Rivers
PIND, Partners Hold Data-Driven Resilience Planning For N’Delta
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), and The Fund for Peace (FFP), has concluded a three-day Niger Delta Scenario Planning Workshop on Resilience in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The programme is Supported by the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The workshop brought together over 100 participants from government, civil society, the private sector, academia, traditional authorities, and the media to co-create data-driven strategies for crisis preparedness and regional resilience.
The theme of the three days event “From Risk to Resilience: Building a Future-Ready Niger Delta,” marked a major step in shifting regional approaches from reactive crisis response to proactive resilience planning.
Participants explored how the region can anticipate, adapt to, and recover from climate shocks, insecurity, and governance challenges through collaborative and foresight-based approaches, using advanced analytical tools.
Such tools include the Fragile States Index (FSI), State Resilience Index (SRI), and Crisis Sensitivity Simulator (CSS), enhanced by AI-powered risk modeling developed by the Fund for Peace and SAS.
Participants at the workshop analyzed systemic risks, developed plausible crisis scenarios, and designed practical response strategies tailored to the Niger Delta’s realities.
Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Director of PIND Foundation. Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, represented by Mr. David Udofia, said the workshop demonstrates how data, foresight, and partnerships can transform uncertainty into opportunity, and ensure that resilience becomes a shared responsibility across communities, institutions, and sectors.
He added that the Niger Delta’s future depends on ability to anticipate challenges rather than merely react to the opportunity.
The initiative convened representatives from NEMA, SEMA, NiMet, HYPREP, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ministries of environment and agriculture, and civil society networks such as the Partners for Peace (P4P).
Delegates from the Regional Peace Council of Ghana’s Northern and Oti regions also participated, fostering cross-border exchange and strengthening regional crisis preparedness across West Africa.
Also speaking, Senior Advisor for Research & Innovation at FFP, Nate Haken, stressed that this initiative exemplifies how collaboration across government, civil society, and academia can strengthen peace and security.
“By linking data to decision-making, we are laying the foundation for a resilient Niger Delta and a safer West Africa.
“Over three days, participants engaged in contextual analysis, scenario building, and AI-assisted ‘red teaming’ to test response assumptions and develop integrated resilience plans.
“Key outputs include a Niger Delta Resilience Strategy outlining coordinated crisis preparedness actions, a comprehensive scenario planning report documenting lessons learned, and a replicable methodology adaptable for other regions in Nigeria and across West Africa”, Haken said.
According to him, these outcomes will be embedded within existing coordination structures, including the Partners for Peace (P4P) network and state-level emergency management systems, ensuring that insights translate into practical action.
According to a representative of OSPRE, Mr. Edkobi Anthony Chukwuemeka, “This process strengthens our capacity to connect early warning with early action, ensuring that preparedness becomes part of how we govern and grow.”
The scenario planning workshop stands as a regional model for anticipatory governance, integrating foresight, technology, and cross-sector collaboration into Nigeria’s broader resilience and peacebuilding framework.
As Nigeria and West Africa confront rising climate and security risks, the Niger Delta Scenario Planning Workshop sets a new benchmark for how data-driven foresight, innovation, and inclusive collaboration can transform risk into resilience.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor
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