A former chairman of a defunct regional development council, the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), Amb. Jude Ukori (JP), has commended the publisher of the recently launched PENGlobal Watch magazine for doing "something unique" in the Niger Delta region in respect of the well-presented and packaged contents of the maiden edition of the magazine.

The former EGCDF chairman gave the commendation during a condolence visit by the chief executive and brand director of PENGlobal, Mr. Francis Abai, to his residence on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, over the loss of his dear wife, Late Mrs. Edesiri Ukori (nee Obukohwo), who was laid to rest on Friday, June 30, 2023 at Igun town in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

"Something great like this use to be or is only gotten from the Western part of Nigeria; but today, in the South-South, not only in the South-South, in Ijaw land, our own son and brother, a son of the soil is coming up with this wonderful production," said Amb. Ukori who was earlier presented with a copy of the magazine by the publisher who also took out time to sympathise with the bereaved and his family.

Speaking further Amb. Ukori said, "You’re starting in a great and in a dynamic way. I can see a lot of young men, young intellectuals that are rallying around you and even great men of God rallying behind you; it’s all an indication that you’re doing something unique and that will be far-reaching.

"This magazine, the production I’m seeing is not local, it’s national. I pray may you go international in Jesus name.

"I commend you once again and congratulate you for this feat that you have achieved. I also pray that God will continue to see you through; this is just the beginning, you will continue, you will not stop in Jesus name," he further prayed.

On the loss of his dear wife, he said, "Like you’ve earlier said, I would've been there by his grace, but for the ugly incident of my beloved wife that passed on about that same period. It is an experience nobody will wish even his own enemy, but it has come to be.

"We fought against it, we resisted it, we prayed against it, but God cannot be questioned, neither can we blame him. His thoughts are different from our thoughts, so in total submission to His Will she has gone to rest with Him.

"Like in my tribute, I promised to be strong as quickly as possible so I can take care of the rest of the family. I have to, as much as possible, make the children pick up. People have all come from far and near, if not in thousands, hundreds of persons were here. And some have refused to leave because when they saw the mood I was. I have to encourage myself so that they too will be relieved to go and face their own business," Amb. Jude added.

“By the special grace of God we have accepted the tragedy and have decided to face it and come out of this by the special grace of God,” he added.

Those in attendance during the condolence visit include Engr. Kabe Humphrey, Engr. Pubowei Ebi, Mr. Timi and Mr. Sunny Oleke.

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