The repository of political nomenclature in Nigeria lately has added to its ranks following the rather ostentatious remarks of then APC presidential candidate, now President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that it is now his turn (emilokan) to become the President of Nigeria. This remarks was greeted by the public with much obloquy, a transitive criticism and unpopularity that no sooner than later, people began to realize the conjectural justification of the remarks.
The justification that a stalwart who have worked for and supported others to ascend leadership positions could claim “it is my turn” (emilokan) is incontrovertible. At the first glance, this remarks exuding gross feeling of entitlement that could offend the sensibility of others in a competitive society and generate public opprobrium, criticism or what could be termed as Obloquy. Notwithstanding, this has definitely stood the test of time as it were because a leader or stalwart works for a reward. Nobody works in perpetuity for another to be rewarded. This is the good law which entreats for the understanding of both common sense and logical sense.
Lately, Ukwuani LGA DTHA member-elect on the platform of PDP, Ogbuefi Chukwudi Dafe openly declared that it was his turn to represent his constituency in State House of Assembly, leaning on the justification that he had assiduously supported and worked for his predecessors.
The sobriquet “emilokan” is gradually becoming ubiquitous, widely acceptable and appealing to stalwarts who are deservedly entitled to next-levels privileges.
Now, Sen. Orji Uzor-Kalu, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has joined the “emilokan” bandwagon by signifying his interest in becoming Nigeria’s 10th Senate President, claiming it is his turn (emilokan) by virtue of him being one of the most experienced Senators to constitute the 10th Assembly, and by the logical implication that the position should be zoned to the southeast in respect of the principle of federal character, equity and fairness.
The former Abia State Governor said he was the most qualified senator for the position based on the senate rules as well as his pedigree. “I am the next ranking member in the Senate going by the position I occupy today in the 9th Senate.
Afterall Tinubu was right and could be justified in his remarks “emilokan”, and Nigeria’s politics has added to the ranks of its nomenclature.
Delta Online Publishers Forum, (DOPF), a registered and certified body of online newspaper publishers, has decried the greed showcased in the handling of the N25 million support given to newspaper publishers and Journalists in Delta State by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The Forum has therefore passed a vote of no confidence in the Comrade Mike Ikeogwu-led Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ over its various greed, lack of transparency and accountability as displayed in the disbursement of the support.
Michael Ikeogwu and Gov Ifeanyi Okowa
Recall that the State Governor during the inauguration of the New Government House Press Centre cum Media chat on March 13, 2023, expressed appreciation to the press, especially acknowledging the role of the media in promoting government policies and programmes, in appreciation honored Newspaper publishers and journalists in the state with the Money.
This, though came as a surprise package, however, journalists were happy, especially with the cash crunch situation which currently is affecting the nation, but their joy was later cut short as the fund was corruptly appropriated by the Delta State Council of NUJ that warehoused the fund.
Delta Online Publishers Forum, DOPF as a body was invited to the programme like any other body, including the NUJ Delta State Council through the office of the Public Relations Officer, Government House, Asaba. This has been the tradition between us and the State Government in the event of any activity that will require us to attend, like in other times, we attended in our numbers.
Right after the media chat, there was tension, and apprehension about what will happen to the money, considering the antecedent of the current leadership of the NUJ Delta State Council whenever money is given together, and as usual, they didn’t disappoint us, as they allowed their GREED to take a better part of the sharing formula.
We discovered that the NUJ Delta State Council, after much delay from 13 March 2023 to March 22, 2023, released a sharing structure thus: The correspondents Asaba were given N3.2 million; Warri Correspondents, N2.2 million; Indigenous Correspondents; N750,000.00; Ughelli Chapel, N750,000.00; Sapele Chapel, N400,000.00; Association of Community Newspapers of Nigeria, N300,000.00 and DOPF N300, 000.00.
This we consider belittling and insulting to DOPF and its members.
We discovered that NUJ Delta State Council didn’t disburse up to N10m from the Governor’s gift to Chapels and other groups; hence we have rejected the money and sent it back to the NUJ Delta State Council, through the Chairman, Mr Mike Ikeogwu.
Our Executive Council and Board of Trustees after extensive deliberation, passed a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on Comrade Mike Ikeogwu-led NUJ Delta State Council and have also directed our members to henceforth shun Delta Government briefings, press releases and other media related activities, until this anomaly is addressed.
However, we hereby place on record categorically, our sincere and profound gratitude, to His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State, for his legendary generousity and magnanimity to the Publishers and Journalists in the state over the years, and especially with this latest largess, he voluntarily released to ease the burdens imposed on Nigerians, by the on-going Naira redesign/cash swap fiasco.
Members of the executive council of NUJ Delta State today 27th March 2023 inaugurated new executive officers of Federal Information Chapel on expiration of the Abel Johngold-led Excos in what seemed to be a seamless transition. On a unanimous consensus of the Chapel, Cmr. Abel Johngold was returned as the Chairman of the Chapel, while other members that made the Exco include; Cmr. Tamara Febau, Vice Chairman, Cmr. Wilbet Ijeoma, Secretary and Cmr. Kelly Gilor, Treasurer.
Receiving the executives of NUJ State Council led by the State Secretary Cmr. Patrick Ochei and the State Vice Chairman Cmr. Salvation Ogono at Federal Information, Federal Secretariat Asaba, the outgoing Chapel Chairman, Cmr. Abel Johngold expressed appreciation to members of the State Council present to preside over the inauguration and taking of oath of office by the newly elected and returned officers.
Ochei, in his opening remarks, outlined the procedure for election/inauguration of new Excos which set the pace for the business of the day.
On his handover note, the Chapel’s helmsman, Cmr Abel Johngold recalled when he assumed the position of Chairman on expiration of the tenure of the Chapel’s former Chairman, late Comrade Henry Iloba in 2019, and affirmed that he has had a fruitful administration; no less thanks to the Excos and members of the Chapel. Johngold underscored that keeping the revitalization of the Chapel meant all hands must be on deck to muster brainwaves on how to sustaining the Chapel itself, by making it attractive and to position Comrades to play active roles. Amongst his achievements listed were but not limited to opening of Chapel’s account, provisions of chairs, t-shirts, training and retraining of members, welfare packages and provision of stationery to offices where the Chapel is domiciled as part of social responsibilities.
Speaking further after the inauguration, the Chairman who was returned together with members of his Excos express optimism that the Chapel would consolidate on the achievements it recorded in previous administration. Pointing out the areas to work upon, the now 2-term Chapel Chairman assured that the Chapel is primed for growth in strength and effective journalism. “We’ll focus on membership drive and capacity building through training and retraining of journalists in our Chapel”; Johngold assured. However, he brought to the attention of the State Council that Federal Information Chapel plays critical role in national journalism/reportage which most times are exclusive and unnoticeable. He harped on members of the Chapel who are committed journalists and publishers of online news media, further underscoring the needs for recognition by the State Council.
The NUJ State Scribe Cmr. Patrick Ochei, who led the State Executive Council for the inauguration, commended the progress the Chapel has made so far while applauding the successes recorded. Ochei however noted that the minimum strength for a chapel is 10 and urged the leadership of the Chapel to grow it’s membership and square up with dues and other financial obligations.
Further emphasizing on the need of strength, the State Council Vice Chairman, Comr. Salvation Ogono commended the effort of the leadership of Federal Information Chapel. He however recalled that the Chapel use to be a beehive in times past and implored the newly inaugurated executives to work on membership growth.
The inauguration event wouldn’t have been a success without the propriety of the Felix Ijeomah-led electoral committee of the Federal Information Chapel. Applauding the effort of the committee, Ochei commended members of the committee comprising Cmr. Celestine Afokobah and the NAWOJ Scribe Cmr. Tracy Ikolomi for the job well done; for occasioning a seamless transition of leadership in Federal Information Chapel.
Responding to the commendation, Cmr. Felix Ijeoma expressed appreciation to the Chapel for the confidence and trust reposed on him to led the electoral committee of Chapel. He expressed optimism that greater days lie ahead of the Chapel, affirming that the Chapel has the potential for growth and development.
Present at the event include the NOA Deputy Director, HRM who also doubles as Welfare Secretary of Committee of Heads of Federal MDAs (COHEADs), Mrs. Patricia Umunna, members of State Information Chapel comprising Cmr. Kenneth Ovie and Cmr. Raph, amongst others.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Odio Askia Ogieh JP, has congratulated Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori on his emergence as Governor-Elect of Delta State, describing his victory at the just concluded Delta State Governorship election as the victory of the people and a manifestation of the unchangeable will of God.
Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori
Askia, the Udu of Isoko Nation, also commended Deltans for being discerning and wiser to sieve through and disregard the cacophony of propaganda and campaign of calumny unleashed by the main opposition party to settle on the right choice and remain with the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Your Excellency, your overwhelming choice by Deltans is a testament of the people’s knowledge of your personality and their confidence in your capacity and competence not only to sustain the legacy achievements of His Excellency, Sen Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, but also in your ability to deliver your promises of more meaningful development, opportunities for all, realistic reforms and enhanced peace and security for the development of our dear state and the prosperity and happiness of our people,” Ogieh said.
“The people were unanimous, resolute and decisive in sieving through all manners of propaganda and campaign of calumny to vote massively for you and their action leaves no one in doubt that your emergence is a manifestation of the absolute and unchangeable will of God to whom we give all the glory.
“We are proud of your track record of achievements in public service, community development and nation building and we are confident of your commitment to raise the bar of good governance and development,” he concluded.
The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Education Monitoring Dr lgnitus Ezoem has described the victory of Rt Hon Francis Sheriff Oborevworii and his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Delta State as divine.
Dr Ezoem who was the former Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba made this declaration immediately INEC announced the results of the governorship election of Delta State where he won his closest opponent of the APC Sen Ovie Omo-Agege on a landslide victory.
Describing the victory as divine, Dr Ezoem said that Oborevwori prevailed despite the different of litigation served on him by aggrieved parties after the PDP primaries which was decided in his favour by supreme court that gave him victory to participate in the just concluded 18th of March 2023 governorship and state house of assembly elections
The Executive Assistant to the Governor, Dr Ezoem said that the experiences of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevworii and his deputy Sir Monday Onyeme as Speaker for over six years and Accounting specialist respectively will add value to the leadership quality that the Okowa administration has already built in Delta State.
The eminent scholar and former Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba appealed to all well-meaning deltans to support the administration of Oborevwori in sustaining the developmental stride of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa when sworn in May 29th 2023 so as to ensure consolidation of Okowa’s administration in infrastructural and human capital development which have earned the State as one of the best in terms of development and job creation.
Delta State YPP Governorship Candidate, Comrade Sunny Ofehe, has described the last Saturday, March 18, 2023 for gubernatorial and State House of Assembly members, as jamboree and mere selection where huge fraud was sadly perpetrated.
Sunny Ofehe
Ofehe stated this in a statement he released rejecting the outcome of the governorship election in the State immediately after the declaration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor Elect by the Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) today, and made available to newsmen.
He said the good people of Delta State were disenfranchised and denied right to free choice of their political leaders by widespread thuggery, vote buying, concoction of figures at collation centres and the likes.
Sunny Ofehe
The YPP Guber Candidate noted that Chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, were variously in connivance with the umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which endorsed the charade, caricature and show of shame. This sad scenario in the elections has reinforced the tag on the nation as “fantastically corrupt”.
According to Ofehe “We have substantial amount of evidence to expose the tremendous fraud that took place across polling units and wards in each of the 25 local government councils in the state. The question is why should INEC budget such humongous sum of money only to midwife this sham and jamboree? Is it not better for INEC to advertise our elective positions in the media and open a bidding process for the highest bidders to be announced instead of wasting money of tax-payers who are given false hope they’ll elect their leaders?
“After assurances by the electoral umpire, INEC, gruelling campaigns by various parties and debates all of which raised the consciousness and hopes of the people for a better election, influence of money owing to weaponisation of poverty in the land played unfortunate role in the elections. Elective positions therefore largely went to the highest bidder. This is not the democracy Nigeria truly wants. This is not the democracy I decided to participate in. Our democracy, indeed, failed to evolve one notch higher! Sad!
“With governance thrown to incapable hands, the economy of our dear Delta State will more likely bleed in the wilderness in the next four years.
“We must not continue like this. We must not continue to sweep under the carpet the fraud that has characterised our elections. As an environmental-political activist, I will, everywhere in the globe I chance to, continue to shame these polls that were less than free, less than credible and hence unfair. It is hoped that this approach has the beneficial effect of deepening our electoral system.
“Barring the election irregularities, I am the most capable, credible, competent and generally acceptable candidate for the Delta State Governorship seat. As noted here earlier, I intend to challenge the entire process in my own way.
Sunny Ofehe
“I thank those who sincerely supported and worked tirelessly with me in the cause of the campaigns. We are the true WINNERS because we contended with the status quo and made sure we got to the finish line. We must take pride in our issue-based campaigns and doggedness to the end.
“I love my country Nigeria and my dear Delta State! I believe we would see, soonest, our dream Delta State!”
Ahead of tomorrow’s elections, an influential group known as Rescue Nigeria Global Network (RNGN) have endorsed the candidacy of the Labour Party (LP), Amb. Ogar Osim for Governor of Cross River State.
The group took the decision during a meeting that was co-hosted by Dr. Michael Chuwujekwu Ph.D, Dr Valerie Mbongo, Dr Chinelo Onwusi, and Dr Osim Enya on Tuesday, 14 March, 2023, in Calabar.
At the meeting that has most ObiDatti support groups in Cross River state in attendance, the conveners of the ObiDatti respective groups and coordinators present expressed their resolved and readiness to achieve a New Nigeria.
The RNGN clinged on the possibility of a better and renewed Nigeria from the national to the states and Local Government Area levels.
The attendees were optimistic that achieving the new Nigeria is possible through genuine and committed Obidient Candidates that are obviously using the Labour Party as an efficient and effective vehicle to the destination.
Members of the Obidients group and other electorates present during the meeting stressed that Nigerians are tired of voting and installing candidates that are leveraging on structures and capacities of criminality, making reference to the words of the Labour Party Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi.
RNGN also resolved that the credibility needed at the various levels of government should be void of taking advantage or associating with deceitful and hypocritical individuals and political parties that had kept Nigeria and her states in the present sorry state.
They pledged to support, vote and defend the votes for all genuine Obidient candidates for the Gubernatorial and House of Assembly positions in the state.
The Obidients group, other electorates and the RNGN expressed their commitments to support and vote Obidient candidates. Most especially in all the states that there are genuine gubernatorial candidates of the Labour Party.
Governorship candidates mentioned to queue behind include:
1. Abia- Dr. Alex Otti
2. Benue – Herman Hembe
3. Borno – Ibrahim K Mshelia
4. Cross River – Ogar Osim
5. Delta- Deacon Ken Pela
6. Enugu – Chijioke Edeoga
7. Gombe- Keftin Amuga
8. Kaduna – Jonathan Asake
9. Lagos – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour
10. Niger State- Hon. Joshua Bawa
11. Ogun- Kehinde Segun
12. Oyo – Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale
13. Plateau- Dr. Patrick Sunday Dakum
14. . Rivers – Beatrice Itubo
15. Taraba- Sen. Joel Danlami Ikenya
The group also pointed that a win for Gubernatorial positions by an Obidient and for Obidient movement is a capacity built and accountability guaranteed for now and the future with respect to a new and better Nigeria.
“A support and vote for a candidate standing on the structure of criminality is a loss to the Obidients and Nigeria at large”. The group stated in their resolution.
Convocation Ceremony of the 3rd batch of DESOPADEC Skills Academy graduands
As a mission statement expressly provided in the law setting up DESOPADEC by the Delta State House of Assembly in 2006 and fully activated in July 2007, the Commission is meant “To put smiles on the faces of the people in the host oil and gas producing communities of the State through massive infrastructural and human capital development.”
Without undermining one for the other, the current board rolled up its sleeves from the blast of the whistle to deliver balanced intervention across the mandate areas in critical infrastructure, education, health, housing, water, road, transportation sub-sectors, as well as in re-skilling the youth in a well thought-out, all-purpose vocational programme to empower them.
Convocation Ceremony of the 3rd batch of DESOPADEC Skills Academy graduands
The result was the creation of the DESOPADEC Skills Acquisition Academy with the endpoint of making the youth properly skilled, gainfully engaged and productively useful to themselves.
This innovative human capital development template which was officially kick-started in the first quarter of 2020 in a well structured non-formal curriculum saw successful pioneer candidates admitted into the scheme in a grand Matriculation Ceremony.
The intent was clear: To give successful trainees a lifetime opportunity in honing their skills in various chosen vocational fields. The skills acquisition scope include Welding and Fabrications; Electrical and Electronic Repairs; Solar Energy Works; Tiling, Interlocking and P.O.P. Works; Catering and Confectioneries; Shoe, Bag Making and Leather Works; Information and Communication Technology, ICT; Health, Safety and Environment, HSE; Fashion Design and Tailoring; Hairdressing and Makeover.
The programme entails a 6-month intensive training and practical exposure, and assessment, evaluation and certification by relevant national technical education boards.
The DESOPADEC Skills Acquisition Academy started with 160 trainees drawn from all the six ethnic nationalities within the mandate areas. They underwent an orientation programme on financial management and efficient book keeping preparatory for their eventual graduation which held at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI., Effurun, Delta State.
The highpoint of the graduation ceremony was their being well resourced with modern working tools and equipment, aka Starter Packs, to get them to hit the ground running from day one.
It must be stated here that besides the huge investment in their training and starter packs, the graduands also generally got a cash backup of N200,000 each. Some graduands got extra N500,000 each for emerging as best trainee in their respective fields while a star prize of N1 million was awarded to the Overall Best Trainee.
The extra gestures were borne out of a deep commitment by a responsive team and leadership determined to touch lives in a most salutary and impactful way.
The DESOPADEC Skills Academy has graduated two sessions and graduates its 3rd batch by the end of January 2023 after which the 4th batch would immediately commence.
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, at the Matriculation Ceremony of the 4th batch of DESOPADEC Skills Academy trainees
Mention must also necessarily be made of the highly impactful annual Bursary Scheme in favour of tens of thousands of mandate areas students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The impact of this payment to the students is to be appreciated in the fact that many of them have expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Board and Management of DESOPADEC for their responsiveness, especially at the very precarious period of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In keeping with the tradition, arrangement is already concluded for the commencement of payment of for 2022/2023 within the month of February.
Without doubt, the human capital development agenda of the current DESOPADEC board has been greeted with huge aplomb and commended by Government and diverse traditional and community leaders as a noble partnership that supports the greater vision of the Okowa administration which is to build as many youths in the state into responsible, financially independent and prosperous citizens.
Nothing truly could be too much to achieve this focal objective. Little wonder the awards have kept pouring in in torrents to a Commission that has become the toast of a dozen media and award conferment establishments!
Undoubtedly, our testimonial of infrastructure and human capital development interventions evidence a deep commitment to the elevation of human dignity and environmental equity for the people and communities of Delta State oil producing areas. It is a commitment that DESOPADEC will continue to rekindle for the good of the people.,,
As a mission statement expressly provided in the law setting up DESOPADEC by the Delta State House of Assembly in 2006 and fully activated in July 2007, the Commission is meant “To put smiles on the faces of the people in the host oil and gas producing communities of the State through massive infrastructural and human capital development.”
Uzere Civic Center
Without undermining one for the other, the current board rolled up its sleeves from the blast of the whistle to deliver balanced intervention across the mandate areas in critical infrastructure, education, health, housing, water, road, transportation sub-sectors, as well as in re-skilling the youth in a well thought-out, all-purpose vocational programme to empower them.
The result was the creation of the DESOPADEC Skills Acquisition Academy with the endpoint of making the youth properly skilled, gainfully engaged and productively useful to themselves.
This innovative human capital development template which was officially kick-started in the first quarter of 2020 in a well structured non-formal curriculum saw successful pioneer candidates admitted into the scheme in a grand Matriculation Ceremony.
The intent was clear: To give successful trainees a lifetime opportunity in honing their skills in various chosen vocational fields. The skills acquisition scope include Welding and Fabrications; Electrical and Electronic Repairs; Solar Energy Works; Tiling, Interlocking and P.O.P. Works; Catering and Confectioneries; Shoe, Bag Making and Leather Works; Information and Communication Technology, ICT; Health, Safety and Environment, HSE; Fashion Design and Tailoring; Hairdressing and Makeover.
Uzere Civic Center
The programme entails a 6-month intensive training and practical exposure, and assessment, evaluation and certification by relevant national technical education boards.
The DESOPADEC Skills Acquisition Academy started with 160 trainees drawn from all six ethnic nationalities within the mandate areas. They underwent an orientation programme on financial management and efficient bookkeeping preparatory for their eventual graduation which was held at the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI., Effurun, Delta State.
The high point of the graduation ceremony was their being well resourced with modern working tools and equipment, aka Starter Packs, to get them to hit the ground running from day one.
It must be stated here that besides the huge investment in their training and starter packs, the graduands also generally got a cash backup of N200,000 each. Some graduands got an extra N500,000 each for emerging as best trainees in their respective fields while a star prize of N1 million was awarded to the Overall Best Trainee.
The extra gestures were borne out of a deep commitment by a responsive team and leadership determined to touch lives in a most salutary and impactful way.
The DESOPADEC Skills Academy has graduated two sessions and graduates its 3rd batch by the end of January 2023 after which the 4th batch would immediately commence.
Mention must also necessarily be made of the highly impactful annual Bursary Scheme in favour of tens of thousands of mandate areas students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The impact of this payment to the students is to be appreciated in the fact that many of them have expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Board and Management of DESOPADEC for their responsiveness, especially at the very precarious period of the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
In keeping with tradition, arrangement is already concluded for the commencement of payment of for 2022/2023 within the month of February.
Without doubt, the human capital development agenda of the current DESOPADEC board has been greeted with huge aplomb and commended by Government and diverse traditional and community leaders as a noble partnership that supports the greater vision of the Okowa administration which is to build as many youths in the state into responsible, financially independent and prosperous citizens.
*Education*
Education is one of the parameters used to assess the development of societies and regions, especially by the Sustainable Development Goals. It thus has remained a key sectorial focus in the development of DESOPADEC mandate areas.
Ofagbe-Ibrede Road
Since its establishment in 2007, DESOPADEC has given utmost attention to education through diverse expressions and the Askia Ogieh-led board has sustained this noble trend since its inauguration in August 2019 to embark on delivering brand new or completely renovated or refurbished blocks of classrooms, Lecture Halls, ICT facilities, perimeter fencing, water schemes, Principal Lodges, Lecturers and Staff Quarters, Student Hostels and Halls of Residence, Corpers Lodges, provision of books and furniture, amongst a range of other facilities all tailored towards guaranteeing a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
These landmark projects in the education sub-sector which are in hundreds litter the ethnic nationalities of the Commission’s mandate areas. They span all cadres of education – elementary, secondary and tertiary – and draw directly from the needs assessment policy and consultations with the respective benefitting communities.
These interventions address inadequacies and help to still the billows of agitation and apprehension that seem to linger over time.
DESOPADEC
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic that threatened lives and upended the socio-economic fortunes of nations, it is incredible that the board could very decisively take on many cost-intensive projects in the sector and deliver at high quality.
*Social and Community Development*
The social and community development sector is one of the most strategic areas in which the Commission has recorded remarkable impact in touching the lives of both its internal and external publics through massive projects.
Concrete walk/driveway connecting Ogheye Dimigun and Oboghoro/Utonlila communities
The construction of social and cultural monument projects by the current board of the Commission is consonant with its corporate policy and strictly guided by the needs assessment of the respective benefitting communities.
Today, the Commission has practically intervened, alongside many other sectors, in delivering well designed, fully furnished, breathtaking, state-of-the-art and aesthetically appealing civic centres that meet cultural exigencies and stoke intrinsic pride in various communities across its mandate areas.
Some of the interventions ranging from outright construction to renovation include the unifying cultural edifice popularly known as “Opute Hall” at Ozoro in Isoko North LGA; the sprawling Bashorun Askia Civic Centre at Uzere, Isoko South LGA; Obodo Town Hall, Warri South LGA; National Town Hall, Ogume, Ndokwa West LGA; Sokebolou Civic Centre, Burutu LGA; the newly constructed and fully furnished Ultra Modern Osubi Civic Centre at Okpe LGA; the Ultra Modern Market with lock-up shops and expansive parking lot at Uzere, Isoko South L.G.A, amongst others.
Sekobolou Hall
The projects attest to the ever proactive and responsive approach of the current board in fostering business, interaction and bonding among the people.
Nothing truly could be too much to achieve this focal objective. Little wonder the awards have kept pouring in in torrents to a Commission that has become the toast of a dozen media and award conferment establishments!
Opute Hall Ozoro
Undoubtedly, our testimonial of infrastructure and human capital development interventions evidence a deep commitment to the elevation of human dignity and environmental equity for the people and communities of Delta State oil producing areas. It is a commitment that DESOPADEC will continue to rekindle for the good of the people.
Since 2019 when the current board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, was inaugurated, the leadership has upheld and pursued the clear executive directive of His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, to achieve tangible impact in the oil producing areas of the state.
DESOPADEC
As an intervention agency of government, the engagement has been undertaken with every ounce of dynamism and full commitment to changing lives and the infrastructure narrative of various communities within available resources.
The array of interventions has been delivered with unalloyed adherence to quality, prudence and direct impact on the beneficiaries. The projects, evenly spread across the ethnic nationalities of Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika, span the fields of Education, Social and Community Development, Housing, Water, Health, Power, Transportation and Human Capital Development, with the Commission undoubtedly surpassing the assessment parameter on the dashboard.
Comprehensive health care equipment provided by DESOPADEC to all 267 Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State
This synoptic appraisal of key sectors evidences the glorious testimonial of a Commission that has truly made a difference in the oil-bearing communities of our dear state and we are delighted by the resoundingly positive impact on the people.
Health
Conscious of the fact that “health is wealth” and that a healthy people constitute great asset to the essential productive processes of their immediate environment and beyond, the current DESOPADEC Board has in the last three years devoted huge resources in the provision of health care facilities, equipment and consumables to cater for the needs of its mandate communities.
Comprehensive health care equipment provided by DESOPADEC to all 267 Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State
One of such health care facilities is the Ultra Modern Cottage Hospital at Oboghoro, a burgeoning coastal community in Warri North Local Government Area, complete with a well equipped Medical Quarters for the accommodation of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel who are now happily delivering services to the people.
In the same vein, the board, by popular demand, constructed an Ultra Modern All-Purpose Health Facility at Agoloma in Patani Local Government Area to respond to the health needs of the people. The fully furnished and equipped facility was commissioned by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who gave plaudits to the Ogieh-led board for its deep connection with the people.
Comprehensive health care equipment provided by DESOPADEC to all 267 Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State
In his words, the efforts and achievements of the board attests to the ever bold initiative of the Trustees of the Commission on behalf of the Governor Okowa administration.
The board in the period under review also built and equipped a health facility at Utagba-Uno in Ndokwa West Local Government Area. This is in addition to renovating and fencing tens of clinics and hospitals in various other communities within the Commission’s mandate areas.
Comprehensive health care equipment provided by DESOPADEC to all 267 Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State
The Commission also donated equipment worth several millions of Naira to selected cottage hospitals and clinics as in Ogulagha, Burutu LGA; Oboghoro, Warri North LGA; General Hospital, Olomoro and Egbe-Igbide Cottage Hospital all in Isoko Nation. This is besides embarking on continuous free medical health programmes across most communities within its mandate areas.
The icing on the health pie was the provision of comprehensive medical equipment and consumables to all of the 268 Primary Health Care Centres in the state at the end of 2022.
Comprehensive health care equipment provided by DESOPADEC to all 267 Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State
The initiative ranks among the single largest dimension of corporate social responsibility in the health sector executed by any interventionist agency. It received the immediate commendation of His Excellency the Governor of Delta State who has also severally applauded the effectiveness of DESOPADEC in aligning with the Stronger Delta agenda of the State Government in health and other sectors.
Education
Education is one of the parameters used to assess the development of societies and regions, especially by the Sustainable Development Goals. It thus has remained a key sectorial focus in the development of DESOPADEC mandate areas.
Since its establishment in 2007, DESOPADEC has given utmost attention to education through diverse expressions and the Askia Ogieh-led board has sustained this noble trend since its inauguration in August 2019 to embark on delivering brand new or completely renovated or refurbished blocks of classrooms, Lecture Halls, ICT facilities, perimeter fencing, water schemes, Principal Lodges, Lecturers and Staff Quarters, Student Hostels and Halls of Residence, Corpers Lodges, provision of books and furniture, amongst a range of other facilities all tailored towards guaranteeing a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Comprehensive health care equipment provided by DESOPADEC to all 267 Primary Health Care Centres in Delta State
These landmark projects in the education sub-sector which are in hundreds, litter the ethnic nationalities of the Commission’s mandate areas. They span all cadres of education – elementary, secondary and tertiary – and draw directly from the needs assessment policy and consultations with the respective benefitting communities.
These interventions address inadequacies and help to still the billows of agitation and apprehension that seem to linger over time.
Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic that threatened lives and upended the socio-economic fortunes of nations, it is incredible that the board could very decisively take on many cost-intensive projects in the sector and deliver at high quality.
Roads and Transportation
Roads are the major channels of transportation of goods and passengers. They play a significant role in the socio-economic life of communities.
Driven by this understanding and a pragmatic passion to significantly increase the tempo of development in its mandate areas, the present board of DESOPADEC has taken very bold steps in intervening in the construction of various roads, jetties, bridges, concrete walkways, drainages and rehabilitation of some roads across various communities. The aim is to develop critical infrastructure in the rural areas to enhance business and commercial activities, especially the movement of farm produce to processing centres and markets in upland and coastal towns and cities.
Some of the communities, by no means exhaustive, that have benefited in this sector include Obotebe I, Oghara, Jesse, Sapele, Warri Metropolis, Uzere, Oleh, Olomoro, Emede, Emevor, Ozoro, Ugbege, Ogheye, Oboghoro, Utonlila, Ofagbe, Ibrede, Abavo-Obi Anyinma and other towns and communities too numerous to mention.
The joy and pride of the benefiting communities give credence to the proactive engagement of the Commission.
