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By Young Erhiurhoro, Warri
Urhobowood Int’l, a popular Urhobo Arts and Cultural organization, with its headquarters in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have presented awards to deserving Urhobo sons and daughters across the globe.
The cultural event, which was tagged, 8th edition of the Urhobo Arts and Cultural Advancement Awards (UACAA 2020), was held at the Theater hall of the Quest Radio/Television Station, Km 6, Ughelli Patani Express Way along East-West Road, Otogor town.
Centred on the theme, ‘Making Urhobo Ovuovo A Reality,’ the event also brought together Urhobo sons and daughters within and outside Nigeria and featured cultural displays, song presentations, speeches, lecture presentation and other social and cultural activities.
In his address, the Lordmayor/founder of Urhobowood Int’l, who is also the CEO of Jorek Development Company, Ughelli, Amb. Dr. Chief Joseph Udusan Orekereke, expressed appreciation to the awardees for their contributions to protecting and promoting the Urhobo culture, especially the Urhobo language, from possible extinction.
He also solicited for support from the Delta State government, corporate organizations, individuals, representatives of Urhobo in government and Urhobo traditional leaders to enable the organization, which also promotes the Urhobo culture through movies, realize its dreams and mission as fast as possible.
The Olomu young chief welcomed guests especially those from the United States, United Kingdom, Burkina Faso and Ghana for gracing the occasion despite the economic challenges facing the world today.
Presenting a lecture on the theme of the event, ‘Making Urhobo Ovuovo A Reality,’ a highly respected public speaker and a member of the clergy in Ughelli, Dr. Charles Apoki, represented by a popular and notable media guru, Comr. Marcus Ekure, pointed out to the Urhobo people present at the occasion that disunity, hatred and self-centeredness have been the causes of “underdevelopment and political failure in the entire Urhobo nation.
“From 1930 to the post independence era, Urhobo leaders, in the likes of late Chief Mukoro Mowoe, T.E.A. Salubi and others, worked with unity, oneness and love and they recorded many laudable achievements like the establishment of the Urhobo Progress Union, Urhobo College and many things. These leaders always put the interest of the Urhobo people ahead of their personal interests. They selflessly laboured to bring Urhobo to where it is today politically and otherwise.
“But today, those cherished leadership virtues are no more with our present Urhobo leaders, especially those representing us in the government. Personal interests have taken over public interest in Urhobo land. ‘I want to better my lots and leave the rest to suffer’ is the common song in the lips of our today’s leaders. This won’t take the Urhobo people afar.”
He concluded his lecture by suggesting that Urhobo people restructure the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) in order to reflect the true unity and oneness of the Urhobo people like in the time of old. He also advised Urhobo leaders to remove politics whenever Urhobo issues come up for discussion.
Apoki however appealed to those representing Urhobo in the National Assembly and those at the Delta State government to always fight for the development of Urhobo land especially by creating job opportunities for the teeming Urhobo graduates. He also advised them to always invest in Urhobo land instead of taking their investments to foreign lands where they can’t meaningfully add to the economic status of the people.
After the lecture, different categories of awards were presented to deserving Urhobo sons and daughters, those at home and in the diaspora that have contributed in one way or the other to the growth and development of the Urhobo nation. Among those that received such awards were Olorogun Otunba (Dr.) Oskar C.J. Ibru, the national grand patron of the Urhobowood Int’l, represented at the occasion by a former Ughelli North LGA chairman and a prominent member of the Ibru family, Chief Kenneth Ibru, Chief Hon. Bethel Efekoro, former associate of former US president, Barack Obama, High Chief Uteme Bateren, Okakuro Dan. A. A. Ogodo, former vice president of UPU, United Kingdom, Pius Onovughakpor, Urhobo leader in Burkina Faso, Mrs. Obakpororo Emesejiroro Akusu, Comr. Jonathan Kpeji, staff of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri and many others.
Meanwhile, to add beauty to the occasion, honourary doctorate degrees were also awarded to some of the UACAA award recipients by Rescue Mission Theological Universities, USA/Canada through its Nigerian campus in Warri in partnership with the Urhobowood Int’l.
Representative of the theological university, Professor Bennis, charged recipients of the honourary doctorate degrees to be up and doing in promoting peace, love and unity among Urhobo people. The professor further admitted all the recipients into the ‘College of Doctors’ on behalf of management and senate of the biblical institution after they were presented with the certificates and also decorated with robes.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees and honourary doctorate degree recipients, Chief Hon. Bethel Efekoro, thanked the biblical institution and Urhobowood Int’l for finding them (recipients) worthy of receiving such awards and academic honours. He however promised on behalf of the other awardees to do more in their capacities to better the lot of the Urhobo people.
The American based security consultant also appealed to Urhobo sons and daughters in various places to always give the needed support to Urhobowood Int’l to enable it seek national and international recognition as a movie production outfit in Nigeria.
