ACLEVS and Ughwanogho foundation organizes 2017 urhobo challenge final

         by Eduje Martins.

The Africa Centre for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and vocational studies (ACLEVS) in conjuction with Dr Ovie Ughwanogho foundation (DOUF) recently put together a competitive programme Theme: “catch them young” for young talented Urhobo speaking students drawn from various schools across the 25 local Government Areas of Delta state at the main Hall of Government College Ugheili where a staged competition to determine their fluency in urhobo language was put to test.  

Comr. Marcus Ekure, Director Africa for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and vocational studies (ACLEVS) in an opening speech told the congregation how the ACLEVS has been existing since 2010 and the purpose of the NGO. He further explains how they train youth in various endeavors and empowering them, and the challenges they have been facing as an organization. He said the organization is out to teach youth how to fish not to give them fish, since the foundation of every child needs to be satisfied, he also said the organization has created jobs to jobless graduate in the society through their Data base. That most of these youth caught young are working in different places with the skills and talent given to them.

DR.Ughwanogho & COMR. Marcus

Comr. Marcus who said the most difficult challenge that the organization was a bus and laptop computers for office use and to reach people but today the problem has been solved a God sent Philatropist/Achiever who has been monitoring the organization (ACLEVS) on nets and that person is Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho, the Director, Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho foundation (DOUF) and the Sponsor and initiator of the days program.

The initiator of the program Urhobo Challenge 2017 Dr. Ovie Ughwangho appreciated all that were presented during the Leadership of Late Chief Mukoro of blessed memory and past Urhobo Leaders of old who exemplify good leadership because they were transparent, truthful and Straight forward. They Fought for the progress of Urhobo Land. They built Urhobo College and sent Mr. Ejaife to the United Kingdom (UK) for Studies and returned home as the first principal of Urhobo College Effurun, with the first Urhobo Graduate in 1948.

Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho said he like dealing with the real Urhobos that are truthful, Striaght forward, intense and polite in their doings, that the known urhobo to him are those that are ready to develop Urhobo land without creed and selfishness.

He further stressed on the unknown Urhobo as the opposite that are not proud of their culture, full of Destruction, Creed and Selfishness, Political thuggery or Political Jobbers and involve in Kidnapping and cultism. That these set of Urhobo does not represent the interest of Urhobo nation.

Dr. Ovie Ughwangho said “The Urhobo we try to build today are the truthful and self assure ones that can represent the interest of the Urhobo’s that can present the best not being the best alone, provide solutions and the objective of building the Urhobo Nation”.

The representative of the Hon Commissioner for Basic Education Dr. Onokpa (P.S) said Urhobo Language has been approved by the state government into the school curriculum as from Sept. 2017. He however appreciates the initiative of Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho for such a wonderful programme in developing the Urhobo Students. He also promised the state government readiness to partner with the organization when the need arises.

The Urhobo Challenge Competition which started a Month ago came to an end today 26^th August, 2017 with Nine(9) Student Competing for  1^st , 2^nd and 3^rd Position. These students are:

1. Micheal Amos – Egbo Urie Grammer School

2. Onome Emmaculate – Baptist High School.

3. Oghene Yonre Akpevweoghene – Avhawarinhien Grammar School.

4. Omonigho Raphel – Erho Secondary School Abraka.

5. Okabure Joy- Okpare mixed Secondary School, Okpara

6. Otuaga Maria – Delta State mixed Secondary school

7. Okpako Confidence –Okpare Secondary School, Olomo

8. Iboyi Oyiwike Comfort – Nehemiah  int. School, Okuokoko

9. Irikefe Oghenetega –Alegbo Secondary School, Effurun.

The nine contestants that contested for the finals

The Competition which was first of its kind in the annals of urhobo nation has Urhobo speaking Lecturers from Delta State University Abraka as panel of judges and top urhobo Chiefs and personalities, Members  Ministry of Education Delta State, School Teachers, principals and parents as witnesses’. The competition started at exactly 1:41pm and came to a close at 3:14pm with Ominigho Raphel of Erho Secondary school Abraka, emerging 1^st with 58%, Iboyi Oyovwike Comfort of Nehemiah Int. School Okuokoko 2^nd with 43^1/2 % while the 3^rd went to Okpako confidence of Okpare Secondary School Olomu with 39^1/2 % . The 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Position got the sum of #250,000, #150,000 and #100,000 each, while the other 6 contestants went home with the sum of #50,000 each. Those that crashed out at the semi-finals were compensated with the sum of #5,000 each with their teachers going home with #10,000 each.

Some highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of drama by some of our Urhobo Actors or Drama Group drawn from Ughelli to add colour to the ceremony and the presentation of cash gifts and certificate to the best students and school by Hon. Commissioner for Basic Education represented by the P.S.  Dr. Onokpa and Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho Director, Dr. ovie Ughwanogho Foundation Sponsor/Initiatives of the Programme.

Some dignitaries at the occasion include Notable Chiefs from HRM the Ovie of Ephron Otor, Dr. Onokpa representing the Hon. Commissioner for Basic Education Asaba, Dr. Emmanuel .U. Tonukari Associate Dean, faculty of Arts DELSU Abraka, Dr. Sunny Awhefeada, Dept. of English & Literary Studies, DELSU Abraka. Mr. Moses Darah Lecturer, Dept. of Languages & Linguistics DELSU Abraka, Mrs Okparavero Obaro Mercy of Papio’s communication Lagos, Dr. Akpoki, Mr. Odenama Godspower, Principal Govt. College Ughelli, Isreal Akpokere (C.I.E) UVWIE  L.G.A , Principals of Different Schools Staff of Ministry of Education and Host of Others. Isoko mirror captured the ceremony.