Niger Delta
Group Trains 300 Hunters To Save Gorillas In C’River
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Nigeria has trained no fewer than 300 local hunters in other economic activities to sway them from hunting critically endangered Cross River gorillas, which are said to be less than 100 now. It has also intensified awareness campaigns in local communities at the three sites where these gorillas live. These sites are the Mbe Mountains, Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park which are all in Boki LGA.
Director of the Cross River Landscape of the WCS Nigeria Programme, Dr. Inaoyom Imong said the purpose of the campaign was to enlighten the locals on why they should rather protect the gorillas instead of killing them for food.
Imong said they were also working with many communities in the forest areas of the sprawling Cross River National Park and other sites where the gorillas and other games are under protection.
Speaking with newsmen in his office, he said since the start of the exercise there were indications that the population of gorillas was increasing or at least stabilided. “Since we embarked on the awareness campaign in 2002 to discourage people from killing gorillas, chimpanzees, and other threatened species, we have so far trained and empowered over 300 local hunters in various economic skills.
“The communities of Afi and Mbe mountains areas of Boki Local Government Area, as well as the Okwangwo division of Cross River National Park have benefitted from training and support for beekeeping, snail farming and goat rearing including support for construction and stocking of snail and goat pens and beehives. “We are also working with local women in communities around the three Cross River gorilla sites to cultivate Bush Mango (Ogbonno) and have helped those formed cooperatives to enable them sell the product profitably,” he said.
Imong said all these efforts have helped reduce pressure on Cross River forests, which still host many endangered species of animals. He noted that to discourage deforestation that exposes the animals to danger, WCS procured improved cocoa seedlings for trained farmers to replant old farms as a way to increase productivity and reduce the need to clear more forest each year.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
