NUJ TO HONOUR CHIEF MULADE WITH ACTIVIST-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD
The Country Director of Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ, Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade is to be honoured with the Right Activist of the Year Award, by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Independent Television and Radio Chapel of the Edo State Council.
The recognition of and award to Chief Mulade, an environmental activist were based on his immeasurable contribution towards the environment and humanity in recent years, as well as his selfless commitment towards a healthy ecosystem in the Niger Delta, coupled with his dogged agitations against marginalization in the Niger Delta Region.
All of these and others, no doubt, distinguished him from other activists and fetched him the honour as the activist of the year, 2021. Chief Mulade, who is the Ibe-sourimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State, no doubt has created remarkable records by his activism for environmental sustainability in Nigeria, through his NGO, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ.
He advocated for the construction of the first boarding school in Gbaramatu Kingdom, located in Kokodiagbene Community, a riverine community, in Warri South West LGA of Delta State. He organized the bi-annual Comrade Sheriff Peace and Unity football competition, also known as Ijaw, Itsekiri Peace and Unity football competition, following years of conflict between the two ethnic groups.
Comrade Mulade also built, furnished and donated a building to
the State Intelligence Investigation Bureau (SIIB) of Nigeria Police, Warri Area Command of Delta State Command, to combat crime and reinforce the security network of the State.
Driven by his strong passion for the sustenance of the environment and to prevent further degradation, he organized programmes on the effect of COVID-19 on the environment, practical ways to sustain the environment, wherein speakers from the Federal Ministries of Environment and Mining, the Waste Management Board, the Health sector, Environment bodies, activists, NGOs, public and private agencies within and outside Nigeria proffered solutions to the negative impacts of the degraded environment as it relates to the lives and health of Nigerians.
He also researched on the unknown chemical substances emitted by SPDC oil facilities in the Ogulagha and Escravos Rivers which resulted in the death of countless fishes and various forms of ill health to the rural community dwellers. Based on his findings, he agitated for adequate compensations that are commensurate with the damage done by the unknown chemical substance, to the affected communities.
On climate change, CEPEJ planted over 3,000 economic and shade trees in Delta and Bayelsa States, and Abuja to combat climate change in Nigeria. These and other programmes, as well as his advocacy for good governance, earned Chief (Comrade) Sheriff Mulade, the prestigious Award as the Right Activist of the year 2021, by the NUJ.
The award ceremony will climax the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Press Week, with notable personalities to be in attendance including the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, members of the National and State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria, as well as other personalities.
The event is scheduled to hold on the 5th of December, 2021 at Prestige Hotel, No. 1, Airport Road, Benin City at 3pm.