BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Dr Eruani Azibapu, President of Azikel Group and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, has called for unity among Ogbia people worldwide, donating N50 million to support the take-off of the newly inaugurated leadership of the Ogbia Brotherhood.
Eruani made the call while congratulating the new Executive Council, led by Anthony Ikobo, following its inauguration, which he described as a significant milestone in the advancement, unity and preservation of Ogbia cultural heritage.
The ceremony was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), His Royal Majesty King Owaba, traditional rulers and other prominent sons and daughters of Ogbia.
Addressing the gathering, Eruani urged the new leadership and Ogbia people to uphold the vision and ideals of the founding fathers, who established the Ogbia Brotherhood as the foremost sociocultural organisation representing the people.
He said the organisation was founded on the principles of unity, mutual respect, solidarity and collective progress, warning against allowing personal interests and differences to undermine the bonds of brotherhood.
“Our forefathers founded the Ogbia Brotherhood on the principles of unity, mutual respect, solidarity and collective progress.
“We must never allow personal interests or differences to undermine the sacred bonds that unite us as one people.
“Our strength lies in our unity, and our future depends on our collective commitment to the development and prosperity of Ogbia land,” he said.
In a demonstration of his support for the new administration, Eruani announced an immediate donation of N50 million as take-off operational funding for the activities and programmes of the Executive Council.
He urged the Ikobo-led leadership to embrace inclusive governance, strengthen bonds among Ogbia communities, promote youth empowerment and initiate programmes to accelerate socioeconomic development.
The Azikel Group president reaffirmed his commitment to the unity and progress of Ogbia people, expressing confidence that the new leadership would sustain the legacy of the founding fathers.
“Ogbia is our common heritage, our collective identity and our shared responsibility.
“Together, we must build an Ogbia that future generations will be proud to inheri
t,” he said.
Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively.
He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.
He began his journalism career in The Republic Newspaper, Lagos in 1987 as a Special Correspondent in Benin City, Edo State.
In 1990, he was posted from Lagos to old Anambra State as a State Correspondent in Enugu.
In 1994, he joined the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Ibadan, Oyo State, Publisher of Nigerian Tribune Newspapers where he rose to the rank of Southeast Bureau Chief.
Retiring from the mainstream traditional media in 2019, he began another journey in online newspaper publication.
He was the Overall Best Reporter in 2015, an award bestowed on him by Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State.
He has attended several workshops/seminars organised by multi-nationals, government institutions, local and international media including BBC.
He is also a unionist and had held top positions as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists of Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel and State Council of NUJ, respectively. He was also a one-time Enugu State Secretary of Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
