News

Need For Ijaw To Tell Their Stories Themselves Take Centre Stage As IPF Is Inaugurated

Published

2 months ago

March 6, 2024

Editor

Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The need for Ijaw intellects to put her stories in the right perspective in the media took the centre stage recently at the inauguration of a body known as Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF), in Warri, Delta State.

The IPF is a body made up of Ijaw media entrepreneurs who aimed at narrating the Ijaw stories from the right perspective to the world in the media.

The colourful inauguration ceremony attended by ‘who-is-who’ in the Ijaw nation, had in attendance the immediate past deputy governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro; His Royal Majesty, Pere Stanley Luke-Kalanama VIII, Pere of Akugbene-Mien kingdom; APC deputy governorship candidate in the last election in Bayelsa State, Chief Joshua Maciver; High Chief Kestin Pondi who chaired the occasion.

Others are: Chief Favour Izuokumor; Executive Director of Social Services, Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC); Hon. Spencer Okpoye, Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality, DESOPADEC, ; Hon. keyness Oromoni, Senior Special Assistant to Delta State governor on Oil & Gas; Chief Sheriff Mulade, CEO, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, among others.

The Paddle of Niger Delta and Ijaw highlife super star, Barrister Smooth was also on ground to thrill guests as attendees particularly elated newly inaugurated members of executive of the IPF danced to his melodious Ijaw tones.

The newly inaugurated executives are: Comrade Austin Ozobo, President; Comrade Oyinbi Onduku, Vice President; Comrade Tare Magbei, Secretary; Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, Public Relations Officer; Comrade Friday Mingo, Treasurer; Comrade Mike Ugedi, Financial Secretary; Mr. Francis Abai, Senior Policy Analyst/Chief Researcher, and Prince Bibaikefie Peretengboro, Assistant Public Relations Officer.

In his opening speech, Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director, Tantita Security Network, Engr. Kestin Pondi, said it’s high time Ijaw told her stories to the world herself, insisting that no man can best tell a man’s story better than the man himself.

L-R: The newly inaugurated executives are: Comrade Austin Ozobo, President; Comrade Oyinbi Onduku, Vice President; Comrade Tare Magbei, Secretary; Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, Public Relations Officer; Comrade Friday Mingo, Treasurer; Comrade Mike Ugedi, Financial Secretary; Mr. Francis Abai, Senior Policy Analyst/Chief Researcher, and Prince Bibaikefie Peretengboro, Assistant Public Relations Officer, during the inauguration in Warri.

High Chief Pondi, represented by Chief Joshua Maciver, Bayelsa State Coordinator, Tantita Security Network, urged Ijaw elites particular members of the IPF to put right all the misconceptions and wrong narratives about Ijaw people in the media.

The Chairman of the occasion who said a body like IPF was long over due because of the critical role it will play in the days to come, urged members of the body to embark on research about the Ijaw people and make sure the wrong narratives are corrected.

He said: “One problem we have as a people, and of which other ethnic groups have gone far ahead of us, is research. I mean we seem not to have researchers in the Ijaw ethnic nationality, and if we have, then thet must be very few.

“I want to therefore appeal to the forum to encourage and promote education among the Ijaw ethnic nationality, and also go into research about Ijaw, without research we cannot go far.
With research you will know the truth about the Ijaw nation.

He urged the forum to also promote and preserve the Ijaw cultural heritage through their media work.

“People have wrong perceptions about our tradition, so, please encourage it and take it seriously,” he advised.

In his goodwill message, immediate past deputy governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, while appreciating those who initiated the idea of bringing Ijaw media practitioners under one umbrella, pledged his support to the body.

According to him, a body like the IPF is needed to put the Ijaw stories in the right narratives in the media.

Earlier, in his inaugural speech, the newly sworn president of the body, Comrade Austin Ozobo, said the IPF aimed at promoting ethical standards and professionalism among Ijaw publishers, writers and others.

He added that the Ijaw nation is in need of a strong indigenous media presence to articulate its common challenges, hence the setting up of the IPF.

Ozobo expressed the belief that stories of the Ijaw man will be better narrated by Ijaw sons and daughters , considering “how our common enemies manipulated the foreign media against the Ijaw people, leading to the continuous bombardment of Ijaw communities, killing of innocent people.”

“You will agree with me that the Ijaw nation is in need of indigenous media presence to articulate its common challenges revolving around balkanization, deprivation, marginalisation and internal slavery suffered by her people in the Niger Delta.

“Not only that,the media being the Fourth Estate of Realm needs a strong and balanced Ijaw-based media that will aid the development of Ijaw nation, reshaping Niger Delta’s intellectual Struggling for our people and will stand as a check and balance for the activities of the government and other stakeholders in the region and the country at large.”

He, therefore, “appealed to Ijaw leaders, private businessmen and political office holders to support and assist these Ijaw media volunteers and comrades to build a strong mainstream media and stay in the business “

News

Nigerian Emerges First Black Woman To Bag PhD In Robotics At Michigan Varsity

Published

10 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

A Nigerian woman, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, has made history as the first black woman to bag a PhD in Robotics at the University of Michigan in the United States.

Speaking at the university’s College of Engineering convocation, Dosunmu-Ogunbi, a daughter of Nigerian immigrants, spoke on the support she received in realising her aspirations.

She said, “I do not stand here on my own two feet alone. None of us got here by our individual merit alone, whether it be teacher, friends, family, mentors, or role models, we each have one or multiple people to whom we are grateful for making this moment possible.”

She added that she wants to be remembered as the University of Michigan’s first black woman to get a PhD in Robotics and she wants to use her knowledge in engineering to improve the lives of others.

She added, “A Michigan Engineer is one who does not just provide scientific and technological leadership, but is also one who is intellectually curious, socially conscious, creates collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promotes an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

“We each have a solemn duty to make positive contributions to the world. Well, my reasons for becoming an engineer were initially frivolous, but they eventually moved into something more meaningful. I want to have a positive impact on the world.”

The University of Michigan Robotics Department website describes Dosunmu-Ogunbi’s journey as one shared by many PhD students who initially lack a clear vision for their final goals.

It added that Dosunmu-Ogunbi has been an active community builder in robotics, earning an MLK Spirit Award from the College of Engineering for mentoring and inspiration as well as being named an outreach ambassador by Robotics for three years, 2021–2023.

The Department also disclosed that she was named a runner-up in the
College of Engineering’s three–minute thesis competition and has been inducted into the Bouchet Society, which recognises outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity in graduate education and the professoriate.

Dosunmu-Ogunbi is currently interviewing for faculty positions, the department revealed.

News

Delta Bloodbath: Relief As Army Withdraws Soldiers From Okuama Community

Published

10 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army who have been laying siege on the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State since March 14, 2024, following the killing of 17 army officers and soldiers on a peace mission, have been pulled out from the community.

Local sources from Akugbene and Okoloba communities in Bomadi Local Government Area told newsmen on Wednesday that “the military troops were sighted suddenly pulling out of Okuama community on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.”

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, while confirming the troops withdrawal from Okuama community, lauded President Bola Tinubu and the military high command for their interventions.

Oborevwori, at a media briefing, said that with the withdrawal of the troops, the people of Okuama could now safely return to their homes and begin the process of reintegration and rebuilding their homes and community.

The governor said, “My dear good people of Delta State, I have the pleasure to announce to you that, upon many deliberations and collaborations between the state government and the military leadership, the Nigerian Army has agreed to withdraw its officers and men from Okuama.

“I spoke with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Monday, 6th of May, and as of today, 8th of May, 2024, the military has withdrawn from Okuama.

“With this development, the people of Okuama can now safely return to their homes and begin the process of reintegration and rebuilding their homes.”

Although Oberevwori had earlier appealed to indigenes and farmers to move into a rehabilitation camp being set up for Internally Displaced Persons by the state government “for proper welfare as a first step towards their resettlement to their community,” Okuama leaders had reportedly expressed reluctance to yield to the governor’s call regarding IDPs.

The Chairman of the State Government Committee to manage the Ewu IDP Camp, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, who affirmed that the governor had already released N10 million to the Committee to ease the take-off of the Camp site at Ewu Grammar School lamented the noticeable lack of willingness by the Okuama indigenes to move into the IDP camp despite the efforts being put in place.

News

Activists To Protest Reporter’s Detention In Abuja Thursday

Published

10 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

Protesters have vowed to storm the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday, over the prolonged detention of a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Daniel Ojukwu.

On Wednesday, flyers circulating on social media shared by activists, journalists and other Nigerians called people to “join us for a peaceful protest at the police headquarters Abuja on Thursday by 9am”.

Former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, also shared the flyer on X which had the reporter’s image, captioning it “An end to #CybercrimeAct2015Now. Let’s all be there at 9 am tomorrow (Thursday).”

Human rights group, the Take It Back Movement, also posted on X, “We will be here tomorrow at 9 am, prompt! Join us. #FreeDanielOjukwu.”

The group’s coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, further confirmed to our correspondent in an interview, “We are rallying all our members to participate in the protest. This is democracy and the police are not bigger than the law.”

A lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, also wrote on X, “The protest at the Force Headquarters will also be an opportunity to protest against cybercrime levy.”

Ojukwu was picked up Wednesday, May 1, 2024, by the police on the streets of Lagos and was transferred to the Nigeria Police Force-National Cyber Crime Centre in Abuja on Sunday.

Widespread condemnations have trailed the journalist’s abduction even as the police maintain that a petition was filed against the journalist but have not given details.

The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, condemned the reporter’s abduction.

“The police cannot detain somebody for seven days under any law in Nigeria as we speak,” he had told The PUNCH on Tuesday.

FIJ on Monday reported that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was behind the petition that led to the abduction of Ojukwu by the police.

According to the media house, the petition is in relation to FIJ’s coverage of alleged financial mismanagement in the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

In one of its investigative pieces on the office, FIJ had reported how a sum of N147.1m reportedly meant for the building of classrooms and a skill acquisition centre was allegedly sent to the account of a restaurant.

But in a statement on its X handle on Monday, the OSSAP-SDGs denied the allegation, describing it as “false from the onset.”

The statement said the office “has been transparent in its operations and project implementation processes” and noted that “therefore, the assertion that our project was sponsored by a restaurant is false and baseless.”

The Director of the Cyber Crime Centre, Uche Ifeanyi, on Tuesday, told The PUNCH the bail conditions for the detained journalist who has spent seven days in custody had not been met.

“We’ve served them papers for bail conditions. I think the problem is they’ve not been able to meet up with the bail conditions. The person they brought on Monday could not even produce an ID card. They brought someone on Tuesday who is not a civil servant. You know how sensitive the case is. So, once they bring the civil servant of measure, we will know,” he said.

FIJ’s founder, Fisayo Soyombo said on Tuesday it was “insane” to keep the journalist for that long. “I can’t believe this is happening in a democracy. The law is clear. If you feel that something false has been published against you, the process is laid down, you go to court and institute a case. You can’t just pick someone in Gestapo style and claim the person has a case to answer.”