Category: Niger Delta

Edo First Lady and Chairperson of the Edo Gender-Based Violence Management Committee, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, has said the State has secured the conviction of one more sexual offender.

The 57-year-old man was sentenced to 14-year imprisonment without an option of fine for raping a minor.

The sexual offender, Michael Ogoke, was arraigned by the police before an Oredo Magistrate Court on May 11, 2021, on a one-count charge of rape and was subsequently sentenced to 14 years imprisonment without any option of fine by Magistrate E. O Aimofumeh.

Speaking to journalists at the Government House, Benin City, Mrs. Obaseki said the government remains committed to reducing incidences of sexual and domestic abuse, ensuring justice for all survivors.

Reassuring that the state government will continue to strengthen institutions and mechanisms to stop all forms of sexual and gender-based violence, the Edo first lady said there’s no hiding place for sexual offenders in the state.

According to her: “We are happy that Edo State Gender-Based Violence Management Committee was able to secure justice for that little, innocent girl who was raped by one Michael Ogoke, a 57-year-old man.

“We are hoping that this would send a message around the world that, in Edo, there is no hiding place for sexual predators. No more covering up for such wicked crimes. No matter who you are, the law is not a respecter of anybody. This government is saying that if you commit such a crime, you will face the full weight of the law.

“We are confident that with this desirable judgment, we have gotten what we hope to achieve as a committee and as a people. If we keep strengthening institutions and mechanisms that have been established by the government to fight sexual and gender-based violence, we will keep getting results.”

She added: “In the not so distant future, we believe that in our state, we will drastically reduce the level of violence perpetrated against people, and hopefully this will also spread across Nigeria and bring about a saner society, ensuring a healthier and more humane society for every human being, especially our innocent children to grow up and actualize their dreams.”

The first lady further said that the state government is providing counselling, psycho-social and medical support as well as all other forms of protection for victims of gender-based violence across the state.

Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration will continue to pursue programmes and policies to ensure the protection of lives and property of all Edo citizens, adding that such responsibility is the essence of governance.

He noted,: “We are celebrating this judgment because programmes like this have been initiated by previous governments and at the end of the day, it just ends up on the shelf with elaborate celebration.

“We want to thank the first lady and her team for not just being another government that will celebrate programmes and there is no result. This result has set the pace not only for Edo but for the country at large and it will boost the campaign against sexual gender-based violence.”

As part of efforts to bridge the unemployment gap in the Niger Delta region, 50 budding entrepreneurs in three states in the region have received training on business linkages programs designed to improve service delivery, profitability and business management skills of young entrepreneurs.

The training in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states was a mentorship and capacity development program expected to onboard 50 renewable energy sector retailers.

It followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and DMG-Events, Dubai, in May 2021, to improve the market for renewable energy in the Niger Delta of Nigeria through a Retailers Linkage Program.

“The Retailers Linkage Program is targeted at increasing the awareness of young entrepreneurs from retail enterprises in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States about procurement procedures and requirements, as well as enhancing networking opportunities among major dealers,” said Teslim Giwa, PIND’s Access to Energy Manager at the opening session of the training.

“This is essentially a business linkages program designed particularly for the Solar PV markets. Through this partnership, 50 MSMEs in the Niger Delta (Delta-10, Bayelsa-25, and Rivers -15) will be on-boarded as retailers of renewable energy products. Also, we will be building their capacity as Solar PV professionals in an entry-level so they can become installers, and support the industry.”

Giwa explained that the Retailers Linkage Program fits into PIND’s Access to Energy model as communities that didn’t have access to energy and renewable energy technologies before, can now be introduced to the business modules which hand them the electricity at a very affordable cost.

“While it is an income-generating activity for the entrepreneurs, the beneficiaries in the value chain are going to have access to electricity on the other hand. The energy needs of businesses and households in rural and semi-urban communities will be met from this two-pronged approach.”

He stressed the need for government, companies and private sectors to partner with PIND to improve the economic and social welfare of the people in the Niger Delta.

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Speaking also at the training, Tayo Emmanuel Kehinde, CEO of Vectis – the lead training organization for the Retailers Linkage Program, “the training is expected to yield a huge result financially to enable young entrepreneurs to build their careers and create other income streams for themselves’’.

He added that “the mentorship will also make the participants understand there are untapped opportunities around renewable energy”.

“The onboarding of participants will register them to companies, link them to products and give them access to support. Resultantly, they will be able to reach out to more communities either in clusters or as individuals. They will see the opportunity to improve their lives.”

Rukky Iriferi, a female participant, expressed her gratitude to PIND and DMG Events for prioritizing inclusiveness and female participation in the Retailers Linkage Program, adding that at the end of the training, she would project the benefits of solar home systems (SHS) to all and sundry.

During the first five-day training in December 2021, participants were issued certificates after taking the examination and the Business Clinic took place in February this year. Each participant received a toolbox including a solar system and panel to enable them to market the product.

DMG is an event management company headquartered in Dubai, UAE since 1989 with operations in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the UK. DMG attracts more than 425,000 visitors to its portfolio of 84 exhibitions each year. They have now expanded operations to achieve impressive growth in emerging and mature markets by the strategic acquisition of complementary businesses and by geo-cloning our flagship events, where they adapt their core event brands to work across new countries and cultures.

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Old Boys and Girls Association with his contemporaries and colleagues of Odi Government Secondary School, Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.

Diri noted that the association had a long, tumultuous fifty years journey that members could attest to, stressing it was a journey worthwhile with some of them gone to sleep from 1972 to date.

According to him, the celebration was not just to make merry but to give back to the school and society.

He commended the former military Governor of old Rivers State and traditional ruler of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, who initiated the policies that gave children in rural areas access to education.

He thanked the President of the association, Prof. Ebimiowei Etebu, present, past executive councils, members and products of the institution who had excelled and distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour and impacted in the school in the provision of infrastructure and other forms of support.

However, some old boys and girls present at the occasion, who were commended by the Governor for their contributions to the school and society include Deputy Governor Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Commissioner for Works and infrastructure, Dr Tonye Isenah, Rear Admiral Godfrey Yanga (rtd), Mr Moses Teibowei, Mr Franklin Aganaba, Brig. Eric Angaye, Chief Emonena Victor Wayles Egukawhore (JP) among others.

However, the special guest of honour and Chief launcher of the occasion, Chief Egukawhore, thanked Gov. Diri and members for the rare privilege accorded him, emphasizing that the unity of the association was unrivalled and worthy of emulation and urged both the political and business classes to build on the existing bond.

However, the high point of the occasion was fundraising for the building of a befitting science laboratory for the school with members doling out millions of naira for the project while a minute silence was observed in memory of departed members.

However, dignitaries at the occasion include Speaker Abraham Ingobere; Bayelsa Chief Judge Justice Kate Abiri; a member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor federal constituency, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi, wife of Diri, Justice (Mrs) Ebibomor Diri among others.

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, has marked his 2nd anniversary in office with the commissioning of road projects in the State.

The commissioning jubilations coincided with the launching of a book titled “The Izon of the Niger Delta”.

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde commissioned a 4.5 km road project at Igbedi community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area named after Diri.

At the book launch, Diri appealed that the Ijaw history book project started years back by the late DSP Alamieyeseigha administration should be given wide support by all Ijaw sons and daughters to ensure the Ijaw language does not go into extinction.

He commended past Governors who initiated, funded and superintendent over the book project.

He also thanked the only surviving editor of the book, Emeritus Professor E.J Alagoa, who turns 89, soon for embarking on the project, stressing “the beauty about Alagoa is that even at his old age, he still reads without lenses”.

Diri also prayed for the repose of the soul of late Prof. Tekena and late Prof. John Pepper Clark, who were co-editors of the book.

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Chief launcher of the book, High Chief Emonena Victor Wayles reminded the gathering that the Ijaw culture was built on the foundation of truth and tasked all citizens of the Ijaw nation to sustain it.

He also pleaded that maximum value should not be placed much on the token he donated, stressing it should rather be considered as the starting point and applauded Gov. Diri for making the dream of the book launch a reality.

President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, recalled when the rally cry of “Ahh Izon” represented steadfastness to the Izon cause, especially by the male folk.

He was also saddened by the increasing attitude of Izon parents unable to communicate with their children in the language, thereby failing to promote that aspect of the Ijaw culture.

The high point of the occasion was the launching of the book with the full participation by traditional rulers of Ijaw nation, technocrats, captains of industries among others, who donated millions for the project.

In his memo, the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs said, Tim Cook, is the guy that has gone through the organisation and is prepared for leadership.

When Steve Jobs presented Tim Cook at the board meeting, he was unanimously voted as the next man to lead apples after its founder.

Tim Cook had worked in several departments in Apples, preparing himself for leadership. In the corporate world, leadership goes through processes, and once the man in charge leaves, there’s always no succession battle, as the next man assumes the leadership position.

Even in Zenith Bank where the Governor came from, he was the fifth man according to ranking research on Zenith Bank, and others have their rankings too.

The over-reliance on God giving us a successor will do us no good, as God will not come down to anoint the next Governor in 2023.

God cannot be ambushed, as everyone keeps professing on waiting for God in matters where knowledge could come to play.

What I think the Governor should do, is to look within his Executive Members, and ask them to suggest someone and a voting process should take place within them.

The Governor should take a step further to meet with Elders of different senatorial districts in the State separately according to their district, and ask them to make a suggestion and there should be a voting process for the suggested persons.

The youth and women should also be consulted by the Governor, to also make suggestions and vote.

With this, Governor Udom Emmanuel will understand where the people want the pendulum to swing.

No King has ever named a successor alone. The King has his trusted allies, let him also ask them to make suggestions and vote. Governor Udom Emmanuel should correct whatever mistakes former Governor Akpabio did in any way, during his eight-year term.

The succession legacy will be applauded and sustained based on how the Governor goes about it.

Akwa Ibom State needs someone who will leverage on the legacies of Governor Udom Emmanuel while consolidating on the gains of this administration.

We do not need a Governor who will learn on the job because every minute spent to learn on the job, it is a lost productivity time for the state.

Let Governor Udom Emmanuel sustain his legacies and name a Tim Cook for Akwa Ibom State.

A reputation founded on integrity must be nurtured by truth.

.Eneh John is a journalist and communication scholar, who writes from Uyo.