The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has opened a comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme Workshop in Rivers State, aimed at equipping farmers, students, women, and small-scale investors with modern, sustainable agricultural skills to boost productivity and food security.

The workshop, which commenced on Friday at the Ministry of Justice Auditorium, Port Harcourt, was formally declared open by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was represented by wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara.

In her opening remarks, Lady Valerie Fubara, described agriculture as a vital enterprise that demands commitment and informed practices. She urged participants to take the training seriously, noting that it serves as a preparatory step toward the Agricultural Empowerment Programme scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

“I want to see how participants are being prepared for the upcoming agri-empowerment next Tuesday,” she said. “Please, take every lecture seriously because it will help your business. Those in poultry or crop production will learn how to better care for their livestock and crops. Knowledge is key to empowerment.”

The workshop featured technical sessions on crop production, livestock, and poultry management, offering participants practical guidance designed to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable growth within the state’s agricultural sector.

Delivering a keynote address titled: “General Smart Agriculture in Relation to the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI),” Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Udensi Udensi, represented by Prof. Joseph Orluchukwu, underscored the role of agriculture in driving national development.

He explained that embracing smart and innovative agricultural methods is essential for combating food insecurity in developing economies experiencing rapid population growth.

“Traditional farming methods have struggled to meet growing food demands. However, the adoption of innovative tools and smart farming practices is a game-changer,” he said.

“Government must also implement supportive policies, provide subsidies for essential tools like seeds and irrigation systems, and invest in critical infrastructure. Strong partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as NGOs, are vital for empowering farmers with education, resources, and support,” he added.

The workshop, part of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s nationwide agricultural empowerment drive, seeks to empower local farmers and entrepreneurs, promote self-reliance, and strengthen food production capacity across Nigeria.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his decision to bestow Post Humous Pardon on the Ogoni 9, and the prestigious National Honours Awards on the Ogoni 4.

Governor Fubara said this while reacting to the unanimous ratification of Mr President’s decision by the Council of State during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday. He spoke in Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.

The Ogoni 9: Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gboko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine were granted Post Homous Pardon for their “exemplary service to Nigeria and in particular to promote reconciliation within the Ogoni community.”

In the same token, the Ogoni 4: Chiefs Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage were awarded National Honours “for their patriotism to Nigeria and in particular to promote reconciliation within the Ogoni community.”

Reiterating the State Government’s gratitude to Mr President, the Council of State and Nigerians for recognising the sacrifices and patriotism of the Ogoni 13, Governor Fubara explained that the Presidential Pardon and National Honours Awards will promote genuine reconciliation, guarantee enduring peace and unity within the Ogoni communities, and also help accelerate sustainable development in the State.

While reassuring President Tinubu of the unfettered commitment of the Rivers State Government to the total reconciliation of all Ogoni people, Governor Fubara expressed optimism that the government’s action will bring renewed hope and restore confidence in the Ogoni communities.

He appealed to the people of the State, particularly the Ogoni people to see the Federal Government’s decision as a significant step towards addressing age-long demands of the communities, emphasising that the government’s investment in the area is a testament to the commitment to the well-being of the people and development of Ogoniland.

He further encouraged the people to key into the policies and programmes of government at all levels to achieve the purpose of governance in the State, and Nigeria.

Rivers State Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu says lack of information or timely information is one of the major problems aggravating the cancer scourge in Nigeria.

Prof. Odu made this disclosure while playing host to members of the African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association in Nigeria (AWCAA) at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday 9th October, 2025.

According to the Deputy Governor, people are getting treatment and doing things that can delay or stop the cancer process from getting to the point of no return, noting that the more we get our people enlightened the better for the society.

“Sometimes people die, and they say it is spiritual attack or something else, but if they had adequate information, it would have been averted we cannot have too much information on this”, the Deputy Governor said.

Prof. Odu expressed gratitude to the Cancer Awareness Association for presenting her with a plaque in appreciation for her support to the Association, while urging them to link up with some treatment centres to enable them identify, inform and refer people to the centres.

In her remarks, Mrs. Celine Orji, Vice President, African women’s Cancer Awareness Association in Nigeria said the Association was launched last year in Abuja and the Deputy Governor has been very supportive, adding that they found it such a joy to have her as a part of the organization which necessitated the presentation of the plaque.

She said although the AWCAA was inaugurated in Nigeria last year it originated from the United States of America in 2004 to help the immigrant women because of the cost of healthcare, to assist women who do not have health insurance to be aware of cancer and how to manage this disease when it becomes a necessity and it has been brought to Nigeria to create awareness and screening.

The Federal Government has urged scientists in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to improve their knowledge on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to ensure that their feedback the subject was factual and unambiguous, as Nigerians are still divided on the safety of GMOs.

The federal government said this on Thursday in Abuja at a two-day workshop where it received fact-based briefing on science behind GMOs.

The event was organised by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria under the auspices of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA).

The workshop which had the theme; “Biotechnology and Biosafety: Building Trust through Science and Facts”, presented a platform to explore the science, and regulatory framework behind GMO cultivation in Nigeria.

Mrs Esuabana Nko-Asanye, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the public often relied on government institutions for guidance on GMOs.

“We must, therefore, ensure that our knowledge base is not only accurate, but also updated, enabling us to communicate facts in a clear and balanced manner,’’ she said.

She further said it was crucial to embrace innovations that could help guarantee sustainable food production.

However, according to her, the introduction and use of GMOs should be approached with caution, knowledge and adherence to regulatory standards.

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director-General, NBRDA, said that trust was not granted by statements alone, but earned through transparent processes, open communication and demonstrable outcomes.

“To build that trust, we must be candid about both the potential of biotechnology and the legitimate concerns that citizens and civil society raise.

“Questions about gene flow, non-target effects, socio-economic impacts and seed access deserve robust, evidence-based answers.

“We must publish data from trials, explain the methods used in food safety assessments, and ensure that monitoring results are available to regulators, researchers, and the public,’’ he said.

Mustapha said it was necessary to ensure that technological progress was matched by rigorous safety assessment, clear policy, transparent oversight and open dialogue with citizens.

He said scientific innovation in agricultural biotechnology was not an end but a tool designed to deliver measurable benefits which include, among others, greater resilience to pests and drought, and reduced reliance on chemical pesticides.

Mr Bello Bwari, Director-General, National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) said it was normal for people to express fear and concerns about new technologies and their products.

He advised that Nigerians to accept the good side of GMO which, he said could help improve the food situation in the country.

He assured that GMOs were properly regulated in the country through rigorous processes to ensure safety for humans and the environment.

The Council of State on Thursday approved the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy for 175 persons across various categories.

The decision followed a presentation by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s recommendations based on the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, at Thursday’s Council of State meeting held at the State House, Abuja.

Although the full names of the beneficiaries are yet to be published, it was gathered that pardons were granted to one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay and former FCT minister in the Babangida regime, Maj-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (retd).

Members of the Ogoni Nine, including renowned environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Ogoni Four are also beneficiaries.

“Herbert Macaulay and Vatsa are among the two major ones on that list,” a source who attended the meeting told our correspondent.

Macaulay, often called the “father of Nigerian nationalism,” was twice convicted by the colonial authorities in Lagos.

In 1913, while in private practice as a surveyor, he was tried for misappropriating funds from an estate he administered and sentenced to prison; historians have long debated the fairness of that prosecution.

In 1928, after his Lagos Daily News published incendiary claims during the Eleko (Oba of Lagos) agitation, he was convicted of sedition in the so-called “Gunpowder Plot” case and jailed for six months with hard labour.

Vatsa, a poet, former FCT minister and member of the Supreme Military Council, was executed by firing squad on March 5, 1986, after a secret military tribunal convicted him of treason over an alleged coup against then military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, his childhood friend.

The case has remained controversial for decades, with periodic calls for a posthumous pardon.

Out of the 175 beneficiaries, 82 inmates were granted a full presidential pardon, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state explained, “82 of the inmates were granted full pardon, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

“The decision underscores the President’s commitment to justice and correctional reform.”

The meeting, chaired by President Tinubu, also ratified key appointments, including Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State as Chairman of the National Population Commission and Tonge Bularafa as Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State in the Commission. Both appointments received unanimous approval.

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala has reiterated that the Nigeria government gives priority to the health of the elderly through the various legislations to cater to the health needs of the elderly.

Dr. Agala, who made the emphasis on a live online radio programme on Tuesday, 7th October, 2025, on Grace Impact Radio in commemoration of the National Day for the elderly, which is usually celebrated on every 5th of October, argued that it is because of the importance the government places on the health of the elderly in the country that made the government to place the elderly among those to enjoy free but quality healthcare services under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund which is operational in all the states of the Federation.

The RIVCHPP Executive Secretary noted the role of the Nigeria government by extension Rivers State Government in the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund that provides financial risk protection for the elderly as vulnerable population.

Dr. Agala pointed out in response to Mazi’s call for meaningful engagement of strong and active older persons, that in Rivers State, active retirees, especially health care providers, have been engaged to continue to work, bring their experience to teams and to keep them meaningfully engaged.
RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary admonished everyone to plan towards old age and adopt a preventive health lifestyle and to ensure they get insurance coverage to cater to dealing with the incidences of diseases during their old age.

Dr. Agala said that it is worthy of note to announce that of the already enrolled 110,000 and above persons in Rivers State, about 30% of them are over 60 years of age, urging that the National policy on aging be fully implemented with the provision of funding for homes which are currently driven by religious organisations and non-governmental organisations.

Contributing on the radio programme, a gerontologist, social worker, and behavioural scientist based in Ebonyi State, Mazi Otti Nwaka, advocated for attitudinal change among Nigerians, encouraging the establishment and utilisation of nursing homes for the elderly.

Mazi Nwaka, who gave insights into the challenges of the elderly globally, said that due to holding on to traditional beliefs and ways of living, most elderly people find it difficult to leave their ancestral to live in nursing homes, even when they are not getting the proper care needed in old age at the buildings they see as their own.

The behavioural scientist reiterated that, especially in Nigeria, most elderly persons are prone to hypertension, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, among others, enjoining everyone, especially the government at the different tiers, to give special attention to the health of the elderly by providing a nursing home, with the right calibre of professional care givers as is done in other climes.

As part of the commemoration of the National Day for the Older Persons, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme’s Dr. Juliet Aleme was at the Care of Elderly People’s Unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Alakahia, for the event.

No fewer than 1,000 women across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State have benefited from the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Economic Empowerment Programme, receiving small business recapitalisation grants aimed at expanding their ventures, supporting their families, and strengthening local communities.

The empowerment scheme, implemented in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and supported by the Rivers State Government, was officially launched at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The RHI Women Economic Empowerment Programme is part of a broader national initiative targeting 18,500 women across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, explained that the financial support was a grant, not a loan, intended to strengthen women-owned businesses.

“Each beneficiary will receive ₦50,000 to recapitalize her business,” she said. “This grant is not to be repaid. When you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation.”

Senator Tinubu expressed appreciation to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its ₦1 billion donation to the programme, which has made the grants available to more women across the country.

Lady Valerie Fubara highlighted the Rivers State Government’s ongoing efforts in supporting families through agricultural, economic, and educational initiatives, describing them as complementary to the RHI’s empowerment goals.

She urged the beneficiaries to use the funds wisely to grow their businesses and improve their families’ livelihoods, commending Senator Tinubu for her vision and compassion.

“Senator Oluremi Tinubu has shown remarkable dedication to uplifting women,” Lady Valerie Fubara said. “Her leadership continues to inspire positive change across the nation.”

She said her husband and Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is showing more support for the programme and has increased the number of beneficiaries in the State from 500 to 1,000, as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to economic inclusion.

“His Excellency believes that empowerment must be value-targeted,” Lady Valerie Fubara added. “I also urge you, recipients, to utilize the proceeds from this partnership to support beneficial ventures that will make for economic improvements in your families.”

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Ordu, commended both Senator Tinubu and Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara for complementing the state government’s development efforts, and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of their grants.

Also speaking at the event, Justice Mary Odili (rtd) applauded the Renewed Hope Initiative for creating opportunities that uplift citizens across sectors, noting the overwhelming turnout as a testament to the programme’s impact.

“The joy on the faces of these women today shows how deeply this empowerment has touched lives,” she remarked.

In her welcome address, State Coordinator, RHI, Hon Tonye Briggs-Oniyide, said that the women beneficiaries have been selected through a meticulous and transparent process from across the 23 local government areas, thanking them for their resilience and support to the government.

She charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the grant so as to enhance the economic prosperity of their families and communities.

Highlights of the event were the presentation of the grants to the beneficiaries by Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, and free medical outreach that provided attendees with essential health checks and treatments.

The Presidency has rejected the World Bank’s latest report estimating that 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty, describing the figure as “unrealistic” and detached from the country’s current economic realities.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said on Wednesday that while Nigeria values its partnership with the World Bank, the poverty figures must be “properly contextualised” within the limits of global poverty measurement models.

According to him, the World Bank’s estimate was based on the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, set in 2017 using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), and should not be interpreted as a literal headcount of poor Nigerians. He explained that when converted to nominal terms, the $2.15 benchmark equals about ₦100,000 per month at current exchange rates—well above Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000.

“The measure is an analytical construct, not a direct reflection of local income realities,” Dare said, noting that PPP-based poverty assessments rely on historical consumption data and often overlook Nigeria’s large informal and subsistence economies.

The Presidency argued that the World Bank’s methodology does not capture the full picture of Nigeria’s socio-economic realities and that what matters more is the direction of change. It said the country’s economy is on a recovery and reform trajectory, driven by policies aimed at inclusive growth and social protection.

Dare highlighted several welfare and intervention programmes under the Tinubu administration, including the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme, which has reached up to 15 million households with verified digital enrolment through the National Social Register. He said over ₦297 billion has been disbursed since 2023 to poor and vulnerable families.

He also mentioned the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, targeting all 8,809 electoral wards with micro-infrastructure and livelihood projects, and the strengthening of National Social Investment Programmes such as N-Power and the GEEP micro-loan initiatives (TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and FarmerMoni).

The Presidency listed additional initiatives to address rising costs and stimulate job creation, including food security programmes, subsidised grain and fertiliser distribution, and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund for energy, roads, and housing. It also cited the National Credit Guarantee Company, designed to expand affordable credit for small businesses, women, and youth entrepreneurs.

According to Dare, the Tinubu administration is tackling the structural distortions that have long constrained productivity and inclusive growth. He described reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and fiscal reallocation toward productive sectors as “painful but necessary choices” to fix the root causes of poverty.

He added that even the World Bank had acknowledged that these reforms are helping to restore macroeconomic stability and growth momentum. However, he stressed that the ultimate goal is to ensure that economic recovery translates into real welfare improvements for ordinary Nigerians.

“Nigeria rejects exaggerated statistical interpretations detached from local realities,” the statement said. “The government remains focused on empowering households, expanding opportunity, and building a fairer, more prosperous nation.”

Earlier, the World Bank, in its October 2025 Nigeria Development Update titled “From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home,” had reported that 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty—up from 129 million in April 2025 and 87 million in 2023.

The Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, praised the Tinubu government’s reforms in the exchange rate and petrol subsidy regimes but warned that the benefits have not yet reached ordinary citizens.

“Despite these stabilisation gains, many households are still struggling with eroded purchasing power,” Verghis said.

Opposition parties and labour leaders responded to the Presidency’s statement, saying the hardship Nigerians face is undeniable. The Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party, and Peoples Democratic Party all argued that the government’s reforms have yet to translate into tangible relief.

The Nigeria Labour Congress said many workers struggle to survive on the ₦70,000 minimum wage, which is now worth about $46 per month, noting that “poverty is not an abstract statistic; it is lived reality.”