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Staff of Ministry of Environment Pours Encomium On Sanitation Director As He Bows Out of Service

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Hill Nigeria
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…As Dept of Sanitation Host Mr Luky Adah To Retirement Party.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Dr. Mrs Minnie Oseji has described the Director of Sanitation, Mr Lucky Adah as an Epitome of dedicated Civil Servant.

Dr. Mrs Oseji made this known during the retirement and Birthday celebration of Mr Adah , organised by the department of Sanitation in Asaba, Delta State.

She said the celebrant through his attitude to work, has shown so much commitment and dedication.

Speaking during the event the Assistant Director, Mrs Florence Atigan said the celebration was in honour of his good works in ensuring that the state remained clean and healthy for Deltans.

Describing the celebrant, some said he was humble to a fault and never allow anything distract him from work, others said he was a workaholic who was always ready to give his best to his work; a God fearing Catholic Christian.

Describing the celebrant, some said he was humble to a fault and never allow anything distract him from work, others said he was a workaholic who was always ready to give his best to his work; a God fearing Catholic Christian.

Embrace Your Culture, Catholic Priest Tells Christians

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Hill Nigeria
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…As Urhobo, Isoko Catholic  Communities Celebrate Annual Thanksgiving

 

The Catholic Priest of Issele-uku Diocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Onwumaegbulem. have enjoined Christians not to discard their culture as it is God’s gift to them.

The Cleric gave the advise during the celebration of Urhobo and Isoko communities Thanksgiving at Catholic Church of the Assumption (Zappa) in Asaba, Delta State.

He encouraged them to always celebrate their culture and not to ignore it because of their religion.

Speaking the Cleric said that the Church had given them the opportunity to enculturate their cultures into the faith, hence they should embrace their culture.

The ‘Oni emor r’ Urhobo ve Isoko’, (the father of Urhobo, Isoko Catholic community members), Mr Felix Gheghor said the annual event was geared towards celebrating the two community which shares same culture.

Mr Gheghor, urged worshippers to emulate the unity that abound in celebrating ones culture, and to identify themselves with people from their communities in the Church.

On her part, the ‘Oni emor r’ Urhobo ve Isoko’, (the mother of Urhobo, Isoko Catholic community members), Mrs Beatrice Eferurhobo said she was glad for the opportunity given to them by the Church to unite as community.

Mrs Eferurhobo admonished Christians to see the celebration as a means of attaining the peace the society have always longed for.

Highlight of the celebration was traditional dance and the entertainment of some worshippers with the Urhobo, Isoko cultural delicacies.

Delta NSCDC Ignites Special Forces For A Hitch-Free Ember Month

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Hill Nigeria
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In order to checkmate the rising spate of insecurity and to curtail the nefarious and barbaric activities of criminals during the months leading to the yuletide, popularly referred to as ” Ember Month, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has ignited her special forces to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the state.

The State Commandant, while speaking through the Public Relations Officer of the Corps Delta State Command, Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime, said, that it has become imperative for the Corps to ignite these forces owing to the fact that the NSCDC is a proactive Security Agency of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibilities of protecting lives and property with a complimentary duty of maintaining and sustaining peace and order in the entire 25 Local Government Areas of the state and Delta in particular.

Dsc Emeka Okwechime said that the NSCDC does not wait until it happens before taking steps, but it prepares ahead of the unknown and prevent it from happening in the first place.

The Command Image Maker maintained that the steps are designed to effectively checkmate all forms of criminality and allow for free movement of persons, goods and services during and after the yuletide.

The troops have been taken through rigorous operational drills, training and retraining to effectively tackle and respond to security challenges ranging from Communal Crisis, Anti- Human Trafficking, Cultism, Farmers herders clash, economic sabotage, vandalism among other sundry crimes.

Dsc Emeka Okwechime disclosed that the Special Forces were drafted from the Department of Intelligence and Investigation, Agro-Rangers Squad, Crisis and Disaster Management Dept, The Snipper Combatants (Female Squad), the Armed Squad, the Counter Terrorism Unit CTU, SWAT among others.

The PRO stated that this intervention calls for critical stakeholders to support the NSCDC and other security agencies to stem the tide of crime and criminality across the 25 Local Government Areas of the State particularly as the yuletide approaches.

Consequent upon the above, we urge members of the public not to panic at sighting the movement of NSCDC troops and equipment. rather, they are obliged to say something when they see something.

We use this opportunity to urge all Deltans to please continue to support the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies with credible information on the activities of criminals in your vicinity.

On a final note, Dsc Emeka Peters Okwechime charged all Deltans and encourage members of the public to see security as every bodies business and they should take ownership of the exercise for a seamless celebrations before, during and after the yuletide.

World Suicide Prevention Day: Group Takes Critical Steps To Create Survival Hope In Delta

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Hill Nigeria
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By Patrick Ochei

As the world marks World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2022, a group under the aegis of Africa Project Against Suicide (APAS) in conjunction with DICI Development Initiative for Community Impact, South-South, Nigeria, has initiated critical plans to create survival hope amongst the youths and students in the Warri axis of Delta State.

The event which is billed to hold at the DICI Resource Centre, Marian Plaza, Airport Road, Warri, has its theme as “Creating Hope Through Action” and the audience will be populated by participants drawn from mostly the secondary and tertiary eduction students’ communities.

According to one of the facilitators of the Project and Secretary of APAS, Dr. Otega Okinono, “In marking the World’s Suicide Prevention Day on the 10th of September this year, we have decided to put together a programme that addresses the major challenges people face to make them want to commit suicide, and that is hopelessness. And so taking a bearing from the theme of this year’s celebration, we have decided to take critical steps in creating hope for the people through action.

“So, the essence of this programme in marking the Suicide Prevention Day is, to educate and enlighten students and peer groups on the current reality of the alarming rate and prevalence of suicide; the causes and prevention”, posited Okinono.

Meanwhile, a number of resource persons had been lined up to add value that will mainstream a way forward of hope and solution to some of the key indicators of suicide. Dr. A.L. Pemu who is the Delta State Coordinator of APAS and Host will be making presentations alongside Dr. Otega Okinono as APAS Secretary, Eza Teshoma (Mental Health Advocate) and of course, Ms. Emira Edjemre (CEO, Well of Wisdom); and these mindset reengineering lessons are expected to strengthen the depressed and weak in hope by stemming a desire to fight off suicide tendencies.

Sacking Ayu Would’ve Plunged PDP Into More Crisis – Aniagwu

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Hill Nigeria
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Spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Charles Aniagwu has given reasons why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was exploring other options in resolving the crisis rocking the party.

Aniagwu said as a listening party, they were taking a second look at the issues based on what was permissible by the laws of the party.

Speaking on Arise TV on Saturday, Aniagwu said that sacking National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu would create constitutional crisis for the party which would snowball into greater problems than what the party was currently faced with.

According to him, the main issue being canvassed by the stakeholders is the stepping down of the National Chairman which has now been overtaken by events following the vote of confidence by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

“People may misinterpret it to mean calling the bluff of certain stakeholders but that is far from it because the party leadership examined the issues vis-a-vis the provisions of the party’s constitution as amended in 2017.

“When you look at that constitution, there are principal officers called the National Working Committee of the party led by the National Chairman and in the other of hierarchy, the Deputy National Chairman who must also come from same zone with the National Chairman is next in line.

“The third in line is the National Secretary and when you look at these positions, the National Chairman is from the North, the second in command is also from the North by virtue of the provision of the party’s constitution.

“In section 45 of the party’s constitution, in the event of removal or resignation of the National Chairman, the National Deputy Chairman takes over and acts in the position of that National Chairman pending when the party is able to organise another election or do a NEC meeting to be able to take a decision as to how to rearrange the hierarchy of the party,” he stated.

He said because the positions were elective positions, even if Ayu were to step down for power to come to the South, the provisions of the constitution of the party would also be offended.

“That can only happen if you can also take a decision to remove the Deputy National Chairman of the party who the lot immediately falls on by provisions of the law.

“Even if the party is able to solve that puzzle by bringing both National Chairman and Deputy to South, the third person in the hierarchy of the National Working Committee of the party is the National Secretary and that is in the South specifically Senator Samuel Anyanwu from Imo State.

“Now if you decide to bring this two positions to the South, have you also made arrangements to take the National Secretary to the North?

“Because of these legal impediments the party examined it that given the time that we have which is just about six months to the general elections, that it may likely snowball into some form of crisis that could trigger a whole lot of discomfort within the party if we proceed to begin to make these changes that there is the tendencies that the party may be embroiled in a crisis that would be worse than the one we are seeing at the moment.

“That greater crisis is what the ruling APC is waiting to happen but the leadership of the party is intelligent enough and am happy that Governor Nyesom Wike and other leaders appreciate the need for the party to move as a whole into the 2023 general elections.”

The campaign spokesman further said it was on the basis of this that the party decided to look at what was possible at the moment and that gave room for the resignation of Senator Walid Jibrin and subsequent emergence of Senator Adolphus Wagbara as Chairman Board of Trustees.

“The emergence of Wagbara in the south to join the Vice presidential candidate and National Secretary had created some form of balance in the interim.

“But what is most important is that there is a bigger elephant here which is winning the 2023 general elections because Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to rescue the nation from where we are at the moment.

“I am convinced that our leaders who have been craving for these changes would appreciate the fact that the party is listening but because of time probably when the party may have won the elections in 2023 by the grace of God, we can now proceed to make some of these alterations that may not be injurious to our quest to win the general elections,” Aniagwu said.
On the performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Delta and the value he brings to the ticket as Vice-Presidential candidate, Aniagwu, who is Information Commissioner in Delta, said that Okowa had performed tremendously with his 5-point agenda, adding that job creation through skill acquisition has been profound.

He noted Okowa had improved the standard of living of the people by reducing poverty in state which attracted National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ranking as the second least poor state in the counry in 2018.

On infrastructural development, he said Okowa has constructed well over 1,833km of roads with over 900km of drains across the three Senatorial Districts.

“But what is most important to us is what we have done in the creeks of Delta, area that where hitherto referred to as very difficult terrains to develop, we have made a whole lot of impact in that region which is why we are enjoying a whole lot of peace in the Niger Delta.

“For a very long time now we have been able to ensure that our brothers and sisters in the creeks are carried along and this is one the things that our principal the Presidential candidate saw and said I need a partner who is progressive in nature.

“A partner that can address the issues of the youths and a partner that can help address the issues of unity of our country because Delta is a microcosm of Nigeria where you have diverse ethnic groups.

“When we live in unity as a country, you will discover that we will return to winning ways, all these other symptomatic malaise in our country will be solved, because issue of corruption, bad economy, insecurity, they happen because our diversity was badly mismanaged by the APC,” Aniagwu stated.

Ifemene Calls For Upgrade Of DESCODEP To An Agency.

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Hill Nigeria
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The Programme Cordinator, Delta State Coconut Development Programme (DESCODEP),  Hon. Aneke Ifemene has called for the upgrade of the programme into an Agency.

Ifemene gave the call during the World Coconut Day celebration organised by DESCODEP in collaboration with National Coconut Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NACOPPMAN) in Asaba, the state capital.

He said with the remarkable progress recorded since the approval of the programme by the state governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, it is believed that creation of an Agency for the Programme would help leave a potential revenue generation sector to the incoming government.

He said the coconut programme was capable of funding itself and generating more revenue for funding other governmental activities.

Ifemene said in drastically reducing government dependency on revenue from oil, they were projecting to have planted 10,000 hectares across the state in the next four years.

Highlighting on the achievements of the programme, he said 40 hectares of coconut plantation has been established in Onicha Ukwani, Utagba Uno, Mbiri, and Umuaja.

According to the Programme Cordinator, over 5,000 hectares of land have been donated by communities to partner with DESCODEP, adding that over 2000 farmers and counting have been profiled and still on going.

He added that in all the models, the Government, community, individuals, families and investors have a percentage share of the income generated as the coconut begins fruiting throughout the life span of the coconut plantation.

Ifemene said that several attractive models that would make the programme a job and revenue generation programme have been adopted.

He said DESCODEP would partner with NACOPPMAN in processing the fruits into various coconut value chain and marketing the fruits.

Speaking on the benefit of coconut plantation, he said from one hectares of coconut plantation, a minimum of four direct jobs and 10 indirect jobs will be created.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Godfrey Enita said the value chain of the product is what motivated the governor to approve the programme.

Dr. Enita thanked the state governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa for approving the establishment of the Programme, as part of the state effort towards encouraging and supporting Agricultural Development and production in the state.

On his part the Permanent Secretary, Mr Ben Agamah, commended his doggedness in ensuring that the vision of the programme was actualised.

The state Chairman of NACOPPMAN, Mrs Cordelia Anyangwu commended the vision of the Programme Cordinator in ensuring that there was coconut sufficiency in the state.

According to Anyangwu coconut is the future of the country because of its inelastic value chain, adding that it would give the country much revenue that would make they nation not borrow again.

She urged every family to have at least three coconut trees in their house.

The G.M Tree crop, Surveyor Dr Eboka Chukwuemeke said he look forward to when the state would have an agency for development of the product.

Speaking on the health benefits of coconut, the executive Director of Safe space International, Dr. Kad Offori, said it helps detoxify the system.

Highlight of the event was paper presentation on coconut resourcefulness in multiple diversity and wealth creativity by the lad consultant, Uriri Agribusiness and Environment Innovations; presentation on building a safe inclusive resilient and sustainable coconut community by the representative of Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) Mrs Beatrice Emoghene and exhibition of various coconut products.

Ex Delta State Basketball Player Empowers Young female Basketballer

By
Hill Nigeria
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In giving back to the society, that produced her, the President of Nigeria Women Basketball Organisation based in the United States and Ex Delta State Basketball Player, Chioma Nwoye has empowered young female basketballers in the Delta State.

Speaking to Journalists during the ‘3 on 3’ Basketball games at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba, Nwoye said their motivation of the female players was to bring out the talents in the young basketballers.

She added that the event was an avenue to harvest talents, send videos of their performance abroad and scholarship could come to the lucky ones.

She said, “The opportunity here for them is that when we get these talents, we talk to coaches, schools and colleges abroad and they can get scholarship to leave Nigeria”.

“We are starting small, but planning to go bigger. This is the first tournament. Thereafter, we will expand. We really want to start from the half court, then, expand.

“When we see these talents, they are useful to the state, it’s all about women. I’m so passionate about it. I’m a full package when it comes to this game.”


She said “free registration was done to get the participants, as it was an open competition, and we worked with the coaches”.

“We streamlined the age range so that we can catch the young ones. One experienced player in every team. We agreed that any player that has won the green white green, whether under 16, 18, 22, we categorise that as an experienced player. We have one of such in each team.”

She told Journalists at the stadium that: “I’m passionate about basketball. I see brighter future in it. I went to the US as a coach. The truth is we have talents but we do not have enough platforms to showcase these talents.

Speaking on the motive behind the empowerment, she said it was to help discover the skills of the young basketballers and to see that the performed better that she did.

Asiuwhu, Oseji Bags Award From Falcorp Mangrove Park In Delta

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Hill Nigeria
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By Anita Uche Ugbejie- Chukwuma

Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment in the state, Dr. (Mrs) Mininim Oseji, have been presented with an award on behalf of the state government.

The Coordinator of the Falcorp Mangrove Park at Ijala Ekenrhen, Warri, Mr. Henry Erikowa, presented the award in the commissioner’s office in Asaba.

Mr. Erikowa said the gesture was because of the pivotal role of the state government in ensuring environmental sustainability and protection of the Mangrove Ecosystem and nature in the state.

He said that Nigeria had the largest Mangrove Ecosystem in Africa and the fourth largest in the world, adding that Ecosystem had countless species of Flora and fauna which, according to him, “provide forestry food and sustenance to millions of people in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

He added that the Ecosystem also helped in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, warning that the Mangrove forest was facing the threat of anthropogenic activities, including oil pollution.

Erikowa explained that the Mangrove Ecosystem was a veritable platform for fostering Eco-literacy, expecially for Mangrove conservation and rejuvenation which, according to him, would positively engage the youths, promote peace building, provide platforms to denounce the activities of illegal oil exploration and exploitation and boost Eco-tourism, among other benefits.

He reiterated the need for collaborative support from the ministry to justify a cardinal point in the OKowa Administration SMART agenda on environmental sustainability in the state.

Responding, Chief Asiuwhu thanked him for recognising the efforts of the state government in protecting the Mangrove Ecosystem in the state and resolved that the ministry would collaborate with the park through sensitisation and protection of the Mangrove as a natural Ecosystem in the state.

The Significance Of Igbu Awai Festival In Issele-Uku

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Hill Nigeria
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By Patrick Ochei

The festival of ‘Igbu Awai’ is a unique and interesting aspect of the new yam festival (Iwaji) in Issele-Uku; an agrarian community within the Anioma extraction of Delta State.

The Igbu Awai is a part of the series of activities marking the eating of the new yam. The first is the celebration of the new yam festival by children (Iwaji Umuaka), then followed by non titled persons (Iwaji Ikolo) within the community.

The Igbu Awai being the celebration of the new yam festival by titled men (Ikpala) in the community, marks the acceptability of the new yam as healthy and safe staple food for eating.

It is historically believed that the first time new yam was sighted in the community, the villagers were apprehensive, suspecting that its eating might cause poisoning or death to them. To that effect, they decided to allow the children eat the new yam first, in obvious suspicion it could lead to their death. When the children could not die, the elders approved for the Ikolos, those not societally relevant in the scheme of things and not traditionally titled to eat next.

It was after the Ikolos had eaten and not died that the Ikpalas decided to eat theirs the next day. However, it was the Ikolos that were putting the yam in their mouths (Igunya ji na onu), telling them how sweet and healthy the yam was to their bodies. That is why till date, the children and the Ikolos must have eaten the new yam before the Ikpalas eat and then the king of the community.

The 2022 Igbu Awai festival in Issele-Uku was indeed an awesome one. It was an Afor Market day, and while the women had gone to buy cooking stuffs from the market, the men were left to prepare the new yam. It is usually a public show as the big pot is placed on the fire outside with people drinking and jubilating, obviously waiting with earnest desire to eat the traditional porridge (Awai).

The Awai is prepared only with red oil and salt in the first segment of the ceremony.

The second segment is the preparation of the Otite. The Otite is the roasting of the new yam, and when done, the burnt back is scraped into a mortal, pounded together with the Otite leaves and mixed with the roasted yam for eating.

The Otite is highly medicinal; it cures stomach ache and obviously eaten to prevent any side effect from the new yam.

The next segment of the festival is cooking real meal; the new yam is pounded for food and eaten with any properly prepared soup, usually pepper soup (nsala) or white egusi soup (oseani).

Meanwhile, before all these activities take place in the day, there is usually the ceremony of going to the farm to harvest the new yam for the day’s ceremony. While that is being done, the daughters of the household or family (Umuada) would carry out the cleansing of the house (Ife Unor). It is the traditional process of warding off evils from the house in order to receive the new yam into the house. They do this from house to house and they usually receive tubers of yams in appreciation for what they do.

The Igbu Awai was celebrated by most titled men across the nine villages in Issele-Uku, but the two distinct places visited were the Ogwa Ogbelani Issele-Uku and Okpalabisi Umueze Issei, Diokpa Okonkwo Isimchei and of course, Ogwa Okwalegwe Issele-Uku at Idumuinei Village where Comrade Lucky Ochei was exceptional in resonating the nitigrity of Igbu Awai festival. There were dance groups performing to spice up the ceremony.

According to Diokpa Isimchei, “Today marks the beginning of the eating of new yam by titled men (Ikpala) in Issele-Uku. The Ikolos tell us how it feels to eat the new yam by putting it in our mouths as the Okpalas.

“Every land has their traditions and culture. We have ours and it is very unique. However, we must continue to raise the bar in our tradition for the sake of posterity. Our children must embrace the sanctity of our traditions and customs.

“The new yam is wonderfully sweet and healthy to the body system. I have eaten it and I feel good. The Otite is also here; a very good recipe for the cure of stomach ache and other forms of food poisonings.

“We prayed at the beginning of the farming season, and God has answered us with bountiful harvests and healthy crops. On this note we are praying again, that God should keep us alive and healthy to successfully celebrate the coming Ine Festival, which climaxes the new yam festivals in Issele-Uku.

On the part of Comrade Lucky Ochei, he acknowledged God for the gift of life and harvest of blessings. He therefore asked God for more grace to continue to reverence him annually.

Artisans Congratulates Oborevwori On Appeal Court Victory

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Hill Nigeria
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Artisans in Delta State have rejoiced with the governorship candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori on his recent victory at the Appeal Court in Abuja.


This was made known, during a chat with the state Chairman of the Association, Comr. Ifeanyi Abanum in Asaba.


Expressing joy over the victory, the Chairman of the Association, who spoke on behalf of members of the Association described the victory as a superlative and we’ll deserved one for all Deltans.


He urged all Deltans to see the victory as an opportunity to be united and support, Rt. Hon. Sherrif so as to enable PDP gain victory in the coming election.


While commending Deltans for remaining peaceful while the court proceedings lasted,, he urged them to stay united the more so as to consolidate on the stronger Delta mantra of the state governor, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa.

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