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Fubara Seeks Collaboration To Surmount Challenges Of Environmental Degradation In Ijaw Land
The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara says it has become imperative to adopt approaches that emphasise both environmental regeneration and economic sustainability in the face of escalating environmental challenges confronting Ijaw land.
Governor Fubara underscored this importance while delivering a keynote address at the Pre-Summit Conference of the First Pan-Ijaw Economic Summit 2024 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
He maintained that the theme: ‘Environmental Regeneration and Economic Sustainability,’ resonates with the collective aspirations of Ijaw ethnic nationality’s desire for economic progress and right to live in a decent physical environment.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, emphasized that the challenges posed by environmental degradation synonymous with the Ijaw nation is also deeply linked to the agitations and conscientious demands for economic and environmental justice.
He regretted that Ijaw people continue to suffer the harm often associated with oil production, which continues to devastate the environment and impoverish the people.
He said: “We have often felt the harmful effects of oil production. Oil spills from pipelines are destroying farmlands and crops as well as damaging marine life. Gas flaring is filling the atmosphere with substances that cause soot, a phenomenon that has manifested in many parts of the region. Acid rain is not uncommon. The land is contaminated. The water is contaminated. The air is polluted. And that is the environment in which we live.
“We all acknowledge the importance of sustainable economic progress for a people or society. We all need human security, including access to quality education, food, shelter, healthcare and social security. We need the things that facilitate our well-being. We need the institutions to educate, train and prepare our young people for the challenges of the global marketplace.
“We need roads and common infrastructure to enhance commercial interaction, We need electricity, which has become an essential and indispensable feature of modern life. We need everything that makes way for the good life. But the progress and well-being that we seek cannot be achieved in the face of a degraded and spoiled environment.”
The Governor therefore enjoined stakeholders to collaborate and rebirth ideas and measures to achieve environmental renewal and economic prosperity.
According to him, “We need to work towards the goal. But it is a job that no person can do alone. Our society, our governments, and the oil producing companies have to evolve appropriate environmental standards and uphold those standards. Everyone has to take responsibility for the environment.
“While we see the environment as our heritage, we should keep in mind that it is also the heritage for our children and many generations to come.
“It is a little over one year since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu created a Federal Ministry to pursue the riches in the Marine and Blue Economy. This is a fresh opportunity for Ijaws to return to their roots and rediscover and launch themselves into a new economic era with almost limitless opportunities, because just as the oceans are vast, so is the immense wealth and prosperity to be gained there from.
“We also need targeted investments in infrastructure, human capital development. facilities, and lots to grow our economies and create wealth and prosperity across Ijaw land. In this wise, I very much appreciate and applaud the massive infrastructural achievements of Governor Douye Diri in Bayelsa State as this is the way to the pan-Ijaw promise of a better future for all Ijaws.”
Governor Fubara further maintained that peace is paramount to attain the lofty socio-economic development of the region, saying “I wish to emphasize that not much can be achieved without peace and security. Ijaw land must, therefore, cease to be a hotbed of violence and insecurity. We must ramp up protection of existing infrastructure and facilities and not give excuses to those who have sunk in their capital to divest. We must uproot from among us the criminal elements who are vandalizing crude oil pipelines and contributing directly to the death of our environment.”
He narrated that his administration has ensured a multi-strategy approach to curb environmental degradation and enhance economic boost through environmental friendly polices, infrastructural development and revival of the local economy.
“In Rivers State, our government has shown understanding of the environmental challenges we face and we have adopted policies to tackle the problem. We are working on establishing a waste-to-energy plant to address the challenges of solid waste management, clean energy, carbon emissions, and climate change.
“Additionally, we have signed a memorandum of understanding with two foreign firms on the preservation of our vast mangrove forests. We are also supporting the security agencies, including the joint task force on oil theft and the Nigerian Civil Defense Corpse to fight illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalization as part of efforts to protect the nation’s economic assets as well as prevent the continuous degradation of our environment.
“While we work towards environmental renewal, we are also frontally addressing the challenges of infrastructural development and the building of institutions to improve human capital among our people. We are presently constructing the 50 km dual carriage Port Harcourt Ring Road with six flyovers, traversing six local government areas of the State. When completed, this 200-billion-naira project will accelerate the economic transformation of the State.
“Also worthy of mention are the dualization of Elele-Omoku road, which interconnects three local government areas, and the long awaited Trans-Kalabari road, with a combined contract value of over N300 billion. Conceived, awarded and abandoned decades ago, the Trans-Kalabari road is aimed at linking most of the riverine communities in the Kalabari kingdom to the state capital to accelerate their socio-economic integration and development,” he stressed.
Governor Fubara noted that affordable healthcare delivery is another area his administration is giving priority attention.
Said he: “Apart from implementing the contributory healthcare scheme for the first time in the State, we have expanded and completing the zonal hospitals at Degema, Khana, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of the State. We are also building an ultra-modern neuropsychiatric hospital.
“To stimulate economic growth in the State, we floated a N4 billion matching fund with the Bank of Industry to support micro, small, and medium enterprise at 5% interest rate. So far, over 1300 entrepreneurs have accessed this loan while many more are in the process.”
He further disclosed that agricultural development has been adopted to enhance food security, job creation and enhance well-being of Rivers people in the 2025 budget as well as investing every effort to keep Rivers State peaceful, safe, and secure for everyone to come in and settle.
He thanked the Azaiki Foundation and Ijaw National Congress for organizing the pre-summit.
The Chief Special Guest of Honour and former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Ambassador Godknows Igali, acknowledged that the future of Nigeria depends on every region exploring the resources available to them to create better opportunity for the citizens. He added that such efforts must be based on ideas and approaches for options that are sustainable.
According to him, “Whatever economic strategies, whatever plans to make life easier for our people must be such that looks at the next generation. Our efforts must be that, planning is not just for ourselves but for the next generation. We should look beyond oil. Gas is energy of the future and we must appreciate that.”
The President of Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Co-Convener of the Pre-Summit, Professor Benjamin Okaba, stressed that the era of lamentation for the Ijaw nation was over as now is the time to look inwards, ventilate ideas and move the nation forward.
He urged all to take the summit seriously to incubate ideas to rescue the Ijaw nation as he thanked the Principal Convener, Professor Steve Azaiki for sustaining the dream of the summit.
The Summit had in attendance the former Governor of the Old Rivers State, King Alfred Diette-Spiff; former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Gboribiogha Jonah; former Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (Rtd); traditional rulers, captains of industries, leaders of the Ijaw nation, among others.
The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.
The awards were presented yesterday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.
Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.
In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.
While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.
He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.
To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.
In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities.
According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, Ahmad said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.
She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.
These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.
The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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?Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
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?Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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This was contained in a statement from the office of the Deputy Governor, signed by the Head of Press, ?Owupele Benebo.
?According to Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace.
He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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?The governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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?In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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?He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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?Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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?In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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?He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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?These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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