News / Institutional Updates
Official news, institutional announcements, and updates from Greater Bayelsa.
Power Restored: A Documentary on Resilience After Vandalism
Greater Bayelsa produced a documentary shining a light on one of the state’s quiet crises — the widespread vandalism of power infrastructure and the toll it has taken on communities across Bayelsa. The film journeys through the dark days that followed the destruction of power lines, capturing firsthand accounts from residents whose daily lives were upended when the lights went out. But the story doesn’t end in darkness. The documentary also traces the path forward — stories of hope and resilience, and the growing push toward an independent power plant for Bayelsa State, a solution aimed at breaking the cycle of vulnerability that vandalism has repeatedly exposed. Through the voices of everyday people, the film makes the case that reliable power isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation communities need to thrive. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14oGvEus3qc/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Elizabeth’s Story: Farming, Resilience, and Sustainable Prosperity
Elizabeth’s story spans the full breadth of what CSS makes possible — from fish farming and vegetable production to poultry, cassava cultivation, and effective farm management. Through the programme, farmers like Elizabeth gain access to practical knowledge, advanced technology, robust marketing systems, and essential infrastructure that turn hard work into real, sustainable income. Her journey reflects the wider impact of CSS across Bayelsa: higher productivity, greater profitability, and rising farm incomes for the communities working the land. Greater Bayelsa is proud to help share stories like Elizabeth’s, celebrating the farmers whose tireless effort continues to shape a stronger, more prosperous state. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CRUn4Uf3K/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
A Documentary on Inclusion: Amplifying Voices of Resilience in Bayelsa
Greater Bayelsa produced a documentary spotlighting the journeys of resilience, triumph, and inclusion among people with disabilities in Bayelsa State. The film features Omoya Napoleon Lagumo, Charity Young, Binaebi Ipale DouDou, and Ikiotere Ebatonye Otuma — individuals who have experienced firsthand the transformative impact of the Bayelsa State Government’s disability inclusion initiatives. Through their stories, the documentary highlights the strides Bayelsa has made in fostering engagement, reducing discrimination, and building a society where every person’s potential is recognized and celebrated. By amplifying these voices, Greater Bayelsa joins in celebrating a Bayelsa that is resilient, rooted, and thriving — a state actively working toward genuine inclusion, one story at a time. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BpRrP8DqY/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Angálá Égbérí (Tales of the Creek): Celebrating Bayelsa’s Artistic Heritage
In December 2024, Greater Bayelsa partnered with the organizers of Angálá Égbérí — “Tales of the Creek” — a celebration of Bayelsa’s artistic heritage, talent, tradition, and innovation, held in Yenagoa. The event brought together some of the state’s finest creative voices, showcased through a vibrant art exhibition featuring bold contemporary paintings and striking mixed-media work, including a remarkable portrait crafted entirely from painted seashells. As a partner in the event, Greater Bayelsa joined in celebrating the artists and culture-bearers preserving and promoting Bayelsa’s unique heritage — a reminder that building a greater Bayelsa means honoring where the state has been as much as shaping where it’s going. [Watch the Tales of the Creek documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PavRSZE4T/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Community Football Viewing Event: Bringing Rural Communities Together
In February 2024, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Greater Bayelsa partnered with [Goldcoast Developmental Foundation](https://goldcoast.ng/) to organize football viewing centers in different rural communities, reaching more than 6,000 people across the participating communities. Rather than bringing everyone to one central venue, the program made it possible for residents to watch the match in their own communities. The different viewing centers gave local residents opportunities to gather, celebrate, and connect in an atmosphere of excitement and belonging. The distributed approach helped the event meet people where they were, creating shared moments of collective joy and community spirit across multiple locations. [Watch the full football viewing event here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PavRSZE4T/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Youth Corps Training — In Partnership with Solalina Studios
In 2024, Greater Bayelsa’s founder delivered a training session for 50 NYSC Youth Corps members at an orientation camp in Bayelsa State, in partnership with Solalina Studios. Held in an open-air venue ahead of the full camp programme, the session brought practical, engaging instruction directly to corps members during their service year — meeting young people where they already were, rather than waiting for them to come looking for it. The training extended Greater Bayelsa’s capacity-building work beyond its home communities to the wider pool of young people serving across the state, reflecting the organization’s commitment to reaching youth wherever opportunity allows.
Standing Up for Health: HPV Vaccination Awareness Campaign
In November 2023, Greater Bayelsa joined a public health advocacy walk in support of HPV vaccination, partnering with Stand Up for Women Society (SWS), UNICEF, and the MOMENTUM Global Partnership for Health and Resilience. The campaign carried a clear, life-saving message: cervical cancer is preventable, and the HPV vaccine — free, safe, and effective — is available to protect girls aged 9 to 14 at local health facilities across the state. Marching through the streets with banners reading “Bayelsa Supports Vaccination” and placards declaring support for the cause, participants worked to spread awareness directly within the community, encouraging parents and caregivers to get their daughters protected. As a partner in the initiative, Greater Bayelsa stood alongside health advocates and international partners in reinforcing a simple truth: protecting the next generation starts with informed, empowered communities today.
Investing in Dreams: Bayelsa’s Commitment to Higher Education
November 2023 Greater Bayelsa produced a documentary spotlighting the transformative impact of the Bayelsa State Higher Education Students Loan Board, a programme empowering students to pursue their academic dreams through accessible financial support. The film features firsthand accounts from beneficiary students Dara Horsefall Eli, Angela Solo, Deborah Obudah, Ayimovie Hansom Ogon, and Ifemi Nathan Bunah, each sharing how the programme became a catalyst for their success. Their stories reflect a vision of education that extends beyond the classroom — one where financial barriers no longer stand between bright minds and higher learning. Through determination, resilience, and the support of a programme built to nurture potential, these students represent a future where every young Bayelsan has the opportunity to reach their full academic promise. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EQu2n23Dn/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Health, Safety & Environment Training — In Partnership with Solalina Studios, the State Fire Service, and Meniscus Clinic
In 2023, Greater Bayelsa’s founder led a Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) training programme in partnership with Solalina Studios, the State Fire Service, and Meniscus Clinic. Fifteen youths took part in the programme, which combined classroom instruction with practical, real-world drills. Participants learnt fire-safety fundamentals and received hands-on practice using fire extinguishers under professional guidance. The programme also included a first-aid session covering emergency-care essentials — how to respond immediately to an injury to minimise harm and, in serious cases, keep a victim alive until further help arrives. The training reflects Greater Bayelsa’s belief that real community resilience starts with equipping people to handle emergencies themselves, not just react to them.
A Celebration of Gratitude: Bayelsa State Annual Thanksgiving
2023 Greater Bayelsa joined Bayelsans across the state in celebrating the 12th Edition of the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Service — an annual gathering of gratitude for the blessings and progress of the state. Governor Douye Diri led the celebration, joined by dignitaries, community leaders, and citizens from every corner of Bayelsa, all gathered in a spirit of unity and thanksgiving. The event carried special significance that year with the presence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who graced the occasion — a moment that underscored the weight and prestige of the gathering. Amid vibrant cultural attire, music, and celebration, Bayelsans came together not just to give thanks, but to reaffirm a shared commitment to the state’s continued growth. As a partner in the day’s celebration, Greater Bayelsa stood alongside fellow Bayelsans in honoring unity, resilience, and a shared vision for a brighter future — hand in hand, for a #GreaterBayelsa.
Photography Skills Training — In Partnership with Canon and Solalina Studios
In 2022, Greater Bayelsa’s founder led a hands-on photography skills training programme held at Solalina Studios in partnership with Canon. Twenty-five youths from various communities took part, moving from the classroom straight into the field to put what they learned into practice. Sessions covered the fundamentals of professional photography — exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO — before participants took Canon equipment outdoors to shoot real-world scenes under guided supervision. The programme reflects a principle that runs through Greater Bayelsa’s work: real capacity building means giving people tools and skills, not just information.
A New Chapter for Bayelsa: The Inauguration of Governor Diri
Following our extensive rural civic and voter enlightenment campaign carried out statewide, Greater Bayelsa produced a documentary capturing a defining moment in the state’s political history — the inauguration of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, who emerged victorious in the election. The documentary reflects on the journey that led to this moment: months of grassroots engagement to inform and empower voters across Bayelsa’s communities, followed by the historic swearing-in that marked the start of a new administration. It stands as both a record of civic participation in action and a celebration of democracy taking root at the state level. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EcGVVJWnz/?mibextid=wwXIfr) [Watch the inauguration documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1QGab7qShq/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Voter Education Ahead of the 2020 Governorship Election
Between 2019 and 2020, ahead of Bayelsa State’s 2020 Governorship election, Greater Bayelsa carried out an intensive civic sensitization programme aimed at educating voters across the state. Rather than waiting for people to come to them, the team took the message directly to where people already were — markets, schools, and campaign grounds — meeting residents in the spaces of everyday community life. The initiative focused on helping people understand their role in the democratic process, from the importance of showing up to vote to knowing their rights at the polls. Working alongside campaign structures on the ground, the team engaged directly with communities to spread awareness and encourage informed civic participation. The work reflected a simple principle: a stronger Bayelsa starts with an engaged, informed electorate.