Rivers

Woji Community Unveils Cars for Transport Company …Awards Chieftaincy Titles To Former Andoni LG Chairman, Others

Published

3 years ago

June 27, 2022

Woji Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, yesterday, unveiled three vehicles to kick-start its transport company.
The community also conferred chieftaincy titles on a former chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Hon. Orom Nte Ereforokuma; Mr Ani Anthonio Onu and Engr. Andrew Aligbe.
Unveiling the vehicles yesterday during the thanksgiving service at St. Nicholas’ Anglican Church, Woji, to mark his seventh year anniversary as paramount ruler and Nyenwe-Eli Woji, Eze Emeka Ihunwo, said the community set up the transport company to generate funds for community development and provide employment for deserving persons.
He announced that the fleet of three Toyota Sienna vehicles would be integrated into the transport firm floated by the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria for easy management.
He highlighted several development projects executed in the community since his coronation seven years ago to include scholarships to indigent students, manpower development programmes for the youth, and support for indigent women of the community, among others.
Speaking while dedicating the cars, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, commended Woji community for its sense of unity and for setting the pace in community development since Eze Emeka ascended the throne of Eze Woji.
He urged neighbouring communities top borrow a leaf from Woji to ensure peace and development in their areas.
He prayed for God to sustain the leadership of the community and grant them the wisdom to continually maintain peace and development of the community.
In his sermon, the Vicar of St. Nicholas Anglican Church, Woji, Rev. Canon Kingsley Ohajianya, called on the people to put their trust in God always to ensure their unity and progress.
The cleric, who spoke on the topic “Obtain Help from Sanctuary” during his sermon, said God does not fail those who put their trust in him as the only place one can get help is from God.
The man of God said nobody should go to the occult world to seek for help as any power outside God has expiry dates.
On Saturday, Eze Emeka Ihunwo had conferred chieftaincy titles on three non-indigenes of the community. He conferred the title of Eze Chituru of Woji on Orom Nte. Ani Anthonio Onu was conferred with Eze Obanya obi of Woji while Engr Aligbe bagged Eze Chigozilemma of Woji.
Eze Woji charged the awardees to be good ambassadors of Woji Kingdom, adding that the kingdom does not sell its chieftaincy titles but will give to deserving persons who have excelled in their contribution to the development of the community.
Ihunwo said it has been the custom of woji to recognise non- indigenes living with them, adding that even foreigners have in the past been recognised awarded titles.
He said the community has also extended its scholarship programmes and employment opportunities to non-indigenes in the community, and urged others to reciprocate same in their communities as no community can be built by only indigenes.
He urged the inducted chiefs to build synergy with the community with a view to fast tracking its development and charged them to take the titles as one of those good fortunes of life.
The awardees who spoke to newsmen thanked the Paramount Ruler and the Woji Council of Chiefs for the honour, promising to remain law-abidding as well as support the development of the community.

By: John Bibor

Rivers

UNIPORT Moves To Tackle Insecurity … Inducts Security Experts

Published

2 days ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

The University of Port Harcourt, has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of insecurity in Nigeria by producing security experts through its Institute of Niger Delta Studies (INDS), with the institute inducting its first graduating students into the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS), with the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General E E Emekah, delivering a quality lecture on the topic, “Promoting Blue Economy In The Niger Delta: The Place Of Security”.

In his lecture, Major General Emekah emphasised the importance of security in promoting the blue economy in the Niger Delta region.

He noted that the activities of the Joint Tasks Force (JTF) are geared towards maintaining peace on Nigerian waterways and promoting productivity, and also stressed the need for a non-kinetic approach to security operations, winning the hearts and minds of the communities, and collaborating with security personnel to fight insecurity.

The GOC charged the inductees to ensure that their study/training provides practical solutions to the pressing security challenges facing the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

He emphasised the significance of their studies in UNIPORT, given the prevailing security threat to lives and property, especially on Nigerian waterways.

The Acting Director of INDS, Dr. Chukwu-Okeah, expressed satisfaction that the occasion marks a new milestone in the history of the institute, noting that the Niger Delta has been besieged with environmental and security challenges, and it is time to rise up and build the region through the blue economy ideology.

The blue economy, he explained, emphasises the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.

He described the blue economy as the new oil well, with the potential to drive economic diversification, job creation, food security, and climate resilience in the region.

One of the inductees, Ayuba Tanimu noted that security is dynamic, and continuous learning and research have equipped them to serve their communities and Nigeria well.

He described the Nigerian Institute For Industrial Security (NIIS) as a body of security professionals that meets annually to craft security policies for the country.

The programme, which attracted prominent individuals from the academia, security, and other sectors had the 7th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka, as its chairman.

Rivers

MCDI Inducts 150 Professionals In PH

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Mentoring and Career Development Institute of Nigeria (MCDI) has inducted about 150 new members into various categories of membership during a special induction ceremony and dinner in Port Harcourt.

Aimed at expanding the institute’s membership base, the event offered new inductees an opportunity to engage with senior members and integrate fully into the organisation’s professional network.

The induction ceremony was part of the 2025 national conference of the institute.

National President of MCDI, Dr. Collins Edebiri, administered the oath, while the new members promised to carry out their duties faithfully, following the institute’s rules and constitution.

Dr. Edebiri emphasised the institute’s core mandate of instilling values that will shape individuals and institutions.

He emphasised the theme of the conference, “Mentoring for Individual and Corporate Leadership”, noting that last year’s focus centred on national development and value reorientation.

Edebiri explained that the induction ceremony is a key feature of the institute’s annual conference, though inductions also occur quarterly.

On the criteria for membership, he said the most important factor is the desire to be mentored or the readiness to mentor others, and urged the new inductees to become ambassadors of value-driven leadership in their respective workplaces.

Guest Speaker at the ceremony, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who was a former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), shared her experiences from her early days in journalism, attributing much of her professional growth to strong mentorship.

She encouraged members to embrace mentorship as a catalyst for personal and societal advancement.

Seminitari was later presented an award.

New members, including Wisdom Egberi Woniepiriye, and Mrs. Grace Ajinwanyiekwu, expressed their excitement and hope to be mentored well so they can eventually mentor others.

There were a dinner and networking session, marking another success for MCDI in its efforts to build leadership values nationwide.

By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

Fisherman Gets Thumbs-Up Over Patent Creation

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) has commended a renowned fisherman, Mr. Ricky Brown Owunari, for what it described as a remarkable stride in global engineering content creation.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Association, weekend, the SPE said the patented “Dewaxer Flow Enhancer and Downhole Tool” had secured official endorsement under U.S. Patent No. 12,448,868 B2.

They said the development has been highlighted as a significant indicator of Rivers State’s growing intellectual and technological capacity, with observers noting that such breakthroughs position the state as a rising hub for innovation.

According to those familiar with the innovation, the achievement serves as proof that Niger Deltans have moved beyond the era of militancy and are now producing world-class content, research outputs, and technical solutions.

The SPE officials described the patented technologies as timely tools designed to tackle wax deposition in crude oil wells, a major challenge that frequently disrupts production and increases maintenance costs.

They further stressed that the milestone underscores the need for Rivers State to invest more in supporting innovators whose works demonstrate global potential.

Industry experts revealed that the tool originated from years of field observation, experimentation, and rigorous research aimed at improving flow assurance in challenging well conditions.

They also urged the Federal Government to show greater appreciation for home-grown innovations, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally recognise and encourage technological breakthroughs emerging from the Niger Delta.

Stakeholders at the event warned against piracy, emphasising that unauthorised copying of patented technologies undermines national progress and discourages genuine innovators.

Analysts observed that the breakthrough strengthens the narrative of a new Rivers State built on creativity, content development, and technical excellence rather than conflict.

The session concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government authorities and industry players to protect intellectual property and position Rivers State as a greenhouse for innovation-driven content.

The content, The Tide gathered, is expected to solve critical challenges in the oil and gas sector, as well as other relevant areas of the national economy.

By; King Onunwor