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IAUE Makes Case For Food Sustainability, Security

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The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rivers State, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, has emphasised on the need to ensure food sustainability and security in the State and the society at large.
Prof. Onuckuku made the remarks at the 5th International Conference of the Society for Agriculture, Environmental Resources and Management (SAEREM) held at the postgraduate hall of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni, Port-Harcourt.
Declaring the conference open, the Acting VC described the theme of the conference, “Impact of Climate Change and Oil Pollution on Environmental Resources, Food Production, Biodiversity and Economic Growth”, as timely, given that the basic needs of man are far from him as a result of negative activities practiced.
Represented by the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Kingdom Eke Orji, Onuckuku emphasised that food sustainability is critical.
“Lack of productivity in the agricultural sector should be food for thought and a major area of concern for all, especially with the vast array of virgin lands at our disposal”, he stated.
The Acting VC enjoined all to make food sustainability and security a reality “by engaging in small and medium scale farming in our little corners and make availability of food production a thing of the past”.
Professor Onuchuku also stressed the need to bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation, and to have an action plan that can be translated into meaning in the next ten years.
He welcomed participants to the University and wished them fruitful deliberations.
Speaking, the Chairman in Council of SAEREM, Professor Austin Otegbulu, noted that Agriculture and environment are interesting areas.
He assured that the Association would be one that everybody would look up to, to solve environmental and agricultural problems in the nearest future.
While wishing them well in their discussions, he urged participants to use the knowledge that would be acquired to enhance and better their lot.
In his speech, the National President of SAEREM, Professor E. M. Agu, represented by the National Secretary, Dr. Eteyen Nyong, stated that “SAEREM is a peer reviewed open access interdisciplinary research-based organisation that provides a wide view on topical issues as addressed by the central theme of the conference”.
He added that the association is also a non conventional society but with a clear cut paradigm shift in line with global best practices.
The President explained that their core mandate is to encourage interdisciplinary peer reviewed research base, provide welfare package to deserving members, and organize essay competitions for undergraduates in Nigeria.
He continued that if Nigeria is to effectively tackle the enormous challenges of food security presented by climate change, then “innovations and awareness of climate change impacts should be cultivated in all parts of the agricultural ecosystem”.
Food security, according to him, “is a significant step in ensuring a life of dignity for every citizen, especially as Nigeria has the opportunity of becoming a global leader in building a productive and resilient agricultural system for the 21st century”.
Professor Agu observed that the major threat to the agricultural sector is not just the insecurity from both the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen, but oil pollution, gas flaring, flooding etc.
He expressed optimism that this year’s conference would provide good road map to address these challenges as well as come out with holistic results for policy formulation and workable recommendations.
In his address, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Professor Godfrey Adokiye Kalio, noted that the theme of the conference is apt due to the catastrophic consequences of global climate change caused by some avoidable human activities.
Such activities, he explained, emit large amounts of green house gases through the burning of fossil fuels, gas flaring and local crude refining (kpo fire) into the atmosphere that depletes the ozone layer.
“This results to global warming, increased rainfall, increase in sea levels, desertification, drought, flooding, population displacement, famine, spread of infectious diseases, threat to food production and safety, loss in biodiversity, death and economic losses”, he said.
He stated that the aim of the conference was to provide a veritable platform for the academia and captains of industries for the cross fertilization of ideas on the means of combating these situations in Nigeria and the globe.
Professor Kalio welcomed participants to what he called “the serene ambience, environment of IAUE, the fastest growing university in the South-South geopolitical zone in Nigeria and the West African subregion”.
He wished them “a blissful moment of brainstorming and fruitful deliberations in the various technical and scientific sessions”.
The event featured presentation of awards to some personalities.

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Niger Delta

Tai Agric Sector Gets Emergency Attention …As Chairman Distributes Farm Inputs, Inaugurates Technical Team

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The Chairman of Tai Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon. Matthew Nenu Bari Dike has declared a state of emergency in the agriculture sector of Tai local government.
Speaking while distributing farm implements and other agricultural support packages to the farmers at the council’s headquarters in Saakpenwa, yesterday, Dike challenged farmers to show their farms before requesting for financial assistance.
The council boss stated that as a government, they were committed to putting smiles on the faces of the people and assured that his administration would ensure that every person in the local government is happy.
“As a government we want to assure you that, we will stop at nothing to ensure you all are empowered and living happily”.
According to him, “the gesture is aimed at enhancing food production and security through agriculture, and enjoined all lovers of agriculture in the local government area to identify with the quest to redefine development through agriculture in the local government.
He encouraged everyone to cultivate the passion and return to agriculture, to guarantee self-reliance, maximum food production and security in the area.
His administration, he said, would purchase more yam seedlings in order to get greater production to encourage exportation beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“A boost in yam production will also empower farmers in the Local Government Area”, the elated chairman said.
In a related development, the Chairman has inaugurated a five, member Agricultural Technical Committee for the Local Government Area.
The committee is made up of Pst. Anderson Wariboko, Barr. Paul Newman,, Smith Nyor-Ue, Gladys Jumbo and Dr Keke Rammyson
Also speaking, the Director of Agriculture, Tai Local Government Area, Mr Anderson Wariboko revealed that the event was part of activities to mark the chairman’s 100 days in office.
Wariboko who led the chairman, and other leaders of the council on the distribution of the farm inputs to the farmers, was full of praises for the chairman, Hon. Dike whom he said has the interest of the people at heart.

Kiadum Edookor

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Rivers

Moremonee Appointment Rivers Man As Brand Rep 

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One of Nigeria’s leading financial service provider, Moremonee M&M MFB, has appointed a Rivers State man and renowned  content creator, Mr.  Eche Ndubuisi,  as one its brand representatives in the state.
Ndubuisi said he was appointed based on his track records and achievements in marketing strategies, which has made him a celebrity in the content creation through the new media industry.
Speaking to journalists shortly after his endorsement by the company, Mr Ndubuisi said he was committed to marketing the company by bringing his wealth of experience to sell the bank to the world.
He thanked the company for the opportunity and assured that he will justified the confidence reposed on him
 MoreMonee Bank was established in 2008, securing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licence in July.
According to an official of the bank, who spoke anonymously, the Bank migrated as a Limited liability in October 2023, marking the start of a new era for the financial service provider.
He said with a bold vision to become Africa’s generational bank, MoreMonee aims to tackle poverty across the continent by offering accessible financial services that empower business owners and foster job creation.
The company, he continued, is committed to driving growth through innovative products, seamless transactions, and strategic technological integration.
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Rivers

Group Faults Shell In Ogale, Bille Environmental Pollution 

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Fridays for Future Nigeria (FFFN), an environmental protection group, has faulted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for the environmental pollution in Ogale and Bille communities in Rivers State.
This is contained in a statement by the National Coordinator and Country Representative, FFFN, Mr. Kingsley Odogwu.
Odogwu, who in strong terms condemned Shell’s disregard for human and environmental rights in the region, said, ”The people of the Niger Delta, including Ogale and Bille communities, have an inherent right to a clean and healthy environment, a right that Shell has systematically violated”, he said.
The Ogale and Bille communities in oil rich Nigeria’s Niger Delta are experiencing ongoing and significant environmental pollution, primarily from oil spills.
Residents have claimed severe contamination of their water supply, farmlands, and waterways, preventing them from fishing and farming due to the chronic oil pollution.
This issue is currently the subject of ongoing legal action against Shell in the UK courts by members of these communities.
The FFFN National Coordinator urged the Nigerian government and the international community to support the Ogale and Bille communities in their quest for justice and to hold Shell accountable for its environmental destruction.
He lamented the decades of environmental degradation due to oil spills, gas flaring, and other harmful practices by Shell and other oil companies in the region.
According to him, the ecosystem of the affected communities has been severely damaged, and the health and livelihoods of its inhabitants compromised.
”The affected communities demand that Shell fulfill its legal obligations by cleaning up the pollution to international standards and providing adequate compensation.
”The FFFN stands in solidarity with the Ogale and Bille communities in their pursuit of justice against Shell Petroleum for its egregious environmental destruction in the Niger Delta”, he said.
He called on all citizens of the country to support the move for the actualisation of justice for all the communities and other victims of ecosystem pollution in Nigeria.
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