Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council has decorated one of Delta-born activist, Comrade Chief Sheriff Mulade, an environmentalist of note and National Coordinator, Centre For Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), as one of its patrons.
The United Nations (UN) Ambassador, who doubles as the Ibe-Serimowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri south west local government area of the state, was decorated for his commitment towards peace in the Niger Delta, youth empowerment, media support and for always seeking for improved welfare of the Niger Delta people.
Chief Mulade was decorated as ICC patron by the chapel chairman, Kenneth Orusi, on Thursday August 15, 2024, at CEPEJ Corporate Office, Ugolo-Okpe, Okpe local government area of the state.
While decorating Chief Mulade, Orusi said: “we are here to decorate you as a patron of the chapel. You were not selected because we wanted to fill a vacuum but because we have followed your antecedents as not just the voice of the voiceless but your tentacles spread across not just the state but across Nigeria, and the globe.
“As a chapel, we are critics of government policies and programmes that are not beneficial to the grassroot and we see in you someone that is actually trending on same path of activists that are doing their jobs.
“We equally looked at you campaigns for the welfare of the people around the coastal areas where the crude oil that feeds the nation comes from. So, we didn’t have any issue selecting you as our patron”.
Orusi expressed belief that Comrade Mulade’s strong advocacy for the creation of an agency known as Coastal Areas Development Agency (CADA), to look into the development of the coastal communities in the state, may have led to the creation of the Directorate of Riverine Infrastructure by the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, following the support he gave to CADA, while he was Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
He called on the chapel patron to rise up to the challenge and put the government on its toes so that the directorate won’t suffer underfunding as seen in previous governments.
“We are using this opportunity and platform to call on you that you should not rest particularly now that this ministry has been created, it gives you more opportunity for more advocacy. We have seen situation where government create agencies or parastatal but were not funded.
“It is time for you to raise your voice to see that the Directorate of Riverine Infrastructure is adequately funded and our brother is given the opportunity and privilege to do the work why the agency was established”.
Orusi tasked him on the need for peace to return to Okoloba and Okuama communities in Bomadi and Ughelli south local government areas of the state and other communities where there are pockets of crisis and insecurity particularly in the riverine communities.
In his response, the UN Peace Ambassador and Environmental activist, Comrade Mulade, thanked the leadership of the Chapel for finding him worthy to be considered as patron of the chapel.
“Let me congratulate your Chapel for this laudable initiative. I am a bit short of words because I didn’t expect this.
“I am open to every progressive forum. My vision and calling is to support every progressive organization, movement, society or nation. I have not even contributed enough to the society as I want. However, I want to thank you for finding me worthy of this position.
“I want to assure you that I will not disappoint you, I will not fail you. We will do everything humanly possible to support and assist the Chapel.
“Like I said, my organization’s door is open and as a person, my individual door is also open. Whenever you need our attention, do not hesitate to reach out so that we can continue to move together to contribute to the betterment of the state”, he said.
MORE TO COME
