The new ODA President General reading his acceptance speech at the occasion.Former President General reading the account of his stewardship..ODA members at the AGM.
Mrs .Hanna Odiyo, one of the ODA’s awards receiving her honor from the former president general.
Hon. Sani Emmanuel Azika, the newly elected President General (PG) of the Okengwe Development Association (ODA), has pledged to prioritize people, process, performance, and accountability as the cornerstones of his administration.
In his acceptance speech on Monday, following his election through zoning and consensus by members of the association, at Okengwe,Hon. Azika outlined his vision for driving the association forward.
“I firmly believe that attracting and retaining the right individuals who share our vision and values is crucial to our success. “With the right people, we can build a dynamic team to propel the Okengwe Development Association toward achieving its goals,”he said.
Hon.Emmanuel also emphasized the need for efficient processes to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and achieve the association’s community development objectives and promised to continuously refine these processes to align with strategic goals and promote progress.
On accountability, he assured members that the executive council would maintain transparency by defining clear expectations and taking responsibility for their actions.
“We will collaborate with security agencies to ensure the safety of our members and consolidate the peace within our community,” he added.
As part of his vision for community advancement, Hon. Azika committed to supporting education at Okengwe Community Secondary School, Arigo, by providing scholarships to deserving students.
He also promised to implement self-help projects, engage with government agencies for people-oriented initiatives, and preserve cultural heritage through collaboration with traditional rulers.
The new PG expressed his desire to build strong relationships with neighboring communities to elevate Okengwe-Ehi’s status as a leading hub for community development in Kogi State.
“I am honored to lead ODA at this critical juncture. With your support, I am confident we will achieve unprecedented success,” he stressed.
Earlier, the outgoing President General, Daudu Dr. Ahmed Onoru’oiza Yusuf, shared the successes of his administration, which include the official registration of ODA with the Corporate Affairs Commission,after 85 years.
Dr. Yusuf noted that his tenure also provided student desks to Okengwe Community Secondary School, installed iron burglary-proof fittings at the Abiga clinic, and renovated the Okengwe Town Hall with pictures of the past showcasing and honoring their contributions to ODA and Okengwe community.
His said that his administration facilitated the installation of a transformer at Okengwe General Hospital and built a perimeter fence at the Ohumanaka market to prevent vehicular accidents among other achievements.
He advised the new executive council to foster inclusiveness in their projects and avoid clannish, religious, or political biases to build trust among members.
One of the association’s patrons, Alhaji A.A. Garba, urged the new executive council to encourage participation from members in the western part of Nigeria, stating that the current dominance of northern members in ODA activities was not ideal.
Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly and a one-time Acting Governor of the state, also advised the new leadership of ODA to demonstrate courage, compassion, conscience, control, consultation, and inclusiveness in managing the affairs of the association.
He expressed confidence that following these recommendations would enable Sani and his team to achieve the much-anticipated success, potentially surpassing their predecessors.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to four distinguished members for their contributions to the association’s growth.
The recipients are: Mrs. Hannah Odiyo, former Head of Service in Kogi State; Dr. Ogirima Bello, Managing Director, Kogi State Agricultural Development Project; and Hajia Lami Saratu Lawal, a Permanent Secretary in Kogi State and Prof.Ahmed Abere.
Our correspondent reports that besides the AGM, the consensus election which was based on zoning formular,brought together members from many states Nigeria, including Kano, Kwara, Bauchi,Lagos the FCT, and the host state, Kogi.
