By Philip Eke, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Wives Association recently hosted the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Royal Queens Peace-Building Summit 2018 with the theme: An Enlightened Queen is an Enlightened
Community.The event was attended by Royal Queens from the nine states of the Niger Delta region- Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States and had as sub-themes: Peace
Building/Conflict Resolution, Etiquette/Value System, Entrepreneurship, Stress Management, Educating and Protecting the Girl Child, a panacea for developing the community which took place at Honni Hills Hotels and Resorts, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The summit was dedicated and declared open by Arch Bishop of the Niger Delta Anglican Communion, His Grace Ignatius Kattey and chaired by His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diete-Spiff, chairman Bayelsa State council of Traditional Rulers and apostle Zilly Aggrey, General overseer of Royal House of Grace International delivered a Breadfast exhortation.
Bayelsa State governor,Hon Seriake Dickson and the First Lady, Dr Mrs Rechael Seriake Dickson were chief Hosts.
The Chairperson of Niger Delta Royal Queens, Dr. Josephine Diete-Spiff in her opening address expressed appreciation to the Bayelsa State governor and his wife. Senator Ben Bruce, Hon Sonny Goli, NAOC G.R.P and Belema Oil for Unflinching support to the summit.
At the end of intensive deliberations, the Niger Delta Royal Queens stressed that, an association to actualize issues affecting the Niger
Delta is now formed as The Niger Delta Royal Queens Forum to be chaired by the initiator and convener, Dr (Bar) JosephineDiete-Spiff CMC, JP,
She said government at all levels should intensify effort to protect women, the girl-child and children from abuses and deprivation, that all Niger Delta Royal Queens are committed to working to restore peace in the region.
She admonished the Niger Delta Royal Queens to campaign for an end to all forms of gender based violence adding that all Royal Queens should advocate for the education of the Girl Child and promote adult and functional education to change the status of women and girls in the region and help engender peace, that Niger Delta Royal Queens should
be more proactive in supporting their husbands (the Kings) in developing their domain.Equally, Niger Delta Queens should say NO to Rape, NO to Defilement,NO to Trafficking, NO to Organ Harvesting and NO to Abuse of Orphanages and the Royal Queens should be committed to peace advocacy in the region among others.
Dr. Deite-Spiff in her closing remarksappreciated all the Niger Delta Queens, the various personalities that contributed to the success story of the event which was very unique.
