Niger Delta

Ibru: Delta NUJ Shelves Press Week

Published

14 years ago

November 25, 2011

The Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has postponed its press week activities as a result of the death of the publisher of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Alex Ibru.

The publisher who was the former Internal Affair Minister during the military administration of Late General Sani Abacha, died Sunday, this week, while the NUJ celebration was on.

The state chairman, Comrade Norbert Chiazor, who had billed the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Gbenga Adefaye, Governor Adams Oshiomole’s Special Adviser on the Media, Tony Iyare, and a former House of Representatives member, Patrick Obahiagbon as guest speakers, in an announcement described Ibru’s death as “a big blow.”

The chairman, who shifted the celebration for another week, opened a condolence register at the union’s secretariat in Asaba even as he urged the national leadership of the union to impress it on media houses to carry black masthead to mourn him.

Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the state commissioner for information, Chike Ogeah, in separate statements have commiserated with the union and its members over the loss.

According to the Governor, Alex Ibru was a man of many parts who excelled wherever he found himself leaving behind trails of credibility and integrity. “I am shocked and pained by this death. A man of humility, credibility and high integrity has passed on”, he stated.

Governor Uduaghan, in a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Sunny Ogefere noted that late Ibru was a pride to the Urhobo and Delta State, who promoted peace and unity of Nigeria particularly with the Ibru Centre, an international ecumenical centre founded by him to enhance inter and intra religious affairs.

Besides, he said that Ibru’s The Guardian which has become the flagship of the Nigerian media revolutionised the industry with the injection of the academia into the media thereby compelling the intelligentsias to play part of the critical role of the watchdog of the society.

The Governor recalled Ibru’s tenure as Minister of Internal Affairs, stressing that in spite of the public office, Ibru did not interfere even when The Guardian was critical of the government he was serving. According to him, this was “an exceptional mark of integrity and discipline on the part of the late publisher”.

He condoled with the Ibru family, The Guardian and the friends and colleagues, urging them to take solace in the fact that Alex Ibru lived a peaceful and fulfilled life. Governor Uduaghan prayed God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.

According to Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah the passing on to the great beyond of Mr. Alex Ovuemu Ibru, came as huge shock to the government and people of Delta State as well as to him and my family.

He said even though he did not practice journalism as an on field reporter, he has had a profound impact on the emergence of modern journalism in Nigeria when he brought The Guardian to the media landscape in 1983.

Ogeah said his newspaper redefined journalism practice in the country while his style and principle of letting experts have unfettered control of the management of The Guardian introduced a new dimension in media management – freedom and independence in editorial judgment.

“We are proud of this accomplished son of Delta State and take solace in the fact that his legacy is entrenched in the Nigerian media space and has already outlived him’’, he stated.

Niger Delta

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

Published

10 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

10 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

10 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.