GOVERNOR OKOWA’S ONE YEAR IN OFFICE: LOOKING BACK WITH PRIDE

 

It is a thing of pride to announce to Deltans that One year after assuming office as the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration has succeeded in laying a very good foundation for a better Delta State. Looking back into the last one year the governor has applied himself to the service of the State and the huge achievements trailing it are glaring.

Delta Is Different:

The good news is that our story is different in Delta State, in spite of the huge debt met on ground, the crashing of Oil prices to the lowest possible point and the Naira falling with it thus drying up most allocations from the Federation Account and leaving huge gaps in the revenues of States, Governor Okowa through sound planning has been able to steer the State aright, not only paying salaries as at when due but also building infrastructures.

A Vision Well Defined:

In arriving to where we are today, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa began by defining his Vision and Mission in Delta State. He started by stating his Vision: “As a Government we have a clear vision of what we plan to do in the next four years. It is to enthrone a legacy of wealth and prosperity for all our people and communities. We are committed to the building and consolidation of a State in which there shall be more employment opportunities, a flourishing agriculture and agribusiness sector, effective health and educational systems, renewed urban infrastructure, and enhanced security and peace to bolster economic growth and development”. And to guarantee the realisation of the vision Statement, he crafted a Blueprint of Five-Point agenda encapsulated in the acronym S.M.A.R.T which means:

0.Strategic Wealth Creation Projects and Provision of Jobs for all Deltans

0.Meaningful Peace Building Platforms aimed at Political and Social Harmony

0.Agricultural Reforms and Accelerated Industrialisation

0.Relevant Health and Education Policies

0.Transformed Environment through Urban Renewal

Governor Okowa is Committed to Employment Creation:

Governor Okowa while soliciting for Deltans’ votes in 2015, promised the people jobs and wealth creation, today he is proudly doing so. In August 2015, the administration launched the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme with the following programmes viz; Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), and Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP).  As at April 30, 2016, a total of 17,173 (seventeen thousand, one hundred and seventy three) private sector jobs were created by this administration.  This figure consists of 6,800 (six thousand, eight hundred) direct jobs and 10,373 (ten thousand, three hundred and seventy three) indirect jobs of both skilled and unskilled workers. The Office of the Chief Job Creation Officer accounted for 7,522 (seven thousand, five hundred and twenty two) of these jobs while the remaining 9,651 (nine thousand, six hundred and fifty one) were created through projects, programmes and initiatives implemented through the various MDAs.

Governor Okowa’s Fine Touch In Agriculture:

Upon assumption of office Governor Okowa promised to build a flourishing agriculture and agro-business sector. Towards this end, the Production and Processing Support Programme, an agricultural value chain support programme, was inaugurated in October, 2015. The strategies adopted by the PPSP included: Providing subsidized inputs and production technologies to crop, and fish farmers; provision of subsidized agricultural processing and value-addition equipment and facilities to agricultural cooperatives, commodity associations and women, among others. The administration has also set up the Agricultural Marketing Coordination Committee to tackle the marketing challenges faced by farmers.

Governor Okowa’s Administration bold steps in Roads development:

Within one year, Governor Okowa has awarded contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of fifty four roads (54) through the State Tenders Board and the Ministerial Tenders Board. Some of the projects that have been completed and undergoing inspection as part of the Democracy celebration includes, Ejinyere/Orodje and Onomigbo Streets in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area; Jeddo Ughoton Road and Access Road to Eagles Height University (Phase 1 Jeddo/Omadino Bridge), also in Okpe local Government Area. 

Others include Oteri Township Road in Ughelli North Local Government Area; Okere-Urhobo Community Roads in Warri South Local Government Area (Olomu link Road, 1st and 2nd Olomu Streets, Otor-Okere and Agba Roads). 

Kefas Road with a spur to Uzere junction, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area; Uduophori road (Phase 1), Patani Local Government Area; Orikeze Street with a spur to Orikeze close, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area; Usonia Road, off Nnebisi Road, Asaba; Faculty of Law Complex, Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Isoko South Local Government Area; Pedriatic Wards/Water Scheme in Patani General Hospital; and Azu-Owa Abavo Cottage Hospital, Abavo, Ika South Local Government Area of the State. 

It should be noted that Governor Okowa's projects are evenly distributed, across the length and breadth of Delta State, he is indeed a Pan-Delta Governor.

Education Is Receiving the Best Of Attention Under Governor Okowa:

Governor Okowa’s achievements in the Education Sector has remained impressive in the past year. This is so because the Governor approaches education in three broad areas – infrastructural development, pupils/students development, and teachers' welfare. Under him, the State has maintained her enviable position in NECO and WAEC examinations. With the reactivation of Technical Colleges across the State, emphasis is now shifting to skills acquisition through vocational and technical education.

Health Sector Has Greatly Improved Under Governor Okowa:

The administration has made progress in the Health Sector. Health being one of the enablers is basic in Governor Okowa’s Pillars of Development. On May 4, 2016 the State government kick started the mandatory universal health insurance coverage with the inauguration of the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Commission. Work is on top gear to provide a Central Hospital for the State capital.

This One Year Has Shown What Could Be Achieved In Fullness Of Time:

One year is hardly enough time in the life of any administration to make a lasting impression on the people. But Governor Okowa and his Team have demonstrated a strong ambition for greatness. He has shown that given time and resources, he can turn Delta State into Nigeria's new postcard for excellence. The records are there for all to see. But to achieve more, he needs the support and prayers of Deltans. And more importantly; He needs their belief. He needs their belief in our collective capacity to change our beloved State for the better. 

He needs their belief in our ability as individuals to make a difference in our personal lives, our families and in our communities. Every great society was built by men and women who believed in their God-given abilities to make a change. In Delta State, we can all be the change we desire. But first; we must believe. We must believe that change is not only possible but can be wrought by us. And as we look forward to the remaining half of this year with great expectations in Delta State, the Governor would require all to lend a hand to his efforts at building a strong and prosperous Delta State.

No one is greater than God.