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… As Prof. Okaba Delivers Lecture on Cultural Revival for Ijaw Nation
By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Izon Ladies Association (ILA), Nigeria, has held a three billion Naira fundraising event for the construction of a national secretariat complex.
The event, which also included a lecture titled ‘Cultural Revival: Imperative for Unity and Sustainable Development for Ijaw Nation,’ took place at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Center Yenagoa.
In his remarks, chairman of the occasion, High Chief Architect Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, described ILA as a rallying point for Izon ladies to project, protect and advance the interest of Izon women in the country.
He advised members of the association to uphold the dignity of the Ijaw culture and mentor younger Izon women to live a meaningful life.
Kentebe congratulated the founding members for nurturing the association for over 40 years and urged traditional, political leaders and industrialists to support ILA, which has the catch phrase, ‘Izon Ebidou Ereama,’ realize its set goals.
Presenting her welcome address, the national president, Princess Barr. (Mrs.) Laura Church-ere Komonibo said the association started in Lagos in 1977 and was known as Izon Ladies Association, Lagos, which has metamorphosed into Izon Ladies Association Nigeria with branches in Yenagoa, Abuja, Asaba and Warri. She hinted that Port Harcourt and Benin branches are in the offing, promising it will spread to other cities in Nigeria with reasonable presence of Izon people.
Princess, Barr. (Mrs.) Komonibo said the motto of ILA is ‘Unity and Progress,’ with the objective to promote Izon culture, healthy living and well-being of women and children empowerment, girl child education, collaborate with other Izon social cultural groups to promote peaceful coexistence and work with leaders whenever the need arises.
The national president said that membership of ILA is open to Izon daughters and wives from 25 years and above and listed some of the activities of the association to include provision of books, uniforms to needy primary school children, award of scholarship to young girls from secondary schools to university level.
These include a yearly momentary award of N200, 000 to the best graduating Izon female students at the NDU, merit award to young girls and women who excelled in their professions, of particular note being the eight young girls that made first class from different universities.
Other activities include advocacy, sensitization against teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, cultism, rape, gender violence, presentation of relief materials to families during the 2012, 2018 and 2022 floods.
Princess Barr. (Mrs.) Komonibo on behalf of ILA thanked Governor Douye Diri for his various empowerment programmes for women, youths and also lauded his wife, Ambassador Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Ebibomo Diri for her philanthropic gestures to Bayelsa women and the girl child.
Others appreciated were former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson for donating ten plots of land to ILA at the Ox-bow Lake, Swali-Yenagoa and sponsorship of the 40th Anniversary, while she commended the former first Lady, Dr. Rachael Dickson for her support. She further commended the only male member of the association, High Chief Architect Amagbe Denzil Kentebe, the chief launcher, Engr.Gesi Asamaowei, royal father of the day, HRM Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and the Ibedaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, and all the traditional rulers, political leaders for their donations and for finding time to grace the occasion
The guest speaker, Professor Benjamin Okaba, president, Izon National Congress, in his lecture titled: ‘Cultural Revival: Imperative for Unity and Sustainable Development for Ijaw Nation,’ described culture as the way of life of the people.
He enjoined Ijaws to be proud of their cultural heritage and strive to prevent it from going extinct by speaking the dialet to their children, giving them native names, dressing in Ijaw attires, singing songs and telling stories in the Ijaw dialet.
The erudite professor charged traditional rulers to speak truth to political leaders and call them to order if found derailing from the ideals of the Izon founding fathers.
Professor Okaba advised Ijaws not to write frivolous petitions to stall ongoing federal projects in Ijaw land as evident by the ligations among Ogbia communities in respect of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre. He urged the parties involved to withdraw the case for the overall interest of the Ijaw Nation.
Special Guest of Honour, Governor Douye Diri represented by the secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei, in his remarks stated that what is today known as Ijaw Ladies Association started 1977 in Lagos for a meeting point for Ijaws to advocate for women inclusion and advance their interest in different field of human endeavour.
He noted that a united front is better than individual efforts and thanked the women for advocating for justice, peace and equity while promising that the Prosperity Administration will continue to respect the rights of women, support the secretariat project and carry them along in terms of appointment, and other empowerment programmes
Also, the First Lady of Bayelsa State, Ambassador Dr. Gloria Ebibomo Diri, represented by the Technical Adviser to Governor Diri on Diaspora Matters, who doubles as Bayelsa Contact and Focal person for Diaspora, Dr. Rosalyn Dressman, said that culture is a bridge that take us back to our root and to the future stressing that a people without a culture is a lost generation.
She noted that the activities of ILA fall in line with the Dr. Gloria Diri Foundation main focus to empower the girl child with requisite skills to become self reliant and employers of labour, and commended ILA for the bold initiatives to launch the secretariat complex project.
The chief launcher, High Chief, Engr. Gesi Asamaowei, represented by Rt. Hon. Tonye Emanuel Isena, assisted by representatives of Governor Diri, his wife, Architect Kentebe, HRM Bubaraye Dakolo, Ag. Chief Judge of Bayelsa, Her Lordship, Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye, Rev. Mrs. Jane Alek, Princess Barr. Dr. (Mrs.) Laura Church-ere Komonibo, Professor Okaba and other dignitaries unveiled the secretariat complex.
A brief history of ILA.was presented by the founder, Rev. (Mrs.) Jane Alek, who stated that the vision that led to the formation of the association was born out of the need to give the Izon women a platform to be heard by all and sundry particularly after the civil war, to share experiences gathered, harness the experience for the benefits of our people and to promote the culture and common interest of people to foster peaceful co-existence in the committee of tribes in Nigeria.
She noted that the inaugural meeting of the association was held in the office of Chief Barr. Eddy Ekiyor of blessed memory along Ikorodu road in Lagos.
The first national vice president of ILA, Dame Mrs. Grace Fiepere gave the vote of thanks.
