Niger Delta

Diri, Ibori, Others Pay Tribute To Alamieyeseigha

Published

9 months ago

October 13, 2025

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, and other prominent personalities in the Niger Delta have oaid glowing tribute to the first Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
They said his life symbolised the principles of federalism, resource control, justice, and environmental rights.
According to them, Chief Alamieyeseigha, who was the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, represented the voice of the Niger Delta people and that his legacies would continually inspire generations in the quest for justice, fairness and development.
They spoke on Friday at the 10th memorial anniversary in honour of Alamieyeseigha in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital.
Speaking at the event, which had as its theme: “The Niger Delta Voice Through Nigeria’s Soul: Federalism, Resource Control and The Contemporary Nigerian State In The DSP Alamieyeseigha Legacies”, Governor Diri said for Nigeria to make progress, it should practice a federal system of government where the sub-national units enjoy relative autonomy guaranteed by its Constitution.
He described as an abberation the situation where Nigeria, which ought to be operating federalism, controlled the resources of the sub-nationals thereby short changing them of their God-given wealth.
Senator Diri stated that if Nigeria operated a federalist structure, agitations from minority ethnic nationalities would largely be reduced.
“If we want this country to move forward, the sub-national governments should not be controlled from the centre. If we want this country to develop, you cannot use the resources from one region to create more local government areas in another region in order to feed that region and then starve the area where these resources are coming from. That is not federalism.
“The Niger Delta people have been robbed through the Land Use Act and we stand against it anywhere and anytime. Nigeria needs to correct these anomalies”, he said.
According to the Bayelsa Governor, Alamieyeseigha’s advocacy for resource control, justice and environmental rights was not only for the Niger Delta people, but for the progress of the country.
He urged the Niger Delta people to be united and build a common front in the fight for resource control and not allow party politics and personal interests get in the way of their collective struggle.
Diri emphasised the need to utilise intellectual and diplomatic means in their quest to achieve justice, fairness and bring about the much needed development of the region.
“We have elevated party politics above our unity. That is part of the politics of oil and gas, which is meant to keep us divided”, Diri added.
Similarly, former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori, who described Alamieyeseigha as his bosom friend while they were colleague-governors, said the late Ijaw Governor-General was never scared in the defence of his people.
Ibori claimed that like Martin Luther King, the ‘bullet’ that took Alamieyeseigha was fabricated, encouraged and delivered by the Nigerian state.
He, however, expressed satisfaction that what his departed comrade stood and advocated for has continued to live on and would not die.
Ibori, popularly known as the Odidigborigbo of Africa, appreciated Diri for strengthening Alamieyeseigha’s legacies and the Ijaw struggle through the annual memorial anniversary by the State Government.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Ibaba S. Ibaba, on his part, said Alamieyeseigha’s emergence as Bayelsa Governor marked a defining moment in the Ijaw and Niger Deta struggle for equity and justice.
Ibaba described the Niger Delta as an embodiment of Nigeria’s paradox of wealth amid pervasive poverty and underdevelopment, which he noted led to the famous Kaiama Declaration and the Ogoni Bill of Rights.
He stressed that the late hero, in his speeches and actions, took the Niger Delta agitation into the heart of the national debate, placing Bayelsa and the region firmly on Nigeria’s national map of political reckoning.
According to the erudite political scholar, federalism for Alamieyeseigha and people of the Niger Delta was meaningful only if it guaranteed control over resources for development, dignity, and survival.
The event, which featured a panel of discussants anchored by broadcast journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, had environmental rights activist, Annkio Briggs; foremost Ijaw activist, Elder Timi Ogoriba; and a former House of Reps member and former Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Steve Azaiki.
Dignitaries present included the Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; the immediate past Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd); wife of the late Governor, Mrs. Margaret Alamieyeseigha; National Chairman of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Amb. Boladei Igali: and President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba.
Others were the Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority, Chief Ebitimi Amgbare; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei; and other top government functionaries.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

24 Nigerian Universities Make 2026 THE Rankings … 4 S’South Versitieis Pull Through

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

‘Ogbolo ’26’: Bayelsa Community Revives Heritage, Strengthens Unity

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

SEEPCO Collaborates Delta, Others In Voluntary Blood Donation Campaign

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

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.