The member representing Oyigbo State Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly,Hon. Prince Gerald Oforji, has received the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rainbow Coalition flag as he prepares to seek re-election in the 2027 general elections.
Oforji, a former Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Council, was among the returning lawmakers unveiled as candidates of the APC Rainbow Coalition at a ceremony held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt last Tuesday.
The event attracted prominent political leaders from within and outside Rivers State, including the National Rainbow Coalition leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The presentation of the flag to Oforji was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from supporters, reflecting the political support he enjoys in Oyigbo and the wider Rivers political landscape.
His emergence as the coalition’s candidate is a significant step in his bid to return to the State Assembly, where he has continued to participate in legislative activities representing the interests of his constituency.
Oforji is also regarded as one of the lawmakers who maintained strong political loyalty to Chief Wike during periods of intense political realignment in Rivers State, a position that has remained a notable feature of his political journey.
The mammoth crowd of supporters who accompanied him to the ceremony further underscored the enthusiasm surrounding his re-election bid and the political significance of his candidacy in Oyigbo.
With the presentation of the Rainbow Coalition flag, Oforji is set to enter the 2027 electoral contest under the APC platform, seeking another mandate to represent Oyigbo State Constituency.
His candidacy also adds another chapter to the political history of Oyigbo, particularly given his previous experience as local government chairman before his election to the State Assembly.
The Oforji family equally occupies a place in the political history of Oyigbo, with the late Precious Oforji remembered for his contributions to the area’s political development. The family’s legacy continues to feature in discussions about the constituency’s political evolution.
As the 2027 elections approach, Oforji’s re-election bid will place his record in the State Assembly, political alliances and relationship with his constituents at the centre of the contest for the Oyigbo seat.

Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Greece, Mrs Nimi Akinkugbe, has urged women in the Niger Delta to prioritise financial literacy, savings and investment as essential steps towards achieving financial stability and empowering their communities.
Akinkugbe made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Kilali Tribe Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The conference was held under the theme, “Her Voice, Her Power: Five Years of Impact.”
She stressed that financial independence would enable women to make informed decisions, pursue their aspirations and support others in building sustainable livelihoods.
According to her, women must acquire the financial knowledge needed to overcome barriers to economic empowerment and make meaningful contributions to their families and communities.
“The theme was about her voice and her impact, and I spoke about creative power, wealth and legacy. A critical part of this is financial knowledge, financial independence and being able to impact their own lives and the lives of others,” she said.
The former envoy maintained that financial stability was essential to effective community engagement, noting that women with adequate financial resources were better positioned to support others and contribute to development.
“You can make a huge difference in your community by being financially stable. It is very difficult to have power if you don’t have financial success, because you need money to be able to do things for other people and for your community,” she said.
Akinkugbe described her participation in the conference as a privilege, commending the Kilali Tribe for creating a platform that promotes women’s empowerment through mentorship, networking, knowledge-sharing and other developmental initiatives.
She said the organisation had provided women with opportunities to learn from one another, gain valuable experience and connect with individuals making significant contributions in different fields.
“The community that they have built and continue to build, the experience, the mentoring, the sponsorship, and learning from other women who are doing incredible things are fantastic. I am so happy to be here,” she added.
In her remarks, the Chairperson of Kilali Tribe, Dr Tonye Sekibo, said the organisation was established to make a positive impact on women and men, particularly those in the Niger Delta.
She explained that the annual conference was designed to inspire women, strengthen their capacity and equip them with the knowledge and confidence to pursue their dreams while contributing to the development of their communities and the region.
“We are a tribe about impacting women and men positively, particularly women and men in the Niger Delta,” Sekibo said.
She added that the conference was intended to recreate the inspiration that led to the formation of the Kilali Tribe five years ago while providing participants with practical opportunities for growth and empowerment.
According to her, the strong attendance at this year’s event and the contributions of the speakers demonstrated the importance of the platform in promoting women’s development.
Sekibo disclosed that the organisation had undertaken several initiatives, including mentoring women, organising webinars for secondary school students and sponsoring individuals for training at the Lagos Business School.
She also revealed that plans were underway to establish a Kilali Tribe Academy to expand the organisation’s capacity-building and empowerment programmes.
However, Sekibo identified cultural expectations, religious influences, economic limitations and prevailing mindsets as some of the challenges affecting women’s financial empowerment in the Niger Delta.
She noted that addressing these barriers would require sustained efforts to encourage women to embrace opportunities for personal development, financial independence and leadership.
“The greatest challenge, especially for women from our area, is our mindset, because we have been held back by culture, religion and the economy. All these things have held us back,” she said.
The conference brought together women and other participants to exchange experiences, share ideas and explore practical approaches to personal development, financial independence and community impact.
Through its mentorship programmes and annual gatherings, the Kilali Tribe continues to promote empowerment initiatives aimed at helping women realise their potential and contribute more effectively to the development of the Niger Delta.

 

The Nigerian Army has passed out 384 female soldiers of the 90 Regular Recruit Intake (90 RRI) following the successful completion of Exercise SHINING STAR 2026 in Giri, Abuja.

In a post shared on the Nigerian Army’s X handle, yesterday, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Nigerian Army Women Command, Giri, Abuja, Major Nsima Essien, said the passing-out ceremony was held on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Giri, with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General W. Shaibu, represented by Major General Umar Gital Yusuf, as the Guest of Honour.

In his address, the Army Chief commended the female personnel for their dedication, resilience, discipline and commitment throughout the training exercise.

He described the successful completion of the exercise as an important milestone in their military careers and reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to developing a professional, disciplined and combat-ready force.

He urged the newly trained soldiers to uphold the values of teamwork, courage, loyalty and professionalism, while applying the knowledge and skills acquired during the exercise to their military duties.

Shaibu emphasised the importance of continuous training, physical fitness and operational preparedness in addressing contemporary security challenges before declaring the exercise closed.

Earlier, the Acting Commander of the Nigerian Army Women Command (NAWC), Colonel S. M. Ahmed, welcomed the special guest and other dignitaries to the ceremony.

Ahmed highlighted the significance of Exercise SHINING STAR 2026 in enhancing the physical fitness, military competence, discipline and operational readiness of the female personnel.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the authorities, instructors and other personnel whose efforts ensured the successful conduct of the exercise.

Highlights of the ceremony included obstacle-crossing demonstrations and weapons-handling exercises, during which the female soldiers demonstrated their ability to strip and assemble AK-47 rifles while blindfolded.

The demonstrations showcased the personnel’s physical endurance, confidence, weapons-handling skills and proficiency in basic military tasks.

“A total of 384 female personnel of the 90 RRI participated in the exercise, alongside 14 male personnel from the Headquarters, Directorate of Army Physical Training (HQ DAPT), and 70 male personnel from the 167 Special Forces Battalion, “ Ahmed said.

The ceremony attracted senior military officers from various units and formations, representatives of paramilitary agencies and other invited guests.

Eight male and female personnel who distinguished themselves during the exercise received awards presented by the Acting Commander of NAWC.

The event also featured a vote of thanks delivered by one of the beneficiaries, the presentation of souvenirs and a group photograph to commemorate the successful completion of the exercise.

The exercise forms part of the Nigerian Army’s efforts to strengthen personnel development, improve military competence and enhance operational readiness in response to the country’s evolving security challenges.