DESOPADEC Grants Access To KOSOPADEC Board, Management On Fact -Finding Tour

The Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, today Wednesday 10th December, 2025 welcomed members of the Kogi State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (KOSOPADEC) who came on a fact-finding visit to its headquarters in Warri.

The Chairman of DESOPADEC Board, Chief John Obukowho Nani while welcoming the visitors, said the visit was evidence of the Commission’s ongoing growth, noting that DESOPADEC’s reputation has attracted interest from other States and recalled a similar visit from the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). He then thanked the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Ahmed?Usman?Ododo for directing KOSOPADEC to study DESOPADEC’s modus operandi so that Kogi State can improve service delivery to its oil producing areas.

“You are all welcome to DESOPADEC. His Excellency Ahmed?Usman?Ododo asked you to come and understudy our mode of operation because we are doing well. Here in DESOPADEC, we are the trustees of the oil producing areas. Anything we do here has a limit of approval and we are the flag-bearers of the Governor, keeping him informed of all activities," he said. 

Chief Nani further explained that the Commission’s activities are allocated according to the quantum of production from six ethnic nationalities that are the oil producing communities of the State namely Itsekiri, Ijaw, Urhobo, Isoko, Ndokwa?and Ika while also stating that DESOPADEC'S budget follows a bottom-up approach, with projects derived from town-hall meetings and prioritised according to available resources.

Chief Nani also outlined DESOPADEC’s structure which is modelled after NDDC, and described the decision-making chain – from Heads of Departments to Executive Directors, to the Managing Director, and finally to the Board for ratification by resolution. He also mentioned other state organs that oversee the Commission to include the Chairman of the House Committee on DESOPADEC and the Appropriation Committee Chairman.

A brief rundown of the Commission’s Departments, Board composition and the rotational pattern for the offices of Chairman and Managing Director was provided alongside an insight into the even distribution of bursary activities by the Chairman of DESOPADEC.

Also speaking, the Managing Director/CEO of DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor thanked the visitors for coming to learn from the Commission and expressed happiness that DESOPADEC’s growth has made it a role model while encouraging DESOPADEC'S management team to continue the good work that has made the Commission a cynosure. He thus, invited the guests to exchange contacts with the various Directorates for follow-up discussions.

The Chairman of KOSOPADEC, Suleiman Ndarayi Abdulahi who had earlier thanked DESOPADEC for the warm reception and for sharing its expertise, said Governor Ahmed?Usman?Ododo had insisted that the KOSOPADEC team which was established on?August?1st, 2025, making it a relatively new Commission, should visit to learn from DESOPADEC’s successful model.

“On behalf of the KOSOPADEC Board, I thank you for opening your doors for us. We have seen that DESOPADEC is performing well, and we aim to replicate that success for the people of Kogi State,” he said. 

After the meeting with the Board, the visitors were divided into groups to meet with DESOPADEC’s Executive Directors and Heads of Departments. Executive Director of Projects, Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu and Executive Director of Social Services, Chief Favour Izuokomor led the sessions and highlighted how their directorates operate.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of copies DESOPADEC magazines and compendium to the visitors by the Chairman of DESOPADEC Board, with the visitors doing their traditional presentation of kolanuts to the Board of DESOPADEC, followed by prayers by both teams.

Present were Omoni Jackson James, Managing Director, KOSOPADEC; Suleiman Hameed, Board Secretary, KOSOPADEC; Engr. Usman Nda Mohammed, Executive Director, Social Services, KOSOPADEC; Hon. Olori Deji Michael, Executive Director, Finance, KOSOPADEC; Engr. Isah Yakubu Jetto, Executive Director, Projects, KOSOPADEC; Rt. Hon. Prince M.O. Kolawole, Executive Director, Administration, KOSOPADEC; Hon. Amafa Felix Eleojo JP, Commissioner Rep; Eniolonunde Samuel, Director, Finance & Administration, KOSOPADEC; Abubakar J. Musa, Commissioner Rep; Mrs. Cordelia Anyagwu, Ika Rep, DESOPADEC; Hon. Sonny Ofe, Itsekiri Rep, DESOPADEC and Heads of various DESOPADEC departments.

By Evelyn Obibi - Assay, Igho Ejememo 

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