ELAW Fellows Courage & Victory

Communities in Rivers State in the petroleum-rich Niger Delta have suffered for years due to leaking circa 1950s oil pipes and continuous gas flaring. “The air, water, and soil is absolutely contaminated,” says Courage Nsirimovu, Coordinator, Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative (also known as The Peoples Advocates).

Courage and his co-worker Victory Timizimor, Pilex Program Officer, arrived in Eugene from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, this week to participate in ELAW Fellowships. They are collaborating with our Law and Science Teams to advance their work ensuring that oil companies operating in the densely populated Niger Delta focus on long overdue clean up efforts.

Courage, Victory, and the Pilex team conducted an in-depth assessment of public health and the environment in three impacted communities: Rukpokwu, Rumuekpe, and Ibaa. Their January 2025 report, reviewed by ELAW Science Program Director Dr. Mark Chernaik, revealed drinking water bore holes and wells so contaminated with petroleum that a lit match thrown into these wells exploded in fire balls.

“These formerly vibrant communities are intensely polluted and the sources of their livelihoods are gone,” says Courage. “Community health is severely compromised,” says Victory, with Pilex’s report noting community reports of excessive rates of birth deformities, respiratory and eye problems, and early menopause.

Courage and Victory are collaborating on their work with the ELAW Team, getting better connected to the worldwide ELAW Network, and building the capacity of their organization to ensure that community voices in Rivers State are heard and polluted airways, waterways, and soil are cleaned up.

Courage is an attorney active in the Public Interest Lawyering Initiative For West Africa, and a member of Environmental Rights Africa, African Climate Platform, and the Human Rights Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association in Port Harcourt. Victory joined Pilex in 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Rivers State University and is pursuing Project Management Professional Certification.

We will keep you informed of our work with aptly named Courage and Victory!

Maggie Keenan
Director de Asociaciones y Comunicaciones
Alianza Mundial de Derecho Ambiental

Second image caption:
Bernard Ngalim, ELAW Africa Law Associate (right) collects Courage and Victory at the Eugene Airport Monday night.