The interim Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio(rtd), branch controller, Central bank of Nigeria,Calabar, Mr Chuks Sokari and former caretaker committee (CTC) chairman,Ahoada West Council area of Rivers state, Karibo Wilson, during the week received awards from their home town,Mbiama Communitiy.
Presenting the awards during a reception held by the communitiy in honour of her illustrious sons and daughters, the paramount ruler, HRH Otovie Smith Sylvanus, noted that the recipients deserved the awards following their track record of achievements and support towards the growth and development of the community.
The royal father, who also relived his achievements in the past one year mentioned some of his achievements as, restoring peace and curbing insecurity to the barest minimum, naming of streets after illustrious sons and daughters of the community, solving the problem of near total power blackout and monthly compulsory environmental sanitation as well as reinventing football competition which he said the community was noted for, amongst others.
The Tide reports that the presidential Amnesty coordinator was represented by his brother who himself was an award recipient, Professor Ezekiel Dikio of the Niger Delta University, just as the CBN branch controller, Chuks Sokari and the ex-CTC chairman, Karibo Wilson were among nine illustrious sons and daughters of the fast urbanising communitiy noted as the commercial nerve centre of the Ahoada West local government area.
The awards ceremony which was held as part of events to commemorate the first anniversary of the reign of the Mbiama monarch was christened ‘meritorious award of achievements and excellence/support for community growth and development’.
In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion, ESV Ogah George, lauded the community for their harmonious living, stating that Mbiama is a good example and worthy of emulation by other Engenni speaking communities.
He added that reports at his disposal show that the feat the community has achieved was made possible by the consultative leadership they have in the person of Sylvanus as paramount ruler, supported by a committed Community Development Committee (CDC) membership as well as a peaceful and loyal youth leadership.
Also speaking, the Guest of Honour, an awardee and CBN Branch Controller, Calabar, Mr Chuks Sokari, thanked the leadership of the community for finding him and others worthy for the awards.
Sokari restated the need for continuous unity and peace in the community, noting that even before he was born decades ago the community has been a melting point of commerce where people from all walks of life had lived peacefully, eking out a living irrespective of tribe and languages, emphasising that the awards would spur the recipients to do more for the community.
Others who bagged awards were, Professors Ezekiel Dikio of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island,Amassoma, Bayelsa State,and Amalo Dibofori-Orji of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education,Port Harcourt, Comrade Inime Karibo Wilson, CEO, Chris-Nime Global Services Ltd.
Also receiving awards were, Hon. Ayanate Dikio, former councilor,Ahoada West LGA,Ward two, who also doubles as the chairman, Mbiama Communitiy revenue generation committee, Mr Simon Boma, Mr Tayo Olu, as well as football stars who garnered various categories of award after an inter-street football competition which was held earlier.
Meanwhile,in a welcome address presented by the community through their CDC chairman, Engr. Moore Sokari,the community have called on the Government and other interventionist agency to help fast track the pace of the community’s Development through the construction of pave roads, development of manpower and the provision of other social amenities to improve on their living conditions.
The community hinted that the absence of infrastructure has impeded its quest for genuine transformation from a semi-urban nomenclature to an urban centre.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa