Niger Delta
Group Canvasses Support For Orphans, Others
Teens and Youth Educational and Capacity Enhancement (TYECE) has called on the federal and state governments to provide structures to support orphans, vulnerable children and commercial sex workers.
The Executive Director of TYECE, Mrs Benny Aipoh, said that improving the situation of the underprivileged demanded more responsibility from the government and other stake holders.
Aipoh told newsmen in Auchi, Edo, that Nigeria had more than eight million less privileged children, and that the affluent were not doing anything to change their situation.
She said that with donations from USAID Nigeria and USAID Washington, her NGO had sent more than 2, 000 children to school, empowered 420 commercial sex workers and some 700 widows.
The TYECE executive director said that the projects, which were executed within the last three years, covered few communities in Etsako West and Etsako East local government areas of Edo .
She noted that with more effort from other NGOs, government and other stakeholders, more could be achieved.
Aipoh said, “Government has been helpful, but there is need for government to do more.
“Government should come up with the idea of private public partnership. This will go a long way in removing these people from the streets.
“We do not have much money in doing what we are doing. What we do is to leverage resources.
“We will certainly do more if we get more resources from our donors that have been very helpful all these years.”
Shading more light on the training of orphans and vulnerable children, Aipoh said what her NGO provided educational support in schools where the children were enrolled.
“So far, we have trained more than 2, 000 of them at the community level. What we do is to identify the children, and we engage teachers from the community to teach them privately.
“We then assist the children to be integrated into normal school. In these schools, we enter into what we called block agreement scheme.
“What this means is that the children do not pay school fees or any other fee for that matter. We pay these schools indirectly by assisting them in their areas of need.
“We build of classrooms for them, library, provide chairs and desks and lots more.
“We are happy with what we are doing, changing their situation and with more collaboration from stakeholders, a better deal would be provided for this people.’’
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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