·
Advance yourself in technology – Joseph Dele
Ezeoba
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Non-indigenes aided by Ibusa natives to commit
crimes in Ibusa – Emeka Esogbue
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Love Ibusa – Emmanuel Kwasa Amatokwu
Youths of Ibusa in Oshimili North Local government Area of
Delta State, October 8, 2016 gathered at NPA Sports Ground, Surulere, Lagos in
an event tagged ‘Ibusa Youth Forum’ under the auspices of Centre for Building
the Youths for Positive Life (CEYBOL) to encourage and motivate the youths of
the area towards addressing their needs and familiarizing them with the
community’s customs and traditions. The event, the third in series, organizers
say is a healthy platform for social, entrepreneurial and professional
networking amongst Ibusa youths and also a platform for bringing the youths of
the community together to educate them on the affairs of the community and as
leaders of tomorrow, prepare them to contribute to the community’s future.
This year’s edition had four Guest Speakers in attendance who
spoke on ways by which the life of the Ibusa youth could be improved. Speaking
on ‘Informing and Empowering the Ibusa Youth’, Prof Austin Uwandulu noted that opportunities
in which the youths of the community could be empowered abound in the
community, stating that what was only necessary to achieve it was for them to
grab opportunities. He also noted that geography favours the community greatly
and that the geographical situation of the community within the Capital
Development Territory of Delta State is a benefit to the community. He
described the proper native name of the community as “Igbuzo” and praised the
nation’s former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Joseph Dele Ezeoba who was
present at the event for attracting the naval school to the community, now
converted to a Maritime University and urged other Ibusa indigenes to emulate
his service and attract worthy projects to the town. He also expressed belief
in the Nigerian polity, adding that with the future development of Delta State,
Ibusa stands to derive immense developmental benefits, notwithstanding the
present circumstances and advised the youths of the town to remain firm,
committed and diligent in their contributions towards the development of the
town.
While speaking on ‘Ibusa as we know it: Addressing the
current situation of the community’, initiator of Ibusa Singles Meet, Emeka
Esogbue, broadly divided the history of development of Ibusa under ‘pre-1990’
and ‘post-1990’, noting pre-1990 as a period the community greatly benefitted developments
such as St. Augustine’s Catholic Church built in 1898, St. Thomas’ College
established in 1928 and the 1970s as a period that agricultural life of the
community picked up and improved greatly after the civil war. He also
highlighted the era as a period that Umejei Road was tarred, the General
Hospital at Ogbeowele commissioned while the community likewise benefitted portable
water in the town. Esogbue stressed that by 1983, Ibusa had completed political
representation at the three available arms of the legislature i.e. the Senate,
House of Representatives and the then Bendel State House of Assembly.
On the contrary, he described the post-1990 as a period of
decline for the community especially with the declaration of the community as
part of the Capital Territory Development Area, which he said stifled and
repressed any hope of development for Ibusa as she faced complete neglect from
the government, forcing the community to inexorably resort to unescapable
reliance on the self-help that she still finds herself today. He however
praised Vice-Admiral Joseph Dele Ezeoba for attracting to the community Naval
School, (now turned Maritime University) one of the biggest projects in the
whole of Delta State.
‘About 51% of the sociopolitical vices among the youths of
Ibusa are perpetuated by non-indigenes residing in the community’. He observed.
However, ‘these non-indigenes are either aided, guided or goaded to commit such
crimes by Ibusa natives’, according to the historian who warned indigenes to
guard against the ugly development or have it continually haunt them, ‘there is
the need for the youth of Ibusa to maintain the good name of the community’ by
asking questions on the motive of non-indigenes before backing them..
Pastor (Mrs.) Florence Ify Izagbo spoke on ‘Dating Rights
and Building Healthy Relationship’ and defined “dating” as ‘an intimate
relationship between two persons of opposite sex geared towards each accessing
the other’s suitability as future partners in marriage, which is the ultimate
goal. Dating according to her is also referred to as courtship. She expressed
belief in courtship as a period of intimate relationship between a male and
female and supported her claim with the Biblical reference of ‘He created them
male and female, and blessed them and called them mankind in the day they were
created’.
‘In our society, it is expected of a male to play the role
of wooing or courting a female thus seeking her receptive to a proposal for
intimate relationship with the view of getting married to each other subject to
the will of God’, the clergywoman said.
Pastor (Mrs.) Izagbo concluded her address with the Dating Bill
of Rights which she advised her audience to pay close attention to, some of
which she listed as the right not to be abused, right to be treated with
respect, right to say no and be heard, right to private time and space, right
to ask others for help if you need it, right to live a violence-free life,
right to change your mind and fall out of love, and live with no threats, among
others.
Sir Alex Chiedu Ashi’s speech was centered on ‘the Ibusa
Youths are the Hope of Ibusa’ and he emphasized that ‘every town and village
has its “lost generation”. Some were stolen away by war, some by economic
downturns, and some by ruthless dictatorship’. Ibusa, according to him remains
the only one stolen away by too much power, money and privilege.
‘The youth of Ibusa had in the past been labeled as scammers,
which is known in the local parlance as 419 but today the table has turned for
good. They have imbibed acceptable and positive values as the new formed youths
have accepted the importance of education and not the other way of doing
business in Ibusa and that is why Ibusa Youths have come up with a wonderful
platform like this today’, he told organizers of the event.
According to Sir Ashi, ‘the challenge, perhaps, facing all
Ibusa youth today is whether there is enough will and courage among us to unite,
commit and resolve to radical reform, modernize and move the town forward- not
looking backward to the failed policies and practices of the past’. As a way
forward, he called for the encouragement of Ibusa youths to play a role as
agents of positive change as viable next generation leadership is a task and
also enjoined them to imbibe the culture of “generativity”, to display potent
ability to hold the space for new ideas to emerge.
Speaking further, he identified security related issues,
inadequate public primary and secondary schools in the community, increase in
cultism and gangster activities, lack of spirit of community development,
non-identification with the cultures of the land and disharmony in the
leadership of community, citing the Obuzorship/Diokpaship dispute and land
cases among other as issues confronting the Ibusa community in which the Ibusa
youths have a role to play.
Earlier, renowned economist, Prof Pat Utomi who arrived the
event with his wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Utomi had advised the youths to contribute
towards Ibusa development while Vice-Admiral Joseph Dele Ezeoba had also appealed
to them to improve their knowledge of technology as a way of meeting modern
demands which will aid their contributions to Ibusa development. Ibusa
Community Development Union, President-General, Dr. Austin Izagbo, based on a
question asked by a youth in attendance, provided an overview of the emergence
of Obuzorship in Ibusa to the admiration of guests. Mr. Emmanuel Kwasa Amatokwu
also admonished the youths to be of good behavior and promote moral and
cultural values that are of essence to Ibusa.
The event was colorful as some of the youths who appeared in
Akwa Ocha cultural attire of the people were seen ushering invitees to their
seats, among who were Miss Fumnanya Agbugah, Miss Ifeyinwa Izegbu, Mr. Joseph
Egbunowon, Miss Tina Modebei, Chike Chiejina, and Miss Ifeoma Okonji. Highlight
of the event was a presentation of the book “A short History of Omu” written by
Emeka Esogbue.
Notable personalities at the event include former Chief of
Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Joseph Dele Ezeoba; Prof Pat Utomi, renowned Economist
and co-founder of Lagos Business School; Emeka Esogbue, Historian and Anioma
Crusader; Chief Austin Izagbo, President-General of Ibusa Community Development
Union; Dr. Nosike Agokei, who was the Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Emmanuel
Kwasa Amatokwu and Chief (Mrs) Moji Ikolodo among others.
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