Commissioner Egemba Consolidating alliance between Imo Govt. and stakeholders in Hospitality By Chuks NwokejiThere is no doubt that the Shared Prosperity Administration of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has a good number of commissioners, political heads of Departments Agencies of Government with capacity, credibility and unquestionable ability for quality service delivery. The likes ofCommissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, Hon. Barr Jerry Egemba, Commissioner for Works, Barr .Ralph Nwosu, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. C. O. C. Akaolisa, Commissioner for Education, Prof. John Clif Nwadike, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy and Affairs, Chief Mrs Ruby Emele and few others have done a lot in displaying capacity with quality service delivery. The success of any elected governor, largely depends on the competence and capacity of his foot soldiers as well as. patriotic, frantic and committed efforts of his political appointees who head various Ministries Departments and Agencies of Government, (MDA) Those who represent the governor as Special advisers and Special Assistants are not left out because they carry out his directives. Although capacity,competence and credibility are good, but it is pertinent to note that extra efforts are needed, The ability of any commissioner to build a healthy relationship between stakeholders and the Shared Prosperity Administration is of great advantagebecause stakeholders can compliment efforts, they can also complicate issues , they have a tendency to slow the pace of work, cause frustration in the system, misinterpret good intentions and mischievously misrepresent issues about the state government in the eyes of the public.Building a good relationship with the stakeholders is where some commissioners have an edge over others. Few commissioners have gone extra mile to further consolidate alliance between stakeholders and Shared Prosperity Administration. Most times some commissioners are focused on personal gains, only few focus on public gain. The above mentioned commissioners and few others have proven their mettle when it comes to healthy relationship between Shared Prosperity Administration and Stakeholders in their ministries. Consolidating stakeholders relationship with Imo State Government calls for patriotic efforts, team work, leadership by example and unquestionable trust. Without trust rooted in incredible character, stakeholders will be on a parallel line with political heads of MDA's with little or no meeting point for consolidation of alliance or any form of mutual understanding . From the activities of stakeholders , they have the tendency to frustrate or slow the pace of a progressive work, misinterpret good intentions, mischievously misrepresent issues about the state government in the eyes of the public, this is why a healthy relationship with stakeholders in various MDA's is both imperative and unavoidable. It takes a political office holder with no skeleton in his cupboard, I mean one with sincerity of purpose, selflessness, open door policy, tolerance, patriotic efforts rooted in passionate commitment to build a healthy relationship with stakeholders because he has no skeleton in his cupboard. Only a leader with extreme commitment and capacity can consolidate the alliance between Shared Prosperity Administration and stakeholders in his ministry, this calls for patriotic efforts, team work, leadership by example and unquestionable trust. Without trust rooted in credible character, no stakeholder will draw closer, or comply in consolidation of alliance of any form of understanding. On the side of Hon. Barr. Jerry Egemba, he has done well in consolidating a healthy relationship between Shared Prosperity Administration and the stakeholders in the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture. The Patriotic efforts and capacity of Hon. Egemba to consolidate the alliance between Imo State Government and stakeholders in his ministry are seen in series of meeting he held with stakeholders in the Hospitality, Tourism and Arts and Culture. From available reports, , he has singled himself out in building a healthy relationship between Imo State Government and Stakeholders in his ministry. Building a healthy relationship with stakeholders demands sincerity of purpose, selflessness, open door policy, tolerance, patriotic efforts rooted in passionate commitment and Hon. Jerry Egemba has always gone extra mile to give stakeholders a sense of belonging. This is seen in various meetings he held with stakeholders in the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture.
Only a political office holder without skeleton in his cupboard can build a healthy relationship. It also takes a lover of transparency and open door policy in the class of Hon. Egemba to build a healthy relationship with stakeholders because he has no skeleton in his cupboard.
Imo State Commissioner for Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, has proven to be a political office holder with extreme commitment and capacity to build a healthy relationship and further consolidate the alliance between them and the state government.A focus on the activities of Hon. Barr. Egemba, in the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture, shows that he has clearly proven to be a political office holder with extreme commitment and capacity to build a healthy relationship with stakeholders and further consolidate the alliance between them and Imo State Government.
The door of the ministry under his headship is always wide open for stakeholders. Through a healthy stakeholders engagement, the ministry was able to interact with Actors Guild of Nigeria on the way forward for meaningful development of Film Industry in the state, this gave birth to a powerful and impactful Imo Film Festival which took place at Newton Hotels, Owerri.
Recall that during the unique and successful Imo Film Festival which is attracted who is who in the industry within and outside Imo State as well as top government officials, the chairman; Actors Guilds of Nigeria (AGN), Dr Francis Nwafor, explained how the festival afforded them the opportunity to engage in a critical review of the industry, received further lectures on the current trends in the Film and Entertainment Industry. The chairman stated in clear terms that film actors and producers have been monitoring the progressive activities of the present Commissioner for Tourism, Culture, and Hospitality, Barrister Jerry Egemba, and have impressively resolved to cue into the 3-R Agenda of the state government.
Commissioner Egemba in his lifestyle of keeping his office wild open for stakeholder's engagement, have also interacted with members of Imo State Fashion Designers Association on possible areas of collaboration and assistance from the Shared Prosperity Administration. The visionary and impact- driven commissioner who delights in matching activity with productivity at the meeting passionately appealed to them to creatively design a unique attire that will be well known and strongly promote the status of an indigenous Imo Cultural attire.
He further announced the readiness of Imo State Government to collaborate with the association to organise a world class Fashion Trade Fair in the state in no distant time, that would expose Imo State Fashion Designers to the global fashion market.He made intentions of his Ministry to reach out to the Ministry of Education on the need to include fashion design into the educational curriculum of secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the state known to them.
Convinced by the level of sincerity of purpose demonstrated by the honourable commissioner, the state chairman of the association, Mr Henry Opara, explained that collaboration with the ministry can elevate Imo State rich cultural heritage, showcase her cultural uniqueness through fashion, attract visitors and further generate economic opportunities for local artisans and designers, thereby boosting the tourist and hospitality industries in the state. The records of Hon. Egemba, in building a healthy relationship with stakeholders are numerous, he has not relented with his conscious and visionary moves to give Tourism, Hospitality and Culture a prominent place in the Non Oil Exports, this was demonstrated at the SouthEast Export Business Roundtable organized by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (FCCIMA) held at the Old Trade Fair Complex, Enugu State. At the meeting, he passionately called on the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to intensify efforts at achieving it's core mandate of diversifying the Nigerian Economy, expanding and increasing Non- Oil Exports for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.The commissioner fully outlined potentials of the state in Tourism, Hospitality and Culture at the South East level at the NEPC business roundtable organised to showcase the potentials of South East Zone in the emerging and competitive Non-Oil Export potentials of the Country. It was a powerful event that attracted numerous exhibitors from the Zone.It is on record that Barr. Egemba seized the opportunity to highlight the immense potentials of the Tourism, Hospitality, Culture and Creative Sectors of Imo State, especially in the areas of artistic Talents, Music, Theatre, Fashion and Design. He further solicited for closer collaboration between NEPC and Imo State Government. Commissioner Egemba, has silently, gradually and strongly developed a healthy relationship , continously consolidated a friendly link between Imo State Government and stakeholders in his ministry . He operates in a manner that demonstrates that a healthy relationship between stakeholders in Govenment Ministries, Departments and Agencies cannot be neglected, he knows is a considerable factor because stakeholders play critical role in accomplishment of governments policies and programs. The level of progress recorded in Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture in executing government programs and policies by Commissioner Egemba, is rooted in his open door policy, ability to build a healthy relationship between Shared Prosperity Administration and stakeholders in Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture.His actions and inactions have build more friends and gone a long way in promoting government activities and protecting the interest of Imo State Governor, Senator. Uzodimma. Indeed the activities of Commissioner Egemba, have proven that he has gone extra mile to strengthen the support base of 3R Agenda of Governor Uzodimma by building a healthy relationship between stakehokders in the Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Shared Prosperity Administration.