Encomiums rains on Agediga as he gets exemplary leadership award from Delta Ijaw Comrade Community 

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By Binebai Princewill

As Pondi charges youths to prepare for leadership

Commendation upon commendation rocked the personality of His Excellency, Amb. Comr. Shedrack Agediga, Executive Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC on Saturday as he bagged a rare and special award from the Delta Ijaw Comrade Community.

The Executive Director, PRS, DESOPADEC was honoured by DICC with an exemplary leadership award in Warri, Delta State owing to his selfless services to humanity over the years.
In his remark, chairman of the occasion, Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, member representing Burutu Federal constituency has charged youths in Burutu Local Government, Delta State and beyond to prepare for leadership, stressing that leadership don’t just come as it is when preparation meets opportunity.

Pondi described the Award as a welcome development, noting that Agediga earned it owing to his many years of sacrifice to humanity.
While commending Agediga, the member representing Burutu Federal constituency noted that Amb. Shedrack remains one of the finest Ijaw man with huge contributions towards the attainment of peace in the Niger Delta region and has become a blessing to all those that comes in contact with him.

Speaking further, Pondi asserted that he has benefited massively from Agediga’s wealth of experience as well as many others that are leaders of the Niger Delta region today.
Harping on his humble beginning, Julius Pondi maintained that while as national president of Ogulagha Kingdom Youth Council (OKYC), Amb. Agediga made undeletable records in the history of the kingdom, adding that till date, no leadership of OKYC has surpassed that of Agediga.
In his words: “No youth leadership has ever surpassed the achievements of Agediga in Ogulagha Kingdom. You must prepare for leadership. Shedrack nomination was a preparation meet opportunity. That same thing I see in Agediga is what the comrade community also sees in him, I am very happy to be part of this historic day. Shedrack is one of the finest Ijaw man, I grew under the tutelage of him.”

Shortly after receiving the award at the co-operative society multipurpose hall limited at Emebiren in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State , Agediga thanked the Almighty God for the award and members of the Delta Ijaw Comrade Community for the rare honour, stressing that he will never disappoint them.
“I am part of you, I am so happy that we are taking this event to wine down the year, I am taking this award very serious, I want to thank God for the grace so far. I respect the intention behind it. If you must do this, you must behave the way I behave. Shedrack Agediga model is a philosophy that will metamorphose into a movement in the nearest future.
“The only way you succeed is when preparation meets opportunity. Agitation is good but it must be constructive and factual. You must be ready to make some sacrifices”. Agediga stated.
Earlier in his lecture on the theme of the symposium in honour of Agediga entitled Transparency, Social Inclusion and Mentorship as Fundamentals of good ladership; the Shedrack Agediga example, Amb. Comr. Sheriff Mulade, national coordinator, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ stressed that Agediga is a true example of the theme of the programme.

He noted that Amb. Agediga has truely mentored lots of leaders across the region, adding that he is happy to be part of the programme while speaking among other issues.

“This symposium in honour of Ambassador Comrade Shedrack Agediga, Executive Director, ED, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC by the Delta State Ijaw Comrade Community, is the beginning of a clarion call for dedication and service to reposition Ijaw nation towards high productivity, a sense of purpose and direction.

“Reflecting on the antecedents of Agediga, necessitates the need for responsible, painstaking Ijaw patriots to synergize and create the enabling environment for us to bring down mountainous challenges facing the Ijaw nation.

“Education, is the bedrock of societal growth, modernisation, urbanisation, sophistication and all round integration. Only an educated society can breed and groom productive leaders for nation building. It is sad to say that our terrain is educationally sidelined, disadvantaged and neglected. The few privileged educated people in our area paid dearly to be outstanding academically.

“The sad story is that in spite of our huge contributions to the national economy, we have very enormous challenges. The only federal presence in our area is the Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State which is still at its temporary site since 2015.

“The School of Marine Technology, Burutu also faces numerous challenges ranging from lack of professional manpower and standard training facilities. Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo the only private institution owned by an Ijaw man, is not affordable by the less privileged Ijaw people. This point to the fact that our leaders and representatives at all levels of government should do everything possible to attract Federal Polytechnics and standard Colleges of Education to Ijaw land.

“Ijaw representatives should consider education at primary and secondary levels in all Ijaw communities especially the coastal communities.

“The need for sustainable development in the coastal communities and our neighbours informed the clamour for the creation of Coastal Area Development Commission, CADA to help accommodate and proffer solution to infrastructural deficit facing our rural communities. Non oil producing communities should also have some sense of belonging to a Commission that prioritizes developmental needs.

“A sense of Justice for all is the foundation of peace. Economic Justice, Social Justice, Environmental Justice, Political Justice and fairness will create a sense of security.

“Agediga is a Niger Delta Peace Ambassador and an Advocate of Peace, former Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Community Development, and currently the Executive Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC) and Chairman/Founder of Shedrack Agediga Foundation.

“We appreciate and value all your contributions especially in the area of annual training of youths on leadership and conflict management, as well as workshops and seminars on peace building and mentorship including women empowerment programmes through skills acquisition and scholarship programmes for indigent students through his Foundation.

“He was instrumental to the Federal Amnesty Programme. Without the likes of Comrade Shedrack Agediga, there would be no Amnesty programme and the relative peace being enjoyed by Nigerians particularly those in the Niger Delta Region.” Mulade stated.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Delta Ijaw Comrade Community, Prince Comr. Austin Ozobo noted that the practical and visible contributions of Agediga towards the growth and development of Niger Delta region and many other services earned him the award.

Dignitaries that graced the occasion include Chief (Dr) Julius Takeme, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chairman Delta South; Chief Emman Ambgaduba, Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Delta State; Mrs Rosemary Graham Naingba, national president Ijaw Women Connect worldwide, Hon. Tomwilly Ebiakpo and others too numerous to mention.

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