By Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku
Benin City, Nigeria – Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki administration is set to collaborate with the Conference of Non-governmental Organisations (CONGOs’ ) developmental initiatives to help move Edo forward.
Mr Obaseki who was represented by Ehimwenma Evbodaghe at the inauguration of the 6th Executive Council of CONGOs in Benin City during the week also said that he was aware that CONGOs has entrepreneurial programmes which have added value to Edo State.
Chairman, CONGOs board of Trustees, Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo who chaired the induction of the 6th CONGOs exco said that the new executive has demonstrated excellent leadership qualities by organizing a smooth election leading to a smooth transition.
‘I know that this team will take CONGOs to a higher level. We should work together, avoid fragmentation, put our house in order and initiate strong consensus around civic thematic issues. With a strong consensus, we will be able to build a strong base that can engage government and represent issues on behalf of the people’, Dr Ojo said.
Members of the 6th Executive Council inducted include Comrade Daisy Abiola Igaga (President), Jeff Scott-Emuakpor (Vice-President), Bartholomew Okoudo (Director Admin), Ehikhamen Ejemen (Deputy Director Admin), Emmanuel Evbuomwan( Director Finance), Mrs Julia Bienose(Director Treasury), Aghedo Gifted (Director of Publicity), Bliss Ojeruse(Director Research, & Strategy), Mr Isaac Noble Israel(Director Planning & Programmes), Emmanuel Okere(Director of Monitoring and Evaluation), Eghomwanre Ayere (Director Welfare), Amayo Betsy (Deputy Director of Welfare and Ifeoma Robinson (Internal Auditor).
CONGOs is a charitable and development-oriented body for member organisations working in one or more thematic focus in Edo state. The body works to mobilize civil society groups, build NGO and CSO capacity and facilitate improved networking and collaboration among NGOs, CSOs and FBOs.
In a speech shortly after her induction, Comrade Daisy Igaga said that the new exco will escalate the dimension of civil society engagement in the Nigerian space, and will not compromise on good governance. ‘We will engage intervening development institutions with the vision of appropriately contextualizing their programmes in consonance with the idioms of our socio-cultural space’, Comrade Igaga said.
