Senator Magnus Ngei Abe has restated his commitment to promoting merit-based human capital development as the foundation for sustainable progress in Ogoniland. He made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Abuja branch of advocacy group Ogoni Beyond Oil and Politics at his residence last week.
The group had visited to express appreciation for the senator’s contributions to human capital development in the region. Abe commended their initiative and reaffirmed his belief in meritocratic systems and service to humanity without expectation of personal reward.
He stressed that building a better future for Ogoniland, Rivers State and Nigeria requires collective efforts focused on excellence across all sectors. The senator pointed to the legacies of notable Nigerian leaders including Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe as examples of how commitment to human capital development drives socio-economic advancement.
Abe called on current Ogoni leaders to emulate patriots like Edward Kobani and Ken Saro-Wiwa by promoting merit, capacity building and hard work. He advocated for a society where opportunities for advancement are based on verifiable excellence rather than privilege or connections.
The delegation leader, traditional ruler Mene Kadilo Kabari, praised Abe’s record of supporting young people based on merit. Several beneficiaries including professionals from NNPC, NCC and international organisations shared testimonies of the senator’s impact on their careers.
“Let us build an ogoni where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody….a society where the child of nobody can become somebody based on hard work and excellence, not based on family relations or privileged connection”, Abe said.
The Global Covener of the initiative, His Royal Highness, Mene Kadilo Kabari, who is the Paramount/Natural Ruler of Barako Ancient Community and Member, Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt, extolled Senator Abe’s merit-based legacies with support signatures in the lives of countless young persons including members of the delegation, all of whom highly esteems him as leader, mentor and benefactor.
The traditional leader stated that Abe’s name has already been written in gold and in the annals of history as one who promotes merit over mediocrity, capacity over sycophancy, and selflessness over bigotry
Mene Kabari specifically thanked the Senator for his role in the current status of Engr. Ziganu Laka of the NNPC, and encouraged him to continue his good works in the lives of young people beyond politics.
Speaking individually, Mr Ayiabari Kigbara, a staff of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Ziganu Laka, a staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Dr Rogers Kanee, a staff of the Clinton Foundation/Health Access Initiative, were thankful to the Senator for various interventions in their lives and many other young persons in Ogoni and across the nation.
Solidarity remarks were also made by Mr Monday Ubulom, a staff of NNPC, Mr Ndume Green, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Capital/Ogoni TV, and Mr Precious Monmon, former president of the National Union of Rivers State Students.
Discussion about this post