Rivers honour outstanding caregiver

The Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Ilamu Arugu, has reassured the ministry’s staff that the challenges of inadequate manpower and lack of vehicles will soon be addressed.

The Commissioner made the promise during the best staff award presentation in Port Harcourt, where Gloria Dickson, a dedicated caregiver at the State Children’s Home Borokiri, was recognized as the outstanding staff for the month of January 2025.

In a statement by Martha Igbiks, Head of Press Unit, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, the Commissioner promised to improve working conditions and the recognition of outstanding staff would go a long way in motivating the staff to deliver quality services to the people of Rivers State.

The Commissioner emphasised Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s commitment to improve working conditions for Rivers workers and will soon address the manpower shortage in the ministry.

He encouraged staff to remain steadfast in their duties, assuring them that their hard work would be recognized if they persisted.

To reinforce this message, he presented a ₦100,000 cash award to Dickson as a token of appreciation for her exceptional service.

Dickson emerged overwhelmingly as the winner after a thorough evaluation process, receiving 10 votes out of 15 nominations from her colleagues.

The award scheme, introduced by the Commissioner A aimed to provide equal opportunities for deserving staff members to participate and be recognized for their hard work.

He added that the initiative has recognized three staff since its inception, with Gloria Dickson being the latest recipient.

Receiving the cash gift, Dickson expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Commissioner for the kind gesture, acknowledging the significant impact it would have on her life and work.

The Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation’s monthly best staff award initiative is expected to continue boosting staff morale and enhancing service delivery within the Ministry.

The event was witnessed by the Ministry’s staff and other dignitaries.