…It’s in line with why we organized the first, second Warri Economic Summits – Tidi
Warri South, Ika North-East, Aniocha South, Ughelli North, Ethiope East and Isoko South Local Government Areas, have been selected for the pilot scheme of community enterprise development in Delta State, Fresh Angle International can report.
This much was disclosed by the Special Adviser to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on Community Enterprise Development, Rt. Hon. Akpodiogaga Sunday Emeyese, Wednesday May 5, when he led a delegation on a working visit to the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi.
Rt. Hon. Emeyese, who noted that the scheme will be extended to the remaining 19 local government areas in the state in due course, explained: “The purpose of creating the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Enterprise Development, is to bring development to the people at the community/grass-roots level, by way of assisting the local communities in identifying and developing meaningful and sustainable community enterprises within the communities”.
While stating that, “Community-based Entrepreneurship is a change from the traditional economic development approach of wooing manufacturers and industries into a city, possibly to create jobs”, the former lawmaker, urged the Warri South Council Chairman to: “Identify the major communities within the Local Government Area, where any relevant community enterprise can be developed, identify the kind of community enterprise that can be developed in such communities and possibly identify accredited community leader(s), women leaders and youth representatives in such communities, with their contacts to enable us ( his office) access them easily for further discussions”.
He added: “Community enterprise of choice, should be in the areas of Agriculture (palms, cassava production and processing, fishery, poultry, piggery, animal husbandry, food processing/production, crop production, etc.) Commerce/trade & investment as well as cottage industries etc”.
In his response, the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, averred that the essence of creating Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Enterprise Development, was in-line with why his administration organized the first and second Warri Economic Summits.
Dr. Tidi, who stated that the two Warri Economic Summits had deepened investment in Agro- allied and other socio – economic activities in Warri South, opined that Governor Okowa must have thought it through, before creating Office of the Special Adviser on Community Enterprise Development.
The Warri South Council Boss, expressed optimism that the synergy between the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Enterprise Development and Warri South Council Executive, would break the barriers being experienced in establishing the palm oil plantation at Ugbodede in Warri South Local Government Area, even as he presented the relevant pieces of information requested by the Governor’s Aide for smooth commencement of the scheme in Warri South.
