March 8, every year is International Women’s Day. Recall that in 1922, Wedmir Lenin declared March 8 as International Women’s Day to honour women’s roles in the 1917 Russian Revolution. Subsequently, it was celebrated on that date by the Socialist Movement and Communist countries.However, the United Nations officially endorsed that date in 1977, establishing it as a global observance for women’s rights and gender equality. The 2025’s theme is “Accelerating Action” to advance gender equality by highlighting strategies, resources and initiatives that drive progress. Unfortunately, while many countries in the world accelerate action to foster inclusivity of women in mainstream policymaking and decision taking; recognise and celebrate the meritorious and creditable roles of women as primary agents of socialisation, sustainable growth and influencers, in other countries, in the Sub-Saharan Africa some women are being victimised, intimidated, and repressed for not giving in to pernicious sexual advances of some men in power.
Some women are being ridiculed and lampooned for cultivating the effeontery to resist the inordinate sexual harassment of base men. However I  do not lose sight of the obvious reality that some women have played the porn as a result of lacking the strong will to say “no” to men who see women as opportunity to express their inordinate sexual urge even outside the bond of matrimony. Yes, the likes of Joi Nunieh and Senator Natasha who can cry out or call the shots and “slap” men who harass women are few among women. This makes women the architect of their reproach and disdain. When women go for the carrot, pottage, flashy cars, at the expense of morality, they lose their maiden dignity in civilised climes where moral values are savoured. Nothing in the world or comprehensively put, the whole world put together is not worth a woman’s worth, so no reason can best lend support to the situation where a woman offers her body as an opportunity to access pecuniary  mundane, temporary benefits that have no eternal value and translates to a reproach.
Most societies have intentionally created a poverty-ridden situation where women are worst hit so the base fellows can use women weakness and lack as a smokescreen to get more than a pound of flesh for their paltry gifts. This is why in my considered view, the agitation for the acceleration of action to foster gender equality is imperative. Enough to women exploitation in political institutions, offices, religious organisations, families and educational institutions. Women’s fundamental rights should be recognised and accelerated to achieve the more than 35 percent affirmative action of the Geneva Convention. However, freedom is not without a price. Women must prove to men that the female gender does not suggest inferiority and cannot be exploited, or used as sex machine by men who lacked  or have regard for moral values.
The White House sex scandal should inspire the Nigerian women to resist being abused and exchanged for worthless gifts. Women should rather choose to suffer marginalisation, and victimisation or possibly die for what they conscientiously believe is right than living in shadow of real life. Methinks men who have mother and realise that they are the gateway to physical should not fail to treat women with dignity. Paul said, “…. Treat the old women as your mother and the young women as your sisters with all purity and respect”. (1 Timothy 5: I). The time for women movements to rise to defend their fellow women from sexual harassment is now. It is only in a morally-decadent society that a man who has  subsisting cases of sexual accusations, is treated as lord, instead of making him step aside for proper investigations. However, my heart goes out for men, organizations and institutions who in recognition of the critical and invaluable roles of women in Nigeria, rolled out drums to give them a pat at the back.
Consequently, I celebrate the Managing Director of the Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency (RISAA), Aye Pepple, who according to reports has urged individuals, organisations, and the government to celebrate women and actively encourage their growth in all spheres of life. Speaking in commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD), Pepple emphasised the importance of recognising women’s contributions and ensuring they are empowered to achieve their full potential. According to him, “Women play an essential role in shaping our society, and their efforts must never go unnoticed. “This year’s International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that we must do more than just celebrate them”. He highlighted the significance of gender inclusion in leadership, entrepreneurship, and governance, stressing that societies that empower women tend to experience sustainable growth, adding that “at RISAA, we believe in amplifying women’s voices, whether in the workplace, in business, or in the creative industry. “We must all do our part to provide opportunities, mentorship, and support that help women succeed.” Kudos to institutions and organisations who understand the roles of women as agents of shaping society.

Igbiki Benibo

The Niger Delta Development Commission was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to mitigate the effects of oil exploration and exploitation activities on the oil bearing communities or States. It is worthy to clarify that some of the  NDDC states are not from South-South geographical zone. NDDC is about oil producing States, irrespective of the geographical location. South – South geographical zone is made up of six states namely; Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers State. As it is today, there is no regional commission called South-South Commission. Rather, what is well-known, is Niger Delta Development Commission to aid development in the oil-bearing States. NDDC is a distinct interventionist agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria to douse down tension or agitation of the people of Niger Delta region.
Agitation by the bearing community led to the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, despite being scrapped by the present administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. For instance, Abia State is in South-East region and it is part of NDDC, and it will benefit from South-East Commission established by the present Federal Government of Nigeria, to fast track development of South-East Zone. So, Abia State would benefit from NDDC and South-East Commission. Abia is an oil producing state in Nigeria. In the same position, Imo State is a South-East State and also an oil producing state; which automatically makes it a member of NDDC State.  And would benefit from both commissions; and no doubt, because of being an oil producing State and by location, South-East State. Automatically, by virtue of oil activities going on in the two Eastern States, they are members of Niger Delta Development Commission.
In the line of operation, Ondo State is in South-West region and by virtue of being an oil producing State, is a member of NDDC. This no doubt, makes Ondo State a beneficiary of NDDC creation. There is no question to ask why Ondo should be member of NDDC? And Ondo State is a member of South-West Development Commission, because of its geographical location as a State in that region. So, the argument that NDDC is a regional commission is out of place. Thus, NDDC is not only for States in the Niger Delta. Another question is: is there an established commission known as South-South Development Commission, that Rivers State, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Cross River should benefit from? The answer is capital No! So NDDC is not a regional commission because it is not only for the six states that make up the South- South. Hence, there is need for the present Federal Government of Nigeria, to urgently address the inequality and disparity created already.
This is because the six geographical zones have zonal commissions. The Federal Government should correct the equation. The misconception that NDDC is regional is not in order and is not correct. As it is today, there is no South-South Commission to help fast track development in the region. The political representatives from the South-South zone, should unite themselves and demand for South-South Development Commission as other zones have theirs. The Federal Government should put modalities in place to establish South-South Development Commission. The status quo should not be allowed to remain as it is now. Thank God, the daily quota of oil production has increased to about 2.5m barrel per day. And that is the reason why South-South should also benefit from the increase of oil activities in Nigeria.
Observationally, every region is bracing up to gain from the oil revenue of the country. And South South Zone which seems to be the hub of oil and gas is lagging behind in terms of purposeful development. NDDC should embark on an aggressive development of the member states. The Federal Government of Nigeria, should correct the negative believe that NDDC is a regional commission. Politicians of the zone should sheathe their swords of discrepancies and work together for the development of the zone. There should be a united front to convince the Federal Government to create or establish South-South Development Commission. Therefore State of the South-South zone in the Niger Delta Development Commission should be made to benefit like their counter parts from South- East and South- West in the NDDC. Thus, NDDC goes beyond regional vision. And that is why the Federal Government should establish South- South Development Commission to balance the equation of regional commission springing up in the country.

Frank Ogwuonuonu
Ogwuonuonu  is a free lancer in PortHarcourt.

Last week, precisely Thursday, February 20, 2025,  students in Nigeria and the diaspora, under the umbrella of  the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) inducted the former Chairman of Tai Local Government Council, Chief Matthew NenuBari Dike into its Hall of Fame and gave him a certificate of recognition for what they described as his  “outstanding contributions to the development of education and students in Nigeria”. Presenting the award at Saakpenwan, headquarters of Tai Local Government Area, the National Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Mohammed Sabo,  said unequivocally that the induction into the Hall of Fame and conferment of the award on Chief Dike was essentially  by merit; a product of his endeavor in building the education sector and human capital in Nigeria.
According to the National Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Nigeria and the Diaspora, the students body does not have a history of conferring frivolous and financially induced awards on people. Chief Matthew NenuBari Dike is one of fewest local government area chairmen  of Nigeria that have been so recognised and honoured by students in Nigeria and the diaspora. This is a welcome development given the fact that Tai Local Government Area has not been one of the local government areas in Nigeria that has attained the social,  economic and infrastructural sophistication to come to national limelight because of its rural and seeming obscure nature. However , good works and success like light cannot be suppressed, not even by enemies. Success is contagious, a force and voice that speak louder than arm-chair and callous criticism.
Looking at the antecedents of the awardee and recipient of the Nigerian students goodwill, Chief Matthew NenuBari Dike, it is not saying a new thing that he deserves the honour. Within 100 days in the saddle as chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Chief Dike  had made significant achievements in  driving the development of the education sector and students in Tai Local Government Area, and of course, Nigeria, a feat that marked him out for honour by the National Association of Nigerian Students. Aside recruiting 250 adhoc teachers to improve teaching and learning in Basic and Senior Secondary Schools in the Local Government Area, the former chairman has also established a Special Science School to develop manpower overtime in critical areas in the Local Government Area having noticed that in the last ten years no student of Tai Local Government Area had gained admission to read, Medicine, Engineering, Medical/Health Sciences and many other science based courses.
Chief Dike’s initiative is therefore to address a felt  and critical need of the people. Through a rigorous screening process, 104 students emerged as the first set of students to begin the Special Science School at its take-off facility, Model Primary School 2, Uedume, under Mr. Tete Baridamue Osih as the Director. Speaking during the Inauguration of the School, two weeks ago, the former Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Chief Dike affirmed his administration’s commitment to deliver a new building for the Special Science School . No doubt, the Chief Dike’s adventures in the Education sector is a novel, and capital intensive project. It is a road less taken; only Local Government Area chairmen who are selfless, sacrificial and committed to human capital development of their people can take up such gigantic project, considering the cost-implications. Establishing a fully-furnished Science School for the Local Government Area requires a modern laboratory, provision of science books, a state-of-art science library and adequate funding.
Recurrent expenditures such as payment of salaries of staff, political appointees, councillors, overhead, and other entitlements of workers combined with ongoing capital projects and empowerment programmes that the chairman of the Local Government Area is embarking on, amidst limited income source, make Chief Dike a celebrity in governance, after the like of his principal, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the “Rivers First” Governor. Students in Nigeria and the diaspora therefore, were objective, sound in judgement and devoid of primordial sentiment when they adjuged the former chairman of Tai Local Government Area worthy to be inducted into their Hall of Fame and honoured for his contributions. The adage that the “aroma of the Fart determines the substance of the poo” finds expression in the person of Chief Dike whose exploits in the education sector aimed at developing the capacity of students to meet critical needs of the Local Government Area, is a testament that  Chief Matthew Dike will do more when given higher responsibility or another term.
John C. Mason, in one of his best sellers, “Leadership Gold”, said every human organisation rises and falls on leadership. A good leader will inevitably midwife development in his sphere of influence. This corresponds with the wise saying of the Biblican King Solomon that ‘when the righteous rules, the people rejoice but when the wicked rules, the people groan”. The socio-economic situation of a people to a great extent shows who a leader really is. The works or activities of a leader in relation to the people speak volumes of leadership stuff. Chief Matthew NenuBari Dike  made significant impacts in the education sector and human capital development for a greater development in Tai Local Government Area. He is determined to leave a legacy in the sands of time of that Local Government Areas by raising millionaires through his economic empowerment programme to drive self reliance and reduce the level of abject poverty the people wallow in.
If Chief Dike had to achieve such commendable feat within only 100days  of 1,095 days term of office, with availability of funds or sustained financial resources, a stable economy and peace, he had the capacity to achieve ten times what he had done for the people of Tai Local Government Area. While this is the beginning of a long and tortuous journey in governance, it is necessary to join students in Nigeria and the diaspora to commend Chief Dike for his impacts in the critical areas of education, human capital development, economic development, etc. To act contrary is to live out the saying of Decimus Magnus Ausonius that “The earth produces nothing worse than an ungrateful man”.

Igbiki Benibo