By Jimitota Onoyume

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has commissioned a Secretariat donated by the Nigerian Navy to the Kokori Progress Union, KPU,  in Kokori community, Ethiope East local government area, Delta state. 

The governor who was represented by his Commissioner of Culture and Tourism Hon. Dr Darlington Nnamdi Ijeh,  lauded the Navy for the gesture, adding that his administration would continue to build on the healthy relationship with security agencies to curtail the spread of crime. 

The project facilitator/ Chief Host – Rear Admiral Monday Kohwo Unurhiere in his address said the Secretariat came under the Navy’s special intervention Quick Impact Project launched in the first quarter of last year  by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to among others promote a robust civil- Navy relationship with communities within its theater of operations.

“The hierarchy of the Nigerian Navy agreed that undertaking projects that could significantly influence development at the grassroots would enhance collaboration with the civil populace across the nation and especially within its respective theaters of operation” he said. 

He explained further that the quick impact project scheme was also designed to assist Rear Admirals give back to communities of their choice, adding that the building donated to Kokori Progress Union, KPU was his choice of what to give to his community.

He said: “Accordingly, the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla launched the Special Intervention Quick Impact Project in the First Quarter of 2024 to expand the Nigerian Navy Civil Military Cooperation footprint. The scheme is designed to specifically honour Rear Admirals who have served the Navy for over three decades by affording them an opportunity to give back to communities of their choosing. Once the decision was reached that a secretariat for the Kokori Progress Union as the umbrella body for the socio-cultural and economic development of Kokori Inland was a priority project for my community, the Chief of the Naval Staff endorsed our proposal. The rest as it is often said is history, the culmination of which we are witnessing today.”

Rear Admiral Kohwo expressed firm hope in the ability of  KPU to maintain the facility, adding he  thanked the Chief of Naval Staff, Governor Oborevwori, Chairman of the local government council, the traditional leadership of the area, the past and present leadership of KPU and others for the various roles they played that ensured completion of the building project.  

His words: “I thank the Chief of Naval Staff for his visionary thinking and approval of the proposal to construct this secretariat. Permit me to equally acknowledge my contact at the onset, the immediate past President General of Kokori Progress Union, Colonel Wilson O.V. Ijide (retired) who played a major role throughout the construction. 

“Similarly, the incumbent President General Okakuro Joseph Aghwute including the members of the respective executive committees provided support at different stages of the execution. I specially want to recognize the builder, Engineer Rotimi Oladokun for proving again that he is a man of integrity, thank you, and please keep shining.”

Chairman of the community’s Board of Trustees, BoT, Dr  Colonel Wilson O.V. Ijide retired, expressed gratitude for the donation, stressing that the secretariat would smoothen the operations and activities of KPU.