Niger Delta

UNDP, Delta Set July Timeline For Pact On Climate Change

Published

16 years ago

March 28, 2010

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Delta State Government have set a July timeline to sign a pact on measures aimed at combating and mitigating the effect of climate change in the state.

This was part of the outcome of a two-day technical session officials of the UNDP team on Territorial Approach on Climate Change (TACC) and top government officials of the state had together in Asaba.

UNDP team leader from Geneva, Christophe Nuttal, briefing the Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama (SAN), after the session, observed that the body was pleased that the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan was steps ahead of other governments in Africa in the crusade and measures on Climate Change.

A member of the UNDP team from South Africa, Dr. Akiko Yamamoto, informed that the body and the state government have set a July timeline for the signing of a final agreement on measures to address climate change.

Yamamoto explained that under the arrangement, a consultant would come to the state in May to interact with stakeholders and look into documents prepared by the Delta State Government.

“Then in June we will have first draft project document ready for review. We hope by ending of June we have a final document ready for appraisal. Our target is by end of July we have project document signed by Delta State Government, by the Federal Government and the UNDP,” she added.

Utuama, who stood in for the governor, on his part, said “We want to win the battle against the adverse effect of climate change…Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s leadership in the issues of climate change will not only be at the conception stage. It will be carried further to the implementation stage and even much further to the monitoring stage and step further to the conclusion stage.

In all of these, we will partner with you and others wherever it becomes necessary to do so. For us in Delta we are very certain…and will be on top of climate change in Delta State.”

Head of Climate Change Unit in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Victor Fodake on his part, acknowledged that the Delta State Government was taking the lead in the fight against the adverse effect of climate change and expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to collaborate with the state.

The Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Bello Orubebe also noted, “as a ministry we have attempted to frame the climate change. We’ve looked at mediation and we’ve also looked at adoption.

“We are the first in sub-Saharan Africa to develop a programme on climate change. We have submitted this to the stakeholders’ forum in February…We have embarked on consultations and we have been dealing with communities.”

Story 2—

UNIBEN to award degrees for Federal College of Education (Tech), Asaba

*** As College plans Open University education

From Albert Ograka, Asaba

Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba has embarked on the processes of affiliating the College to the University of Benin for its Degree programmes and the full commencement of the National Open University education in the College.

Provost of the College, Dr. Gabriel Iloh disclosed this during the matriculation ceremony for 1,424 students in National Certificate in Education (NCE), Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDE) and Part-time programme for 2009/2010 academic session in Asaba, Delta state capital.

The Provost said the numerous achievements in the College were made possible by the peace and harmonious relationship between staff and management on one hand and among staff, students and unions on the other hand.

The College, according to Dr. Iloh, has produced about 20,000 technical/vocational graduates with NCE certificates, adding that the more academic achievements would be recorded when the affiliation processes with the University of Benin for Degree programmes is completed.

He therefore advised the new students to remain focused and should not attempt to compromise the rules and regulations of the College. “The College does not brook any form of indiscipline, under any guise and name. Please be warned!”

Meanwhile, the Director of Academic Planning and elected member of the College’s Governing Council, Dr. Ignatious Ezoem attributed the successes recorded so far by the College to exemplary leadership potentials of the College’s administrators.

Dr. Ezoem harped on the need for a sustainable commitment from the College’s authority by providing their personal potentials which, according to him, would in turn demand favourable compliance by the students.

“To manage an institution like this College, one requires a participant proficiency to take part in what followers do and be part of the instrument to accomplish the instruction given out. We take pedagogic attainment with aptitude seriously and that is why, by God’s grace there is a cross mutation of peaceful co-existence in this College”, he said.

Niger Delta

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

Published

10 hours 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

10 hours 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

10 hours 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.