A community-based nongovernmental organisation, the Kokodiagbene Elites Association (KEA) founded by Engr. Peter Ekpetipu in Kokodiagbene community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, has been unveiled with the core areas and objectives of quality education, health services, human capacity development, environmental awareness, and peace building in the Niger Delta region.

The unveiling which held at the J-Climax Hotel and Suites in Effurun was flagged off with a Leadership Seminar on Training and Capacity Building for Kokodiagbene Community and Youth Executives in Gbaramatu Kingdom, on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

Resource persons from North World and Head Stone organisation, Mr. Anthony Omaenikun FNIM and Dr. Ighoro Alexander FNIM, both delivered lectures on Leadership and Governance (Essential Leadership Requirements for Effective Service), and Collaboration, Community Engagement and Project Management, respectively. The seminar also had an interactive session by the facilitators with participants on Team Work and Conflict Management.

"The program is a wonderful initiative by the Kokodiagbene Elites Association. It's on capacity building, on leadership, strategy, planning, collaboration, project management, and conflict management," said Mr. Omaenikun.

"So we're happy with the initiative because the initiative speaks volumes. What we look forward to in the Niger Delta is a peaceful environment where growth and development will thrive, especially for communities that are oil-bearing and oil-producing.

"Without peace, without collaboration, without proper project management skills, they will not be able to get the benefits from what God has blessed them with. So this is a wonderful initiative. We look forward to them continuing in this line," he added.

Mr. Omaenikun further called on the part of the government to adopt "the bottom-top approach, so that the communities will get what they need instead of taking projects to communities that they don't need" stressing that "by constant negotiation, constant interaction with the communities, they (government) will know what the communities need. And once what they need are delivered to such communities through sustainable approaches, we find out that there will be peace."

In his vote of thanks, the Secretary of Kokodiagbene community, Elder Francis Ayeku, commended the organisers for putting together the seminar which he described as "long overdue", stressing that such initiative would go a long way to equip leaders with vast knowledge particularly on matters of conflict resolution and fostering peaceful coexistence for community development.

Speaking at the end of the seminar, the Chairman of Kokodiagbene Elders Forum, Warri Chapter, Elder Dickson Timiyan, called for such training among leaders to be regular, affirming that, "This leadership seminar is one of its kind. I think this is very educative with what I saw here. Although I've attended such in the past, but Kokodiagbene has not experienced this leadership seminar as it ought to be.

"So it will be a very good thing we started today. I think let us continue this program time to time, or let's say in every six months, twice in a year or once in a year. People that attended it will testify to it," he confirmed.

Other participants who commented also buttressed the importance of the seminar to effective governance and efficient leadership, while calling on the KEA to organise more of such seminars from time to time.

Founder of KEA, Engr. Ekpetipu, speaking on the attendance said it was encouraging but that more importantly "The seminar has been able to pass the message to the right people; and of course, you know, you need to start from somewhere, grooming people to actually accept this kind of training is not always easy.

"We appreciate the participation, and I think these persons that have been trained will go out and also train the other ones; or maybe in their discussion, and their perception, at least will change; they will be able to make some input in terms of leadership, but I think it's a good start."

Engr. Ekpetipu promised that the KEA will organise more of such seminars while it beams its focus on capacity building among other core areas of the community-based organisation.

The ceremony closed with the award of Leadership certificates to participants among whom are Chief (Capt.) Felix Eguare, Elder Dickson Timiyan, Elder Francis Ayeku, Engr. Peter Ekpetipu, Comr. Igere Kelvin, Comr. Timiyan Jackson, Mrs. Akpodubakaye Hope Bifugha, Mrs. Oghorodje Mercy, Comr. Ukuli Gabriel, Mrs. Ukuli Benedicta, Comr. Ipopo Godspower, Comr. Seiwei Peter Peres, Comr. Obode Maxwell, and Comr. Akemetubo Toruareye.

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