By Moses Omovevah,
The Isoko Professionals Association, a non-partisan socio-cultural group consisting of diverse professionals of Isoko extraction has mapped out several activities in commemoration of its 10th Anniversary, will be held this Saturday 29th Dec 2018 in Ozoro, the Headquarters of Isoko North Local Government of Delta State .
According to a statement signed by its President, Deacon Martins Ugbegwo, he noted that, the 10th Anniversary with the theme “The many challenges of the Isoko Child; Survival Instinct”, coincides with the association’s maiden Investiture / awards ceremony, where two notable Isoko sons will be unveiled as Patrons and others given awards for their contribution to the development of the Isoko Ethnic group.
The statement read in parts: “For the first time since the founding of the Association, we shall be performing the Investiture of our first set of Patrons. These notable sons have been found worthy in their calling and adjudged to be in a position to take up the task of directing and supporting the cause of the Association after a painstaking nomination and selection exercise”.
It further added that, ” As part of the epoch-making event, the association has decided to award and celebrate eight (8) distinguished Isoko sons and daughters who excelled in the last West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) examinations. This is not only to encourage healthy competition among the schools; it is also to stimulate the spirit of hard work. We believes, this initiative will also serve as stimulus to bolster the confidence of the Isoko youth to aspire to greater height.”
“Apart from these eight students from the two local governments, the best Mathematic students from JSS1 – SSS3 from Notre Dame College, Ozoro will also be rewarded. Others are best two JSS3 students from Uzere Grammar School and best pupils from Primary 1 -6 in Amawhe Primary School, Ozoro.”
Meanwhile, breath taking lectures will be delivered from both Professor Christopher Akpotu and Professor Samuel Aghalino, two Isoko erudite scholars.”We believe that the lectures from these scholars will make our stay at the event rewarding, reinvigorating, stimulating and refreshing as we benefit from their wealth of experience and fountain of knowledge,” the statement noted.
The Isoko Professionals Association was founded a decade ago and duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2008. It had the current Chairman of Isoko North Local Government, Elder (Hon) Emmanuel Egbabor as its pioneer President.
Its aims and objectives include the advancement of the cause of Isoko and the Isoko people. The Association is aimed at providing capacity building initiatives for its members and the Isoko people in general.
While giving a brief history of the association, the last ten years, the association has informed, trained and supported Isoko sons and daughters through job placements across the country, and distributed thousands of educational materials such as books to eight (8) primary schools in both Local governments in Isoko land. The association has also distributed cash and relief materials to internally displaced persons in Isoko Land.
