OSDI Holds Inaugural Event, Promises Greater Collaboration To Drive Development In Okpanam, Presents Notebooks To Students

By Magnus Emuji

A group of prominent Okpanam Indigenes from within and outside the community have unveiled Okpanam Social Development Initiative (OSDI) with a view to generating forward-looking ideas , strategies and policies that would support and enhance sustainable development in Okpanam.

Speaking during the inaugural event , held at the community’s town hall, the Chairman of Okpanam Social Development Initiative, Mr. Patrick Okwuekwu stated that Okpanam Social Development Initiative was an idea conceived a few years ago with the singular purpose of contributing meaningfully to the progress and development of the community.

Okwuekwu, who noted that the value of the Initiative was anchored on integrity, transparency and professionalism, said that the Initiative was designed to offer constructive and well considered recommendations that promote stability, harmony and progress.

He also said that the organization would collaborate closely with the Okpanam Community Development Union (OCDU) and other key stakeholders in advancing initiatives that drive structural , economics and social development across the community.

In his goodwill message, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, represented by High Chief Ugo Asibelua commended the group for coming together to form Okpanam Social Development Initiative and described the Initiative as strategic in driving socioeconomic development to the community.

The Principal of Okpanam High School, Mr. William Dickson and Princess Ifeanyi Osa-afiana admonised members of the Initiative to foster unity and love among themselves in their quest to impact positively on their people.

Delivering a lecture on Career Focused Youth in Nigeria and the African Environment, the President-General of Okpanam Community Development Union, Mr. Robert Ogonenwe said that the growing career focus among Nigerian youth was driven by three interrelated factors, which included urbanization and aspirational shift , digital penetration and educational expansion.

Ogonenwe said that career -focused youth in the country and across Africa were not waiting for systems to change but building economies based on skills, innovation and digital connectivity, adding that success depended on interplay of personal agency, private sector innovation and responsive public policy.

Earlier, one of the foundational members of that Initiative, Mr. Andrew Unodinma Mordi, whose lecture was titled: bridging generations for a stronger community, called for a greater synergy between the elders and the young people in the society, stressing effective partnership would bring peace and unity in the community.

Mordi implored young individuals to be humble, respect the elders and listen to them at all times in order to tap from the wisdom and wealth of experience in life , just as he mentioned that once the elders feel that the youth were pushing them outside as though wisdom no longer has a place in a fast changing world, such feelings would create a gap of understanding.

He explained that open dialogue should be made a regular part of the community life and create a space where the young people can present ideas and elders present guidance so that each other’s voice could be heard with respect.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of notebooks and other educational materials to students of Okpanam High School after their participation in a debate.