DG GOVERNMENT HOUSE ATTENDS AND GRABS AWARD AT THE CENSUS PUBLIC LECTURE ORGANIZED BY DE-GREATER HEIGHT FRONT
By Balogun Omeiza David Media Aide to the Director General Government House Administration, Lokoja.
The Director General Government House Administration, Alh. Dr Umar Oricha Shuaibu today at the Events Hall of Hilltop Hotel, Okene attended a Public Lecture organized by De-Greater Heights Front titled: Public Lectures, Sensitization and Mobilization of the Good People of Ebira Ahead 2023 National Census/Merit Award Presentation.
The Chairman of De-Greater Height Forum, Comr. Isah Amoka welcomed all those who out of their busy schedules took their precious time to attend the Public Lecture geared towards sensitizing the people of Ebira land towards the forthcoming Population and Housing Census that will be taking place shortly.
The Public Lecture was under the Distinguished Chairmanship of Alh. Kabiru Audu Wokili who was ably represented by Alh. Mukhtar Obadaki. The Ohi of Okene (Oyarazi of Ebira land) Alh. Isah Mamman Okatahi also attended the Public Lecture amongst others.
The Public Lecture was divided into two and the first was titled, “Ebira Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and it was delivered by Prof. Ahmed Abere the Provost, National Defence College, Abuja who was unavoidably absent but was well represented by Dr P.H. Enesi who delivered the lecture on his behalf. The second lecture which was delivered by Hon. Ismaila Raji Umar, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State on Information Communications Technology (ICT) was titled: The Role of ICT in Census Making.”
As Special Guest of Honour at the Public Lecture, Alh. Dr. Umar Oricha Shuaibu gave thanks to Gov. Yahaya Bello who he referred to as a political bulldozer used by God to occasion the peace now prevalent in Kogi State and most especially in Kogi Central. He said the 2006 National Population Census met Ebira land as a “sick place” due to the many political crises which did not allow the exercise to favour the Ebiras. He said the arrival of Gov. Yahaya Bello has given a new name to Ebira land as the once crises ridden part of Kogi State is now enjoying much peace and the same has led to the rapid development witnessed in the land.
Speaking further, the astute administrator said, “the Housing and Population Census awareness is for everyone to embark on and nobody should wait to be wooed with money before he or she knows that all hands ought to be on deck for those of us belonging to the Ebira nation to show that population wise, we are one of the tribes in Nigeria to be reckoned with. He added that, “all traditional rulers especially the Ward Heads should create the synergy to work hand in hand so as to create the much needed awareness within the Wards they represent which will make the people well prepared for the exercise that is just few weeks away from now.”
Moving forward, Alh. Dr. Umar Oricha Shuaibu made reference to the 2019 election where the figure that came out from Ebira land clearly showed that the people of Kogi Central were highly populated and that much attention should be given to the people after the forthcoming census by providing the much needed dividends of democracy of which population is one of the characteristics that allows special attention to be given to a race.
Also, Alh. Dr. Umar Oricha Shuaibu hinted on the need for religious leaders to add the message of the Population and Housing Census to the sermons they preach during their religious activities. He also encouraged traditional and secular musicians to compose awareness songs that revolves around the contents of the census programme that is ahead of us. He also made mention of the need to go back to the old ways of disseminating information where gongs should be used by town criers aside the use of radio, television and other modern ways of disseminating information to awaken the consciousness of the people towards the essence of the census season.
Finally at the Public Lecture the Role Model Leadership Award was conferred on Alh. Dr. Umar Oricha Shuaibu by the organizers of the event which was followed with a rapturous round of applause from those who graced the Public Lecture. In his remarks, Alh. Dr. Umar Oricha Shuaibu said that, “I always give all honour and adoration to God Almighty in whatever I do. I will also not fail to accord much respect to His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello who has given me the opportunity to serve and affect humanity positively. I therefore dedicate this award to my boss, His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello whose leadership style and love for the people of Kogi State is the exact step I am taking in the office he has given to me to serve.”