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.