By Patrick Ochei
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu has eulogized the sterling leadership qualities of the state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Okenmor Tilije, describing him as a kind-hearted grassroots politician of repute.
Ikeogwu made this assertion when members of the State Working Committee of the Union, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, to familiarise with him and seek grounds of partnership going forward.
He affirmed that Tilije had demonstrated rare professional and managerial qualities by bringing far-reaching innovations into the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
He said that the rare breed Accountant’s wealth of knowledge, experience and charisma had helped the state government in making judicious appropriation and spending of its scarce resources to the benefit of all and sundry.
While calling on serious-minded Deltans to emulate the gifted personality of the one-time governorship aspirant, Ikeogwu implored the state government to further engage and empower Okenmor Tilije to take up the professional training of persons with business inclination in skills and entrepreneurship development.
He averred that the former banker is an inspiration that can easily change the orientations and mindsets of prospective entrepreneurs and even the teeming unemployed youths.
Moreover, the NUJ chairman commended Governor Okowa for looking inward to appoint a man with a track record of integrity, transparency and accountability to man the Finance Ministry of the State, maintaining that Tilije had performed beyond expectation in ensuring prudent management of the State’s resources.
In his response, Tilije christened the Diokpa of Exco, appreciated the NUJ for visiting and for their professional partnership that had helped the government tremendously in carrying out her functions without fear of media bullying.
He said the NUJ in the state had been wonderful, having maintained the ethical conduct of its profession over the years.
While reeling out a number of his achievements in the Water Resources Ministry before coming to Finance, he acknowledged specifically, the listening mien of the Governor as his greatest strength in bringing on board meticulous innovations that had added impeccable value to the system.
He thanked Okowa for not failing God in the Delta project that had cascaded into monumental legacies that are seen everywhere today.
According to him, Deltans should watch out for what happens to the State’s economy in the next three years as return on investment begins to roll in from the Airport Concession, the Film Village and Leisure Park and a host of other landmark projects to open up Delta to international reckoning in economic advancement.
