Niger Delta

Rivers Unijos Alumni Celebrate Int’l Literacy Day

Published

6 years ago

October 1, 2019

The Rivers State Chapter of the University of Jos Alumni Association (UJAA), has donated books worth about N100,000 to Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu, Rivers State in celebration of the 2019 International Literacy Day.
Presenting the books, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Mr Tonye Dagogo, also inaugurated the “Book Club” and “Literary Society” of the school. He explained that the celebration of the event was delayed so that the students would resume from the long vacation.
Two creative writers, Dr Obinna Nwodim and Mr Wellington Nworgu, who also donated copies of their works, advised the students to read books so as to expand their knowledge of the world and communicate better.
Mr Wellington and Dr Nwodim, who is a former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Rivers State, later answered questions from the students on issues of writing.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of the Rivers State UBE Board, Venerable Fyneface Akah, commended the University of Jos Alumni Association for such a mentoring initiative.
The UBE Board Chairman, who was represented by the Director in charge of Legal and Public Relations Services at the Board, Mr Karibi George, said Model Girls Secondary School, Mbodo Aluu is a special, all female boarding school conceived and built by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike when he was Supervising Minister of Education, and that the school is a beacon of hope for the restoration of the boarding system in public schools.
The UBE Board Chairman said the Board regularly engages with community leadership, not only to protect and preserve school facilities, but also to monitor teaching and learning through School Based Management Committees (SBMCs).
He challenged members of the Unijos Alumni Association to make themselves available to serve on SBMCs in their communities.
The pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish of the Anglican Communion, Rev Canon Chuka Opara, prayed for the students to imbibe the spirit of excellence in character and in learning.
In her vote of thanks, the Principal of the school, Mrs Patience Nwogu expressed gratitude to the Unijos Alumni Association not only for donating books but also for affording the students opportunity to interact with established authors. She promised that the books would be well utilized and called on other public spirited individuals and organizations to donate books to the school.
Some of the books donated were Angel of Light; Towards a Greater Nigeria; Basket of Errors; Back to School; A Slave of Honour; and Amaka, the Child of Fate.

Niger Delta

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

Published

21 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

21 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

21 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.