Author: TAMUNOFINIARISA BROWN

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Breaking News Finima : Rivers State’s Rising Star – Congratulations Little Princess, Eliana Wilfred Brown Shines at National Spelling Bee

Abuja, Nigeria – In what has become a moment of pride and inspiration for Rivers State and the Finima community in Bonny Local Government Area, young Miss Eliana Wilfred Brown has achieved a remarkable feat by clinching the position of 2nd runner-up at the prestigious St. John’s National Spelling Bee Competition held in Abuja.

This extraordinary achievement has not only placed her name on the national stage but has also brought immense honour to her school, Tamvina International School, Bonny, and her proud hometown of Finima.

A Rising Star from Finima

At just a tender school age, Eliana has proven that brilliance knows no boundaries. Her stellar performance against contestants from across Nigeria showcased not only her intellectual ability but also her discipline, confidence, and determination to excel in academics.

Representing Rivers State, she competed with some of the brightest young minds in the country and stood tall among the finalists, eventually earning a spot as second runner-up – a milestone achievement that speaks volumes about her dedication and the solid educational foundation laid by her school and family.

Her success is not just a personal triumph but also a communal victory. Finima, a historically rich community in Bonny, has always been known for producing talents of repute, and Eliana’s accomplishment now joins the long list of inspiring legacies.

The Weight of Representation

Being a young girl from Finima, competing in the heart of Abuja, the nation’s capital, was more than just a spelling challenge – it was a journey of representation. With every word she spelt correctly, Eliana carried on her shoulders the pride of her school, her family, her community, and her state.

The Director of Social Welfare and Youth Development at the Finima Youth Congress (FYC), Comrade Abraham Brown, captured this moment perfectly in his congratulatory message:

“Heartfelt congratulations to you, Miss Eliana Wilfred Brown, on achieving the remarkable feat of being the 2nd runner-up in the St. John’s National Spelling Bee in Abuja. We are incredibly proud of your outstanding performance, representing Rivers State with distinction. As a pupil of Tamvina International School, Bonny, and a daughter of Finima, your achievement brings honour not only to yourself but also to your school and community. We celebrate your success and look forward to seeing your continued growth and accomplishments.”

The Power of Education and Community Support

Eliana’s achievement is a testament to the importance of investing in education and nurturing the younger generation. Tamvina International School, Bonny, deserves commendation for providing the platform, resources, and encouragement that prepared her to compete at a national level.

Her success story is also a reminder of the strength of Finima’s communal support system – where young talents are not left to walk their journeys alone, but are celebrated, encouraged, and mentored to achieve greatness.

In many ways, Eliana represents a new wave of excellence coming from Rivers State – an example that success is not confined to urban cities but can sprout from every corner of the country when children are given equal opportunities.

Inspiration for the Youth

The story of Miss Brown should serve as a powerful inspiration to other young pupils in Rivers State and across Nigeria. It proves that hard work, focus, and determination pay off, regardless of age or background.

At a time when conversations around youth development and empowerment are growing louder, Eliana’s performance is a clear demonstration that with the right encouragement, Nigerian children can compete favourably with the best minds anywhere in the world.

Her journey also carries a subtle but important message – that academic excellence deserves as much celebration as sports and entertainment achievements. While footballers, musicians, and actors receive wide recognition, young scholars like Eliana are equally worthy of national applause.

Looking Ahead: Greater Heights Await

This victory is only the beginning for Miss Eliana Wilfred Brown. With her talent and the support of her family, school, and community, the sky is truly her starting point.

It is expected that her success will inspire both government and private stakeholders to do more in supporting literacy programmes, spelling competitions, and other academic initiatives that sharpen children’s intellectual capacity. Such platforms create leaders of tomorrow, ready to solve problems and carry Nigeria into a brighter future.

A Call to Celebrate Our Little Princess

As Finima and Rivers State celebrate this remarkable achievement, it is clear that Eliana has earned her place as a symbol of youthful brilliance. She may still be a pupil, but her name now resonates in households across Bonny, Abuja, and beyond as a shining light of determination and success.

Once again, congratulations to our Little Princess, Miss Eliana Wilfred Brown. May this be the first of many national and international accolades in your journey of academic and personal excellence.

Indeed, you deserve to be celebrated.

Signed:
Comr. Abraham Brown
Director of Social Welfare and Youth Development
Finima Youth Congress (FYC)

Finima Youth Congress Leads Successful Market Sanitation Exercise at Agaja Market

Community Spirit Shines in Agaja Market Sanitation Drive

By Omie D. Brown, Special Correspondent

Finima, Bonny Local Government Area – A wave of community-driven action swept through Agaja Market on Thursday, 14 August 2025, as local traders and a dedicated environmental team joined forces for a comprehensive sanitation exercise. The initiative, spearheaded by the Finima Youth Congress (FYC) Environmental Committee, underscored a strong and ongoing commitment to public health, hygiene, and environmental sustainability within the Finima community and the wider Bonny Local Government Area.

The periodic clean-up, conducted between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., was described as a resounding success, demonstrating the power of a united community. Led by the Public Relations Officer (P.R.O) of the FYC Environmental Committee, Omie D. Brown, and executed under the direct instruction of the FYC Director of Environment, the operation forms part of the FYC’s long-standing resolution to maintain a clean and healthy environment for both residents and visitors.

Market Women Lead by Example

The response from the market women was overwhelmingly positive. Guided by their own leadership, traders participated with enthusiasm, discipline, and a shared sense of responsibility. Witnesses reported a high level of compliance, with market women diligently clearing refuse, sweeping stalls, and ensuring that trading areas were spotless.

For two hours, the normally bustling market transformed into a hive of coordinated cleaning activities. Stalls were rearranged, waste was collected in an orderly fashion, and the drainage channels were cleared of debris. The scene reflected a community determined to set a high standard for cleanliness.

A senior market representative, who preferred to remain anonymous, summed up the general sentiment:

“We are so happy with how clean the market looks now. The FYC team has done a wonderful job in organising this, and it shows what we can achieve when we all work together.”

Shared Pride in a Job Well Done

Following the completion of the exercise, the atmosphere in the market was one of palpable satisfaction. Traders resumed their daily business against the backdrop of a cleaner, more welcoming environment. Many expressed their gratitude to the FYC Environmental Committee and the FYC Central Executive Council for initiating, enforcing, and overseeing the sanitation exercise.

The traders’ praise was accompanied by a pledge—one that holds significant meaning for the community’s environmental future. They promised to continue observing the sanitation routine regularly, even without external supervision. This commitment marks a shift from reactive clean-ups to a proactive, ingrained culture of cleanliness.

Such self-sustainability is a hallmark of successful community-led initiatives, and in this case, it signifies a long-term win for both the FYC and the people of Finima.

Calls for Urgent Infrastructure Support

Despite the upbeat mood, the market women also seized the moment to raise pressing infrastructural concerns. They issued a heartfelt appeal to the Sole Administrator of Bonny Local Government Area (LGA) and other stakeholders, urging immediate intervention in rehabilitating the market’s borehole.

A reliable supply of potable water, they stressed, is vital for maintaining hygiene in both food preparation and general market operations. The lack of a functioning borehole hampers these efforts and undermines the sanitation gains made during such exercises.

One stall owner put it plainly:

“A clean environment is not just about sweeping and tidying up; it’s also about having the basic amenities to support that cleanliness. We need clean water for our produce and for ourselves, and proper toilets are essential for public health. We hope the LGA and other stakeholders hear our plea and come to our aid.”

Alongside the call for water infrastructure, traders also highlighted the urgent need for functional, well-maintained toilet facilities. Without these, they warned, it will be difficult to sustain hygiene standards and prevent the spread of disease.

FYC’s Ongoing Mission for a Cleaner Finima

The FYC Environmental Committee has consistently demonstrated leadership in promoting cleanliness and environmental awareness in the Finima community. Regular market sanitation exercises, community-wide clean-up campaigns, and educational outreach form part of their broader strategy to foster a healthier and more sustainable environment.

Speaking after the exercise, Omie D. Brown reaffirmed the organisation’s vision:

“Today’s success shows what’s possible when a community comes together. Our goal has always been to instil a culture of environmental responsibility that will last for generations. The market women’s commitment to continuing this work, even without our direct supervision, is proof that change is taking root.”

A Model for Other Communities

The Agaja Market clean-up stands as a model for other markets and communities across the Niger Delta and beyond. It demonstrates that when local leadership, community members, and youth organisations work hand-in-hand, tangible improvements in public health and environmental quality can be achieved.

However, sustaining these results will require continued investment and collaboration. Stakeholders, both public and private, have an opportunity to reinforce the community’s efforts by addressing infrastructure needs such as the borehole and sanitation facilities.

Providing these amenities would not only safeguard public health but also serve as a powerful endorsement of the traders’ self-help initiatives. It would show that community-driven projects are not only acknowledged but supported at higher levels of governance.

Looking Ahead

The story of Agaja Market on 14 August 2025 is one of collaboration, resilience, and shared vision. It is about a community taking ownership of its environment, celebrating its achievements, and advocating for the resources it needs to sustain them.

As the freshly cleaned stalls reopened for business, the air carried more than the scent of fresh produce; it carried a renewed sense of pride and unity. The clean-up was more than an exercise—it was a declaration that environmental stewardship in Finima is not just a policy but a way of life.

Now, the challenge and opportunity lie with local authorities and stakeholders to respond to the market women’s plea, ensuring that this vision of a healthier, cleaner future becomes a permanent reality.

🖊️ Omie D. Brown
P.R.O – FYC Environmental Committee
For and on behalf of the FYC Director of Environment

FYC Environmental Committee Addresses Viral Video Allegations at Agaja Market

FYC Environmental Team Intervenes at Agaja Market Following Public Health Scare

FINIMA – The Finima Youth Council (FYC) Environmental Committee has launched an extensive monitoring and public health education programme at Agaja market after a viral online video sparked widespread public outrage. The video, which circulated on various social media platforms, alleged that a vegetable vendor was using water from a contaminated source to wash his produce, raising serious concerns about food safety and public health within Finima community and Bonny Kingdom.

In a swift and organised response, the FYC Director of Environment and a dedicated environmental team descended on the market on Monday, 11th August 2025. Their visit was aimed at conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into the claims and ensuring that the health of the community’s residents was not being compromised. The speed of the FYC’s intervention underscored the severity of the public’s reaction and the urgency with which community leaders needed to address the issue.

The initial allegation, fueled by the video, pointed to a specific pit as the source of the unsanitary water. However, the FYC’s on-site investigation, which included gathering information from multiple eyewitnesses and engaging directly with the market leadership, unearthed a different, yet equally disturbing, truth. According to the findings, the vendor in question had not, in fact, used the alleged pit. Instead, the team discovered a more systemic and widespread problem: numerous fruit and vegetable sellers were habitually using collected rainwater to prepare their goods for sale.

This practice, while seemingly benign to the vendors, was immediately flagged as a serious public health risk by the FYC team. “Using rainwater to wash foodstuffs is an unhealthy act that is highly condemnable,” stated a source close to the committee. The FYC explained that rainwater, particularly in an urban or semi-urban environment, can be a host for various contaminants. As it falls and collects, it can pick up pollutants from the atmosphere, dirt and grime from rooftops and guttering, as well as bacteria from unsanitary storage containers. The risk of waterborne diseases and other health complications for consumers is, therefore, significant.

The discovery prompted an immediate educational session with the vendors. The FYC team did not simply issue a warning but took the time to explain the dangers of their actions. They provided a detailed and practical lesson on the fundamental importance of using clean, potable water for all food preparation. They stressed that the health of the community was a shared responsibility and that the vendors, as frontline providers of essential foodstuffs, held a crucial role in safeguarding it. The session was intended to be both a stern caution and a constructive effort to reform their practices for the long term.

Following the initial intervention, the FYC Environmental Committee has announced a new, proactive enforcement programme. The committee will henceforth be conducting constant monitoring of vendors’ activities at the market to ensure they comply with standard health practices. This move is a clear signal that the council is not content with a one-off visit but is committed to creating a lasting change in market hygiene standards.

The incident has also highlighted a significant infrastructural deficiency within the market itself. The FYC’s findings point to a lack of a readily available, safe water supply as a root cause of the vendors’ unsanitary practices. In light of this, the FYC has issued a formal and urgent appeal to the Sole Administrator of Bonny Local Government Area (LGA) and other relevant stakeholders. They are calling for immediate intervention to provide a reliable source of clean, potable water within the market premises.

In an official statement, Omie D. Brown, the Public Relations Officer for the FYC Environmental Committee, reiterated the council’s core mission. “We are dedicated to safeguarding the health of residents of Finima community & Bonny Kingdom at large,” the statement read. The call to action is not just for government officials but for the entire community. It reinforces the message that “a healthy environment is a collective effort of every individual.” The FYC is urging all citizens to join hands in making Finima and Bonny Kingdom a safer and healthier place for all.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder of the intricate link between public health, community action, and government infrastructure. The swift response from the FYC, driven by a concerned citizenry, has not only addressed an immediate health scare but has also shone a light on the broader need for improved market facilities. As the FYC begins its sustained monitoring efforts, the community now looks to the local government to provide the essential infrastructure that will allow vendors to operate safely and ensure the continued well-being of all residents. The hope is that this incident will catalyse lasting change, leading to a more hygienic and secure food supply for Finima and Bonny Kingdom.

“A healthy environment is a collective responsibility,” said Omie D. Brown, Public Relations Officer of the FYC Environmental Committee. “We must work together to make Finima Community and Bonny Kingdom safe and healthy for all.”

The FYC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of residents in Finima and the wider Bonny Kingdom.