Chief Kome Okpobor, the Executive Director of Finance & Administration on the DESOPADEC board, welcomed two important delegations to the Commission’s headquarters in Warri.
He first met with the Organising Committee of the upcoming Delta South Youth Summit, followed by a visit from representatives of the National Union of Isoko Students (NUIS). Both meetings focused on youth development issues, particularly around empowerment initiatives and bursary disbursement concerns.
During the session with the Youth Summit Committee, led by Comrade Ede Hyacinth, Chief Okpobor praised their commitment and expressed his full support for the initiative. He noted that Hyacinth’s original proposal had left a strong impression on him, as it closely aligned with Governor Oborevwori’s broader vision for development in the state.
“This summit is all about creating awareness among our youths, and I’m really pleased to see it coming together,” he said. He also encouraged the committee to keep the momentum going even after the summit, emphasizing the need to uphold and build on the progress already made by the current administration across Delta State.
Later in the day, representatives from NUIS, led by their President, Comrade Efedhoma Shelly, voiced concerns regarding the distribution of DESOPADEC bursaries to Isoko students.
Chief Okpobor explained that out of the 1,000 Isoko students selected for the bursary, only three were yet to receive payment due to issues with their bank account details. He assured the union that he had personally followed up with the bank to sort out the problems and confirmed that all eligible students, aside from those with the discrepancies, had already been paid.
He also apologized to the Isoko student leaders who were mistakenly left out and promised to personally ensure they receive their bursaries, in recognition of their efforts and contributions.
Chief Okpobor emphasized the importance of transparency in the bursary process, noting that the shortlisting of beneficiaries is managed by the Social Services department, not his office. Supporting this, Mr. Louis Ajie, DESOPADEC’s Director of Finance and Accounts, explained that payments are made strictly based on the official list. He pointed out that the number of applications usually far exceeds the available slots, so not everyone can be accommodated. He further clarified that each ethnic group’s allocation is based on its “production quantum,” which corresponds to the level of oil production in their area.
As a gesture of gratitude, the Youth Summit committee gifted him custom-branded merchandise, while the Isoko student representatives presented him with an award in recognition of his leadership and dedication to student welfare. With Chief Okpobor’s sponsorship, the summit is set to become a landmark event for young people across Delta South.
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