Itoro Columba‘s niche: Reinventing the grassroots, empowering the people:
When Ikono Local Government council boss, Itoro Columba, sought the seat of chairmanship in 2017, one of the cardinal thrusts of his campaign, was political inclusion. Almost three years on the saddle, he has sincerely reinvented the arts and science of politics in Ikono.
The thoroughbred journalist has demonstrated uncommon knack for youth development by drastically reducing corporate begging milieu in the streets.
In attempting to take you through a few of these empowerment, without equivocation, his enduring and alluring desire to assist the people in rising to the zenith ‘adds up’ to why the helmsman is totally admired by ‘all and sundry’ and motley.
That is because,Itoro Columba’s niche: Reinventing the grassroots, empowering the people has truly ensured the Youths’ involvement and participation in the day-to-day running of the council administration remain unforgettable by making their debut into mainstream leadership counts in gold.
The strategy chose as pivot to achieving these numerous achievements, stems from his unwavering acumen to enhance their welfare and unbroken determination to see a better Ikono, having young people mainly at the helm of affairs through appointments.
In furtherance of this noble vision for the people of the area, Mr Itoro Columba recently ventured into what he called ‘Targeted Capacity Building And Human Empowerment’, which remains fresh on his performance list.
The Council helmsman from time-to-time, has also adopted a very rare but sailable approach which flouted regular convention, aimed at driving his message to everyone. One of the ways to this maiden showering of blessings is the introduction of ROTATIONAL EMPOWERMENT in three geopolitical zones, when he doled out funds to the natives of the area as grants to start-up their businesses.
Over 30 Youths had benefited from this epic empowerment with #250,000 each. A few interviews with some of these beneficiaries, have it, that these largess had gone along way, taking them off the streets. May I not dig into the story where he donated bags of cements to assist a few young men in their building constructions.
Aside that, he was just one month into office, when the council staged the 1st Batch training in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) for over 200 entrepreneurs, who were raised on 16 marketable fields of endeavours.
As if that was not enough, the chairman overtly delved into the second batch of financial management skills training and raised another 355 young people fully certificated on agro and non-agro farming businesses, while exposing them to funding opportunities with business names registered and fully paid for by the council chairman. Meanwhile, MrItoro Columba equally formed them into 10 cooperative societies.
Some months ago, the chairman in partnership with Sunrise Multipurpose Initiative, flagged off the 3rd batch intensive capacity skills training tagged, MARTHA SKILLED AMBASSADORS, which recorded 2000 trainees on 22 marketable fields across board.
With this brilliant display of wit in the area, Ikono can honestly boast of a total of 2,550 (200+355+2,000=2,550) well-trained indigenes on career-enhancing areas ranging from Entrepreneurship, Financial Management Know-how, Driving Techniques, Solar-power Energy, Plumbing, Tailoring Service, Business Plan Development Skills, Painting, Tiling, Electrical, etc.
How do we suddenly forget the kitting ceremony which attracted and endeared the Akwa Ibom First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel, who inaugurated many other projects and kitted 680 beneficiaries in 22 marketable vocational skills at the Council Headquarters, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo.
The good people of Ikono will not forget the computer, tailoring machines, dryers and facilitation of N50,000 grant from SMEDAN to natives on that day, plus the training/ certification of entrepreneurs in Business Plan Development, Sourcing of grants and loans.
Abridged rave review on raising young stars in Ikono, has it that sports will always remain one of his grassroots cardinal thrusts when he floated the Itak Football Unity Cup Competition.
With this rebirth in sports, there is every assurance on ground, that the incoming Chairman will make it an annual event which will cut across other 12 wards; this was so, because when he came on board, the council boss insisted on ‘catching them young’ and exposing them to the world at the tender age.
Itoro Columba, being a master strategist has evidently shown he is into talent discovery, human development and utilization. That’s why, during the build-up to the 2nd Youth Sports Festival in the State, the helmsman of Ikono Council was always visiting the primary and secondary schools in the area to scout for future stars.
It is on record, that Ikono Local Government did not only emerge the 5th overall best Local Government in that competition, its contingent was admirably the youngest, promising and most-alluring.
With stern assurances, Ikono will not return to Egypt the second time, because the council boss has created an unforgettable niche on the pedestal sands of history; and such chronicle will forever remain with reminiscence.
Itoro Columba, a highly celebrated best performing Chairman in Akwa Ibom State (Back-to-back 2017-2020), the best performing Chairman in Nigeria and 2017 LOGMA Award winner (Poverty and Entrepreneurship category) will be leaving office with his shoulders very high, a fulfilled Chairman who came, saw and conquered still waxing in stardom.
And as a smooth-talking actionable go-getter with swift, responsive and responsible leadership, Itoro Columba consciously sues for peace in Ikono.
This piece only attempts to beam strictly the human capacity renaissance enjoyed by the good people of the area. This is the finest brand of positive grassroots administration at its topmost best. And this is how to become a Local Government Boss.
Mberekkeobong Essien writes from Ikono Local Government Area.
