…We Have Suffered Exclusion from Job Placements
…We understand your plights –EGCDF
The women of Egbema communities, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State has called on Chevron Nigeria Limited and Egbema-Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) to save them from marginalization.
They made this known during the EGCDF familiarization tour/community town hall meetings with the oil producing communities of Opia, Adagbarasa, Opuama, Tsekelewu and others all in Egbema Kingdom, Warri North on Saturday, October 14, 2017.
According to the women, they have suffered serious exclusion as well as isolation in the area such as; job opportunities by the oil companies, damage of their fishing implements by companies operating in their terrain, lack of social support for the aged women in the communities that have no means of livelihood.
They, therefore, appealed to the Foundation to look into their plights by speaking with the companies and the relevant agencies to come to their aid.
Responding, the Chairman of the Foundation, Comr. Jude Ukori pointed out that the purpose of the town hall meetings is to make room for interaction with communities and to promote sustainable development.
In his words, “Town hall meetings will afford us the opportunity of a robust interaction aimed at strengthening our coexistence.
Comr. Ukori further stated that the Foundation is working to promote sustainable development of all communities and attract empowerment opportunities to all deserving indigenes.
He also stated that his group hopes to achieve this via the construction of classroom blocks for secondary and primary schools, capacity building for youths, soft loans for petty traders, dredging of the waterways, and a host of other developmental projects.
Continuing, EGCDF stressed that following the dearth of health challenges in the terrain, they have made concerted efforts for the completion of cottage hospital facilities in Oporoza (Gbaramatu Kingdom) and Polobubor (Tsekelewu) in Egbema Kingdom as well as reaching out to the Delta State Government for possible collaboration in taking over the facilities and providing personnel for its deployment.
“But we should all bear in mind that this task can only be achieved through your support to ensuring a peaceful environment for Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, our sole sponsors to thrive in business”, the Chairman added.
The Chairman further appealed to the communities to jointly and severally protect the oil and gas facilities within and around their communities.
In his words, “we must all say no to illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism. When we have done the needful, we can confidently demand the best from the IOCs and Government in terms of employment, empowerment opportunities and increase in funding for developmental activities.
He also appealed to the community women that their complaints were noted and that the Foundation will look into their demands.
Responding to the EGCDF Chairman, the various community elders, women, leaders, and youths lauded the Foundation for its achievements so far but pleaded for more to be done as there are still enormous issues and challenges bedeviling most of the communities in the coastal area.
The executive members present during the EGCDF familiarization tour are Comr Jude Ebitimi Ukori, Chairman; Comr Sheriff Mulade, Secretary; Sule Akpasibewei, Assistant Secretary; Elder Reuben Tonjor, Public Relations Officer; Chief December Awe, Assistant PRO; Godwin Olufemi, Transport, and Logistics Officer.
Others are Darlington Lelekumor, Social Secretary; Silver James, Communication Director; Chief David Bubor, Provost; Fred Igere, Communications Secretary; Clementina Eferesugha, Gender Equality Director; Ebizu Kinkin, Chairperson; Marian E. Anomuogharan, Chairperson, Micro Credit, amongst others.
The EGCDF Executives as led by the Chairman had earlier embarked on a similar tour of Gbaramatu communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State to familiarize with host communities in a bid to serve them better.
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