Reappointed Delta State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, has expressed his readiness and commitment to work with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa towards his sustained delivery of result-oriented projects and programmes to Deltans.
Olorogun Akpowowo, who hails from Eku in Ethiope East Local Government Area, is among the first batch of eighteen civil commissioners comprising five women appointed by Governor Okowa after he dissolved the State Executive Council on Friday, May 18, 2021.
The Governor last Thursday while performing the swearing-in of the eighteen new commissioners at the Events Centre, Asaba, left with them five thoughts to guide them in their respective assignments in the remaining two years of his administration.
Olorogun Akpowowo, a lawyer who retained the ministry of Urban Renewal which was assigned to him in 2019 pledged to continue to uphold the integrity that the state Governor has continued to demonstrate in the running of the affairs of the state.
He also pledged to continue to pursue with renewed vigour the mandate and focus of the governor for urban renewal in the state.
“I feel very elated. I owe a very huge sense of gratitude to His Excellency, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for finding me worthy to be nominated the second time. I am very grateful.
“In the last two years, I personally made integrity my watchword because I have known His Excellency for quite some time, some good years and I know the way he operates.
“I made integrity a core point of my job and going forward will not be difficult for me.
“I was given Urban Renewal portfolio in the last two years and as my PS wrote in my handover note, I went there with a lot of enthusiasm. I went there with high spirit to make a mark and I made a record in Urban Renewal.
“I went to Urban Renewal with vigour, with some sense of achievement and I am proud to tell you that I did the little I could do. And I am proud that my indelible mark is there as Commissioner for Urban Renewal.
“I learnt the job in the last two years, now I can tell you I am better equipped to take off from there,” said Akpowowo
Wife of Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, Francisca, who is also a lawyer and a notable politician in the state, Chief James Adiotomre expressed immense gratitude to Governor Okowa for believing and trusting Olorogun Akpowowo and for enlisting him among those to work with him in achieving his strong Delta mantra.
The five women now commissioners in the Okowa administration add to the seventeen women who in March 2021, took the oath of office as vice-chairmen in 17 out of the 25 local government areas in the state.
This according to some political observers is a clear demonstration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s commitment towards enhancing women participation in the decision-making process of governance in the state.