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Ogbuku Receives Award Of Excellence For Commitment To Gender Equality

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Ogbuku Receives Award Of Excellence For Commitment To Gender Equality
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has received a Special Award of Excellence in recognition of his commitment to gender equality and the advancement of women.
The award was presented to him during the 2026 Bayelsa State Convention of the National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, held at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, with the theme: “Women: Crown for Influence; Your Voice, Your Values, Your Vision.”
This was contained in a statement by NNDCs Director, Corporate Affairs,

Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Oyintonyo Michael-Olomu emphasised the importance of women using their voices to promote positive influence, leadership and social transformation. She noted that women were cut out for leadership and urged them to use their voices as instruments of power, authority and unity, stressing that their influence should be used to uplift others rather than bring them down.
She further stated that women could only wield meaningful influence when their voices were guided by strong values, adding that values determine the extent to which individuals can succeed and make a positive impact. She also emphasised the importance of vision, noting that women could not effectively influence society without a clear sense of purpose and direction.
Also speaking at the event, the wife of the Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Douye Diri, reminded women of the significance of the “crown” they carry, noting that the way they conduct and present themselves speaks volumes about their character and values.
The highlight of the convention was the presentation of the Award of Excellence to the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, by the National Council for Women Societies. It was presented by the First Lady of Bayelsa State, Dr. (Mrs.) Douye Diri, in recognition of his commitment to gender equality.
Receiving the award on behalf of the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, the Commission’s Director of Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs. Ahunna Imoni, expressed appreciation to the NCWS for the honour done to Ogbuku.
She described the recognition as well-deserved, noting that Ogbuku had consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing women through initiatives that promote access to skills, healthcare, and other areas that positively impact their lives.
Imoni further highlighted the efforts of the NDDC under Ogbuku’s management to support women across the Niger Delta, assuring that the Commission remained committed to doing more to advance women’s well-being and empowerment in the region.

Bayelsa Starlets Academy Knows NLO League One Opponents

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Bayelsa Starlets Academy Knows NLO League One Opponents

‎… Yenagoa Picked As NLO League One Centre
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‎Bayelsa Starlets Football Academy, affiliated to FC Barcelona of Spain,will battle thirteen teams across the South South region in the Yenagoa centre in the Nationwide League One.
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‎Starlets who took part in the just concluded Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup pre-season tournament have been in an intensive preparation engaging in quality friendly matches ahead of the NLO Season.
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‎According to a release by the league body, five Yenagoa-based sides will go head to head with each other in the Yenagoa centre with the rest of the teams coming from Rivers, Delta, Edo and Akwa Ibom State.
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‎The five Bayelsa-based sides are 2026 Prosperity Cup semi finalists, Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry (MLDM FC), Bayelsa United Feeders, AJ Inter Soccer FA , Bayelsa Football Academy and Bayelsa Starlets Academy.
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‎Other participating teams in the centre include; Winsome Feeders FC of Delta, Benedi United FC of Rivers, Dolphin ACA FC Rivers, Impact YWAM FC, Rivers Obago FC of Rivers, Iwere FC Delta, Junosa FC Edo State and Uchenna Kanu Football Academy of Akwa-Ibom State.
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‎The NLO will commence on Saturday, 15th August, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
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‎Reacting to the development, Deputy Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr. Perela Aboro remarked that the competition would provide another platform for the lads to showcase their potentials.
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‎Aboro, who noted that the NLO continues to be a key component of Nigeria’s football calendar, serving as a pathway to domestic leagues, national teams, and European opportunities expressed confidence that the lads would give all the teams in the group a run for their money due to the team’s level of preparation.
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‎Mr. Aboro asserted that NLO has become more attractive to high-net-worth individuals and businesses seeking prestige, maintaining that the league has become a launchpad for the development of players.
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‎”I am happy that the NLO will be starting on the 15th of August, 2026. As you are aware, the NLO is a league that provides opportunity to give young players the platform for greatness” he stated
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‎”For Bayelsa Starlets, I am confident that the lads will put up a very good display because the team is blessed with an abundance of talents and experienced technical adviser, Edema Fuludu, Mr Aboro added.
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‎Also Assistant Coach, Freeborn Onome said the just concluded Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup pre- season tournament has shown what they intend to face when the league commences, stressing that the technical crew was leaving nothing to chance ensuring that the lads compete favourably with their peers.

Exercise Your Civic Responsibility, NDDC Urges UNIUYO Students

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Exercise Your Civic Responsibility, NDDC Urges UNIUYO Students
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commenced a sensitisation programme to educate students on the importance of voter registration and active participation in the nation’s electoral process.
Speaking during the sensitisation programme for students at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the NDDC Director, Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Oritsejolone, stressed the need to strengthen democratic participation and encourage responsible citizenship.
A statement by NDDCs, Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama said that Oritsejolone, who represented the NDDC Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Patience Ezugu, noted that informed and registered voters were essential to building a strong democracy. He stated: “Our goals and objectives are to empower youths with the knowledge they need to participate confidently and responsibly in the electoral process. Every eligible citizen deserves the opportunity to make their voices heard.”
The Director advised students of eligible age to take advantage of the opportunity to exercise their civic duty, stating: “You are the heart of the New Nigeria we all seek; your energy, brilliance and voice will determine the direction our nation takes.”
“For your voices to be heard, you need to take the simple, powerful step: register to vote, collect your PVC, without which you cannot exercise your Civic responsibility.”
Oritsejolone further stated, “I have great passion for youths; anything about youths, I show keen interest, as such I accepted to partner with the Project New Nigeria to make this event a reality in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration which emphasises youth empowerment, civic responsibility, inclusive governance and the rebuilding of public trust in the democratic institutions.”
He said, “it resonates with the current vision of the NDDC management, which is deliberately shifting the Commission’s operations from a transactional approach to transformational developmental mandates. One that prioritizes people, community, and sustainable impact.”
The Convener, Project New Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Nzidee said the project was a new way of thinking, a new way of leading the society. He stated, “There are many challenges you face as students, and we are here to assist you with some.”
He said youths were the leaders and decision-makers of tomorrow, noting, however, that this could only be achieved through the electoral process. Nzidee advised them to register and collect their PVCs, which he said is their power to vote. He stated, “You should use your votes to request a better future, to use your vote to demand a seat at the table.
The Project New Nigeria team paid tuition fees for 210 students, including 10 persons living with disabilities. The organisation also distributed electronic tablets to 15 100-level students.
Nzidee commended the NDDC for its partnership and providing Institutional support to Project New Nigeria, which made the event a reality.
One of the participants, Mr. Moses Patrick, a student in the Philosophy Department and beneficiary of the electronic tablet, expressed delight, thanked the NDDC and its partner for organising the event, and asked for more in the future.

Clearing Misconception about the Jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court over Human Trafficking- Fatai Abiodun Esq

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Clearing Misconception about the Jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court over Human Trafficking- Fatai Abiodun Esq

Fatai Abiodun Esq

 

Recently, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Jos Judicial Division, presided over by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Galadima, convicted Victoria Ugwu, Rita Agboeze (Satty) and Prophetess Glory Nwachukwu for trafficking children and sentenced them to two years’ imprisonment and ₦250,000 fine each.

 

This is not the first time the Industrial Court would be sentencing a convict on a human trafficking offence. In Attorney-General of the Federation v. Magnus Iheanacho Suit No. NICN/ABJ/162/2013. Magnus Iheanacho was prosecuted over the taking of a 12-year-old girl, Eucharia Uka, from her parents under the pretext that she would assist in caring for children in his household. The original prosecution had commenced before the Federal High Court, but the matter was transferred to the National Industrial Court on 23 May 2013 pursuant to an order of Justice A. Abdu-Kafarati, of blessed memory, in light of the jurisdictional position at the time. Justice Lifu subsequently heard the matter at the NICN. Justice Lifu expressly connected the case to the constitutional jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court. In discussing the child abuse involved, he referred to section 254C(1)(i) and (5) of the Constitution, observing that the sexual abuse constituted child abuse criminalised by the constitutional framework and the convict was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment.

 

In Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Ogierakhi Joyce Amenze (a.k.a. Mama Blossom), Suit No. NICN/BEN/1C/2021, Justice Adunola Adewemimo of the National Industrial Court, Benin Division, convicted the defendant for trafficking-related offences. The case involved the recruitment of adult women for prostitution in South Africa.

 

Similarly, in FRN v. Fatima Joy Odiri Joseph, NICN/BEN/1C/2022, the defendant, Fatima Joseph, was prosecuted by NAPTIP for trafficking two 14-year-old girls from Benin City to Burkina Faso for prostitution. The prosecution’s case was that she recruited the two girls of 14 years old in Benin City and facilitated their movement to her brother in Burkina Faso, where they were to be sexually exploited. This places the case squarely within the protective purpose of the trafficking legislation and the constitutional concern with child abuse and human trafficking.

 

However, following the recent convictions of Victoria Ugwu, Rita Agboeze (Satty) and Prophetess Glory Nwachukwu in Jos Division, there appears to be a misconception among some members of the legal profession that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, being principally associated with labour and employment disputes, lacks jurisdiction to try offences of human trafficking. This position overlooks the constitutional transformation of the Court’s jurisdiction by the Third Alteration to the 1999 Constitution.

 

I had this argument with a colleague of mine in law School when he posited that the National Industrial Court is a labour court with only civil jurisdiction. I quickly drew his attention to the Constitutional provision that grants the court criminal jurisdiction, with the understanding that few universities in Nigeria offer Labour law as a course in the Law faculty. This has a significant impact on the issue of understanding of NICN under the current dispensation. The first point of contact for many lawyers on issues bordering on trafficking is the Federal High Court without looking attentively to the issues as to the fact of the case. The Third Alteration to the Constitution became a game changer. Special thanks to the founding fathers.

 

The father of the modern National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo (Rtd) posited that the jurisdiction of the modern NICN cannot be determined solely by reference to its historical identity as a labour court or by the pre-Third Alteration limitations of the National Industrial Court Act. Justice Adejumo succinctly stated that where the Constitution expressly places matters such as child labour, child abuse and human trafficking within section 254C(1)(i), and section 254C(5) expressly confers criminal jurisdiction in causes and matters arising from the constitutionally assigned subject matters, the Court possesses the constitutional competence to exercise that jurisdiction, subject always to the particular charge falling within the prescribed constitutional subject matter.

 

The President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip posited that the Court’s jurisdiction should be determined by the subject matter of the dispute, rather than mechanically asking whether there is a conventional employer–employee contract. Justice Kanyip’s broader approach to section 254C supports the proposition that the provision must be read according to its actual constitutional language, rather than according to the historical name of the Court.

 

It is important to state that Section 254C(1)(i) expressly confers jurisdiction on the National Industrial Court in matters “connected with or related to child labour, child abuse, human trafficking or any matter connected therewith or related thereto.”

 

Human trafficking is therefore not merely an incidental matter to labour disputes but an expressly recognised head of the Court’s constitutional jurisdiction. The recent decision in The People of Plateau State v. Victoria Ugwu demonstrates this position, as the Court upheld its jurisdiction to entertain a charge of human trafficking under section 13 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

 

In Mr. Afamefuna Nwankwo v. Onitsha South Transport Company Ltd & Ors, Suit No. NICN/EN/23/2020, judgment delivered 6 August 2024, Justice Oluwakayode Arowosegbe gave a broad interpretation of the constitutional transformation brought about by the Third Alteration. His Lordship observed that the NICN’s jurisdiction is not confined to conventional employer-versus-employee disputes. In discussing the constitutional provisions, Justice Arowosegbe stated that the inclusion of child labour, child abuse and human trafficking in section 254C(1)(i) demonstrates the expansive character of the jurisdiction conferred on the NICN by the Third Alteration Act.

 

However, the decision in The People of Plateau State v. Rita Agboeze (Satty) equally demonstrates that the constitutional jurisdiction should not be interpreted as conferring unlimited criminal jurisdiction over every offence created by the TIPPEA Act. The proper approach is to examine the precise offence charged and determine whether it falls within the subject matter expressly assigned to the National Industrial Court by section 254C. The debate, therefore, is not whether the National Industrial Court is a “labour court” incapable of trying criminal offences, but whether the particular criminal charge falls within the constitutional boundaries of its jurisdiction.

 

In The People of Plateau State v. Victoria Ugwu, NICN/JOS/CR/2/2025, the defence relied on section 36(1) of the TIPPEA Act, arguing that jurisdiction over offences under the Act was vested in the High Court. It therefore contended that bringing the human-trafficking charge before the NICN was improper. The Court held that once human trafficking is within the subject-matter jurisdiction of section 254C(1)(i), section 254C(5) supplies the constitutional basis for the Court’s criminal jurisdiction over that subject matter. His Lordship’s conclusion was unequivocal: “Human trafficking, particularly where children are involved, falls squarely within the constitutional remit of this Court.”

 

Justice Galadima did not treat trafficking simply as the physical movement of a person from one place to another. His Lordship’s approach identifies three broad components: an act – recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt; a prohibited means – threat, force, coercion, deception, abuse of power or payment; and an exploitative purpose – the intention that the person be exploited.

 

Justice Galadima rejected the proposition that “If the parents voluntarily gave the child away, there cannot be trafficking.” His lordship’s reasoning was that consent obtained through deception does not legitimise the underlying fraudulent conduct. The fact that a parent physically hands over a child voluntarily does not necessarily eliminate trafficking where the consent was induced by deception. This position is potentially an important precedent for future child-trafficking prosecutions.

 

In conclusion, the proposition that the National Industrial Court is merely a “labour court” incapable of trying human-trafficking offences is no longer sustainable when measured against the constitutional text, the judicial history of the Court and its developing jurisprudence. The more accurate legal question is not whether the NICN is a labour court, but whether the particular criminal charge falls within the subject-matter jurisdiction expressly conferred upon the Court by section 254C of the Constitution. On that formulation, human trafficking occupies a unique position because the Constitution itself expressly names it as a matter within the Court’s jurisdiction.

 

Fatai Abiodun Esq

A Legal Practitioner; Constitutional and Developmental Law Researcher writes from Abuja.

fatai.abiodun200709@gmail.com

NDDC Equips Akwa Ibom Women For Entrepreneurship

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NDDC Equips Akwa Ibom Women For Entrepreneurship
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by empowering women with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to achieve economic independence and sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking during the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the NDDC Director, Akwa Ibom State Office, Engr. Evong Evong said the Commission remained committed to human capital development, and providing women with the skills and support needed to become self-reliant entrepreneurs and contributors to economic development is one of the many initiatives of the Commission.
Evong noted that the annual celebration of International Women’s Day had become a tradition in the NDDC, adding that this year’s programme captured the essence of the theme: “Rights, Justice and Action for Women and Girls.”
According to the Director, “Women have the right to stand alongside men as entrepreneurs, exporters and active contributors to society. The NDDC is committed to promoting justice by creating opportunities for women to access business support and loan facilities without discrimination. Beyond celebrating women, we are taking action by empowering them with the knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed.”
He encouraged participants to register with the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, to access business support services, mentorship and low-interest financing that would help them expand their businesses.
Evong emphasised that women occupied a strategic position in economic development, noting that empowering women would lead to stronger families, prosperous communities, and sustainable regional development.
The Head of Business Development, Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Aaron Michael King, delivered a lecture on women’s health, highlighting the importance of preventing and managing hypertension, diabetes, pregnancy-related health issues, menopause, and other health challenges. He urged participants to prioritise regular medical check-ups, stressing that good health remained essential for business success.
The representative of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mrs. Christiana Sylvanus, enlightened the participants on practical steps to simplify exportation, overcome challenges faced by exporters, identify foreign markets, understand product demand, and leverage international trade opportunities.
Also speaking, the Board Secretary of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, Dr. Solomon Edebiri presented a lecture on Business Growth and Sustainability, urging participants to embrace sound management practices that would ensure long-term business success.
One of the participants, Mrs. Atim Okon Efiong expressed appreciation to the NDDC for organising the programme, describing it as an eye-opening experience that had equipped her with valuable entrepreneurial knowledge.
Another participant, Mrs. Ubong Roslyn, said the health session had inspired her to take regular medical check-ups seriously, noting that good health was indispensable for every successful entrepreneur.

NDDC Empowers Women To Build Wealth With Skills, Entrepreneurship

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NDDC Empowers Women To Build Wealth With Skills, Entrepreneurship
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it is partnering with private sector organisations in the Niger Delta region to train women to harness their skills, talents, and local resources to create wealth and build sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking during an empowerment programme commemorating the 2026 International Women’s Day in Asaba, Delta State, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, challenged women to take practical steps towards economic independence through dedication and continuous learning to grow their businesses.
In a statement by NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama noted that Ebie, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Dr. Godwin Edozie, advised the women to take the training seriously, noting that it was designed to help them grow their businesses, improve product quality and packaging, access new markets, and compete effectively in the global marketplace, thereby creating wealth for their families, communities, and the nation.
He reaffirmed NDDC’s commitment to advancing gender equality by providing an environment that helps women and girls thrive, lead, and contribute meaningfully to national and global development.
He stated, “As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we call on governments, private institutions, civil society and individuals to work together to break barriers, challenge stereotypes and create a more equitable future for all.” He said the NDDC is committed to inclusive development, community engagement and initiatives that empower individuals and strengthen society through partnerships, advocacy and sustainable programmes.
The NDDC Director, Culture and Women Affairs, Mrs. Ahunna Imoni, commended the women for their hard work and commitment. She stated, “Women are very important to society, whether they are educated or not.” She encouraged women to be active by engaging in what would enable them to help their families and society.
Imoni urged them to show the world what they can do by taking their business to the next level and showcasing it globally. She said, “The current NDDC board is a unique one which supports women’s affairs, so this is the time for women of the region to maximize it. When you empower women, you empower the family, community, and society.”
She advised them to embrace the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture to access low-interest loans to boost their business.
One of the Resource persons, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, Board Secretary, Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCTIMA, spoke on Business Growth and Sustainability, noting that “starting a business is an achievement, but growing it and ensuring it remains successful over time is the actual measure of entrepreneurial success.”
He stated, “Business growth and sustainability are interconnected, but growth focuses on expanding operations, increasing revenue, and reaching new markets, while sustainability ensures that the market remains profitable, resilient, socially responsible, and adaptable to future challenges.
One of the participants, Aniefor Ishioma from Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, said she learnt so much from the event that she would be able to separate her capital from her profit and manage her business to grow and make more gains.

Come To Niger Delta, NDDC Boss Urges Investors

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Come To Niger Delta, NDDC Boss Urges Investors
The NDDC Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has urged public and private organisations to invest in the Niger Delta Region as it is now conducive and safe.
Speaking during the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, Delta State, Ogbuku described the oil-rich region as richly endowed and a haven for investors.
The NDDC boss acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that the Renewed Hope Agenda has transformed the Niger Delta region into a peaceful and viable environment for investment.
He commended the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for organizing the summit, which he said would attract investors to the state and the Niger Delta Region. He also congratulated the Governor on his achievements in infrastructural development in the State.
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, stated that the country’s economic situation had improved, and President Tinubu deserved commendation rather than condemnation.
He stated: “From reserves of three billion dollars ($3b), when we were experiencing capital flight and capital scarcity, now we are experiencing the capital influx that our foreign reserves have gone up to fifty-two billion ($52b) and counting in a turbulent world.” “I think the President deserves commendation.”
Shettima further stated that the people of Delta State were educated and enterprising, a state so endowed and qualified as an investment destination of the first order. He said: “The purpose of the summit is the call to harness our strength and unlock our potentials.”
“It is a timely awakening because potential has no economic value unless it is organized, financed and put to work.”
In his speech, the Delta State Governor said the summit was not just another talk show, noting: “It showcases our vision and strong will to reposition the state’s economy and enhance its competitiveness in business.”
Oborevwori affirmed that the state was safe for investment and was ready for investors to come in. He said though oil has helped the state, there was a need for diversification as the state would not depend on oil alone.
He declared: “This government has prioritised sound public financial management anchored on careful budgeting, physical discipline, judicious allocation of resources, transparency and accountability, matched with excellent service delivery.”
He said, “Despite the huge investment in improving public infrastructure, we have not borrowed a kobo from any bank, and we do not intend to borrow.” He said the state is safe for prospective investors to invest without hindrance.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said Delta State could become Nigeria’s fourth industrial hub by harnessing its talent and unlocking its potential.
Okonjo-Iweala observed that trade was going digital and Delta State was ready for it. She advised Governor Oborevwori to take advantage of the growing digital infrastructure and AI
The DG of the World Trade Organisation said Nigeria was well endowed, but endowment alone does not add value; budgetary allocation alone does not lead to new roads and a good maintenance culture.
According to her, “We need a better maintenance culture, we need better Ports and digital infrastructure, and lower trade costs. Execution is what matters, and successful execution requires focus and privatisation.”

Gov Diri Raises Scrabble Classic Prize Money 

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Gov Diri Raises Scrabble Classic Prize Money 
…Directs Introduction Of Mind Game In Bayelsa Schools
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has announced an increase in the prize money for the Diri National Scrabble Classic.
Speaking during the closing ceremonies of the sixth edition on Sunday night in Yenagoa, the state capital, an impressed Governor Diri announced that the winner of the Masters category in next edition will get N5 million and the total prize money raised to N40 million from N20 million.
The Bayelsa governor also directed the Commissioners for Sports and his Education counterpart to work out the modalities for the game to be introduced in secondary schools in the state, saying it would help develop students mentally.
Senator Diri said scrabble developed his vocabulary, spelling and thinking ability while growing up, noting that it is a mind game that builds the intellect and strategic thinking.
His words: “Scrabble is a game I started playing as a youth and it helped my vocabulary and spelling ability. Today, I am very happy to hear the waves this tournament has made not only in our country but also beyond it and I like to appreciate all of you who have made the game interesting.
“Scrabble is a mind game. It is something that I will personally recommend even for our secondary schools as this is not just a sport, it is also education.
“The importance of scrabble cannot be over-emphasised as it makes you think strategically. We will continue to support the game till I leave office.
“Next year will be the last time I will have this interaction with you. So, in the next edition, the prize money for the Masters winner will be N5 million and the general category will be N40 million.”
Responding to requests from President of the Nigeria scrabble Federation, Engr. Bright Idahosa, the Bayelsa helmsman promised to influence the introduction of scrabble in the 2028 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in the state as well as support players from Nigeria participating in the World Youth Scrabble Championship in Kenya this weekend.
He said the state’s investment in sports was due to the abundance of talents and the desire of his administration to harness them and engage youths positively.
“We have the hosting right for the 2028 National Sports Festival and the practice is that as host, you can introduce some new games, and scrabble will be part of it. We will also support those going to Kenya as requested.
“We have a lot of talented youths and sports is one way to develop them. We are among the top sporting states in Nigeria and that is why we are investing in sports to develop our talents.”
In his remarks, Engr. Bright Idahosa said scrabble brought global attention to Nigeria after the country won the world championship in 2015 and that the game has continued to gain national and international prominience.
He said the NSF was profoundly gratitude to Governor Diri for his unrelenting support for the game, saying it reverberates all over as Nigeria is the best scrabble playing nation in Africa and the world.
Idahosa hailed the performance of the governor, whom he described as a silent achiever while highlighting some of his infrastructure development projects in the state.
The Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, in his remarks, said scrabble was a mind sport that needed to be supported and celebrated.
He also stated that the 2028 national sports festival would be the best in the country, saying work on the 30,000-capacity and 15,000-capacity stadia was progressing well and will be delivered on schedule.
Also speaking, Chairman, Bayelsa State Scrabble Association, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said this year’s edition was significant as it had the highest number of registered players in any scrabble tournament in the country with over 300 participants just as it offered the highest prize money so far.
Alabrah appreciated Governor Diri for supporting scrabble, saying it has redefined and increased the interest of youths in the game in Nigeria.
He said the state scrabble association alongside the NSF would work towards making the next edition an international tournament as the just ended classic had participant from Ghana.
He also stated that the edition witnessed some improvements such as online registration, online recording of scores and live-streaming, which took the game to the entire world as it was on.
Abdulmimin Jimoh emerged champion of the Masters and took home the N2 million prize and a trophy while Bayelsa-born Felix Igolukumo won the Intermidiate category with N1.2 million and a trophy, and his compatriot, Godwin Angoye, came tops in the Opens with a prize of N700,000 and a trophy.
For the third time, Mr. Oladokun Esan took the Veterans category and a N900,000 prize and trophy while Godwin Joseph claimed the top spot in the Students category with a N150,000 prize and trophy.
Each category had between 10 and 15 prize winners while the governor announced a special gift of N1 million each to seven-year-old Abdulsalam Yusuf from Kwara State and nine-year-old Bayelsa-born Elizabeth Fun-ere.
Highpoint of the event was the exhibition game between the NSF president and the governor, which the latter won.

NDDC To Sustain Women’s Economic Empowerment

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NDDC To Sustain Women’s Economic Empowerment
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, says it will not relent in promoting women’s economic empowerment and gender equality through capacity-building programmes designed to prepare them for greater participation in agriculture, entrepreneurship and international trade.
Speaking during the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration in Owerri, the Imo State Representative on the NDDC Board, Dr. Kyrian Uchegbu, noted that the Commission had launched an Agricultural Investment Fund targeted at women.
In a statement by, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, NDDC, Director, Corporate Affairs noted that Uchegbu said, “This International Women’s Day training for Imo State women is a preparatory programme in view of what the NDDC is ready to do for them. If we do not prepare them before they access the funds, they may not get it right.
“The importance of today’s programme is to prepare them to fit into the wide range of programmes that the NDDC has for them, including opportunities in the export of agro-based products.”
In his remarks, the NDDC Director, Imo State Office, Mr. Patrick Obayelu, described International Women’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements and reflect on the need to promote gender equality and inclusive development.
He said: “International Women’s Day is not only a day of celebration but also a time for reflection. It provides an opportunity to recognise the remarkable contributions of women in leadership, governance, education, business, science, healthcare and community development. Their resilience, innovation and dedication continue to shape stronger families, communities and nations.”
He added that building a society where every woman and girl could thrive without barriers required collaboration among governments and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, the Imo State Commissioner for Health and Social Services, Dr. Chioma Egu, commended the NDDC for extending the programme to the state and creating opportunities for women to acquire knowledge that would enhance their personal and business development.
An official of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mr. Anthony Aguruchi, trained participants on developing export-ready businesses. On his part, the Board Secretary of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, Dr Solomon Edebiri, spoke on business growth and sustainability.
One of the participants, Mrs. Nkiruka Nwosu, expressed appreciation to the NDDC, noting that the training had provided practical knowledge that would improve the sustainability of her interior decoration business.
She said: “The teachings have been very enlightening for my business. I have learnt how to manage my staff and my finances to sustain my business.”
In a similar programme in Umuahia, the NDDC Director of Youths and Women Affairs, Mrs. Ahunna Imoni, described women as indispensable partners in the development of families, communities and the nation, stressing that the Commission remained committed to creating opportunities that would enable them to excel.
She noted that the annual celebration reflected the Commission’s recognition of the resilience, creativity and industrious spirit of women across the Niger Delta.
According to her: “Women play critical roles in every sector of society, and the NDDC will continue to champion initiatives that promote their growth and economic independence. We encourage women to take bold steps in business, embrace innovation and seize available opportunities to improve their lives and contribute meaningfully to society.”
Mrs. Imoni urged women to build sustainable businesses, know their rights and strive for equal opportunities, emphasising that empowering women meant stronger families, thriving communities and sustainable regional development.

Nigeria, AfDB Push for African Control of Mineral Wealth: can a Unified African Framework Emerge?

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Nigeria, AfDB Push for African Control of Mineral Wealth: can a Unified African Framework Emerge?

By Fatai Abiodun Esq

According to the report posted by Thisday[1], Nigeria and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have renewed calls for African countries to take greater control of the continent’s vast mineral resources through local value addition, regional cooperation, strategic financing and ownership of mineral data to ensure that Africa derives greater economic benefits from its natural wealth.

The call was made at the Ministerial Forum on Critical Minerals, Value Chain and Beneficiation: Pathways for African Transformation, held under the auspices of the AfDB in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, urged African mineral-producing nations to abandon isolated national approaches and embrace regional collaboration to unlock the full economic potential of the continent’s mineral resources.

Alake stressed that while the campaign for local beneficiation had opened new opportunities for economic independence, African nations must now develop practical strategies that would enable them to take full control of their mineral assets.

The above demand exposes the dichotomy between the Global South and Global North classification. Under International Development Law, the Global South-Global North binary serves an indispensable critical function by exposing enduring structures of colonial and economic domination. Yet as feminist, postcolonial, and decolonial scholars demonstrate, the binary also risks essentializing identities, obscuring internal inequalities, and reproducing the hierarchies it seeks to challenge.[2]

Nigeria and the African Development Bank (AfDB )’s renewed call for African countries to take greater control of the continent’s vast mineral resources is in line with the demand for a new binding protocol to the African Charter that would declare “extractive dependency” a violation of the right to development and require African states to adopt a unified bargaining framework.

This is not the first time a call of this nature would come to existence; Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana)[3] was perhaps the strongest advocate of African political and economic unity. Kwame, under his famous work, Africa Must Unite, argued that Africa would never achieve genuine development if individual states remained economically dependent on former colonial powers.

Kwame advocated for the creation of a United States of Africa, a common industrial policy, African ownership of natural resources, Continental economic planning and Rejection of neo-colonial economic structures.[4]

Julius Nyerere (Tanzania) believed African countries were too small individually to compete globally. He promoted regional integration, self-reliance, African socialism (Ujamaa), and industrial cooperation. He argued that exporting raw materials while importing finished products kept Africa permanently poor.[5]

Adebayo Adedeji[6] was a Nigerian economist, academic, and statesman whose work helped shape African development policy in the late twentieth century. Adedeji is best known for serving as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) from 1975 to 1991, where he became a leading advocate for African economic integration and self-directed development strategies, arguing for development approaches tailored to African conditions rather than relying exclusively on externally designed structural adjustment programs. His ideas significantly influenced debates on economic policy across the continent.

One of the foremost Professors of law, Prof. Ahmed Garba, during one of his classes in International Developmental Law, advocated for home-grown solutions and opined that Africa should develop its own standards for the governance, extraction, processing, and commercialisation of its natural resources because externally imposed standards have often failed to reflect the continent’s unique developmental priorities and socioeconomic realities.

No doubt that Africa’s underdevelopment resulted largely from centuries of exploitation and unequal integration into the global economy. It is important to emphasise that exporting raw materials while importing manufactured goods entrenched dependency and was in violation of the right to development.

Drawing on critical legal scholarship on neocolonialism, dependency theory advocate Samir Amin, and post-colonial international law expert, Chimni’s work on Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), there is a need to interrogate whether the new scramble represents a rupture from or a continuity of the 19th-century colonial scramble.[7]

While Alake and AfDB call for a unified framework for African countries to take greater control of the continent’s vast mineral resources is in order, the question is whether a unified African legal framework for resource governance could emerge under the Africa Mineral Strategy Group (AMSG), and the Africa Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), or do the structural asymmetries of global capital and geopolitics could render such efforts futile?

Also, how should a decolonial theory of international development law reconceptualise “sovereignty over natural resources” (UNGA Resolution 1803) in an era of extractive dependency and Great Power rivalry?

From the perspective of dependency theorists such as Samir Amin, the Lobito Corridor and TAZARA rehabilitation largely reproduce the structural features of the nineteenth-century colonial economy. Its apposite to stress that the original colonial scramble for Africa had three defining characteristics: extraction of raw materials for external markets, Construction of infrastructure designed primarily for export, and the Integration of African economies into unequal global value chains.[8]

TWAIL scholars such as B. S. Chimni had argued that formal colonialism has been replaced by structures of informal empire mediated through international economic law. The mechanisms have changed: investment treaties, Sovereign debt arrangements, Trade rules, Development finance institutions and Global supply-chain governance.

From this perspective, the new scramble is not territorial conquest but regulatory and economic control through legal instruments that constrain policy space and preserve asymmetrical bargaining power. The question becomes not who owns the territory but who controls mineral licensing, pricing, technology, financing, and dispute settlement.

The existence of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area creates institutional possibilities unavailable during colonial rule. The problem is not the absence of agency but whether African states can collectively exercise it.

The big question is, can a Unified African Framework Emerge?

The answer depends on whether Africa can overcome collective-action problems. This means that Africa’s ability to develop a common and effective strategy for managing its mineral wealth depends on whether African countries can work together instead of pursuing narrow national interests. Collective-action problems arise when countries have shared objectives but fail to cooperate because each prioritises its own immediate interests over the long-term collective benefit.

However, the proposed framework recognises that achieving unity is challenging because African countries differ in political priorities, economic development levels, governance capacity, legal frameworks, infrastructure, and short-term national interests. Some governments may prioritise attracting immediate foreign investment over long-term regional goals, while others may resist sharing strategic information or coordinating industrial policies.[9]

In conclusion, a unified African framework would enable countries to coordinate policies on local value addition, regional cooperation, strategic financing, and ownership of mineral data, thereby strengthening Africa’s bargaining power, promoting industrialisation, retaining more value within the continent, creating employment, and ensuring that Africa derives sustainable and equitable economic benefits from its natural resources.

While achieving continent-wide consensus may be challenging, the absence of unanimous agreement should not prevent progress. African states that are willing and prepared to pursue deeper economic integration, harmonised mineral policies, and common development standards should take the lead in forming a coalition of committed partners. Such a coalition can serve as a practical demonstration of the benefits of regional cooperation by promoting local value addition, coordinated industrialisation, and stronger bargaining power in global markets.

As these pioneering states begin to realise tangible economic gains such as increased investment, job creation, technology transfer, and higher revenues from processed mineral exports, other African countries are likely to recognise the advantages of participation and voluntarily align with the initiative. This gradual, example-driven approach reflects the principle of “variable geometry” in regional integration, whereby progress is led by willing members without being delayed by those not yet prepared to participate.

Ultimately, successful cooperation among a core group of states can create the momentum necessary for broader continental unity and advance Africa’s collective right to development.

Fatai Abiodun is a Lawyer, Developmental Law Researcher and Public Affairs Analyst

fatai.abiodun200709@gmail.com

08072464004

 

References

[1] https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/07/27/nigeria-afdb-push-african-control-of-mineral-wealth-local-value-addition/

[2] The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Framework Document paras 39–56.

[3] Nkrumah K, Africa Must Unite (Heinemann 1963).

[4] ibid

[5] Nyerere JK, Freedom and Unity/Uhuru na Umoja (Oxford University Press 1966).

[6] Adedeji A, African Alternative Framework to Structural Adjustment Programmes for Socio-Economic Recovery and Transformation (AAF-SAP) (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa 1989).

[7] Carlos Lopes, Africa in Transformation: Economic Development in the Age of Doubt (Palgrave Macmillan 2019).

[8] Ake C, Democracy and Development in Africa (Brookings Institution Press 1996).

[9] ibid

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