Niger Delta

HIV/AIDS: Journalists Plan Awarenes Campaign

Published

13 years ago

October 5, 2012

Some journalists at the end of a workshop on Prevention of
Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDs on Tuesday promised to create
more awareness on mother to child transmission at the rural areas.

Publisher of Flashpoint newspapers in Delta State Mr David
Diai, told our correspondent in Calabar
that there had been lack of information on the transmission, especially at the
rural areas.

“The country have not created more awareness on PMTCT
because the media has not lived up to its responsibility in that direction.

“Again, especially the media at the community level has to
be involved in creating awareness on the issue because women at the rural areas
needs correct information on mother to child prevention of HIV and AIDS,” he
said.

Diai promised to give maximum attention and also promote the
issue of HIV in his publication with more emphasis on mother to child
transmission.

According to him, he will ensure that community based
newspaper publishers form themselves into nucleus to promote PMTCT in order to
make the country have free HIV babies.

“I network with numerous community newspapers in my area,
the first thing to do is to give maximum attention and promotion to PMTCT in my
publication.

“I will also drive the process of making sure that the issue
that conscience PMTCT are reflected in all the newspapers that operate in my
network.”

Diai said the attention given to community based newspapers
and radio in the south was high and
called on the state government and media owners to propagate the issue
of mother and child transmission.

Mrs Ify Onyegbule, Presenter, Health and Wellness on Radio
Continental, Lagos said stigma was another issue hindering the fight against
HIV and AIDS in the country.

Onyegbule, who is also a producer of ‘ Woman of Substance’
said she would ensure that the issue of stigma was addressed in all her
programmes

“Although the issue of stigma is reducing but we need to do
more to help expectant mothers access the HIV treatment to have babies free of
the virus,” pointing out that when the
stigma bill was passed, it would enhance
the fight against the virus.

Mrs Tongnaan Bawa, Nigerian Newsday, Jos, said she had
learnt a lot about PMTCT during the workshop and was more determined to create
awareness on the issue.

Bawa said she would write more human interest stories on
babies that are born HIV free for others to learn, and called on the media to
ensure proper awareness on the issue of
PMTCT as that would go a long way in the fight against HIV and AIDS in the
country.

The workshop was for the Journalists Alliance for Prevention
of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (JAP), an NGO in collaboration with
Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) and UNICEF.

Niger Delta

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

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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.