As DOU Honours Onyeme, Others
BY PATRICK MGBODO
Delta State has continued to garner recognition for its fiscal discipline and effective resource management, ensuring dividends of democracy across the state.
The latest to be recognized was the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, who was honoured yesterday by Dennis Osadebay University (DOU) at the Second National Conference of the Faculty of Management Sciences.
Onyeme was honoured with the award of Professional Excellence in Accountancy and Good Governance, alongside the Chairmen of Oshimili South and Ughelli South Local Government Areas, respectively.
The conference was themed: ‘’Management, Corruption Sleaze and the Accountability Question: Forging a Pathway to Ethical Governance and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.’’
Represented by his Executive Assistant, Chief Godwin Mgbabego, the Deputy Governor said the award was not merely a recognition of past efforts but a clarion call for greater commitment and action.
While commending the school for the discourse, Sir Onyeme pledged to work with the recommendations of discussants at the seminar in furthering the cause of the Sheriff Oborevwori administration.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of DOU, Prof Ben Oghojafor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Christopher Chukwuji said that the conference served as a platform for diagnosing the ills that have held Nigeria back and providing practical and evidence-based solutions.
In the same vein, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof Patrick Egbunike said the conference was a call to explore and innovate strategies for fostering accountability, rebuilding ethical standards, and entrenching good governance as the bedrock of sustainable development.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Dr Idowu Eferakeya, hoped that the diverse perspectives experienced at the conference would be impactful, even as he urged participants to collaborate towards building a better future for Nigeria.
In his keynote address, Prof Bruno Ibikilo suggested international collaborations, technology solutions, fostering a culture of integrity, and strengthening institutions, among others, as solutions in the fight against corruption.
Likewise, the Lead Paper Presenter, Prof James Odia, charged those in government to fight against corruption through their actions and inactions, stressing that the consequences of corruption in the next five years would be dire if nothing is done to stern the tide.
Remarking, the Chairman of Ughelli South Local Government, Dr Lucky Avwerome pledged to be a good ambassador of DOU where he served as the Head of the Political Science Department, stressing that he would not disappoint the Oborevwori’s administration and the people of Ughelli South.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Dr Kelvin Ezenyili commended DOU for recognizing his efforts in ensuring good governance in Oshimili South.
Others, who were honoured at the event, include the Managing Director of Rainoil, Gabriel Ogbeche; DOU VC, Prof Ben Oghojafor; Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Ben Okolo, Ogbueshi Allanah, Hon Isioma Ndah, among others.
