Delta comes of age at 25, unveils anniversary logo

·       SSG heads planning committee

·       BrandEye is anniversary consultant

The Delta at 25 anniversarylogo after unveiling on Wednesday in Asaba. Right is Mr
. Patrick Ukah who represented Governor Okowa at the event.

Delta State comes of age and the state government is planning big as it marks the silver jubilee of its existence as a state created on August 27, 1991 by the military administration of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

Accordingly, the state government has begun to put in place structures to make the celebration eventful, beginning first with the unveiling of the Delta at 25 Anniversary logo at a press briefing Wednesday, (29/6/2016) at the Government House, Press Centre, Asaba.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a speech read on his behalf by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah said his administration resolved to celebrate Delta at 25 to take stock of the journey so far, achievements recorded and plot further and better approaches at peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic groups, new development paradigm and refocusing the fundamentals of government to achieve greater and result-oriented improvements in the lives of the people. “It is with exceeding faith and commitment that I inform you of the resolve of this administration to deepen the development fundamentals of the state to make it primus inter pares among the committee of states in the nation, he said, pointing out that the idea of the celebration is of Delta Silver Jubilee was motivated by the need to review the state of development of the state from inception, examine achievements made and explore the way forward for greater development.

Information Commissioner, Mr. Ukah, 2nd left, addressing the media at the post-EXCO /
Delta at 25 anniversary media briefing. With him are right, State NUJ Chairma,
Mr. Nobert Chiazor, Mr. Mork, Permanent secretary, SSG
 office, Mr Jude agonye, Permanent, Ministry of information.  

Ahead of the celebration, the governor has in December 2015 constituted an eight-man anniversary’s planning committee headed by the Secretary of the state government, Rt. Hon. Festus Agas.

Other members of the committee includes Mr Patrick Ukah, [Information Commissioner]; Mrs Mary Iyasere [Commerce and Industry Commissioner]; Prof. Eric Eboh [Chief Job Creation Officer]; Prof. Sylvester Monye [Senior Policy Adviser]; Chief George Orogun [Economic Adviser]; Mr Sunday Ozege [Special Adviser, Investment] and Mrs Shimite Bello, [Executive Secretary, Micro, Small and Medium Development Agency]. Sub-committees have also been constituted.

To implement the programmes of activities for the jubilee celebration, BrandEye, said to be a marketing communications consortium has been engaged as the anniversary’s lead consultant to assist the planning committee drive the project. “The celebration, Okowa said, “will be purely private sector driven with minimal government financial commitment.”

Highlight of the briefing was the unveiling of the Delta at 25 anniversary logo that was created by BrandEye by Mr. Ukah on behalf of Governor Okowa who lauded the achievements of the founding fathers, leaders and past governors of the state, emphasizing that they provided the building blocks for lasting developmental legacies in the state.

Okowa said: “We recall with nostalgia the giant strides of the first Military Administrator of the State upon creation in August 1991, Group Captain Luke Ochulor who set the administrative ball for the development of the state rolling. Thereafter, there were successive governments that took proactive steps to build upon the building blocks of development put in place by Group Captain Ochulor.

“We therefore pause to pay glowing tributes to the courage, ebullience, sagacity and doggedness of past leaders of this great state in the persons of Olorogun Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, the first civilian governor of Delta State, Compol Alhaji Abdulkadir Shehu, acting Military administrator, Group captain Ibrahim Kefas, military administrator, Colonel John David Dungs (of blessed memory), military administrator, Navy captain Walter Feghabor, military administrator, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, the second civilian governor , Honourable Bassey Asuquo, and Dr, Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Honourable Sam Obi and Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan (CON).

“These great men left lasting developmental legacies for Delta state. We recognize, salute and them for their invaluable contributions to the development of Delta state and the nation at large,” Okowa said.