By Dianabasi Effiong

An Asaba based group, Maris Trust Council (MTC), has announced April 16 for the 2025 Maris Annual Public Lecture on “Local Governance And Sustainable Development.”

Its Secretary, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, who confirmed this on Friday, added that Mr Charles Aniagwu, Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, would be one of the discussants at this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.

Aniagwu, former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar Campaign Council for the 2023 Presidential Election, will join three other prominent personalities for a discourse on the topic.

Similarly, a renowned technocrat and successful private sector operator, Sir Patrick Ejidoh, will be the Keynote Speaker at the fifth annual agenda-setting lecture series.

The lecture series was conceived to proffer solutions to some of the challenges facing the society.

The Maris Annual Public Service Lecture is held every Wednesday before Easter Sunday.

This year’s edition is slated for April 16 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba by noon.

Egugbo also said that Aniagwu, a communication strategist whose Ministry – the Ministry of Works (Rural Roads) – had a lot to do with the provision of infrastructure from the local government levels in line with the topic for this year’s discourse, was carefully chosen as a discussant.

Egugbo said, “The Maris Trust Council (MTC) is happy to announce Mr Charles Aniagwu, a communication expert, as one of the discussants at this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.

“We are all aware of the fact that the Keynote Speaker, Mr Patrick Ejidoh, a Knight of Saint Mulumba, would set the ball rolling with the delivery of the lecture which has as its theme: “Local Governance And Sustainable Development”.

“Sir Ejidoh is a technocrat, a successful private sector operator, and the immediate past Managing Director of Champion Breweries, Uyo.

“He is presently actively involved in the transformation of his community as the President-General of Onicha-Olona Development Union, a former civil servant, former President of the Students Union Government, and a true family man, among others.

” So, we cannot expect anything less than the best in terms of speaking in practical terms on the topic for discussion.”

Also, Aniagwu was born in 1972 and hails from Akumazi in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

He had his journalism stint at DBN Television before he joined the African Independent Television (AIT) as a Political Correspondent, a platform that got him recognition politically where he was discovered as an asset by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa.

He was Okowa’s Chief Press Secretary, a position he held from where he was made the Commissioner for Information.

Egugbo also stated, “Today, because of his commitment to his job, he is the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and that of Ministry of Public Information in the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.

“By the grace of God, this year’s edition of Maris Lecture will be action-packed with the personalities who will play different roles in the lecture and we shall keep unveiling them in the next few days.

“The Maris Trust Council led by Chief (Sir) Kenneth Olise, PhD, FCA, JP, appreciates the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for making the state conducive for such international discourse as the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.

“The MTC also thanked the governor for his impact in the area of provision of infrastructure which gave birth to the topic for discussion – Local Governance And Sustainable Development.

“To our regular participants, sponsors and likely sponsors, we say thank you for believing that collectively, we can proffer solutions to the challenges of the society.

“Let us meet again on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba at Noon; Asaba is safe, boasts of accommodating, friendly people, hotels of international standards and an airport that has been described as one of the best in the world because of its standard runway and other facilities.

“So, for those who want to be in Asaba days before the lecture, you can fly in through the Asaba International Airport or make use of the roads.

“While in the ancient town by the River Niger, you can visit the tourists’ sites such as the Landers’ Brothers Anchorage, the Mungo Park House, the Igwogwo Erosion Site, the Mariam Babangida Leisure Park, among others while enjoying the local cuisine that Delta is known for, Ofe Ikele with Nli Iji, Banga and Starch, etc.”

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