*** As He Dedicates Prestigious Leadership Award To Governor
The Delta State Coordinator of the State Windows Welfare Scheme and Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Social Investment Programmes, Elder (Dr) Isioma Daniel Okonta has said that the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has taken empowerment programmes to all the nooks and crannies of the state, thereby reducing poverty drastically amongst the people.
Speaking in Abuja where he bagged the prestigious Leadership Award of the Democracy Newsline Newspaper year 2024 at its 14th anniversary, Dr Okonta who is also the Technical Head of Livelihood Support Unit of the World Bank D-Cares Project,said that the governor has reached out to the downtrodden with mouth watering Empowerment Programmes since he was sworn in as Governor and dedicated the Award to the Governor.
The award ceremony, which took place on October 9, 2024, at the Banquet Hall of the Merit House Maitama, Abuja, marked the fourteenth anniversary of the media outfit and the sixty-fourth anniversary of Nigeria’s Political Independence.
Dr Okonta who was represented at the Award ceremony by Abuja based lawyer, Barrister Anthony Egbaroghene Otu said that; “
“First of all, I want to appreciate God Almighty for giving me the rare privilege to be part of this highly exalted award ceremony. And I give thanks to God Almighty for everything. Secondly, I want to appreciate His Excellency the governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori for giving me the opportunity and finding me worthy to be such appointed to the office of the social investment programmes in Delta State and also as the Delta State focal person for Federal Government grants and loans. I give thanks to the governor, because the governor has given me the enabling environment to operate in my office, because without him, it wouldn’t have been possible. I want to quickly dedicate this special award to His Excellency, the governor. He is the one that is supposed to be getting all these Awards because the vision of that office belongs to His Excellency, the governor. The driving force in that office is His Excellency, the governor, because he is the one providing the resources for the office to operate. And if he is not a person that cares for the down trodden, if he is not a person that cares for the poor and vulnerable elements of the society, I wouldn’t have been such recognized by Deltans and Nigerians at large”.
“So I give thanks to our governor, and I pray that God will continuously endow him with the strength, the vision and the wisdom to continuously lead Delta State to higher heights, particularly in the areas of social investment programmes and caring for poor Deltans”, he added.
He also said that; “I will always remember the immediate past governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, because he was the first one that appointed me into this office in 2017. Thanks to him. I pray God Almighty, to continuously be with him also. And to Deltans, I pray that Deltans will continuously enjoy the fruits of the hard work of our governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori. And to the organizers, may God bless all of you. This is a wonderful event, and hopefully next time I will be around personally. Thank you very much”.
Dr Isioma Okonta revealed that; “Last year, 2023 October through December 2023 alone the Livelihood support unit of the D-CARES program empowered over 4,000 poor and vulnerable youths and women, those that have house hold enterprises, because one of the criteria is that they need to be economically active. Then this year, we have already empowered over 7,000 beneficiaries and I know before the end of the year, something is going to happen again. So since I came on board, we have empowered close to 30,000 Deltans who are poor, vulnerable economically active youths and women. This number is just a segment of the whole Delta state D-CARES program. Currently, our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has empowered over two hundred thousand (200,000) beneficiaries in the entire D-CARES program comprising three result areas. The names of the beneficiaries are drawn from the Delta State social register. You can see the transparency of the Programme is non political, and the names are drawn from the 25 local government areas of Delta State. It reaches all the 270 Federal wards. So the nooks and crannies of the states have been touched by His Excellency, our dynamic Governor”.
In his speech, Chief Olugbemi Femi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Michabifem Ventures Limited, the publisher of Democracy Newsline/blog, emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating the talents, achievements, and contributions of individuals and organizations who have excelled in their respective fields.
The event also featured papers on the role of social media in the development of the agriculture sector by Dr. Tunde Arosoyin, National Coordinator of Zero Hunger Nigeria, and on “Nigeria and the personal perspective in politics” by Comrade Bala Ibrahim.
Other recipients of special recognition awards included H.E. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, Niger State Governor, HE Mrs. Agyin Agbu Kefas, First Lady of Taraba State, and several other prominent figures.
All You Need To Know About Elder (Dr) Isioma Daniel Okonta:
Elder (Dr.) Isioma Daniel Okonta, is the Technical Head of Livelihood Support Unit of The World Bank D-Cares Project. He is also the State Coordinator of the Delta State Widows Welfare Scheme and Executive Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Social Investment Programs. He was born to the family of Late Chief and Chief (Mrs) Alfred Okonta of Abavo in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.He attended Odili Primary School Agbor and did his Secondary Education at Ika Grammar School, Agbor graduating 1979.He had a brief stint as a Teacher at Obika Primary School, Ime-Obi, Agbor and Gbenoba Grammar School, Agbor before travelling to the United States of America in the year 1982.
In the United States, Elder Okonta attended Houston Community College, in Houston, Texas.He graduated with an Associate Degree in Accounting in 1984.
He proceeded to Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, in Huntsville, Alabama. He graduated SUMA CUM LAUDE, Nigeria equivalent of First Class Honors in Accounting in 1988. Dr. Isioma Okonta was recruited by Caterpillar Incorporated in Preoria, Illinois to work in Japan towards the end of the final year of his graduation. He opted to go into private Business.
In 1990, Chief Okonta along with his brother Kas Fidelis Okonta, started Steaks to go Franchise Company in Roswell Georgia as Franchisors. Several Franchise Outlets where Opened, in Atlanta, Georgia; Marietta, Georgia; Smyra, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Birimingham, Alabama; Nashville, Tenessee and Others cities.The Company was recognized as one of the 500 “hottest” Franchise Companies in the World Famous “Entrepreneur Magazine”, and also named Top 100 “hottest” start-up Franchises in Black Enterprise Magazine. Elder Daniel Isioma Okonta is the Co-President/ CEO and founder of the Company.
In 1999, democracy returned back to Nigeria. Because Elder Okonta has Passion for lives and interest in the Socio-Political development of his community and Nigeria as a Nation, he returned back to Delta State, Nigeria to join the Politics of the day. Chief Isioma Okonta Ventured into the Murky Waters of Politics and Joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the year 2002. He quickly listened to advice from his Political associates and joined the “Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa” Political Family.
His Excellency Senator Dr ifeanyi Okowa graciously began to mentor him and tutor him to learn the intrigues of Politics.
In the year 2005, Chief Isioma Okonta was elected member of the Delta State Executive Committee of PDP during the Governor Ibori Administration.
In 2008, he was appointed as a member of the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Ukwu, when the current vice chancellor of Delta State University Abraka, Prof. Andy Egwunyega was rector of the polytechnic.
In 2009, he was appointed Special Assistant to Governor Uduaghan, attached to the Office of then Secretary to State Government, His Excellency, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
In 2010, Elder Okonta was appointed Political Assistant to Governor Uduaghan in charge of Political affairs in Ika South Local Government Area.
All these appointments were graciously facilitated by His Excellency, Senator Dr ifeanyi Okowa.
In the same year 2010, the then Secretary to State Government, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, sponsored Elder Isioma Okonta to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to attend a 30 day Management and Administrative Course at the prestigious “African Institute of Management.”
Soon after this, His Excellency, Senator Dr Okowa resigned as SSG to contest for the Senatorial Seat of Delta North. Elder okonta was appointed Director of Administration and Finance, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa campaign organization. That Election was won by Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and he was subsequently Sworn-in as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the year 2011.
In 2011, Elder Dr. Isioma Okonta was appointed as the Director Administration/Finance, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Constituency Office, Asaba.
In the year 2012-2014, Chief Okonta was appointed the Chairman Oil and Gas Monitoring Committee in Abavo Kingdom where Pan Ocean Oil Corporation is implementing oil and gas exploration activities.
In the year 2017, His Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa the immediate past Governor of Delta State initiated the Delta State Widow Welfare Scheme and appointed a 3 man Committee led by Honourable Commissioner Henry Sakpra as Chairman, Hon Festus Ochonogor (the current MD DESOPADEC) as member, and Elder Isioma Okonta as Committee Secretary. The Governor also graciously approved the appointment of Elder Okonta as a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special duties, Government House, Asaba.
In 2019, the Governor of Delta State re-appointed Chief Isioma Okonta into the Widows Welfare Scheme, no longer as Secretary of a Committee but as the State Coordinator of the very successful Widows Welfare Scheme. The Governor also appointed Elder Isioma Okonta as a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Social Investment Programmes.
During the general elections of the 2023, Chief Isioma Okonta was appointed Director General of Ika South Campaign Organization. In the same year 2023 the Governor of Delta State Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori appointed Dr. Okonta as SSA Social Investment Programmes. In 2024 Governor Sheriff magnanimously appointed Dr. Okonta as Executive Assistant to the Governor, Social Investment Programmes and Delta State Focal Person in charge of Federal Government Nano grants and loans Scheme.
Currently in the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori Administration, Chief Dr. Isioma Okonta oversees the following Departments of Social Investments Programmes:
1. Technical Head, Livelihood Support Unit, World Bank D-Cares/Sheriff Cares Programme.
2. State Coordinator, Widows Welfare Scheme.
3. Delta State Focal Person, Federal Government Nano Grants and Loans Scheme.
To the glory of God, he has been rewarded with several awards, certificates, and recognition including the best graduating student from the Destiny Bible Institute, Agbor, Humanitarian Services Award by the Rotary Club Government House, Asaba for his contribution to the welfare of widows in Delta State, and the prestigious Niger Delta 16th Annual Humanitarian Award, an award for humanitarian services by the national association of cosmetologist, patron Delta initiative forum amongst others. Recently, Clemson Christian University in Germany through her affiliate Christian Global University awarded Dr. Isioma Okonta a Doctorate degree (Honorary Cauris) in recognition of his humanitarian activities concerning the widows in Delta State.
Elder Isioma Okonta is also a titled Chief of the Abavo Kingdom in Ika South L.G.A.
Elder Dr. Isioma Daniel Okonta is happily married to Chief (Mrs) Benedicta Ijeoma Okonta, MD/CEO Venant Cosmetics Nig Ltd. The marriage is blessed with 3 daughters; Anthonia, Ellenina and Covenant.
