News
PHOTOS: Oporoza Stands Still As Amaseikumor Annual Festival Commences

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo
As early as 7:00am of Saturday, April 19, 2025, the King Coup’s Waterside of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Warri, Delta State, had been filled to its brim of people heading to Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. They were heading to the oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom for the Amaseikumor annual festival.
Taking off from the King Coup’s Waterside, Warri, it takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes on 200 Power Horse to arrive at Oporoza. And one thing noticeable and worth mentioning is the traffic on the waterways. The marine goddess popularly known as Mammy Water, no doubt, wound had been alerted with the movement of hundreds of speed boats that something important was happening in the creek.

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On the day 1 of the seven days event, Oporoza and by extension the Gbaramatu Kingdom has witnessed an unprecedented influx of dignitaries across the Ijaw Nation and beyond, including the diaspora. An estimated over 10,000 people are already in attendance on day one of the festival.
Giving journalists a pre-festival orientation, High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwei, said this year’s festival, so far, has recorded the highest number of attendees, adding that more people are expected particularly on the 25th of April.

High Chief Igbadiwei, while noting that programmes have been outlined for each day of the seven days festival, stressed that the day 1 of the festival is for Ancestral Worship and Ibolomobo-Ere. As at 6:00PM, activities for Ibolomobo-Ere and Ancestral Worship had commenced.
Inter-clans football matches were also played to herald the commencement of the festival.
Traditional rulers across various Ijaw clans and kingdom are also in attendance at this year’s Amaseikumor festival.

News
Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.
Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.
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La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.
The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.
He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.
A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.
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“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.
“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.
“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.
News
N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.
The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.
At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.
Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.
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Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.
“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.
“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.
This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”
“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
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“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”
Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.
Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.
Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.
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