2014 RSF ANNUAL CONVENTION, OCTOBER 10-13 Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, Keynote Speaker SECURITY AND EMPOWERMENT: Building a Secured Rivers State that Empowers Growth and Citizenship THE WESTIN WASHINGTON DULLES AIRPORT 2520 Wasser Terrace, Herndon, VA 20171 T 703.793.3366 F 703.793.3866 www.westindulles.com Rivers State Foundation (OR copy and paste the following link into a web browser) https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1409051887&key=28C8674D Promote your Organizations and Businesses AD: Full color page-$150; 1/2- page-$75; 1/4-page-$50 Send AD in MS Word/PDF format to
[email protected] before 9/28/2014 HIGHLIGHTS OF CONFERENCE THEME: SECURITY AND EMPOWERMENT THE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF SECURITY As recorded in the fundamental objectives and directive policy of state policy enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nige- ria of which Rivers State is a part, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. However, over the past several years insecurity (and not security) has reigned supreme in our state. Rivers State and much of the Niger Delta area have witnessed threats to security including kidnappings, robberies, murders, gang or cult-related violence and killings, bombings, political vio- lence, etc. These criminal activities emanating from poverty, desperation, loss of values, moral rectitude, and joblessness have tremen- dously impacted the people negatively on several fronts including politically, socio-culturally, and economically. On a few occasions, the U. S. Department of State has warned its citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, recommending them to avoid all with the exception of essential travel to the Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers.