Niger Delta
WBW: Delta Tasks Mothers To Demystify Breast-milk Myths
Delta State Government has tasked nursing mothers and caregivers to shun myths about breast-milk, particularly the first “Yellow-milk– Colostrum”, by supporting its intake and exclusive breastfeeding for six months to protect their babies.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojame, gave the charge at the ground finale of the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), organised in partnership with other stakeholders to sensitise mothers on the importance of breastfeeding their babies in Asaba on Friday.
The Tide’s source reports that the year’s WBW has as its theme, “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Support System”.
At the Grand Finale, held at Umuaji Primary Health Centre, Oshimili South Local Government Area, Asaba, Delta, Onojame said the theme’s focus was to promote the enabling environment that helps women to breast feed, including support in the community, workplace, with adequate protection in government policies and laws, including sharing information on benefits of breastfeeding.
The Commissioner, represented by the Executive Director, Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Paul Yinkori, said the call has become necessary to improve the breastfeeding status in the state.
According to Onojame, Delta State exclusive breastfeeding status rate is 27 per cent as at the 2023/2024 rating, adding that this is below the national status of 28.8 per cent which is lesser than the World Health Organisation target of 50 per cent.
“This implies that in Delta State, 27 infants out of every 100 infants aged 0 to 6 months only, are exclusively breastfed in the state. So, a lot more need to be done”, he said.
The Commissioner noted that the State Government was fully in support of the global policies on breastfeeding and urged for collective effort of all to attain the WHO target of 50 per cent exclusive breastfeeding by mothers and caregivers in the state.
He said for the state to attain the global target, “the approach is to demystify myths about breast milk, improve awareness on the importance of breastfeeding, implement enabling policies such as early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
“Also important is exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuing complementary breastfeeding up to two years of age. Implemention of six months maternity leave for working mothers and encourage breastfeeding support groups.
“I urge you all to continue to support and to encourage appropriate and adequate breastfeeding for our young. Together we shall raise healthier more intelligent and better leaders of tomorrow.”
On her part, the State Desk Nutrition Officer, Ms. Ejovi Ebikaboene, said the gathering was to mark the WBW and to sensitise the women and general public on the need to nurture the young babies exclusively on breast milk at the early hours of birth to six months of age, no water, other foods.
She said, “Breastfeeding is an age long feeding practise that exhibits how God love and care nurtures us into good health and longevity.”
She noted that when the child leaves the comfort of the womb, the bond between mother and child begins with the food-breast milk from the mother’s breast.
“This treasures the baby that he or she is in a safe hands. From this act of love, a bond of trust and love is established between the mother and child”, she said.
According to Ebikaboene, breast milk provides the child with the protection needed to live in the new environment and harmful, toxic disease causing organisms.
“Breast milk”, she said, “contains up to 98 per cent of water, antibodies, antibiotics to immunize the baby against infection, probiotics to build immunity, anti-inflammatory compounds, enzymes to digest all the nutrients to the baby.
“So, let us not only strive to support one another in our Christian journey, we should also prioritize the well-being of our youngest members, our babies by creating a supportive environment where mother feel encouraged to breastfeed their babies exclusively for six months.”
The Coordinator, Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Delta Chapter, Mr. John Ogbeode, who lamented the state statistics, stressed the need for more effort to sensitise the mothers on the importance of breastfeeding their babies.
According to him, available statistics has revealed that malnutrition is on the increase in Nigeria.
He said children between 0 and 5 years of age were victims of malnutrition due to lack of adequate feeding, adding that adequate.
“In Delta, exclusive breastfeeding is rate at 27 per cent; also, available statistics has shown that 20 per cent of our children under five years are stunted; 15.1 per cent are wasted and 19.6 per cent are under weight.
“This shows that the way we feed our children has a great role to play in the health of the children. Every nutrition starts from breastfeeding, once it is wrong from the beginning, then there will be problems.
“This is why we must all support exclusive breastfeeding for six months for our babies to become healthy”, he said.
The source reports that the highpoint of the occasion was the quiz for the mothers on their knowledge about breastfeeding and award to winners.
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Nigeria has recorded its strongest-ever outing in global university rankings, with 24 institutions earning places in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings.
However, only four universities from the South-South geopolitical zone made the prestigious list.
The South-South institutions that secured places in the rankings are Delta State University, Abraka (12th), University of Benin (22nd), University of Calabar (23rd), and University of Port Harcourt (24th).
The rankings, which represent Nigeria’s highest-ever participation, reinforces the country’s growing influence in higher education across Sub-Saharan Africa, with 24 universities listed, up from 21 in both the 2024 and 2025 editions.
The University of Ibadan retained its position as Nigeria’s highest-ranked institution, followed by the University of Lagos, while Bayero University, Kano, emerged as the third-best performing university in the country.
Of the 24 institutions, 17 are federal universities, four are state-owned, and three are private universities, reflecting broad improvements in teaching, research, and institutional performance across the country’s tertiary education sector.
The rankings also underscore the growing global recognition of Nigeria’s specialised universities of technology and agriculture, while state-owned institutions continue to improve their academic profiles through enhanced research output and governance reforms.
The full list of Nigeria’s universities in the 2026 THE rankings are: University of Ibadan; University of Lagos; Bayero University, Kano; Covenant University; Landmark University; Ahmadu Bello University; Federal University of Technology, Minna; University of Ilorin; University of Jos; University of Nigeria; Babcock University; and Delta State University, Abraka.
Others are: Ekiti State University; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology; Lagos State University; Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Benin; University of Calabar; and University of Port Harcourt.
The rankings highlight both Nigeria’s expanding presence on the global academic stage and the need for greater investment in higher education across regions, particularly in the South-South, where only four universities made the country’s top 24 list.
The Ogu Community in Otubo-Atissa, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has stated its commitment to preserving its culture, peace and community development through the celebration of the annual “Uge Adiafa” New Yam Festival, tagged “Ogbolo ’26.”
Held at St. John’s Primary School Field, Ogu, the colourful festival served not only as the traditional commencement of the yam harvest season, but also as a tribute to the community’s illustrious son and founder of the Uge Adiafa Festival, His Majesty, Late King Fedrick Aduku Simangi Ogbotom-Edede IV.
The celebration brought together sons and daughters of the community, traditional rulers, academics, youths and other guests in a display of thanksgiving, cultural performances and renewed communal solidarity.
Addressing the gathering, the traditional head of the community, HRH Bishop Akuegbe Paul, expressed delight at the massive turnout, describing the festival as a symbol of thanksgiving to God, cultural identity and unity among the people.
He noted that beyond celebrating a successful farming season, the festival honours the enduring legacy of the late monarch, whose vision established the Uge Adiafa Festival as a platform for preserving the community’s rich cultural heritage and promoting peaceful coexistence.
Guest of Honour, Professor Nedie Patience Akani, of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, commended the community for embracing reconciliation and unity.
Professor Akani, who is of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, of the university and a daughter of the soil, said, “This is my first time attending this New Yam Festival. I came because of the good things happening in this community.
“Before now, there were quarrels in the community, with court cases here and there, brother fighting against brother. But today, God has united us. It is a wonderful thing to be united because where there is no unity, there can be no progress in the home, family or community.
“I thank the head of Ogu Community, HRH, Bishop Akuege Paul, for making today’s celebration a reality”, she stated.
The event also featured inter-compound cultural competitions, with Yenikabu II Compound emerging overall winner, while Bongata Compound and Abrima Compound finished first d second runners-up respectively.
Also, eleven Compound Chiefs alongside their respective Head Compound Women Chiefs were coronated. The Woman Chief of Ogu Community, HH, Dare Tiebiri and her Deputy, Chief Stella Jordan Mark, were also coronated.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included the Ebenanawei of Akamabubu Kingdom, Southern Ijaw LGA, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, HRM, King J. Olotu Erepamo; the Paramount Ruler, Ikibiri Community, Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State, HRH, Barrister Morris Lagos; and the Ebeni-Isisibo of Atissa Kingdom, HRH, God’swill Arab Simeon.
Other are: the Ebeni-Otubo, Atissa Kingdom, HRH, Sir Anderson J. Olumo, and his wife, Mrs. Tarila Anderson Olumo; the Deputy Head of Ogu Community, HH, Mission Obugu, and wife of the Ebeni-Ibe of Atissa Kingdom, Mrs. Diemeze Victor Awala.
For the people of Ogu, the festival was more than a celebration of the first harvest, it underscored the importance of preserving cultural traditions, strengthening communal bonds, promoting reconciliation and passing cherished values from one generation to another, while also ensuring that the legacy of their forebears continue to inspire future generations.
Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) has partnered the Delta State Government, Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society to promote voluntary blood donation as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s blood supply and save lives.
The initiative, which forms part of SEEPCO’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for its host communities, aligns with activities marking the 2026 World Blood Donor Day with the theme, “One Drop of Humanity: Give Blood, Save Lives.”
The campaign was conducted across Delta State’s three senatorial districts — Asaba, Ughelli and Warri — where stakeholders sensitised residents on the importance of voluntary, regular and unpaid blood donation as the most sustainable means of ensuring adequate blood supply for healthcare facilities.
The exercise followed a similar campaign in Lagos State, where SEEPCO, in partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, mobilised about 550 pints of blood within two days.
VCDF also highlighted the steady growth of its annual blood donation drive, with the number of donors increasing from 98 in 2022 to 147 in 2023, 268 in 2024 and 341 in 2025.
Before the Delta campaign, the foundation had recorded a cumulative total of 1,404 voluntary donors, a feat that earned it the Blood Donation Champion Award from the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service.
At the Central Hospital, Ughelli, the hospital’s management and Blood Transfusion Committee commended SEEPCO, VCDF, the Delta State Ministry of Health and other partners for supporting initiatives aimed at improving access to safe blood for patients.
Speaking during the campaign, Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, described voluntary blood donation as critical to responding to public health emergencies and saving lives during accidents, childbirth and other medical emergencies.
He said: “Voluntary blood donation is important for public health emergencies and to save lives during accidents and childbirth. We are deeply grateful to VCDF and its partners for their commitment to promoting voluntary blood donation and supporting life-saving healthcare initiatives.”
Participants said the awareness campaign had increased public understanding of the importance of blood donation, with many first-time donors expressing willingness to become regular donors after learning about the safety, benefits and life-saving impact of donating blood.
Stakeholders also stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment, noting that a single blood donation could save multiple lives, as the campaign recorded impressive community participation across the three senatorial districts.