Okorodudu, Izoukumor Receive OSOPADEC EDP

The Executive Director Projects, EDP on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu received in audience, the Executive Director Projects from the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, OSOPADEC, Dr. Olujimi Kufo Monday June 30 in his office at the Commission’s Headquarters in Warri, Delta State. 

Welcoming them on behalf of himself and the Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; the Chairman, Hon. Barr. John Obukowho Nani; the Managing Director/CEO Chief Festus Ochonogor; all Board members and staff of DESOPADEC, Dr. Okorodudu gave a summary of the structure and workings of DESOPADEC from inception.

According to him, DESOPADEC was established by a law in 2007 to utilize 50% of the 13% oil derivation fund in developing the oil-bearing communities in the State that have suffered long period of neglect as a result of Oil and gas exploration.

Furthermore, he gave insight on the structure of DESOPADEC which he said was aimed at addressing the operational efficiency of the Commission, specifically mentioning the Directorate of Administration and Supplies; Directorate of Social Services; Directorate of Projects and the Directorate of planning, Research and Statistics while also specifying the ethnic nationalities which suffered from oil degradation to include Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa and Ika.

Also speaking, the Executive Director Social Services (EDSS), Chief Favour Izoukumor explained that apart from what the EDP had said, the Commission also works in tandem with the law passed by the House of Assembly that created it.

Appreciating the OSOPADEC EDP, Dr. Olujimi Kufo for the visit, Chief Izoukumor commended him for coming to get firsthand information from DESOPADEC, stating that the success of any idea initiated depends on the Governor of the State.

According to him, his Directorate is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out all Social Services duties like bursary to indigent students, women empowerment, DESOPADEC Skills Academy and youth empowerment.

He also said DESOPADEC has both centralized and Nationalities’ budgets where the centralized budget covers big projects while the Nationalities budget is primarily meant for the various nationalities.

Appreciating his host, the OSOPADEC EDP said all this while, the oil producing areas had not produced a Governor but now that a Governor has finally emerged from the area, he has given a marching order to have the Commission restructured in line with how other Commissions are being run, hence their visit to understudy DESOPADEC.

"I am here basically to understudy your Commission to be able to carry out a similar function and impact positively on the lives of the people of the oil producing communities in Ondo State," Dr. Kufo said.

He then thanked the Governor, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and all the Board members of DESOPADEC for their overwhelming support in making this assignment a success.

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