The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • How twin brothers touched lives in Rivers community

    No fewer than 200 people who are indigenous to Wakrike Kingdom of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State have benefited from skill acquisition programme organised by Mike and George Etomi for the people of the community.

    The twin brothers, who are natives of Edo State, however, share relationship with the people of Okrika, their late mother being a member of the community.

    Although they are Edo State-born, they were raised in Wakrike community, where they grew up and attended both primary and secondary school before they left for the overseas for further studies.

    The duo pride themselves as Okrikans, “We are from there, we speak their language, know and enjoy all their food, even participate in their cultural dances.” George said.

    Mike, a Medical Doctor and George a Lawyer, jointly set up M & G Etomi Foundation, basically to respond to devastations of oil explorations in the land and the consequent agitation.

    At the 10th graduation, starter packs/certification presentation ceremony held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital recently, George, who represented his brother at the event revealed that no fewer than 200 people of Okrika have been empowered by the Foundation.

    “We grew up and went to school in Okrika before we left for further studies abroad.

    “Then Okrika was a nice place to live; it was friendly and a place of delight because of the natural endowments, the flora and fauna, the mangroves, the fine rivers and their fishes that were the source of income and livelihood for the people, the natural beauty of the land among others.

    “However, when we came back to Okrika in early 2000, we met a completely different Okrika, we saw despair, we saw hopelessness and hardship. Okrika was practically lifeless.

    “When we inquired of what wreaked our Okrika to such point, we discovered that, in-between the years, oil was discovered, exploration began and everything that was dear to us was destroyed.

    “That was the sorry state and story of Okrika we met,” he said.

    He noted that the skill acquisition programme was the way they responded to ameliorate their difficulties.

    “Our response is that we must give back to the place of our birth. So, we set up the foundation to assist people come out of the woods.”

    “Through the Foundation, we’ve been able to identify those who have been to school. Even  those who did not complete school can benefit from the skill acquisition scheme.

    “The stories we have been receiving in the last 10 years we have been giving starter packs have been phenomenal. Many of those who had no hope are now master bakers, some have established fashion making shops and are now employers of labour, while others have picked up jobs based on their trainings.

    “This gives us personal satisfaction, whenever we come down here to assess what they are doing. We are monitoring what they are doing and it gives us relief and satisfaction,” he said.

    He urged the beneficiaries to give their best to whatever skill they have received, develop and grow it to enviable height where they will, in turn, touch other lives in the future.

    “If one person assists somebody and the other person helps the other, before you know it everybody will be meaningfully engaged. In a short time unity and love is restored. There will be growth soon and gradually we will regain our glory,” he said.

    George revealed the plan to expand the scheme to incorporate other parts of the Niger Delta region, beginning from the next batch.

    Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Niger Delta Report at the event thanked their benefactors, even as they promised to make the best use of the opportunities provided for them.

    Mr. Abiye Dick Abroka, who holds a Diploma certificate in Mechanical Engineering was trained in Health, Safety and Environment, (HSE 1, 2, and 3), said lack of knowledge, training in this area has been the reason he has no job but expressed the hope for a change in the positive direction, giving his new certificate.

    “I have the National Diploma Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, but I have not been able to get a job because most of the companies that indicated interest to hire are looking for HSE personnel which I did not have. ,” he said.

    In the same manner, George Damiebi Frank, a graduate of Petroleum Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), who studied catering and hotel management in the training, described the decision to delve into cooking profession instead HSE as the best step he has taken in all his life.

    “There is no doubt that women are always regarded as those who are supposed to cook in the kitchen; but I dared to join the number of male folks that have joined in the kitchen business.

    “And today, I make bold to say I am satisfied. I do not need any other job, not even a job at the biggest oil industry can satisfy me now. I may not start big now, but will certainly grow very big and become an entrepreneur in catering and hotel business. I am so excited and proud to say I will soon become a popular chef in town,” he said.

    The beneficiaries, who were trained in catering, were provided with standing gas/electric cooker, and some baking equipment an well as certificate to show they are certified professional chefs, while the HSE graduates were given certificates to confirm they are qualified HSE personnel.

  • Shell donates health care project to Oloibiri community

    Oloibiri community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was shot into limelight in 1958 when the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) when crude oil was discovered in commercial quantity in the community.

    The first oil wells in the country were drilled within the community by Shell.

    About 63 years later, Shell remembered the community. Recently, the oil giant had a thought for the community as it completed and handed over the first phase of multiple health care facilities and programmes to Oloibiri and and its environs. The project was inaugurated by Governor Seriake Dickson in a ceremony attended by stakeholders.

    The integrated project is called the Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP).

    Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company  (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, explained the objectives of the project.

    He said: “OHP aims at achieving three broad objectives of promoting universal health coverage and strengthening health systems within local government area; enhancing social determinant of health which should result in improved health indicators of communities within Ogbia LGA to meet Sustainable Development Goals standards (SDGs) and institutionalising and sharing lessons learnt for replication and county wide scale up through the establishment of a knowledge management centre.”

    Okunbor said the intervention was designed to change the narrative that most of the primary health care facilities in Nigeria lacked the capacity to provide essential service.

    In the first phase, Shell remodeled and equipped the  General Hospital, Kolo; provided a water treatment plant; sent medical laboratory equipment to the College of Health Technology in Otuogidi and the Dental Chair at the Demonstration Clinic Otuogidi.

    Okunbor said the execution of the second phase was ongoing, adding that it would include the Oloibiri Health Campus at Oloibiri town comprising health-for-life Centre and a Knowledge Management and Research centre. He also revealed that there are other components of the second phase.

    The Shell MD said in the third phase, the Ogbia Health Insurance Scheme would be established. “This will be modeled after the very successful pilot insurance scheme catalysed by Cottage Hospital in Port Harcourt” he said.

    He said for the success of the OHP, Shell ,between 2016 and 2018, delivered household health services to nearly 13,000 people in over 3,100 homes across 16 communities in Ogbia.

    “In addition, we have remodelled and equipped the only general hospital in Ogbia LGA, the General Hospital Kolo. It will serve as a referral hub providing 24-hour service with linkages to five health-for-life centers and 13 world health centres.

    “We constructed a 10, 000-liter capacity water treatment plant with water purification system using aeration and filtration and in compliance with World Health Organisation’s recommended threshold for potable water.

    “We have provided a hybrid solar- powered system producing 96 kilowatts per hour (kWh) of electricity daily with an installed battery capacity of 176kWh for power supply. This is in addition to a standby 33KVA power generating set, among others.”

    On why the special health care package was designed for the community and Ogbia, he said: “Oloibiri has a pride of place in the story and history of Nigeria’s oil and gas journey. It was in Oloibiri that Shell made the country’s first commercial quantity discovery of crude oil in 1958.

    “Olobiri remains the reference point for Nigeria’s oil and gas journey.”

    In his remarks, Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), described Shell’s intervention as timely and complementary to the government’s policy on the health of citizens of the state.

    He said:  ”Let me appreciate SPDC and its partners for prioritising health care in the state by initiating the Oloibiri Health Programme. This is a laudable development as it will go a long way in complementing the various steps and policies we have already introduced in order to meet the health care demands of our citizens in Ogbia Local Government Area.

    “Sustainability is key and we hope that the OHP having kick-started today shall not only meet its desired purpose but also be sustained over the years in order to continually meet the health challenges of our people.”

  • Ten-year-old invents coding game that solves complex problems

    Arguably, Nigeria is a country of more than 190 million people. It is not strange that Nigeria occupies a  pride of place when countries with people who created or discovered cutting edge technologies or inventions are mentioned.

    More striking about Nigerians’ ability to invent or discover cutting-edge technologies is the fact that the ability to invent is not preserved for the adults. Nigerian teenagers have been making waves as a result of some of the seemingly outlandish feats they have  achieved in the area of inventions.

    In the circumstances, therefore, the feat of a 10-year-old graduating primary school student David Ngeregbara of Vine International School at Tombia Extension, Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State was not surprising to many.

    At the school’s graduation ceremony, the 10-year-old Ngeregbara displayed the coding game that he invented to help the society to trace and solve life’s complex problems.

    The inventor, an indigene of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, is the son of Justus Ngeregbara, an engineer.

    David revealed that he was inspired to invent the new technology on coding games, which would not only help to solve societal problems, but would help to create job opportunities for young people, and according to him, in his determination to meaningfully contribute to societal development, not minding his young age.

    The inventor, who spoke after a presentation of the computer game coding, described the game as an adventure, which he said would help to detect challenges of life and possible ways of solving them for a better society.

    David also implored other students not to be discouraged by the challenges of life, but to be determined to contribute to the development of the society.

    He said: “The game is like an adventure game. What made me to invent the game was to face life’s complex problems. The adventure game is like problems that you need to trace, face and see how you can solve them by killing them, the same way you punch at some of the characters and they die, for you to succeed in the moving object.

    “The coding game can develop the society. When there is massive production of the game, people can pay for them. I wish to encourage other students to try as much as they can to make their parents proud by introducing new positive things in the society.”

    The Director of Vine International School, Mrs. Mina Jegede, urged governments at all levels to go beyond the traditional subjects, but to enhance technology in the schools for the development of humankind and the society.

    Jegede noted that government got it wrong for depending on traditional subjects, stressing that English language and Mathematics were good, but to key into the new technology, schools must be ready to introduce platforms for the children to advance technologically.

    The director advised parents and guardians not to interfere in the career choice of their children and wards, but to support them in their endeavours.

    In his remarks, David’s father, Mr. Ngeregbara described his son as motivator to younger generation and the world.

    He said: “I am glad that my son of 10 years is already inventing a technology that can save the world.

    “In my time, we were not exposed to this kind of technology, but today, the story has changed. I am so happy.”

    The senior Ngeregbara also stated that the private schools were becoming more proactive than public schools, which he attributed to the equipment being made available in the private schools.

    It is essential to always encourage the talented students to continue to be innovative and creative in order to support societal development.

  • Widow Nwankwo: Beneficiary of philanthropist’s large heart

    He takes delight in making others happy. He also enjoys solving people’s problems. Right from when he was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Charles Okechukwu Anyanwu has made reaching out to people across generations one of his cardinal points. Southsouth Bureau Chief BISI OLANIYI reports that for many years, he has empowered the youth so that they could become self-reliant and that the NDDC chief’s aide most striking gestures were scholarships to some youths and a house he built for a blind widow in Etche.

    The great German Kent once said: “If you are in a position where you can reach people, then use your platform to stand up for a cause.”

    This is a true reflection of Hon. Charles Okechukwu Anyanwu who has been positively touching lives of many people in more ways than one. He is a man who has a sense of compassion, empathy, a sense of responsibility and keen in advancement of humanity.

    All his life, the Etche-born lawmaker, administrator, politician, businessman, leader, mentor and organiser has made reaching out to people across generations one of his cardinal points.

    For emphasis, Charlie, as he is popularly known among his friends and family members, is not the richest, neither is he the best, but he has been able to make sacrifices from the little he has, to make life better for other people.

    Recently, he gave cars, houses, financial grants and scholarships to youths across the nine states of the Niger Delta region, a gesture which was aimed at making life better for the beneficiaries.

    It is on record that long before holding any public office, he had sunk boreholes in various communities in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State to mitigate the problem of water scarcity at the grassroots. This singular effort endeared him to the people, who commended him for his philanthropy.

    The Banking and Finance graduate of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (now Rivers State University), Port Harcourt, is seen as one of the shining lights of his generation, particularly in the way and manner he has used all the offices he has held to impact on lives.

    Anyanwu began his political career when he was elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly to represent Etche Constituency 2. While in the House of Assembly, he remained one of the progressive members, giving insights and contributions to various bills, motions and debates on the floor of the House.

    Despite being a first-time member of the House of Assembly, he was quite influential and earned the respect of his colleagues, who saw him as a bridge builder and hardworking lawmaker in the House, then led by Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, who later became Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transportation.

    Besides being an active member of the House of Assembly, Anyanwu also made contributions to the educational development of his constituents, through constituency projects.

    Nelson Mandela had noted that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

    Anyanwu influenced the construction of six-classroom blocks each for primary and secondary schools at Ulakwo, in addition to two town halls in the same community. It was the first time a member of the Assembly was doing that in the area.

    Not done with that, he also influenced the building of another six-classroom block in a primary school at Odufor, just as it was done at a secondary school in Egwi.

    The former member of the House of Assembly did not stop at that, he embarked on numerous empowerment programmes, including scholarships, financial grants, donation of cars and motorcycles.

    Till date, no other member of the House of Assembly from Etche has been able to match his record of achievements and direct impact on the people, 12 years after leaving office as a legislator.

    In view of his commitment to the administration of the then Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Hon. Anyanwu was twice appointed as the Caretaker Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, first from June to September, 2014 and later between February and May, 2015.

    One of the immediate challenges he experienced while in office was the deplorable state of Chokocho Road.

    Worried about the discomforting state of the road and the sufferings of the people, he hit the ground running. He was able to ensure smooth passage of people and farm products from the rural areas by reconstructing Chokocho Road.

    On the insecurity that he met on the ground, it is to his credit that he tackled it head on. He was able to get all the people involved to a roundtable and they accepted the amnesty offer. This singular effort brought about peace in Etche, which is still being enjoyed till today.

    Anyanwu also continued with his human capital development through scholarships, financial grants and donation of vehicles to some of those who are indigenous to the local government.

    In the light of this, Jillian Lauren said: “I know something about performing. I know that when it seems like the avalanche is about to roll over you, you face into it and keep both arms swimming as hard as you can. You smile and you sell it.”

    This perfectly fits Charlie, as the reward for good performance is more work to be done. In November 2016, he was appointed as the Special Adviser on Youth and Sports to the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He was reappointed in January this year, under the Prof. Nelson Brambaifa-led NDDC’s management.

    This latest portfolio provided another platform for Anyanwu to touch even more lives, as he has always loved to give opportunities to the youth to excel in all spheres of life as leaders of tomorrow.

    Since his appointment, the former legislator has taken compassion, empowerment and philanthropy to a new level, thus earning the sobriquet: “Mr. Touch Life.” His efforts have not only been touching lives, they have influenced generations.

    Touched by the plight of a blind wdow, Mrs. Regina Nwankwo of Etche, Mr. “Touch Life” built a house for her, just as he has done for other less-privileged people in the society. He has not stopped at that, he has also embarked on sustainable means of livelihood for many youths through the donation of over 20 cars to be used for earning income through hire services.

    To prove that his actions are not cosmetic, Mr. Anyanwu has set up Hon. Charles Anyanwu Foundation, which has already begun work.

    At present, two students from each of the wards in Rivers State, beginning from Etche and Omuma local government areas benefit from his scholarships.

    This is in addition to the empowerment of three widows per local government area in Rivers State, while the management of the Foundation is still working out other schemes.

    Not done with his reach out and touching of lives, Anyanwu has graciously assisted no fewer than 50 lawyers to attend the forthcoming National Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

    To ensure that youths in the Niger Delta find meaning, purpose and pursuit of their God-given talents in sports, his office, last year, organised the “Catch Them Young Football Competition” among the nine states that make up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), namely: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers, where each of the state winners travelled abroad for exposure and competition. Season two is in the pipeline and it promises to be illuminating.

    Fredrick Lenz had noted that “selfless giving does not imply superiority. Selfless giving is about love.” Nothing can be farther from the truth, regarding Hon. Anyanwu, who, out of the little God has given him, is reaching out to people.

    His good deeds have not gone without history keeping records. He is a recipient of many honours, including Certificate of Credence by Progressive Fellowship of Nigeria, Pre-Eminence and Excellence Award by the National Union of Etche Students (NUES), Merit Award by Rivers APC Students’ League, Most-Friendly Public Officer by Port Harcourt Comedy Club and Special Son of Honour Award on 2019 Mothering Sunday Thanksgiving by Mothers, among others.

    Many people have stated that if all office holders (either elected or appointed) can emulate Anyanwu, there will be less worries in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta and indeed, across the federation.

    In the words of Debi Mazar: “A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit. Who just tries to give back as much as possible and helps people. A hero, to me, is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares.”

  • Maritime Academy: Promoting girl child education

    The consistency of focus and genuine heartiness with which the present management of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), under the leadership of the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua keeps fulfilling its promises across statutory and ancillary obligations of the Academy is commendable. This has attracted corresponding commentaries and eclectic appreciations from stakeholders and maritime observers.

    Monday, July 22, provided yet another opportunity for show of gratitude from beneficiaries of such pragmatic strides when the premier maritime institution organised a seminar for teenage girls in secondary schools within the host communities of the Academy and beyond, as part of its commitments to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    The one-day seminar, which was largely interactive, with about 500 students and teachers from seven private and government secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State had a timely and exciting theme which was “Empowering the Girl Child for the 21st Century Nigeria”.

    Expectedly, this leitmotif was harnessed by renowned women who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields of endeavours and are noticeably passionate about the plight of the girl child.

    Commodore Duja Effedua was present at the seminar. He was accompanied by members of his management staff.

    Delivering a welcome address at the event, he said the exercise became necessary in order to expose the girl child to certain contemporary and prevalent issues that have adversely affected the personality, dreams, growth and development of young women in our society.

    The Rector condemned the retrogressive traditions and tendencies among parents and those who were supposed to be role models who have willingly or unwillingly neglected, marginalised and segregated against the girl child in preference for male children, just to gratify some societal customs. One of such customs was the belief that the life of the girl child should end in the kitchen and other menial preoccupations.

    Describing such attitude as illogical, unforgivable, chauvinistic and barbaric in modern society, Commodore Effedua emphasised that the seminar was also aimed at protecting young girls from falling victims to the dangers associated with certain customs, bad decision-making, bad association and other untoward attitudes that can eclipse their dreams and future.

    “That was why the Academy decided to engage experts to talk about the girl child. In view of what has been observed to be the case previously, even within the Academy communities, we do not want any irresponsible person to hijack or mortgage the future of these young minds.

    “They are our children and the future of this country and the onus is on us to create environment conducive and opportunities for them to realise their peculiar dreams without the slightest biases. The girl child must never be seen as inferior,” he said.

    He, therefore, implored the students to pay keen attention to the lectures that were prepared to help them excel in life.

    Indeed, there was no question that the scope and content of the seminar was discreetly designed to meet the purpose.

    Delivering a paper on “Taking Charge of Your Life: How to Make Decisions in Your Own Best Interest”, a respected journalist, maritime commentator and Editor of The Nigerian Maritime News, Mrs. Ezinne  Chinwe Azunna, commended the Academy for investing hugely on what she described as “girl child community service initiative’.

    Her paper challenged the girls to know that irrespective of where they were born or the circumstances they currently may find themselves, they had no excuses not to become somebody in life.

    She stressed that excellence was no exclusive blessing for any gender, but a common gift imbued in everyone by nature. Reference was made to Goal Number Five of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), which, in part, is “to foster gender equality and women empowerment-to know their rights and have confidence to claim them”.

    Mrs. Azunna stressed that the paper was specifically developed to help the girl child understand life as a progressive concept; determine their life goals; know how decisions and choices affect the future of the girl child; why the teen girl needs focus and concentration; examples of those who, against all odds, excelled in life; and to have the students have extra-confidence to dare to dream above their limitations.

    The high point of her presentation was a short film on how Sharon of Makoko, a young 17-year-old Nigerian female, who was born into a poor home in a slum in Lagos State, became one of the 2018 CNN’s Heroes by her ability to develop software for fish selling.

    The second and last paper of the day with the title: “Self-Discovery for Increased Productivity” was presented by a two-time Commissioner for Education and Women Affairs in Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Eunice Thomas.

    The paper focused on what goals are and how to achieve them. It exposed members of the audience to reasons some people succeed and while others fail in life as well as offering tips on how the best results could be derived from vision, dreams and action.

    She defined a dream as a mere wish, whereas “a goal is a dream with a timeline”. She, however, argued that realising one’s goals in life can never be automatic, but flexibility, persistency or not losing focus no matter the distractions along the way ultimately will bring desired results.

    Her paper introduced acronyms such as S-T-AR (Skills-talents-Assets-Resources); SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats); S-M-A-R-T, which implies setting specific, measurable, achievable and realistic goals.

    There was the concept of MAGIC (Major, activities, gain, influence and connection). Using the examples of Orlando Serrell and Wright Brothers, the paper concluded that the girl child may never be able to realise her dreams if no effort was made in achieving it.

    The outpouring of gratitude by students and teachers of the benefiting schools was further testimonies to the beginning of a new dawn at the Academy.

    The Vice-Principal of Royal Comprehensive College Oron said: “It was amazing to see that such a thing could happen in the Academy. The seminar was quite thoughtful. We feel quite important. We lack words to convey all our feelings”.

    Helen Bassey, a teacher from Royal Comprehensive College said with exposure that came with the seminar, no girl child in the communities will have any excuse not to hit the sky. “This is the first time we have seen and experienced something like this”.

    The teenage students, who are the primary beneficiaries of the seminar, also said they appreciated the gesture.

    Esther Williamson and Queeneth of Golden International Schools, Oron, observed that they have been exposed to many things which they never knew. To Esther Iyanam Bassey of Community Secondary School, Eyo-Abasi, Oron and Evelyn Effiong Matthew of Royal Comprehensive College, the seminar has changed their lives and they will live to prove it.

    A student of Etiedu International Schools, Felicia Etim Adua and her friend, Joy Okon from National Community Secondary School said they now know what it means to have and set goals in life.

    Seven schools participated in the seminar. They were Royal Comprehensive College; Golden International Schools, National Community Secondary School and Etiedu International Schools. Others were Methodist Science College, Community Secondary Schools, Eyo-Abasi and Mary- Hanney Girls’ Schools.

    Apart from the rapid infrastructural renaissance witnessed in the Academy in the past one-and-half years, the seminar was one of the proofs that the Commodore Duja Effedua-led administration has also made practicable the culture of corporate citizenship for host communities.

    Earlier in March this year, the Academy donated hundreds of seats and desks to the Methodist Boys’ High School Oron and Mary Hanney Girls’ Secondary School in Oron respectively, two of the pioneer and oldest secondary schools in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom State.

    Again, the Academy has donated set of modern computers to two schools to enhance computer knowledge among students, built and furnished two ICT blocks to house the state-of-the-art equipment; besides having undertaken grading of roads in the communities, provision of more than 600,000 litres of diesel to the General Hospital Iquita Oron as well as sponsorship of sports and cultural events.

    • Edet Okpo, a Journalist, Public Affairs Analyst and Maritime Commentator, writes from Uyo.

  • Empowerment scheme excites youths in Delta community

    No fewer than 100 unemployed youths from Ndokwa West Local Government Area have benefited from a one-week training and empowerment programme on mushroom and ginger value chain.

    The programme, which was organised by member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, is in collaboration with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT).

    The programme, according to its organisers, is in its third cycle for the 2019 session, has trained and empowered about 2,000 unemployed youths.

    During the training, the participants were taken through practical step-by-step procedures in production techniques, value addition, record keeping and economics of production and marketing.

    In an address at the occassion, Executive Director/CEO National Horticultural Research Institute, Dr. Abayomi Olaniyan said the institute has the mandate to research into genetic improvement, production, processing, utilisation and marketing of fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants and spices.

    Dr Olaniyan represented by Dr. Stephen.O. Afolayan said mushroom and ginger are mandate crops of the institute, stressing that the crops have immense potential for sustainable livelihoods and national economic development.

    Olaniyan assured the participants of the readiness of the institute to make available its expertise and liaising with relevant stakeholders to promote their businesses.

    According to him, mushroom is an important food item that plays significant role in human health, nutrition and diseases control, adding that it is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals.

    He said mushroom cultivation can help reduce vulnerability to poverty and strengthens livelihoods through the generation of fast-yielding and nutritious source of food.

    Read Also: Police nab kidnapper of Delta students in Edo

    Olaniyan maintained that mushroom cultivation provides opportunities for improving the sustainability of small farming systems through the recycling of organic matter.

    He said Nigerian ginger varieties are acclaimed to be of superior quality and outstanding flavour preferred in the international market.

    He noted that ginger-based products have a wide range of applications in many industries such as food processing, pharmaceutical, soft drinks, meat canning and confectionery and so on.

    A media aide to the lawmaker, Chibuzor Okereke praised the vision of Ossai for his investments in human capital development.

    His words: “The visionary leadership of Hon. Nicholas Ossai, who believes that the sum total of his political involvement is bringing representation home to the people. He believes in human capital development. He believes that if you are involved in government, you must bring happiness to the people.”

    Okereke further said the emphasis on agriculture was informed by the need to diversify the economy.

    According to him, the training programme targets30 per cent success rate, adding that a technical team has been set up to monitor activities of beneficiaries.

    He said: “Most of the trainees have formed co-operatives and have returned the seed capital they received. From our records, many trainees have become employers of labour. We have constituted a technical team at the constituency office to monitor activities of beneficiaries. We are projecting about 30 per cent success rate in terms of those who, after participating, started up in business.”

    A participant, Miss Busat Ayuba, 23, said the programme will help to empower the youth, stressing that farming is no longer for peasant farmers due to modern farming techniques.

    She said: “I hope to set up a business in mushroom and ginger production to enhance my income as a student and hopefully start a business in a few years’ time”.

  • 500 Cross River youths trained in skills

    In its bid to assist in addressing the challenge of unemployment, the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited has trained over 500 Cross River State youths  in life, business and networking skills as part of its Social Corporate Responsibilities (CSR).

    Speaking at a programme for participants in Calabar, the Director, Public Affairs and Communication of the company, Mr. Ekuma Eze said it was designed to support young unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 30 to build life skills and business skills as well as long-lasting networks to transition to meaningful employment by 2020.

    “Nigeria, being a key market in the Hellenic Group, is expected to reach the greatest number of youths by 2020. The programme is expected to run through two different but complementary channels which are life training workshops and e-learning modules on the platform of the Digital Hub. The life training workshop comprises a one-day life workshop and three-day business skills workshop, all running at a stretch,” he said.

    Eze said a key component of the project is mentoring where system associates as well as external resource people who possess the knowledge, experience and passion for imparting young people will be engaged as mentors.

    Read Also: Cross River warring communities agree on peace

    He said it was a purely a voluntary exercise and mentors would be physically present at life workshops as well as maintain contacts with the participants.

    According to him, the life skills training workshop is designed to enable participants to understand who they are, their strengths  and  developmental opportunities  as well as  provide  them with the platform for  interacting with others.

    He said: “The business skills workshop is designed to prepare participants with essential skills for the business environment. Here, participants are expected to acquire skills to approach a business context, acquire basic language and essential knowledge to run own businesses, while the Digital Hub provides opportunities for participants that are unable to attend the life workshops to go through the same experience and training online. This innovative offering provides the training curriculum through e-learning and networking opportunities.”

    Mr. Eze noted that NBC has mainstreamed community trust into its corporate strategy which drives the business to invest time, expertise and resources in locally relevant initiatives to facilitate socio-economic development of communities.

    The Obong of Calabar, His Eminence, Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu, represented by Etubom Edem-Ita Essien urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity offered to  them.

    The monarch commended NBC for its support and partnership in tackling unemployment menace ravaging the country.

  • Hard times await roadside traders in Bayelsa

    Roadside traders in Bayelsa State, especially in Yenagoa, the state capital, are having tough times with the state’s sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    Despite several risks associated with roadside trading, the practice has continued for a long time. Apart from obstruction of traffic in areas where markets are located, accidents had occurred in such areas claiming lives and causing injuries.

    But the Sector Commander, FRSC, Ikechukwu Igwe, said the practice would no longer be tolerated. He said time to restore sanity had come and insisted that traders must confine themselves with the marked squarmeters.

    Igwe told the traders to leave the roads, especially the highways. He first led sensitisation tours to the market places that expose the traders to the dangers of roadside trading.

    He said the exercise was aimed at educating the traders on all the risk factors, even as he warned them against disobedience to the directives of the corps. He said after the sensitisation, the penalties would follow immediately.

    Igwe said: “There is a penalty for those traders who encroach on the road with their wares. Henceforth, anyone found guilty of roadside trading will be charged for road obstruction.

    Read Also: Bayelsa poll: Dickson not against Alaibe’s ambition

    “Street trading involves perpetual movement that may occur within established market places or around road intersections. It results in several negative impacts on physical environment, especially as traffic congestion.

    “It is a challenge in the state considering the fact that every market day there is always obstructions on the road, especially in one of the communities and one along the East-West Road.

    “We sent our team to restrict the traders from encroaching on the roads. Even though most of our duties are on the highway, we adequately get involved in the cities.

    “Our effort has reduced a lot of crashes on the roads around market places, especially the Zarama Market on the East-West Road.”

    Igwe warned the traders that trading on the road remained an offence despite their claims that they were given a permit by some people.

  • OML-25… Communities’ tales of woe

    For close to 40 years, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has been operating in the sleepy oil-bearing communities of Offoin-Ama, Belema and Ngeje in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. The communities complain about alleged gross neglect, marginalisation, impoverishment, enslavement, maltreatment and environmental devastation. Irked by the unsavoury situation, the host communities staged protest which caused the closure of the flow station in the area. ROSEMARY NWISI reports.

    The sleepy oil-bearing communities of Offoin-Ama, Belema and Ngeje in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have been in the news of late. This was as a result of the controversy surrounding the continuous shut down of Oil Mining Lease (OML)-25 flow-stations, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), is generating.

    The three Kula communities, Offion-Ama, Belema and Ngeje share hosting rights to the flow station located in a part of the island Kingdom of Rivers State.

    The multinational oil giant has allegedly operated in the environment for almost 40 years. Despite these long years of operation, the communities have become poorer while the oil operators get richer. The communities have made every effort to make the oil company to consider the welfare of members of the host communities without success.

    Members of the communities decried alleged gross neglect, marginalisation, impoverishment, enslavement, maltreatment, environmental devastation; failure to comply with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the host communities, among others necessitated the shutdown of the facility by women and children of the communities since the past two years.

    But the company denied the alleged neglect, insisting that the welfare of their host communities remains paramount to it.

    The SPDC is operating the flow station as a consortium with 32.3 per cent stake on behalf of SPDC, Total E&P and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), in Joint Venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which controls 60 per cent stake while an indigenous oil company known as Belema Oil Producing Limited has 7.7 per cent participating interest in the facility which it inherited from Chevron Nigeria Limited.

    The people declared Shell persona non grata, insisting that it is no longer wanted in the environment and should leave their land.

    A chief of the community called for the withdrawal of the firm’s operational license and for the facility to be divested to another indigenous oil producing company.

    He said SPDC has failed in carrying out its corporate social responsibility in the kingdom after it has degraded the communities and left them in a worse state than it met them.

    They insisted that it (Shell) divests the oil facility to an indigenous oil company that has a stake in the facility, and that the host communities be given  the-right-of-first-refusal in the divestment of the facility.

    The protesters took over the flow station on August 11, 2017 to demonstrate their dissatisfaction against Shell’s activities in their communities.

    The women, who live, cook and engage in petty trading at the oil and gas platform vowed not to vacate the place for SPDC to come back.

    However, SPDC claimed that it has spent over 300 million dollars in the development of the Kula Communities.

    But the people denied the claim, describing it as false, unfounded and provocative.

    To attract the attention of wider society to the deplorable state of the oil-rich communities, their chiefs and leaders held a world press conference at Offoin-Ama and the flow station respectively. They also conducted reporters drawn from local and international media round the communities for on-the-spot assessment of the areas and to verify the claims by the oil firm on the developmental state of the communities.

    However, from Offoin-Ama to Belema down to Ngeje communities, the sights and sounds are the same-tales of woe, lamentation, impoverishment and high level of poverty among the people. The sights evoke some complete state of pity and despondency.

    There are no signs of social amenities in the communities visited. There are no hospitals, good schools, no habitable houses and power supply. Houses in the areas are all shanties, made of polythene bags and trampoline. The rich among them built their houses with woods.

    Hunger, poverty, hardship and total and criminal neglect of the areas are prominent features of the areas and these are etched on the faces of the residents. There is complete lack of government’s presence whatsoever in the places visited despite their huge financial contributions to the state and federal government coffers.

    They also lamented lack of jobs, business and no artisan workshop anywhere in the area. Apart from a small patent medicine store at Offoin-Ama which apparently serves as health care facility to the people, the other shop in the communities is a bear parlour shop at Belema community.

    Youths of the communities are jobless but cannot obviously say they are idle. They were seen loitering and smoking their hearts out with weed whose pungent smell oozes out as they passed.

    The facility consists of a Gas Plant and an oil flow station which accounts for over 45,000 barrels of crude oil per day and over 135,000 metric tons of gas per day. This makes it a major source of revenue to the Federal and state governments.

    Analysts put the estimate of revenue so far lost by the governments in the two years the business has been shut down to over 2 billion dollars.

    Efforts by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) who regulates the country’s oil industry to resolve the protracted dispute among Shell and the host communities failed to produce any result.

    Penultimate week, Governor Nyesom Wike wanted to intervene in the protracted rancour with the view of resolving it so the facility could be re-opened for operation.

    The Governor was concerned about the huge sum of revenue the Federal and state governments have lost to the impasse in the past two years and the need for amicable resolution of the problems for operations at the facility to resume.

    He called for a meeting of all stakeholders, including SPDC and the host communities but the communities criticised the Governor’s moves and boycotted the meeting.

    They accused Wike of meddlesomeness, stressing that the Governor has no business interfering in matters of oil and gas, insisting that he lacks the statutory powers to preside over such meeting.

    They described Wike’s intervention as unconstitutional and unpopular, arguing that oil-related matters are on the Exclusive List and not on the Concurrent List of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Nonetheless, the Governor set up a committee led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr.  Tammy Danagogo, and gave him seven days to resolve all disputes, reunite parties and re-open the facility within one week.

    The host communities again boycotted the meetings convened by the government where a Memorandum of Understanding was purportedly signed to re-open the oil facility.

    But the Chairman of Kula Supreme Council of Chiefs and the Amanyanabo of Kula Kingdom, His Royal Highness (HRH) Kroma Eleki was in the meeting and signed the GMoU said to be signed in the gathering.

    But he, however, told the participants that the rightful stakeholders were absent and that his signing the agreement will not guarantee the vacation of the facility by the women.

    He said:  “I really did attend the meeting by the state government to broker peace between Shell and the host communities of OML25, flow station. As a government recognised monarch, I am supposed to attend such meetings and to advise the government on the way forward.

    “I did attend and there was settlement agreement to sign and I did sign, but before I signed, I told the government and the public that the signing of that agreement do not lead to the opening of the OML 25 flow station.

    “In any case, Shell has owed us for several years and we needed that money. So, signing the document was for us to access the money and, again, I also did tell them that the people with who they were negotiating at the meeting are not in the position to ensure the opening of OML25 and that the real stakeholders were not in the meeting.

    “I advised them to be patient until they meet with the main stakeholders and that there is need for them to pay a visit to Kula Kingdom and the host communities to see things for themselves before they will be able to broker peace.”

    Speaking on his position in OML- 25, he said: “Since Shell began operations in Kula, they have not done any significant thing for the communities. So, I stand with the people of Kula Kingdom, because of the suffering we are going through.

    “I will not like Shell to come back to operate OML 25, it should give the right to other operators, if possible, to Belema Oil. He is our son, if on the other hand Shell feels that it has gotten license, they want to operate, Belema Oil has a stake in that partnership he should be given the operatorship of that stake, so that whenever they want to sale, he should have the first-option- of -refusal before they can sale it.”

    The spokesperson of Belema Central Women Association occupying the OML 25 flow station, Mrs. Belinda Nokiman relived their ordeal to reporters.

    She decried the poor state of the communities, adding that they do not have good drinking water in the area.

    The woman, who spoke in Pidgin English lamented that they drink pond water that is infested with all manner of dangerous animals and unhealthy creatures such as snakes, fish and toads, among others.

    “Go and see for yourself the kind of water we drink. Here, we drink pond water whose colour is like that of Lipton tea. The pond harbours snakes, toad, frog as well as fish, yet we have oil in our soil. We are tired of all this. It is time up for Shell in Kula Kingdom,” she said.

    At Offoin-Ama, Chief Ibiosiya Nath-Sukubo revealed that the community plays host to several oil wells and oil delivery pipelines of the flow station, among others, expressing worry about possible outbreak of terminal diseases in the community as a result of oil and gas pollution.

    “Offoin-Ama is a co-host to OML-25 and  bellies the six and eight inches delivery lines, myriad of oil wells, the Sego Creek manifold, riser, Eastern Gas Gathering Lines (EGGS I) and NCTL among others. It is a principal oil-producing and pipeline community and a contributor to over 200,000 barrels of oil and over 1.5 million standard cubic feet of gas (mmscf).

    “We are prone to serious ecological hazards such as earthquake and Tsunami, among others. The people’s natural source of income which is fishing has continued to diminish,” he said.

    Continuing, Chief Nath-Sukubo reiterated the failure of SPDC to take seriously the welfare of its host communities in the area. He urged them to divest the flow-station to Belema Oil, maintaining that Shell will never be allowed back to the area.

    “SPDC has been at the centre stage; operating in the area for almost 40 years without providing basic amenities for the people to, at least, alleviate their suffering.

    “No potable water, good schools, electricity, roads and health facilities, among others. In fact, life expectancy is very low, hence in early August 2017; the community rose up in anger and shut down its operations in the OML 25, especially at the expiration of its lease.

    “The information was that SPDC is concluding plans to divest the said field to Crester Energy Resources, a non-indigenous company. Kula communities of Belema, Offoin-Ama and Ngeje resisted the move.

    Collaborating Sukubo’s views, the Paramount Ruler of Oko Royal House/Belema community, HRH King Bourdillon Allen Ekine called on the Federal Government to revoke Shell’s operational license forthwith.

    He called on the Federal Government to send a fact-finding team to the communities to see the state of the communities to confirm their state.

    “Our demands are that Shell’s operatorship license of OML25 be revoked and handed over to an indigenous operator with proven capacity to develop its host communities and build national wealth.

    “That Nigeria Navy, the Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Rivers State Command, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and other security agencies should not be used by the Rivers State Government against our communities.

    “That His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) should set up a special fact-finding committee to visit the area to see the level of neglect, backwardness and suffering of a people that have hosted Shell for over 40 years, with a view to setting us free from the evil of SPDC.”

    He called on leaders of thought in the country to prevail on Governor Wike to allow the peaceful dialogue that has been orchestrated by NAPIMS and the office of the Vice-President to progress.

    In the same manner, those indigenous to Ngeje community also called on Shell to reach an agreement with Belema Oil-Producing Limited, and allow it to operate the OML25 flow station on behalf of the JV partners pending the divestment of the facility by SPDC.

    In a statement signed on behalf of the community by the Legal Adviser, the Secretary and  the Head of the community, Chief Egbelekuro Gaga Ekine Egebelekuro and Chief Ibinabo Kiliya respectively, noted that since Belema Oil has  7.7 per cent participating interest in the facility, he should be given the-right-of-first-refusal in the divestment of the oil field.

    “That the GMoU should be activated and all monies due to the entire Kula Kingdom be paid and a new GMoU negotiated and implemented,” it said.

    The people are also asking for employment opportunities for those indigenous to the host communities and Kula Kingdom and the other contracts for the natives.

    In a statement signed by the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Igo Weli, Shell has high regards for its host communities in the Niger Delta region as it has for communities in other places.

    Weli assured that the host communities in Kula have always benefited in the contract awards and unskilled jobs of the company, and pledged the commitment to continue  to carry them along.

    “Shell JV’s committed to the welfare of its host communities in the Niger Delta remains unshaken, even as we debunk every allegation that we neglected the development of communities in Kula Kingdom and Belema.

    “The host communities of OML 25, including Belema and Offoin-Ama have continued to benefit from contract awards, employment of unskilled labour and our social investment programmes, including yearly award of regular and special scholarships to eligible candidates from the area.

    “Notwithstanding that, SPDC has divested its equity in OML 24, which covers most of the communities in Kula and Belema. The SPDC JV has continued to implement agreed social investment programmes such as scholarships and entrepreneurship schemes for the communities. With the divestment of its interest in OML 24, SPDC relinquished operatorship of the facilities in that field,” he said.

  • Excitement as students begin internship programme at Shell

    There was jubilation among a set of students from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt recently. They are pioneer students of the Centre of Excellence in Marine Offshore Engineering sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and its Joint Ventures (SPDC-JV).

    They were excited because of the provisions Shell made for them. They will go through mandatory six months Research Internship with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) in Lagos. The internship is a key requirement for the award of the Masters of Science (MSc) degree after a year of academic work.

    Four of the students are working with SNEPCO, three others are with Total Exploration and Production Nigeria and the other three students are with BW Offshore in a successful collaboration between industry and academia.

    The General Manager External Relations of the SPDC, Igo Weli said the programme was instituted to enable the company to graduate people ready for the industry. He said the graduates would be equipped with skills and required knowledge to provide services hitherto performed by expatriates.

    He said: “The Research Internship enables the students to have critical industry experience, hands-on practical training and opportunity to undertake post-graduate research under competent industry supervisors and working with state-of-the-art facilities.

    “The programme enables us to graduate industry-ready young Nigerians and domicile in-country several services usually provided by expatriates”.

    Also speaking, the Director of the RSU CoE, Dr. Ibiba Douglas, said after the internship, the students would be expected to defend Master of Science thesis to enable them to graduate from the centre.

    “All 10 pioneer students of the centre have commenced internship in the respective companies to which they are engaged and after the internship phase in December, the students, on their return to school, will defend their M. Sc. thesis in order to graduate,” he said.

    While the 10 students began their internship, eight post graduate students of another SPDC-sponsored Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) recently concluded their programme.

    They described their experience as landmark in their careers.

    One of them, Orilade Success said: “The past six months have been a landmark experience in our careers. We have taken note of the learnings and feedback and, moving forward, we won’t let you down as ambassadors of this reputable organisation. This is certainly a step in the right direction for us all.”

    In 2013, SPDC collaborated with the University of Benin to begin academic work at the Centre of Excellence for post-graduate studies in Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering.

    The Director of the UNIBEN CoE, Prof. Joseph Ebeniro said: “SPDC JV investment in talented Nigerian youths, supported by other industry stakeholders, is providing special academic platform to produce industry-ready graduates for employment in the E&P industry, as well as undertake research to address industry challenges.”

    Speaking on the importance attached to the programme by SPDC, Weli said the company had a long history of supporting education in Nigeria. He said the company currently operates four categories of scholarship schemes.

    He said: “SPDC JV has a long history of support for education in Nigeria. As part of its commitment to the holistic education of Nigerians, especially young people from its areas of operations, SPDC JV currently runs four categories of scholarship schemes.

    “These are Regular Secondary School Scholarship Scheme (providing annual financial support to secondary school students. The second programme is Cradle-to-Career’ another Secondary School Scholarship Scheme focused on providing quality full-boarding secondary education in reputable private secondary schools to selected talented primary six pupils from public schools across Nigeria and developing the recipients into functional citizens that can confidently face life and compete favourably with their counterparts from anywhere in the world.

    “There is also the University Scholarship Scheme started in 1953 and is a flagship programme providing support to Nigerian students in all accredited universities across Nigeria.

    “The fourth category, the SPDC JV Post-Graduate Scholarships Scheme launched in 2009 and aimed at building a talent pipeline in our host communities is a one-year Master’s degree programme offering selected post-graduate scholarships for the training of graduates in the core competence areas of Petroleum Engineering, Subsurface Studies and Facilities Engineering in three of the topmost universities in these fields in the United Kingdom.”