Okuijorogu community Goes Agog As Elsie Reed Visits Community

By Otega Oghenero-Warri

Okuijorogu community in Okpe Local Government Council of Delta State was at the weekend thrown into jubilation as they welcomed their own daughter, sister and mother Mrs Elsie Ijorogu-Reed.The visit according to Mrs Elsie Reed, was to see her people, especially the children that is left behind in the scheme of

educational activities.

After a brief meeting with the elders and women, she dished out several note books, pencils and writing pen to the community children and assured them that Deltawomen will continue to assist the community.

The community elders thanked her(Mrs Elsie Ijorogu-Reed) especially her NGO for the efforts and continued support towards alleviating their sufferings.

According to the youth leader, Comrade Lawrence Ijere, "we are very happy for visit, and for the supports she is giving to us. We pray God will continue to bless and protect her for us."

Why Okuijorogu community needs a school

Deltawomen’s Concerns

 We are concerned that the 2013 budget would be drafted and passed only in May, and we are unsure of when it will be executed.

Following that, a tender and subsequent approval of a contractor is required. Our concerns are that the establishment of the school may be lost in a pile of bureaucratic work, and may not even begin to work until October next year. Therefore, it remains that while all this is going on, the children of Okuijorogu, in  Delta State, Nigeria will still be forced to cross the dangerous and unattended Benin/Sapele express road. This will also deprive many children from five year old of educational rights; since many of them rely on transportation by their mother’s backs – as mothers cannot participate in this owing to their status as breadwinners of their families. Should they leave that responsibilities and take their children to school, their families might have to go without a meal. The school that is situated 4 kilometers away from their community does not have chairs, the buildings are dilapidated

If they continue without the assistance of the government, a child might lose his life while crossing the express road.

We wish that the authorities would consider the need for the safety of the children a top priority!

POLITICS AND CHILDREN's FUTURE

POLITICS AND CHILDREN's FUTURE

Honourable Julius Okpoko is the member
representing Okpe constituency in the Delta
State House of Assembly. This Democratic

Peoples' Party (DPP) member is currently the
minority leader of the House.

A reliable source informed Delta Decides 2015
that this honourable member is seriously
trying to sabotage all efforts in putting a
school in Okuijorogu community in Okpe LGA
which he represents at the State House.
According to him, "Okuijorogu people did not
vote for him during the last general election."

A request letter was sent by DeltaWomen NGO
to the state governor, the speaker of the State
House of
Assembly, Hon. Julius Okpoko (himself) and
the commissioner for Basic and Secondary
Education.

However, the state governor sent his
delegation to visit the said community
without a school, upon seeing the letter. The
speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei on his part
minuted on the letter and sent it to Hon.
Okpoko but he never acted on it.

When contacted on phone by our messenger,
one of his PAs acknowledged receiving the
minuted letter from Rt. Hon. Ochei and the
one brought by DeltaWomen NGO, but said he
has handed them over to his boss(Hon.
Okpoko) and wondered
why he has not acted on it.

Our messenger tried calling Hon. Okpoko on
phone for clarification, he declined, refusing
to speak with us.