Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) has empowered 110 wives of Nigerian Army personnel in Delta State with vocational and entrepreneurship skills to strengthen household incomes and improve the economic resilience of military families.
The initiative, undertaken in partnership with the Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF) and the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), 63 Brigade, Delta State, was designed to support the families of soldiers who continue to serve in the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.
The beneficiaries underwent a six-day intensive vocational and entrepreneurship enhancement programme in Warri, with training focused on bread making, makeup and gele, leatherwork, and adire (tie and dye).
According to SEEPCO’s Corporate Communications Department, the initiative was conceived as part of the company’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment, household resilience and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The programme also included practical business sessions aimed at equipping the participants with the knowledge required to turn their newly acquired skills into sustainable sources of income.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Aisha Mustapha, expressed appreciation to SEEPCO for the opportunity, saying the leatherwork training had provided her with valuable knowledge to improve her business.
“I am grateful for the leatherwork training. I have valuable insights to make my business better. I and many of my fellow army wives now have confidence to earn better with the skills we have learnt”, she said.
The Public Relations Officer of NAOWA, Delta State Chapter, Mrs. Essor, described the programme as timely and practical, noting that it would help strengthen household income among military families.
“The programme is timely and practical. It strengthens household income and supports families within the military environment through skills and starter kits”, she said.
Similarly, the Deputy National Programmes Manager of VCDF, Mr. Philip Ukemezia, said the organisation’s approach combines structured skills acquisition with practical support to promote sustainable economic independence.
“VCDF combines structured skills training with practical support to build sustainable household economic resilience. In 2026, VCDF has trained over 200 army wives across supported communities in Akwa Ibom and Delta States”, he said.
SEEPCO said the empowerment programme was aimed not only at equipping the women with vocational skills, but also at enabling them to contribute meaningfully to the economic stability of their families while their husbands remain engaged in national security duties.
The company stressed that supporting the home front remains an important component of strengthening the morale and welfare of military personnel serving the country.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the new leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to reinvigorate the body to propagate the ideals for which it was formed.
The Governor stated this on Wednesday when the 10th IYC President, Dr. Doubra Okotete, his executive, and other stakeholders paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa.
He charged the leadership of the group to work together to bring the Council back on track towards projecting and promoting the collective interests of the Ijaw nation.
The State Chief Executive tasked the body on a virile and vibrant IYC that will work closely with governments at all levels and other relevant international agencies to impact on the development of Ijaw youths.
He also enjoined the executive to provide the right leadership and guard against politicising the body, picketing firms for pecuniary gains and other issues that could bring it into disrepute.

“The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the IYC were formed for the development of Ijaw nation and for recognition of an Ijaw man as somebody with the intellect to also contribute to development of Nigeria, and for our resources not to be expropriated.
“These were, in simple terms, the reasons for these supranational bodies. As time went on, what we saw was very different.
“But I am happy today, listening to you. In your agenda, you are prepared to bring the IYC back to what it was. I charge you to do just that.
“I want to see a new IYC that will be re-engineered to engage with Bayelsa State government and every other government or agency nationally and internationally; an IYC that will impact on the development of our youths and also guard against the expropriation of resources of the Niger Delta region”, the Governor added.

added.
Diri also lauded Okotete’s predecessor, Jonathan Lokpobiri, for having done his best, and urged the current President to continue from where the former President stopped by bringing back the age-long cherished values of respect for elders, constituted authority, mutual respect for one another, and imbibe the fear of God.
He also admonished Bayelsa youths on use of the social media, noting that issues that crop up online could be handled differently by elders or leaders of their communities, stressing that there were procedures for addressing such matters even before government intervenes.
The state’s helmsman emphasised that negative narratives about individuals and the state were capable of hindering investments and development.
“Part of what you are to do is to work with government at all levels and the youths to reduce poverty in Nigeria. Government is not only in the states as there is also the Federal Government. You have to engage all stakeholders.
“More importantly, we must bring back the values of the Ijaws: respect for your leaders, respect for your parents, and respect for your elders. We must bring back those cherished values that made us stand out as Ijaw youths. Those values that made us to be fearful of God”, Diri Stated.
Responding to the IYC president’s requests on the provision of a utility bus and renovation of its secretariat, Diri promised that the state government will look into them and prayed for a successful tenure for the executive.
In his address, the IYC President said the visit was to formally introduce the new executive and strengthen the relationship between the state government and the body.
While commending the state government for its support to the body, Okotete outlined the leadership’s policy framework, which he noted included plans for an Ijaw youth database that would capture the skills and qualifications of young people and make it easier to advocate for employment and other opportunities for them.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has inaugurated six sub-committees, as it begins preparations for the 30th Anniversary celebration of the creation of the state on 1st October.

Inaugurating the sub-committees in Government House, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, explained that Bayelsa has countless reasons to appreciate God for what He has done for its land and people in the 30 years of its existence, especially  in development.

He charged the sub-committees to come up with proposals for the various activities and events for the celebration within the next two weeks in line with their respective terms of reference, stressing that strategic things had to be done to make the anniversary significant and historic.

According to him, the three-day programme of activities for the anniversary celebration, which will commence on the 29th of September, will be preceded by two weeks of commissioning of public infrastructural projects completed by the Prosperity Administration.

The Bayelsa Number Two Man further clarified that events penciled down for the celebration include a cultural carnival, boat regatta, anniversary lecture, sporting events, state banquet and awards night.

The sub-committees are: the Awards Sub-Committee, chaired by His Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo; the Sports Sub-Committee, headed by Hon. Daniel Igali; and the Lecture Sub-Committee, with Prof. Stephen Olali as its Chairman.

Others are: the Mega Praise Sub-Committee, jointly chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Peter Akpe, and the Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Dr. Emmanuel Emiefenim;  the Cultural Sub-Committee, headed by Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou-Obolo; and the Publicity Sub-Committee, with the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, as Chairman.

by: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa