Projects / programmes
Development work, measurable impact, and community voices from across Greater Bayelsa.
Projects in Our Communities
Initiatives and development work being advanced across the constituency.
Power Restored: Resilience After Vandalism
Power Restored is a Greater Bayelsa documentary about the widespread vandalism of power infrastructure and its effect on communities across Bayelsa. The film documents the dark days that followed the destruction of power lines, sharing firsthand accounts from residents whose daily lives were disrupted when the lights went out. It also follows the path forward through stories of hope and resilience, including the growing push toward an independent power plant for Bayelsa State. The documentary presents reliable power as a foundation for community life, economic activity, and a more resilient future. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14oGvEus3qc/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
CSS Farmer Support: Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth’s story shows how CSS supports farmers across the full agricultural journey — from fish farming and vegetable production to poultry, cassava cultivation, and effective farm management. The programme connects farmers with practical knowledge, advanced technology, marketing systems, and essential infrastructure. Together, these resources help turn hard work into sustainable income and create stronger opportunities for farming communities across Bayelsa. By sharing Elizabeth’s experience, Greater Bayelsa is celebrating the farmers whose work continues to strengthen the state’s agricultural future. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CRUn4Uf3K/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Documentary on Disability Inclusion and Resilience
Greater Bayelsa produced a documentary centred on the lived experiences of people with disabilities in Bayelsa State. Featuring Omoya Napoleon Lagumo, Charity Young, Binaebi Ipale DouDou, and Ikiotere Ebatonye Otuma, the film documents stories of resilience, triumph, and inclusion. Their experiences offer a personal view of the impact of disability-inclusion initiatives and the importance of creating space for people with disabilities to participate fully in society. The documentary contributes to a wider conversation about engagement, dignity, reducing discrimination, and recognizing the potential of every person. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BpRrP8DqY/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Angálá Égbérí (Tales of the Creek) — Artistic Heritage Exhibition
Angálá Égbérí — “Tales of the Creek” — was a December 2024 celebration of Bayelsa’s artistic heritage, talent, tradition, and innovation, held in Yenagoa with Greater Bayelsa as a partner. The event created space for some of the state’s finest creative voices through a vibrant exhibition of contemporary paintings and mixed-media work. The exhibition included a striking portrait made entirely from painted seashells, reflecting the imagination, resourcefulness, and cultural depth of Bayelsa’s artists. By supporting the event, Greater Bayelsa joined artists and culture-bearers in preserving and promoting the heritage that gives the state its identity. [Watch the Tales of the Creek documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PavRSZE4T/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Community Football Viewing Event
In February 2024, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Greater Bayelsa and [Goldcoast Developmental Foundation](https://goldcoast.ng/) partnered to organize football viewing centers in different rural communities, reaching more than 6,000 people across the participating locations. The multiple community-based centers allowed residents to watch and celebrate the match within their own communities. Each location created an accessible and vibrant space for local participation, connection, and shared excitement. By distributing the viewing experience across different rural communities instead of concentrating it in one central place, the initiative strengthened inclusion, community spirit, and local participation. [Watch the full football viewing event here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PavRSZE4T/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Youth Corps Training Programme
In 2024, Greater Bayelsa partnered with Solalina Studios to deliver a Youth Corps training session for 50 NYSC members at an orientation camp in Bayelsa State. The session was held in an open-air venue before the full camp programme, creating a practical and engaging learning opportunity for corps members during their service year. By taking the training directly to the camp, Greater Bayelsa met young people where they already were and made capacity building accessible within their existing experience. The programme expanded Greater Bayelsa’s youth-focused work beyond its home communities and into the wider network of young people serving across Bayelsa State.
HPV Vaccination Awareness Campaign
In November 2023, Greater Bayelsa partnered with Stand Up for Women Society (SWS), UNICEF, and the MOMENTUM Global Partnership for Health and Resilience for a public health advocacy walk supporting HPV vaccination. The campaign focused on raising awareness that cervical cancer is preventable and that the HPV vaccine is free, safe, and effective for protecting girls aged 9 to 14. Participants carried messages through the streets of the community, encouraging parents and caregivers to take their daughters to local health facilities for protection. The initiative brought health advocates, community members, and international partners together around a shared commitment to informed decisions and a healthier future for girls across Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa State Higher Education Students Loan Board
In November 2023, Greater Bayelsa documented the impact of the Bayelsa State Higher Education Students Loan Board, a programme designed to help students pursue higher education through accessible financial support. The documentary features beneficiary students Dara Horsefall Eli, Angela Solo, Deborah Obudah, Ayimovie Hansom Ogon, and Ifemi Nathan Bunah. Their experiences show how financial assistance can remove barriers to learning and help students stay focused on their academic goals. By supporting students beyond the classroom, the programme contributes to a future in which more young Bayelsans can develop their potential and pursue their full academic promise. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EQu2n23Dn/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Health, Safety & Environment Training Programme
In 2023, Greater Bayelsa partnered with Solalina Studios, the State Fire Service, and Meniscus Clinic to deliver a Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) training programme for 15 youths. The programme combined classroom learning with practical drills. Participants learnt fire-safety fundamentals and practised using fire extinguishers under professional guidance. They also took part in a first-aid session focused on emergency care essentials: responding immediately to an injury, minimising harm, and sustaining a victim until further help arrives when a situation is serious. By combining professional instruction with real-world practice, the programme helped build practical emergency-readiness skills among young people.
Bayelsa State Annual Thanksgiving Service — 2023
In 2023, Greater Bayelsa joined Bayelsans across the state for the 12th Edition of the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Service, an annual gathering celebrating the blessings, progress, and continued growth of the state. Governor Douye Diri led the celebration alongside dignitaries, community leaders, and citizens from across Bayelsa. The presence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave the occasion added significance, reflecting the importance and prestige of the gathering. Through music, cultural expression, and shared celebration, the event brought Bayelsans together in a spirit of unity, resilience, and collective hope for a brighter future.
Photography Skills Training Programme
Greater Bayelsa partnered with Canon and Solalina Studios in 2022 to deliver a practical photography skills training programme for 25 young people from various communities. Participants learnt the core principles of professional photography, including exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. They then worked with Canon equipment in guided field sessions, applying the lessons to real-world scenes. The programme combined technical learning with hands-on experience, helping participants build useful creative skills and confidence.
Rural Civic Enlightenment and the Inauguration of Governor Diri
The Governor Diri inauguration documentary records the connection between grassroots civic engagement and a defining moment in Bayelsa’s political history. Following an extensive statewide rural civic and voter enlightenment campaign, Greater Bayelsa documented the inauguration of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy after their election victory. The film looks back at months of community-level engagement to inform and empower voters, then captures the historic swearing-in that marked the beginning of a new administration. The documentary serves as a record of civic participation in action and a visual account 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 & Civic Sensitization Programme
Ahead of Bayelsa State’s 2020 Governorship election, Greater Bayelsa delivered a voter-education and civic sensitization programme across the state between 2019 and 2020. The team met residents in markets, schools, and campaign grounds, taking information directly into the spaces where people lived, worked, and gathered. The programme helped communities understand the importance of voting, their rights at the polls, and their role in the democratic process. By working alongside campaign structures and engaging residents directly, the initiative made civic education practical, accessible, and connected to everyday community life.
Impact & Testimonials
Evidence of progress alongside direct stories from the people and communities involved.
Impact Reports
13 publishedImpact Report: Power Infrastructure, Resilience, and the Path Forward
Power Restored documents the human cost of vandalism against power infrastructure and the resilience of Bayelsa communities. Key impact: • Residents’ firsthand accounts bring visibility to how power-line destruction disrupted daily life. • The documentary highlights power infrastructure vandalism as a quiet but widespread crisis across Bayelsa. • Stories of hope and resilience show how communities continue to look for a way forward. • The growing push toward an independent power plant presents a potential path to reduce vulnerability. • The film makes the case that reliable power is foundational to communities’ ability to thrive. By connecting lived experience with the need for long-term infrastructure solutions, Power Restored gives public visibility to an issue that affects everyday life across the state. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14oGvEus3qc/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Impact Report: CSS Support for Bayelsa Farmers
Elizabeth’s story illustrates the wider impact of CSS support for farmers in Bayelsa. Key impact: • Farmers can build knowledge across fish farming, vegetable production, poultry, cassava cultivation, and farm management. • Practical knowledge and advanced technology support higher productivity. • Robust marketing systems and essential infrastructure help farmers turn production into sustainable income. • CSS contributes to greater profitability and rising farm incomes for communities working the land. • Sharing Elizabeth’s experience gives visibility to the farmers whose daily work is shaping a stronger and more prosperous Bayelsa. The story shows what becomes possible when farmers have the knowledge, tools, systems, and support needed to grow their work sustainably. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CRUn4Uf3K/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Impact Report: Amplifying Voices of Disability Inclusion
This documentary uses the lived experiences of people with disabilities to highlight Bayelsa’s progress toward greater inclusion. Key impact: • Four voices are featured: Omoya Napoleon Lagumo, Charity Young, Binaebi Ipale DouDou, and Ikiotere Ebatonye Otuma. • The film brings personal stories of resilience and triumph into the public conversation. • It highlights the role of disability-inclusion initiatives in fostering engagement and reducing discrimination. • The documentary supports a vision of Bayelsa where every person’s potential is recognized and celebrated. • By amplifying lived experience, the project helps make inclusion more visible, personal, and relatable. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BpRrP8DqY/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Impact Report: Celebrating Bayelsa’s Artistic Heritage
Angálá Égbérí — “Tales of the Creek” — brought attention to Bayelsa’s creative talent and cultural heritage in Yenagoa in December 2024. Key highlights: • Greater Bayelsa partnered with the organizers of a major celebration of Bayelsa’s artistic heritage. • The event showcased contemporary paintings and striking mixed-media work from creative voices across the state. • A remarkable portrait crafted entirely from painted seashells highlighted the resourcefulness and originality present in Bayelsa’s artistic practice. • Artists and culture-bearers were celebrated for preserving and promoting the state’s unique heritage. The event reinforced a central part of Greater Bayelsa’s vision: building a greater future also means honoring the people, creativity, and traditions that have shaped the state. [Watch the Tales of the Creek documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PavRSZE4T/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Impact Report: More Than 6,000 People Reached Across Rural Communities
In February 2024, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Community Football Viewing Event, delivered in partnership with [Goldcoast Developmental Foundation](https://goldcoast.ng/), organized viewing centers in different rural communities and reached more than 6,000 people across the participating locations. Key impact: • More than 6,000 people were reached across different rural communities. • Football viewing centers were organized in multiple community locations rather than one central venue. • The event was delivered through a partnership between Greater Bayelsa and Goldcoast Developmental Foundation. • Residents received shared access to large-screen viewing experiences within their own communities. • The distributed format supported local participation, connection, and community spirit. • The scale of the turnout demonstrated the reach of community-centred programming when it meets people where they are. The multi-location approach made the event accessible across participating communities and created shared moments of celebration, connection, and collective joy. [Watch the full football viewing event here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PavRSZE4T/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Impact Report: 50 NYSC Youth Corps Members Reached
The 2024 Youth Corps Training reached 50 NYSC Youth Corps members at an orientation camp in Bayelsa State. Key outcomes: • 50 corps members were reached through a practical training session. • The session was delivered in partnership with Solalina Studios. • Training took place in an open-air camp setting before the full camp programme, bringing learning directly to participants. • The programme extended Greater Bayelsa’s capacity-building work beyond its home communities to young people serving across the state. • The approach demonstrated a commitment to meeting young people where opportunity already exists and making useful instruction accessible.
Impact Report: Standing Up for HPV Vaccination Awareness
The November 2023 HPV Vaccination Awareness Campaign took public-health education directly into the community through an advocacy walk in support of vaccination. Key impact: • Greater Bayelsa partnered with Stand Up for Women Society (SWS), UNICEF, and the MOMENTUM Global Partnership for Health and Resilience. • The campaign reinforced that cervical cancer is preventable. • Parents and caregivers were encouraged to protect girls aged 9 to 14 through the HPV vaccine at local health facilities across Bayelsa State. • Public-facing banners and placards helped carry the vaccination message through the streets and make the campaign visible within the community. • The initiative connected community advocacy with practical health information, helping families make informed decisions about protecting the next generation. The campaign demonstrated that informed, empowered communities are an essential part of protecting girls and strengthening public health.
Impact Report: Expanding Access to Higher Education in Bayelsa
The Bayelsa State Higher Education Students Loan Board is helping make higher education more accessible for students across the state. Key impact: • Beneficiary students receive financial support to pursue their academic dreams. • Dara Horsefall Eli, Angela Solo, Deborah Obudah, Ayimovie Hansom Ogon, and Ifemi Nathan Bunah share firsthand accounts of the programme’s effect on their journeys. • Accessible support helps reduce the financial barriers that can prevent bright minds from reaching higher learning. • The programme strengthens students’ ability to remain focused on education and build toward future success. • The stories reflect a wider vision in which every young Bayelsan has the opportunity to reach their academic promise. The documentary shows how education support can become a catalyst for determination, resilience, and long-term opportunity. [Watch the full documentary here](https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EQu2n23Dn/?mibextid=wwXIfr)
Impact Report: 15 Youths Trained in Health, Safety & Environment
The 2023 Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Training gave 15 youths practical instruction in emergency preparedness and response. Key outcomes: • 15 youths took part in the programme. • Participants learnt fire-safety fundamentals through classroom instruction. • Youths received hands-on practice using fire extinguishers under professional guidance from the State Fire Service. • The programme included a first-aid session led in partnership with Meniscus Clinic, covering immediate response to injury and essential emergency care. • Solalina Studios, the State Fire Service, and Meniscus Clinic contributed to a partnership model that connected participants with practical, professional guidance. The programme strengthened the idea that community resilience grows when people are equipped to respond to emergencies themselves.
Impact Report: Unity and Gratitude at Bayelsa’s 2023 Thanksgiving
The 2023 Bayelsa State Annual Thanksgiving brought together Bayelsans from across the state in a shared celebration of gratitude, unity, and progress. Key impact: • The 12th Edition of the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Service created a statewide moment of collective gratitude. • Governor Douye Diri joined dignitaries, community leaders, and citizens in leading the celebration. • The presence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo underscored the significance and prestige of the gathering. • Cultural attire, music, and communal celebration reflected Bayelsa’s identity and diversity. • The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to unity, resilience, and the state’s continued growth. • Greater Bayelsa participated as a partner in a celebration that brought people together around a shared vision for a brighter future. The gathering demonstrated how public celebrations can strengthen belonging, honor progress, and renew a collective commitment to building a #GreaterBayelsa.
Impact Report: 25 Young People Trained in Professional Photography
The 2022 Photography Skills Training created a practical learning opportunity for Twenty-five youths from various communities. Key outcomes: • 25 young people received hands-on photography instruction. • Participants learnt professional camera fundamentals: exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. • Canon equipment was used during guided outdoor practice, moving learning beyond the classroom. • The partnership with Canon and Solalina Studios connected participants to real tools, professional instruction, and practical experience. This is the kind of capacity building Greater Bayelsa supports: equipping people with skills they can apply.
Impact Report: Civic Participation and Bayelsa’s New Administration
The inauguration documentary captures the civic impact of Greater Bayelsa’s statewide rural voter enlightenment campaign. Key impact: • Rural communities across Bayelsa were reached through civic and voter enlightenment activities. • Grassroots engagement helped inform and empower voters ahead of the election. • The documentary connects months of civic participation with the inauguration of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy. • The historic swearing-in is preserved as a record of a new administration beginning at the state level. • The story celebrates democracy taking root through informed participation and community engagement. By documenting both the campaign journey and the inauguration, the film shows how civic education can connect everyday communities to important democratic moments. [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)
Impact Report: Voter Education and Civic Participation
Between 2019 and 2020, Greater Bayelsa took voter education directly into communities ahead of Bayelsa State’s 2020 Governorship election. Key impact: • Civic sensitization reached residents in markets, schools, and campaign grounds. • The programme encouraged people to understand the importance of showing up to vote. • Residents were engaged on their rights at the polls and their role in the democratic process. • The approach met people in familiar community spaces instead of waiting for them to seek out information. • Direct engagement helped promote informed civic participation across the state. The initiative demonstrated that stronger democratic participation begins with accessible information and communities that understand both their rights and their responsibilities as voters.
Community Testimonials
2 published
“Being part of the HSE training as a resource person was a meaningful experience for me. I was pleased to share practical guidance on first aid and other health-related issues that participants may encounter in everyday life. What made the session special was seeing the participants engage with the learning and understand that simple, timely action can make a real difference in an emergency. I believe the knowledge they gained will help them respond with greater confidence, support others, and share these lessons within their communities. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a programme that gives young people practical knowledge they can carry with them and use when it matters most.” — Miss Joy Agberekeme, Resource Person
Miss Joy Agberekeme — First Aid & Health Training Resource Person
January 2023“Being part of the photography skills training showed me that learning becomes more meaningful when it is practical. We learnt about exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and then had the opportunity to use Canon equipment outdoors. The experience gave us confidence to apply what we learnt and showed me how important it is to equip young people with real skills.” — Miss Savage Ebipatei Constance