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Ogbakor Ikwerre Floats Education Endowment Fund For Late Obi Wali

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8 years ago

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In a bid to appreciate the contributions of late Senator Obi Wali to the development of Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers State, the Ogbakor IKwerre cultural organisation, United States of America (USA) and Canada has established an educational endowment fund that will enhance the educational development of Ikwerre indigenes.
The endowment fund which came into existence since 2003 has empowered some scholars of Ikwerre extraction in areas of research and development.
Speaking at the presentation of cash award to the first recipients of the Obi Wali educational endowment fund, held at the Rivers State University, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Tuesday, the board chairman, Dr Godwin Obiri said the concept of the fund came into existence in 2003 adding that the board had set out millions for the sustenance of the programme.
Dr Ibiri said the establishment of the fund was to appreciate and reward the contributions of late Dr. Obi Wali in Ikwerre communities adding that his contributions and legacies must be celebrated.
According to him, the occasion marks a milestone achievement by the organisation adding that the inauguration of the board was down in 2015.
He explained that the board received seven entries out of which two entries were selected.
He commended the awardees for their work which earned them recognition.
Also speaking, the President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Prof. Simeon Achiniwhu (rtd), commended the administrators of the fund, adding that the occasion was a fulfillment of several years project.
He commended the awardees for their brilliant research work which according to him, earned them the recognition and urged the organisation to ensure the sustenance of the programme for the benefit of the Ikwerres and the society at large.
In his speech, a representative of Obi Wali family, Mr Chimenam Emeka Obi-Wali thanked the organisation for honouring their late father.
Earlier, in their separate speeches the awardees, Mr Nduka Wonu and Miss Jane Agba thanked the organisation for recognising their hard work.

By: Akujobi Amadi & Mabara Katenebari Virginia.

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Niger Delta

CRIRS Targets Professional Bodies In 2026 Tax Reforms

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6 hours ago

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November 3, 2025

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The Executive Chairman, Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Mr. Edwin Okon, says professional bodies will be its prime target in 2026 for tax infractions.
Okon disclosed this in Calabar during a training session organised by IRS for selected key tax paying companies across the state.
The IRS boss said the purpose of the training is to enlighten companies on the newly introduced 2025 Tax Reform Act.
The Tide’s source reports that about 50 firms, operating in the state, attended the training.
The theme of the training: “Understanding the New PAYE Framework: Implications and Opportunities”, was used to discuss the practical aspects of the revised Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system.
According to the Chairman, private firms must do the right thing at the right time by ensuring that they file their returns at the end of every year while for individuals, it’s January 31.
He called on the companies to use the online platform of the service in making their remittances.
He noted that the state’s IRS had been working towards enabling taxpayers to generate their tax clearance from the comfort of their homes.
“By 2026, even if your financial transactions is little as your letterhead, if you are sending instructions to a bank or any financial institution, you must state your Tax Identification Number (TIN).
“Some companies may need to redesign their official letterheads to include their tax identification numbers, as it would become a mandatory requirement”, he explained.
He encouraged organisations to use IRS’s online platform for remittances, sensitise their staff on the importance of compliance, and refuse to give cash to any IRS staff as tax payment.
Delivering a presentation on ‘’Overview of the Nigerian Tax Reform Act 2025″, Mr. Esien Ukorebi, former IRS Chairman in the state, outlined the objectives, key provisions, and compliance models of the new tax law.
He explained that the reform would commence in January, 2026, adding that 97 to 98 percent of Nigerian workers would either pay PAYE or experience reduced PAYE obligations by the time.
“Tax compliance goes beyond payment, it means fulfilling all obligations as required by law, individuals earning below ?30,000 per month are exempted from tax but must still register with the tax authorities”, he explained.
Also speaking, Mr. Daniel Anko, a resource person, emphasised the importance of possessing a valid Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), whether as an employer or employee.
According to him, while employees’ incomes are taxed monthly, business owners are assessed at the end of the year, after which they have 90 days to file their returns.
Anko added that CRIRS had made tax payment more convenient through digital channels that allowed taxpayers to complete transactions without visiting the tax offices physically.
On her part, the Technical Adviser to the Chairman of CRIRS, Mrs. Lilian Ugbong, spoke on innovations introduced by the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) in implementing the 2025 Act.
She explained that the Joint Tax Board (JTB) had evolved into the JRB, with expanded powers and responsibilities aimed at improving tax compliance and harmonising revenue processes across Nigeria.
“The Act has strengthened the JRB’s authority and enhanced its collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to drive tax reforms and increase revenue generation,” she noted.
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Niger Delta

Bayelsa Gives Ultimatum To Ogbia Kingdom Over Leadership Tussle

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6 hours ago

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November 3, 2025

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Bayelsa State Government has given the Oloibiri Clan of Ogbia Kingdom a 3-week ultimatum to produce the Chairman of the “Ogbia Brotherhood” and other nominees zoned to it to pave way for the inauguration of a new substantive leadership to pilot the affairs of the foremost socio-cultural organization in the state.
Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directive recently, while presiding over a high-profile meeting with leaders and critical stakeholders of Ogbia extraction, cutting across all the clans of the Kingdom at the Golden Tulip in Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a press release by his Media Aide, Mr. Doubara Atasi, emphasized the significance of the Ogbia Brotherhood and urged the present crop of Ogbia leaders and stakeholders not to allow the organization become moribund in their time.
He stated that the Ogbia Brotherhood, founded in 1940, had played pivotal role in promoting the unity and development of Ogbia Kingdom in particular, and Bayelsa State in general, and therefore, must not be allowed to die as a result of personal and parochial interests of a few people in the area.
According to him, the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, had directed that the lingering leadership conflict in the organization be resolved without any further delay in honour of former President Goodluck Jonathan and most importantly in the best collective interest of the Ogbia people and the state.
To this end, the State’s number two Man urged the people of Oloibiri, one of the clans in Ogbia Kingdom, to close ranks and work within the next three weeks they pleaded for during the meeting to produce the Chairman and other nominees as part of the executives of Ogbia Brotherhood without delay.
He, however, added that government would set machinery in place to ensure the inauguration of the organization’s new leadership with or without their nominees at the end of the ultimatum.
“Ogbia Brotherhood has been a social torchlight that beams the light of unity and development among our people over the years; a very prominent organization, which predates most of us who are here.
”The contributions of the Ogbia Brotherhood to the development of Bayelsa, Nigeria, and the world cannot be overstated. And that is why every reasonable person must make sure that, that light keeps shining. So, we must first of all look for the lubricant to keep that light burning.
“But, unfortunately, for quite sometime it has been going through some leadership problems, which I consider as mere brotherly misunderstanding. So, I want to appeal to our people, particularly the Oloibiri Clan, to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and give-and-take to resolve the misunderstanding.
“It is in that regard that His Excellency, the Governor, has directed that we must resolve the issues without any further delay. I have always insisted that every problem has a solution. So, we must collectively resolve this misunderstanding”, he said.
Responding to the Oloibiri clan’s appeal, he said, “Government has granted your request for three weeks. But let me make it very clear that whether you succeed or fail to present your nominees at the end of the three weeks, Ogbia Brotherhood would go ahead to inaugurate the already cleared nominees from the other clans.”
Speaking on behalf of the Clan, former Secretary to State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, assured the state government that critical stakeholders of the clan, including Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, would meet to reconcile their differences and present credible individuals to fill its positions in the leadership of Ogbia Brotherhood.
Prof. Allison-Oguru used the opportunity to appreciate the effort of the State Government to resolve the leadership impasse in the Ogbia Brotherhood, which he admitted, has lingered for some time.
The meeting had in attendance members representing the three Ogbia constituencies in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Ogbara, Hon. Godknows Obein, and Hon. Richard Ibegu, as well as the Secretary to State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei and other top government functionaries.
Also in attendance were the Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom, His Eminence, King Charles Dumaro Owaba, the Acting Chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood, Dr. Azibaloguo Seibofa, as well as paramount rulers of the various clans and communities in Ogbia Local Government Area.
By: Ariwera  Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Niger Delta

Police Nab 7 Kidnap Suspects, Rescue Victims In Delta

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6 hours ago

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November 3, 2025

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The Police Command in Delta State has apprehended seven kidnap suspects at Ubeji Community in Warri South Local Government of the state.
The Spokesman for the command, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this to newsmen on Friday in Warri, said three male victims were rescued from the custody of the suspects.
Edafe said that the suspects were arrested on Thursday by the police operatives attached to the Ekpan Division, Uvwie Local Government of the state.
He said the suspects were nabbed following a credible information received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the Ekpan Division, CSP Labe Joseph.
According to Edafe, the DPO received a distress report of a suspected case of kidnapping incident at Ubeji Community, behind the Ubeji Gas Plant.
“Acting on the report, the DPO deployed a team of detectives and patrol operatives to the scene.
“On sighting the police teams, the suspected kidnappers fled into an abandoned poultry within the same community.
“The police team swiftly cordoned off the area, leading to the successful arrest of the seven suspects”, he said.
Edafe further said the rescued victims had since reunited with their families.
The police spokesman said that preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted at a dredging site at Ubeji and ferried across the river.
He said the suspects immediately contacted the families of the abductees, and threatened to kill them, if certain demands were not met.
Edafe added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other fleeing members of the gang.
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