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Boro Day: Ijaw Youth Council Invites Public to Niger Delta Hero’s Commemoration Symposium
Port Harcourt – In a bid to honour the legacy of one of the Niger Delta’s most iconic figures, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone has issued a special invitation to the general public to attend the upcoming Niger Delta Hero’s Commemoration Symposium, also known as the Isaac Adaka Boro Day Celebration.
The event is scheduled to hold on May 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Kingoliza Halls, located on Total Gospel/Ango Street by Aeroplane Drive, Off Odili Road, Trans-Amadi, Port Harcourt.
With the theme, “After Henry Willinks Commission, The Fears of Yesterday Remains Today’s Reality in Niger Delta,” the symposium aims to reflect on the enduring struggles of the region decades after the landmark 1958 Henry Willink Commission Report, which first recognized the unique challenges facing minority groups in Nigeria — particularly in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
According to the IYC Eastern Zone leadership, this year’s commemoration is not only a celebration of Isaac Adaka Boro, a revolutionary leader who fought for the rights and recognition of the Niger Delta people, but also a moment of critical reflection on the continuing marginalization, environmental degradation, and underdevelopment that have plagued the region.
The Council emphasized that the symposium would serve as a platform for dialogue, advocacy, and renewed calls for justice and equity for the Niger Delta people. Stakeholders from across the region, civil society organizations, traditional rulers, and youth leaders are expected to attend.
“The leadership of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Eastern Zone is inviting the general public to the Niger Delta Hero’s Commemoration Symposium (Isaac Adaka Boro Day Celebration),” the invitation stated.
As preparations intensify, the IYC hopes the event will rekindle national attention on the region’s lingering issues and inspire fresh commitment toward meaningful development and inclusive governance.
The legacy of Isaac Boro, who laid down his life for the cause of his people, continues to ignite the spirit of advocacy among the Ijaw and broader Niger Delta communities — a spirit the IYC is determined to keep alive through this year’s symposium.
Read below, the full text of goodwill message by Hon. Alapala Anthony Ebitonmo the Minority Whip and member representing Burutu Constituency-1 in the Delta State House of Assembly, to the good people of his constituency, on Easter Suday.
1. Dear respected and highly valued constituents of Burutu north state constituency. On behalf of my family, associates and the office that represents you in the Delta state house of assembly, I send my unwavering and unperturbed merry Easter wishes to you all.
2. As we all know, easter is all about celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ, whom suffered persecution and mockery for the sake of believers, died and also rose again that our hopes in his promise be made alive.
3. Easter is a moment that requires sober reflection of every christian on the high price of death Jesus paid for the sins of everyone of us, and as we reflect on this great sacrifice made for you and us all, it is my most sincere prayers that we have a remarkable easter celebration this year.
4. Dear Constituents, let me also in the spirit of the easter celebration reiterate my unalloyed commitment to representing you all effectively continuously at the state house of Assembly.
5. I have been working very closely with all relevant stakeholders within the government to ensure that, you all, my beloved constituents are given continuos good representation. Despite setbacks in certain quarters, I can wholely assure you that your representative is engaging effectively for more good governance in our highly valued constituency.
6. Myself and my team will continue unfailingly to reach out to our constituents as we’ve been doing and no setback will hit us to a halt. I also continue to plea with our mothers and fathers who have always been praying for us to continue, that this divine mandate of ours will continue to bring effectiveness to legislative representation in our beloved constituency.
7. Once again, I wish us all a fruitful and hitch-free Easter celebration!!
*Signed*
Hon. Alapala Anthony Ebitonmo.
( *Member representing Burutu north constituency, Delta state house of Assembly/minority Whip* )
By Favour Bibaikefie
From a bold idea in ancient Greece to a breathtaking feat of engineering, the Corinth Canal in Greece stands as one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating man-made waterways.
Stretching over six kilometers and flanked by towering cliffs rising more than 80 meters high, the Corinth Canal cuts across the Isthmus of Corinth, linking the Gulf of Corinth in the northwest with the Saronic Gulf to the southeast. This narrow waterway dramatically shortened sea travel, saving ships a 320-kilometer detour around the Peloponnese peninsula.
According to a recent post from the BBC’s Daily Factfinder, “Before the canal was built, ships were forced to make a long journey around the Peloponnese peninsula, adding 320 kilometers to their journey.”
But the concept of bypassing the peninsula is far older than the 19th-century construction of the canal itself. The origins of the idea date back over 2,600 years.
“Around 600 BC, Periander, founder of the Cypselide dynasty of Corinth, had the ingenious idea of transporting ships overland, using a kind of railway, the diolkos (parts of which can still be seen today), along which ships were pulled on wheeled carts across the isthmus,” the Factfinder post states. This remarkable method was used for centuries, up until around the 9th century, when ships simply became too large for the system.
It wasn’t until the modern era that this ancient dream was fully realized. “In 1882, work began on the Corinth Canal, mostly by hand, and was completed 11 years later in 1893,” notes the post.
Today, the canal measures about 6.4 kilometers in length and features an 8-meter-deep channel of water. Though too narrow for most modern commercial vessels, the Corinth Canal is still in use and continues to draw visitors from around the world.
“The canal is a popular tourist attraction; large ships are towed through the canal by small tugboats, a fascinating sight to behold,” adds the post, originally shared by the Facebook group Weird, Wonder and Amazing Things, with photo credit to DronEye.
Beyond its practical use, the Corinth Canal remains a symbol of human innovation across the ages—proof that even the oldest ideas can shape the future when combined with determination and engineering skill.
Credit: Weird, Wonder and Amazing Things (Facebook group)
By Divine Perezide
Renowned Nigerian elder statesman and respected southern and middlebelt leader, Chief, Sen. (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, will be laid to rest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in his hometown of Kiagbodo, located in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.
This announcement was made on Saturday by Penaowei Clark, the first son of the late Chief Clark, during a press briefing held at the family’s Kiagbodo residence. He was joined by prominent family members and traditional rulers, including the Pere of Ngbilebiri-Mien Kingdom, HRM Prince Samuel Akpomiemie Fuludu (Ogiogio II), Professor Collins Clark, and Chief Ebikeme Clark, Delta State Commissioner for Riverine Infrastructure and Development.
The burial programme, which will span over a week, will commence on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, with a public lecture at the NAF Conference Centre & Suites in Abuja, starting at 11 a.m. According to the family, the series of events are designed to honour the legacy of the late national icon and will conclude with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Chief Clark, born on May 25, 1927, in Erhuwaren, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, passed away on February 17, 2025, at the age of 97. He was widely recognized for his lifelong advocacy for justice, equity, and development, particularly in the Niger Delta region. Remembered as a tenacious leader and a statesman of remarkable stature, his influence extended across political and socio-economic spheres.
The itinerary of the burial events includes a valedictory session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday, May 8, and a day of tributes at the NAF Conference Centre on Friday, May 9, at 3 p.m. On Saturday, May 10, a wrestling contest will take place in Yenagoa, alongside a service of songs at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, at 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 11, will feature cultural festivities such as a boat regatta and masquerade performances in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa. A candlelight memorial is also scheduled for that evening in both Abuja and Kiagbodo.
On Monday, May 12, a commendation service will be held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, followed by a valedictory court session at the High Court of Justice in Warri. Later that day, the late elder statesman’s body will be flown to Yenagoa for another commendation at Ijaw House, before heading to Warri for a lying-in-state and onward journey to Kiagbodo for a night vigil.
The final funeral rites will be conducted on Tuesday, May 13, beginning with a lying-in-state and commendation service at Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo. This will be followed by the funeral service, interment, and a reception.
The burial programme will come to a close with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, May 18, in honour of a man whose life was defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the betterment of his people and country.