Stakeholders at the posthumous 60th birthday celebration of Sir Davies Okoro Okarevu and launching of the Davies Okarevu Hearts of Hope Initiative in his memory have renewed calls for the accelerated completion and faithful implementation of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan being anchored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
They describe it as the most enduring tribute to the late development strategist and public servant.
Delivering the keynote address at the event which held in Port Harcourt on Monday, Mr. Iniruo Wills, a development consultant and environmental justice lawyer for Niger Delta communities, paid glowing tribute to Sir Davies’ life of service, excellence and community leadership, while underscoring his pivotal role in shaping the Niger Delta’s long-term development vision.
He noted that Sir Davies, who served as Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the NDDC, was a key architect and promoter of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, who successfully coordinated the first phase of the Niger Delta regional master plan currently being developed, and provided strategic guidance for subsequent stages even in ill health.
He therefore called for a bold acknowledgment of the role of Sir Davies in the completed Masterplan document and during its execution.
Wills highlighted three defining pillars of the late development strategist’s life to include excellence, commitment to people, and commitment to community.
Wills further noted that “What made his scholarship remarkable was not the accumulation of certificates, but the application of knowledge to responsibility.
“His life was a reminder that success is incomplete if it is not shared; that influence is wasted if it does not create opportunities for others; and that joy becomes richer when lived in fellowship.”
Wills, however, emphasized that beyond personal and professional achievements, Sir Davies’ greatest legacy lies in his consistent contributions and pivotal role towards crafting a development blueprint for the Niger Delta, stressing that prioritizing the implementation of the master plan would democratize opportunity and improve the lives of communities across the region.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of NDDC, Dr Patterson Ogon, extolled the virtues of his predecessor, describing him as a natural leader and exemplary administrator whose impact transcends the Commission.
In his remarks, the pioneer Director of Planning of the Commission, Mr Atei Beredugo, affirmed how Sir Davies, upon joining NDDC, proved to be a great asset in the process of producing the first development masterplan for the region.
Guests drawn from a mix of citizens called on the NDDC and its development partners to honour Sir Davies’ memory by ensuring the timely completion and disciplined execution of the regional development strategy he championed.
Highlight of the event was the successful launch of the Davies Okarevu Hearts of Hope Initiative, put together by his wife, Dr Mrs Angela Davies Okarevu, and his friends to immortalize a life defined by service, mentorship, faith and community building.
Several guests saluted the vision of Mrs Angela Okarevu and others who worked with her to create the charity platform, and numerous donations and pledges were made to the Davies Okarevu Hearts of Hope Initiative.
Donors included the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), Usosans Resident in Port Harcourt (URIP), and Mr Eugene Abels.
Guests were treated to uplifting musical renditions by the Cheshire Home Choir and the Cecilia Choir of the Catholic Church (Mater Misericordiae), Port Harcourt.