Talking about young people, the human development experts have described the stage as a moment of the storm, a stage in the developmental growth where young adults would want to explore and express themselves, as well as want to know more about the world. This uncensored urge naturally comes with an inherent challenge which adversely affects the youth’s education and promotes social vices such as; premarital sexual escapades, instant gratification, the proliferation of fake news and erosion of societal values. But looking at recent commentaries, it is no more an overstatement that our effort to create a more humane nation has recently…
Author: JEROME-MARIO UTOMI
Each passing day brings to mind evidence that Niger Delta region is on the march to becoming a zone of peace and sustainable development as promised some months ago by Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, Governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Through their actions and inactions so far, the board/management have demonstrated to be the true response to the social and economic challenges in the Niger Delta region. Reports and organized commentaries from critical stakeholders also indicate that both the governing board and management are laced with capacity to articulate the developmental needs of the people of the…
For many years, there exist a veiled agreement that one of the perverse and unintended consequences of the discovery of oil in Nigeria are that governments have almost completely abandoned agriculture in the mad quest for petrol dollars. The nation is a mono-economy, depending on the volatile fortunes of oil. Added to this governance failure is the further deterioration in agricultural fortunes caused by oil pollution. Thereby, oil pollution becomes an indirect violation of the right to life, even as it is a violation of the right to a safe and habitable environment. In view of the above ecological challenge,…
For the nine (9) mandate states under Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the past four months have refreshing transformational leadership experience, particularly the provision of solar lamps to various communities, among other ongoing infrastructures provisions such as roads and health facilities, by Mr. Chiedu Ebie led governing board and management, has further confirmed the inherent wisdom behind the bible injunction in Proverbs 29; 2, which says that ‘when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, But when the wicked rules, the people mourn’. Essentially, being a federal government agency established by Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000…
It is no longer news that Grand Knight Emeritus, Sir Tonna Okei (Ikuku Oma), an Ekuku-Agbor, Agbor, Ika South Local government area of Delta state- born, but South Carolina, United State of America-based Nigerian, recently launched a book on the 16th of March, 2023, in the United States of America, titled ‘I Am Still Standing” where he gave a detailed account from 2021 till date of his hydra-headed health and socioeconomic challenges and how he emerged victorious. What is, however, newsy and uniquely interesting is that the 100 paged book which was the first from Knight Sir Tonna’s stable amply…
This piece was inspired by a recent statement credited to Barr Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), made to a delegation of Concerned Agbor Citizens (CAC), who were in his Agbor residence to congratulate him on his appointment as well as thank him for the thousands of streetlights that he influenced which currently dots urban and rural communities in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta state. In the referenced declaration, Ebie said in parts; my first task is to ensure that I work harmoniously with the managing director of the commission. We will not be…
Grand Knight Emeritus, Sir Tonna Okei (Ikuku Oma)an Ekuku-agbor, Agbor, Ika South Local government area of Delta state born, but South Carolina, United State of America based Nigerian, is globally recognized as President of South Carolina Organization of African Unity(OAU), a Honourable member of the board of trustees of knight of Columbus and a man that exudes torrents of energy when it comes to promoting Ika and Anioma cultures and tradition. What many of his admirers and cultural enthusiasts did not, however, know is that from 2021 till date, Knight Sir Tonna has, in the mixed of his social, religious,…
Similar to the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) , an international human rights treaty, adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and opened for signature on 30 March 2007, to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all disabled persons, the Delta State House of Assembly recently made ‘history’ with its passage of the disability protection bill, 2024. The bill which passed through the third reading at a plenary presided over by Emomotimi Guwor, the speaker…
When Mr Chiedu Ebie, the Chairman, Governing Board, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), during a send-forth held for retired staff of the Commission, in December, 2023, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, noted that the commission is poised to fast-track development of the Niger Delta region, only but few paid attention to that remark, but with the current accelerated and coordinated development ongoing in the region, it is obvious that Ebie’s remark has become a word made flesh. In the referenced statement, Ebie said; “The current governing board of NDDC is committed to quickening the…
Going by torrents of positive reactions and optimistic commentaries that trailed your recent appointment as the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), it is evident that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, spoke the minds of Niger Deltans by providing answer to protracted demand as head of PAP, a development-minded fellow who understands the yearnings of the people, respected by the people and lives around the creeks. Again, aside from the above defining requirements, if someone unfamiliar with the region and its dynamics is asked to evaluate these commentaries that flows from your appointment, such a fellow…
It is a pedestrian knowledge that Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, inaugurated the 188-megawatt geometric power plant in Aba, Abia state, to accelerate power supply to industrial clusters in the region. The power plant is a private sector driven initiative and described as the first and biggest integrated electricity facility in Nigeria, located in the Osisioma industrial area of the south-eastern state and it is understood that Aba Power Limited Electric, a new electricity distribution company (DisCo), will take electricity from the plant and supply it to nine local government areas — out of 17 —…
It is a common knowledge that in pursuit of meeting the targets of 20 per cent (unconditional) and 47 per cent (conditional) greenhouse gas emission reduction as contained in the Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Accord reportedly signed by the President Bola Tinubu administration, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited/TotalEnergies joint venture, recently achieved zero routine gas flare in all its assets. While it is obvious that “the significance of this achievement is that the last routine flare volume of about 12MMscf/d (12 million standard cubic feet per day) of gas has now been eliminated giving rise to a…
No man, according to Aristotle, chooses anything but what he can do himself. And thus, choice is limited to the realm of things humanly possible. Aristotle further stated that there is no choice among impossibilities. Choice, by its very nature, is free. A necessitated choice is not a choice at all but a great sacrifice. He concluded. The above lines from great Aristotle amply captures the ‘fate’ or better still the position of Asiayei Enaibo, Bobogbene community, a Warri, Delta state based journalist who made a necessitated choice/sacrifice by opting out of conventional journalism to explore formation that is supremely…
It is pedestrian information that pursuant to the provisions of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday March 29, 2023, issued Certificate of Return to Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta state Governor-Elect. The ‘ritual’ followed his electoral victory at the Saturday March 18 gubernatorial poll in the state as conducted by INEC. But, similar to every new invention which comes with opportunities and challenges, many of Oborevwori’s opponents particularly candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP), in pursuit of their constitutional rights proceeded to the Delta…
An African proverb states that ‘ from the way chimpanzee walks, seamlessly reveals that it is not a happy animal’. Likewise, if a visit is made to the crude oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, such a visitor will discover without labour that they are not happy people. This visible unhappiness is rooted in protracted underdevelopment, degradation and brazen neglect by state actors and private interests, which characterizes the environment. Essentially, this concern over the poor environment partially explains the repertoire of literature covering the various epochs of the Region. Part of the literature is written…
In recent weeks, the Executive of Delta state, His Excellemcy, RT Honourable (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori Delta, took some leadership decisions that amply qualify as people focused. Some of these actions by the state governor in no particular order include but not limited to; inspection of the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) at Mbiri Farm Settlement with 30 greenhouses for the cultivation of tomatoes and other vegetables, and the Agro-Industrial Park, Aboh-Ogwashi for rice milling and others, in Ika North-East and Aniocha South local government areas, respectively with a promise that his administration would continue to improve on the agricultural value…
As the global community knocks at the entrance doors of the year 2024, there is an urgent imperative for Nigerian leaders to commence consideration of development in its totality-going beyond cement and concrete (roads, buildings and other things). Those are important but in the year 2024, we should be talking as a nation about development in the context of encompassing improvement, a process that builds on itself and involves both individual and social changes, brings about growth and structural change, with some measures of distributive equity, modernization in social and cultural attitudes, a degree of political transformation and stability, an…
This piece primarily stemmed from a recent Nigeria-focused conversation with a Delta state born but Florida, United States of America (USA) based practicing Lawyer who studied in England, Finland, Sweden, and Norway among others. Aside from using the opportunity provided by the conversation to explain how today politics in Nigeria is not tailored to the development of the country, but to the individual players and their various interests, the Legal luminary highlighted the corruption challenge in the country with a sustainable strategy to arrest the monster. He deeply advanced approaches to sanitizing the nation’s political space in ways that will…
There are clear thinkers, muddled thinkers and people that fall in between. Clear thinkers -are the ones that can cull everything down into the right points-are very hard to find. But if you get yourself a team of clear thinkers, the possibilities are endless. These are men who see tomorrow, trailblazers and high level executives, but most often misunderstood by some fellow countrymen still stuck in the old normal of yesterday. Without any shadow of the doubt, Distinguished Senator, Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko, popularly known as Ned Nwoko, a Nigerian lawyer, philanthropist, politician and Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District…
It is no longer news that the debate on climate change is among the most presently discussed topics on the earth’s surface. Making this perceived climate change challenge look alluring was the recent news report that to tackle the problems, the World Bank Group has committed about $70 billion and urged governments of different nations to set up structures to engage and access the fund. Part of that discussion was this year’s UN climate change conference held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and focused on assessing progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. Nigeria and other African…
Each passing day brings to mind the fact that it is not politics, but politicians that ply the trade with neither ideologies nor people-interest reputation, are the real problem of Nigeria as a country. There are equally reasons to believe that despite its inability to promote social justice, facilitate social mobility or engineer coordinated development in Nigeria, democracy remains one of the best globally recognized form of government. Supporting the above assertion on politics is a recent news report that the Catholic Church in Tanzania is seeking information that could advance the cause of sainthood of the founding father and…
On Sunday December 10, 2023, Nigeria joined other countries across the globe to celebrate Human Rights Day (HRD), a ritual of the sort celebrated annually around the world on 10 December every year. Historically, the date was chosen to honor the United Nation General Assembly’s adoption and proclamation, on 10th December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Right (UDHR), the first global enunciation of human rights and one of the first major achievements of the new United Nation. The formal establishment of Human Rights Day occurred at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on 4 December 1950,…
Rev. Fr. Victor Ibude, from Agbor, Delta state, Nigeria, is a catholic Priest ordained about 30years ago, precisely in the year 1993, who in the first instance went to the seminary with no ambition of becoming a priest but only went in thanksgiving to God for aiding him score distinction in his examination as conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC). He was, however, through divine arrangement and natural order of things, ordained a Priest of the Catholic Church on the aforementioned date. Essentially, by virtue of his ordination which was administered by His Lordship, Most Rev. (Dr.) Anthony…
…..We made rule that no staff should intervene in our relationship and we kept to it rigidly …….The secret is understanding. Never carry the things of the world on your head. …….We have never had any form of face off working together. We have always maintained brotherly love and affection. The ancient city of Agbor, Delta state, Nigeria, houses so many hospitals. While some are government owned such as the General Hospital and Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC), others were established and operated by faith based organizations like churches. The rest, which of course are higher in number, were midwifed by…
It is a common knowledge that Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, recently, presented a N714.4 billion Appropriation Bill tagged ‘Budget of Hope and Optimism,’ for the 2024 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly. What is however, uncertain to deltans and the watching world is whose interest the bill, if passed, is meant to serve or protect? There is also the concern as to whether it will herald into the political geography called Delta state, a just or an unjust law? As we are now, a just law is ‘a man-made code that squares with moral laws or the…
There exists a time-honored notion among management experts that for every given task, there is always a strategy to achieve the desired results. In planning, you may have more than one strategy which could be labeled as ‘Plan-A’ and ‘Plan-B’ or even more. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the newly constituted Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, recently demonstrated the understanding that NDDC as an interventionist agency is not left out in clarion formulation of strategies needed for getting hold of stakeholders and converting their support to a springboard for right vision that will set the tone for sustainable…
Recently, precisely on Tuesday November 21, 2023, I participated as a panelist at the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands, panel discussion on “The role of multi-stakeholder engagement in achieving environmental justice.” The gathering which held in Victoria Island, Lagos, formed part of training on Environmental Justice: Reducing Ecological and Social Inequalities through Effective and Participatory Land Governance. Essentially, in my private study/preparation for the programme, the need to domesticate the subject became paramount to me. To achieve this objective; the following questions came flooding; what is Environmental Justice? Are there traces or evidence…
Dear Mr President, I trust this letter meets you well It remains a familiar narrative that the Saturday, February 25, presidential election organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) affirmed you as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Further eliciting congratulations on your success is the awareness that all the litigations/and related concerns arising from electoral exercise have been resolved in your favour. In line with this victory, you are presently faced with the task of delivering Nigeria and Nigerians from the snare of dangerous political and socio-economic challenges. As part of that effort, Nigerians have in…
The latest media report that lawmakers in the Green Chamber have started taking delivery of their Sports Utility Vehicles, has again confirmed as true the argument that history cannot ordinarily repeat itself; rather, it is the people that are in the habit of repeating history. According to reports, the Prado SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), worth ₦130 million per unit and given to lawmakers, Rotimi Akin, the spokesperson of the House of Reps, n a statement noted that for the duration of the 10th assembly, spanning 2023 to 2027, the cars remain the property of the National Assembly and tied to…
I still recall with vividness how participants at a symposium held on February 2018, in Lagos, unanimously agreed that common sense has a limit in public leadership and should not be the sole requisite for public leadership consideration; a position that supports sound education as an indispensable ingredient for achieving a people-purposed leadership. The symposium, which had as its theme: ‘Leadership and Performance in Africa; the challenges of the continent’s economic competitiveness,’ was organized by the Centre for Leadership and Value,(CVL). The event had in attendance, namely; Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Nigerian president, as the special guest of honour, Kandeh…
