Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has urged community development unions to brace up for the growth and development of their community through selfless service.
Chief Ukah, who gave the charge while speaking at the 2019 Annual Conference of the Okpanam Community Development Union, reaffirmed his support for the establishment of a think-tank committee that would chart a new road map for the development of the community.
He stressed the need for consistent interface with the stakeholders in government as advocated by the guest speaker at the event, Prof. Chryss Onwuka, saying all hands must be on deck in order for the people to continue to speak with one voice.
Earlier in a goodwill message, the Ugoani of Okpanam, HRM (Dr) Michael Mbanefo, enjoined every Okpanam son and daughter to contribute meaningfully to the progress of the community and shun divisive tendencies and violence but embrace progressive ideas to turn around the fortune of the community.
While calling on the people of Obodogwugwu Quarters to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another, the traditional ruler reiterated his determination to ensure that peace reigned in Okpanam.
He admonished the newly elected executives of the Okpanam Community Development Union to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring that they use their time to work for the community.
Also speaking, the Omu of Okpanam, Dr Martha Dunkwu, who emphasised the need for women to be carried along in the scheme of things in the community, appealed to elders to have forgiving spirit for their children.
She urged the youths to desist from negative vices and fashion out ways of contributing their quota to the growth and development of the community.
Delivering his key note paper tagged: “Cooperation in Development of a Verile Community” Prof Chryss Onwuka of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, noted that development associations and unions existed in communities to bring development and governance closer to the people.
Prof. Onwuka called on the people to continue to live together and always interact with one another in a bid to resolve issues confronting them, just as he recommended that there should be seminars and training programmes on skills acquisition and the establishment of a think-tank committee to provide a strategic development plan for the area.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected President-General of Okpanam Community Development Union, Mr Andrew Mordi, pledged to use the recognition to work for the progress of the community.
He thanked the people of Okpanam community, especially the delegates and other stakeholders in the community for finding his executives worthy to serve the community.
The Financial Secretary, Mrs. Abigail Asoya, who spoke in an interview with newsmen shortly after their inauguration, promised to ensure transparency and accountability in carrying out her duties.
Other members of the executive included Mr Stephen Okolie (Vice President), Mr Emmanuel Ukpelegbu (Secretary General), Mrs Ann Mokogwu ( Treasurer), Mr Robert Ogenenwe (Public Relations Officer), and Ms Pilomena Igbeka (Organising Secretary)
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