Niger Delta

Graduate Cryfish Seller Wins N1m NGO Contest

Published

6 years ago

April 8, 2020

University of Imo State graduate, Miss Nneoma Uzoka, has emerged winner of the March, 2020 edition of the ‘ Help The Hard Worker’ monthly competition of the Princewill’s Trust for Entrepreneur, Youths and Rivers residents who are engaged in micro business .
This was contained in a statement signed by the founder of the NGO, Mr Tonye Princewill and made available to newsmen yesterday in Port Harcourt.
The statement which revealed that the event took place on “April Fool’s Day”, said that the winner would not receive mere pranks, but real reward for her hard work and dedication to business.
”Her gift is real and it is the result of hard work, dedication and commitment. We bring to her good tidings and a tiny recognition of her efforts”, it added.
According to the statement, the Theatre Arts graduate, Miss Uzoka, would be encouraged to enable her join others who chose hard work over laziness and a sense of entitlement.
“A transfer of N100.000 has been made direct to her account and she has also acknowledged receipt. We trust that she will use the money well and look forward to her joining other previous ‘Help a Hard Worker’ winners in making progress”, it hinted.
The competition, TheTide gathered, was opened to all especially those residing and doing business in Rives State irrespective of their state of origin.
Considering the ravaging Corona virus pandemic, NGO, urged all hands to be on deck, adding that all people are inter-connected to each other in one way or the other.
“I think it is pertinent to use this medium to appeal to every one of us to start the victory march against the COVID-19 virus from within. Each of us must play our part. My health is your health and vice versa. We are all inter-connected”, it said.
The statement also called on the people to continue to obey the stay-at-home order by the government, and added that anything in the contrary, was tantamount to gambling with one.s life.
It further revealed that the organisation had made enough adjustment to ensure that the group delivered more credibly to the people .
The Tide gathered that a similar programme to ‘Help a Hard worker’ scheme ‘Help a Smart Worker’ had started this month which it was learnt will be restricted to the founder’s political allies.
The winner , an indigene of Imo State who contested among 5,000 contestants, has expressed gratitude to the Foundation, and promised to make judicious use of the gift.
Speaking on behalf of the Princewill’s Trust, Hon. Ikem Anthony , however, congratulated Miss Uzoka as he called on the general public to stay safe and stay at home in order to curtail the spread of the Corona virus pandemic .

Niger Delta

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

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

2 days 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.