of thousands of books, articles, audio and video content on personal finance to learn from. Money respects and follows those who discover its secrets and runs from those who are financially ignorant.

Let us listen to our guest speaker as he takes us through the topic. He is Mr. Adeyemi Adegoke, a financial and human capital expert based in Port Harcourt.

Our hardworking Rivers People, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.

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

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Episode 192: Inime Aguma – World Social Justice Day

February 22, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to our highly esteemed people of Rivers State and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that it is your decision to either settle for less or go for your full potential. This episode is in commemoration of the United Nations’ World Day of Social Justice which came up on February 20th.

It was at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development at Copenhagen that the Declaration which pledged to overcome poverty, reach full employment and foster social integration was adopted. These bold commitments alongside growing inequalities remain the defining challenges of our time. Recent waves of globalization, and concrete actions by both State and non-State actors have done much to reduce inequalities, and yet within countries, the gap between richest and poorest is widening. While extreme poverty has been reduced, income and wealth are increasingly concentrated. Most economies are growing, but large portions of the world’s workforce have experienced real wage stagnation, especially in developing countries.

Despite some progress in achieving social justice and efforts undertaken by countries and the international community, people in vulnerable situations face significant challenges in terms of labour force participation, equal pay and decent work opportunities. There is a need to address the stark levels of inequality that exists within and between countries and in rural and urban populations. Inequalities encompass much more than just differences in income, posing a serious obstacle to the achievement of social justice and sustainable development globally.

The lack of decent work opportunities and formal employment worsens inequalities among societies, and weakens social cohesion and people’s trust in governments and institutions. Not only are growing inequalities preventing people from achieving their full potential, it is also putting a burden on personal income, State and national economies.

All this has led to the growth of damaging and unacceptable inequalities, a vicious circle situation where everybody loses. Closing the inequalities gap in the 21st century requires a comprehensive approach, targeting challenges that arise from rapid technological change and demographic shifts. It is thus a critical time for decisive actions for an equitable future, which requires strong and coordinated responses at the global, National, State, Community and family levels to address the multidimensional root causes of inequalities and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

On this occasion of the 2020 World Day of Social Justice, stakeholders should explore actions needed at the international, regional, national, state, community, family and personal levels to reduce inequality and identify how we can deliver coherent and responsive policies and actions to achieve social justice for all. Our Rivers State has already taken notable steps in this direction.

Let us pay close attention to our guest speaker, as she takes us through the topic. She is Mrs. Inime Chinwenwo Aguma, a legal practitioner and the Honourable Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Rivers State.

Our respected Rivers People, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.

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

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Episode 191: Faith Abbasah – Love Is

February 14, 2020 by challymurphy

Greetings to our amiable people of Rivers State and welcome to another episode of RivEthics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that where there is great love, there are always miracles. This episode is titled, “What is Love?”

February 14th of every year popularly referred to as St. Valentine’s day is a day many people exchange cards, candies, gifts, flowers or spend special moments with their loved ones renewing their vows to each other. But the big question is how much of the love we profess these days is truly sacrificial love? Does the celebration of Valentine remind us of the true meaning of love and it’s essence in our lives, which is sacrificing for the other person?

It is really an issue of concern to see teenagers and even older persons engage in all sorts of immorality in the name of celebrating Valentine’s day. Boys and girls, men and women looking for their “vals” every year. This is the wrong idea. It is important that parents, teachers and guardians teach their children/wards the true meaning of Valentine’s day and all similar celebrations. Valentine’s day gives us the opportunity to recognise and salute the love that is purely sacrificial and aimed at giving up of ourselves (time and resources) for another’s happiness. It is a kind of love that can be deeply reflected in the unseen sacrificial love of a mother to her child, husband to his wife, friend to another friend and between family members and work colleagues.

We can also show such love to people we don’t even know by observing a visit to the elderly in homes, spending quality time with the less privileged persons, orphans and the motherless all with the ultimate aim of bringing joy to the recipients.

We all know that God’s love for us is sacrificial in nature. The love of God is, among other things, patient, kind, truthful and long-suffering. And we are enjoined to love our neighbours as ourselves. So as we enjoy the valentine season, we should bear in mind that the greatest form of love does not centre on having only affectionate or romantic feelings but should extend further to causing some good or bringing happiness to some other person on whom such love is shown, especially when this person cannot reciprocate in like terms. Love is active, not passive. Where love exists, it gives more than receives.

Let us listen to our guest speaker as she takes us through the topic. She is Mrs. Faith Abasa, a media expert and the Convener of Faith Abasa Foundation.

Our loving Rivers People, please remember to always let your manners speak for you.

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

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Episode 190: Doris Onyeneke- International Day Of Zero Tolerance To Female Genital Mutilation

February 7, 2020 by challymurphy

Our lovely people of Rivers State, I bring you greetings today and welcome you to another episode of Rivethics on Radio, our character-building weekend show. Please remember that there is much truth in the saying that ignorance is a disease, for the simple reason that lots of diseases are caused by ignorance on the part of the patient. This episode is in commemoration of the United Nations World Cancer Day, which comes up next Tuesday, February 4.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and is responsible for an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018 alone. Globally, about 1 in 6 deaths is due to cancer, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). What is also very disturbing is that approximately 70% of these deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Most of these countries do not have the necessary data to drive cancer policy and inaccessible diagnosis and treatment are common trends in this countries.

Again, it is noteworthy that the economic impact of cancer is significant and is increasing for patients, their families, communities, countries and the world. The total global annual economic cost of cancer in 2010 was estimated at approximately US$ 1.16 trillion. That was a huge loss for these poor countries bearing the brunt.

While governments and policy makers are working hard to keep us healthy, we must do our part through preventive measures, medical checks and presenting ourselves for medical attention early at the slightest indication of Cancer symptoms.

Around one third of deaths from cancer are due to the 5 leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use. In all 5 instances, individuals can take concrete steps to eliminate or minimize each risk factor, and thereby considerably reduce the risk of coming down with Cancer.

When identified early, cancer is more likely to respond to effective treatment and can result in a greater probability of surviving, less morbidity, and less expensive treatment. We must do our part to stop the havoc Cancer wreaks in lives and livelihoods.

Let us listen to our guest speaker as she sheds more light on this subject. She is
Dr. Mrs. Tondor Cleopatra Uzosike, a Public Health Physician and Lecturer in Rivers State University. Please enjoy the episode.

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

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