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Niger Delta

‘Education, Panacea To Nigeria’s Security Challenges’

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14 years ago

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The Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, says education is the only solution to the persistent security challenges facing the country.

Ndoma-Egba, who said this in Calabar during his Scholarship Awards’ ceremony, said that with good education, the Nigerian society would be safe for everyone to live in.

“Today, we have the Boko Haram and other forms of security challenges facing the country. We can only address the problem of insecurity when we educate the people.

“The only time we can feel safe in our society is when everyone is educated,’’ he said.

Ndoma-Egba said that he instituted the scholarship scheme so as to assist the youth in Cross River Central Senatorial District in their quest to achieve their life ambition.

He, nonetheless, stressed the need for the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the scholarship awards by studying hard, pledging to assist them to secure employment after their education.

Ndoma-Egba, however, said that the selection of the beneficiaries was not hinged on any political considerations, adding: “The beneficiaries were chosen purely on merit.’’

In his speech, Prof. Offiong Offiong, the Commissioner for Education, said that Ndoma-Egba’s scholarship scheme was complementary to the state government’s human capacity development programme.

The commissioner, who was represented by Ebri Eteng, the Executive Secretary, Cross River State Scholarship Board, said that such partnership was desirable in efforts to fast-track the state’s development.

“This Public-Private Partnership will reduce financial burden on parents and students. It will also help in stimulating the spirit of healthy competition among our youths in the quest for academic excellence,’’ he said.

Offiong called on other personalities to emulate the gesture of Ndoma-Egba by assisting the less-privileged members of the society.

Earlier, Dr Margaret Ndoma-Egba, the Chairperson of Ndoma-Egba Scholarship Foundation, said that 30 undergraduates and 12 post-graduate students benefited from the scholarship scheme annually since 2008 when the Foundation was established.

She said that five students were selected from each of the six local governments areas of the senatorial district for the undergraduate category, while two were selected from each of the council areas for the post-graduate group.

“So since 2008, Sen. Ndoma-Egba has sponsored the education of 270 undergraduates and 48 post graduate students from Cross River Central Senatorial District in tertiary institutions across the country.

“A total of 318 students have so far benefited from the scheme,’’ she said.

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Niger Delta

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

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1 week ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

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1 week ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

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1 week ago

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March 2, 2026

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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.
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