By David Owei

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, has called on the people of the state to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Ijaw nation and resist its adulteration through the importation of alien practices.

Dr Akpe made the call in Yenagoa at the weekend, when he paid a condolence visit to the Tule family of Ofoni Federated Community, Sagbama Local Government Area, over the demise of their mother, late Mrs. Agreement Tule, who died on August 4, 2026, at the age of 88.

He expressed concern over what he described as the growing infiltration of cultural practices alien to the Ijaw people, particularly in the observance of traditional marriage and burial rites, stressing the need for a cultural reawakening.

He also emphasized the need for people to avoid unnecessary competitions and showmanship, but rather do things within the limits of their capacity.

The Deputy Governor commiserated with Mr. Minister Tule and other members of the bereaved family, urging them to be consoled by the fact that their mother lived a fulfilled life and died at a ripe age.

His words: “We are here to commiserate with you. Your mother lived for 88 years, almost 90. Even though we didn’t interact with her while she lived, the qualities we find in you tell us her story.

“There is something about our culture I think we need to look at. For instance, somebody died in the village and you took the corpse to deposit in a mortuary in Port Harcourt. Does it make sense. For me, it doesn’t.

“Even this wedging of kola nut during traditional presentations, we are doing now, I stand to be corrected, is a borrowed culture. We have even borrowed what is now known as canopy standing and canopy dropping. That means we do one particular burial for several times.

“If we fail to talk about these things and stop them, they will stand and our children will believe them as our true tradition and culture. I’m an advocate of ‘whatever we do, we should do it in accordance with what we can afford.’ In the course of doing it, if help comes our way, we thank God. That is my philosophy.

Responding on behalf of the family and the entire Ofoni community, Dr. Christopher Ewhrudjakpo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Mr Friday Oyivwita, thanked the deputy governor and his delegation for the condolence visit.

Dr Ewhrudjakpo equally appreciated Akpe for his sustained support to the community and pledged their continued loyalty and unalloyed support for the Governor Douye Diri-led Prosperity Administration.

The deputy governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for General Duties, Hon. Johnson Onoma; Special Adviser on Enterprise Development, Chief Victor Sam-Ateki; and Chairman, Izon-Ebe Microfinance Bank, Chief Ayakeme Whisky.

Others are the APC House of Assembly flag bearer for Sagbama Constituency 1, Hon
Lucky Agbalaje, and the Sagbama Local Government APC Chairman, Mr Arioke Ohwona, as well as Hon. Williams Ofoni, Dr. Stanley Dide, Hon. Engema Jumbo, and Mr Lokiri Lawrence.

By David Owei

The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) has congratulated its Chairman, Macaulay Eteli, following the inclusion of his artist file and biographical profile in the prestigious Art and Artist Files database of the Smithsonian Institution’s Warren M. Robbins Library, National Museum of African Art, in the United States.

In a congratulatory message signed by the Chapter Secretary, Victor Oroyi, the association described the international recognition as a significant milestone not only for Macaulay Eteli but also for the growth and promotion of tourism, arts, and cultural heritage in Bayelsa State.

According to Oroyi, the achievement is a major boost to the state’s tourism sector, demonstrating that Bayelsa’s rich artistic and cultural contributions are gaining global recognition.

He commended Eteli’s resilience, dedication to his artistic craft, and his pioneering role in establishing and sustaining a private art gallery in Bayelsa State, noting that his commitment has continued to project the state’s creative industry beyond Nigeria’s borders.

“Your accomplishment is an inspiration to artists, tourism practitioners, and young creatives across Bayelsa State. It reinforces the importance of preserving our cultural heritage while showcasing our creative excellence to the world,” the statement noted.

Announcing the development, Macaulay Eteli expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying his artist file and biographical profile had officially been added to the Art and Artist Files database at the Smithsonian Institution’s Warren M. Robbins Library.

He wrote: “Honored and grateful! I’m thrilled to share that my artist file and biographical profile have officially been added to the Art and Artist Files database at the Smithsonian Institution’s Warren M. Robbins Library (National Museum of African Art).”

Eteli also thanked the library team and everyone who has supported the journey of his creative enterprise, which evolved from Eteli Art Works Studio into Macaulay Eteli Art (MEA) Gallery in Yenagoa.

He reaffirmed that honoring African art and preserving its history for future researchers, curators, and art enthusiasts remains the driving force behind his work.

The ATPN Bayelsa Chapter wished its Chairman continued success, expressing confidence that the international recognition would further elevate Bayelsa’s profile as a destination for arts, culture, and tourism while inspiring greater investment in the state’s creative economy.

By Ignatius Okorocha,Donald Ugwu, Jonas Ezieke

Christ the King Catholic Church CKC Kurudu Abuja on Sunday 12th July 2026 held its annual Cultural Day celebration marking the 2026 edition amidst pomp and pageatary demonstrating God’s faithfulness and abiding faith and commitment in the Lord’s vineyard among catholic faithfuls.

The event began with a Holy Mass presided by the Parish Priest Very Rev Fr. Thadeus Chike Dim, associate priests Rev Fr.Cyril Udom, Rev.Fr.Johncross Ozor and other priests who are friends of the parish and the congregations at two seperate masses concelebrated at 6.00am and 9.00am that day.

In his homily,the Parish Priest Charged Christians to deepen their faith by applying the wisdom and tenets inherent in their cultures in their daily lives and relationships with others.

According to Fr Dim, God created human beings with diverse cultures to use the differences as points of contacts, good relationships and propagating the uniqueness of creation.

He said it was unfortunate that in Nigeria and other African nations, people use culture and religious differences to divide and foment trouble.

“We have turned upside-down the culture of our people.
“We are killing and dividing ourselves with religion and tribalism.
“we have put the worst of us ruling the rest of us due to the wrong application of culture and that is why all the institutions of governance are collapsing,” Dim added.
The cleric urged the faithful to reflect on the significance of their cultural day and “think about what we are going through in the country”.

He also advised the people to always show kindness to fellow Nigerians notwithstanding cultural and religious differences as God has done with humanity.
Using the parable of the sower in the gospel Dim remarked that by “scattering” His seeds on the partway, rock, bad and good soil the sower, God, shows love and compassion to all His children.

“The sowing of seeds is not just about planting crops but shows the generosity of God even to those who will not listen.
“God is generous and let’s His love and grace pour on all, whether good or bad.
“No one is excluded from God’s love as His love, mercy, humility and compassion are for everyone.”
He expressed dismay that the country was filled with religious people but “our faith is not deep. We hear the word of God but it doesn’t go deep in our hearts or bear good fruits.
Dim cautioned against quest for material things and the vice of compartmentalization which make many to display certain pious lives in church on Sundays but demonstrate superficial lives the rest days of the week.
“Try to do good and show kindness to others no matter your religion or tribe.
“Let us use the word of God we hear to bear fruits in our lives.
“Do not steal the wealth of the citizens due to selfishness and greed but rather use the little time and opportunity you have to improve humanity as Christ has done.”
The Parish Priest hailed the dedication of proceeds of the cultural events to building the church and prayed for abundant blessings for the sacrifices of the faithful in various church projects.
A Parishioner, Dr Joel Oruche, in an interview described the cultural day as a celebration of the cultural heritage of different ethnic and tribal groups in the church.
According to Oruche, a veteran journalist, the glamour is typified by beautiful colours in the dress, language, dialects, music, songs and food which remains the beauty in Nigeria’s diversity and ditto, the Church.
“In spite of this diversity, the unity of purpose remains strong both as a country and indeed as members of the body of Christ.
“Though the disciples spoke in tongues, each could hear and understand; This is what the celebration symbolises; Our rich culture should be a blessing rather than otherwise
“I pray that the beauty of the celebration will reflect in our lives as parishioners, strong and United for God,” Oruche added.

Chairperson CKC Cultural Day Celeberation, Mrs Mary Oketa said this yesr’s cultural Day celebration has been a great success.

“It is a day that reminds us of where we came from ( our root ) it is a day we celebrate our unity in
diversity and as you can see there are lots of happiness and joy in the hearts of parishioners as we celebrate this day.

“Everybody keys into this cultural day celeberation
as we all look unto it and thank God we have not been disappointed by what you can see here today.
As you can see,all the states associations are fully represented at this venue to showcase their cultural heritage.”

Mrs Oketa noted that the aim of hosting this year’s cultural day is one,to make parishioners to know their ethnic background, “tracing back to our state of origin, our root and we need to celebrate our cultural heritage which comprises our native foods, dressings and languages

“It is a day that we come together and celebrate our culural in diversity as a body of christ, and that simply means that no matter the extent of our cultural differences, in Christ we are one as a body of Christ”

On the lesson to be learnt by other parishes in the Archdiocese, she urged them to borrow a clue from CKC Kurudu becuse,”if you see what is happing here today in our parish, you can see that even our children are happy and this is a sign that we are passing our cultural hertage unto our childern and the message from this event will make them know where they are coming from as a people.

“Today you could see an Idoma person crossing over to test the native food of a Yoruba person to eat Amala and a Yoruba peron crossing over to eat the food of Arewa person and an Igbo person crossing over to Edo-Delta community to eat Edikayikon etc.”

The event kicked off immediately after the opening prayer at 2:25pm by Fr Pat Eze who is a visiting priest and long time friend of the parish and witnessed different cultural and linguistic groups united into different communities and was well attended by all parishoners

Some of the Invited guests at the high profile event include. Mr Sunday Odita, Mr John Ejuwa, Chief Samuel Madaki, Mr Obiora Enete, Mr Linus Garba Dr.Martins Ilegoma, Amb.Rita Izunwanne, Mr Nonso Obi among other top business executives and philanthropists

Other dignitaries that also graced the occasion include the district Head of Kurudu Chief Ezra Edun,Oba Samuel Peter Popoola, His Royal Highness Luka Garza and other chiefs who are celebrated first class traditional rulers in the nation’s capital

The chairman of the occasion was General Don.M Edih (Rtd) while the Father of the day was Amb.A.M Okoh as Mrs Janet Ejeh served as the Mother of the Day.

Features or the well attended annual cultural day including breaking of kolanuts, fashion parade, dancing competition, cultural displays etc by the members of St Michael Yoruba Community, St Anthony Imo/Abia Community, St Gabriel Arewa C’ommunity, St Joseph Enugu/Anambra and Ebonyi Catholic Community, and St .Thomas Igede Community among others.