Okowa calls for dredging of Rivers Niger, Benue, building holding dams

Success Damian:

His Excellency Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, has called on the Federal Government to expedite action towards ensuring the dredging of the River Niger and River Benue, and also building holding dams to cushion the effect of flooding in Nigeria. 

In a release, Okowa said this has become necessary following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) flood projection for 2023 which is expected to be bigger than that of 2022. “The NIMET flood projection for 2023 is expected to be bigger than that of 2022. It is hoped that the Federal Government will consider dredging the River Niger and River Benue as well as building holding dams to cushion the effect of flooding in the country,” he said.

Governor Okowa made this call in his Keynote Address at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Side Event organised by Nurses Across Borders International in Collaboration with the Delta State Government, under the leadership of Pastor Peters Omoragbon, the Executive President.

The Side Event titled: ‘Building Healthy and Resilient Communities in Africa to Combat Climate Change Crisis’ was held at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 17^th November, 2022.

Okowa who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Delta State, Dr. Mininim Ibiere Oseji, spoke on what he ‘Role of Government in Building Resilient Communities and Climate Resilient Health System in the Niger Delta in the Wake of the Recent Flooding in Nigeria.’

The Governor said that Climate change is a global phenomenon caused by the release of greenhouse gases (GHGS) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities which include deforestation, burning of fossil fuel to power homes, engines and industries etc. leading to global warming, adding that the socio-economic impact and consequences of climate change include increased risk and uncertainty in agricultural production leading to food insecurity, flooding, heat-related mortality and morbidity, respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis as well reproductive problems. He said the stalling of agricultural productivity leads to malnutrition particularly in women and children which increases their vulnerability to ill health. 

Speaking on Delta State’s efforts in implementing mitigation and adaptation of climate change actions, Okowa disclosed that Delta State has embarked on a number of projects to enhance ecosystem of planted forests through Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and Governance Innovation (GI). “These projects are aimed at reducing land degradation, conserving biodiversity, improving ecosystem services and mitigating Climate Change,” saying “it is well known that carbon capture is crucial for mitigation as trees have the capacity to mop up and store substantial quantity of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) in their biomass.”

Some of the State's priority projects relating to climate change according to Okowa include Promoting low emission development strategy (LEDS) in the state; Development of air quality measurement sensors to major cities in Delta State; Climate change research/vulnerability assessment; and Climate change education/dissemination of climate information

Other measures include Tree planting action plan, Adoption of the territorial approach to climate change (TACC) and Rechanneling of flared gases into power generation and production of diversified cooking gas. 

He said Delta State is leveraging on Territorial approach to climate change (TACC) which seeks to reduce the vulnerability of communities within Delta State to the anticipated climate change impacts through the promotion of carbon climatic resilient growth, adding that  amongst the projects carried out by TACC programme are several quick win projects such as improved clean cooking stoves which are designed to reduce the amount of smoke inhaled when cooking with traditional 3-legged stove and also serve to discourage such practices as deforestation and forest degradation.

Okowa said the World Bank successfully implemented the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in three communities in Delta State and also selected Delta State for implementation of the West African Coastal Areas (WACA) Project. “Other organisations such as United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and Food and Agriculture Organisation are invited to join the World Bank to assist the State in building healthy and resilient communities.”

On the state’s Greenhouse gas inventory programme, he said there is a global call for governments at all levels to take proactive steps in the fight against climate change through their countries Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement. He said that Delta State Government has been proactive in this regard by recently releasing funds to the State Ministry of Environment to implement a Green House Gas Inventory Programme in the State. This is in a bid to be counted as a territory working assiduously to contribute to achieving global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius. 

Okowa who said that Women in Delta State of Nigeria were in the forefront of addressing climate change, added that when the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) issued a Flood Alert through its 2022 Annual Flood Outlook, the 2022 Flood Disaster Management Committee was constituted with the mandate to draw up measures to address the impact of flooding in the State. “Sensitization was started very early with stakeholders engagement of traditional rulers, community leadership, schools etc. Many residents responded by moving away from the low planes, but as expected some people who hold some traditional beliefs held on to their ancestral homes. The Ministry of Environment was directed to open up the canals leading to the Niger River and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) was also handy in this regard as they opened up canals around their own operational areas. 

“A total of 12 camps were established in the State with almost 40,000 internally displaced persons resident within them and 22 new babies born. Teachers were mobilised to the camps to teach the school age children, while clinics were set up for health workers to provide free health services to the camp residents. The residents were also enrolled in the State Health Insurance Programme,” he stated.

Okowa concluded by commending the organizers of the event, Nurses Across the Borders International, as he promised his government’s open doors to collaborate with groups and individuals in the development of Delta State.

Breaking: Seven year-old Queen Nicole set to feed 1m hungry Nigerian children

Success Damian: 

Nigeria is prominently known as a nation where talents flourish.

It is also true that Nigerians who have succeeded through their natural talents have ensured that they give certain percentage of proceeds of their talents to the less-privileged. But the amazing and most trending news is that the very young and talented seven years old Queen Nicole Emeruwa with passion for charity, modeling, and singing is set to feed over a million hungry Nigerian children. 

Her manager Ige Ayodeji made the disclosure in a press statement, adding that the young dazzling queen is working on a National food program which is set to kick off by September, 2022. 

Ayodeji also disclosed that the programme is expected to take the young Queen to the 36 states of the federation. He said “She is also working on a National food program which is set to kick off by September, 2022. All 36 states in the country are expected to benefit from this project as Queen Nicole will be feeding a million of hungry children,” Ayo stated. 

Queen Nicole Emeruwa who was born on the 23rd Nov, 2015, has as hobbies, Singing, Acting and Dancing. 

The Basic two student, Nicole, started singing and dancing from school in her Ballet club. She officially recorded her first song in July 2021 where she has since been featured in some commercials and recently made an appearance in SIN the movie. Nicole is also the little Miss Model Planet 2022 where she was crowned in May, 2022. 

 “Nicole also intends to pursue her passion in charity, modeling, and singing and also to make some appearances in movies or TV commercials as they roll in,” Ayodeji stated in the press release.

Omoragbon urges Pastor Enunwaonye to join politics, saying dearth of nurse-politicians bane of nursing

 Success Damian

Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, Executive President/CEO Nurses Across the Borders International and President Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigerian, has called on Pastor (Mrs) Enunwaonye Chimdi Hossanna to run for a political office.

Omoragbon who is Convener, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change HEALTHNGOs, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association-United Kingdom, and also Fellow Open Society Institute-Budapest made the appeal in his Goodwill message at the Sent-forth ceremony of Pastor Enunwaonye on Monday August 1, 2022 at the HMA Hall, Benin City, Edo State.

He said “The dearth of nurse politicians has been the bane for nursing development in Nigeria, which is why other professionals within the health sector are deciding what nurses should or should not get. So, my dear colleague I will reiterate that call again-consider running for public office. If the entire Edo state nurses/midwives are to replicate the love shown here today towards her campaign, Mrs Enunwaonye would become the beautiful bride of every political party in Edo state. She can make a better Commissioner of Health for Edo State.”

Omoragbon stated that Pastor Enunwaonye has made immense contributions to the growth and development of the Nursing Profession in Nigeria. “Thirty-Five years of meritorious service to nation-building in complete health is the prayer and aspiration of any civil servant. As for Pastor Enunwaonye whom we are celebrating today, she has not only completed her call to duty but also made immense contributions to the growth and development of the Nursing Profession in Nigeria.”

While congratulating her for a no-blemish career, Omoragbon disclosed that Nurses Across the Borders International has offered her the position of National Coordinator for South-South and South-East in order to tap from her wealth of knowledge. “Nurses Across the Borders International is glad to offer Pastor (Mrs) Enunwaonye Chimdi Hossana the position of the National Coordinator-South-South & South-East of the Organization. Now that Nurses Across the Borders International has formally entered a collaboration to promote climate change and public health by building the capacities of healthcare professionals as First Responders to the Climate Change crisis in Nigeria, the organization will benefit from her wealth of experience and intelligence.”

Going down memory lane Omoragbon who is the First Designated Contact Person from Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change said “Our contact with Mrs Enunwaonye was at the Kick-Off Campaign of the Year 2020: The Year of the Nurse in Abuja, January 2020 led by the Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association United Kingdom. She was fiery and passionate when making her interventions at the summit. In-fact, she was urged to run for public office in the coming political dispensation, because the nursing profession in Nigeria deserves nothing more than a nurse that would go the legislature and promote the cause of nursing and be a voice to us.

“Another occasion of our robust interaction was at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-(UNFCCC COP 26), held in Glasgow, last year. Her intelligence was tested and proven and the compassionate nature of her being and a nurse was shown to our younger delegates in the team, as she acted like Mother Theresa to all of us at our hotel. She is very empathetic,” Pastor Peters Omoragbon disclosed.

In the end on behalf of he wished her well in her future endeavours.

 

Federal University of Petroleum Resources honours Pastor Omoragbon …As he delivers Lecture

Federal University of Petroleum Resources (Centre for Sustainable Development) Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria, has honoured the Executive President/CEO-Nurses Across the Borders Worldwide, Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon. 

At the event which took place on Friday, April 22, 2022 at Asaba, Delta State, Omoragbon bagged Certificate of Fellow/Partner in recognition of his immense contributions to Sustainable Development Globally. 

In his acceptance speech, Omoragbon said he was dedicating the award to fellow Civil Society colleagues involved in the promotion of a sustainable climate and human development, the nursing profession, and above all his wife, children for their support. “I am dedicating the award to fellow Civil Society Colleagues involved in the promotion of a sustainable climate and human development. This will spurn us to continue more with our efforts.” 

Following the investiture, the team proceeded to the Nelson Mandella Park in the heart of Asaba to plant a commemorative tree to mark the 50th Earth Day. 

The Permanent Representative to the United Nations and First Designated Contact Person from Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; President, Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria & Director International Liaison, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association, UK delivered a lecture titled ‘Climate change and healthy environment for sustainable development’. Pastor Omoragbon made some recommendation, calling for Collaboration in organizing a National Health Forum on Climate Change by October 2022 as a Pre-COP 27 activity of the FMOH and the CSOs. The aim, according to him, is to bring together all relevant stakeholders from organized agencies, UN entities, the private sectors, religious bodies and the civil society to help formulate policies that will aid in reviewing and developing an appropriate National Adaptation and Mitigation Plan to be driven by the FMOH and partners; Initiate a National Capacity Building programs for the healthcare professionals as agents of climate change campaign and as First Responders to climate change disasters and risk reductions. He said NAB shall utilize its international networks to provide the needed resources by coordinating the involvement of major stakeholders with the cooperation of the Federal Government through the FMOH. 

Other recommendations include that there is an urgent need for the FMOH to carry out a Vulnerability and Adaptation assessment on climate change and health, adding that NAB shall with its status in the UNFCCC process support the FMOH in mainstreaming health into climate governance, fossil fuel phase out, international financing for climate and health and building a resilient and sustainable low-carbon health systems, among others.

Lasu 82nd Inaugural Lecture: Professor Aina advocates people’s developed constitutional order, political pluralism

Cyriacus Nnaji, 

Lagos Professor of Educational Management, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU) Professor Olusola David Aina, has advocated people-developed Constitutional order and political pluralism as a critical factor in nation-building. 

Aina took the position while delivering the 82nd Inaugural Lecture of LASU with topic “Management and Leadership in the University: Dilemma or Titillation to Nation Building”. The event took place at the Buba Marwa Auditorium of the institution at Ojo, Lagos State on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. 

 He said “There is the need to anchor nation-building on the historical development and prevailing reality of each society; there is the need for people-developed (not externally-imposed) constitutional order; political pluralism should be encouraged; democratic governance should be embraced; and Quality of leadership should be measured in terms of transparency and accountability.” 

 Aina also recommended that there should be a correlation between organisational democracy and democratic governance and that congruence must be established between the leadership and management of a nation. He also advocated that existing traditional structures of governance through the Council, the Senate and faculties should be sustained. However, there is the need for a well-designed participatory institutional framework. 

While stating that Management is the technique used for dealing with and managing persons of different age groups to work together for achieving common objectives, added that Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group towards goal setting and goal achievement. With special emphasis on Leadership, he said Leadership is required in every aspect of human endeavour. Effective leaders are needed in the military, in educational institutions, in social organisations, in business enterprises, government circles, and international organisations. He revealed that a leader could be defined as an individual with the ability to motivate or induce others. “A leader is the one who accompanies and guides on a journey and ensures the destination is safely reached.” 

Speaking on types of leadership styles which include Autocratic leadership; Democratic leadership; Laissez faire leadership; Situational leadership; Traditional leadership; Charismatic leadership; Constitutional leadership and Servant Leadership, Aina added that Leadership in any human endeavour should be seen as responsibility, not privilege; strong belief in teamwork; willingness to take risks and not to fear failure; the talent to sometimes reject the logic and take decisions based on instinct and heart; the ability to use power, when necessary, but after thought and always with caution and an understanding that compromises is not a weakness as long as it does not threaten fundamental values and goals of the organisation. 

For Aina, Nation-building can involve building different ethnic groups into one national entity. This, he said, can be especially challenging in countries that colonial powers had typically divided, ruled, and suppressed their social, ethnic, religious, and cultural evolutions. He maintained “Leadership becomes a pandemic when countries gain their independence, ancient tribalism and rivalry between ethnic groups resurfaces, and can sometimes tear the nation apart, especially if their territorial borders place rival groups together or split one down the middle. Examples include Biafra, which in 1970 tried to secede from Nigeria, or the continuing demand of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for total independence.” 

Aina opined that the interplay of leadership, management, and nation-building is intricate and inseparable. He added that Nigeria is a nation born in optimism at independence but has lived in a state of doubt and uncertainty. “All kinds of analysis and conclusions have been made on what has become a Nigerian dilemma over nation-building and national development. This is because all countries compared to Nigeria in 1960 (examples are third world countries in Asia like Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea) have made astronomical progress and developed relatively stable social, political and economic systems while Nigeria is immersed in wars, insurgencies, terrorism, economic crises, financial corruption, famine, diseases and poverty, political instability, to name a few.”  

Aina added that to ensure nation-building, it is often necessary to draw up a charter that will include national harmony, political democracy, economic and social development, social justice, cultural revival, and regional and international cooperation. At the same time, the basic principles are national unity, active participation of the people, the decisive role of the human factor, the struggle for social justice, self-reliance, and a strong relationship between people and leadership. 

Professor Aina whose contributions to knowledge have revolved around human capital development and capacity building, was at the Institute of Training and Organisational Development of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs of the University of Pittsburgh, he was also a Programme Director for over three years. Aina had the responsibility for programme design, implementation and evaluation. Some of the programmes he has directed included Leadership and Organisational Innovation, Advanced Management Programme, and Project Management.

2023: Asiwaju is the best candidate for the presidency, says Honorable Idimogu

Lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable (Dr) Jude Chukwuemeka Omobowale Idimogu, has stated that the Former Governor of Lagos, the Asiwaju of Yoruba land and Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the best candidate for the position of the President in 2023. 

He said among those who have indicated interest in the presidency come 2023, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains in a class of his own. Recall that Tinubu has made his aspiration open and has also formally intimated the president, Muhwmmadu Buhari of his intention. 

In a Telephone conversation, Idimogu argued that any other group or individual jostling for the position of president in Nigeria come 2023 must work extra hard to upstage the strong man of Lagos politics as power is not given for dash. 

Idimogu said “For me, Asiwaju remains the best among all the candidates that have indicated interest in the position. I am an APC man till tomorrow even though I am from the southeast. So my prayer is that my leader should get it.” Answering the question on why Tinubu should aspire for the presidency when he knew the moral implication of such aspiration considering the fact that there is clamour for President of Igbo extraction, 

Idimogu said that there is no moral burden in politics. “There is no morality in politics, politics is a game of numbers. Let me tell you, it doesn’t work that way, nobody gives you power for dash. You must go for it, let the southeast, let them, if they truly want it, they must work hard for it, but you don’t do it with sympathy, morality does not work in politics,” Idimogu maintained. 

 

Commenting on the zoning of the presidency, Idimogu added “I am from the Southeast but in politics it is not served alakat, you have to work for it, lobby for it and do all you can to ensure it is given to you or your zone. But the way I see it personally, you know we have two major political parties, the APC and the PDP and remember the 17 governors of the South clamoured for power to shift to the south, but as it is now, no particular zone within the south has actually been mentioned, and when I said the governors, the governors are mixed up, both APC and PDP, and for me when you look at the way it is going, this is my own personal view, APC is highly dominated in the southwest and because politics is a game of numbers, it is likely APC will zone it to southwest, because they have the strength and number, that is just the truth. 

“However, PDP if they so wish, they can zone the presidency to the Southeast, the south-south has already enjoyed the last presidency, so for me, they are out of the game, so it remains southeast and southwest,” Idimogu said. 

He recommended that APC should zone the presidency to the southwest saying “My recommendation would be for APC to zone the presidency to the southwest while the PDP zones it to the Southeast, then the flag-bearers would face Nigerians who will decide which zone they want to give it to. That is the way I look at it.”

On his New Year message to his constituency, Lagosians and Nigerians, he said “People should be hopeful, let’s have trust in our government, let’s believe in them. One challenge we have as a people is that Nigerians don’t believe in their government and their representatives, but they should have a change of mind. 

“The citizens should turn a new leaf and see Nigeria as one entity that all of us can defend and be proud of and call our own, then things will change for the better,” Idimogu advised.

Omoragbon, NCP Governorship candidate petitions Justice Liman over dereliction of duty

Cyriacus Nnaji

Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon, National Conscience Party (NCP) Governorship Candidate in Edo State in 2016 & 2020, said he has petitioned Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court Kano Division (formerly of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division).

The petition, according to him, is over what he called misconduct and dereliction of duty by the Honourable Justice of the Federal High Court.

The content of his release to the media read: “A case of misconduct and dereliction of duty against Honourable Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano Division (formerly of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division) dated January 3^rd, 2022 by Pastor Peters Omoragbon, Gubernatorial Candidate of the National Conscience Party at the 2020 Edo State Governorship Elections.”

Speaking further, Omoragbon disclosed what transpired “The National Conscience Party instituted an Independent legal dispute against INEC and the AG of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 5, 2020, through Originating Summons with an Affidavit of Urgency. This case was not heard until October 13, 2020, where all the parties adopted their written submissions and judgement reserved till December 18, 2020. Even though the bureaucratic bottlenecks constituted a stumbling block to my aspiration as Governor in the Edo State Elections, I was very hopeful that no matter the undue delay, justice would eventually be served.

“It must be recalled that prior to the Edo State Governorship elections in 2020, INEC had ignominiously deregistered some political parties including the NCP. This led to a series of legal disputes against the INEC and judgement awarded against INEC, some of which are pending rulings at the Supreme Court.”

 “Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, as at today January 3rd, 2022, the ruling that was to be given on December 18, 2020, is yet to be delivered by Justice M. Liman,” Omoragbo lamented.

Omoragbo maintained that Justice Litman’s action was a deliberate act of dereliction of duty “I am constrained by circumstances beyond my control to call this Press Conference over the deliberate act of dereliction of duty by Honourable Justice M. Liman over the legal dispute instituted by our Party, the National Conscience Party against INEC and the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said it was in the light of the obvious challenge that he directed his legal team to petition the Honourable Justice “It was in the light of this abuse of office that I directed my Legal Team led by Barrister Marcus Eyarhono Esq to formally petition Justice M. Liman to the National Judicial Council for his dereliction of duty.”

Omoragbo said Nigeria is becoming a laughingstock due to what he called lack of transparency “Every day, Nigeria is made a laughingstock by other nations of the world by our lack of transparency and corruption in high places. Whose interest is being served by the inaction of Justice M. Liman if not that of INEC and by extension the Attorney General of the Federation? When will the Nigerian judiciary be separated from the executive branch?” He queried.

While displaying the certified copies of the petition, he urged the press to hold every branch of government accountable “May I end this Press briefing by imploring the Press to please, hold every branch of government accountable, from the Executive, the legislative and the Judiciary.”