Group Promises Improved Educational Standard In Ogoniland

The new leadership of KAGOTE, an elite socio-cultural organisation of Ogoni people comprising of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme local government areas of Rivers State, has said it will reposition the educational sector  to give quality education to the indigenes of the area.

This is as the group has set up a committee to create a standard by taking inventory of all the primary schools in Ogoniland and the population of students for proper documentation and accountability.

Newly elected KAGOTE president, Chief Lesi Maol, disclosed this shortly after his election at Gwara community in Khana local government area of the state.

The election was held during the organisation’s congress after the expiration of the tenure of the former president, Hon Emma Deeyah led executive council who is now the Board of Trustees  (BOT) chairman of  Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

Other elected members of the organisation include: Barr. Baride Gwezia, 1st Vice President (Tai), Rear Admiral Nicolas Bakpo, 2nd Vice President (Khana) and Osaroepie Nana, 3rd Vice President (Eleme).

Also elected were Chief Oboba Obaa, Secretary, Hon. Eric Nwibani, Treasurer, HRH Kadilo Kabari,  Welfare Officer, Hon. Jacobson Nbina,  Financial Secretary, Comrade Menele Nzidee, Publicity Secretary,  and Hon. Aaron Mimi, Legal Adviser.

Maol thanked KAGOTE for electing him and went on to set up a committee immediately to provide alternative teachers in secondary schools across Ogoniland, as well as a committee to review the current constitution of the organisation.

“The first committee is to take inventory of all the primary schools in Ogoniland and the population of all the students. We will liaise with the public sector and government to raise funds to improve our educational standard”, he promised.

Maol disclosed that a lot of mushroom organizations have been trying to speak on behalf of Ogoni. “But we want to show a direction and give leadership so that when KAGOTE speaks, the world will know that Ogoni people have spoken”.

Other Ogoni leaders at the congress includes the senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Senator Barry Mpigi, member representing Khana/Gokana in the House of Representatives, Hon. Dum Dekor.

The chairman of Tai, Dr. Mbakpone Friday Okpe served as the Electoral Chairman while his counterpart in Khana, Dr. Thomas Bariere served as a member of the Electoral Committee alongside Chairmen of Eleme and Gokana.