Children's Day Celebration: COWA Enhances Creativity And Innovative Potentials In Children At Onne Command

Hajia Amina Babandede, chapter Chairperson, Customs Officers Wives Association(COWA), Onne, Area 11 command  says the group has remained committed to enhancing children's creativity and innovative potentials.

Babandede disclosed this during the 2025 Children's Day Celebration at the command's staff quarters in Ebubu in Eleme, LGA Rivers state.

She noted that this  year's children's day celebration with the theme- "Stand up, Speak up, building a bullying-free generation" was a renewed responsibility for caregivers and school operators to enhance children's rights and protection.

According to her, every child is a gift of hope and as such should be duly protected and armed with requisite education and skills for the task of leadership.

On the scorecard of the COWA National president, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi since assumption of office, Babandede said ''I want to commend our national President, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi who had since assumption of office prioritized   members welfare as well as that of our children."

''She indeed does it best when it comes to capacity building for our children and the welfare of officers' wives."

Continuing, she asserted  "Onne command had since emulated these qualities, demonstrating compliance through our various welfare programmes."

''On that note, I advise our children to continue to demonstrate self- confidence, standing tall in whatever they do because they are our future leaders."

"I am bold to say that I see great leadership potential today in most of the children who participated in the various programs and  attest to a bright future for the Nigerian child who is no longer prone to bullying,"she said.

Earlier, Miss Zukora Edeh, an eight year old participant in her welcome address commended COWA for the programme  which featured various competitive games and shows such as Bouncing Castle, Micky Mouse, Spiderman among others which were  handy to spice up the day.

Miss Edeh,  cautioned and even prescribed parental control to help check activities of children especially as it concerns  Television and the internet.

Also, Miss Ochi Success, a participant on behalf of the children said that the children are poised to imbibing positive characteristics that parents would be proud of while also promising to remain resilient to their academics.

Her words.. "Dear parents, be careful of what your child does on the internet, what we see on television and the books we read, teach us to know the difference between right and wrong to enable us to make positive decisions wherever we find ourselves."

" Treat us equally, not showing preference for any, teach us to forgive and correct us with love when we go wrong,"she said.

Contributing, the Customs Barracks chairman and DC Enforcement Onne Customs  Area11 Command, Deputy Comptroller John Ejeh had praised the children for their outstanding performance. He noted that parents should ensure that their children were taken care of  both educationally and otherwise  even as he added " some of the children you're seeing today are presidents, governors, senators and house of Representatives members" while others, according to him, "are first ladies."

He prayed for God's guidance and protection while insisting  that they would be greater than their parents.
The high point of the occasion was the cutting of the Children's Day cake.

Present at  the occasion include superintendent of Customs, SC. Mrs Latecia Ikegwuonu,  COWA liaison  officer, Mrs Vivian Umuzuruike Onne COWA leader among others

Credit: Bon Peters

President Tinubu Not Expected to Trigger an Ogoni Crises Over Oil - MOSOP

 

The President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Fegalo Nsuke,  has assured the Ogoni people that despite efforts by some private interests to forcefully resume oil production in Ogoni, he is confident that Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not trigger an oil related crises in Ogoni just to satisfy some private interests.

 

The MOSOP president, Fegalo Nsuke, who spoke at the MOSOP secretariat in Bori, the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni people on Sunday where he met some critical stakeholders including kingdom coordinators of the movement expressed hopes that as the nation prepares for the 2027 elections, the Nigerian Government will not risk a crises in Ogoni or any other parts of the Niger Delta region.

 

"The recent move to force a restart of oil production in Ogoni is one of the most deceptive and fraudulent attempts by the oil industry in collaboration with some private interests to trample on our rights, ignore our legitimate concerns and demands for justice and expect that we will submit to intimidation. I know that a resistance against that action is irresistible, However, I believe that Mr President will not listen to them and yield to the temptation of igniting a crises in Ogoni or the Niger Delta region at this time"

 

"Firstly, a forceful resumption will come with reputational damage to the government and Mr President will not risk such image corrosion. It will be better for them to let the sleeping dog lie than hurt the reputation of the government" Nsuke said.

 

He urged the Ogoni people to remain calm and disregard every provocation noting that President Tinubu will not risk the consequences of a crisis in the Niger Delta region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

"I  will call for civic education  in Ogoni kingdoms and chapters and urge all Ogoni people to remain calm in the face of the brazen threats and provocations to resume oil production in the land without proper engagement. You have gone through a lot. We are doing our best to achieve a resolution and hope that the government will accept our offer for dialogue"

 

According to Nsuke, the latest attempt to resume oil production in Ogoni without considering the position of MOSOP on the matter is absolutely an ambush on Mr President. If he falls to it, he will have to contend with a global image crisis and a strong resistance on the home front. If he rejects them and heeds to the advice of MOSOP, the Ogoni problem will be permanently resolved, he would have a boost to his reputation and a plus from the Niger Delta region and the international community.

 

"Those who plotted this recent oil resumption campaign only wanted to tarnish the image of Mr President and the government and MOSOP will not expect the government to yield to such an ambush."

 

Nsuke assured the Ogoni people that as Nigeria heads towards another election, an oil related crisis will not be a good thing for the government. He urged the government to accept MOSOP's offer for dialogue so as to put an end to the Ogoni issue.