Breaking: Ijaw Nation Joins UNPO, Secures Global Stage in Historic Win
By Paul Ebi
Bayelsa, Nigeria — In a historic first, the Ijaw Nation has officially been provisionally admitted into the United Nations Unrepresented Peoples Organisation (UNPO), a landmark recognition that catapults the Niger Delta community onto the global stage. The announcement was made by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), on behalf of the entire Ijaw Nation.
“This is a moment of immense pride and historic significance for every Ijaw man, woman, and child,” Prof. Okaba declared. “For decades, our voices were silenced, our lands exploited, and our rights suppressed. Today, the world sees us.”
The UNPO membership provides the Ijaw Nation a direct platform to highlight decades of environmental devastation caused by oil exploitation, advocate for justice, and demand accountability from both multinational corporations and government authorities. It also strengthens their fight for self-determination and autonomy, while opening doors to capacity-building programs and international alliances with other unrepresented peoples.
Prof. Okaba called on the Nigerian government to embrace this development as a chance for constructive dialogue, particularly on issues of resource control, environmental protection, and political restructuring.
Expressing gratitude to supporters nationwide and beyond, the INC President described the milestone as “a new dawn for the Ijaw Nation,” signaling a powerful new chapter of advocacy, justice, and global recognition.
See us. Hear us. The Ijaw Nation is officially at the table.
