News

Traditional Council Declares Three-month Mourning For Delta Monarch

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2024

Editor

A three-month mourning period has been declared for the late Ijaw monarch of Seimbiri Kingdom in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, Charles Ayemi-Botu.

The deceased, popularly known as the Lion of the Niger, was the first Executive Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria and the Life Patron of the body.

His death was formally announced on Saturday at a meeting of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Seimbiri Kingdom through the spokesman, Chief Alexander Ebisine, at Okpokunou, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom.

According to the spokesman, the monarch died on October 5, 2023. He was aged 75.

To mourn the monarch, the traditional council stated that there would be no social activities such as weddings and burials, throughout the mourning period beginning from Friday, January 5, 2023.

After the mourning period, the date would be announced for the funeral of the monarch, the council said.

The traditional council described the king as “a great ruler who came, saw, and conquered, leaving behind a trail of unprecedented development in the Seimbiri Kingdom during his 29-year reign on the throne”.

The spokesman stated, “On behalf of the Seimbiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, I wish to officially announce the transition of our most revered monarch, King Charles Ayemi-Botu, Paramount Ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, to the great beyond to join his ancestors.

“King Charles Ayemi-Botu passed away peacefully on October 5, 2023.

“Following the passage of our monarch, three months of mourning has been declared in the Seimbiri Kingdom.

“During this period, there will be no social activities such as marriages and burials, etc., throughout mourning”.

Ebisine noted that all sons and daughters of the Seimbiri Kingdom at home and in the diaspora are in a mourning mood and will remain so until the final burial ceremony is completed.

He said that a condolence register had been opened at the palace and his residence in Warri.

Also commenting on the incident, the Chairman of the Seimbiri Traditional Council of Chiefs, Chief T.M.O. Douglas, said the kingdom had lost a king whose voice on issues of development in the Niger Delta could not be surpressed.

With the kingdom in a mourning mood, he urged for calm just as he advised all to maintain the sanctity of the passage of the Seimbiri monarch.

The deceased was born on January 18, 1948, at Okpokunou in the then Western Ijaw.

He reigned for 29 years, having ascended the throne on April 4, 1995, when he was presented with the Staff of Office by the then Military Administrator of Delta State, Group Captain Ibrahim Kefas, after being crowned on April 2, 1994, in line with the customs and traditions of Seimbiri Kingdom.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

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

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

“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

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

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.

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).

“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.