A new chapter has opened at the Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RIMA) following the assumption of duty by Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko as the agency’s Managing Director on Monday.
Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko, who was inaugurated last Friday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), at Government House, Port Harcourt, held her first meeting with staff where she outlined her vision for the agency and sought their cooperation.
She pledged that RIMA under her watch would prioritize empowering small businesses across the state by providing access to training, funding, and financial discipline.
“We are not going to restrict our activities to businesses in Port Harcourt alone. We’ll reach out to people in other places outside the state capital. We will help to reduce the barriers to them. But they must pay back loans. Those that fail, we shall come for them,” she warned.
The new MD, a chartered accountant, previously served as Chairman of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service.
Her appointment came as part of a wider shake-up of boards and parastatals announced by the state government. In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Vice Admiral Ibas approved the reconstitution of governing boards of several agencies and institutions, including the Rivers State University, the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Senior Secondary Education Board, the Internal Revenue Service, the Waste Management Board, the Contributory Health Protection Programme, the Rivers State Microfinance Agency, and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.
Among those appointed are former Nigerian Bar Association President, Okey Wali (SAN), who now chairs the Governing Council of the Rivers State University, and Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, who was named Chairman of the Rivers State Waste Management Board.
For RIMA, Prof. Adolphus Joseph Toby was appointed Chairman, while Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko will serve as Managing Director alongside other board members, including Prof. John Ohaka and Mr.Leslie LongJohn.
The new boards are expected to strengthen governance, improve service delivery, and support the administration’s broader economic and social development agenda.
