The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has sought areas of cooperation with the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Leena Pylvanainen, to accelerate development in Warri Kingdom.
The envoy who was hosted by the Warri king also sought closer ties in science & technology, trade and other investment opportunities for mutual benefits.
The ambassador who was on a two- day visit to Warri Kingdom visited the ancestral home of the Itsekiri in Warri South local government area of Delta State and other areas led by the monarch and his wife, Olori Atuwatse III and other palace chiefs.
At a roundtable organised at the palace, the regional development masterplan of the kingdom was presented to the ambassador and her entourage which included Mr Pasi Kokkonen, the counsellor at the embassy.
Presenting the masterplan on Thursday, Mr Lukeman Oshidi said the development of communities in Warri remained a significant concern, hence the need for Ogiame to embark on the initiative.
Oshodi said Warri South, Warri North and Warri South-West had a landmass of about 7,000 square kilometers, adding that developing the communities would be of immense advantage to the kingdom.
He said the initiative would create opportunities to harness the potential in the communities.
“The Olu of Warri has taken the initiative that there must be a document, a plan that should harness the potential and make it more beneficial to residents of the entire Warri Kingdom and of course the large population of Nigeria.
“That is where the regional masterplan is coming from, to see how different opportunities can be harnessed, how the communities can be more productive, prosperous and transformed in a way the residents and visitors can benefit from the transformations,” he said.
Oshodi said the goal of the masterplan was to articulate environmental, social, educational and cultural aspirations of the kingdom.
He also said the masterplan is an all encompassing document that would indicate areas of transformation especially in the aspect of housing in the next decades.
Mrs Diana Edemasillo, the chief administrator to the Olori (wife of the Olu of Warri) spoke on the achievement and the mandates of the Ogiame to the people of Iwereland.
Edemasillo said during the coronation of the Atuwatse III, he promised to support the women in the kingdom to enable them to realise their potential.
“We are seeing the multiplier effect of the promises for the collective development of our people. We ensure that our women both young and old are respected not only by words but by actions and cultural practices,” she said.
Edemasillo added that women and persons with disabilities continue to face discrimination and marginalisation in Nigeria while economic growth remained for the men.
She also said climate change and the “unsustainable use” of natural resources was threatening the well-being of communities in Itsekiri nation and stressed that the challenge needed urgent and sustained attention.
“This critical challenge does not only affect the whole Nigeria but Warri Kingdom. Ogiame believes that working with the government of Finland will drive the long term development plan to secure the future of the indigenous people and preserve its culture,” she said.
She said the Olori Atuwatse had established the Royal Iwere Foundation to train women in various skills to lift them out of poverty.
Ambassador Pylvanainen said they had worked on all the issues mentioned in the masterplan, and would continue to work on them.
“The master plan is very impressive. We are in this together. Many of the initiatives are already ongoing.
“In Finland, Ogiame will meet expertise, they are humble diplomats. I am looking forward to hearing his experience with them,” the ambassador said.
Earlier, the Ogiame and the palace chiefs had led the visitors to the Cleverminds Educational Foundation in Warri South where they met with the pupils and staff of the school.
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