REPORT ON THE THINK TANK WORKSHOP OF AKASSA

DEVELOPMENT
FOUNDATION
(ADF):
SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION IN THE NIGER
DELTA ON 8TH SEPTEMBER, 2016 AT MATHO CRYSTAL
HOTEL, YENAGOA.
ATTENDANCE:
In attendance were Chiefs, Board of Trustees members, prominent sons and
daughters of Akassa kingdom. Others include representatives of Ministries of
Education,

Health

and

Women

affairs,

politicians

and

Civil

Society

Organizations (CBOs).
INTRODUCTION
The ADF is a community based organization that facilitates CORPORATE
governance in enhancing sustainable development in Akassa kingdom. This
workshop was organized by the ADF to showcase the profound achievements
of the ADF programmes, and to explore strategies of sustaining the
foundation through multi-stakeholders (individuals, government, CSOs,
private sector) collaboration. More so, the major sponsors of the ADF, Statoil
were ready to handover the foundation to the people of Akassa in the year
2017.
OPENING REMARK/SPEECH
Opening

speech

was

delivered

by

Mr.

Chris

Alagoa

of

Pro-Natural

International (PNI) Nigeria. PNI is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

which specializes in developing capacities of local communities so that they
can lead their own development. He welcomed each and every one to the
workshop and highlighted the importance of the workshop. He reiterated the
fact that PNI and Statoil have been responsible for the administration and
funding of the ADF. However, Statoil was ready to hand over this
responsibility to the natives hence, the need for the workshop to plan the
way forward,
AN OVERVIEW OF AKASSA DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION: CONCEPT,
STRATEGY AND PHILOSOPHY BY NALAGUO CHRIS ALAGOA.
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He noted that Statoil initiated a process to obtain a healthy working

relationship with the Akassa kingdom. In order to elicit a conducive
environment for business without hindrance. Statoil befriended the people
and wanted to add value to the economic mainstay (fisheries) of the people.
The strategy employed was to finance community projects conceived by the
community with a minimum budget. Statoil also mentored entrepreneurs
through contract experts, and aimed at protecting the environment.
Their philosophy was a happy people with sustainable livihood in a safe
environment were not likely to engage the oil company in a fight. In other
words, good neighborliness was good for business.
The strategy of Statoil was facilitated by PNI whose responsibility it was to
liaise with the people of Akassa to tackle the issues in a systematic, informed
and holistic manner with available men, money and materials. They operated
an all-inclusive system through dialogue and conference for a sustainable
development.
OPENING REMARKS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP BY ARC.
HARCOURT ADUKEH CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT).
The objective of the meeting was to get multi-stakeholders to proffer
strategies on how to manage the ADF after Statoil handover. He emphasized
the importance of security for a peaceful, conducive business environment
which leads to a sustainable development. According to Arc Harcourt there
was a cordial working relationship between Statoil and other oil companies
operating in the region and the people of Akassa, not until militancy and
greed crept in. This undermined the peace and security, resulting in violence,
kidnapping, bunkering and other criminal activities which led to the exit of
key stakeholders. The management of ADF found it difficult to source for
counterpart funding, thereby leaving the burden on Statoil. The outcome is
that ADF could not execute projects with the same quality and zeal since
they depended solely on Statoil for funding. More so, Statoil is ready to
handover the management of the ADF to the people of Akassa.

He also solicited the cooperation of Government Ministries and Parastatals,

Civil Societies and volunteers to collaborate with the ADF for sustainable
development. He urged politicians to use their political influence in bringing
to the kingdom what rightfully belongs to them. He was equally impressed
with the strategies of funding raising suggested by the workgroup on fund
raising. He urged all prominent sons and daughters of the kingdom to fund
the ADF in any capacity they can, be it cash or kind, knowledge or
technological know-how. He was particularly delighted about the meaningful
deliberations and thanked the three workgroups for a job well done.
ADF JOURNEY: ITS ACHIEVEMENT, CHALLENGES AND EMERGING
ISSUES BY FRIDAY I. AMAIN PROGRAMME COORDINATOR.
The programme coordinator led us through the journey of ADF, he noted that
ADF is a CBO established in 1998 to implement the Akassa community
development programme. ADF is comprised of 19 communities and 121
satellitesettlements (mainly fishing ports) of the Akassa kingdom. ADF has a
well-defined organizational structure with departments and units. It provides
responsible corporate governance in the management of the Akassa National
Development Programme (ANDP) through the Board of Trustees, and the
management

team

with

the

general

Assembly

providing

inclusive

participation and ownership.

There are three (3) departments and nine (9) development units coordinated
by the programme management department. The programme coordinator
also highlighted some of the milestone achievements of the ADF from
inception in 1998 to 2015. He urged all stakeholders, especially the
prominent sons and daughters of the kingdom to support the ADF in their
various capacities to ensure its sustainable development.
GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM SENATOR BEN MURRAY BRUCE
Senator Ben Murray Bruce flew in from Abuja and was very pleased with the
organizers of the programme. He noted that the world is moving away from
crude oil to alternative energy. He mentioned countries in Europe such as
3

Germany using over 60% of alternate energy and urged the youths to look
beyond the dividends of crude oil. He urged the ADF to encourage the youths
to develop skills, and organize a competition for technological inventions
among the youths. He donated an electric powered motor cycle, generators
and some other items to the ADF. He urged the ADF to carry out a need
assessment and forward to him for consideration in the constituency project.
He lamented that the security situation has made it difficult for him and
other prominent sons and daughters of Akassa to visit their homes. It has
also adversely affected the economic activities of the locals who are mainly
fishermen and traders. He therefore pleaded with the chiefs to sensitize the
youths to embrace peace and redeem the glory of the kingdom, and forestall
sustainable development.
OBSERVATION
1. The ADF is a very organized community based organization that
facilitates the development of the whole community,
2. It brings together the sons and daughters of Akassa to tackle issues
confronting the whole Akassa kingdom in a systematic and holistic
manner. It is worthy of emulation by every other clan in the state. The
workshop was a success as the three workgroups (Security, Fund
Raising, and collaboration of government, CBOs, NGOs and
volunteers) came up with meaningful strategies that will contribute to
the sustenance of the ADF on one hand, and the sustainable
development of the region on the other.
SUGGESTIONS
1. The Ministry of Education can collaborate with the ADF in areas of
information sharing.
2. Information can get to every nook and cranny of the kingdom through
the following contact persons:
Friday I. Amain
Mr. Awulabah

09035824706
07067666505
4

Mrs. Obah

08037738951

CONCLUSION
The workshop ended at about 3:00pm after a closing prayer. It was indeed an
eye opener to see prominent men and women from far and wide, who are
passionate about the development of their community. I was honoured to be
part of the Think Tank workshop to contribute ideas to the sustainable
development of such a formidable foundation. I want to thank the Permanent
Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) A.A. Atuwo for the opportunity given me to participate in
the workshop.

Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Tari Gede

Deputy Director (Statistics)