Another Focus on Rights Violation

December 10, 2009 at 200900000031p00000031: 2:19 p12 (Africa Poets Society, Community, Journalism Education, NIGERIA, SEARCH, africa, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, investment, leadership, niger delta, politics, science)

As Nigeria join the world to mark this years human rights day with the theme ‘embrace diversity, end discrimination interest is raised about the universal declaration that stipulates that human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They should enjoy right to life, social services, education, liberty and security despite race, colour, sex, language, religion and political affiliation.

 But in spite of this provision, human rights abuses have persisted in the society.

A social scientist with the University of Port Harcourt Dr. Kinikanwo Anele noted that poor infrastructure and corruption have continued to hinder economic growth as well as subjected the majority to live on one hundred and fifty naira per day, an abuse that should be corrected.

Dr. Anele highlighted extra-judicial killings, vigilante violence, harsh prison conditions, human trafficking and child labour as some of the major violations of human rights in the country. He emphasized the need for Nigerians particularly relevant agencies to respect human rights.

To Mrs. Florence Fiberesima, head directorate for citizen’s rights, ministry of justice however, human rights practice has improved significantly in the country due to intensive public enlightenment campaigns carried out by government agencies saddled with rights protection tasks and civil society groups.

She noted that cultural practices, background, religion, and illiteracy among the people have remained major handicap to actualizing the benefits of the United Nations declaration. While condemning the abuse of human rights by some law enforcement agents Mrs. Fiberesima advised people whose rights have been violated to discard fear and seek redress in court.

A member of the public Samuel Okujagu said he was denied possession of a piece of land he inherited from his parents by some individuals in his community and has resigned fate to god to defend him against his oppressors.

Other respondents who recommended due process to redress abuses regretted that few individuals are seen living above the law, creating an offensive imbalance in the society made worse by increased poverty, lack of basic amenities, and increased materialism in the society.

All the respondents agreed that the universal day for human rights has become a point of reference to examine efforts and spur for greater human rights protection across the world.

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Raising Political Awareness Among Christians

December 2, 2009 at 200900000031p00000031: 2:19 p12 (Community, Journalism Education, NIGERIA, SEARCH, africa, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, leadership, niger delta, politics, science)

 To continue to provide support services to the church and its members, a non-denominational organization, Divine Elect Sapphire Club [DESC] orgainsed its end of year seminar to encourage Christians to assume their roles and give positive leadership to the society.

The seminar with the theme  ‘Christians in Politics’ had the deputy leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Hope Ikiriko, the deputy speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Remmy Hazzan in attendance.

The lawmakers noted that some Christians despise politics because of the conception that it is rough and evil forgetting that the products of every political process also determine their fate as citizens of the country. They observed that when Christians refuse to participate in politics, they deny the society godly leadership. While noting that increased Christian participation and amendment of some sections of the nations constitution will change the fate of politics, they urged Christians to identify and register with political party of the choice right in their local government wards.

They said Christians must be bold to display their Christ’s brand which will check the kind of issues that may be brought to them and they can not be compelled to walk wrongly. There is room to fail and Christians should not fear to fail but hold up discipline, loyalty, respect circular leaders, be diligence, integrity and be interested to read up political news and activities.

Other speakers like Mrs. Christy Bature-Ogbuifu and Pastor Ola Soji dismissed the thinking that politics was ungodly pointing out that prophets like Daniel, David and Esther were strategically positioned to influence government policy and ensure adherence to God’s injunctions. They said the essence of the cross that demand self sacrifice and service including proper education and mobilization of Christian youth into politics would do a difference.

Mr. Anthony Ikpor is the president of the club that was inaugurated in 2002 with ten persons and had grown to have twenty members who are all professional and donate resources to keep the club going. Mr. Ikpor said the club had engaged in welfare services to the less privileged and assisted in eradicating various forms of social discrimination in the society. He said the club will continue to provide useful education to Christians on how to become investment giants, know how to set achievable goals, inculcate positive virtues and know their HIV/Aids status.

The seminar, he said was organized to tell Christians that politics should not be left for the ‘so called corrupt people,’ who had ploughed the nations into untold lack of developmental problems.

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A Writer Can Not Be Quiet

March 11, 2009 at 200900000031p00000031: 2:19 p03 (Africa Poets Society, Community, Journalism Education, NIGERIA, Nephrological society, africa, africapoets, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, investment, leadership, niger delta, politics, science)

 

They flow, the writers, that is, through the lanes,from different professions into the writing sphere.There are also born writing individuals.

First, they get the inching; worried about the need to make public the content of their thoughts.By this, they devise the best technique of approach to tackle the write-able topic.

This could be propelled by what they have observed,heard or read.Others,spontanously,flow into it without understanding the reason for the drive.

They write a first copy,cancell it ,write a second copy and cancell again.If that copy is not good enough,satisfying what they intend to give out,they write again and lock it away from the public eyes.A few of such writers make further effort to go public.

They are so dicouraged because of the cost implication of publishing.Even the internet could be very expensive for them to use.

The traditional publishing avenues may not look in their direction because they are not a ‘name’ that could be accorded attention.Some of such desirous writing prospects,move further to seek a freelance opportunity to do so for free,giving out their thoughts on paper to contribute to public pool of information.

Most publishers may accommodate this position because it removes all financial obligations on them. All such times the published items are judged on the premise of their relevance to comtemporary issues and the beauty of the language used.

Sometimes, the approach/angle the issue is discussed also becomes an attraction.When the writing propect knows that he is now and always, an accepted contributor, his morale grows daily and gradually, he becomes a pro.

The pro’ writer never would cease to contribute his quota to enrich the columns,pages,weblogs and the stalls the daily published books must fill.This consciousness keeps the writer alive.

He lives and is active because he is writing and attending talk sessions that his written works has created/elicited for him.But can the writer stand at the rostrum and not utter any word? The audience would think that he must have suffered a momentary speech ceasure and would sympathize with him.

They could also want to volunteeer assistance to move him back to his seat or home.Such writer would feel a greater sickness not for what he said verbally but for what he was unable to say.

The writer would not always desire such situation, so will crave another opportunity to correct whatever impression that must have been built..This urge is what qualifies the thinking that to be silent is unlike a writer.

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Imperative of mentoring

March 11, 2009 at 200900000031p00000031: 2:19 p03 (Community, Journalism Education, NIGERIA, Nephrological society, africa, africapoets, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, investment, leadership, niger delta, politics, science)

 

It will be a great comfort if one had come to your assistance to solve or get a task done that you have spent longer time fixing. This is what mentoring avails the ill experienced individual and helps him/her attain set or required goals faster and maximize potentials.

We all want gain but at what price? If gain was free and easy we would all sign up. However, it is not. In order to gain something we need to lose something. Trying to plow our way through life and accepting the rewards of  hard work often times seems like a good enough gain. What seems like great gain and steady progress to you, might be far less than what God has planned for you.

One form of being mentored is discipleship. A disciple is simply a learner. If we take what we learn from another guy who has traveled the long and dusty road before us, and apply it to our life we gain wisdom.

Want some mentoring help then look for a mentor in your community.

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Cultural Festival 2008

December 5, 2008 at 200800000031p00000031: 2:19 p12 (Africa Poets Society, Community, Journalism Education, NIGERIA, Nephrological society, africa, africapoets, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, investment, leadership, niger delta, politics, science)

The procession of floats and troupes that participated in the Rivers State cultural festival christened ‘Carniriv 2008,our culture our pride’ began at about nine thirty five this morning 5th December 2008 when the Nigeria motorcycle club members led by Charley Boy drove their powered bikes, not only to pull out more spectators from where they lurking but to trill them.

 

Thereafter, the floats, numbering about 29, depicting various indigenous sea animals, birds and other cultural identities of the accompanying groups, drove out from the premises of the Catholic Institutes of West Africa along the Port Harcourt Aba expressway unto the road.

 

All  the twenty local governments have floats including some corporate organization ,hoteliers, Nollywood actors as well as National Youths Service Corps members that lined up the stretched of Port Harcourt Aba expressway between the Rumuomasi, market and the artillery junctions.

 

It was at this point that the State government right honourable Chibuike Amaechi and members of the State executives councils joined in the procession climbing up to the leading float, a well decorated typical canoe.

 

From this point , the floats processed to Airforce, Rumuola  and the Waterlines junctions where some of the cultural groups found some convenient spaces to display their dance steps with  enormous excitement at with repeated cheering by spectators.

 

Some of the spectator expressed great joy for the carnival, noting that it has provided a forum for common sharing and play together to show case the rich culture of the state.

 

They said the carnival has defied the fear that has enslaved the people and given them the liberty to come out without any doubt to display the rich culture of the people of Rivers State.

 

Already, Governor Amaechi said the carnival would be a yearly event.

 

The last time such carnival was organized in Rivers State was in 1988.

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Elechi’s Students at ANA Poetry Reading Evening

November 14, 2008 at 200800000030p00000030: 2:19 p11 (Community, NIGERIA, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, leadership, niger delta, politics)

The evening of poetry reading at the Delta Hotels in Port Harcourt to mark the November 2008 edition was more colourful and exciting in many ways than one. It attracted a large attendance; enthusiastic lovers of literature, up-coming and published poets who were desirous to read their poems to the pool of critical audience who offered useful critiques.

 

There were laughter and clapping of hands to each reading but be sure that high ovation and applause never attend reading of good poems. At best, what was observed was a rapped attention displayed by them and a  deep mind contemplation to find out possible meanings  of each of the poems. For the audience would have been lost in such intellectual travel to remember to clap.

 

Among the number of readers at this Rivers State branch of the Association of Nigeria Authors [ANA] was Tamunobarabi Gogo Ibulubo who read two of his poems; Pronounce the sentence and Okrika rising which are part of the collection he has earmarked for paper cover publication in 2009.It got critique and stood out as an effort that matches the poet’s standard and meet the taste of poetry. It was the first time for him to do such public reading and with the commendation, his is determined to make public more of his poems.

 

Also lined up for the evening were graduands of class nine of the Elechi Amadi school of creative writing. Only seven of the ten students succeeded considered under categories of assessment; participation, merit, credit and distinction scaled through the huddles. Ms Enemesit Omofia emerged as the best graduating student with a gift of cash and Elechi Amadi’s ‘book the concubine’

 

The  Elechi Amadi school of creative writing  was set up to offer a plat form that would attend to the common problems Dr. Amadi had observed with scripts that has been brought to him by prospective writers. Dr. Amadi said that instead of the students being asked to pay forty thousand naira as fees, he has subsidized the fees allowing students to pay twenty thousand naira only.

 

The state chairman of ANA Minima welcomed the writers, lovers of literature and the graduands and reminded of the writer’s unbounded and parallel  world.

The 2009 literary competition for all secondary students in Rivers State will commence in  December 2008 while the BBC playwriting competition for 2009 is rolling  and would end in March 2009 as explained by the British Council, Rivers State Center Manager, Ms Patience Nwoke.

 

  

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Obama is America President

November 14, 2008 at 200800000030p00000030: 2:19 p11 (Community, NIGERIA, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, leadership, niger delta, politics)

Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected as the Africa-America president of America.

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Nigeria to switch to digital broadcasting

September 9, 2008 at 200800000030p00000030: 2:19 p09 (Community, NIGERIA, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, leadership, niger delta, politics)
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To read this piece, you will go to the

http://www.africanewscom/site/list_topics/404.

Efforts are achieving it.

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The book titled ‘Dying Voices of Gongs’

July 9, 2008 at 200800000031p00000031: 2:19 p07 (Community, NIGERIA, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, leadership, niger delta, politics)
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Economically Progressive Port Harcourt

July 9, 2008 at 200800000031p00000031: 2:19 p07 (Community, NIGERIA, business, create the change, education, god is not a lie, health, leadership, niger delta, politics)
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It is a reality that has remained undisputed, publicly acknowledged and that the capital city of Rivers State and indeed to entire state is the country’s economic base. It is the highest producers of the crude oil that has sustained Nigeria’s economy.

Most people do not know much about Niger Delta. It is in this region that Port Harcourt city is located.

 Today , as a proof of what span of capacity it has , it has been  admitted into  the World Energy City Partnership. This places it as the third of such countries in Africa and   running behind Luanda and Equatorial Guinea.

 
The admission followed its presentation by the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce led by its chairman at the May 2008 conference in Houston, Texas. There a public acknowledgement of the new dimension of the role that  Port Harcourt plays globally. The attestation is that the city is an economically progressive city.

 
Nigerian’s President,Umaru Musa Yar’Adua told newsmen on the 8th July,2008,two days before he declares open  the  oil and gas conference and mini exhibition at Abuja,that  the acceptance is another landmark achievement of his administration.

President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Prince Billy Gillis Harry said the admission  places it in a better position for global investments.

According to him, WEPC is a platform for the partnership in energy among the 15 member-cities in the world and operates as an elite oil activity city recognised globally and would also benefit from the attention member cities enjoy.

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