NUJ Delta Hails Aniagwu On His Birthday, Describes Him As an accomplished Communicator, Accessible

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has felicitated the Honourable Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, on the occasion of his birthday, describing him as an accomplished communicator, committed public servant and passionate advocate of sustainable development.

In a felicitation message jointly signed by the Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, and Secretary, Comrade Victor Sorokwu, the Council said Aniagwu has, over the years, distinguished himself through his exceptional communication skills, accessibility and unwavering commitment to the advancement of Delta State.

The NUJ noted that as a seasoned public relations strategist and government spokesperson, Aniagwu has demonstrated remarkable capacity in simplifying government policies and programmes, while effectively bridging the communication gap between government and the people.

According to the Council, his eloquence, depth of knowledge and ability to articulate issues of governance have earned him respect within and outside the media community.

The journalists’ body also commended the Commissioner for his media-friendly disposition and cordial relationship with practitioners, noting that his appreciation of the critical role of the media in promoting accountability, good governance and democratic ideals remains commendable.

The Council expressed confidence that Aniagwu’s passion for grassroots development and his current responsibility in the Works (Rural Roads) sector would further contribute to opening up communities, improving connectivity and advancing inclusive development across Delta State.

“On this special occasion, we celebrate a man whose life and career have been defined by service, dedication and an uncommon commitment to the public good.

“Your contributions to public communication and governance, as well as your continued passion for the development of Delta State, remain worthy of commendation.

“As you mark another year, we pray that Almighty God will bless you with greater wisdom, sound health, renewed strength and many more years of impactful service to humanity and our dear state,” the NUJ Delta State Council stated.

The Council wished Mr. Aniagwu a joyous birthday celebration and expressed optimism that the years ahead would usher in greater accomplishments and fulfilment.

Oba of Benin Suspends Praise Singers indefinitely Over Palace Songs for Chief Igbinedion

Benin, Edo – His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has indefinitely suspended the Isikhuan royal praise singers for an alleged breach of palace rules and ancient tradition.

The group is accused of staging a traditional performance reserved exclusively for the Oba at the residence of Chief Gabriel Osawuaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, in Edo State.

Palace sources described the act as a violation of a longstanding Benin taboo.

Oba Ewuare II also stripped the group’s leader, Juliet Omogui, of her traditional title of Okao.

Omogui publicly admitted the allegation, which was captured in a viral video.

She has been directed to return the traditional headgear (Okuku) in her custody to the palace pending further instructions from the monarch.

The decision was announced by the Obazelu of Benin, Chief Osaro Idah, during an emergency palace meeting on Sunday.

Members of the Isikhuan group were given the opportunity to explain their involvement. Chief Idah was joined by Chief Ada Igbinovia (Eribo N’Ibiwe), Chief Imade Osamuyi Amos (Oshodi N’Ibiwe), Chief Enoma Ogiesughe (Ogiesughe N’Ewaise), and other palace chiefs.

The chiefs expressed dismay at what they called a height of disrespect to the Benin monarchy.

Chief Idah questioned why Chief Igbinedion allowed the performance in his honour, noting the Esama’s deep knowledge of Benin sacred customs and his prior vow to uphold them.

The Isikhuan (also associated with Isekhian or Emehe palace functionaries) traditionally perform praise songs reserved for the Oba during royal ceremonies.

Palace authorities view any unauthorized performance of these rites as a serious affront to the sacred order of the Benin Kingdom.

Ikpeme praises Edo Queens, Rivers United, 3SC,  El-Kanemi Warriors

The Acting General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme has congratulated Nigeria’s flag-bearers Edo Queens for emerging winners of the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League tournament held in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.

Edo Queens on Saturday night reclaimed the WAFU-B trophy they won in 2024, by defeating Ampem Darkoa Ladies of Ghana 4-1 on penalties after bought teams fought to a 2-2 draw in the pulsating final at the Stade 4 August. Victory has earned the Queens a spot in this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

“The NFF is very proud of the achievement of Edo Queens. It is no mean a feat, as they had to do battles with equally-ambitious and focused teams. It is even more remarkable that the team they defeated in the final was the only team to have beaten them during the group phase of the tournament,” Ikpeme noted.

The NFF scribe also commended Rivers United for earning a 1-1 draw against FC San Pedro of Cote d’Ivoire in their CAF Champions League first preliminary, first leg encounter in Abidjan on Saturday, as well as CAF Confederation Cup hopefuls El-Kanemi Warriors and Shooting Stars who won their home legs against visiting teams.

“We are happy for them as we monitored all the matches and noticed their efforts. We believe Shooting Stars have the quality to withstand anything that CS Sfaxien may throw at them during the return leg in Tunisia, and we are also using this opportunity to encourage Enugu Rangers to go to Benin Republic and get the result that will see them qualify for the second round.

“El-Kanemi Warriors got a handsome win but they should not rest on their oars. They should go to Guinea Bissau and play their hearts out to gain even more confidence ahead of the second-round matches.”

Next2None, NAPTIP sign MOU on African’s first intl fashion show to combat global human trafficking

In a historic move to reshape the global fight against human trafficking, Next2None Support Initiative, a non governmental organization and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) officially joined forces to unveil Africa’s first-ever international fashion for social impact mega-campaign.

Tagged “Threads of Resilience: Fashion for Freedom,” the groundbreaking initiative strategically unites the worlds of global fashion, international cinema, and elite sports into a singular, powerhouse movement designed to prevent exploitation, empower youth, and restore survivor dignity.

The partnership follows the formal signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both organizations on August 27, 2026 by the DG of NAPTIP, Binta Lami Adamu Bello, Director of the Legal and Prosecution Department for NAPTIP, Mrs Ijeoma Amugo and Director-General of Next2None Support Initiative, Mr. Sam Obu Esq., (popularly known as Chukky), and Mr. Frank Nwala.

The collaborative masterplan was announced on Sunday in a statement jointly signed by the Director-General of Next2None Support Initiative, Mr. Sam Obu Esq., and Mr. Frank Nwala.

Spanning an ambitious eight-year operational timeline from 2026 to 2034, the initiative targets an initial annual reach of 6,000 young people across Nigeria, carefully scaling up to train approximately 1,000 participants across each of the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

The program will run year-round, culminating in a spectacular annual flagship Global Fashion for Freedom event hosted in the capital city of Abuja, with its highly anticipated global launch slated for Q2 2027.

Speaking on the critical need for this initiative, Obu noted that the architecture of human trafficking has drastically evolved, adding that today, predators exploit digital platforms, leveraging social media, deceptive employment advertisements, fraudulent migration schemes, and online relationships to trap the vulnerable.

“Human trafficking is no longer just a law enforcement challenge; it is a crisis of poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunity.

“’Threads of Resilience’ addresses this by moving beyond mere rescue. We are creating a sustainable, Nigerian-led international movement that uses creativity, sports, and education to establish pathways to absolute freedom and economic dignity”, the statement noted.

The statement said that the comprehensive program is structurally built on three transformative pillars namely the Prevention (Stopping the Cycle) which is expected to utilizing the cultural touchpoints that young people engage with daily—including fashion campaigns, school programs, digital advocacy, and community outreach—to expose trafficking risks and promote online safety.

The statement said empowerment (Reducing Vulnerability) is another pillar of action to be adopted, providing physical and digital training across critical vocational fields (such as fashion design, textile production, leather making, and garment care) blended with modern digital and enterprise skills (including e-commerce, financial literacy, and branding) to slide youth directly into sustainable livelihoods.

It will also rebuild (Restoring Dignity) which is offering complete, confidential, and respectful reintegration ecosystems for trafficking survivors, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and returnees which will includes vocational rehabilitation, mentorship, and vital mental health and psychosocial support.

According to the statement, to build true international coloration, Threads of Resilience is actively opening frontiers to engage global icons and institutional frameworks.

The initiative will position fashion as a vehicle for human rights where emerging designers and survivors will showcase collections carrying messages of healing and freedom, with Next2None and NAPTIP seeking active engagements and collaborations with major global luxury fashion houses, including Gucci, Balenciaga, Versace, and Hugo Boss.

In partnership with Nollywood and international filmmakers, the project will roll out impactful anti-trafficking movies, documentaries, and awareness skits, alongside providing hands-on film production training for young people.

Recognizing the raw power of grassroots sports, the campaign is building on existing talent hunt frameworks to engage global sporting bodies, the statement reads, adding “Strategic partnerships are being pursued with FIFA for football initiatives, the International Handball Federation (IHF) for handball tournaments, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) to deploy elite athlete ambassadors and sports clinics to reach vulnerable youth”.

Backed by NAPTIP’s governmental leadership and technical expertise, including facilitating collaboration with relevant Nigerian government institutions, United Nations agencies, the project driven by Next2None’s
award-winning implementation track record, has established a rigorous Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning framework to track metrics such as employment rates, survivor rehabilitation success, and funds mobilized.

As the implementation roadmap swings into high gear with diplomatic outreach and stakeholder mobilization, the Media Office of Next2None Support Initiative extends a global call to action.

“We invite corporate organizations, international development grants, foundations, philanthropists, brand ambassadors, volunteers and foreign missions to join hands with us. Together, we can use creativity to educate, skills to empower, and partnerships to rebuild lives”, the statement reads.

NSC, Finance Ministry move to conclude Presidential Rewards Process for Super Falcons, D’Tigress

The National Sports Commission, NSC, and the Federal Ministry of Finance have taken a huge step towards concluding the Presidential Rewards Process for both the Super Falcons and the D’Tigress.

This much was achieved when the Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, met with the Honourable Minister of finance and coordinating Minister of the economy, Taiwo Oyedele.

A key focus of the discussions among others was the status and conclusion of the payment process for the Presidential Rewards to Nigeria’s Senior Women’s Basketball Team (D’Tigress) and Senior Women’s Football Team (Super Falcons), which has since been approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and has been under process at the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

The Presidential Rewards recognise the outstanding achievements of both teams on the international stage in 2025, with the Super Falcons winning the WAFCON title in Morocco and the D’Tigress retaining the Women’s AfroBasket in Ivory Coast.

According Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi, ANIPR, Director Information and PR
NSC, said the Minister of Finance has confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has since paid for the 3-Bedroom flats in Abuja that was acquired by the Federal Government and presented to the players and officials, and that the payments processes for the cash rewards which is the next stage will be concluded immediately.

The Minister further assured that the players and officials of the teams would start receiving alerts from CBN to their individual accounts accordingly, in line with the approvals and directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

It is on record that, in line to the Presidential Approvals the players and officials have since received from the NSC the title documents for the 3-bedroom flats in Abuja and Certificate of National honors of OON duly endorsed by the President.

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the Sports Commission remains committed to ensuring that the Presidential Rewards and other commitments made are followed through due process to conclusion.

Oborevwori felicitates Obi of Owa Kingdom At 67th Coronation Anniversary

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has felicitated with the Obi of Owa Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, OON, as he marks 67 years on the throne.

The Governor, in a goodwill message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, described the Owa monarch as an accomplished traditional institution custodian whose long reign has remained synonymous with peace, stability and the advancement of his kingdom.

Oborevwori commended the monarch for his sustained commitment to the unity and progress of Owa Kingdom, as well as his invaluable contributions to the development of Delta State.

He particularly acknowledged the monarch’s role in promoting peaceful coexistence among communities and working constructively with successive governments to advance the collective interests of the people.

The Governor recalled the Obi’s tenure as Chairman of the Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers, noting that his wealth of experience, wisdom and counsel had contributed significantly to strengthening the relationship between traditional institutions and government.

He expressed appreciation for the monarch’s enduring service to his people and prayed that God would continue to preserve him in sound health, wisdom and strength for many more years.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Delta State, I warmly celebrate with our revered father, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, OON, the Obi of Owa Kingdom, on the auspicious occasion of his 67th coronation anniversary.

“Your Majesty’s remarkable journey on the throne has been characterised by wisdom, peace, stability and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of your people.

“This milestone is a testament to your enduring service and exemplary leadership. I pray that God Almighty will continue to grant you good health, strength and many more years of purposeful reign,” the Governor said.

Oborevwori urged the people of Owa Kingdom to continue to honour and support the monarch, stressing the importance of preserving the kingdom’s rich cultural values while working collectively towards a prosperous future.

Shalom Baptist Church congratulates Dr. Opate Bright on his ordination as Reverend

By: Celestine Ukah 

The entire family, members and friends of Shalom Baptist Church Ekpan, Uvwie LGA Delta State has congratulated Pastor Opate Bright on his ordination as a Reverend in the Nigerian Baptist Convention, NBC.

The ordination which was conducted Saturday September 5 at First Baptist Church DSC Orhuwhorun by the President Providence Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Sylvester Ogheakpobor on behalf of the President Nigeria Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. David Olusola Idowu.

Rev. Dr. Opate Bright has a Doctor in Ministry, (D. Ministry) Crowther Theological Seminary, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Master in Divinity (M. Div Th Baptist Theological Seminary, EKU, Delta State and Bachelor of Science BSC, Delta State University, Abaraka.

Rev. Dr. Opate Bright is the Minister in charge of Shalom Baptist Church Ekpan where he has been pastoring for the past 12 years he also held other ministerial offices which include the Prayer Chairman of Grace Baptist Association, Warri, Vice Chairman Pastor’s Fellowship of Grace Baptist Association, Warri among others.

Public Relations Officer, PRO Shalom Baptist Church, Celestine Ukah, While conveying the congratulatory message on behalf of the Secretary Shalom Baptist Church, PST. James Uvietesivwi to Rev. Dr. Bright and his entire family, appreciated God for the ordination, praying God to increase the Man of God like never before with His unction to expand God Kingdom.

PST Uvietesivwi commended members of Shalom Baptist Church for their support and massive attendance which he said added more boost to the heart of the Man of God.

Warri: Oborevwori, Okowa, Guwor, Arenyeka, Others Bid Otumara Farewell

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and other dignitaries on Saturday paid their final respects to the late Dr. Joseph Sisanmi Otumara, as he was laid to rest in Warri.

Otumara, a renowned medical doctor, politician and administrator, died after a life of public service that saw him occupy several key positions in Delta State.

The funeral service, held at Yonwuren College, Ugbuwangue, Warri, was conducted by the Itsekiri Pastors Association, led by Bishop Mike Oyemiren.

Others who attended were; former First Lady of Delta State, Mrs. Roli Uduaghan; State Chairman of the APC, Chief Solomon Arenyeka; former Senator James Manager and other political leaders, friends, associates and members of the Otumara family.

The Warri Choral Society rendered songs and praises during the service, while Bible readings were taken from Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 and 2 Peter 3:3-14.

Otumara, who was born on December 16, 1960, until his death served as Chairman of the Itsekiri Politicians Forum and held the traditional title of Obarisuwa of Warri Kingdom.

He was a three-time Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council and a former Commissioner for Health in Delta State. He also served as Chairman of the Warri/Uvwie and Special Area Development Agency from 2019 until his death.

The officiating minister, Bishop Mike Oyemiren, urged Nigerians to live purposeful lives and leave behind legacies worthy of remembrance.

Preaching on “The Marketplace and Its Legacy,” Oyemiren likened life to a marketplace where everyone must eventually return home.

“Nobody visits the market and does not return home,” he said, describing the late Otumara as a man who completed his earthly race and left a legacy of service, leadership and positive impact.

He urged the congregation to fear God and live with eternity in view, asking: “When we die today, what will men say about us?”

Another officiating minister, Bishop Mike Laju, urged the people to use their time wisely, stressing that everyone has a limited tenure on earth.

Paying tribute to the deceased, Delta State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Solomon Arenyeka, described Otumara as a man who left “indelible footprints on the sands of time.”

Arenyeka described him as kind, meek, humble, pathfinder and God-fearing, adding that his contributions to society and the lives he touched would continue to be remembered.

He prayed God to console the Otumara family and grant the deceased eternal rest.

Diri Reconciles INC Factions, Says Ijaws Must Speak With One Voice

Yenagoa: The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday September 1 2026, formally brought closure to his reconciliation efforts in the Ijaw National Congress (INC) with the hosting of a Mega Unity Reception at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Senator Diri said the Ijaw nation must rise and speak with one voice that commands a seat at every table where Nigeria’s destiny is decided, stressing that the people must act together in shaping decisions that affect their future.

According to the governor, “This powerful gathering tells Nigeria, Africa, and the world that the unity, solidarity, and indivisibility of the Ijaw nation are non-negotiable.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the event and one-time Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby, lauded the Bayelsa governor for his timely intervention in resolving the leadership crisis within the organization.

Also present was the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Dr. Boladei Igali , who told journalists that it is normal for organizations to have misunderstandings and disputes, but that they must be resolved for the common good.

According to Dr. Igali, the INC previously had two factions in dispute. He noted that Governor Douye Diri decided that “a divided house cannot stand” and set up a reconciliation committee. Following the committee’s report, he brought both parties together to reconcile as one body.