Last updated: August 22, 2023

RCE Greater Yenagoa

Photo Credit: Bayelsa State Government
Rce details
Region:
AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST
Country:
Nigeria
Overview
Date of RCE acknowledgement:
December, 2017
Description of RCE and Geographic Region:

Location and Regional Characteristics:
Greater Yenagoa consists of Yenagoa Local Government Area (LGA) and three other peripheral LGAs namely Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia and Sagbama. Yenagoa is equally, the headquarters to one of the eight local government areas (LGAs) of the State and one of the important traditional homes of the Ijaw people who comprise the majority of the State. Yenagoa is the Capital City of Bayelsa State, which occupies an estimated area of 21,110 km2, about three-quarters of which is below water. Bayelsa State is endowed with an abundance of oil and gas reserves and is one of the six core oil-producing states of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. English is the official language but, Epie-Atissa language, one of the Ijaw languages, is the major local dialect spoken in Yenagoa. The other LGAs speak other Ijaw dialects. The people are, mostly, fisher folks and subsistence farmers (cassava, plantain, banana and other short season crops like maize and vegetables); plantain cultivation is the predominant enterprise next to artisanal fishing. The region is mostly made of seasonally flooded wet lowlands with a mixture of rain forest and mangrove vegetation, which provides several ecosystems’ services for sustenance of livelihood of the people.

Photo credit: RCE Greater Yenagoa

As a result of a rich cultural setting, which presents an inviting atmosphere coupled with natural endowments, there is a huge presence of multi-stakeholder interests and sometimes conflicts arise over issues relating to the management and exploitation of resources. There is the presence of a number of international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the area such as Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). Also, the area is the host to a strategic supplier of gas from the Shell facility within the area to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company in Bonny from where the bulk of it is exported as a foreign exchange earner for the nation. 

The Bayelsa State is also host to three Universities; the state owned Niger Delta University (NDU), the Federal University at Otuoke within the Ogbia LGA and the private-public partnership owned University of Africa at Sagbama. There are also many other higher educational institutions including a Polytechnic, a College of Education and College of Arts and Science owned by the State Government. There are equally many public and private primary and secondary schools within the state.

Goals and Objectives:

Vision:
RCE Greater Yenagoa (in particular) and Niger Delta (in general) where the indigenes continuously improve their quality of life, adopt better sustainable livelihood practices, promote social capital and create a critical mass of stakeholders with capability to prevent and mitigate harmful environmental, social, health and economic hazards.

Long Term Objectives:

  1. To conduct train-the-trainers community awareness schemes on the importance of contributing effectively, towards sustainable advancement in the social, economic, health and environmental aspects of the lives of the inhabitants in the RCE area.
  2. To implement community town hall sensitisation and environmental education on the benefits of embracing sustainable development practices (as listed above in number 1) for the communities in the four LGAs.
  3. To continually encourage greater participation and empowerment of vulnerable groups (youths and women) for more inclusive development.
  4. To continually encourage research efforts in the educational institutions that will improve the quality of life of the inhabitants.
  5. To sensitise community members on the benefits of peaceful coexistence and the acquisition of conflict resolution skills, etc.
  6. To develop audio jingles and audio-visual documentaries for radio and television stations on the causes, consequences and prevention of crude oil pollution and operational sabotage acts that destroy the natural ecosystems.
  7. To advocate for improved educational curricula for all the levels of education towards making the citizens more sustainable development compliant.
  8. To assist schools to promote science and technology education.

Short Term Objectives:

  1. To foster effective networking and partnerships among RCE members on one part and with oil companies,   the state and local governments, and any other national and international donors for effective RCE operations.
  2. To engage existing Community Based Organizations at the Community levels and build their capacities to manage themselves, their communities and be the first point of impact in the proposed interventions. 
  3. To advocate for the inclusion of projects that will specifically benefit youths and women.
  4. To support capacity building on sustainable community development for leadership in communities.
  5. To identify, visit and engage heads of key primary (elementary) and secondary schools within the RCE project area to build the capacity of teachers and pupils/students on good sustainable development lifestyles and the importance of protecting the environment.
  6. To lobby the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies on the need for prioritising science and technology education as strategy for promoting sustainable development. 
Organisation Hosting RCE Secretariat:

Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State

Key Partners:
  • Isaac Adaka Boro College of Education, Sagbama – Alternate secretariat
  • Community Inter-Relations and Conciliation Initiative (CIRCI) – Lead facilitator and main contact
  • Ukieh Health Foundation (UHF)
  • Foundation for Agric and Social Transformation (FAST)
  • Oloibiri Youngsters Foundation and Public Library (OYFPL)
  • Gbarain/Ekpetiama Cluster Development Board (GE-CDB)
  • Okordia/Zarama Cluster Development Board (OZ-CDB)
  • Kolo Creek Cluster Development Board (KC-CDB)
  • Kolokuma/Opkuma Cluster Development Board (KO-CDB)
  • SprintLife 
  • Foundation for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (FEEDA)
  • Teenage Haven Initiative for Sustainability (THIS) Foundation

Photo credit: RCE Greater Yenagoa
 

Name of organisation: Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa state
Role: Main Contact
Contact name: Prof. Tuemi Tudou Asuka
Contact email: tuemiasuka@yahoo.co.uk

Name of organisation: Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama Bayelsa state    
Role: Secondary Contact
Contact name: Prof. Timothy Epidi
Contact email: tepidi@yahoo.com

Activities
Current Activities:
  • Community development projects in Gbarian/Ekpetiama 11 communities
  • Community development projects in Orkodia/Zarama 9 communities
  • Community development projects in Kolo Creek 4 communities
  • Educational research efforts in Niger Delta University and other affiliates
  • Community Sensitisation

RCE Greater Yenagoa Annual Review Meeting

Representatives of affiliate members of RCE Greater Yenagoa met in Yenagoa on the 7th November, 2018 to review the performance of the network in the past one year.

The Provost of Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Prof. Timothy T. Epidi said he was encouraged by the progress the network had made so far. Equally, the representative of the Niger Delta University (NDU) Prof. Tuemi Tuduo Asuka was optimistic that more projects will be reported on in 2019. The current coordinator of the RCE Sir Anthony Wakwe Lawrence facilitated the meeting, and delivered a presentation to acquaint attendees of progress in the Network so far. 

The Network resolved to foster more collaboration among affiliates and other bodies within and outside Nigeria to achieve set objectives. RCE Greater Yenagoa will equally advocate for support from the Bayelsa State Government, the State Ministries of Education, Health, Environment and Minerals Resources sectors, the four Local Government Councils and all major private Companies operating within the catchment area.

The next RCE Greater Yenagoa coordination meeting is planned to take place in the month of March 2019.

Photo credit: RCE Greater Yenagoa

Upcoming Activities:
  • March 2019 – First annual projects review meeting
Achievements:
  • Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA)/ Sustainable Livelihood Assessment (SLA) conducted for 20 communities
  • Several projects completed in 24 communities
  • Several projects on-going in 24 communities
  • Women and youth sensitization activities
Communication Channels
RCE Website:
Instagram:
Twitter handle:
YouTube page:
Other(s):
Contact Details
Main RCE Contact:
Prof. Tuemi Tudou Asuka
tuemiasuka@yahoo.co.uk
Secondary RCE Contact:
Prof. Timothy Epidi
tepidi@yahoo.com
RCE Youth Coordinator(s):
Dikibujiri Diri (Focal point for educational curriculum support, library projects and female youth empowerment)
Aghara Paul John (Focal point for youth training and reorientation)
Weke Michael (Focal point for skill acquisition)
General RCE email:
RCE mailing address for correspondence:

RCE Greater Yenagoa
c/o Prof. Tuemi Tudou Asuka
Faculty of Education
Niger Delta University
Wilberforce Island
Bayelsa State
Nigeria