-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):
Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa and renowned real estate developer, Chief Kennedy Kanma have been unveiled as the Chief Guest of Honour and Chairman of the occasion, respectively for the 2020 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
Secretary of Maris Trust Council, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, who paid a courtesy visit on the Asaba Correspondents Chapal of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, unveiled the personalities at a media parlay with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Asaba.
According to Comrade Egugbo, the choice of Governor Okowa as the Chief Guest of Honour was not only borne out of his wealth of experience as a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but, also, as an astute administrator and a great manager of resources who won the Vanguard Best Governor Award of the year 2018.
Throwing light on the choice of Chief Kanma as chairman of the occasion, Egugbo stated that his profile as a successful estate developer and employer of labour informed the decision.
“My dear colleagues of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, it is with great joy that I am here to meet with you; I am greatly honoured by the large turnout of members of the Correspondents’ Chapel at this meeting.
“Fiŕst, I thank God for making me a journalist and for bringing all of us together as the watchdogs of the society; I appreciate all of you for your support over the years which has made it possible for God to use our Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa to make me his Special Assistant on Media.
“Though, I am here to talk about the forthcoming Maris Lecture, permit me to also, use this medium to seek your cooperation as I discharge my duties as the Special Assistant, Media, to the Governor bearing in mind that as a people who have criticized and scrutinised the activities of government and other agencies, we are now, not only writing but, in a position to ensure that things are done right for humanity.
“As stated earlier, we have chosen a great Deltan that we are all proud of based on his antecedents of humility, truthfulness and determination to get things done for the good of the people to be the Chief Guest of Honour at this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture in the person of Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa.
“It is a fact that Governor Okowa has recorded a lot of successes in different areas but, making Asaba, and the entire state peaceful and safe for Maris lecture to take place annually is more than enough reasons for him to be the Chief Guest of Honour at the lecture which will have the Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Monday Onyeme speaking on the topic, Effective Tax Administration for the Delivery of Democratic Dividends.
“There has also, being great expectations about who will be the Chairman of the occasion and after considering a lot of factors, we wish to inform you that Chief Kennedy Kanma, a successful real estate developer and enployer of labour will be the Chairman of the event.
“Chief Kanma is also an astutel businessman and we believe that he is well suited for the role based on the topic for discussion.
“We are already aware that the guest speaker, Chief Monday Onyeme is a notable tax administrator, philanthropist, business man, lecturer and politician who will put his wealth of experience in different fields to speak about the topic.
“Bearing in mind that Maris annual lecture was conceptionalised to proffer solutions to the challenges of the society and possibly, set new agenda for humanity, a well chosen panel made of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Delta State, Mr Peter Mrakpor; Mr Emeka Anthony Odo, Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service; Dr. Shefiu Abiodun Muritala, Accountant-General of Lagos State; Hon. (Barr.) Orezi Esievo, Executive Secretary, Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency (DEMSA) and the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Tony Elekokwuri, will discuss the topic while Dr. Kemi Emina, a lecturer and journalist will be the Moderator.
“Finance experts, including operators from the public and private sectors from different parts of the country and beyond have indicated interests to attend the lecture which will also, have Chief (Mrs) Felicia Sani, member, Delta State Peace Building and Advisory Council as Mother of the Day and our own Very Rev. Fr. John Konyeke of St. John Bosco Catholic Church, Asaba as Spiritual Father of the Day.
“As usual, we solicit your support to ensure a successful event,” Comrade Egugbo said.
The Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Paul Osuyi in his speech, commended Governor Okowa for appointing Comrade Egugbo as Special Assistant, observing that the appointment was well deserved.
“We all know Comrade Egugbo and we received the news of his appointment with joy because, it is well deserved and we thank Governor Okowa for rewarding hard work.
“We are also happy with the manner organisers of Maris lecture have chosen agenda-setting topics for discussion; I enjoin all our colleagues to keep supporting the lecture and ensure that we are seated one hour before the programme which will take place at Orchid Hotel, Asaba on April 8, 2020 at 12 noon prompt.
“As Journalists, we will assist in ensuring a successful lecture in whatever way that we can because, from inception, the organisers of the lecture have always briefed us about their activities and we will continue to do our best in ensuring that we play our roles by publicizing the lecture,” Comrade Osuyi said.
The Chairman, Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Mike Ikeogwu, Comrade Festus Edoreh and Miss Esther Agado where among those who attended the event.
