Diolu Tobechukwu Prosper

It’s been over six months of engagements and advocacy for the Special Seats Bill for Women (HB1349). Working on content development and communications with a remarkable team of people who are passionate about the bill and women’s inclusion has been a gift. And although we await the ultimate goal, the passing of the bill, we have been deeply immersed in the process. The Gender Desk keeps getting better, driven by the most remarkable team and everyday comes with new lessons. Thank you, @speakerabbas , for this acknowledgement; and thank you, @yetunde_gold , for your leadership and resilience in ensuring that our efforts are seen. Fingers crossed… #SpecialSeatsBill

Throughout my professional journey, I have been greatly influenced by women. It may be surprising to know that the resilience and boldness I exhibit were inspired by women who mentored or influenced me over time. It breaks my heart when I see inequality and injustice against women, and most painful is the perception that women's agitation for extra seats in the National Assembly is a handout. It is not. We are not doing women a favor. They are well qualified and have the empathy and drive to make this country work. When I advocate for #womeninclusion, #socialjustice, #womenrights and #climatejustice, I do so because I have seen the immense potential of women. In the communities we visit, women are the breadwinners, providers and nurturers. The immense strength these women possess, from farming to processing to retailing farm produce while still taking care of children, is something I greatly admire. Imagine giving them more representation. We would be setting a path for Nigeria's development and could further push for more education and empowerment in local communities. There is a lot to say about HB 1139, but I will be sharing fact sheets later this week. Our perception must change. Fighting for this Bill to be passed is not just about supporting women or giving moral support. It is about supporting justice, development and progress for our communities. #ReserveTheSeatsBill

Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a harsh reality impacting lives daily, especially in the most vulnerable communities. These communities widows, children, people with disabilities, farmers, and local teachers—bear the brunt of recurring disasters, losing their livelihoods and facing unimaginable challenges. Watch the Heartbeat: A Story of Resilience, a compelling documentary by the Lincgreen Climate Change Initiative (@lincgreen_ ). This film captures the heartbreak, resilience, and strength of people in Isoko North and South as they prepare for yet another flood season. Through their stories of tears, loss, and courage, Heartbeat highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and supporting those most affected by its impacts. This powerful documentary serves as a wake-up call for action, a plea for solidarity, and a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Let their voices inspire us all to work towards meaningful change. 🎥 Watch Heartbeat: A Story of Resilience here: https://youtu.be/OaJO3FQ-nLw

Every time I have the opportunity to speak to our volunteers, leaders, and staff, it is usually very personal and intimate. They have a sense of my heart, the direction of our activism, and the focus of our struggles. It would be a great injustice for the IOCs to leave without remediation or compensation; that would be a crime against humanity. But it would be even more sad if we cannot find a permanent solution to this environmental crisis, especially if our own institutions and companies are doing worse than the IOCs. This is what saddens me the most, and it is what we see every day. So each of us, in whatever sector, should immerse ourselves in this process, ensure that we are part of the system, and relentlessly fight for the emancipation of the Niger Delta region and her people. @tyen_homef @unep @rootedrising1 @euinnigeria @unicef_nigeria @searchforcommonground @aygf___ @actionaidnigeria @amnesty @bbcnewspidgin @arisenewsofficial @tvcnewsng @wedonthavetime0 @cazza_dennett @unitarhq @acaprogramme @jacobsladderafrica @africanclimatestories @planetcred.ng @kayinajah

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is surrounded by vast bodies of water, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to an extensive network of rivers, creeks, mangroves, and estuaries that have sustained life for centuries. From the Orashi River, Nun River, Forcados River, Bonny River, New Calabar River, Sombreiro River, Imo River, Ethiope River, Benin River, Cross River, and Qua Iboe River, down to the Atlantic coastline that embraces the region, water is deeply woven into the culture, economy, and survival of the Niger Delta people. However, our waterways were never meant to look like this. These rivers were life itself. They fed communities, connected villages, and sustained entire local economies. The ecosystem was naturally designed to sustain life. Everything had balance. But what we see today is nothing short of degrading and unsustainable human activity. Pollution, oil exploration, waste dumping, dredging, and pure negligence have gradually turned many of these waterways into death traps. Every ecosystem has rules, and nature already created a system that works. The food chain, forests, mangroves, rivers, fish, soil, rainfall… everything is connected. Once you damage one part, it affects the others. According to the words of the living ancestor, @nnimmob : “Water is nature’s gift to the Earth. By water, nature nurtures all living beings.” But capitalism has convinced many people that we can continue to exploit the earth endlessly without consequences. As long as the money is flowing, who cares if the rivers are dying, right? We can always build another luxury estate beside polluted waters and call it development. The average capitalist talks about sustainability like it is some fancy concept invented by NGOs and activists. Meanwhile, sustainability is literally the foundation of human existence. If we cannot preserve the environment and leave something meaningful for future generations, then what exactly are we building? Trump Towers? Okay ooo… Turning our waterways into dumping grounds is not development. It is not modernization. It is ecocide. So as we voyage... Let us CONSIDER our precious waters..... @diolutobe

So, as much as I understand @tosin_eniolorunda ’s point at @theplatformnigeria last week, listening to conversations like this and seeing these views shared among business owners deeply breaks my heart. It reflects the kind of educational system and environment the average Nigerian professional has to endure. It takes time, effort, the right tools, and a supportive environment to develop valuable skills. But when we cannot even boast of 12 hours of power supply, updated curricula, practical learning systems, or fair remuneration for work done, a pattern emerges, one where “anything goes.” What gets rewarded is the ability to cut corners. The younger generation is watching. They see who gets rewarded. They observe the culture we promote, and subconsciously, we teach them that intellectualism is a waste of time. We pay our teachers peanuts, and education remains one of our lowest priorities. It is quite sad. However, we must also recognize that the average Nigerian youth is highly intelligent, adaptable, and capable of being extremely productive, if given the right conditions, fair pay, and respect. We cannot claim to need experts and then treat them like domestic staff. Employers need to do better. Overall, I will advise that we see the entire video on @thecovenantnationglobal on youtube, it was one of the most impactful Platforms I have attended. @pastorpoju

@collectivepathways2030 and @lincgreen_ collaborated on a capacity-building workshop for women in the NGO and CSO space, themed “Leveraging Social Media and AI to Enhance Results in the Non-Profit Sector.” The workshop was designed to equip women-led organizations, advocates, and changemakers with practical tools to thrive in today’s digital world. As the non-profit space continues to evolve, social media and artificial intelligence have become powerful tools for visibility, advocacy, fundraising, storytelling, and community engagement. Hosted by @kebetkachewomen , the session created a space for learning, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. Participants explored how NGOs and CSOs can better connect with key stakeholders, reach underserved communities, and engage the younger generation through strategic digital communication. Facilitated by @diolutobe , the training covered practical social media strategies, audience targeting, content creation, platform understanding, digital branding, and the use of AI tools to improve productivity and communication outcomes. Participants also learned how to use AI to generate ideas, create content faster, improve campaigns, strengthen storytelling, and build a stronger and more consistent online presence. It was an eye-opening and impactful session that reinforced the need for women in the development space to embrace innovation, technology, and digital leadership in driving sustainable change.

There is a “common enemy” in the Niger Delta. Funny how everyone knows it, yet we still talk around it like it’s a secret. Since oil was first struck in Oloibiri, we’ve been told this story of progress and development. Meanwhile, our rivers tell a different story, our farmlands tell another, and the people living here carry the real version in their lungs, in their skin, in their silence. Extractivism has been very “generous” to us. It has given us polluted water, struggling livelihoods, and the kind of resilience nobody actually prays for. And still, we are expected to be patient. To adjust. To survive quietly. But here’s the thing, survival is not the same as dignity. So yes, there is a common enemy. And no, this is not new. What would be new is if we actually came together, spoke plainly, and refused to normalize what has never been normal. Because at some point, we have to decide that enough is not just enough, it is long overdue. We keep going, not because it is easy, but because settling was never an option. Not until dignity is no longer something we have to fight for in the place we call home. #lookbeyondoil

Our team alongside @phchurchgirl of @rootedrising1 , visited Ofiomina-Ama in Alakiri, Okrika, Rivers State to understand the full extent of the ongoing environmental crisis linked to the burning oil wellhead. What we found on ground is deeply concerning. The fire, which has reportedly been burning since 2024, is still active. The surrounding water is visibly polluted, and community members shared how fishing and daily activities have been severely disrupted. There is a strong smell of crude in the air, and residents continue to express concerns about their health and safety. As part of our visit, we conducted a preliminary assessment. We engaged directly with residents, documented their experiences, and collected water samples to help ascertain the level of pollution and contamination in the area. These findings will contribute to broader advocacy and evidence based engagement. It is important to acknowledge that this issue gained wider attention after it was consistently documented by a Niger Delta storyteller @realcoconuthead1 His work helped bring visibility to a situation that had been ongoing for a long time without adequate response. This situation shows why documentation and community storytelling remain critical. Without them, many of these realities would go unnoticed. We are calling for immediate and coordinated action to address the fire, assess the environmental impact, and support affected communities. @nnpclimited we can't continue like this..... You can read our full report here: .ng/inferno-on-the-water-environmental-crisis-in-ofiomina-ama-and-the-cost-of-nigerias-oil-dependence/ Sound Excerpts from @realcoconuthead1 (please check out his page for more details on this) Drone: @ernest_shotit @portharcourtinpictures @verydarkblackman @mazitundeednut @krakstv @krakscentral @lindaikejiblogofficial @akpobari_celestine @wedonthavetime0 @unep @africanclimatestories @acaprogramme @jacobsladderafrica @actionaidnigeria @arisenewsofficial @tvcnewsng @budgit @rufaioseni #OfiominaAma #NigerDelta #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice #LookBeyondOil #Lincgreen

Political involvement and social development are mutually inclusive; you cannot have one without the other. Therefore, the idea of young people disassociating themselves from politics in a bid to sound noble is not wise. We have to be in the rooms, we need to understand the systems, and we must be part of the processes. Great thoughts @diolutobe and @phchurchgirl

Exactly 2 weeks ago our organization convened focused driven women leaders to a breakfast leadership retreat for women leaders in non profit organisations in Rivers State. What began like a little idea blossomed into an impactful conversation in a strategic safe space that we had provided for the event. The theme 'Women Elevate' was timely to facilitate a reflective and refreshing process that would inspire women ro continue to aspire for more impact in their various movements for transforming society. While participants shared their rich experiences over the years in leading their organisations, there was also new learnings from topical presentations and panel discussions on peculiar challenges in the sector and way forward. Our profound thanks and appreciation goes to all our distinguished speakers, panelists, moderator and media anchor man - @bridgetemem @diolutobe @debbieeffiong74 @florence.kayemba @nancyiheduru .Feedbacks we have received so far highlights the need to organize such retreats from time to time to reduce burn outs and emotional drain in women leaders working in this very important sector. Participants also resolved to build on the gains of the retreat by staying connected as a network to build a community of practice of women leaders within the non profit sector. #womenelevate #womenempoweringwomen #womeninspiringwomen

I agree with @femijubal .... Real Intelligence is your ability to convert what you know to real, tangible substance.... Be consistent!!! @donjazzy @mazitundeednut @pinovibes @lindaikejiblogofficial @ijeomadaisy @portharcourtinpictures @peller089 @carterefe