Editorial
From the Editor’s Desk: Empowering the Needy: A Shift from Charity to Opportunity
In a world often defined by the immediate gratification of charity, a simple encounter on the streets offers a profound lesson on the power of empowerment over mere handouts. The story of a teenage street beggar and two compassionate friends reveals an innovative approach to addressing poverty—a strategy that teaches sustainable living rather than temporary survival.
The encounter began like many others: a teenager approached the two friends, pleading for money. One of the friends instinctively reached into his pocket, ready to offer some cash. However, his companion proposed a different approach. Instead of handing over money, they decided to buy the girl a pack of bottled water from a nearby shop, offering her the chance to sell the bottles herself.
Not only did they become her first customers by purchasing two bottles, but they also encouraged others passing by to do the same. The response was overwhelming. Within a short time, the teenager had sold all the bottles, earning far more than she would have received through begging. She quickly reinvested in another pack of water, repeating the process. In this simple act, she transformed from a dependent beggar to an independent entrepreneur.
This story illustrates an important principle: the act of giving should not only address immediate needs but also create pathways to independence and dignity. While providing food or money may offer temporary relief, empowering individuals with tools, ideas, or opportunities ensures long-term impact.
Street begging, particularly among healthy young individuals, often reflects a lack of opportunity rather than laziness. As a society, we must strive to provide solutions that address the root causes of such situations. Investing in small, scalable opportunities, as the friends did for the young girl, not only uplifts individuals but also contributes to the economic and social well-being of communities.
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The concept of “teaching a person to fish” rather than simply giving them fish has never been more relevant. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals can all adopt this mindset to make a tangible difference. Programs that encourage skill acquisition, micro-enterprises, and self-reliance are essential tools for combating poverty in a meaningful way.
The lesson is clear: true help lies in empowering others to help themselves. By shifting our focus from giving to enabling, we not only change lives but also create a ripple effect that can transform entire communities. Let this story serve as a reminder that every act of kindness can go beyond charity—it can spark hope, independence, and a brighter future.
By Ben. Binebai
The Amaseikumor Festival is a magnificent tapestry of tradition, a veritable confluence where the sacred and the secular entwine in exquisite harmony. It is, in its quintessence, a festival of purity—an unblemished rite that scours the soul of the land. It is a festival of culture, wherein the ancient cadences of our forebears find renewed utterance; a festival of spiritual rejuvenation, where weary spirits are anointed anew at the altar of ancestral grace.
Amaseikumor is a festival that has its megastar hanging and shinning brighly in the sky, a festival of peace, of unity, and of prosperity—a trinity of virtues that, like a masterfully composed triad, adorns the communal soul. It is a festival of love and fraternity, a luminous bridge between man and the legendary animist beings who, from time immemorial, have watched over our creeks and forests. Indeed, it erects intertidal bridges—linking epochs, lineages, and realms—whilst standing as a clarion of cultural affirmation and religious awakening. Here, the covenant betwixt mortals and the divine is not merely remembered but vivified; a healthful and functional communion with the gods is both established and exalted.
The festival bears the imprimatur of the heavens, most memorably during its revival years. In the wondrous year of 2018, when I was accorded the rare and humbling privilege of delivering a lecture, the firmament itself bore witness: thunder intoned its celestial approbation, the heavens darkened in reverent solemnity, and delicate droplets—veritable tears of divine joy—descended upon the congregants. That epiphanic moment was greeted with an impromptu Ogele, as the gallant youths of Gbaramatu, moved by an ecstasy beyond articulation, gave voice to the rapture of the land.
As the parent festival of Gbaramatu, Amaseikumor is not merely a ritual observance; it is a living vestige heritage, a guiding star of identity, and a festival imbued with prodigious tourism potential. To behold it is to witness culture in its most numinous and unadulterated form—a grand pageant where myth, memory, and modernity dance in perennial embrace.
By: Editorial Team
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), often hailed as a beacon of modern development in the Middle East, is a federation of seven emirates—each with its own distinct history, ruler, and cultural identity. Since its unification in 1971, the UAE has stood as a rare example of how traditional monarchies can collaborate to build a stable and globally respected nation.
At the heart of the federation lies Abu Dhabi, the capital and largest emirate, known for its vast oil wealth and political influence. The Al Nahyan family, which leads Abu Dhabi, has played a central role in shaping the UAE’s national vision and foreign policy. The current President of the UAE traditionally comes from this emirate, underscoring its leadership within the union.
Dubai, the shining star of the federation, represents ambition and innovation. Under the leadership of the Al Maktoum family, Dubai has transformed from a desert outpost into a global hub for finance, tourism, and technology. Its breathtaking skyline, led by the Burj Khalifa, has become a symbol of Arab progress and resilience.
Moving beyond the two powerhouses, Sharjah distinguishes itself as the cultural and educational capital of the UAE. Led by the Al Qasimi family, it has preserved the emirates’ artistic heritage while promoting academic excellence through its numerous universities and museums.
The smaller emirates-Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah-each add unique character and strength to the federation. Ajman, the smallest, thrives on trade and manufacturing; Umm Al-Quwain offers a peaceful charm along its quiet shores; Ras Al Khaimah, nestled against the Hajar Mountains, is known for its natural beauty and growing industrial base; and Fujairah, facing the Gulf of Oman, plays a strategic maritime role in the region’s economy.
Despite their differences in size and resources, the seven emirates remain bound by shared values, mutual respect, and visionary leadership.Their collective success story reflects not only unity but also the ability to balance tradition with progress.
Over five decades after its founding, the UAE continues to prove that cooperation among monarchies can yield a modern, forward-looking state-one that honors its past while boldly stepping into the future. The federation’s model of governance offers an enduring lesson in leadership, stability, and nation-building in a region often defined by division.
Photo Credit: shuterstock
Editorial – IduwiniVoice
Government Oweizide Ekemupolo is 4th Century descendant of The progenitors of the Oru tribe, the archetypal Ijaws, who settled in the central Niger Delta and over time, who developed and spread to the entire Niger Delta. He his an embodiment of the ancient and modern ways and forces of the ijaw ancestral greats, ruled my ancient spiritual and human laws, a man and a superman.
Prior to 1600 AD, the Ijaws first and formally formed city-states on their island of abode in Central Niger Delta. The city-states were named Agadagba-bou, Isomou-bou, and Opugla-bou. The popular city-state was called Agadagba-bou, which, according to history, flourished for 400 years until it got abandoned in 1050 CE. That was the period Ijaw people migrated within the central Niger Delta and spread to the Western and Eastern Niger Delta.
Agadagba-bou, Isomou-bou, and Upugla-bou, which represented the Ijaw civilization at the historical island, long before it was named Wilberforce Island, had cultural, spiritual, linguistic, and occupational homogeneity.
They were all worshippers and believers of the sky God. The sky God that the Ijaws call today, even from ancient times, is Egbesu. It is believed that the Wilberforce Island was known as a forest named after Agadagba, the most powerful chief priest of Egbesu, who also doubled as the military general of the Izon nation.
Agadagba-bou, as a nomenclature, derives its bearing from Agadagba, the chief priest and generalissimo who once reigned on the Wilberforce Island. It is certain that the island hosted the Ijaw nation long before the time of Agadagba because Agadagba was appointed a chief priest and military general during his time by a potentate ruler of Ijaw nation.
In the primordial mists of time, Agadagba, the illustrious military general and chief priest of Egbesu, strode forth from the hallowed grounds of Agadagbabou, his footsteps echoing through the annals of Ijaw history. This revered figure, a paragon of martial prowess and spiritual wisdom, embodied the dual essence of his people, wielding the sword and the sacred staff with equal aplomb. The whispers of the ancients tell us that Agadagba’s reign predated the 1600 AD, a bygone era when the Ijaw nation thrived in harmony with the rhythms of the Niger Delta.
Agadagbabou, the cradle of Ijaw civilization, slumbers beneath the weight of centuries, its sacred soil serving as the final resting place of the ancestral spirits. Here, the venerable dead lie entombed, their ethereal essences lingering, awaiting the supplications of their descendants. Alas, the diaspora of the Ijaw people has occasioned a lamentable disconnection from these archetypal forebears, a severance that has hindered the unfettered flow of ancestral blessings, those numinous benedictions that are the birthright of every society.
For it is an immutable truth that the progress of a people is inextricably linked to the approbation of their ancestors.
The epochs have passed, and Agadagba’s terrestrial sojourn has long since drawn to a close, yet the imperishable essence of this legendary figure endures, awaiting reification in the mortal coil. Behold, 4.18 CENTURIES AFTER AGADAGBA, PRICESELY FOUR CENTURIES PLUS, in this our age, Government Oweizide Ekemupolo, a worthy scion of the Ijaw nation, has arisen, invested with the sacred mantle of Egbesu’s chief priest and military general. The symmetries are striking, the correspondences unmistakable: Ekpemupolo stands forth as the avatar of Agadagba, a reincarnation of the primordial hero, reborn to reclaim the lost patrimony of his people.
As we gaze upon Ekpemupolo, we behold the rekindled flame of Agadagba’s indomitable spirit, a fiery essence that refuses to be extinguished. The mythopoeic imagination whispers secrets in our ear, intimating that this modern-day embodiment of Ijaw valour and spirituality is, in truth, a Priest of the ancient mysteries, a hieratic vessel ordained to restore the pristine glory of Agadagbabou and reestablish the vital link between the living and the ancestral dead.
Thus, the epicycle of time turns full circle, as the reincarnated Agadagba, in the person of Ekpemupolo, strides forth to reclaim his rightful place within the sacred precincts of Ijaw tradition. The word is a witness to his spiritual and endeavours which catalyse a renaissance of the Ijaw spirit, rekindling the ancestral fires that burn bright within the collective unconscious of this venerable people, and guiding them toward a future illuminated by the radiant glow of their archetypal forebears.
As Tompolo’s efforts continue to bear fruit, Nigeria’s economic landscape is transformed, and the nation’s people reap the benefits of his tireless endeavours. His legacy will forever be etched in the annals of Nigerian history, a shining testament to the power of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to the nation’s progress.
Benedict Binebai is a Professor of African Literature, a Social Conscientizer, and a Critic of outstanding repute.
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