HOW I SUDDENLY STARTED LOVING IGBO.

By Tyrano Tsunami

THE MYTHS:

As a boy growing up on the street of Port Harcourt, I was told so many horrible things about Igbos. I was told that Igbos were planning to push Rivers people to Abia State for the people of Abia to inhabit Rivers State because of our resources. I was told that Igbo people enslaved and ruled over my people in Bori the traditional headquarters of Ogoni Kingdom. I was told that Odumegwu Ojukwu, Onyeka Onwenu and other prominent Igbos brazenly rejoiced over the execution of my uncle Ken Saro  Wiwa because of the role he played during the Civil War. I was told that it is better to be slaves to Hausas than to be brothers to Igbos because, Igbo are worse than Hausa.

THE EFFECTS:

These things made me to terribly detest Igbos beyond what you can imagine, I was always skeptical, cynical and suspicious while dealing with Igbos. It also affected my friendship with Igbo guys, I was always careful not to be a victim, no matter how they value the friendship, as long as they are Igbos, they were bad eggs to me .

It also severely affected my relationship with Igbo girls, 70% of the girls I have seen are Igbos girls but I have never treated any of my Igbo girlfriends fairly because, I programmed my mind not to be interested in anything beyond the fun attached to the chemistry of boys and girls stuff while dealing with an Igbo girl, I didn't want to make the mistake of dating an Igbo girl to the extent of marrying her.

THE DISCOVERY:

I was posted to Akwa Ibom State for my national youth service in November 2013, there I made so many Igbo friends, almost 60% of Akwa Ibom corps members are from Igbo extraction, mainly from IMSU, FUTO, ABSU, UMUDIKE,  ESUT and IMT. There I saw how determined a typical Igbo youth is, there i saw the natural tendency for economic success in a typical Igbo guy, there I saw the reason why Igbos are entrepreneurs allover the globe, there I saw that God specially gave them the metaphysical eyes to see money in things and where you don't even think of smelling money, there I saw that even though the Igbos have had severe political travails and marginalization, they will forever remain the economic salt of Nigeria, even after the restoration of Biafra.  

While we were serving, those of us who are Port Harcourt breed UNIPORT/RSUST corps members were always complaining that Akwa Ibom is beautiful but not groovy as Port Harcourt, we were always complaining that the town is dry with no night life as Port Harcourt. But our friends from the Igbo extraction were seeing things differently, they saw Akwa Ibom as a beautiful virgin land highly in need of economic exploration, they saw huge business opportunities in where we saw boredom.

We were complaining of the insufficient N19,800 alawi while they were seeing it as potential small scale business capital. We used our alawi to club in one night because, we didn't see it as good enough to help us, while our Igbo friends inject it into their small scale businesses. We were always going to Tropicana to see movies while our Igbo friends are busy going to Lagos to bring wears and jewelries for us to buy.  We were always calling home for money but our Igbo friends were sending money home instead.
At the end of my  service year, I said I was going back to Port Harcourt because I believed Uyo was too dry for me to hustle, but my Igbo friends stayed back because they saw Uyo as a land lacking business and as such, it's good for them to make money through the introduction of different businesses.

THE REVERSAL:

I came back to Port Harcourt then pondered on my experience with these Igbo brains, I then realised why people hate them, I felt bad seriously for wrongly hating them all these while, I decided to love them because, they have the kind of zeal I'd love to emulate.

THE CONVICTION:

When I was fully convinced that the Igbos are not only my role models but my blood was when they went against all odds to make Goodluck Jonathan their own, they loved him even more than some us from the South South, they gave him their full support at the poll not minding the consequences. Ever since, I couldn't stop loving Igbos but to love them even more.

THE RECOMMENDATION:

Igbos drive the economy of every towns and cities in Nigeria, nobody can change that, so instead of hating them for doing business in your place, I'd advise you compete with them even if you know you can't beat them because, it is your land that is benefiting economically and otherwise with such healthy competition, it is a win win situation.

CONCLUSION:

Igbos are subject of hate in this country, apparently due to wrong perception, but I personally think Igbos are cool like any other tribe, and bad like any other tribe too. Though my main problem with them is that, they never admit their flaws no matter how glaring but they are always quick to lampoon the slightest folly of other tribes.

If you want to be successful economically, think like Igbos!

Ps:

Yes , the igbo indomitable spirit.

Ndokwa/Oshimili Communities Protest New NDDC Board Appointment

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The recent Federal Government's appointment of the new board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) ), today, at Asaba recorded a huge minus.

Large number of youths, women and men drawn from communities within Ndokwa and Oshimili Local Government Areas registered their displeasure over the recent appointment.

They took their protest to the state's house of assembly and the government house.

At the state assembly the angry protesters were received by their respective representatives, assured that they understand their grieviances and ready to work round the clock with them at correcting the anomaly.

As contained in an address John Obi, the organising chairman, Ben Elu, Esq and Chuk Ozulu, the protesters rejected in its totality the deliberate marginalization of the entire Delta North Senitorial District in the constitution of the commission's board since 2000.

Part of their address to the state governor, read in part thus; "rather than at least consider we that have never benefited for 19 years, the same Urhobo and Isoko groups that were appointed into the out going board were again rewarded with the Managing Director and Delta State representative positions respectively for an unprecedented two consecutive tenures"

Speaking to our reporter, Chuk Ozulu, pointed out that, among the five oil producing ethnic nationalities in Delta State, it shows that the Urhobos had being appointed five times; the Isokos, Ijaws and Itsekiris had enjoyed appointment at the commission four, four and three times respectively.

He also maintained that the current Deputy Senate President, Minister for State Niger Delta (the only minister from the state, Chairman of the NSITF Board as well as outgoing NDDC Executive Director (Projects), he said are all Urhobos.

The group's leader, John Obi, urged Niger Delta Leaders and Governors to persuade the president to reconsider the list and allow Ndokwa Nation produce the next Managing Director and Delta State representative in the new NDDC board.

Comrade Hero I Hero and Odili Ebere, in their chat with our reporter decried the exclusion of Delta North Senitorial District in the appointment of the commission's board.

They also noted that Ndokwa nation had contributed a lot towards the Indepedent Power Plant (IPP) project of the nation with ten oil companies peacefully operating within their domain but lamented that all that is their lot is no jobs and appointment to their people.

Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, received the angry protesters at government house today, with the assurance that the state government is ready to work with them on this issue.

He also reminded them that their royal fathers had before now paid advocacy visits to his office and their letters to the state governor had equally being sent to the presidency.

Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon thanked them over the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the period of the protest.

S

DTSG Approves Counterpart Funding For UBEC Financing Program

* To Build More Schools In Asaba
* Young Deltans To Gain Entrepreneurial Skills

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

To enhance and strengthen basic and secondary education in Delta State, the state government has approved payment of their counterpart funding for the
Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme

This was made know to joirnalists today, Tuesday, during a post exco press briefing at the Government House by Aniagwu Ehiedu Charles, the Information commissioner.

The executive council today approved the payment of N1.5 billion UBE counterpart fund, he said.

This, he said will enable the state government ensure educational facility upgrade, training and retraining of the workforce and total over hauling of the basic and secondary educational system in the state.

Due to the increasing population within the state's capital city and its environ, the information commissioner announced, the state government's committment to construct one more primary school and one more secondary school in Asaba.


Aniagwu Ehiedu Charles pointed out that the state government has  created public project monitoring unit to ensure that the state government's public projects impact Deltans positively and add value for tax payers money.

This unit will advice the state government on all her ongoing projects, with a view to ensure that an undiluted assessment of all ongoing public project, Aniagwu maintained.

All Ministries, Agencies and Departments in the state are to present to the unit copies of their vital project documents.

His Youth Devellopment counterpart, Ifeanyi Egwunyega,  also pointed out the state government's committment at ensuring that more young Deltans gain more entreprenurial skills.

He shared how the state government had matched their words with action by committing over N1.1Billion into the state's Job and Wealth Creation program.

Students are strategic to SDGs implementation.... Prof. Shehu - VC, KUST.

By Seyifunmi Adebote and Umar Farouk Ahmad, Kano State.


The Vice-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Professor Shehu Musa has underscored the importance of having young people as the drivers of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing not less than 65 students during the SDGs4Universities Workshop hosted by the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil on Thursday, August 22nd, 2019, Professor Shehu said, “You (students) have the strategic position to make a contribution.

You don’t need to have a million naira or be a politician before you start making a difference.

In one way or the other, you all are connected to at least one of these 17 goals and you must know that the realization of this is largely dependent on you.

Reiterating the University’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Professor Shehu expressed his delight to the facilitating organization, International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) for considering Kano State University of Science and Technology and for training the students of the institution on how they can begin to practically take actions towards driving the SDGs in their local communities.

“We are fully receptive to collaborate with stakeholders to see the realization of the SDGs. I hope that students of this institution will put to practice the lessons from this SDGs4Universities workshop,” Shehu said.

The SDGs4Universities workshop is a project by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI).

ICCDI has been taking the knowledge of the SDGs to various tertiary institutions across the country.

According to the Project Coordinator, Seyifunmi Adebote, “this workshop is part of our continued efforts to localize the knowledge and application of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals among university students, as well as, to position them to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

The workshop came to an end with the establishment of the KUST SDGs club in the university.

Though the 6th SDGs4Universities workshop, the Kano State University of Science and Technology is the first in the North-West region of Nigeria.

The facilitators included Umar Farouk and Mufid Muhammad from Green Again Initiative, and Salihu Hamisu and Juwairiyya El-Yakub, alumni of the University.

The workshop was attended by not less than 65 students from different faculties, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu Musa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic, Professor Aminu Umar Fagge; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Administration, Professor Tijjani Saleh Bichi; the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor A. S. Ma’aji and the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Daraja among others.

udents are strategic to SDGs implementation.... Prof. Shehu - VC, KUST.

By Seyifunmi Adebote and Umar Farouk Ahmad, Kano State.


The Vice-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Professor Shehu Musa has underscored the importance of having young people as the drivers of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing not less than 65 students during the SDGs4Universities Workshop hosted by the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil on Thursday, August 22nd, 2019, Professor Shehu said, “You (students) have the strategic position to make a contribution.

You don’t need to have a million naira or be a politician before you start making a difference.

In one way or the other, you all are connected to at least one of these 17 goals and you must know that the realization of this is largely dependent on you.

Reiterating the University’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Professor Shehu expressed his delight to the facilitating organization, International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) for considering Kano State University of Science and Technology and for training the students of the institution on how they can begin to practically take actions towards driving the SDGs in their local communities.

“We are fully receptive to collaborate with stakeholders to see the realization of the SDGs. I hope that students of this institution will put to practice the lessons from this SDGs4Universities workshop,” Shehu said.

The SDGs4Universities workshop is a project by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI).

ICCDI has been taking the knowledge of the SDGs to various tertiary institutions across the country.

According to the Project Coordinator, Seyifunmi Adebote, “this workshop is part of our continued efforts to localize the knowledge and application of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals among university students, as well as, to position them to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”

The workshop came to an end with the establishment of the KUST SDGs club in the university.

Though the 6th SDGs4Universities workshop, the Kano State University of Science and Technology is the first in the North-West region of Nigeria.

The facilitators included Umar Farouk and Mufid Muhammad from Green Again Initiative, and Salihu Hamisu and Juwairiyya El-Yakub, alumni of the University.

The workshop was attended by not less than 65 students from different faculties, along with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shehu Musa, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Academic, Professor Aminu Umar Fagge; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Administration, Professor Tijjani Saleh Bichi; the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor A. S. Ma’aji and the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Daraja among others.

Communiqué at the End of Two Days Zonal Youth Climate Incubation Hub

Communiqué at the End of Two Days Zonal Youth Climate Incubation Hub held at Port Harcourt, Rivers State

* Preamble

The Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on August 15th -16th hosted a regional Youth Climate Incubation Hub for South-South zone, the first of six zones at the Visa Karina Hotel in Port Harcourt, this is to further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a member country of the United Nations’ Youth Engagement and Public Mobilization track at the Climate Action Summit in September 2019.

The event was facilitated by Health of the Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), an environmental think-tank organization and had a total number of 70 participants draw from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers State.

In his remark, Nnimmo Bassey, an Environmental Justice Advocate and Director of HOMEF underscored the importance of the Youth Roundtable on Climate Action, which is to unlock youth innovativeness in Nigeria’s climate action. He further emphasized that young people have the brightest ideas for solving problems of climate change in Nigeria.

While welcoming the participants to the event, the Federal Ministry of Environment through its Department of Climate Change charged the participants on the imperativeness of this event, as climate and climate change have become an issue of global concern particularly in Third World countries like Nigeria.

Sa’adatu Gambo, a Senior Scientific Officer at the Department of Climate Change, who represented the Federal Ministry of Environment also mentioned that the Department of Climate Change is the country’s focal point for the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and are always eager and ready to welcome creative ideas from young people on how to solve problems of climate change which has become a serious global threat to humanity.

* Expectations

It is expected that at the end of the two days event, there will be an acceleration of key improvement on climate change.

Creative ideas that are specific, measurable, achievable, bankable, realistic and time bound which will be harnessed and built from concept stage to actual implementation.

* Observation

Following the foregoing expectations, it was observed that:
 - Issues of  climate change calls for emergency in Nigeria therefore proactive measures must be put in place by the Nigerian government to tackle it;

-The non-implementation of extant environmental laws and policies continue to serve as a major setback in the fight for a safe climate in Nigeria;

-The need to create more awareness among the Nigeria citizenry;

-Financial investment and transfer of technology to build human capacity and groom basic ideas that will mitigate climate crises in Nigeria.

* Recommendations

After series of brain storming and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) among all participants, the following innovative ideas were strongly recommended by the various South-South States that attended the Regional Youth Climate Incubation Hub in Port Harcourt.

- Climate Change Desk Officers at both Federal and State ministries in Nigeria should ensure that participants of this Youth Climate Hub are  further engaged on climate change issues;

- Biogas: generating biogas from household biodegradable waste and biodigester

- Recycling: Effort should be made on recycling as regards plastic bottle collection and reuse and also waste segregation and separation

- Education and Environmental Literacy: Establish environmental clubs and advocacy for target groups and also creating certain social documentaries in local dialects
on climate change;

-Technology: Apps should be available to map vulnerable and non-vulnerable areas to climate change  impact and solar panels should be more affordable for the people;

-Mangrove reclamation and tree planting especially indigenous and economic crops;

-There is need for government at all levels to stop paying lip service and amplify action on climate change policy  implementations;

- There should be a massive advocacy campaigns on the impact of climate change;

- The inclusion of climate change education in our curriculum at the various levels of learning in Nigeria;

- Youths voices should be further amplified and their creative ideas on climate change harnessed.

- The need to strengthen existing structure to integrate women and marginalized groups participation in all levels in climate action in Nigeria.

Skill Acquisition: NGO Kick Off With Orientation Exercise For Participants

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

A Non Government Organisation, has kicked off her youth focused skill acquisition training program with an orientation exercise for participants.

Asaba Home Diaspora Development Initiative (AHDDI) today, Saturday, commenced her six months skill acquisition training program for proactive youths resident within the state capital territory.

Ms Daphne Arafiena, AHDDI's President, while addressing participants stated the training program will last for three to four months for some skills sets.

She said the training program's lifespan will last between 20th July through 20th December, 2019.

The first week is dedicated to paint production, sales and marketing technique, while two weeks later is reserved for classroom training on introduction to concepts, materials and tools around participants core areas of training, she explained.

AHDDI's president informed participants that their apprentiship work would start after the first three weeks at their trainer's workshop, together with field works.

She also urge them to be mindful of weather warnings to minimize field accidents, wear appropriate protective and safety clothings provided for them by AHDDI.

AHDDI expects trainees to put in between 5-8 hours daily during their training period.

Ms Arafiena reminded participants about the importance of discipline, punctuality, cleanliness and respect throughout period of the training.

She challenged the participants to see themselves as AHDDI's Ambassadors and urged them to eschew fighting in public, avoid the temptations of drunkenness, chewing of gum during training sessions and loitering during training hours.

AHDDI has zero tolerance policy for rudeness towards her trainers and AHDDI's team, Ms Arafiena warned.

One of the high point of the six months long training program will be a new concept AHDDI's president unveiled as "AHDDI Give Back To Community Days"

Ms Arafiena noted that while participants are learning new skill sets and are being prepared to become independent entreprenuers, AHDDI wants them to develop a heart and spirit of remebering the less priviledge ones in the society.

AHDDI has set aside Saturday 27th July, Friday 6th September and Friday 11th October, 2019 as      "AHDDI Give Back To Community Days"

AHDDI has also made provisions for participants to enjoy free transportation services to and fro training centers, fix a team rep as well as health and safety reps who will liase skill set trainers and AHDDI team leads.

The NGO had procured basic and essential work tools for training, but trainees will have to sign for tools collected.

Arafiena pointed out that AHDDI does not provide any settlement empowerment scheme, but at its discretion and with the recommendation of the trainers will select some best behaved trainees who will receive gifts to enable them start off on their own.

Finally, Arafiena reminded participants that AHDDI's skills training is an opportunity and not a right, she urged them to take the opportunity seriously.

AHDDI has designed a 4 months training for participants in acting/screenplay writing; cane furniture making; solar PV installation; computer and phone repairs.

Some participants will gain three months trainings in computer graphic designs; baking/decoration and online journalism courses.

Participants will take part in a one week paint production course as well as participate in a two weeks entreprenurual skills on communication/inter-personal skills; financial management; sales and marketing.

NGO Set To Roll Out Skills Acquisition Program

Okonta Emeka Okonta, Asaba

Committed towards bridging the skills acquisition gap in Delta State, has rolled out plans to commence a training program for Deltans.

Asaba Home Diaspora Development Initiative (AHDDI) recently unveiled plans to implement a skills acquisition training in Asaba.

Rev Dr Nwanze Osita, AHDDI's  director, pointed out that this year's training session will commence by 20th July.

We are going to train our participants in different skill sets and the training will last for four months.

Participants will be trained in Acting/Script writing, cane furniture, graphic designs, Solar PV Installation, paint manufacturing, electric generator and plant repairs, computer and phone repairs as well as photography and videography.

There are other extra entrepreneural skills trainings our participants will be exposed to, which, include: communication and interpersonal skills; sales and marketing; basic booking; financial management; customer service and telephoning services, Rev Dr Nwanze told our reporter.

Over the recently past weekend, AHDDI, organized an interview, assessment and registration exercise for the prospective trainees.

During the exercise, the participants had opportunities to engage with some AHDDI's facilitators, skills acquisition  resource persons and past training graduants, now AHDDI's Ambassadors.

One of the resource persons, Mrs Uche Florence Okpara, encouraged the participant to get ready to take quality advantage of AHDDI's empowerment scheme.

She urged and charged them on the need to carve out wholesome entreprenurial career out of the training opportunity before them.

On his own part, John Chuka of the Asaba Film Academy, appreciated AHDDI over the opportunity his academy has to train and mentor participants in Film making, acting and script writing.

He also pointed out that there are  lots of opportunities for in the movie industry and advised them to be ready to cease those opportunities.

Mrs Anthonia Isioma Damasus, earlier in her remarks, shared that AHDDI is ready to do more for committed and willing youths in Delta State, who are ready to acquire skills.

With our skill acquisition training programs, we want them to become self reliant, become useful to themselves, support their family members and contribute meaningfully to the society.

One of the highlights of the one day assessment and registration exercise, was the break away sessions the participants had with their different skills acquisition facilitators and rounds of testimony sharing sessions from past training graduants.

Konwea Charles and Sandra Dupe Konwea, couple, who jointly were trained last year as Solar PV Installers, shared their experiences, challenges and gains during their last year's training sessions.

The couple, now managers of Sancha Energy Solutions, encouraged the new participants to put in all their best, assuring them that they will be happy that they participated in the training program.

We appreciate AHDDI for their investment in us, today, we are living more happier lives as Solar PV installers, our business is equally doing well, the couple said.

Agbo Chukwuma, a laptop and phone repairs graduant of AHDDI's empowerment program, shared how better fullfilled as a young entreprenuer his career is now.

He also challenged the new participants to get ready to walk through the programs tough training program but assured them that at the end of the training, they will be very happy to had participated in the exercise.

For Uche Osaji Esther, a trained female photography and videography skills set, thanks and gratitude to AHDDI was her major response to the organizers of the empowerment program.

She also thanked AHDDI for all the transportation, feeding and other welfare assistance all the participants received during their training program.

Her charge to the new participants was that of committment, dedication, readiness to learn, ask questions, limit distracting friends and do all withing their powers at mastering the skills they came to learn.