The Rivers State Government is moving to establish a unified system for tackling gender-based violence, with plans to develop a Standard Operating Procedure, SOP, to coordinate prevention and response efforts across the state. The initiative, led by the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, CEHRD, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, is expected to clearly define the roles of government agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders involved in GBV response. Speaking at a fact-finding meeting organised by CEHRD and the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies-Dimkpa, said the SOP would reduce duplication of efforts and ensure survivors receive timely and appropriate support. Davies-Dimkpa called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, stressing that a coordinated approach would improve the fight against gender-based violence. She also urge...
The call to preserve and revive indigenous languages as repositories of cultural wisdom and tools for addressing environmental challenges took centre stage at the 2026 Wisdom Gathering Session held in Kaani, Ogoni, Rivers State. The gathering, organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in collaboration with Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI), brought together stakeholders to examine the role of language and indigenous philosophies in advancing socio-ecological justice. Speaking at the session, Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, linked the loss of indigenous knowledge and the persistence of environmental injustice in the Niger Delta to the manipulation and erosion of language. Bassey said, “All the environmental injustice meted out on the people of Niger Delta have been achieved through the manipulation of language to confuse the common people and sell false solutions to them.” He urged participants, particularly young people, to return to the...