Niger Delta

Delta Hands-Off 40 Mission Schools

Published

14 years ago

November 7, 2011

The Delta State government has officially handed over 40 schools to the missions and former owners

The state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who formally presented the handing-over letters to the missionaries assured teachers and non-teaching staff of the affected schools that their monthly salaries and pensions were guaranteed by the state government.

He said that his administration was determined to ensure that schools were returned to their original owners as it would help improve on the standard of education.

“This exercise is intended to improve on the standard of education. The mission has done this before and can still do it”, Uduaghan said.

The governor noted that government schools would compete with mission schools in providing quality and standard education in the state. “I believe the mission will provide a standard for government schools. We shall strive to match this standard.”

Governor Uduaghan lamented the moral decadence in the society stressing that education had declined because teachers and students were no longer dedicated to their responsibilities.

Speaking further, he said the situation was different in mission schools “Society is gradually declining morally. Schools have lived up to expectation in this aspect because the students and teachers are dedicated”.

He commended the mission for their patience with government over the handing-over process adding that the process took over 10 years and promised that all issues arising from the handing over would be amicably resolved.

In a brief response, the Bishop of Anglican Dioceses of Oleh, Bishop Jonathan Edewor who spoke on behalf of the mission expressed appreciation to the state government for formally handing over schools to the mission.

He promised that the mission would do its best to build a high educational standard in the state and called for the co-operation of all Deltans in achieving this goal.

Bishop Edewor commended the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare for accelerating the handing over process and appealed to government to give the mission the free hand to run the schools.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of handing-over letters to representatives of the mission which comprised of the Anglican, Catholic, Africa and Baptist Churches.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Government had earlier approved the construction of new schools in communities that had only missionary schools as replacement for those handed over to the mission to enable them choose over which to attend.

The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this during the inauguration ceremony of the State Bursary and Scholarship Board in Asaba, said two schools had already been established in Ozoro and Ororokpe to kick start the programme.

“My administration has approved the return of 40 schools to the missionary. The state government has also approved the establishment of two new government schools in Ozoro and Ororokpe as the only school in the community were mission schools,” he said.

Responding, the Chairman of the board, Rev. Fr. Buchi Aninye thanked the state government for giving him the opportunity to serve the state and promised that he would do his best in improving the image of the state.

He called on Deltans to give the board the necessary support, especially through prayers in order to enable them excel in their assignment.

Members of the board are Rev. Fr. Buchi Aninye as Chairman, Rev. Napolean Agbikimi, Barrister Kennedy Uwabiti, Barrister William Etibiebi and Mrs Margaret Anyanka as members.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.