Author: Emmanuel Obe

The world literally converged on the quiet town of Isiokpo, headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday to join family members to pay their last respects to Dr. Hebert Wigwe, former Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank PLC, his wife Chizoba and son, Chizi, who were killed in a helicopter crash in California, USA on February 9. The list of eminent guests was endless as they filled the RCCG Lion of Judah auditorium venue of the funeral service and the premises. At the head of the Nigerian government delegation was the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio,…

An American-based Nigerian investor in renewable energy, Mr. Joshua Okorie, has said that renewable energy derivable from solar, wind and nuclear power is what Nigeria needs to get out of the conundrum of public power supply. Mr. Okorie, who is the chief executive officer of Kodion Energy (Kodion Consulting) with bases in Kansas City, Missouri, Nigeria, and China, said the current dependence on fossil fuel and thermal stations to generate electricity is dirty and not sustainable. Okorie, who spoke during an online interaction with energy editors on Friday, said wind, solar and nuclear energy is not only renewable and cost…

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has said that the Ijaw Nation has been watching with dismay the confrontation between the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara and is warning the it would not accept the impeachment of the governor in whatever guise. The President of INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, gave the warning on Wednesday in Port Harcourt while addressing a press conference on the political crisis in Rivers State. The INC president said the House of Assembly was overstepping its constitutional boundaries by querying appointments allowed the governor by the constitution thereby…

Mba Okase Eleme Initiative, Eleme, a women-focused civil society organization in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State has decried the disturbing level of the pollution of sources of domestic water in the area. At a convergence meeting in December at Alode, Eleme, members of the organization said that both surface and underground waters, which the people depended on for domestic use have been polluted by major industries operating in the area. The women decried indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste, open defecation and gas flaring in the area. The convener of the meeting and Coordinator of Mba Okase Initiative, Eleme.…

As Nigerians groan under the yoke of economic hardship and poor governance, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Amaopusenibo Bobo Brown, has said the media had a duty now more than ever before to better the society in which it operates. Brown spoke last Saturday at the first reunion of former directors, management and staff of Sunray Publications Limited in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Sunray Publications Limited, which published the first full colour newspapers in Nigeria, also and ran a high quality graphics and printing company in Port Harcourt between 1992 and 1998.…

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has promised to revive its 180 tonnes per day Rice Mill at Elele Alimini in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, as part of its efforts to ensure food security in the region. The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, who stated this during an inspection visit to the rice mill, described the suspension of production at the factory as disheartening. A press release by NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Pius Ughakpoteni, said the rice mill was established as part of NDDC’s industrialisation strategies and expressed optimism that when it returns to…

As the global community commemorates the International Day of Education, a university don, Prof. Isaac Ogundu of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, has called on Nigerians and the people of the Niger Delta in particular to invest in vocational and technical education. Ogundu, who is also the dean of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education of the university at Ndele Campus, told National Point that society ought to invest in the type of education that would best serve the interest of its citizens and society. The International Day of Education is marked annually on January 24. The…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commenced distribution of palliatives to flood victims in eight local government areas of Rivers State about five months after the floods subsided. The relief materials were packed in 24 trucks made up of 47 items, according to the Rivers State representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Tony Okocha, who presented the materials to representatives of the communities in Port Harcourt last weekend. Okocha, who said the items would help the victims to recover from their losses, pledged on behalf of the Chairman of the board of the NDDC the resolve of the commission…

Peter Jaja: Who later became known as Peter Rufai, was once a Goalkeeper of The Nigerian Tide Newspaper Football Club. The open field of GVTC, in D-Line, Aba Rd, was their training ground. David Ngodigha: Was Goalkeeper for the famous St. Pius College, (SPC) Bodo, in Ogoni, Rivers State, before playing for Sharks F. C. of Port-Harcourt. Pastor Idah Peterside: Was Goalkeeper for Sharks F. C. before been called to the National Team, from where he sojourned to South Africa, and later became a famous TV Sports Commentator, before being called to the Lord’s Pulpit. Imama Kwaku Amapakabo: Was also…

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo and South Africa slug it out on Wednesday in the semi-final ties to determine which two countries will play in the final in the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) taking place in Cote d’Ivoire. While Nigeria takes on South Africa, hosts Cote d’Ivoire will play DR Congo in the tournament that has turned out to be the most exciting and unpredictable in the history of the Cup of Nations. To qualify for the semi-final, Nigeria beat Cameroon 1-0 in what many Nigerians celebrated as fitting revenge against a country that had twice denied…