Niger Delta

D’Gov Tasks APWEN, Others On SMART Goals

Published

1 year ago

January 30, 2025

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has advised both public and private organisations to set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART) goals to check abandonment of projects in the country.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo gave the advice recently when a delegation of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Bayelsa State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Engr. Ann Jonathan Obuebite, visited him in Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, the Deputy Governor was quoted identifying poor conception, lack of resources and political will as some factors responsible for abandonment of projects and programmes in the country.

Ewhrudjakpo stated that it is almost impossible for any well thought out project to fail because critical issues such as funding and implementation plans must have been taken care of right from the conception stage.

He commended the state’s chapter of APWEN for a seamless transition process that gave birth to a new executive council, noting that most organisations had collapsed due to conflicts arising from transfer of power.

While congratulating the new exco on their successful election, Ewhrudjakpo, urged them to set measurable and realistic goals that could be achieved within their two-year tenure.

The Deputy Governor also lauded the group for its sensitisation campaigns on the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, and enjoined them to embark on sustainable programmes to earn a reputable image.

“I want to also commend you for what you are doing in our schools; encouraging our children to develop interest in science and technology, particularly the female students.

“All your five cardinal programmes are quite ambitious, starting from the issue of going round schools in the state. As good as it is, I have always advised people to set SMART agenda or goals.

“That means your goals have to be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. You have only two years to serve and the number of secondary schools are many. So, how will you be able to touch all the secondary schools?

“But I think if you set or take a percentage of the schools, let’s say 30 schools, and you are able to cover 25 schools at the end of your tenure, then you can judge yourself as having performed very well”, he said.

Speaking earlier, the State Chairman of the association, Engr. Obuebite, explained that the visit was to introduce the new executive to the Deputy Governor and invite him to its inauguration slated for next month.

Reeling out the association’s five-point agenda, Engr. Obuebite said the association had been going round secondary schools in the state to encourage students develop interest in science and technology, particularly engineering in their higher studies.

She, however, expressed worry that only about 20 applicants had so far picked up the free JAMB Forms procured by the Association for students willing to study engineering even as notice of the opportunity was given three months ago.

Engr. Obuebite announced other programmes of APWEN to include, encouraging registration of female engineers, a tools and tiara programme for school dropouts, the launch of an annual public lecture in honour of Professor Ongoebi Etebu, who is not only a Bayelsan, but also the first Professor in mechanical engineering in Nigeria.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

19 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.