Rivers

Stakeholders Seek RSG, OPS Synergy On Women Dev

Published

14 years ago

August 1, 2011

As the Rivers State Government intensifies efforts to improve the lots of women, some stakeholders have called for a joint collaboration between government and organised private sector in order to fast-track development of womenfolk.

Speaking at the Graduation Ceremony of the Young Women Economic Empowerment Programme organised by the State Ministry of Women Affairs, together with the Empowerment Support initiative (ESI), in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, the stakeholders tasked private bodies to support government initiative.

The wife of Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi, charged financial institutions and corporate bodies to provide soft loans for more than 2,000 Rivers women who graduated from the scheme.

She explained that soft loans would go a long way to assist trainees to establish small scale businesses in order to drive the economy.

Dame Amaechi was optimistic that skills acquired by the women would help diversify the economy and also create employment, instill division of labour saying, “what we need is to differentiate between artisan education and formal education”.

Dame Amaechi, who is the founder of the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) pledged the support of her NGO in engaging most of the trainees who learnt driving, as part of her “Lady Cabbies Scheme”.

Chairman of the occasion, who is also Chairman of the Social Rehabilitation Committee in the state, Chief Albert Horsfall, said that women empowerment schemes would reduce poverty in the country, since a lot of them support their family upkeep.

He lauded the state government for sowing the seed of development, since the scheme would assist the women in pursuing long term livelihood.

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, who was represented by the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Mrs Irene Inimgba, pledged the support of the House to improve the plight of women in the state.

Hon. Otelemaba promised that the state Assembly would ensure that more feminie friendly laws were promulgated to make sure women were given more chances in governance to contribute their quota.

Also speaking, Chairperson of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Council, Mrs Maureen Tamuno, said that the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) would partner with the ministry to empower women.

She hinted that her local government council would ensure that a similar training is replicated in the area so as to provide employment opportunities for grassroots women.

Earlier in her remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya said the scheme was aimed at improving the quality of lives of women and girls through productive ventures.

Niger Delta

Tai Agric Sector Gets Emergency Attention …As Chairman Distributes Farm Inputs, Inaugurates Technical Team

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

The Chairman of Tai Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon. Matthew Nenu Bari Dike has declared a state of emergency in the agriculture sector of Tai local government.
Speaking while distributing farm implements and other agricultural support packages to the farmers at the council’s headquarters in Saakpenwa, yesterday, Dike challenged farmers to show their farms before requesting for financial assistance.
The council boss stated that as a government, they were committed to putting smiles on the faces of the people and assured that his administration would ensure that every person in the local government is happy.
“As a government we want to assure you that, we will stop at nothing to ensure you all are empowered and living happily”.
According to him, “the gesture is aimed at enhancing food production and security through agriculture, and enjoined all lovers of agriculture in the local government area to identify with the quest to redefine development through agriculture in the local government.
He encouraged everyone to cultivate the passion and return to agriculture, to guarantee self-reliance, maximum food production and security in the area.
His administration, he said, would purchase more yam seedlings in order to get greater production to encourage exportation beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“A boost in yam production will also empower farmers in the Local Government Area”, the elated chairman said.
In a related development, the Chairman has inaugurated a five, member Agricultural Technical Committee for the Local Government Area.
The committee is made up of Pst. Anderson Wariboko, Barr. Paul Newman,, Smith Nyor-Ue, Gladys Jumbo and Dr Keke Rammyson
Also speaking, the Director of Agriculture, Tai Local Government Area, Mr Anderson Wariboko revealed that the event was part of activities to mark the chairman’s 100 days in office.
Wariboko who led the chairman, and other leaders of the council on the distribution of the farm inputs to the farmers, was full of praises for the chairman, Hon. Dike whom he said has the interest of the people at heart.

Kiadum Edookor

Rivers

Moremonee Appointment Rivers Man As Brand Rep

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

One of Nigeria’s leading financial service provider, Moremonee M&M MFB, has appointed a Rivers State man and renowned content creator, Mr. Eche Ndubuisi, as one its brand representatives in the state.

Ndubuisi said he was appointed based on his track records and achievements in marketing strategies, which has made him a celebrity in the content creation through the new media industry.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his endorsement by the company, Mr Ndubuisi said he was committed to marketing the company by bringing his wealth of experience to sell the bank to the world.

He thanked the company for the opportunity and assured that he will justified the confidence reposed on him

MoreMonee Bank was established in 2008, securing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licence in July.

According to an official of the bank, who spoke anonymously, the Bank migrated as a Limited liability in October 2023, marking the start of a new era for the financial service provider.

He said with a bold vision to become Africa’s generational bank, MoreMonee aims to tackle poverty across the continent by offering accessible financial services that empower business owners and foster job creation.

The company, he continued, is committed to driving growth through innovative products, seamless transactions, and strategic technological integration.

Rivers

Group Faults Shell In Ogale, Bille Environmental Pollution

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

Fridays for Future Nigeria (FFFN), an environmental protection group, has faulted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for the environmental pollution in Ogale and Bille communities in Rivers State.

This is contained in a statement by the National Coordinator and Country Representative, FFFN, Mr. Kingsley Odogwu.

Odogwu, who in strong terms condemned Shell’s disregard for human and environmental rights in the region, said, ”The people of the Niger Delta, including Ogale and Bille communities, have an inherent right to a clean and healthy environment, a right that Shell has systematically violated”, he said.

The Ogale and Bille communities in oil rich Nigeria’s Niger Delta are experiencing ongoing and significant environmental pollution, primarily from oil spills.

Residents have claimed severe contamination of their water supply, farmlands, and waterways, preventing them from fishing and farming due to the chronic oil pollution.

This issue is currently the subject of ongoing legal action against Shell in the UK courts by members of these communities.

The FFFN National Coordinator urged the Nigerian government and the international community to support the Ogale and Bille communities in their quest for justice and to hold Shell accountable for its environmental destruction.

He lamented the decades of environmental degradation due to oil spills, gas flaring, and other harmful practices by Shell and other oil companies in the region.

According to him, the ecosystem of the affected communities has been severely damaged, and the health and livelihoods of its inhabitants compromised.

”The affected communities demand that Shell fulfill its legal obligations by cleaning up the pollution to international standards and providing adequate compensation.

”The FFFN stands in solidarity with the Ogale and Bille communities in their pursuit of justice against Shell Petroleum for its egregious environmental destruction in the Niger Delta”, he said.

He called on all citizens of the country to support the move for the actualisation of justice for all the communities and other victims of ecosystem pollution in Nigeria.