By: Divine Perezide

The Education for Empowerment (E4E) campaign of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), under the leadership of its Administrator, Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has continued its support for students with the distribution of laptops to beneficiaries of the PAP Scholarship Scheme at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

The laptop distribution exercise was carried out on January 30, 2026, at the institution’s Okerenkoko campus, as part of the E4E Mandate Campaign aimed at strengthening academic performance and boosting digital learning among students in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking during the visit, the PAP delegation led by Engr. Victor Ebikonde Sokoto explained that the initiative is in line with the agency’s core responsibility of empowering young people through education, adding that access to learning tools remains critical to improving productivity and academic excellence. The team also reaffirmed that the current administration under Dr. Otuaro remains firmly committed to positively impacting the lives of youths across the region.

The delegation further disclosed that more tertiary institutions would be visited in the coming days, as the E4E Mandate Campaign continues to promote education and skills development as key drivers of growth and prosperity. According to the team, the programme has continued to enjoy the support of stakeholders who have commended Dr. Otuaro’s dedication to youth empowerment.

Meanwhile, students of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, who benefited from the exercise, expressed appreciation to the PAP leadership, describing the intervention as timely and impactful. They praised Dr. Otuaro for prioritising education as a tool for development and empowerment, and assured that the laptops provided would be put to effective academic use.

By: Divine Perezide

Residents of Okunama Community, Turubebeama Community and Ebipadezion Community have raised alarm over a devastating oil spill currently ravaging their environment, describing the situation as a serious threat to their survival and economic well-being.

Community leaders from the affected areas disclosed that the spill has severely disrupted daily life, particularly fishing activities, which remain the major source of livelihood for the people.

“This massive oil spill has paralized fishing activities which is our primary source of living,” Barr. David Z. Otutufegha, legal advisor to the three communities, told our correspondent.

Findings revealed that videos and photographs showing crude oil spreading across farmlands and waterways have been circulating widely on social media for several days, with concerned citizens and environmental advocates calling for urgent intervention to avert a humanitarian and ecological crisis.

However, efforts by our correspondent to verify the possible source of the spill have so far proved unsuccessful. No multinational oil company operating in the area has issued any official statement, while relevant government authorities are yet to respond to the growing public concern.

As the situation remains unresolved, residents say their hopes and means of survival continue to dwindle, with many families uncertain about how long they can cope without access to clean water and viable fishing grounds.

For the people of Okunama, Turubebeama and Ebipadezion communities, the future now hangs in a delicate balance as they await swift action from both government and industry stakeholders.

By: Derick Peretengboro 

The Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), the umbrella body of Ijaw media organisations, has successfully concluded its leadership election, ushering in a new executive council to pilot the affairs of the forum for the next two years.

At the end of the peaceful and well-coordinated exercise, Comrade Ozobo Austin of Congress News emerged as President, while Oyinbi Nduku of Niger Delta Mirror was elected Vice President. Tare Magbei of Daily Report Nigeria clinched the position of Secretary-General, with Ezekiel Kagbala of FocalPoint Reports elected as Spokesperson.

Also elected into the new leadership structure were Comrade Ekpegha Tamaradoubra of South South Daily as Welfare Officer and Mr. Kanjo Ebitemi Joseph as Financial Secretary, alongside other officials who will serve in various executive roles within the forum.

The election was conducted under the supervision of a three-member Electoral Committee led by Comrade Francis Abai as Chairman, with Cletus Opukeme serving as Secretary and Anthony Demebide as a member.

The process was witnessed by observers and stakeholders from within and outside the media community, including Comrade Afore Theodore of the Ijaw Peace and Development Initiative (IPDI), Amogha Hilda of the Ijaw Women Rights Protecting Forum, and prominent Ijaw leaders such as High Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Sheriff Mulade, former lawmaker Kofee Ebisinne Amasuomo, and Chief Evans Etimigba.

Participants and observers described the exercise as transparent and credible. Addressing the gathering, Chief Sheriff Mulade charged the new executives to uphold professionalism and project the image of the Ijaw nation through responsible and ethical journalism.

The forum also disclosed that the date for the official inauguration of the newly elected executives will be announced in due course.