Environment
Stakeholders Task Govt On Art, Craft Sector Investment
Some top academicians from the Department of Fine Arts in some Nigerian universities and other stakeholders have said that investment in the art and craft sector will help the society to overcome the problem of plastic pollutions.
They made this known at an art exhibition titled: ‘Identity Polemic’ organised by Chairman, Rivers State Indigenous Fine Artists, Mr. Woko Aguru Joy in Port Harcourt.
Some of the scholars including Prof Frank Obioma and Dr. Francis E.K Francis told The Tide during the exhibition that artistic works are now reducing the number of plastic waste being thrown around by members of the society.
They noted that, aside from the use of plastic waste even log woods which some times constitute a big environmental problem are being utilised by fine artists for the production of art work.
Prof Frank Obioma said even the concept of waste to wealth is best promoted by Artists.
He said because of the process of recycling of the waste, people can now sell their waste to generate money.
Obioma said a policy to encourage this development should be put in place by relevant authorities.
He praised Woko for his consistency in the development of the sector, describing the exhibition as an impressive outing.
“One of the exhibitions that caught my attention was his first solo exhibition.
“He has been consistent in his desire to introduce a new thing. Fine object that he has been passionate about”, he said.
On his part, Dr. Francis E.K. Francis said the Rivers State Indigenous Fine Artists chairman has lent his voice to the Save the Planet Earth movement.
“His works speak volumes through the waste to wealth programme. He has put a voice to say save the planet, save the earth”.
Francis also said the exhibition is about visual and building a strong state on earth.
He however, said government alone cannot do everything as the challenge to curb environmental pollution lies with everyone.
For Prof Etido Effiong Williams, visual communication can contribute to a better society.
He said apart from the waste recycling process, the various works also speak loudly about the rot in the Nigerian society.
He said the neglect of the Art sector is not helping as far as the creation of employment was concerned, adding that the sector was capable of generating millions of jobs through waste recycling..
According to him, some African countries such as Senegal used their Art sector to attract millions of tourists every year.
He also called for the establishment of Art gallery in the state.
Speaking, Engr. Ozuruke Ake said Artists can also use tyes to beautify the cities.
He said government needs to talk to artists to do things right.
Speaking with The Tide, the exhibitioner, Mr. Aguru Woko Joy said the industry cannot do without synergy with professionals.
Aguru said with the recycling process, the artist is creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
He said artists in Rivers State need the right environment to perform.
“Government should come in. Government should create consciousness about works of Art. It can be used to reduce waste”.
Aguru also stressed the need for the government to set up a programme to empower the artists.
“If there is an Art carnival, it will bring people across the world.
Aguru said a lot of discussions are going to change the narrative about the work of the artists.
He said identity polemic was designed to create consciousness among Nigerians especially now that election is around the corner.
By: John Bibor & Orbim Ibama
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has launched the 1GOV Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to enhance digital governance and improve service delivery.
The launch, held on Thursday in Abuja, marks the ministry’s transition from paper-based operations to a smart, integrated and technology-driven work environment.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said the deployment aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Utsev said the system would improve data management, streamline workflows and strengthen transparency and accountability across the ministry.
According to him, the ECMS will enhance productivity, preserve institutional memory and reduce operational costs in the ministry.
Launching the platform, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said the initiative is a major step in public sector reform.
She said the ministry’s mandate affects Nigerians through water supply, sanitation, irrigation, river basin development and climate resilience programmes.
Walson-Jack said the 1GOV ECMS enables secure digital records management, automated workflows, electronic approvals and real-time collaboration across MDAs.
She added that the deployment aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 and the directive for full digitalisation by December 2025.
“Effective governance cannot afford delays caused by manual bottlenecks or avoidable inefficiencies,” she said.
She directed that all official correspondence in the ministry must henceforth be processed through approved digital registry channels.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Emanso Umobong, said the system would eliminate workflow inefficiencies and improve service delivery.
She urged staff to fully adopt the platform and engage in continuous capacity building.
Research shows that local communities and citizens living at the grassroots, particularly women, are directly impacted by the environmental degradation, flooding and others that result from these manifestations.
In the light of this, non-governmental organisation, Ese Usamali Foundation For Rural Development (EUFORDe), has held a forum for women and other members of oil impacted communities, tagged: ‘Voices from the Grassroots,’ and aimed at building their resilience and mitigation efforts against climate change and environmental degradation
The forum, with the theme: ‘Building Resilience for Oil Spill Impacted Ahoada Communities,’ organised with support from Global Green Grants, was held in Ahoada Community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, on December 5, 2025.
Executive Director of Ese Usamali Foundation For Rural Development, Mercy Elemchukwu-James, said women are at the forefront of efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and environmental degradation.
The event, therefore, was “designed for community women impacted by oil spills, flooding and other environmental degradation,” she said.
Community women were enlightened by resource persons on new opportunities for sustainable agricultural practices and water management techniques that cushion the impact of oil spills.
Lectures were also delivered on Self-care and Trauma-care, with focus on physical and mental health of the population, and increasing access to health-related resources and services; as well as on Food security and women’s critical role in decision making in oil spill and flood situations in communities
Elemchukwu-James pointed out that the event created a forum for stakeholders, civil society actors and others to dialogue on measures at advancing inclusive and sustainable livelihoods of community women.
She stressed the need for collaborative efforts towards achieving mitigation efforts, while underscoring EUFORDe’s commitment to “fostering partnerships as a critical driver for achieving a healthy community and sustainable development.”
Elemchukwu-James described participants’ design of ‘Community Resilience Plan,’ to manage and combat environmental degradation and crises, as part of achievements recorded at the event.
The forum also witnessed the launching of EUFORDs’ Center For Resilience and Rights.
“This center is established to build resilience as Trauma-Care for victims of environmental degradation, support for survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and a platform where victims of environmental injustice and other GBV cases can seek redress,” Elemchukwu-James said.
Participants celebrated the milestones achieved and charted a path toward greater impact in the coming years. They also described the event as “an inspiring and transformative experience.”
Elemchukwu-James said the awareness creation workshop “reaffirms EUFORDe’s mission to create an equitable society in which the rights and capacities of women, youth, children and underprivileged are integrated in the socio-economic planning and development of communities, for the attainment of equity and peace.