By Our Correspondent

Stakeholders, government agencies, and youth volunteers on Friday gathered in Rivers State to commemorate World Environment Day 2026, and demanded stricter monitoring of sanitation protocols across the state.

This follows the growing poor environmental sanitation habits across the state marked by indiscriminate dumping and slow evacuation of refuse from collection points.

The participants in a vibrant display of eco-conscious commitment also
spotlighted the urgent need for cleaner energy alternatives.

Themed “Inspired by Nature for Climate for our Future,” the he event, which took place in Port Harcourt was sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP) and supported by Global Green Grant.

The celebration was more than a symbolic gesture it was a hands-on call to action.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Smith Nwokocha, the event coordinator, emphasized that the primary goal was to demonstrate practical, nature-inspired solutions to climate challenges.

“The main aim is to ensure that we have a safer environment. We want to further emphasize renewable energy, which is why we donated solar fans and lamps to some of the participants.

“This way, they can see firsthand the importance of using energy that is environmentally friendly,” Nwokocha said.

Dozens of attendees, including students and local community leaders, received the solar-powered devices a move organizers described as a seed investment in a fossil-fuel-free future.

While renewable energy took center stage, the event also issued a stern reminder about the poor state of waste management by the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) in Rivers State.

In line with the global theme, Nwokocha called on the government to enforce stricter sanitation protocols.

He said; “We are calling on the government to ensure proper sanitation monitoring. The environment must be kept clean at all times, and we specifically call on RIWAMA to step up its efforts”.

The appeal comes amid growing concerns over drainage blockages, plastic pollution, and illegal dumping sites that have become breeding grounds for disease in parts of Port Harcourt.

Patron Joseph Nkatha representative of the Peace Corps Commandant of the Rivers State Command, called on citizens to rally around a shared responsibility.

“Everyone has to be involved in maintaining a clean environment. Cleaning should not be left to government alone.

“A healthy environment is the foundation of a healthy life,” Nkatha stated.

He encouraged residents to adopt daily waste-sorting habits and support community-led sanitation drives, warning that negligence often leads to avoidable health crises.

Environmental activist Era Theophilus delivered a hard-hitting address on the implications of an untidy environment linking poor waste management to flooding, respiratory illnesses, and the spread of vector-borne diseases.

“An untidy environment is a silent killer,” Theophilus said.

She further urged the public and private sectors to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across homes and industries.

“Renewable energy is not just an option—it is a necessity. It is safe, sustainable, and in harmony with nature”, she declared.

As the event drew to a close, participants lit up the dusk with their new solar lamps—a quiet but powerful symbol of what the future could look like.

With UNEP’s backing and grassroots momentum building, Rivers State may be on the cusp of a cleaner, greener chapter.

But as speakers repeatedly reminded the crowd: the climate for our future will be shaped not by one event, but by daily choices.

By David Owei
A forefront NAUS Presidential Aspirant, Comr. David Aladesanmi popularly referred as Mr. Kiloshele, has lauded the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), *Akinteye Babatunde Afeez GCNS*, for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigerian students.

He particularly commended the *NANS President* for peacefully mobilizing and coordinating efforts towards the abducted students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area. According to Mr. Kiloshele, the mature and responsible approach adopted by the student body under Akinteye’s leadership demonstrates the power of unity, dialogue, and constructive engagement in addressing national challenges.

Mr. Kiloshele further praised NANS for its consistent advocacy for student safety and security across educational institutions nationwide. He emphasized the need for all stakeholders, including government agencies and security operatives, to strengthen security measures in schools to safeguard students, teachers, and learning environments.

He called for sustained collaboration between student leaders, educational authorities, and security agencies to ensure that schools remain safe havens for learning and development, while applauding NANS, NAUS & sister bodies for standing firmly in defense of Nigerian students.

“Leadership is best measured by service, courage, and results. He conclusively, called upon media agencies to give this movement a worldwide publication as days is given to return our students, teachers back to thier schools and make Nigeria safe & safer for our education.

By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi

Nigeria’s journey to dairy self-sufficiency must shift from federal policy documents to deliberate action by states and local governments, a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, and Acting Director of the TETFUND Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development, ATBU Bauchi, Prof. Demo Kalla has said.

Kalla spoke during a panel session on “Mainstreaming Dairy Development Policy at the Sub-national Level for Self-sufficiency: Opportunities, Challenges and Way Forward” as part of activities to mark the 2026 World Milk Day.

The session was moderated by a Radio Nigeria presenter Rita Ene Okwanihe while other panelists included Mr Snorri Sigurdsson, Head of Raw Milk Production, Arla Foods Nigeria; Dr Ishaq Bello, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development; Mr Brighton Ochieng, Chief Technical Officer, Promasidor Nigeria; and Hon. Adamu Mammagi Abdullahi, Commissioner for Livestock Development, Niger State.

Setting the context, Kalla said mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level means making dairy a deliberate part of state and local government planning, budgeting, investment promotion and rural economic strategy.

“In practical terms, it means moving dairy development from being viewed as a federal livestock initiative to becoming a priority economic sector owned and driven by states and local governments,” he stated.

He described it as “the missing link between Nigeria’s enormous livestock potential and the realization of dairy self-sufficiency.”

“Given that milk is produced in communities, not in policy documents, the success of Nigeria’s dairy transformation agenda will ultimately depend on actions taken at the state and local levels,” Kalla added.

He urged states and local government areas to domesticate the National Dairy Policy and create frameworks to attract investors, while promoting milk as a “super food for nutritional security.”

On the role of academia, Kalla said universities, research institutions and extension services are “the backbone of sustainable dairy development” because they generate knowledge, adapt technologies and build human capacity.

“Our mandate is to solve immediate local problems at the sub-national level. They must become active partners in the dairy transformation agenda by supporting state governments, dairy cooperatives, processors, and producers with evidence-based solutions,” he said.

He listed three immediate priorities: demand-driven research, technology transfer through demonstration farms and digital platforms, and capacity building and skills development.

“The dairy industry we desire will not emerge from investments in infrastructure alone. It will be built on knowledge, innovation, skills, and partnerships,” Kalla stressed.

Announcing a practical step, the expert said the Dairy Research and Development Centre, DRDC, stands ready to serve as a national platform for dairy science research, capacity building, innovation and knowledge sharing.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s path to milk self-sufficiency, improved nutrition and rural prosperity.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said dairy development is a strategic economic enterprise that can create jobs, improve nutrition and reduce Nigeria’s import dependence.

Jega, who is also Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, PLRIC, said
this year’s theme is “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” stressing that it recognizes the pivotal role women play in milk production, processing, marketing and value addition across Nigeria.

He noted that the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, IYWF 2026, underscoring women’s contributions to food security and economic growth.

“For Nigeria’s dairy sector, it reinforces the imperative of empowering women dairy farmers through improved access to productive assets, finance, technology, skills development, markets, and leadership opportunities,” he said.

The presidential adviser added that under President Bola Tinubu, the ongoing livestock reforms have placed dairy development at the heart of efforts to transform the livestock economy.

According to him, promoting fresh milk consumption is both a public health and economic imperative, saying “every litre of locally produced and consumed milk strengthens domestic value chains, creates opportunities for farmers and processors, improves household incomes, and contributes to national food and nutrition security.”

He said PLRIC remains committed to sustainable dairy development through policy reforms, investment promotion, breed improvement, pasture development, One Health, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private partnerships.

Jega called on state governments, development partners, financial institutions, processors and investors to collaborate in mainstreaming dairy development at the sub-national level.

He concluded that a competitive dairy subsector will create wealth, employment and deliver nutritious fresh milk for a healthier and prosperous Nigeria.