Akwa Ibom, Cross River Fishing Communities Embrace Community Rights Defender Project
By Ekemini Simon
The fishing community of Opolom in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State and Esiere Obom Community in Calabar South, Cross River State have embraced the community rights defenders project.
The project, carried out by Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) in partnership with Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) is designed to identify and build the capacity of 100 community activists, including youth, and women, and fisherfolk across target communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
During the community entry visit at Opolom on Wednesday, the Coordinator of PPDF, Comrade Umo Isua-Ikoh informed the community leadership that the project will help build community right defenders against exploitative and extractive activities that impacts negatively on their fishing, helping them understand and apply environmental justice tools, legal instruments, and participatory advocacy mechanisms rooted in the Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence (NDAC) Manifesto and the Nigeria Socio-Ecological Alternatives Charter (NSAC).
In response, the Village Head of Opolom community, Chief John Ibanga thanked PPDF for bringing the project to his community. He assured that the community will support the project and also mobilise right members to benefit from the project.
Earlier in September, PPDF held a similar visit at Esiere Obom Community in Calabar South, Cross River State.
After being briefed of the project by the Coordinator of PPDF, Comrade Umo Isua-Ikoh, the Village Head of Esin Ufot Ewa Ekeng in Calabar South, ObongAwan Elizabeth Akami Eyo who is also the head of Women in Fishing at Ata- Nsiyak, Eserebom beach in Calabar South expressed her support for the project with a promise to mobilize her subject to fully participate in the project.