HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT. HON CHIEF GODSPOWER ASIUWHU – A MAN OF INESTIMABLE VALUE
HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER, MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT. HON CHIEF GODSPOWER ASIUWHU
A MAN OF INESTIMABLE VALUE
An encounter with the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Environment , Delta State; who oversees the environmental activities in the State, was a remarkable moment.
The Forward News Media was in his office to chat him up, on how he has been able to handle with all seriousness, the affairs of the Ministry. He is press friendly bares his mind on his upbringing, his education and challenges over the job since he took over the helm of the affairs as the substantive Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Environment.
Chief Godspower Asiuwhu is a man with the zeal for change and stability in our society. It baffles him to see young people engage in environmental hazard activities, that is why he is not only giving environmental crime fines as a meant to offset the financial allure of activities such as illegal dumping, but then, he tries to imbibe good morals in them. He is a man who has a huge sense of humor,he is morally, rational and priceless when it has to do with environmental Operation. A philanthropist, great achiever who is consistently doing well in prevention of environmental hazard. Due to his method of monitory and control of environmental hazards, The Forward News media deemed it fit to honour him. He is a man full of knowledge, God fearing, one who has been loyal to his principles, loyal to Nigeria government, colleagues, family, religion and friends. Chief Godspower Asiuwhu serves as a reflexive lesson to any young person, who is in a quest for excellence. He works with clear focus, determination, tenacity. He works tirelessly anytime he has a certain goal to accomplish and he doesn’t rest until he achieves his desires aim. He over come many hurdles and today he is consistently rising from grass to grace in the State.
One special gift to the Nigeria is Honourable Chief Godspower Asiuwhu , to everybody, he is a motivating force to humanity because he always demonstrates his love for service. An articulate personality and a highly enthusiastic personality who has used all the knowledge acquired to effect lives positively both in the Ministry of Environment and Nigeria at large. These people in one way or the other have benefited from the liberal and selfless services rendered by this amiable man who has metamorphosed into a colossus. This eloquence candor is always on display when burning issues are at stake.
One thing you can talk about Chief Godspower Asiuwhu is that he is a man of equity, justice, hospitality, and fair play. He is a man who has actively served in various capacities in Delta State and who contributed so immensely towards the development of Delta State. Chief Godspower Asiuwhu stronge believe in God has successfully seen him through in whatever he does. An icon of hard work and enthusiasm with a compassionate spirit. He is a crusader on his people’s right. An intellectual to the core, a leader who never leaves any stone unturned rather footprints that which posterity will rejoice for, all to the glory of God and service to humanity.
As a peace loving man, he maintains a cordial relationship with anyone who comes around him. His open door policy cannot be undermined.
Excerpt:
What can you say about the increasing risks from climate change within the nation particular to Delta State and what proactive measures have the Government taken to mitigate its impact to its inhabitant?
The impact of climate change cuts across ecosystem, economic, social and geographic boundaries, thus having wide ramification from societal structure to local infrastructures, human induced and natural hazards as well as climate- induced hazards portend severe consequences for live hoods food security human and national security. This background / risk analysis also applies to delta state. Proactive measures taken by government to mitigate climate change and impacts to its inhabitants.
(a).The state government has facilitated the establishment of a pilot recycling facility driven by the private sector in Oshimili south LGA and will be replicated in all the 25 LGA in the state
(b).Sensitization programmes to Deltas to create the needed awareness on climate through stakeholders, forum town hall meetings in communities jingles in electronic media flyers etc
(c). Establishment of delta schools climate clubs {DESCC} in some secondary schools in the state. The objective is to catch the students young and make their climate change agents. DESCC is also set to reach tertiary and primary instructions.
precisely speaking everyone is aware that delta state is an oil producing State and oil production have been affiliated with some negative impact to the environment such as gas flaring, dredging of rivers, oil spillage etc. what measures have the state put in place to contain this impacts?
Delta state is set to key into the NNPC Ltd, gas commercialization project that seeks among others to end gas flaring by developing gas –to- power plants at gas flare sites (MICRO GRID).
Technology is now an indispensable and invaluable tool to every sector of the world. Are there modern technologies been employed in the state to sustain its environment?
Technology to sustain the environment
• GPS technology has been used to know the extent and level of encroachment to track the encroaches and level of degradation It, is also used to know the areas that require urgent attention unmanned aircraft (DRONE): this has been used to effectively access and track the level of encroachment and tree special that exist in the forest although there are drones that are used in planting even in accessible areas.
where are some pragmatic actions the State has indulged in with the residents and stake holders to attract investors and tourists?
Our forest reserves are rich in flora and fauna (tree species and wild animal species) that contribute to the attraction of tourists from all over the world examples are chimpanzees and gorillas in Okpe Sobo forest reserve crocodiles in Yokri, African tiger also in Yokri.
The mangrove trees that are found in delta also have various species of lobsters and prawns.
We are aware Delta state has plan as regards to trees planting and also regeneration forest reserves to sustain its environment, now and in the future. What can you say about the success of this plan?
There have been pragmatic approach to tree planting where failed areas are of the forest resume are planted with seedling supplied from the nursery. There are collaborations with NGO’s that have been existing on mandate of three planting.
Our Nursery are staked with Apa and black ebony seedling which will help encouraging individual which will help encourage individual land owners in their own small way so as to mitigates the effect of climate change .
As a man who understand the Nitty- gritty of grassroots politics and believes in the vision of Governor Okowa’s Smart Agenda for a strong Delta. What can you say about that?
Well, Delta State as a state was created 1991 and we have had three democratic elected governments since the creation of Delta State starting from Olorogun Felix Ibru, Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, he took the leadership of this state on the 29th of May 2015, before now you will see that Delta State is a state whereby we have a lot of swap terrine whereby even the federal government is afraid of coming to Delta State to do a lot of project but when Okowa assume office, you see Delta State as one state even though we have multinational state, but you see us as one family. First we have to visit all the local government apart from that, he makes sure that all the local government has human capital development. What do I mean by human capital development? As he assume office he set up a transition committee where people were recommended from various wards and units and all were included in government, at list 80% of those recommended where in the government apart from that he is a governor that have touch all the local government with each project. There is no local government that you will enter today that you will not see a very viable project or visible project on that author Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. Even before then you will find out that most of our youth rooming in the street and they have to come out with job creation office which have empowered more than 7,000 thousand youth, even the business tycoons can attest to that smart agenda have really transform Delta State into stronger Delta and as it is now, he is actually finishing strong and we know God be on our side will finish strong by May 29th 2023.
What can you say about Governor Okowa’s regime?
As you can see in Government , Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa regime as he earlier said from the office of the job creation we have empower more than seven thousand youths who are now business Owner, they are now into entrepreneurship, they have also become employee which they are using it as a means of livelihood. We also find out that from where we are getting the statistic of job creation, the male agenda are actually more than the female gender so we have to create a ministry that will carter for only the female child which is the ministry of girl child. As you can see, we are focused on empowering our girls bringing them from the street to their own to set up their own business. So that ministry is having the second commissioner now, the first commissioner did her best and the second commissioner Hon. Mrs. Nkechi Enumah Chukura is presently doing all what it takes to make sure that the vision of Dr. Senator Ifeanyi Okowa towards the girl child is achieved and so many of them have actually set up their own businesses. We are not just training them, the government also train them after training, he also empower them and give them certain part, he also give them money to set up their own business. Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is paying 80 widows per ward in Delta State N10,000 before it was N5,000, presently he is paying them N10,000 we have a two hundred and seventy ward in Delta State, you can multiply 270 ward to 80 persons that is paying N10,000 per month. widows we have heard that the government is not just only focusing on infrastructure but is also focusing on human capital development. So it all settled by senator DR ifeanyi okowa have actually put that. He has touch so many persons and we believe he merged and become the vice president of this country he is not just going to focus only on Delta state because he has pass the road, I know the entire south –south even Nigeria at large will actually enjoy when he become the vice president of this country.
So what advice do you have for the aspirants come 2023 election?
Well as it is now we don’t actually have an aspirants, we now have candidate because when we are running primary that we have a lot of people aspiring to become this or that. Now all the political party in Nigeria have candidate. Most of us that are in social media we have heard some persons using abusive words like foul language against the opponent which is not encouraging. In political atmosphere, tell the people what you want to do, tell them if you have head office before, tell them what you use the office that position to impact people than for you to sit down in that position and start insulting people, if you can see in all the campaign that the governorate candidate of APC Barr Orogun Omo Agege happen to be the deputy senate president, he has not for one day tell the people he will provide water rather people will say OKOWA is a thief, OKOWA is embezzle our money, you want to use to govern the people, so the people you are telling are not deaf they know what is happening, they know that OKOWA perjudiciously use money that is given to Delta state to develop the state so for somebody at that level to say OKOWA is a thief OKOWA . tell them what you want to do so that at a time you will be able to give account of your work if you fail to deliver you electoral promises but for now they don’t have any so my advice to them , let them retrace their foot print and make sure that by the time they find themselves in political rally , tell the people what you want do for them, tell the people the position they have heard before and what you have use the position for than to be running abuse words against each others. And thank God we are using beavers and let me say cashless esteem. I believe that Delta, Nigerian will vote their conscience so that nobody will say they kajo he or her. Vote your conscience and leave the rest for God. Because power belongs to God they should camp down and see the way they are looking for power in a Godly way. That is my advice to all candidate in all the political party including my own party PDP that are seeking elective position.
As the sitting commissioner for ministry of environment Delta State, what big change do you want to be remembered for?
Well, there are so many thing that has happened under my tenure as a commissioner and i know many will still happen before we round up by may 29th by God’s grace whether the president or the governor will remain in the office is by the security of the governor, so if I say they are some certain things being carried out here that people are not happy, people will remember me of those negative or useless thing that I did. So for now, I may not know whether I have perform positively or negatively until I leave office, so it is then I will know whether I have tried or I have not tried because the things people say behind you actually put you on the toe or actually put you in the right track where you have yourself sensitive or in changing position. For now am blind I don’t know whether I have perform well or haven’t perform well until I leave office or staff shall always speak about me not me speaking about myself.
what is your advice to Deltans?
my advice to deltans , now that we are entering into this harmathan period, we should be very careful the way we pack our car because a lot of people are using this opportunity to set fire. There have being a lots happening in the ministries. Bush burning is a crime as far as the environment is concern. So we should deceit from it, some persons are still going ahead setting fire in the bush e .g Fulani’s so that when the rain comes, the fresh leave that will come up, their cow will be feeding very well. so we are also using their local language to speak to them, talk to them and give them a lot of awareness that should stop them from burning bushes. And even our own people if you want to farm, go and clear your farm than to burn them because the more you start burning the bush you are not only destroying the soil, you are also destroying our economic animal and now that we are also going into the harmattan period there will be a lot of dew, we should mind the way we go out early in the morning, we should keep our environment clean even though we are not there, when you go to the market sabotoa and the rest, when the place are not clean talk to them, if they refuse revert back to the ministry.
