Imo Indigene, Okere, Bags “Ambassador Of Humanitarianism" Award In America

 

An Imo state indegene, Dr. Sylvester Okere, has bagged the prestigious award of ‘Ambassador Of Humanitarianism’ from CSCHEI, an accredited non-profit organization based in the United States of America.

The award by COSHEI is coming nine months after Okere was appointed to lead the Civil Society Organization on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative  as the Director, Diaspora (North America and South America).

Presenting the award to Okere during the "79th UNGA Side Event High Level Global Executive Sustainable Investments, Grants and Interventions Roundtable in New York on the 17th of September 2024,  the Director General of CSCHEI, Kunle Yusuff ,MON, described Dr. Okere's contributions to the society as “positive”.

In his words,  “This is to officially inform you respectfully that, having scrutinized and analyzed your resuming and personality, most especially on your positive contributions to "Community Enhancement, Social Development, Humanitarianism, Capacity Building and Service to Humanity, Civil Society Organizations on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiatives, CSCHEI an accredited platform with partnership agreement with United Nations Institute For Training and Research, UNITAR, United Nations Satellite Center, UNOSAT, Nigeria Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru to coordinate, organize, supervise and promote NGOs, CSOs, CBOs and FBOs within the scope of socio economic development has considered, approved and honoured you  "Ambassador of Humanitarianism".

Congratulations!!!.

 

“This is to further strengthening you into Development Space.”

 

Kunle Yusuff, MON.

Director General,CSCHEI.

  

Sylvester Okere led the AGOA International Trade and Commerce Fact Finding Workshop held at Hilton Manhattan New York in February 2013. The initiative brought some leaders from Africa to participate, along with US lawmakers, the UN, Civil Societies, NGOs, and heads of government agencies to discuss critical issues surrounding AGOA.

He facilitated, and mobilized the African Diaspora for The White House Policy Briefing of February 22, 2016

Okere championed USAID's Global Innovation Exchange program for Africa. The Global Innovation Exchange is a global online marketplace for innovations, funding, insights, resources, and conversations, allowing the world to better work together to address humanity’s greatest challenges; and a unique resource by Center for Development Innovation | U.S. Global Development Lab in the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Okere is a member of the World Association of Detectives (WAD), Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE), National Council of Investigators & Security Services (NCISS), Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), American Security Foundation, American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Public Record Retriever Network (PRRN), Maryland Investigators and Security Association (MISA), and other esteemed associations. He is a certified institutional protection manager (CIPM II) with a primary focus on industrial security, infrastructure, and trade facilitation. He is also the Founding President of Strategic Groups USA LLC, a private security and private detective firm, and the United People for African Congress (UPAC), a 501c3 non-profit umbrella organization that advocates for the rights of African nationals across the United States. 

Sylvester Okere hails from Obibi Ezena, in Owerri-North Local Government Area of Imo state. He is a former Nigeria Immigration officer with 18 years of federal service (Kano and Imo state combined). He lived a few years in Europe prior to migrating to the United States where he settled as a businessman, politician, Security Professional and an activist. He has received many national and continental awards; amongst two recent recognition: Prominent African Activist Award by NELAS UK, 2018 ; Presidential award of Nigerian-American Lawyers Association; The Outstanding Nigerian In Diaspora award 2017;  Nollywood Who Is Who USA magazine African Community Leadership Award and African Champion a community service award.

 

 

 

ISIEC presents Certificate of Return to 27 Imo LG chairmen-elect

 

The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, has presented Certificates of Return to the winners of Saturday’s local government chairmanship election in the state.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, won all 27 chairmanship and 305 councillorship positions.

While presenting the certificates on Tuesday, ISIEC chairman Charles Ejiogu said the presentation of the certificates was in line with the provisions of the law.

Ejiogu stated that certificates of return for the vice chairmen and councillors would be presented to them in the next couple of days.

“What has just happened is the concrete demonstration of the will and determination of the people to express themselves democratically in an atmosphere devoid of bitterness and rancour.

“Observers have adjudged that the election was very peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible,” Ejiogu said.

Two of the 27 chairmen-elect are female, while 14 other females emerged as vice chairpersons of various LGAs.

 

 

Imo Leads Other States In Women Literacy Rate in Nigeria

Governor Hope Uzodinma

 

Barely few days after Imo emerged tops among the states in the south east and south south geopolitical zones in availability of functional health facilities, the state has now recorded the first position in Nigeria in terms of literacy rate among young women.

In a survey carried out by StatiSense, a data and policy analyst organisation, and published in September 2024, Imo polled 83.5 per cent of the total number sampled to emerge first position in literacy rate among women aged between 15 and 24 years.

StatiSense sought to establish how states were preparing their women for future leadership.

From the available statistics, it was established that Imo state, under Gov Hope Uzodimma, was investing heavily in the education of the girl child and young adults.

Anambra State recorded 78.4 per cent to come second while Ebonyi State with 74.3 per cent came third.

However, Lagos, Enugu, and Abia states picked up the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions, followed rapidly by the South South states of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, and Edo. Osun and the Federal Capital Territory came a distance 12th and 13th positions.

 The organisation, StatiSense, explained that it periodically isolates certain indices in various sectors like health, education, environment, and policy implementation to assess the performance of the 36 states and FCT.

Responding to the results of the survey, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba said he was not surprised at the result because of the heavy investment made by Gov Uzodimma in education.

According to him, in addition to the state funding three universities and two other tertiary institutions, it has embarked upon the provision of science laboratory facilities in all the secondary schools in the state.

He said Imo has been motivating the teachers through prompt payment of salaries and promotions as well as raising their retirement age to 65 years.

According to him, ” His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, upon his assumption of office in 2020, declared that the education of the girl child must be a priority alongside that of her male counterpart The policy is yielding results “

He also disclosed that since 2021, Imo State students, among them girls, have been posting the best results in JAMB, WAEC, and Nigeria Law school bar examinations.

 

 

Seplat Energy Commences Free eye care services to residents of Imo state

 

A cross section of patients waiting to be attended to by Seplat Energy PHOTO CREDIT - Brand Times https://www.brandtimes.com.ng/seplat-energy-jvs-eye-can-see-initiative-transforms-lives-in-imo-state/

Seplat Energy, foremost indigenous energy company in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has in the past five days, delivered critical eye care services—free screenings, surgeries, and distribution of eyeglasses—to thousands of underserved residents, reaffirming the JV’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare access in its host communities.

The flag-off of the ‘Eye Can See’ programme in Imo State took place on September 19, 2024, at Full Moon Hotel in Owerri, marking a significant milestone in Seplat’s long-standing legacy of impactful healthcare outreach, which began in 2012.

Since its inception, the initiative has, before now, reached over 105,000 Nigerians, performed 4,560 life-changing eye surgeries, and distributed more than 51,000 reading glasses—all with the aim of reducing preventable blindness, promoting early detection of eye diseases, and enhancing the quality of life for beneficiaries.

The Eye Can See programme is a shining example of Seplat Energy JV’s commitment to creating sustainable, long-lasting impact in its host communities. By providing essential healthcare services to thousands of individuals, Seplat Energy is not only addressing immediate medical needs but also fostering a culture of proactive health management.

As Seplat Energy JV continues its mission of community empowerment and sustainable development, initiatives like ‘Eye Can See’ reflect a deep-rooted belief in the power of corporate social investment. With NNPCL and local stakeholders, Seplat Energy’s Eye Can See programme stands as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path toward a future where everyone can live with clarity, dignity, and excellent health

 

Imo Ranks 1st in South East, South South In availability of Functional Health Facilities

 

 

Imo State now leads the entire former Eastern Region in the operation of functional health institutions, an investigation carried out by a policy and data collection company, STATISENSE.

In their report, STATISENSE discovered that only 12 states in Nigeria are operating more than 1,000 health facilities.

Among the 12, only Imo operates more than 1,000 health facilities in the entire South East and South South States.

Reacting to the development, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, expressed satisfaction with the publication of the statistics.

Emelumba said the publication has vindicated the state government in its performance index, which cuts across all sectors both in infrastructure and human capital development.

According to him, apart from funding five grade A health institutions, including one teaching hospital, Gov Hope Uzodimma had taken health care to the doorsteps of Imo people.

He said the investment of Uzodimma in the health sector was yielding dividends and, therefore, would continue to sustain it.

Currently, Imo state is operating 1,335 health facilities across the 27 local government areas of the state.

It is only fourth to Lagos, Kaduna, and Ogun States in the 36 States of Nigeria and Abuja.

While Lagos is leading with 2,171 health facilities, Kaduna has 1,556 and Ogun with 1,380, then Imo 1,335.

Other states that made the list of 1,000 health facilities include Katsina, Niger,Benue ,Kano, and Oyo .

The rest are Osun, Taraba, and Bauchi states.