Niger Delta
Independence: Foundation Donates Palliatives To Widows In Edo
Lebarty Community Health Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, on Monday donated food items and wrappers to over 30 widows in Benin, the Edo State Capital, as a way to celebrate Nigeria’s 63rd independence day anniversary.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Ovis Enahoro, who represented Dr Nosa Agbe-Lebarty, Managing Director of the Foundation, said the initiative was to put smiles on the faces of the widows.
Enahoro, the Communications Director of the Foundation, said “I am representing Dr Nosa Agbe-Lebarty, who is giving out palliatives to the widows as a way to show them love because they are part of the vulnerable group in the community that people do not really reach out to.
“So, as Nigeria celebrates its 63rd independence, he decided to celebrate with the widows to appreciate their strength in taking care of their homes in the absence of their spouses”.
She said the Foundation was committed to improving the health status of the vulnerable, noting that it would organize a medical outreach for widows in the state in 2024.
“The medical outreach would be the third in the series that the Foundation will be organising in the state.
“Doctors would be on ground to treat the widows. There would be free eye screening and glasses as well as free medications”, she stated.
Dr Rufus Osayiamen, while educating the widows on healthy living, urged elderly women to eat balanced diet as well as avoid strenuous activities.
“It doesn’t cost so much to take care of yourself. As you become older, your immune system is not strong as it used to be when you were young.
“Eat good food and add exercises, 10 to 15 minutes every day, and also go to the hospital when you have any symptoms of sickness”, he told the widows.
One of the widows, Mrs Sarah Omosigo, commended the Foundation for the kind gesture, noting that it was her first time of getting palliatives from an NGO.
“Widows need help from kind individuals and the government to enable them take care of themselves and their children.
“My husband died 25 years ago and I was pregnant when he died. It wasn’t easy for me to take care of the children.
“All my children are graduates but they don’t have jobs. I wouldn’t have come here for the palliative if my children had jobs”, she said. Independence: Foundation
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.