Niger Delta

Dame Amaechi Hails RSBC Over Easter Choral Festival

Published

12 years ago

April 23, 2014

The wife of Rivers State
Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi has lauded the management and staff of Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC) for the successful hosting of their 11th Edition of Easter Choral Festival. In her goodwill message at the event, the first Lady disclosed that she was attending the choral festival for the first time since the annual event started in 2004.
She said her presence had given her the opportunity to discover hidden talents that needed to be exposed to the outside world.
The first Lady promised to attend the event next year as she commended the sponsors of the event for their magnanimity and fore sight.
The chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Prof. B.B. Fakae also give Kudos to the management and staff of Radio Rivers for sustaining the annual choral festival.
According to him, there is no better way of spending Easter than being in this particular gathering.
The Vice Chancillor reiterated that the essence of Easter was to celebrate the risen Chirst who died for humanity and rose from death on the third day, adding that “the best way to celebrate Easter is through events such as this “He promised that the university community would continue to support and encourage the event.
In her welcome address, the General Manager, Rivers state Broadcasting Corporation ( RSBC) Mrs Mediline Tador (JP), noted that the Radio Rivers Easter Choral Festival was conceived by the (RSBC) in 2004 as an outdoor social services to the general public.
According to her the programme was initiated to create a non-denominational platform for the exaltation of God through music and to bring the general public to a place of relaxation during the Easter session.
He noted that the corporation was also aware of its enormous responsibilities to the public which was why the organisation was committed to the actualization of the missing statement to inform, educate and entertain the listening public through objective and innovative journalism as well as quality programme.
In his sermon the senior Poster of Recovery House, Port Harcourt, Rev Ugochukwu Unachukwu, noted that “we are celebrating because we have hope that there is eternity in Christ and that it is appropriate to encourage all of us to celebrate Easter”.
The man of God who quoted extensively from the gospel according to St. Luke said “We need to turn to God for guidance, take our needs to him and when things are down we should look up to Jesus.
This year’s event like the past ones featured 10 Choirs/Choral groups, drama, comdedy, solos, Red Carpet, high praise and special star performances from ace gospel artistes such as Preye, Frank Edwards, Tekena Iyalla, MC Parot.
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion include, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi and his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, the Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandison Jaja, Commissioner of Information, and Communications, Mrs Ibim Seminitari, the General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Celestine Ogolo and his wife, Mrs Ibinabo Ogolo, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, former GM NNPC, O. Lolomari etc.

Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Mr Tele Ikuru (left), and Director, World Book Capital , Mrs Koko Kalango, at the opening ceremony of Port Harcourt World Book Capital in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Jacob Obinna

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.