Consolidation and Transformation 2015 Executive Profile of the Incoming Governor of Delta State His Excellency Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo Vision Statement To consolidate and build a prosperous state with abundant opportunities for all Deltans Mission Statement To build a prosperous state anchored on our 6 pillars of Consolidation and Transformation namely: Human Capital Development Infrastructural Development Peace and Security Integrated Rural Development Industrialisation Agriculture Executive Profile Sen. Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Email: emadivine@yahoo PERSONAL SUMMARY: A visionary and transformational leader, Distinguished Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo is a pace setter and a role model for our generation. He is results-oriented with over thirty years’ experience in policy and strategy development, financial budgets, economics, journalism; well qualified with expertise in private and public sector policy formulation, strategic planning and relationship management; extensive involvement in political leadership, legislation and economic stimulation Also proven record of leadership with outstanding management and team building abilities; skilled in team motivation, development, coaching and mentoring; strong interpersonal, networking and negotiation skills; sound communication skills: written, verbal & presentations; trustworthy with very strong ethics. BACKGROUND Born on December 8th 1957, Senator Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo, a dynamic and purposeful Nigerian comes from a humble family background in Okpare town Ughelli South local Government area of Delta state. He attended St. Joseph Roman Catholic Mission Primary School, Okpare between 1963 and 1968; Ibru College Agbarha-Otor and St. Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, Lagos, where he obtained his West Africa school certificate and Advance Level certificate. Emma as he is foundly called by friends proceeded to the University of Benin where he graduated with a B.SC. (Honours) in Economics in 1983. Recently, in the year 2000 to be precise, he attended the famous Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Institutes for international development in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A where he obtained an Advanced Certificate with Distinction in the program on Budgeting and Financial Management in the public Sector. In April 2014 I also attended the Johns Hopkins University’s’ School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC USA for a course in Executive-Legislative Relations and Performance. Key Achievements Prior to being elected as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo was a one time member of Federal House of Representatives and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were he distinguished himself in exceptional service and commitment to elevating the standard of life of his people and the Nation at large During his tenure in the house, Senator Aguariavwodo did not disappoint Deltans. He pioneered legislations that revolutionized the participation of indigenous companies in oil and gas sector of the Nigeria economy aptly titled ‘Operation procedure (regulation) of the petroleum company Act 2001”. This bill sought to make it mandatory for the oil companies to look inward to Nigeria and Nigerians for sourcing of their raw materials and equipment. This has inevitably evolved to what is known today in the oil and gas sector as the local content which is now a full fledge Commission overseen by a Management Board. Emmanuel participated actively in the activities that culminated into the enactment of the law setting up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He was among the selected committee that toured the Niger delta region to get the input of the various stakeholders into the law that is to bring succour to the impoverished people of the region, when implemented. Like a gold fish that has no hiding place, Senator Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo was in November of 2003 appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as the MD/CEO of NDDC. Since then he has brought his dynamism and leadership qualities in steering the NDDC to greater heights. Little wonder he was reappointed in 2005 as MD/CEO of the NDDC for another four year term. Some of his achievements at the NDDC includes: Design of Action Plan for transformation at the NDDC An interim action plan involving physical infrastructural development of the Niger delta and capacity building programmes was embarked upon pending completion of the regional master plan. As at December 2006 total infrastructural projects awarded by the commission from inception stood at 2,171. While in the period of his stewardship, 1,459 infrastructural development projects were awarded out of which 163 were completed, 1,027 are ongoing and 9 stalled. Of the completed projects, 25 were commissioned, 125 were completed and commissionable. In addition, 276 projects out of 712 awarded by the previous regime were completed and commissioned during this period also. Development of a Regional Master Plan The regional master plan was completed and approved by Mr President and the federal executive council in the last quarter of 2004. As part of the implementation strategy of the master plan, a committee christened partners for sustainable development (PSD) was set up. Its members are drawn from the NDDC, 9 state governments, civil societies, international development agencies, organised private sector and the oil producing companies. This is a public and private sector partnership that will ensure in an organised manner, an integrated and harmonious implementation of the Niger delta region master plan. This committee under the chairmanship of the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer has been meeting monthly since December 2004 when it was inaugurated. The PSD forum has aptly identified quick impact projects (QIPs) under the master plan. Management has commenced plan implementation through setting up massive cassava and rice farms across the 9 states of the region, setting up technical training schools for our youths to equip them with oil & gas middle manpower skills, model schools development programme for each senatorial district in the region, sports programme – football tournament competition between communities in the region etc. Massive Infrastructural Development Whilst at NDDC, the profile of the organisation rose due to the very concrete achievements in roads and bridges, school buildings, health centres, canalisation and shores protection, water and electrification projects that have been delivered by the commission in the Niger Delta Region. There were also programmes on youth/women empowerment and development in skill acquisition, sport development and job creation. Under his watch, the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan was completed and implementation commenced in earnest with the inauguration of the Partners for Sustainable Development Forum [PSD] which is comprised of the NDDC, the 9 state Governments, the oil companies and all other stakeholders and development providers in the region. This is with a view to mobilizing every segment of the development chain to a common development agenda for synergy and optimization in resource utilization. To enhance the capacity of civil society to engage in development activities, with a view to complementing the efforts of Government, he in conjunction with men of like minds established the Peoples Cooperative Society (PCS), which has been in the vanguard of engaging in micro financing among its members spread across his home state of Delta. The PCS is undergoing current restructuring to make it one of the leading Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) in the Niger Delta Region. Awards and Recognition In recognition of this outstanding accomplishment, various organisations have continued to honour him with awards. Amongst these awards are: The University of Benin Alumni Award for excellence, The Rotary District 9130 Community Service Award AIT Award for Excellence in the Development of the Niger Delta. Award for Leadership and Excellence by the Nigeria Advancement Award Certificate of Honor by the Nigeria Union of Journalist The NAPIMS Award of 2001 Research and Publications Hon. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo ventured into journalism because of his innate interest in public affairs and the public good. In his career at The Guardian, Emma wrote prolifically in The Guardian, The Guardian Express and Lagos life. In fact, he kept a column with Guardian Express for a number of years even after he left active journalism. In 2000, during the 45th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Hon Emmanuel Aguariavwodo was presented a certificate of Honour by the union in recognition of his contribution to journalism profession and for being a good ambassador of the union. Most of the published column materials are now in a book form appropriately titled ‘A NATION OF MY DREAM’. Emmanuel is also the author of a collection of poems titled ‘OUR LOVE, OUR FREEDOM’. According to Gabriel Okara, the doyen of Nigerian Poets, the 49 poems in the collection reveals the ‘‘acute sensitivity and altruism of Aguariavwodo, a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP)’’. He is also a very active member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group where he has presented a number of position papers on the economy Committee Membership He is concurrently the Vice Chairman of the standing Senate Committees on Privatization and on NEPAD. Indeed he is the first Senator to be vice chairman of two standing committees. He is also a member of the Senate standing Committees on Education, Agriculture and Senate Services. Board Membership In 2009, he was appointed by Mr. President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Board Chairman of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority operating out of Port Harcourt. Also in 2013 he was similarly appointed as Board Chairman of Centre for Management Development in Abuja. Philanthropist & Humanitarian He was the first Nigerian and Deltan who donated relief materials worth hundreds of thousands of naira to assist the victims of the Warri crisis through the Delta state Government at Asaba on April 29th 1997. He also financed and organized the well acclaimed WARRI PEACE AND CHARITY CONCERT on September 27th 1997 at the cricket pitch of Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos in collaboration with DAAR Communications Ltd, Lagos. This Effort was to preach the gospel of peace and also to assist the victims of Warri crisis. This clearly portrays his firm belief in good neighborliness and the need for Deltans to continue to live in peace with one another. Senator Aguariavwodo along with other like minds from all the major ethnic groups in Delta State in 1993 formed the famous DELTA FRONT. This body amongst other things was responsible for highlighting the fact that Delta State was indeed the highest oil producing state in Nigeria at that time and that the then revenue allocation formula needed to recognize this fact in distributing revenue amongst the states of the federation. Delta Front made two publications, the first was on October 22, 1993 while the second was on November 16, 1993 both of them in The Guardian Newspaper. Based on these activities and publications by Delta Front, the Federal Government eventually corrected the anomaly and Delta State correctly took its place as the number one oil producing state in the country and all the associated benefits accruable thereto until the 1999 constitution came into operations. IN SUMMARY Emmanuel, a knight of St. Christopher, brings a wealth of experience and deep understanding of the National and International community. He is a committed nationalist. He is a firm believer in one indissoluble nation called Nigeria. He is happily married and blessed with children.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:12:41 +0000