Niger Delta

Ewhrudjakpo Advises Health Educators On Public Health Promotion

Published

3 years ago

July 31, 2023

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has emphasized the need for health educators to take public health education more serious.
He identified ignorance as a major contributor to the relatively high mortality rate in the country, saying about 60 percent of Nigerians attribute their health challenges to spiritual sources.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo made the assertion while granting audience to the state branch of the Nigerian Association of Health Educators (NAHE) at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
According to a statement issued at the weekend by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor lamented that most families have lost their loved ones to avoidable deaths through wrong attribution and erroneous belief systems.
He also noted that apart from deaths caused by insecurity, lives were being mowed down due to policy defects and poor implementation of health programmes in the country.
To change the narrative, Senator Ewhrudjakpo stressed the need for public health educators to redefine their roles and functions in the delivery of healthcare services with a view to carving a respectable niche for themselves in the health sector.
He advised the NAHE delegation that the only way they could distinguish themselves from other health professionals is to make behaviour change communication their main focus.
According to the Deputy Governor, there was a need for the Association to change its name to reflect what he called “public health education promoters”, noting that virtually every health practitioner in Nigeria claims to be a health educator.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo reminded them that many health problems Nigerians face were diet and lifestyle-related, and could be overcome through aggressive public health campaigns involving leading Christian, Muslim and other religious organizations.
“You must distinguish what you are doing from what others are doing. You are supposed to do what is called behaviour change communication.
“That is your job. It is your communication that will determine the public’s health attitude. Over 60 percent of Nigerians believe that all their health problems are caused by spiritual reasons.
“You have not been able to change that impression. That is your turf. What are the programmes you have lined up to change that erroneous belief?
“You need to interface with faith-based organizations like Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and others to upscale your behaviuor change communication”, he said.
Earlier in his presentation, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Health Educators, Dr. Doubrapade Walker, highlighted the key responsibilities of health educators in the the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery system, including social mobilization and fostering effective community partnership.
Walker, who thanked the Deputy Governor for squeezing time out of his tight schedule to receive them, appealed to the State Government to come up with a policy framework to fully integrate health educators to function professionally in the health sector of the state.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa.

Niger Delta

NPC Unveils Digital Registration System In Delta

Published

7 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday, launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (eCRVS) in Delta State, designed to strengthen data generation and vital statistics management.

The Tide’s source reports that the system was launched by the Delta Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, at a news briefing in Asaba.

Brume-Ataguba recalled that President Bola Tinubu formally launched the eCRVS in November 2023 as part of the efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration process.

She said the initiative followed resolutions reached at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Addis Ababa in 2022.

According to her, African ministers urged member states to automate civil registration processes and implement the UN Legal Identity Agenda.

“Nigeria responded by developing an electronic, technology-driven system to enhance data generation and improve civil statistics nationwide,” Brume-Ataguba said.

She said NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced an eCRVS Operational Readiness Assessment Report to guide implementation.

She explained that the partnership aims to establish a fully digital civil registration system that converts records of vital events into reliable statistics for effective planning and decision-making.

Brume-Ataguba described the initiative as a complete shift from paper-based documentation to a modern digital platform aligned with international best practices.

She said the system would transform the way births and deaths were recorded, tracked and analysed across the country.

“This process marks a complete departure from the traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices.

“This eCRVS promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded, tracked and analysed in the country.

“This will ensure commitments, and a sustained national, international financial and political investment for birth registration within the CVRS in Nigeria, ” Brume-Ataguba said.

She also said the launch demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening civil registration data capture and processing.

She further said improved vital statistics would support national development planning and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Brume-Ataguba continued that the state-level launch was necessary to sensitise the media and the public on the significance of the digital registration system.

She described the media as a vital partner in informing and educating citizens about the importance of registering vital events electronically.

She further assured residents that competent ICT personnel were available at the state level to address technical challenges and provide support.

The NPC commissioner emphasised that the eCRVS would overhaul the registration of births and deaths in the country and lay a solid foundation for efficient civil statistics management.

She urged stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to realise its goal of providing accurate and timely vital registration data.

She announced that the current phase of the e-CRVS programme would be concluded in March.

In her remark, the NPC State Director, Mrs. Jane Odigwe, appealed to the Delta Government to support the implementation of the system in the state.

“Your partnership is vital in helping us to reach this goal,” Odigwe said.

She also urged parents to register their children, saying that a birth certificate is essential for access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.

She said that registering children today would secure their identity and future participation in Nigeria’s development.

“To every parent in Delta, I urge you to bring your children forward for birth registration.

“A birth certificate is not just a document but your child’s key to education, healthcare and global opportunities.

“By registering your child today, you are giving them a voice in Nigeria of tomorrow,” Odigwe said.

Niger Delta

Police Uncover Suspects’ Armoury … Recover Weapons In Delta

Published

7 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has recovered assorted weapons from a criminal hideout in the state.

Spokesman for the Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen, who on Friday in Warri, said the weapons were recovered on Thursday by the operatives of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson.

He said the feat was achieved following a confession by a suspect handed over to the police team by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe Division, for further interrogation.

Edafe said the suspect was alleged to be a member of a criminal syndicate terrorising commuters and residents on the Warri/Sapele Road.

“On February 19, acting on information obtained during interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to a concealed armoury located on the Sapele/Warri Road by the Adheje Community axis.

“A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of a locally made long gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun.

“Also recovered were a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a dagger,” he said.

Edafe stated that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.

He, however, quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, to have reiterated the command’s resolve in dismantling criminal networks, and mopping up illegal firearms, among others, in the state.

Niger Delta

Police Caution On Lawless Protests On Court Matters In A’Ibom

Published

7 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has cautioned on threats of lawless protests by some members of the public over matters that are already before the courts.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, told newsmen in Uyo on Friday that illegal protests could undermine public peace and order.

“When matters are already in court, let’s follow legal and civil means to seek redress. That is how a civilised society works.

“Although we recognise the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, illegal protests are not allowed,” he said.

Azare said the Command would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, and disruption of government, economic or social activities.

He said anyone found culpable of engaging in acts or threats of illegal protests would be prosecuted in line with the law.

“As a Command, we are committed to the maintenance of law and order, we are also committed to protecting lives and property”, he stated.