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NCDMB STRENGTHENS TIES WITH MEDIA, CSOS, AND YOUTHS IN PORT HARCOURT ENGAGEMENT

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By Dr Helen Chimezie  The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with media practitioners, civil society organizations, and youth groups in the Niger Delta. At a one-day stakeholders’ engagement held on Thursday, 28th August in Port Harcourt, the Board, through its Corporate Communications Division, showcased its mandate, milestones, and strategic initiatives aimed at driving Nigeria’s local content agenda. In his remarks, the NCDMB General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, underscored the central role of the media in shaping public perception of the Board’s activities. He emphasized that the NCDMB is not an interventionist agency nor a Niger Delta-focused body, but a pan-Nigerian agency mandated to develop local content across the country. “The media is critical to what we do. You have continually helped us project our mandate, but we urge you to also serve as gatekeepers by correcting ...

MY CALGARY TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: A JOURNEY OF MEMORIES, MISHAPS, AND MEANING

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  By Dr Helen Chimezie After days of anticipation and packing intentionally light for the sake of post-conference shopping, I finally made my way to the Lagos airport a little after 7:30pm. Customs, immigration, and the usual pre-boarding checks went smoothly. My check-in luggage weighed a modest 18kg, a strategic move to create space for souvenirs for my husband, children, and extended family members. We took off from Lagos at exactly 11:45pm. The in-flight meals had an odd taste, but I managed to eat from it. About six hours later, we touched down in Amsterdam where I had to wait over six hours for my connecting flight to Calgary. The layover was long, but the anticipation of what was ahead kept my spirits up. I finally arrived in Calgary around noon, exhausted but excited. I ate some white rice and chicken curry sauce, then went straight to bed. The following morning, I woke up early and energized to participate in the conference activities. This routine continued for the ...

RIVERS NUJ HOLDS INAUGURAL CONGRESS, SETS AGENDA FOR BAZIA-LED ADMINISTRATION

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                  L-R: The Council's Secretary, Dr Ijeoma Tubosia & Council;'s Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh By Dr Helen Chimezie The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, on Thursday, 17 April, 2025, held its first congress under the leadership of Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh, setting a tone of inclusiveness, commitment, and renewed direction for the union. In his opening remarks, Chairman of the State Council, Comrade Bazia, expressed gratitude to members for their unwavering support during the last council election. He pledged to maintain an open-door policy, emphasizing his readiness to accept constructive criticism and always keep a listening ear to the concerns of members. He also urged members to prioritize punctuality, stating that future meetings will commence at the scheduled time, regardless of attendance. A major highlight of the congress was the inauguration of a five-man committee, chaired by Paul Damg...

FORMER LABOUR LEADERS DECRY 'UNDEMOCRATIC TAKEOVER' IN RIVERS STATE, DEMAND IMMEDIATE REVERSAL OF EMERGENCY RULE

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  By Dr Helen Chimezie The Leadership of the Former Labour Leaders Forum in Rivers State has strongly condemned what it describes as the “brazen and fragrant desecration of democracy and the rule of law”, following the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of the state’s democratic institutions by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. At a press conference held on Thursday, April 17 in Port Harcourt, the forum leadership accused the federal government of orchestrating a “dangerous and undemocratic takeover” of Rivers State, calling for the immediate reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Ordu, and the members of the State House of Assembly. According to the forum, tomorrow, April 18, marks exactly one month since President Tinubu made the controversial pronouncement, which also included the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator of the state. “Such mindless take over, of Rivers State in such an absurd manne...

LAND GRABBER ARRESTED IN PORT HARCOURT OVER PROPERTY VANDALISM AND FRAUDULENT SALES

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  By Dr Helen Chimezie Tensions flared in the Rumuosi, Ohia-Egbelu axis of Airport Road, Port Harcourt, following the arrest of a suspected land grabber, Mr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke, who has allegedly been involved in a series of unlawful property invasions and fraudulent land sales.   According to reports, Mr. Eke was taken into custody yesterday after multiple complaints by original property owners accused him of repeatedly destroying perimeter fences and other structures in the area.   His actions, witnesses say, were part of a coordinated attempt to resell the lands to unsuspecting members of the public, despite clear evidence of prior ownership.   The alleged criminal activity has left a trail of financial losses and heightened tension in the affected community, with many residents expressing frustration over the slow pace of legal intervention in the past.   Mr. Eke is expected to appear before the Port Harcourt Magistrate Court by 10:00 a....

APPPMON LAUNCHES ABOKI AS NIGERIA’S BOLD ANSWER TO FAILED PROJECTS

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  By Dr Helen Chimezie  In a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s long-standing challenge of failed and abandoned projects, the Association of Professional Practising Project Managers of Nigeria (APPPMON) has officially launched a new project management framework called ABOKI. The hybrid unveiling ceremony, which held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Port Harcourt, brought together project management professionals, development experts, members of the media and other key stakeholders. The ABOKI framework, an acronym that stands for APPPMON Body of Knowledge and Innovation, emphasizes community participation, stakeholder collaboration, and context-specific strategies to ensure that projects not only start, but are successfully completed and sustained. According to APPPMON, ABOKI is a locally developed framework tailored to suit Nigeria’s unique project environment, with the aim of improving the planning, execution, and sustainability of projects across the country. In his ad...

RIVERS ASSEMBLY INFERNO: RELEASED DETAINEES ALLEGE TORTURE, BRIBES, AND FRESH PLOT TO FRAME EDISON EHIE

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  By Dr Helen Chimezie  In a shocking new development, four individuals previously detained in connection with the burning of the Rivers State Assembly complex have come forward with explosive allegations. The individuals claim that they were illegally detained and subjected to torture during their time in custody.  They also revealed a fresh plot to falsely implicate Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Rivers State Government, in the infamous fire that ravaged the Assembly complex in October 2023. The individuals - Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, Prince Oladele Lukman, and MacPherson Olumini, came forward, at a press briefing which held on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Port Harcourt, narrating that a few days ago, one of them was called by Lawrence Amadi, a PDP leader in Obio/Akpor, and asked to come and meet with one of their leaders. “Upon further prodding he said they were reaching out to us to persuade us to re-write our story in order to implicate Rt Hon Edi...