Ora Ekpen Association honours two Edo commissioners at maiden convention in Atlanta – Nigerian Observer

The umbrella body of Ora people in Owan West local government of Edo state in diaspora under the auspices of Ora Ekpen Association (OAU), USA chapter recently held her maiden convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

The convention which serves as a form of get-together where those in the diaspora can touch base with their kit and kin at home was also used to raise funds in support of youth development in the community.

The trio of Hon. Afishetu Braimoh Edo state Commissioners for Industry, Trade and Co-operatives , Hon Omololu Ojehomon, commissioner for Public Security and safety and the Permanent Secretary in the state ministry of Youths Mrs Eire Ifueko Alufohai, were bestowed with the Presidential award for excellence in public service.

The three female are all from Owan speaking axis of the Edo North Senatorial district of the state.

Hon Braimoh who is the daughter of Senator Yisa Braimoh, former Edo north senator has in several fora said she intends to follow her father’s footsteps who contributed immensely to the lives of the youths in Edo North through job creation and employment during his tenure of office.

She is noted to have brought flair and finesse to public office, as well as credited with scoring many feats, within the relatively short period she has served as commissioner.

In her goodwill message, Hon Braimoh expressed her appreciation to the association for the continuous support for Owan people while also pledging her support to the association for all their endeavors.

The high point of the day was the fund raising to generate funds to support youths development in the Ora community.

The Edo state governor Mr Godwin Obaseki has in his solidarity message to the association pledged to match up the sum total of what was realized during the fund raising.

Similarly, the book on Owan history which was earlier donated to schools in the Owan by the Hon Braimoh to promote the Owan culture, was auctioned as an attempt to boost the fundraising efforts.

Earlier, in his welcome remarks, the national president of Ora Ekpen Association, (OAU), Mr. Desmond Alufohai, said the 2022 year convention was historical considering the fact that the body has been dormant over a decade .

According to Alufohai, the purpose of the gathering ” is to reacquaint and rekindle the spirit of togetherness among ourselves in a post pandemic world and to raise the sum of $50,000 for Ora youths”

In his good will message, the founding President of the association, Professor emeritus, Chief Oje Aisuku traced the history of the association to 1999 when it was founded.

He pours encomium on the Desmond Alufohai led executive of the body who were able to revived the association from comatose and appealed to all sons and daughters not to seat on the fence but to identified with the association.

The Association, which is at the forefront of the development of Ora clans, has carried out many projects, spanning from medical outreach, youth empowerment, education, health among others.