The Ijaw people, also spelled Ịjọ, are an ethnic group found in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, with significant population clusters in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers. They are also in Edo, and small parts of Akwa Ibom occupying six Nigerian states. Many are found as migrant fishermen in camps and settlements in Benue, Ondo and Kogi states and as far west as Sierra Leone, Ghana and as far east as Gabon. As of 2023, Nigeria's Ijaw population is estimated at over 15 million, accounting for around 6.9% of the country's 223 million people, positioning them as the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. The Ijaws are the most populous tribe inhabiting the Niger Delta region, and one of the world's most ancient peoples.
Bayelsa state is a state in the South South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. The capital, Yenagoa, is susceptible to high risk of annual flooding. It shares a boundary with Rivers State to the east and Delta State to the north across the Niger River for 17km and the Forçados River for 198km, with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean dominating its southern borders. It has a total area of 10,773 square kilometres (4,159 sq mi). The state comprises eight local government areas: Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Brass and Southern Ijaw. Bayelsa state is regarded as the least populous state in Nigeria with an estimated population of over 2,530,000 as at 2022. Being in the Niger Delta, Bayelsa State has a riverine and estuarine setting, with bodies of water within the state making the development of significant road infrastructure, quite difficult.
Yenagoa is a Local Government Area and capital city of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. It is located at the Niger-Delta region of the country at coordinates 4°55′29″N6°15′51″E.
The National Library of Nigeria came into operation in the mid-1960s with the enactment of the National Library Act of 1964 which was later replaced by Act No. 29 of 1970. Before the passage of the National Library Act, a series of educational conferences conducted in Ibadan served as the intellectual basis for the creation of a network of libraries funded by the federal government to provide accessibility of educational materials to Nigerians. A government advisory committee was later created concerning the necessity to develop a local repository of knowledge. The committee was charged with finding a way to aid the government in bringing to prominence the intellectual foundations of its policies, creating a national bibliographic center, and providing an arena for the promotion of knowledge. The committee was the first major formal body that called for a National Library as part of its recommendations. The government accepted the demands of the advisory committee and undertook the necessary steps to build a National Library.
Heineken Lokpobiri is a Nigerian politician who is the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil). He previously served as minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019, and as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2007 to 2015. He is a former speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Lt. Colonel (retired) Paul Edor Obi was Administrator of Bayelsa State, Nigeria from July 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Niger Delta University (NDU) is in Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State in the southern part of Nigeria. It was established in 2000. It is a Bayelsa state government-funded university. In 2002, It was established by Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, then governor of Bayelsa state. It has two main campuses, one in the state capital, Yenagoa, which contains the law faculty, and the other in Amassoma. It also has its teaching hospital known as Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) in Okolobiri.
Henry Seriake Dickson CON is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He has been the Senator representing Bayelsa West since 2020 in the 9th National Assembly. He was the governor of Bayelsa State from 14 February 2012 to 14 February 2020. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 until 2012.
The Federal University Otuoke is a Federal Government-owned University sited in Otuoke, a town in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. The university is one of the nine new Federal Universities established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in February 2011 under the administration of president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Federal University Otuoke is sited in the heart of the oil-rich Niger-Delta Region of Bayelsa State. The university was established in 2011 and started with 282 pioneer students. The university has six (6) faculties and offers degree courses at undergraduate levels. and Post Graduate Levels - offering Post Graduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctorate Degrees.
Godknows Boladei Igali is a Nigerian public servant, diplomat, author and scholar. He was appointed by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in September 2007 as an ambassador to the Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Denmark and Norway, a position he occupied until he was appointed a Federal Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources on 4 May 2010.
David Lyon Perewonrimi is a Nigerian politician and the former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 Bayelsa gubernatorial election. He was declared winner of the election, but a day to his swearing-in as governor, his election was invalidated by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The Apex court ruled that his running mate Degi Eremienyo Wangagra submitted a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, while ordering that Douye Diri of People's Democratic Party who came second in the election be issued a certificate of return, which would make him governor-elect.
Frederick Yeitiemone Agbedi born is an educationist and politician from Nigeria oil rich south-south state of Bayelsa. He is one of the founding fathers of Bayelsa State. He was a member of a high-powered delegation of Ijaws that lobbied the Nbanefo Panel for state creation during regional agitations for the creation of additional states in Nigeria. Agbedi, a ranking member of the Nigeria federal House of Representatives represents Sagbama/Ek
Christopher 'Pere' Ajuwa was the first man from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria to run for the office of the President of Nigeria. He was an astute businessman during the 1980s and 1990s, and was best known for his humanitarian benefactions.
Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo is a Nigerian politician who has served as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State since 2020. He was the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District from 2019 to 2020 in the 9th National Assembly.
The 2019 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Bayelsa State was held on February 23, 2019, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
The 2011 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Bayelsa State was held on April 9, 2011, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
The 2015 Nigerian House of Representatives elections in Bayelsa State was held on March 28, 2015, to elect members of the House of Representatives to represent Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Choba, Port Harcourt is a neighbourhood in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. It is located 16 km (9.9 mi) to the northwest of the Port Harcourt central business district, on the eastern bank of the New Calabar River.
Preye Influence Goodluck Oseke is a Nigerian politician and member of the Federal House of Representatives in the 9th National Assembly.
Abraham Ayebakepreye Amba Ambaiowei was a Nigerian nationalist and advocate for minority rights. He was a medical practitioner and public servant, serving in various capacities at the State and Federal Government levels. He served as Commissioner for Education and Labour, Employment and Productivity in the Old Rivers State. He also chaired the National Board for Technical Education under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Ambaiowei was involved in the movement for the creation of Bayelsa State, serving as Chairman of the Bayelsa Forum and the Bayelsa State Creation Movement. After the state's creation, he became the founding Chairman of the Bayelsa State Founding Fathers Forum.
