COMMUNIQUE OF THE WARRI BOYS SOCIAL & WELFARE SOCIETY’S (AKA WARRI BOYS ASSOCIATION) WEBINAR THEMED: “REVITALIZING WARRI – BUILDING A THRIVING FUTURE” WHICH HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2024.
INTRODUCTION
The webinar was purposely to identify and build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders for generating new ideas toward raising awareness/highlighting Warri’s current challenges and opportunities for growth. It was aimed at identifying key stakeholders from government, traditional leadership, business, civil society for the revitalization and development of Warri.
The webinar was a follow-up on the strategic initiatives taken by the Warri Boys Association to draw attention to the gamut of issues affecting the growth and development of Warri. The initiative is focused on strengthening government capability to establish compliance systems and collaboration between business, government and civil society as well as create the platform for needed cultural exchange engagements and the overall enhancement of import and export trade via Warri port. Also, it is hoped that stakeholders will follow through the presentations/discussions and accompanying recommendations for a thriving Warri.
The Warri Boys Association is a Nigerian Advocacy group of 125 members, with the vision of “leading a non-partisan, non-cultural Association, influencing growth and development to Warri and its environs through advocacy, engagements and interventions”. The Association seeks to raise awareness and work with stakeholders to reposition Warri as a deserving Oil City, associated with peace, tranquility and prosperity.
SPEAKERS
Mr. Vwede J Obahor – Poet, Filmmaker, Growthwheel Certified Business Advisor and Management Consultant
Eriata Oribhabor (Di Poet) – President, Poets in Nigeria Initiative
MODERATOR
Mr Matthew Ogagavworia, FCA – MD/CEO Stonehill Intelligence & Marketing
OBSERVATIONS
I. The Warri of Old had social understanding and acceptability as a people who lived in peace as a family with natural blood relationship.
II. Warri was characterized with Warmth and Openness to all irrespective of state of origin and ethnicity.
III. Waffarians are confident people, determined to excel in all fields of human endeavour.
IV. Trust was a highly regarded virtue among Wafferians.
V. The Wafferian has regard for education and the educated.
VI. Wafferians respect family name and avoid acts that may bring shame to the family.
VII. Wafferians respect elders, seniority and authority with a strong culture of respect.
VIII. Wafferians believe in hard work and are proud of being from Warri. They flaunt it to the world that they are held in awe. “I Be Warri Boy”, “I Be Warri”, “I Be Wafferian”,
IX. Truth & Straightforwardness: The values of being down to earth and straightforward in whatever dealing are dear to Wafferians. I had repeatedly heard people say; “di thing I like about Warri pipul be sey, dem dey very straightforward, and dem dey like to talk dia mind as e be”
X. Wafferians are fearless, straightforward, neat and clean
XI. Wafferians embrace different cultural festivals-: “Awankere” popularly called Okere Juju, Iju Agbarha (Agbassa Juju), popular annual “Ipi’ masquarade dance of Itsekiri (Odion Road/Alders town area), Okere-Urhobo, Esan (Ishan Juju) – popular Igbabonerimi, Calabar Juju, Umanwu (Igbo), etc
XII. Wafferians enjoyed nightlife-Zeina Nite Club (By Old K-Chellerams/opposite Mudiaga Odje Chambers -Warri-sapele Rd), Lido Nite Club (Cemetry Rd), Mid-West Inn Paradiso Nite club (Opposite Urhobo College), Genesis Nite Club, Gogo Room (Palm Grove Hotel/Ighogbadu Rd), Green Virgin Nite Club (Ogedengbe Street), New Rex (Odion Rd/Malori compound), Virginia Nite Club (Lower Erejuwa/Opp. Sam Warri Essi Street), Night Nurse Nite club (Old Leventis/Eselemo building), Lord’s Nite club (Opposite Gold Spot/Water Resources), Pemy Nite club and the popular Kokori Bar (by Old Kingsway
Today’s Warri:
I. Extortion of Individuals, Corporate Bodies in the name of development bodies by abled bodied youth dents Warri’s name.
II. Disrespect of elders, seniors, authority
III. Wrong orientation about wealth, with Advance Fee Fraud styled “Yahoo”, Kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, prostitution and now homosexuality and lesbianism weren’t part of the culture of Warri.
IV. Commercial and Industrial life in Warri is gone, and needs to brought back. Entertainment and vibrant nightlife needs to be restored.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I. Routine Peace Conferences
II. Enlightenment Webinars
III. Traditional Rulers should set the pace by embracing peace with a peace meeting between the four recognized Rulers in Warri midwifed by stakeholders to provide the optics of friendship among siblings as of old.
IV. Festivals in Warri-The Kings should invite each of them to participate to all festivals and that message will resonate to all in Warri.
V. Copies of published communique should be forwarded to traditional rulers.
VI. Physical Seminars on Peace
VII. Political Leadership must prioritize Warri in developmental efforts.
VIII. Stakeholders should be made to refocus on rebuilding family values, orientation on youth to recognize dignity in labour, pursue education, and government should prioritize security amidst peace in Warri.
IX. Government should address infrastructural issues, provide incentives for investments to flow back to Nigeria and Warri to be specific.
X. Furthermore, the State Government should be lobbied to lead the call for the revitalization of the Ports in Warri, Sapele, Koko, Burutu and the Petrochemical and Refineries, Steel Company of the Federal Government
XI. Chairmen of local governments of Uvwie, Otor-Udu, Orerokpe, Ughelli, etc should hold Annual collaborative/colloquium that will help build on the overall image of the mentioned communities whilst strengthening their socio-cultural and traditional values and support peace.
XII. Enlightenment seminars/workshops on socio-cultural and traditional studies: Similarly, as custodians of customs and traditions, traditional rulers should have it as part of their annual programs to organise enlightenment workshops/seminar on socio-cultural and traditional studies that seek to promote her people’s identity.
XIII. Application of Language of The Immediate Community: The local authorities and traditional rulers should be interested in promoting the speaking of traditional languages as prescribed in our nation’s language policy. In this regard, schools under their domain should be compelled to respect the policy.
XIV. The use of local language in religious literature, sermons, and more is key in strengthening our socio-cultural and traditional values.
XV. Identification of Wafferians in Arts and literary industry: Wafferians with proven record in the arts and literary world should be identified and routinely celebrated and further encouraged to come up with different interventionist arts & literary programs to support our communities. Examples in this regard are literary and arts festivals.
XVI. Inter-schools literary and arts activities and the promotion of arts education in all ramifications: This should be actively promoted by local authorities to include debating, storytelling, poetry writing, spoken word poetry performance, etc.
XVII. Inter-schools sporting competitions: this will serve as grooming ground for sporting athletes and social bonding.
XVIII. Carnival of Festivals: Sister tribes with relative population like the Esans (Ishan), Calabar, Igbos, etc should celebrate.
XIX. There should be give back, comeback art industry events by stakeholders to promote the art industry with support from Government
XX. Entrepreneurs should encouraged to set up specialized, technical schools as of old in – Architectural Survey & Technical school (ASB) – (Ajamimogha, Warri)
i. Atamakolomi Technical School – (Enerhen, Warri) – mechanical, vehicle, etc
ii. GES (General Electric service) – (behind NNB and PB Djebba W/S Rd)
iii. Midwest College – owned by Chief Ovieragha (Glo office, opposite Edewor shopping complex)
iv. United College of Commerce (UCC) now College of Commerce to engage our Youth meaningfully to be protected from social and economic vices.
XXI. Wrap up on socials: Hosting of Beauty Pageantry like MISS NPA and the like.
NEXT STEPS
1. In conjunction with relevant Stakeholders, facilitate a peace parley between the four recognized traditional rulers in Warri for a heart to heart discussion, Association.
2. Start plan for the next Webinar and Physical Seminars.
Signed:
Matthew Ogagavworia, FCA
(President)
Alex Eyengho, MSc., MBA
(Public Relations Officer)
