News
HOMEF Trains Communities On Energy Transition, Approaches

Health of the Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Friday organised a day dialogue and training programme in order to prepare communities and equip them with the necessary knowledge about energy transition and how best they should handle it when they are confronted.
The one day dialogue/training titled Just Energy Transition & the Use of Cultural Tools to Build Resistance, which held in Benin, attracted participants from Gelegele community in Ovia North East LGA; Aighobahi community, Ovia South West LGA; Uzebu Community, Oredo LGA; Ohovbe community, Ikpoba-Okha LGA, and Okogbo community, Oredo LGA.
In his opening remarks, Cadmus Atake-Enade, Programme Manager, Community and Culture, HOMEF, said the dialogue and training programme was aimed at sensitising community people on ‘just energy transition ‘ and the role they (community people) need to play.
He added that the purpose of the programme was to train the community people on the best approach to resist extractive activities that are inimical to their health.
READ ALSO: Bassey First Nigerian To Be Honoured With Wallenberg Medal, HOMEF Celebrates
“The idea is to build communities capacity so that they would be able to stand firm and speak up in the face of oppression. Speaking against extractive activities and other environmental degradations in their respective communities is necessary,” he added.
Taking participants in the climate change crisis and energy transition, resource person at the event, Babawale Obayanju of Oil Change International, said stopping climate change from getting worse was not enough, adding that “if we truly want to improve the world, we need to reduce climate change in a way that is fair.” He said the ‘just transition’ was all about this.
Obayanju, who acknowledged the fact that transition in the energy sector must happen, noted that “but for us in Africa and the global south, our conversation is around how ‘just’ is this energy transition that is already happening.”
According to him, communities need to be properly informed and armed with the necessary information and skills so that they can ask the necessary questions, resist if the need arises, when companies come to their respective communities with energy transition.
READ ALSO: NNPCL-Dangote Refineries Rift: HOMEF Demands Transparency, Investigation
“The communities need to get that stage where they understand who they are so that they can ask the companies the right questions when they come.
“Information is power. Communities need to prepare themselves in a way that they can tell the government or companies how they want information to be assessed. Information on energy transition or any activities by companies should be brought to the communities in their own language so that they can read what is written, what they are signing and what they are engaging,” he added.
Giving an account of how oil exploration have affected Gelegele community in the Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Naomi Benson, said “the oil spills have not affected our water alone, they have affected our farmland. When we plant seeds, they die.”
According to her, “before now, when you move out you see trees all over the places with natural air, but it is no more so. The oil explorations have affected the whole environment.”
READ ALSO: Food Crisis: HOMEF, GMOs-Free Nigeria Train Abuja Farmers, CSOs, Others On Agroecology
Benson further lamented: “The oil company in our community promised to sell drugs for us but there is nothing like that. No good healthcare for pregnant women. We are suffering.”
Another Gelegele indigene, Lucky Enyemi, lamented: “They are oppressing us. I am saying so because we are not getting anything in terms of help, education, training and social amenities. We are not feeling the impact of the oil producing community we are.”
On his part, Aaron Ariabor, also from Gelegele community, said “head of office of the company extracting oil from our community is in Lagos, the staff are there too, but we suffer the impact. No any benefit. They have stopped the empowerment they used to give to us.”
Also narrating his own story, Aimuawmonsa Igbinomwanhia,
from Aighobahi community, Ovia South West Local Government Area, said: “Our community is one of the hosting communities of Okomu oil, but unfortunately we are not getting anything from the company apart from boreholes. The farmland our people were managing before, the government sold it out to some multinational.”
News
Oba of Benin Renews Bond With Ancestral Relations, Nigerians During Emorhọ Feast

The palace of the Oba of Benin was agog with activities during the 2025 Emorhọ fest, declared by Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin as part of activities to mark the ancient Emorhọ, otherwise known as the ‘New Yam Festival’.
Oba of Benin, who reenacted the age-long festival, renewed the bond that exist between him and his ancestral relations from Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State at the event, which attracted dignitaries, including Benin people, indigenes and non-indigenes across Edo State.
Members of the Benin Royal family, Edionwere (village heads), youth leaders across the various communities in Benin, market women group, palace chiefs, traditional priests and priestesses in Benin, were also in attendance.
READ ALSO:Oba Of Benin Declares Two-week Fasting, Prayer For Edo
A special prayer offered on behalf of the palace by Chief Enorense Ozigbo-Esere, the Osuma of Benin, paved the way for the commencement of the feast, where Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, welcomed guests and highlighted the essence of the gathering.
Speaking in an interview, Oba Ewuare younger ancestral relations from Issele-Uku led by Chief Michael Odiakosa, expressed delight for the privilege to be part of the historic celebration.
He explained the relationship between Benin and Issele-Uku, reaffirming that, “Issele-Uku is an extension of Benin Kingdom. We are all descendants of Benin. So, we are at home”.
READ ALSO:Oba Of Benin Ushers In ‘Emorọ’
“We are in a safe place. We came to celebrate the festival with our father, the Omo N’ Oba, and we are happy to be here”, Odiakosa said.
On his part, 99-year-old Pa. Paul Osarumwense Oyemwen, the Odionwere of Orior-Ozolua community in Uhunmwode LGA who thanked the Oba for the gesture, said the festival is not new in Benin and it’s devoid of sacrifices.
Expressing her appreciation to the Oba of Benin, the ‘Edo markets leader’, Pastor (Mrs) Josephine Ibhaguezejele, noted that members of the group have been waiting anxiously for the opportunity to partake in the yearly festival, while praying God that the blessings of the festival to transform lives.
Also speaking, Pa. Daniel Osunde, the Odionwere of Idumwun-owina, N’ Iyeke-orhiomwon, also prayed for the Oba and thanked the first Class traditional ruler for his foresight.
Excited guests in their numbers were fed with African delicacy, amid dancing and jubilation, while members of Isikhian women group who gave a good account of their stewardship, were not left out in the celebration by the Oba who rewarded them with cash gift and other items in acknowledgement their duties in Benin.
News
Okpebholo Poised To Surpassing People’s Expectations — Edo Deputy Gov

Edo deputy governor, Hon Dennis Idahosa has assured that the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration is poised to surpass the expectations of the people of the state in terms of campaign promises fulfilment.
Idahosa said that the administration had hit the grand running right from the day of inauguration by identifying and prioritising the key areas of the SHINE agenda for implementation.
A statement by Mr Friday Aghedo, Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, said Idahosa spoke when he received the prestigious Peace Ambassador Award from the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA).
The award ceremony held at the deputy governor’s office during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the IAWPA led by the President, Amb. Per Stafsen, the South-South Coordinator/Edo state Director, Amb. Amos Areloegbe, and other zonal representatives.
READ ALSO:Okpebholo Warns Companies Against Fuelling Edo–Delta Boundary Dispute
“We pray, by the grace of God, Edo State will surpass the expectations of the people when we are through with our tenure,” he declared.
Idahosa described the recognition as a source of pride, not just for him, but for the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration.
“Governor Okpebholo is a man of peace, and his government stands firmly for peace. This award is a validation of his unwavering commitment to building a safe and harmonious Edo State,” he said.
The Deputy Governor emphasized that peace and security remain central pillars of the government’s five-point SHINE agenda, noting that collaboration with traditional institutions, religious leaders, and civil society organizations has been vital in sustaining stability across the state.
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“Peace is extremely important in any society. Where there is peace, there is security; where insecurity prevails, peace cannot exist.
“This recognition today strengthens our resolve to continue being ambassadors of peace,” Idahosa stated.
On his part, Amb. Amos Areloegbe noted that IAWPA, a United Nations–certified body aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), deliberately chose Edo State to commemorate the International Day of Non-Violence on October 2.
According to him, “Edo State remains one of the most peaceful states in the federation, hence our choice to celebrate here.”
The investiture was hailed by observers as not only an honour to Idahosa but also as an acknowledgment of Edo’s growing reputation as a bastion of peace under Governor Okpebholo’s leadership.
News
Ogoni Women Protest Resumption Of Oil Production, Demand Accountability In $1Bn Cleanup Funds

Ogoni women drawn from all works of life have come out to protest against the resumption of oil production in the area without proper negotiation.
The women expressed anger over the non-transparent nature of the entire oil resumption exercise, accusing the government of attempting to manipulate them into giving up on their demands as expressed in the Ogoni Bill of Rights (OBR).
The women further demanded that the Nigerian government account for $300million Ogoni infrastructure development fund which is alleged to have been diverted by some key government personalities in alliance with some Ogoni leaders.
They further demanded accountability for the $1Billion Ogoni cleanup funds which they said is a failed project.
READ ALSO:
The women, who marched on the streets of Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni, accused the government of neglecting the core demands of the Ogoni people including the demand for the creation of a Bori State and compensation for livelihood losses due to decades of devastating oil spills in the lands.
“We lost everything, crops, drinking water sources, food and farming lands and we now live with strange illnesses which ultimately will lead to our death. No one is interested in all that. The only thing the government is interested in is our oil resources. We reject the insensitivity of the government and we want to be heard”; one of the protesters who pleaded anonymity told Ogoninews.
Another speaker, Mrs Helen Huoma said the plot to resume oil production in Ogoni is deceptive.
“The oil industry people are always lying. They will tell us something and do another. When we ask our MOSOP leaders, they tell us they know nothing about what the government and the oil industry are doing. It’s all a bunch of confusion and deceit. We will resist this move because we paid heavily to give Ogoni a name and the pride it has today”
A woman identified as Janet from Gokana Local Government Area alleged that the Nigerian government has never been interested in the welfare of the Ogoni people.
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She alleged that the government had only been interested in the oil and after that, they appeased political leaders with contracts to suppress local residents.
“All they do is deceive the Ogoni people and we continue to suffer in the midst of abundant natural resources. If they can divert $300million, then how can we trust them? Before we start, let them account for the $300 million and the cleanup program which, at least, should have solved some basic problems.”
The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu had recently directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu to engage the NNPC Limited and work out modalities for the resumption of oil production in Ogoni. This directive followed a meeting with some Ogoni leaders in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa.
The president had also recently granted pardon to the Ogoni nine including Ken Saro-Wiwa and to four Ogoni leaders who were murdered on May 21, 1995. The Abacha regime had blamed Ken Saro-Wiwa for the murders and executed him along with 8 others on November 10, 1995 despite global outcry acknowledging their innocence.
Following the executions, a United Nations fact finding team visited Nigeria. The team acknowledged that the entire trial process was flawed and noted that Nigeria did not even follow the minimal prescription of its own laws in the conduct of the trial.
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