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Youths Defend Tinubu Over Appointment Of Non-Ogoni As HYPREP Coordinator

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1 year ago

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A non-governmental organisation in Nigeria, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre, has called for calm and acceptance of Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, a non-Ogoni, as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

The Executive Director of the NGO, Dumnamene Fyneface, made the call in  a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

This was in response to President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the appointment of Dr. Adekanmbi, a Yoruba man from Ondo State, as the head of HYPREP, the agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment overseeing the Ogoni Clean-up project.

Fyneface noted that the foundation for such an occurrence was laid by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, urging that no blame should be placed on President Tinubu.

The statement reads in part, “No one should blame President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the appointment of a non-Ogoni as HYPREP Coordinator.

“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a Niger Deltan, laid the foundation in 2012 by refusing to establish an Ogoni Environmental Restoration Authority (OERA), as recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in the Ogoni Environmental Assessment Report, 2011, and instead opted to establish HYPREP, then known as the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, as a national clean-up agency.

“Besides, the restructuring of HYPREP on December 8, 2016, with the creation of the Board of Trustees, Governing Council, and Project Coordination Office as contained in the HYPREP Establishment Official Gazette No. 176, Volume 103, Government Notice No. 164, also paved the way for the inclusion of other Nigerians in the various organs; thus, any Nigerian can head HYPREP, and the organisation was not surprised when President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, on Saturday, July 13, appointed Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, a Yoruba man from Ondo State, as the first non-Ogoni substantive Project Coordinator of HYPREP after Prof. Philip Shekolo, another non-Ogoni who had previously served as interim Project Coordinator of HYPREP.”

The group cautioned against attaching ethnic colourations to the appointment of Dr Adekanmbi, noting that he is also a Niger Deltan.

HYPREP is a federal clean-up project established by former President Jonathan, which allows for the appointment of its coordinator from any part of the country, similar to other Ogonis appointed to other federal agencies, past or present.

The group’s executive director, who is also an environmental activist, further recalled that in May 2023, while thanking ex-President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Prof. Ninibarini Zabbey as the project coordinator, he condemned the frequent change of leadership in HYPREP.

He warned that Prof. Zabbey might be the last Ogoni project coordinator of HYPREP, as many Ogonis are known to fight their kinsmen appointed as HYPREP project coordinators, especially with the plethora of court cases negatively impacting the smooth implementation of the project by slowing down the clean-up exercise.

He extended his congratulations to Dr Adekanmbi on his appointment and urged Ogonis to embrace and assist him and his team in their contribution to the Ogoni clean-up project.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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