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18—SATURDAY Vanguard, MARCH 3, 2018
Garlands for Governor Okowa
BY JULIUS OWEH
Hard work and appreciation are
part of human existence at the
individual level or
governmental level. Appreciation for
deeds well done is one form of
motivation to spur the person so
appreciated to do more. And this was
demonstrated recently at Eko Hotel
and Suites in Lagos where the
governor of Delta State, Senator
Ifeanyi Okowa was honoured by the
Independent newspaper as Man of the
Year 2017. It was a well attended
occasion that saw the presence of the
mighty and high from Delta State and
friends of the governor from other
parts of the country. Two former
governors of the state – Chief James
Ibori and Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan
were present affirming the unity of the
PDP family in the state and putting to
shame the views of skeptics about the
rumoured division in the party.
The award was presented to the
governor by Alhaji Ismalia Isa Funtu,
appreciating the developmental efforts
of Okowa and other award winners.
Funtu explained the reasons behind
the award: ‘When you look at the list
of people this paper is honouring, you
will discover that they are Nigerians
who have distinguished themselves in
various fields of life. I will like to
appeal to the media to do her utmost
to promote the unity of this country.
The media should try and unite
Nigerians and stop fanning the embers
of disunity‘.
A highly elated Okowa thanked the
Independent newspaper for the award
and promised to do more for the
electorate in the state. The governor
also used the occasion to comment on
national issues like unemployment
and insecurity currently plaguing the
nation. He appealed to those in
authority at federal and state levels:
‘Government at all levels should begin
to pay more attention to our youths;
we must make consistent efforts to
empower them. We need to strengthen
technical education and the
polytechnics in the country so that the
youths will be well equipped with
relevant skills to become self reliant
rather than going about with
certificates seeking jobs that are not
available. Until we do that, we may
not have a great country
that we seek today. We
must also look at the
family planning because
the level of insecurity
that we have in the
country is borne out of
the joblessness of our
youths, we must find a
way to control our
population growth‘. The
governor also
commended the
newspaper for the award,
paid tribute to his
predecessors for working
with him to ensure that
dividends of democracy
get to all Deltans.
The Independent
newspaper award is the
third award the governor
•Gov Ifeanyi Okowa receiving an award
has received so far in recent times.
It would be recalled that during the
Delta State Products Exhibition and
Business Fair in Asaba, last year, the
World Bank commended the efforts of
the government in job creation. Tunde
Adekola, senior Education Specialist
in the bank in that occasion spoke
glowingly of the state: ‘Delta is the
only state that has demonstrated its
commitment to skills development in
practical terms.... the World Bank will
continue to support the Delta State
government in the area of skills
and
technical
development and will work
with the job creation office
of the state government to
strengthen their labour
market observatory system
in order to make Governor
Okowa dream of re-creating
the middle class a reality‘.
The third award came
from the University of
Ibadan where he trained as
a medical doctor. Okowa
bagged the highest national
award of the University of
Ibadan Alumni Association,
The Alumni of the Year
Award. The national
president of University of
Ibadan Alumni Association,
Dr Kemi Emina observed
that the award was given to Okowa
to celebrate excellence, maintaining
that Governor Okowa bagged the
award as a result of effective delivery
especially in the areas of
empowerment, provision of
infrastructure and the contributory
health insurance scheme.
Okowa was in his elements while
receiving the award from the university
that had played prominent role in
molding his education and career.
Okowa described the award thus: ‘I
feel very elated coming back to my
roots and be honoured with the award.
We should take research in our
universities serious, individuals and
organizations should support
government by sponsoring research in
the fields that will encourage us. ‘
Many prominent Deltans who
spoke on the relevance and essence
of The Man of the Year Award were
the deputy speaker of the State House
of Assembly, Honourable Friday
Osanebi, the Information
Commissioner, Hon Patrick Ukah,
Honourable Michael Tidi,
chairman of Warri South local
government area and Mr Nnamdi
Ezechi, the DESPOADEC
Commissioner.
Hon Friday Osanebi described the
award as a reward for hard work,
dexterity and prudence. Listen to the
deputy speaker‘s sentiments: ‘Your
Excellency, through diligence and
prudent management of resources,
you have practically demonstrated that
you are a leader with strong abilities.
The award today is indeed a reward
for excellence – that the governor was
so honoured for the uncommon wealth
creation and infrastructure in the
state, has demonstrated rare virtues
of frugality and industry in the
discharge of his duty as a governor‘.
Ukah, the state Information
Commissioner maintained that the
award to the governor was well
deserved given to the fact Okowa as
man is not one that jumps at awards
and that the award could not have come
at a better time. He observed that the
developmental projects of the
governor were visible in all parts of
the state and that sceptics were very
free to verify them. He said that his
boss was a workaholic who ensured
that those working with him were
always on their toes until the set goals
are achieved. Ukah argued that the
Independent newspaper award was a
further justification of the 2nd position
ranking of Delta State by the National
Competitiveness Council of Nigeria on
its first sub-national competitive
Index.
Hon Michael Tidi, the chairman of
Warri South local government area saw
the award as the resourcefulness of the
governor in managing the affairs of
the state. Tidi puts it this way :‘It is
recognition of Dr Okowa‘s remarkable
resourcefulness, resilience and strong
managerial acumen as reflected in
his spread of infrastructural projects
across the three senatorial districts in
Delta State amid the difficult economic
situation experienced in the country
between 2015 and 2017. The award
will make him to work harder in wealth
creation for the people and the
educational sector‘.
Mr Nnamdi Ezechi, the
DESOPADEC commissioner
applauded the award on the governor
for his passion and commitment
towards holistic development of the
state, noting that the award has shut
the mouth of his critics. Hear Him:
‘Within the space of two years,
Governor Okowa has demonstrated an
unparalleled passion and zeal to the
holistic development of Delta State
and SMART prosperity of Deltans
across board‘.
The mass media apart from
informing, educating and entertaining
people (of which The Independent
newspaper is a critical member)
should be able to offer praises where
necessary and single out individuals
and corporate organizations for
commendation for extra ordinary feats
and achievements. It is against this
backdrop that the award given to the
governor of Delta State could be
situated and this is one of the fine
grains of developmental journalism,
helping the government to grow by
offering constructive criticism and
applauding elected officials should
they be faithful to their electoral
promises and minister to the people,
democratic dividends.