Federal lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor has praised the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr. Bariere Thomas for the establishment of the ultramodern Khana Local Government Information Technology Centre which graduated its first 1000 trainees recently.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the centre in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Dekor congratulated the graduands and described Dr. Thomas as a prudent manager of resources, adding that he has done Ogoni people and humanity proud.
The federal lawmaker who represents Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said he is amazed at how the Council Chairman was able to accomplish the establishment of the high quality ICT Centrr and went on to turn out 1000 trainees free of charge, given the lean resources available to the council.
“We’ve been around in this local government area for so many years, and what we are seeing today, and what we see every other day frightens me. The council was never like this. What we see is that everything is turning around for good. All the lines are falling in place for the people of Khana and even non-indigenes living in Khana”, he said, adding that Governor Wike must be very proud of him.
The former Works Commissioner and Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, assured the Chairman of the continued support and encouragement of the people which he believed would spur him to do more.
He noted that it was not easy to think up such innovative programmes and execute them with the kind of finesse with which the Chairman has handled this programme and also thanked the principal officers of the council for supporting Dr. Thomas Bariere.
Rt. Hon. Dekor told the graduands: “Let me tell you that as young as you are, this is the best time to catch you, and the Chairman has caught you. As they say, catch them young. Parents, please allow them to go through other stages of their training. They will not let you down. This is the very best time to have them.
“One thousand persons are graduating today. It’s not a small feat. One thousand persons free ICT training programme. I will tell you today that even those of you who are going to aspire in the years to come to go to National or State Assembly, all those places are becoming digital.
“So, it’s not going to be alien to you when you walk into any of those facilities. You will handle all such facilities with ease because you have had the basics. And you keep growing on the basics until you get to the limits”.
The federal lawmaker noted that in the more developed countries, curriculum is not just about ‘cutting the brain and forcing some pieces of paper into it,’ rather it is about using your hands on your head , expressing the hope that some of them would be great in the field they have chosen.
“You must aspire to be because most of those who run the economy of the world today are coming from where you are starting now. And you are even starting earlier than most of them. So I know that the sky is your limit”, he said.
Rt. Hon. Dekor expressed joy that the people of Khana had not wasted the votes cast for Governor Wike and Dr. Bariere, saying “You can see the masterpiece of a road leading to Kono, a dual carriage way. I was Commissioner for Works, and I know the value of this road, and I know what this road is going to do for Ogoni people”.
