By John Odhe, YENAGOA
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eraskorp Nigeria Limited, Mr. Maxwell Oko has extended his hands of philanthropy to the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries in Bayelsa State.
Oko, on Thursday, donated generously during the fund raising and foundation stone laying ceremony of the association’s proposed secretariat complex in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The industrialist, who served as chief launcher during the occasion, which was attended by the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan amongst others, donated the sum of N30 Million to the association for the work.
Oko, while expressing optimism that the proposed two storey edifice located along Bayelsa Palm Road would be completed on record time, also hoped that when completed, the secretariat would not be for the welfare of the retired permanent secretaries alone.
“Beyond the building we are here to launch and break the ground is a secretariat and this secretariat is not for the welfare of the retired permanent secretaries alone.
“It is my expectation, especially in accordance with the speech by the chairman of the association, that it will serve as a policy institute for the development and betterment of our state and Nigeria at large.
“We are expecting a secretariat that can be compared with the Chatham House of London and the Columbia Institute in New York.
“This is because an association of retired permanent secretaries in Bayelsa State is a library of knowledge that is waiting for our children and generations yet unborn to unearth especially in sustaining public bureaucracy,” the philanthropist articulated.
The former president, Jonathan, who performed the groundbreaking ceremony described the programme as noble.
He recalled that he had always promoted civil service friendly policies since his days as deputy governor of Bayelsa State up to when he became president.
Jonathan noted that he removed disparities between state and federal government civil servants when he was president.
He expressed joy that a Bayelsa woman, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack served and became head of service of the federation before her recent retirement.
Noting that his wife, Patience Jonathan, retired as permanent secretary, the former president restated his commitment to the laudable project.
The Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was represented by the Head of Service, Dr. Ebiye Sawyer also expressed the state government’s commitment to the project.
Earlier in his welcome address, chairman of the association, His Royal Majesty, King Collins Ebi Daniel, said the project was much more than the construction of a building.
“It is the establishment of an institutional office that will embody the values, experience and enduring legacies of public service.
“The secretariat complex is designed to provide a permanent administrative home for the association and to serve multiple purposes including office and event centre.
“Retired permanent secretaries constitute a reservoir of institutional knowledge and experience acquired through decades of dedicated public service.
“The secretariat will therefore provide a platform through which the association will continue to make meaningful contributions to good governance and the advancement of Bayelsa State,” he added.
He appealed to sons and daughters of Bayelsa State and corporate bodies to support the project to ensure the completion of the project.
