…Presents flat screen television set, generator, dual view decoder
By Ebriku John Friday
As part of his corporate social responsibility, the General Manager, Cross River State Waste Management Agency, Hon Oko Sunday Ebeku (aka Otolo) on Saturday fulfilled his promise as he empowers Ipuole Okuku community youths with provision of facilities for setting up of an event center to generate revenue and support youth development.
The facilities presented to the youths include a flat screen television set, generator and a dual view decoder. The community youth leader and vice chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria Okuku Ward, Mr Patrick Ogar received the items and receipts of purchase onbehalf of the youth, which amounted to about N260,000.
Hon Oko and his entourage, had earlier visited the palace of the clan head of Okuku, HRH Ogamode Odaji Ipuole, where they met with the the clan head and his council of chiefs to brief them of the empowerment and received royal blessing ahead of the exercise.
He said the gesture was to get the youths profitably engaged, help them shy away from drug abuse and other social vices that is ravaging the lives of many.
In his entourage are former two terms member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Tom Agi, Chief Willie Ibu, Councilor for Okuku Ward, Hon Ogar Joseph Offiono, President of Omgbotuche Ayi Yala Welfare Initiative, Amb Comrade Okori Benard Oko , Prophet Emmanuel Okpe of House of Glory International Ministry (HOGIM), Special Assistant (Security) Mr Wonah Joseph, (aka Jeobella), SA Print Media, Comrade Ebriku John Friday JP, SA on Special Education, Comrade Ogar Wodah amongst others.
Hon Tom Agi in his remarks called on the youths to take advantage of the days gathering and work for the growth and development of the community and urged them to set up an Okuku Students Association.
An elder of the community who gave the vote of thanks appealed for the provision of cassava grinding machine which according to him will go a long way to succour the suffering of the community processing of Garri.
Responding, Chief Willie Ibu, a critical stakeholder called for oneness in the community and that by so doing other needs of the community will be met going forward.
While making a closing prayer, a community woman prayed for more blessings, peace and love to thrive in the community as well as peaceful celebration of the new Yam festivities.
High point of the event was cash donation by Hon Otolo and others to the chiefs, youths, women and elders of the community who gathered in their number to witness the exercise for the New Yam Festival celebration.
Speaking to journalists on the empowerment, Hon Oko said, “What I have done this morning is part of my social responsibility to my community. It’s a way of engaging the youths too. We have done presentation this morning. A television set, generator, and a dual view decoder, just to open an event center viewing centre to view matches and all that instead of going to all the way to the town. Before now, they go to town to watch football and sometime they come back in the night. The risk of traveling along this road.
“The last time we met I promised them that I was going provide an event center and that is exactly what we have done today. I have provided the event center facilities, tv set, generator and a decoder to be managed by the youths instead of going into drugs and other social vices. Whatever they generate here can assist them to do a lot of things in the community. It’s not free, I have asked them to have a management committee that would collect money in their behalf, they should have an account where what they generate can be lodge this money because they need to recharge the decoder, fuel the generator, maintain the generator and other such services.
“So I am just coming back home to present this facilities for my people, make them comfortable so they can shy away from all these social vices. It’s basically to make them comfortable and give themselves sense of belonging.
Sending message of peace ahead of this year’s Yala New Yam Festival billed for August 30, 2021, the Ambassador for Peace who condemned the recent communal clash between Itega-Okpame and O’Oba people communities of Yala and tasked all leaders to work together for lasting and sustainable peace across the Yala nation.
“About six days ago I was given an award in Abuja as Ambassador for Peace. I am returning peace to my beloved people of Yala. A week ago or there about there was a communal clash between Itega-Okpame and the O’Oba people. It was an unfortunate incidence. This is the first time in Yala nation that we are experiencing that kind of thing. I have come with peace, that this year’s new Yam we are going to celebrate is tagged Peace New Yam Festival, for Yala people to embrace peace.
“Without peace there is nothing you can do, so I am talking to my people and all our leaders that I know, let’s not see it as O’Oba and Itega-Okpame issue, it is a Yala issue. It’s our own issue. All hands must be on deck to make sure there us peace between the Itega-Okpame and the O’Oba people. If we don’t do that tomorrow it would move to another community. So let’s put a stop to it.
“There’s no good way of doing a bad thing. A bad thing is a bad thing. Whoever is involved a bad thing is a bad thing. Let us not cove anybody. Let us not pretend to say. Anybody that is involved in that crisis should be held responsible. So I preach peace. This new Yam let us preach peace and make sure that Yala has peace.”
