By Stephanie Ovedhe & French Oroghene
As part of activities marking its 10th anniversary, GbaramatuVoice, led by its Publisher and Founder, Mr. Jacob Abai, paid a heartfelt courtesy visit to High Chief (Dr.) Wellington Okirika, CON, the Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom and pioneer Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
The event is scheduled to take place from August 27 to 28, 2025, at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The visit, which held in his Effurun residence, was not only a formal invitation to the forthcoming Niger Delta Night of Honor and Public Lecture in Abuja, but a deliberate act of recognition and reverence for one of the region’s most respected elder statesmen.
During the emotional engagement, the Bolowei, visibly moved, described the media platform as “our own CNN,” praising GbaramatuVoice for documenting and promoting the rich cultural heritage and struggles of the Ijaw people and the broader Niger Delta.
“GbaramatuVoice has grown beyond a publication; it is now a movement of identity, advocacy, and awakening,” he said. “You remembered me not because I demanded it, but because you value legacy.”
High Chief Okirika, who played a central role during the military era in securing 13% derivation for oil-producing states, also recounted the early days of the struggle for resource control.
He narrated how his leadership in founding the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) became a defining platform for the oil-rich communities in their advocacy for equity and justice.
He encouraged the GbaramatuVoice team to remain consistent in telling the Niger Delta story without fear, adding that “when history is written, the pen that told the truth will never be forgotten.”
In his response, Mr. Jacob Abai described the Bolowei as a foundational pillar in the fight for resource justice and cultural awakening. “We are here today to say thank you. You cleared the path we now walk on. We will continue to project your legacies.”
The GbaramatuVoice team also presented a formal letter of invitation to the revered chief, inviting him as the Father of the Day at the 10th Anniversary and Niger Delta Night of Honor scheduled to hold August 27–28, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The Bolowei graciously accepted the invitation and prayed for the success of the event and the future of GbaramatuVoice. He also blessed the team and pledged to support future efforts aimed at preserving the truth and dignity of the Ijaw nation.
See photos below:
