The Chairman of the Ondo State Oil Prodcing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Hon. Gbenga Edema has reiterated the power of knowledge saying that “When you give someone knowledge, you’ve freed him; you’ve given him liberty”.
Hon. Edema was speaking at the opening ceremony of a 4-day training retreat which the Commission organized for its staff, in collaboration with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND Foundation), a non-profit organization working to build peace and development in the oil-rich region.
The Chairman who commended the entire workforce for applying themselves in the outgoing year, said the Management had initiated ICT training for staff and begun office renovation to create a conducive working environment and enhance productivity.
He took time to talk about the motto of OSOPADEC which is Total Prosperity and Environmental Sustainability, while urging participants to task themselves to achieve maximally in the exercise.
The Commission’s Secretary, Dr. Victor Koledoye, assured the staff that the training would be intense and worthwhile and therefore sought their unstinting co-operation.
A representative of PIND Foundation at the event, Mr Chuks Ofulue, said the essence of the program titled “Project Management Circle Essentials” was to focus the expertise of the various professionals in the Commission on the process of development of the Niger Delta.
The participants, who spoke through the Director, Community Welfare, Mr. Wale Mafolabomi appreciated the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Board and the Management – for the opportunity.
The exercise which was fully residential held at the Premier Hotels and Resorts, Igbara Oke, a suburb of Akure; involved 100 members of staff of the Commission in two batches; and ran between 10th and 14th December with an interlude of one day. Among the participants were the Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Edema and the Secretary, Dr. Victor Koledoye, who both sat patiently and actively partook in the sessions. In addition, all the Directors, Deputy, and Assistant, Directors as well as other senior staff members were in attendance.
The PIND-OSOPADEC Partnership Consultant and a Senior Technical Adviser to the Commission, Mr. Ade Ogunmefun, was the co-ordinator and the main resource person, supported by Mr. Ofulue and Mrs. Oteheri Odjeni- all of PIND.
Presentations were made on stakeholder analysis, problem analysis, objectives design, risk management and monitoring and evaluation. Other topics covered were report writing, objective and options analysis as well as work and resource planning.
The retreat was a follow-up on the one of last year with the theme: Change, Performance and Results.