New President of CONGOS Sues For Unity Amongst Members

New President of CONGOS Sues For Unity Amongst Members

By Adesuwa Ehimuan

The President of Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations, CONGOs, Dr. Bartholomew Okoudo has charged members to unite and synergise to better reposition the organizations for optimal performances.

He gave the charge during his inaugural address at the 7th Executive Council of CONGOs held in Benin City.

Dr. Okoudo who was newly inaugurated, as president of CONGOs said: ” while the executive council give direction, the reality is that we must all note that we are stronger when we are synergised.” Even as the onus to determine the thread of engagement devolve from the Executive Council, the dialectics that produces our point of arrival will be distilled from members in the outcome of the sessions of the General Assembly.” He stressed.

According to Dr. Okoudo the Executive Council would draw from the deliberations of the General Assembly as well as the advises, guidance and inputs from the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board.

He called on members of all Civil Society Organizations in the state to maintain political neutrality and collaborate with government on issues on mutual concern that are development focused.

He explained that: ” our focus is clear and our vision is apt. Conscious of our status as a coalition, we are sensitive to the diverse cultural, religious and specialist focus of member organisations and its person”. He added: ” we will insist on strengthening the mutuality of member organizations, appreciate their peculiar areas of engagement and strengthen their visibility and authenticity”.

Dr. Okoudo promised to empower the youths through basic skills acquisition that would involve a number of engagement which include seminars on analysis of concepts the understanding and interpretation of theory and the essence CONGOs was formed.

The out-gone president of CONGOs, Mrs.Daisy Abiola Igaga, earlier in her speech, thanked all members of CONGOs for their resilience and steadfastness for the past 14 years of its existence and appealed to them to continue on that path to take the organisations to an enviable height.

Mrs. Igaga said: ” we are leaving behind a better and more enhanced CONGOs, a CONGOs with larger collateral than what we met”. We urge the 7th Executive Council to transcend the glamour of today and look into the reckoning of its credentials in one year, two years or three years time.

Chief Marculay Omo Azugbene, Former Chairman, Board of Trustees National Youth Council in his opening remark, said “today is a significant day because CONGOs is transiting from One administration to another. Comrade Bartholomew Okoudo has been very active and a bundle of excellence, prolific writer, who has mentored and brought up lot of young people. His assumptions of presidency’s of CONGOs has been a long time coming but today it’s a reality, God’s time is the best”. Election’s are fast approaching, I urge all executive to work for the success of this administration.

In his goodwill message, the representative of the Head of Service, Edo state, Anthony Okungbowa noted that the role of non- government organizations can not be over emphasis, expressing optimism that with the new executive, he would be very active and lot of new things would emerged.

Father of the day, His Royal Highness, Dr. Festus Osagiede, Enogie of Iguogie Dukedom and Coordinator of Enogie in Edo South admonished the newly sworn Executive to be dedicated and focus on the aims and objective of CONGOs and ensure it taken to an enviable height.

Mr Oki Efa, Ag. Director EFCC Benin Directorate ably represented by Ibrahim Boyi stated that we must all work together to make the System free of crime, so no one hides under the guise of NGO and starts defrauding individuals and company.

Hon Harrison Izekor, Leader Oredo Local Government Area Legislative Arm, congratulated the out going president and reassured the new executive that the People Democratic Party, PDP adviced the new executive ” to speak truth to power in accordance with the rule of law, so our people will do what is right”. “Let’s beginning to engage those who will be our leaders in the forthcoming Edo Gubernatorial Election”.

Representive of APC Governorship candidate, Hon. Emmanuel Momoh said the All Progressive Candidate, acknowledges the vision of CONGOs and support the initiative particularly the area of social justice. He also acknowledged the role of the people with disabilities.

Hon. commissioner of Arts and Culture, Uyi Oduwa Malala said Non Governmental Organization (NGO) are the backbone of a healthy society, may your commitment to inspire others create an encouraging environment.

Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Chairman, board of trustees, CONGOs encouraged the new executive to work as a team. “The environment is not for sale, it our life ” What is essential to this new excited is to do fund raising and reach out to their partner and donor so they can make impact.

High point of the event was presentation of awards of culture, to Mrs Daisy Igaga, Bartholomew Okoudo and Sabina Idowu-Osehobo.