Niger Delta
S’South Govs Wives Review Women Dev Plans
The Forum of South-South Governors’ Wives met in Yenagoa to review their action plan for improved economic development and social health status for women and children in the region.
The forum, which met on Wednesday, was hosted by the Bayelsa Governor’s wife, Mrs Alayingi Sylva in conjunction with UNICEF, NDDC, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Sylva appealed to donor agencies to assist in financing the various projects of the governors’ wives to improve the welfare and socio-economic wellbeing of Niger Delta women and children.
She said that the creation of the Ministry of Gender and Social Development in the state had effected a significant change in the status and level of matters relating to the welfare of women and children.
She specifically appealed to UNICEF to support the initiatives of the forum in their various projects “to bring succour to the living conditions of women, children and the physically challenged persons.
“The UN made a declaration to make the world a better place in 2015, with its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), yet with just five years left to 2015, our women are still battling to achieve these goals.
“Governor’s wives have therefore, resolved to support their husbands to ensure that the MDGs are met,” Sylva said.
In her presentation, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Nigeria, Mrs Pelucy Ntambirweki, enumerated the various positive inputs that the forum could make in addressing the development challenges facing women and children in the region.
In her presentation entitled “Achieving Strategic Results for Children: The Role of Governors’ wives,” she expressed regret over the incidence of malnutrition among many children in rural communities.
Ntambirweki said that diseases posed great challenge to the government and the development agencies.
She said: “We can mobilise the governors’ wives to redouble their efforts in their respective states in tackling the challenges facing women and children, especially those from poor backgrounds.”
The UNICEF chief stressed the need to intensify efforts toward raising the issues of the vulnerability of children and women to the highest point and make them the priority of government.
While assuring them of UNICEF support, Ntambirweki called on the first ladies to evolve more result-oriented measures that would help them to actualise the objectives of their development projects.
In their contributions, the wife of the Cross River Governor, Mrs Obioma Imoke and her Rivers counterpart, Mrs Judith Amaechi, highlighted the “impressive submissions on our pet projects, the Mothers against Child Abandonment (MACA) and the Empowerment Support Initiatives (ESI) respectively’’.
Imoke pointed out that the governor’s wives had been restricted by lack of funds and solicited for renewed partnership between donor agencies and their offices in the region.
In her solidarity speech, the Community Relations Officer of Brass LNG, Mrs Ruth Benamaisia-Opia, reiterated the company’s readiness to partner with the governor’s wives.
She said the company was ready to assist them in their pet projects and the provision of welfare packages to children and women.
The meeting ended with a nine-point communiqué, urging the forum to develop an economic empowerment strategy for women with the introduction of micro-credit and conditional cash schemes.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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