A PAPER PRESENTED BY CHIEF MRS BEAUTY ANNANTRAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANNANTRAM HERITAGE FOUNDATION AT THE MAIDEN EDITION OF NDOKWA DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR POWERED BY UNITED NDOKWA FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION HELD AT ASHAKA COMMUNITY TOWN HALL ON 21ST OF DECEMBER, 2024.
Mr. Chairman
Special Guest of Honour
Respected Chiefs Present
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
All protocols duly observed.
I will begin with deep sense of appreciation to the organizers, for this wonderful initiative of finding a pathway for a New Ndokwa Nation project.
The central theme for this seminar is looking at where we are, as a Nation in the comity of ethnic Nationalities in the Nigeria project, where we should be and the highways to reaching that destination of a progressive Ndokwa Nation.
So, my task is narrowed and I will start by identifying what we need to address and building a foundation on how best to get it done with less energy and resources;
1. IPP STEP DOWN.
Am aware that the former President of the Nigeria State, Mohammdu BUHARI with the support of Sen. Ovie Omoagege, then Deputy Senate President , DSP, did approved 4.2 billion naira in three different appropriation law for the the Kwale IPP STEP DOWN called power station located at Osemele axis of Kwale and Obetim. It’s a fact that the project has began, but a lot of money is needed to advance the project to completion, so there is need for Ndokwa Traditional Rulers to be coordinated by HRM FRIDAY ABAJA who should liaise with the outgoing Gen. Mike Ndubusi Rtd, led NDOKWA NEKU UNION, NNU leadership to engage our House of Representative member, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi and Sen. Ned Nwoko to secure a visit to President Tinubu, to hear us on the IPP step down project by way of appreciation, progress report and appeal for more funding. This visit will afford Ndokwa Nation to formally in a strategic manner THANK TINUBU for re-approving the Medical University in Ndokwa which Sen. Ovie Omoagege and Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi made possible for the good Ndokwa Nation and her people.
2. OIL COMPANIES OPERATING IN NDOKWA NATION AND HER CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
The Nigeria Agip Oil Company NAOC in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding MOU with her host communities of Okapi, Beneku, Aboh and Abaragada has provided them 24 hours electricity from their own turbine and this has improved the living condition of our people in the affected communities.
This is what we expect our political class under the leadership of His Excellency, Sir. Monday Onyeme should drive using the office of the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff by bringing Energia Oil Company to provide Obodogwa and Ebendo with electricity while, Pillar Oil Company, Midwestern Oil Company, Sterling Oil Company, Nigeria Agip Oil Company cover the entire Utagba Ogbe Community, the Chorus Energy Oil Company providing Umuachi Ogo community with electricity and Platform Oil Company electrifying Ebedei and Umutu axis. This is an immediate workable approach to getting some communities in Ndokwa Nation to enjoy steady electricity before the completion of IPP Step down.
3. NDOKWA ASSOCIATION OF ACADEMIA.
The Federal Government Medical University in Ndokwa has come to stay by the approval and the appointment of the Governing Council headed by one of our own, Prof Onuonu of Ogume Ndokwa West. The success of this team at this take off stage is a function of the kind of collective support the Governing Council gets from Ndokwa political class and our academia so there is need for the Ndokwa Academia led by Prof Umukoro of Ase Kingdom, Ndokwa East to show capacity in providing necessary support services to the Governing Council to see to the immediate successful TAKE OFF of the University that will help create new job opportunities for our people and improve the level of commercial activities in Ndokwa Nation, Utagba Ogbe in particular.
4. SKILL TRAININGS FOR NDOKWA YOUTHS.
The three (3) Ndokwa Local Government Councils should partner with Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPDEC, to have one functioning skills Acquisition center in Ashaka, Kwale and Obiaruku to cater for technical skills for our teaming YOUTHS as a way of creating a shift in this get quick wealth syndrome in the new fashion called Yahoo. In Ashaka, we have a good building for Skills Acquisition center built by Ministry of Commerce and Industry under late Dr. Joshua Enueme as Commissioner. In Kwale we have a skills Acquisition center built by Ministry of Niger Delta with Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi behind the project as one of his constituency project. So the structures we need are ready to run a functional skills training for our Youth so what is expected is curriculum design, manpower engagement, admission and budget for starters pack for graduating beneficiaries.
5. E- LIBRARY FOR NDOKWA AT EACH LGA.
There’s a sharp decline in reading culture in our society today across board and print learning is shifting to e-learning, so there’s need for our Council Chairmen to engage the Ministry of Education and Delta State Library Board to partner in building a 30 person capacity e- library at Ashaka, Kwale and Obiaruku. This e-learning facility should be built in Council Premises near the police station for security in the case of Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West. This vision will help to return some YOUTHS back to reading and using the medium to create wealth for themselves by engaging genuine platforms online.
6. HIGH COURT, ABOH, NDOKWA EAST
The court has a strategic place in Growth and Development of a society in the dispense of justice aimed at promoting Peaceful Coexistence. The Delta State Government has built a High Court at Aboh through struggle of notable Ndokwa East son’s which include my husband, Dr. Ossai Sylvanus ANNANTRAM and after the completion of the building for over 5 years, the State Government is yet to officially open the court. I think that ASSOCIATION should take this as one of her task for the new year, to see that we have a functional High Court in Aboh which will help to decongest the court list in Kwale High Court, Court 1 and 2.
7 UPCOMING CENSUS REGISTRATION.
The Federal Government is making plans to conduct a new head count and we all understand the importance of this exercise, so it’s important that your ASSOCIATION should embark on advocacy and awareness campaign to ensure our full participation that will guarantee our ethnic Nationality effective coverage, Knowing that the data and statistics will be a basis for developmental agitation like the creation of new Local Government or State and Federal Constituencies.
Once again, I thank the organizers for thinking a better and new Ndokwa Nation.
Thank you you all for the audience.
