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‘Value Of Wealth In Waste Enough To Lift Economy’

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3 years ago

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The Director General, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Olawale Fasanya, has said the value of wealth that lies in waste management is enough to contribute more than 35 per cent to the Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on Monday, during events marking the 2023 World Home Economics Day at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Fasanya said this can be achieved with the right approach.
He said, “a holistic life cycle approach to waste management in the country would create opportunities for environmental sustainability, employment, income and wealth creation along the entire waste value chain.
“Nigeria generates over 32 million tonnes of waste annually. Converting such wastes will contribute to the use of technology and economic activities needed in this period of emphasis on green and blue economy”.
He encouraged Universities to key into the waste to wealth service for revenue generation to the school and as an effective way of economic engagement of students.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, while declaring open the event, lauded the Department of Home Economics, Hospitality and Tourism, and the Directorate of Entrepreneurship, for the synergy.
He also commended them for the reduction of waste through the conversion of waste to wealth, and for “progress, growth development and value through the regeneration”.
He expressed dismay that the petroleum industry housing the economy should ordinarily add value to the system, “not just dig out crude oil, sell it to the international market, generate revenue and then share the revenue accruing from the oil among the three tiers of Government without adding any value to it.
“The country cannot grow that way!”
In his remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education, Professor Isaac Ogundu, said the event serves to highlight the many ways through which “waste can be turned into useful products and services that can generate adequate funds”.
He expressed appreciation to the Acting Vice Chancellor for the love shown to the Faculty, adding that the array of art work and other produce displayed are eloquent testimonies of the support enjoyed by the Faculty.
In her speech, the Head of the Department of Home Economics, Hospitality and Tourism, Dr Anne Ifeoma Asouzu, said the theme of the celebration, “Waste literacy”, is relevant for a time like this “when families need knowledge for effective resource management within the home in order to avoid waste resource management in the areas of time, money, energy, food, water, heat, light, space and even fresh air, which are all precious materials for the goal of improving lives”.
She stressed the need for these materials to be saved and conserved.
The Director of Entrepreneurship Centre, Dr Patience Spencer, in a presentation on business ideas from waste products, enumerated the gains and benefits gathered by students that the Directorate trained in collaboration with the Department of Home Economics.
She noted that all the items displayed at the event are the handiwork of students trained on how to use waste in producing useful items for domestic consumption.
The event featured unveiling of the Department’s second annual magazine, cutting of cake, fashion parade and cultural display.
The International Federation for Home Economics was founded in 1908 as a non-governmental organization to serve as a platform for international exchange within the field of Home Economics.
The theme for the 2023 celebration “Waste Literacy” highlights the need to come up with better ideas to minimize waste generation and preserve natural resources.
Home Economics Day is celebrated every March 21 but was put on hold by the Department till Monday due to the 2023 general elections.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo

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Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.
OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”
Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.
“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.
According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.
“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.
“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.
He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.
The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.
He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.
The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.
By: King Onunwor
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Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).
The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.
Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.
He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.
“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.
Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.
Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.
“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.
He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.
Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.
Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.
By: Chinedu Wosu
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Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

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5 days ago

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January 2, 2026

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The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.
The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.
It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.
According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.
It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.
The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.
It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
By: King Onunwor
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