Comrade Jude Ebitimi Ukori accepted the toga of leadership as the fourth Chairman of the Egbema Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation. Comrade Ukori emerged leader and took over from Chief Michael Johnny after a keenly contested election that was adjudged to be free and fair.

Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), represented by Tony Emegere, Superintendent, PGPA Warri, applauded the smooth transition of power. He commended the past EGCDF leaders for adhering to the key GMoU principles during their tenure.  “The successful transition of leadership within the EGCDF   represents another milestone in the annals of the EGCDF. It reinforces the corporate governance structure of the model which ensures sustainability since it safeguards an orderly transition of leadership. It also advances a key fundamental of the GMoU principles which is inclusiveness through participation by different stakeholders, in addition to transparency and accountability, he said.”

Esimaje noted that successive leaderships of the EGCDF have successfully managed the process to achieve most of its cardinal objectives, including community empowerment and sustainable development. “With the funds available to it, we are glad to note that the EGCDF has executed and commissioned over 110 projects since 2005 including, capacity building programmes in diverse vocational skills, and a micro-credit program. A good number of these projects were executed by this past leadership while some are still on-going. This is besides the demonstrated capacity for peace building and conflict resolution in the communities that constitute EGCDF”, he said.

Comrade Jude Ebitimi Ukori while giving his acceptance remarks expressed gratitude to members of the communities and CNL. “I am highly elated, humbled and thankful for this great honour of being elected and sworn in as the Chairman of our esteemed Foundation. Together we will determine the course of the Foundation for the next four years; we will certainly face challenges, confront hardships but in the end, I guarantee you we will get the job done. I promise to build on the legacies of the past administration as well as uphold the original tenets of the GMoU process in promoting the core values of Integrity, Reliability, Transparency and Accountability”, he said. 

Chief Michael Johnny, the past Chairman of EGCDF appreciated CNL for establishing the GMoU and its steadfast commitment to the process. In  similar vein, Delta State Governor, represented by his Senior Special Adviser to the Delta State Government, Chief Barrister O.C Ebikeme, thanked CNL for establishing the GMoU as a developmental platform which has contributed to the unity and growth of the communities. He harped on the importance of harmony and peaceful coexistence between the communities and extoled corporate bodies like CNL for sustaining the GMoU.

The inauguration ceremony was witnessed by key political and community leaders, including representatives of the royal highnesses, the Agadagba of Egbema and the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdoms respectively.