High Chief Benjamin Okorie Hails Transparent Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo Election, Applauds Massive Turnout as Okechukwu Ume , Michael Okafor emerge President, Publicity Secretary.

 

 

             High Chief Benjamin Okafor casting his vote

 

High Chief Engineer  Benjamin Okorie the outgoing President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo state has hailed the large  turnout  during  the  Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo election which held at the Adamasingba stadium in Ibadan Oyo State on Saturday December 14th .

                                          

                                          High Chief Engr. Benjamin Okafor

 Igbo residents in Oyo state turned out en mass to vote for executives for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo State from 10am  in one of the most peaceful, transparent  and well conducted elections observers 

 

revealed .

                      Voters on the queue 

 High Chief Engr Okorie  while commending the electoral process said ” Today’s event is a climax of various actions and activities organized by Ndigbo towards a streamline transition from my position as the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo State and all the other officers under me into a new executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo state . Anybody that is here can see a very peaceful atmosphere, the transparency, and the manner of all Ndigbo Oyo state, from the various zones coming together to produce the executive. I want to say that the national leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is aware of what is happening here today. Until 12:10pm today, I was in touch with the national president’s office and they are all aware of what is happening here. To God be all the glory. What is happening is wonderful. The turnout is massive, never seen before in Oyo state. The zeal is to have a peaceful co existence . We have series of problems over the years but this time around, the Igbos have come together that they want peace in Oyo state. Secondly, this is an all encompassing election in Oyo, people came from Oke-ogun, Ogbomosho, Sakin, Igboho, from Oyo igbeti “.

 

Vote Collation 

Urging the contestants to continue to embrace peace and unity , High Chief Okorie said ” The aspirants have done very well in their campaigns and there has been no issues or acrimony .It has been about the love for the Igbo community. Losing is not a lost but to give you another opportunity to perform what you want to do another time. I am begging those who did not participate in the election to come together. We have the strength and we need to harness all our talents towards the betterment of Ndigbo in Oyo state”.

                                                  Voters

Also , commenting on the large turnout and  transparent  conduct of the election, His Royal Highness Eze Okafor James Nduka JP, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland and Yoruba land said ” Today is a great day. Since 2011, Igbos for the first time converged in Ibadan to elect thier executives. There must be an opposition but we can see that the turn out is 90 percent as testament to the peace and unity Igbos in Oyo state want . From all the nook and crannies of Oyo state, from Ibarapa, Eruwa, Oyo among others , the offices are zoned so that all the zones are carried along. We appreciate the executive governor of Oyo state . My advice to the contestants is for the winners to embrace the losers and form an alliance for the betterment of the Ndigbo in Oyo state and the society at large”.

                                          Mr. Michael Okafor Elected Publicity Secretary
 

A 75 years old man who cast his vote during the election said the election was transparent and Nigeria should emulate the electoral process the Ohanaeze Ndigbo under the leadership of High Chief Engr Okorie conducted. He says ” My name is Bernard Nwake. I am 75 years old. The election is a great one , if the election is like this in Nigeria, then Nigeria will be great”.

 

The positions contested for are President, Vice President, Public Relations Officer , Treasurer, Financial Secretary, General Secretary, Youth Leader, Legal, Provost , Welfare, Publicity and Woman leader .
Following the withdrawal of some contestants, positions eventually contested for are that of the PRO, Treasurer, President, Youth leader and Women leader.

 

                                                        Barr. Chima Elected Youth President
 

At the conclusion of the voting process, Mr. Okechukwu Ume was elected the President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Oyo state while Mr. Michael Chibuzor Okafor the Chief Executive Officer of Real Access Property Limited was elected as the Publicity Secretary

 

 His Royal Highness Eze Okafor James Nduka JP, the Eze Ndigbo of Ibadanland and Yorubaland

 

RESULTS OF THE OHANAEZE NDIGBO OYO STATE 2024 GENERAL ELECTIONS HELD ON DECEMBER 14, 2024

1. Okechukwu Ume…… President

2. Patrick Ezenwuba….. Deputy President

3. Barr. Promise Ajah ……Gen Secretary

4. Emmanuel Ogbonna….Asst. Gen Secretary

5. Orji Peter Innocent…… Treasurer

6. Okpara Emeka Udoka….. Fin. Secretary

7. Charles Obasi…. PRO

8. Mike Okafor….. Pub. Secretary

9. Mr Aghaulo…… Asst. Pub. Secretary

10. Barr. Chima Onah….. Youth leader

11. Evang. Ijeoma Uchendu…. Women Leader

12. Barr. Uche Amajo…. Legal Adviser

13. Christopher Odoemena… Chief Welfare Officer

14. Victor Osemeka… Welfare Officer

15. Onwe Mike Kalu…. Welfare Officer

16. Solomon Friday Nwaji…. Welfare Officer

17. Semion Chukwu….. Chief Provost

 

Former CEO IBEDC Mr. John Achife emerges 10th President of Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate, ----as Rotarians, Rotaractors family , friends celebrate him

 

 

 Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company IBEDC , Mr John Kingsley Achife  has emerged  as the 10th president of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate for the year 2024-2025  also known as  Rotary Magic year. 

 

Mr. Achife a Paul Harris Fellow was accompanied by his wife , his son, relatives,   as his investiture held at the Rotary Club House Bodija estate. Mr. Achife took over from Rotarian Olorunfemi  Ayo Samuel and will preside over the club in the next one year. Also , members of the board for the Rotary year were inaugurated .

 

 

Present during the investiture was the Assistant Governor, Mrs. Bisi Yomi- Yinka who represented the District Governor District ( 9126) Mr. Kayode Olowolagba at the event. 

 

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Achife said " I stand before you today with immense gratitude and a deep sense of humility as I accept the honour of serving as the President of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Bodija Estate. This moment is a testament to the trust and confidence you have placed in me and I pledge to uphold the value, traditions and principles that make Rotary a beacon of service and excellence.  First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty God for His grace and guidance, which have brought us to this day. I also wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my family for their unwavering support and encouragement which inspire me to give my best to this noble cause. To our outgoing president, Ayo Olorunfemi and the entire leadership team, I salute you for your dedication and outstanding service. You have laid a strong foundation and it is upon these solid pillars that we will continue to build. Your leadership had set a high standard and I am committed to carrying forward the legacy of excellence you have left behind.". 

 

Rotarian Achife PHF said the theme of the year,2024- 2025, the "Magic of Rotary" " reminds us of the Rotary International President's words and I quote " We are not going to end polio or bring peace to the world by waving a wand. It is up to you and hence brings us to our collective responsibility to make a difference in our communities and beyond . This theme will serve as our guiding light as we embark on this new journey together". As we chart our course for the year ahead, I envision a club that is  even more united , impactful and innovative . Together we will , strengthen our service projects to address pressing community needs in areas such as education, healthcare , economic empowerment and environmental sustainability. Engage more members and stakeholders , fostering inclusion and diversity to enhance our club' s vibrancy and outreach. Promote Rotary's values of service above self by inspiring the next generation of leaders and Rotarians". 

 

In order to achieve the goals , Rotarian Achife said the club will leverage the collective wisdom and talents of members. He said ". As a Rotarian, I am reminded of our motto " Service Above Self". This motto is not merely a phrase but a way of life ---- one that challengea us to put humanity's needs above our own , to serve with empathy  and to create a better world for future generations. Let us remember that our strength lies in our unity . As the saying goes ". Together , we will accomplish great things and together, we will leave an indelible mark in our community. Finally to our partners, friends and well wishers, I invite you to join us on this incredible journey. Rotary thrives on partnerships and collaboration and your support is invaluable in helping us achieve our goals". 

 

The chairman of the Occasion Mr. Chuks Nwani represented by Mr. Babatunde Bodunde   urged members to continue to render selfless service to humanity.

Earlier, the outgoing president , Rotarian Ayo Olorunfemi said his tenure embarked on  projects that impacted the community positively . He said  ‘’ With the heart of thanksgiving to God, I express my appreciation to the club for entrusting me with the responsibility of guiding our noble club  in  last one year. The experience gained, the friendship cultivated and the invaluable lessons learnt, and the show of love and support extended to me will forever hold a special place in my heart , at the inception of the rotary year and in tandem with the theme : ‘’ Create Hope’’, our major focus is to  increase the membership of the club which will cut across different groups and classifications this we believe will guarantee the stability of the club in terms of exposure and visibility in the community and at the District level. We embarked on a joint project with the Rotary club of  Milton Ontario Canada which we distributed text  books and stationery  to  pupils of Adelagbu Memorial school Ibadan and St Louis Grammar school at Mokola . The event was historic as it was publicized and well attended by sisters’ Rotary clubs and top government officials. The president of Rotary club Milton Ontario Canada was in Nigeria to grace the occasion.  We had joint fellowships with other clubs and partook in end polio and hepatitis campaigns’’

 Present at the event are sister Rotary club members, Rotaractors from the university of Ibadan, members of the Innerwheel Bodija led by their president , Mrs Wumi Okanlawon, Staff of IBEDC among others ,

Providus bank is committed to supporting SME growth in Nigeria ---- Mrs. Amara Ifenyichukwu- Njoku Lead ­Team SMEs Providus Bank

 Mrs. Amara Ifenyichukwu- Njoku is the Lead  Team for  SMEs in  Providus bank. In this interview, she highlights  the importance of SMEs to national development   and how Providus bank is empowering entrepreneurs  through various packages the bank offers  in Nigeria . 

 

                                     

 

Recently, you led a team from Providus bank to the University of Ibadan for the university’s SME Fair .  Providus Bank is the lead sponsor of the UI SME Fair .Why the interest in sponsoring and supporting   Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Fair in the university?

Providus bank sponsors SMEs everywhere not only in the university. Providus bank has sponsored more than  ten thousand
SMEs to get the right training , the right funding , the right skills and connecting them with the right people that will help them meet their business needs .When the university of Ibadan came on board to ask us to support their SME fair, we were very delighted because this will help the businesses not only showcase what they have  to a global community . What Providus bank does is to help the SMEs  to upscale  , get education , training among others.  

How can you describe this year’s SME Fair ?

This year’s edition is an upgrade. During last year’s fair, there were a lot of SMEs that came to showcase what they have and likewise this year we have them. We have learnt a lot from last year’s edition so that more SMEs are reached and brought on board. I love the student entrepreneur’s idea, when they pitched their ideas, catching them young and giving them the necessary education, training to run their own business. The goal is to them when they are young, teach them how to grow and sustain their businesses

What are the challenges you have observed  SMEs face in Nigeria  ?

Some people will say what SMEs need is funding but funding is not the first thing they need. They need education, they need the right knowledge, and they need training. When you have an idea, how do you put the idea together? How do you communicate your ideas? In Providus bank, we have the EDC , which is the Entrepreneur Education Centre. We have a yearly training programme for SMEs where entrepreneurs go to get training. There is certificate training programme. We have specialized training for people in tech, agriculture, then we can move on to funding. What type of funding do you need ? Financial support will be provided like say what do you need to put the business online?, do you need  APIs ?POS, all sorts of support that you need we will help with . We look at every business and treat every business needs individually by analyzing what they need and proffering solutions that suits that need.

 

Women businesses constitute about 70% of SMEs and their  businesses face unique challenges. How do you handle such challenges?

Women face unique challenges in their businesses and this is not only in Nigeria but worldwide. Providus Bank takes these challenges seriously and we have different products for women entrepreneurs. We have the regal package which gives them access to trainings, access to opportunities peculiar to women, access to life style. We also have specific or preferences for women to pitch their businesses.  

What advice do you have for women entrepreneurs to assist them in managing the home front alongside their businesses?

In addressing the women of child bearing age and entrepreneurship, I would like to say that  it is a wonderful thing to have children and to procreate and when you are in that season, you have to upscale . Thank God we are in the internet era where you can work from home. You don’t have to pull away from the world. If you have health issues you can stay at home. There are certificate courses women can take online. Women also need to believe in themselves. Child bearing is  a stage in life and it will be over.  You can be a virtual assistant , you can be virtual secretary, join online groups and network and get certifications instead of sitting down at home and waiting for the children to return home.

 

One challenge  that has been identified as a bane of SMES not growing is indiscipline , what steps can be taken in tackling this?

  There is what a  formal work environment and  training do. You are trained be disciplined because there is a time you have to get up from your bed as early as possible to get to work.  There are ways you can map out your activities. We offer training and mentorship to entrepreneurs in this regard.

What is your advice to government, individuals  and organizations to assist SMES start up and grow?

SMES need support from government and from individuals. There are some individuals who are looking for where to invest their money to help businesses. Therefore, there is need to join pitching classes, competitions so you can learn how to access these funds.  Nigerians have bright minds, they have great ideas and the banks are supporting these ideas. If there is a level playing ground, ease to register your business and get funded, I think SMES, will thrive.

What are those packages Providus banks have for the youth?

For the youth, we discovered that you have to reach them on time. If we have a group of youth, Providus bank is very open minded. We have packages for the creative industry, for those in tech and so on. All they need to do is to go to the website and find out the packages that they need and we will ensure that they get the support to start and grow their businesses.