.Pledges support for proposed project
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has cautioned Tiv people against tendencies capable of dividing the existing unity of purpose in the ethnic rationality.
Utsev gave the warning shortly after he received the award of excellence for good leadership at the end of the year reunion party organised by Club De Pals in Abuja.
Represented by Godwin Bulukuu, the minister also pledged an undisclosed financial support to enable the union kick start it proposed Club De Pals Housing Project in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Besides, he commended the leadership and members of the association for keeping pace with state projects, as well as recognising him as their own son and leader.
In his opening remarks, the President of Club De Pals, Richard Nduul, disclosed that the current exco under his leadership was sworn-in in February, after which he vowed to prioritise members welfare including those who are old in the club.
Nduul identified unity of purpose as a key factor in every society and association that can breed progress and development, maintaining that his first action as the president of the club is to reunite old members for the purpose of lasting peace and unity.
He also called on parents to always supervise their children’s upbringing, observing that it is the only way to sustain the core values of Tiv nation.
According to him, the union under his leadership is also planning to conduct a groundbreaking ceremony for Tiv housing project located in Abuja early next year.
He explained that the purpose of the housing project is to foster unity, growth and development of Tiv men and woman in the territory.
However, the president appealed to members for financial support to accomplish the union’s goals and aspirations in a short period of time.
He emphasised the importance of good upbringing, adding that it is the only way to sustain and produce a generation of people with virtue, culture and norms of Tiv land.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Iyorwuese Hagher, emphasised the need for peace and love among members of the club.
In this vein, Hagher, who was represented at the event, urged members to work hard in unity, maintaining that the club usually recognises people who excel in their chosen career during the end of every year.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the guest speaker, Professor Gabriel Moti expressed delight that he was invited to speak at the occasion.
He spoke on the topic, ‘How to Resuscitate the Economy of Benue State.’
He expressed mixed feelings that Benue State which is estimated to be over six million in population is made up of over 70 percent from Tiv extraction, but with lower food production.
He informed that Benue State has a Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of 4.20 making it one of the most strategic states in Nigeria, just below Legos and a few states.
According to the guest speaker, Benue falls among the states with least collection from the federal allocation.
He equally urged the state government to sit up inorder to improve its Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, adding that waiting for funds from the federal government to develop the state might not work.
He alleged that Benue, according to the National Bureau of Statistic, NBS, has 75 percent dimensional poverty which he said is very wrong for the people and the state known as the food basket of the nation.
While lamenting the poor socio-economic condition of his state, the speaker maintained that insecurity has also compounded the challenges confronting the people and the state government.
He lamented that insecurity has made a lot of investors to flee, while others are currently facing several challenges and instability because of fear.
He, therefore, called on the state government to rejig the economic methodology being used, appealing for the creation of original business atmosphere for all investors.
He spoke extensively on why the economic atmosphere should be made conducive and friendly, observing that empowering local food production and small scale businesses could lead to explosion of food for the people.
The guest speaker also advocated prudent and transparent management of funds by the state government, urging for the inclusive participation of civil society groups, Non-Governmental Organisations, NGO, and civil society groups.
Highpoint of the event was the unveiling of a proposed Club De Pals Housing Project in Abuja.
Different members of the club who have succeeded in different walks of life were conferred with award of excellence.
