Niger Delta

Female Governorship Aspirant Vows To Rule Delta

Published

12 years ago

August 22, 2014

Chairman of Nigeria So
cial Insurance Trust Fund, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme has opened up on her governorship ambition, stressing that she has the backing of God to be the governor of Delta State in 2015.
Speaking to journalists, in Ward 5, Unit 10, St Brigid’s Girls Grammar School, Umuaji, Asaba, shortly after collecting her Permanent Voter’s Card, Olejeme who is also banking on her knowledge of the state and ability to build bridges across the different ethnic groups urged the people to be wise and courageous in their choice.
“I have done what the nation wants me to do by coming down. I have submitted my old voter’s card. This will bring me victory in 2015”, she said.
On her chances of becoming the next governor of the state, Olejeme said they were very bright.
“By the grace of God, I will be the next governor of Delta State. This is the era of women. God said women must rule in 2015”
Olejeme said she had acquired enough political structures to enable her become the next governor of Delta State.
On the issue of patriarchy in the country’s politics, Olejeme said “I am not afraid of the number of men in the governorship race. Women are getting extremely important and much more aware and active across the whole of Delta State. Their vote will count, my vote will count as well as the vote of other Deltans” she declared.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme has expressed sadness over the death of Major-General Patrick Aziza (rtd)
“Aziza in his life career served Nigeria with distinction and integrity. He was a family man that radiated the best of family values and a public official whose wealth was measured from the indelible legacies he put in place for posterity” she said.
Olejeme who also described the death of Gen. Aziza as sad and painful, noted that the military officer proved to Nigerians and the international community that there was everything to gain from being principled.
A statement by the Deputy Director General, U and I Foundation, Barrister Raymos Guanah urged the younger generation of Nigerians to take a cue from the ideals that Aziza lived for- building a better Urhobo nation, Delta State and Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, Aziza stood out. He was a rare gem, a distinguished military officer, a community leader, an apostle of the enthronement of the rule of law and a visionary leader with the knack for identifying talents. As a military administrator, he brought together bright young men and women, some of whom are today in top leadership positions in the country. As a minister, he demonstrated exceptional administrative prowess.
She urged Aziza’s immediate family and the Urhobo people at home and abroad to take solace in the belief that God’s will is unquestionable and must always prevail,”
“She prays that God Almighty will comfort them all and grant the late leader’s soul peaceful repose,” Guanah stated.
“We will certainly miss this quiet and unassuming man on so many fronts” the statement added.

Niger Delta

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

Published

16 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

16 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

16 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.