by crossriverwatch admin
The 1st Boki annual development conference organized by the Boki Think Tank, held in Calabar on Saturday April 13, 2013.
The event which was attended by several prominent indigenes of Boki Local Government Area was also graced by the Cross River State Deputy Governor, Barrister Efiok Cobham.
In his opening remark, the convener of the conference, Dr. Pius Tawo who described himself as an agent of change said he was provoked to organize an event of this magnitude to usher in a new thinking in the minds of the Boki indigenes so that they can see the need to bring sustainable development to the area.
In his words “when you wake people up to see the reality of the day and devote your time for development agents like government, it becomes very easier for the people to work on the path of development. Now, I have facilitated it, I have convened it and I have provoked it. With the establishment of the Boki development caucus, it is my utmost believe that Boki nation will never remain the same again”
The Deputy Governor of the State, Barrister Efiok Cobham in his remark commended the organizers of the conference and urged participants to embrace the initiative and explore ways of contributing to the positive development of Boki local government.
Dean, Faculty of Education in the University of Calabar Prof. Florence Banku Obi who is also a strong stakeholder from the area, while speaking with crossriverwatch described the conference as a welcomed development and expressed her total support for it.
According to her, “This is an opportunity for us to begin to appreciate what we have as people in Boki LGA in Cross River State and as a nation in this part of the world and what we can do for ourselves. I believe that the post conference meetings shall provide more workable streamlined action plans to enable us move ahead and also work with the relevant development groups as well as the government.
“Over the years, the Boki nation has seen a sequence of events line ranging from communal crisis, landslide and other unhealthy farming activity. And no nation can develop without the people coming together to brainstorm like this.”
Mr. Hilary Bisong, Personal Assistant to the governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke in his reaction said, granting resource control such as the biodiversity which the Boki nation has comparative advantage over other Local Governments in the state, by the relevant authority will help in turning around the fortunes of the people in the area and usher in a comprehensive infrastructural development program.
Papers were presented at the conference by Dr. Oliver Enuoh, Dr. James Ewa, Dr. Michael Bonchuk and Prof. Florence Obi. Others are Dr. Eddy Mgbang, Mr. Peter Oru Bette, Dr. Edward Obi Akatchuk, General Moses Obi, Prof. Njama Abang and Mr. John Owan.
Boki Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jonas Obi Otu and the Paramount Ruler of Boki, His Royal Majesty, Atta Otu Frideline Akandu were also amongst the dignitaries who graced the occasion.
follow us on twitter @crossriverwatch