Renowned activist and elder statesman, Comrade Che Ibegwura, has charged stakeholders to entrench a culture of peacebuilding and intensify collective action to address the negative impacts of oil and gas operations, while strengthening the capacity of local communities to withstand climate-related challenges in Nigeria.
Speaking at his Forest Garden residence in Abururu Etiti Community, Erema Town, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, Ibegwura called for unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic origin.
The nonagenarian, who recently marked his 93rd birthday, made the call while receiving leaders of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who paid him a courtesy visit in Erema. The delegation included Dr. Francis Segun Ikuponisi of the Ecology and Sustainable Development Centre (Eco-Outreach), Mr. Collins Lebeteh of the Habitat Protection and Sustainable Development Initiative (HAPSDI), and Mr. Menidin Egbo of the Community Environment and Development Network (CEDEN). They commended Ibegwura for his decades-long commitment to justice and human rights advocacy.
Reflecting on his lifelong activism, Ibegwura said his work has consistently focused on promoting justice, peace and security for society at large.
“The focus of my life has been to promote justice, peace and security for the entire society,” he said. “Those involved in peace promotion must be properly focused and prepared to holistically address the needs of vulnerable people, who suffer the most from injustice, insecurity and the absence of peace.”
The visitors were in Erema to participate in the Environmental Justice Assemblies organised by the Che Ibegwura Foundation (CIF). The assemblies form part of a project titled “Building Peace in the Fire,” designed to empower local communities to leverage rights-based approaches in addressing conflicts arising from hydrocarbon mining in Nigeria.
Established on August 16, 2021, CIF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting the wellbeing and rights of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, and promoting peace and development in local communities. Ibegwura stressed that the foundation’s work should extend beyond Erema.
“I want to see the Foundation grow to the point where it becomes useful to the nation and beneficial to the entire society,” he said.
“I am happy, as a nonagenarian, to see you all contributing to advancing the mission for which the Foundation was established—building a better society.”
Speaking on behalf of over 65 indigenous men, women and youths of the Egi clan in Ogbaland who participated in the Environmental Justice Assembly held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Dr. Kelechi Mgbonu welcomed the CIF initiative to Erema.
He said community members were ready to collaborate with the foundation to mobilise grassroots participation in addressing the hardships caused by decades of irresponsible oil and gas extraction.
According to him, the CIF project—being implemented in Egiland to tackle extractive industry impacts and climate challenges—is supported through a fiscal sponsorship partnership with Kebetkache Women Development and Resources Centre and funded by the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF).
Dr. Mgbonu emphasised the need to properly enlighten local people on peaceful approaches to resolving human-environment conflicts linked to hydrocarbon mining, noting that such efforts would also contribute to global climate change mitigation through innovation and adaptation.
He expressed optimism that the “Building Peace in the Fire” project would encourage communities to adopt holistic, collaborative approaches in addressing longstanding environmental and social challenges in the area.
