The journey to the rebirth of Sapele, Delta state has truly began as a group, Sapele Memories Development Foundation is planning to give back to the town that made citizens what they have all become.
The need to reposition the town may have propelled the group to gather prominent personalities of the riverside community at the maiden reunion and business summit held at the Sapele Athletics Club to chart way forward for the renaissance of the town.
Already, the full rebirth of Sapele had begun with the construction of over 15 kilometres of internal roads in the city, the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori disclosed at the business summit.
The governor further restated that the contract for the Okirighwre-Benin road had been awarded and will be completed between now and May next year.
Oborevwori, represented by the state Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverside Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu, said his administration had taken some steps to revamp infrastructure in Sapele with a view to providing an enabling environment for its sustainable economic rebirth.
He commended members of the Sapele Memories Development Foundation for the initiative which, he said, aligned with his administration’s vision for one Delta.
Aniagwu said: “Your gathering today is seen as part of your agenda that the government is pushing forward to create opportunities for all.
“I can see individuals who belong to different political parties and different religious persuasions bound together and gathered here in the spirit of Sapele.
“It is part of the vision of Governor Oborevwori to build one Delta; with all intents and purposes, we are looking forward to a state where all of us can gather, irrespective of our different political persuasions.
“By the grace of God, I have been saddled with the responsibility of supervising some of the roads we are doing in Sapele at the moment.”
On the Okirighwre-Benin road, Aniagwu said the contract for the road had been awarded and will be completed between now and May next year.
“Oborevwori knows the developmental needs of Sapele and I can tell you that, in our quest to revamp infrastructure in Sapele, we have awarded contracts for the construction of over 15 kilometres of internal roads.
“To fast track the construction of these roads, we have provided mobilisation, as much as 40 percent in some cases to various contractors we have given these different jobs.
“So, I can assure you that the development of Sapele again has begun and that by the time we complete some of the projects, Sapele will become better than you used to know.”
Earlier, president of the Sapele Memories Development Foundation, Professor Hope Eghagha, said the idea of the reunion was to give back to a city that made them what they had all become.
He said Sapele was a melting pot in the absence of ethnic dichotomy, adding “that is the Sapele we want to recreate”.
Chairman of the occasion, a former minister of information and chairman of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, lauded Professor Eghagha for mooting the idea of the Sapele renaissance, a unique story of a reunion of Safarians ( residents of Sapele) and business summit.
He urged Safarians to remain united, adding that Sapele needed a serious facelift.
The Orodje of Okpe, Major-General Felix Mujakperuo (retd), commended the people for charting the way forward for Sapele town and charged them to address the challenge of insecurity in the area in order to return the lost glory of the town.
