Author: Emmanuel Obe

The organisers of Bayelsa Spelling Bee say their core mission is to create a platform for young people to excel, educationally and otherwise. The organisers said this as winners emerged from the 12th edition of the competition on Thursday. The competition which was held at Davem Mini Hub and Children Music School in Yenagoa had winners going home with cash prizes of N300,000, 100,000, and 50,000 for first, second and third positions, respectively. The competitors who missed the top prizes got other consolation prizes. The event had Superior Ufoma of Jade British International School securing the first position, while Elora…

Communities in Okwale, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to oppose the proposed resumption of the Bori Highland Palm Plantation Project by Siat Nigeria Limited. Residents of Buagon, Bekpaa, Buale and Koro trooped out with placards, insisting they would not concede any additional land until all outstanding issues of ownership, compensation, and proper documentation are resolved. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Nwinee Gbenenee said the communities had already released more than 200 hectares out of the 315 hectares formerly occupied by the defunct Risonpalm, leaving them with no further land to…

Community Environment and Development Network (CEDEN) and Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) have joined forces to combat adverse effects of oil exploration and climate change in Oloibiri communities of Bayelsa State. The two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) collaborated on a capacity building workshop on Effective Eco-Management Enhancement and Biodiversity Promotion Communication. The workshop which was held on Friday dwelt on restoring lost species and promoting sustainable ecological livelihoods in the Niger Delta. The workshop featured a technical session by Menidin Egbo, emphasizing the restoration of the raffia forest ecology in Ekpadio swamp forest, Otuabagi community, in Ogbia Local Government…

The people of Die-Ama Community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have given a one-month ultimatum to Federal and Bayelsa State governments to include them in the Memorandum of Understanding for the ongoing Nembe/Brass road project. According to the community, they are the most impacted community in the course of the project. The Amanyanabo of Die-Ama, HRH Baratuaipre Eketei Amaene Ikaba XI, said from Western side of Saint Nicholas Rivers to the other side of the bush, “We are the most impacted, the whole mangrove areas fall within our side. “Now a road construction is being undertaken by…

The police in Rivers State are investigating a case in which a woman allegedly killed the seven-year old daughter of her friend and later died herself. The girl, Alicia Olajumoke, was allegedly killed in the Agip Estate area of Rumueme, Port Harcourt. Police said the incident occurred on 25 November at the child’s residence at 21 Okabia Street, where she lived with her mother, Glory Joseph. Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Grace Iringe-Koko, said the child’s mother reported that a woman known as Success, who was familiar to the family, went to Alicia’s school, took her home, and fatally attacked…

The Ogale Graduates Association (OGA) and other stakeholders have called for an urgent investigation into the status of water projects funded by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), following claims that the Ogale Water Scheme is functional. In a statement signed by its Executive President, Engr. Aleyla-Obari Sam Nwanje, OGA dismissed a recent report by a Port Harcourt radio station alleging that the facility had been commissioned and was supplying water to residents. According to the group, the project “remains inactive, abandoned and not functional,” despite the severe hydrocarbon pollution affecting Ogale and surrounding communities. “It is gazzetted in the…

A fresh rift has emerged in the ongoing national debate over the creation of Anioma State, as the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), and legislators from Delta North Senatorial Zone have firmly opposed suggestions to relocate the proposed state capital away from Asaba or align the new state with the South-East geopolitical zone. The opposition comes amid mounting concerns that political manoeuvres could undermine decades of development and the historical identity of the Anioma people. Speaking against what he described as “poorly considered proposals,” the Asagba warned that removing Asaba as the capital would threaten…

Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered an investigation into the allegations that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has failed to clean up the oil spills that devastated B-Dere community in Gokana Local Government Area of the state. The House gave the order based on a petition from the community against the company. The petition, which was signed by the community’s surveyor, Mr. Hamilton Odom, was presented on the floor of the House by the Deputy Speaker. The Speaker, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, subsequently referred the petition to the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions, chaired by Dr. Enemi Alabo…

The Managing Director of Foreword Communications Limited and publisher of National Point newspaper, Ms. Ibiba Don Pedro, has been conferred with the Defender of the Environment Award by Environment Outreach Magazine. The Award was presented at a special ceremony held at the Lekki Conservation Centre of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation in Lagos. With the award, Don Pedro has now been inducted into the First Nigerian Environmental Hall of Fame, a platform that celebrates individuals and institutions making outstanding contributions to environmental protection and sustainability in Nigeria and beyond. Publisher of Environment Outreach Magazine, Mr. Noble Akenge, said Don Pedro was…

…Fubara promises sustained funding, security at satellite campuses A total of 157 students of Rivers State University (RSU) graduated with First Class honours out of 13,242 degrees conferred during the institution’s 37th and 38th combined convocation ceremony held on Friday and Saturday in Port Harcourt. The graduating class comprised 10,648 first-degree recipients and 2,594 postgraduate awardees. The event drew thousands of families, friends, and well-wishers celebrating the academic accomplishments of the new graduates. Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who attended the ceremony, congratulated the students and praised their resilience, discipline, and hard work. He also commended parents, guardians, and…