Senator Ede Dafinone, representing Delta Central, has reiterated his dedication to creating opportunities for the Urhobo people and urged other Urhobo leaders in influential positions to actively use their roles to support and uplift their communities.
Dafinone made this appeal on Thursday, during a media briefing with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ughelli Correspondents Chapel, held at the union’s secretariat in Ughelli, Delta State.
He pointed out that leaders from other regions have always prioritized their people when it comes to recruitment, contracts, and appointments. He urged Urhobo leaders to move past the mindset of seeing themselves as “second-class citizens” and to actively work for the advancement of their community.
The senator revealed that he has established a solid network of Urhobo professionals in Abuja working within various government agencies, ready to assist others in securing jobs and contracts when properly connected.
He stressed that his role as senator is a responsibility to the Urhobo people, not a personal privilege, and he is committed to using every tool at his disposal to create more opportunities for his constituents.
Looking back on his approach to endorsements, Dafinone admitted that he used to focus solely on “qualified applicants,” but he has since come to understand that in Nigeria’s job market, persistence and connections often matter more than just qualifications.
He went on to explain that, despite advice from stakeholders to create a WhatsApp group to rally support, he chose not to, so as not to appear as competing with the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU). Instead, he has been appointing ambassadors at different events to promote the message of Urhobo unity and empowerment.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ Ughelli Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Sunday Apah, and the state Financial Secretary, Elder Polycarp Orosevwotu, praised Dafinone for keeping the media informed about his work in the Senate and promised the union’s support in helping to promote his initiatives.
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