Niger Delta
Denmark Partners NGO On Climate Change Project In N’Delta
The Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria, partnering with the Academic Associate PeaceWorks (AAPW), is set to fund a two-year project towards moderating climate change impacts in the Niger Delta.
The embassy’s Senior Programme Manager in Nigeria, Nosakhare Ayejimiwo, disclosed this in a two-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum in Yenagoa on yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the forum is titled “Policy Dialogue and Exhibition on Green and Blue Economy in the Niger Delta”.
Ayejimiwo said the policy dialogue and exhibition were not only to share ideas but living demonstrations of how partnership and cooperation could lead to real and impactful change.
“One of Denmark’s strategic priorities for engagement with Africa is to increase efforts for climate adaptation, with particular focus on water, forests, and biodiversity, and support for green transition in the continent.
“We are living in a time where climate change is undeniably one of the greatest global concerns of our era.
“Yet, while its effects are felt worldwide, it is communities at the frontline like yours and others in the Niger Delta that bear the brunt of its impacts most acutely.
“The Niger Delta faces unique challenges that demand urgent, thoughtful, and locally relevant responses.
“Denmark’s partnership in this region reflects our strong commitment to supporting solutions that are inclusive, locally-led, and sustainable.
“This project is a shining example of those values in action; it embodies collaboration across sectors and stakeholders”, she said.
In her remarks, AAPW Executive Director, Judith Asuni, explained that the two-year project, implemented by AAPW, would be in four communities.
According to her, the communities are those highly affected by climate change, environmental degradation and piracy in Bayelsa and Delta States.
She added that the communities could potentially develop green and blue economies in their areas.
Asuni said, “The project aims to promote sustainable practices in both marine and terrestrial environments, emphasising conservation and resource management in the Niger Delta region.”
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Agricultural and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Sese, reiterated the mandate of his ministry to produce food for Bayelsa, Nigerians and the world.
He noted that the administration of Governor Douye Diri had concluded that the state was too blessed to be poor or associated with poverty.
However, while attributing the state’s blessedness to its rich vegetation and soil fertility, he regretted that a large amount of food consumed in the state was being brought from outside.
“Our primary focus has been on rice production because Bayelsa State is a natural habitat for rice. So, we are supporting our rice farmers by providing inputs, seedlings and rice mills.
“Our goal is to reduce the cost of rice, and we cannot do that without collaboration with our rice farmers.
“We want to create the enabling environment for farmers to be productive”, he said.
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The State Executive Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Monday reaffirmed its support for the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori-led APC government in the state.
Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Omeni Sobotie, who led members of the Executive Committee of the APC on a visit to the Governor, said they would continue to support the State Government as it drives the Renewed Hope For MORE Agenda in the state.
Chief Sobotie disclosed that they were at Government House, Asaba, to pledge their solidarity, reiterating that the Governor is the leader of the APC in the state.
“If the Governor, as the leader of the party, tells everyone to queue behind him, who is going to question that? Who would act contrary to that?” he asked rethorically.
“We came to reaffirm our support and pledge our solidarity with the Governor of the state, who is the leader of the APC in Delta”, the State Chairman added.
He, therefore, urged Deltans to continue supporting the policies and programmes of the Oborevwori’s administration, adding that they should expect more with the Renewed Hope for the MORE Agenda.
Albert Ograka, Asaba
The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu, has sponsored the enrollment of 500 senior citizens, aged 70 and above, into the Cross River Health Insurance Scheme.
The gesture, which covers the premiums of the elderly citizens for two years, targeted the vulnerable senior citizens in the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Director General of the agency, Mr. Godwin Iyala, described the initiative as “a significant milestone in the first lady’s humanitarian outreach”.
According to Iyala, the first lady had already made full financial commitment to cover the 500 beneficiaries for the next two years.
“This initiative prioritises our elderly population, many of whom had spent decades serving their families and communities.
“Her Excellency has once again demonstrated her deep sense of empathy and leadership.
“The ripple effect of this act is far-reaching because when the aged are cared for, families are relieved, and the moral fabric of our society is strengthened”, he said.
He commended Otu for the initiative, describing it as a lifeline for elderly citizens, particularly those in the rural areas, who face significant barriers in accessing healthcare.
Iyala stated that the Agency would begin immediate enrollment of the beneficiaries into the health insurance database, to ensure they begin to enjoy prompt and uninterrupted access to medical services.
He further said that the initiative was expected to significantly ease the burden of healthcare cost to elderly citizens, offering them a renewed sense of dignity and security in their twilight years.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) on Tuesday in Asaba renewed campaign strategy against human trafficking in Delta State.
Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, Director-General, NAPTIP, formally flagged off a two-day Awareness and Capacity Raising Workshop for School Principals, Vanguard Coordinators and Education Administrators.
According to her, the workshop was to equip participants on the use of the Tools for the implementation of TIPVAP Vanguards Under the School Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project (STEAP).
The Tide’s source reports that the programme was organised by NAPTIP in collaboration with ICMPD implementing STEAP in Delta State.
The project is being funded by the Government of the Netherlands.
Adamu-Bello, represented by Mr. Josiah Emerole, Director of Intelligence of Research and Programme Development Department, NAPTIP, said the workshop was to raise the participants’ awareness on issues of human trafficking and how to deal with it.
She said the fight against human trafficking should be a collective one and not to be left for government agencies alone.
She said 50 secondary schools have been selected in Delta, and that each school would have NAPTIP Students Vanguards to continue with the sensitisation against human trafficking in the state.
According to her, the workshop would help build the stakeholders’ capacity to coordinate the vanguards in their schools.
The NAPTIP boss further said the target is to catch the children young, to educate and equip them with requisite knowledge to create awareness among the students and their families to enable them identify the red flags of trafficking.
“As principals and Vanguard coordinators, you owe the children responsibility to save them from becoming victims of the traffickers.
“Also, as principals and teachers, what we are doing here toady is also for you, you can be trafficked as a teacher, principal or parent by the traffickers for forced labour, sex or for organ harvesting.
“A few years ago, NAPTIP with ICMPD infused trafficking in persons issues in the curriculum of basic and secondary school education in Nigeria.
“Now to further that, we began to set up clubs in schools called Vanguards in secondary schools and Brigades in Primary schools”, she stated.
She, however, disclosed that the agency has so far rescued and reintegrated into the society about 26,000 victims while 700 persons have been convicted by the agency.
Also, Mrs. Rhoda Johnson, Project Manager, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)- STEAP project, said the project’s target was to ensure children are safe and less vulnerable in the society.
She noted that the training was aimed at sustaining awareness, strengthening collaboration and understanding of issues of trafficking and how to report trafficking in persons.
”The STEAP project have other components, but what we are doing now is being implemented by NAPTIP which is to inaugurate vanguards in 50 schools in Delta State and other four states where we are implementing the project.
“The aim of the STEAP project is to strengthen awareness, enhance stakeholders capacity and collaboration with Civil Society Organisations to prevent trafficking among school age children.
”The STEAP project is for four years. We started it in 2024 and it will end in 2027. We are collaborating with government and it is part of the sustainability plan, so that when the project is ended as per funding by the government of the Netherlands, the State Government could carry on.
“We also expect the government to replicate the school vanguards in other schools and communities.
“That is why we are working with NAPTIP which is saddled with the responsibility of inaugurating vanguards and it has been doing well and NAPTIP will do more now with funding”, Johnson said.
In a remark, the State Attorney–General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ohwovoriole Ekemejero, represented by Mrs. Ijoma Nwanze, Secretary, State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, lauded NAPTIP and ICMPD for the sustained fight against human trafficking in the state.
Also, the State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, represented by Mr. Macleans Eze, Desk Officer, State Task Force Against Human Trafficking and Irregular Migrations, said the workshop was apt.
“This workshop represents a crucial step in equipping our school principals, vanguard coordinators and school administrators with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect our children from exploitation and abuse.
In a lecture titled, ”Understanding Human Trafficking”, the Director, Public Enlightenment, NAPTIP, Kehinde Akomolafe, said traffickers deploy deception, isolation, debt bondage, fetish oaths to control their victims.
According to her, the traffickers are members of the family, friends and associate who are driven by inordinate ambition to make money.
The source reports that about a hundred participants have so far been engaged to benefit from the workshop aimed at stemming the tide against human trafficking in Delta State.
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