Petroleum exploration has brought a lot of revenue to the Nigerian government as most of the country's investments and expenditures depend on the profits from oil. However, the processes of petroleum exploitation over the years have resulted in the destruction of the Niger Delta ecosystem. Thus, this study aims to analyse the impact of pollution on the Niger Delta Ecosystem in Nigeria and identify persons responsible for the devastation. Consequently, published literatures, newspapers, stored recordings and other valuable materials on the Niger Delta region were reviewed extensively. The study revealed that the stakeholders (government, operating oil companies, and host community representatives) in the business of petroleum exploration have always denied their involvement in the pollution and destruction of the region, but the fact remains that the operating oil companies are responsible for the numerous spills from their rusty or outdated pipelines and the gases that are been flared in the region; the illegal refining and pipeline vandalism that are perpetrated by some members (militant groups) of the host communities have resulted in a more polluted environment; and government negligence in monitoring and supervising the oil operations in the region and ensure that polluted sites are adequately remediated had compounded the crisis and devastation in the region. All the stakeholders, in the business of petroleum exploration should accept responsibility of protecting the environment against further pollution by avoiding acts and practices that destroys the environment. In conclusion, the blame directly goes to the government, operating oil companies and the community representatives (militant groups, political

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The study examined the contributions of adult vocational education programmes to community development in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Adult Vocational education programmes as a practise, is an important element that should not lacking in the community; as the adults constitute the functional human element of the society. Four research questions were used to guide this study. The population of the study was 2822 consisting of members of the unions and associations, of which a sample of 1975 members were drawn from the population. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaires and the collected data were analysed using simple frequency distributions and mean scores. The findings of the study revealed that adult vocational have contributed to the development of the communities, increase productivity, increase in family income, and self reliance. The study recommends that more vocational education centres should be in all the communities in Gokana and Khana, in order for everyone to benefit from the self-sustaining venture and the participants should adopt the method of each one, teach one.

Deforestation leads to habitat loss while preservation and conservation of the natural forest increase biological diversity. Multiple factors have been reported to be responsible for deforestation and habitat loss, which could either be of human or natural origin.  Natural causes of deforestation could be as result of forest fires, droughts, exotic animals, floods, overpopulation of foreign animals and climate change. That notwithstanding, human activities are among the principal causes of global deforestation with agricultural expansion, cattle breeding, timber extraction, mining, oil extraction, dam construction and infrastructure development as some examples of human influences. This study identifies agricultural activities and urbanization as the chief causes of human induced deforestation and habitat loss on a large scale. The simple and more practicable approach to curb the already alarming effects of deforestation and habitat loss is through environmental education of everyone still surviving on our planet. Environmental education is the key to reversing continuous and deliberate human actions through the protection of every natural forest and afforestattion where necessary.

Background: Health and mental related illnesses has emerged as a new challenge in the rural and undeveloped areas in Ogoniland where petroleum exploration activities have devastated the entire ecosystem. Many of the school children are no longer zealous about their academic activities, as their performances in school are always very poor. It has been reported that the children’s poor performance in school is closely linked with several health and mental challenges suffered by these children in the highly polluted areas. Methods: The study comprises of 383 primary school teachers selected from 8 rural communities in the four (4) Ogoni Local Government Areas (Gokana, Tai, Eleme and Khana) in Rivers State where massive environmental pollution has been reported. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data from the teachers on the children’s exposure to oil pollution; self-rated mental illnesses and behavioural symptoms among the school children, perception to petroleum pollution and mental illnesses. Results: The results revealed that the signs of mental illnesses like anxiety disorder, attention-deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, mood disorder, schizophrenia and eating disorder were noticeable among the school children. The children also exhibited behavioural challenges such as extreme fear, difficulty in concentrating, self-imposed injuries, aggressive behaviour, avoiding other classmates and poor academic performances. The field survey further revealed that mental illnesses and behavioural challenges were common in areas of massive petroleum pollution of the environment. Other causes of these illnesses were revealed to be poverty and psychoactive substance use. Conclusion: It was concluded that constant exposures of the children to environmental pollution is associated with decreasing neuroplasticity of the brain.