NAPPS: Ifoghere Emerges As President In Delta

By Daniel Dafe

Deacon Monday Ifoghere, the Executive Director of Patmon Schools, Eku, has emerged as the President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Delta State Chapter.

Oasis Magazine (OM) gathered that he was declared unopposed and the president-elect after Bagh Emmanuel Ekrebe, an aspirant for the said position was disqualified during the association’s elections recently since the constitution of the association allows only those that have held positions at the state executive to contest.

The elections took place at NUT Hall, Ozoro.

Others who are to serve as members of the state executive of the association in the state are Comr. Onodarho Austin, Deputy President; Mr.Ejeh Eric Enariezi, Gen. Sec.; Dcn. Ohikhena David, Assist.Gen. Sec.; Pst. (Mrs.) Ugboboghene Imade Ruth, Welfare; Mrs.Uwadiegwu O. Jane, Assist. Welfare; Mrs. Ogunboyinbo M. Dorcas, Fin.Sec. and Mrs. Okoh O. Rosemary, Assist. Fin. Sec.

Others are Dcn. Osasuwa Chuks, Treasurer; Mr. Akraka A. Cletus, P.R.O. and Dr Ochuko Akpeme, Exofficio.

OM learnt that they were all returned unopposed.

At the time of filing this report, we were reliably informed that some members of NAPPS who frowned at the disqualification of Ekrebe, have pulled out of the association and have vowed to form a new body.

One of the aggrieved members, Taiye Amatesiro who spoke to OM, said that in less than 24 hours they will come up with a name for the association.

Meanwhile, during an exclusive chat with OM, the president-elect, Deacon Monday Ifoghere, said that it was a great contest which has been on for six months.

Speaking about the aftermath of the elections and the decision of his opponent and his supporters to pull out of the association, he said: “We were surprised to hear from Quest FM that there were armoured cars and trucks of police at the venue of the election. I wonder why matured persons who are proprietors of schools and want to be leaders will come up with such allegations.

“I think what they did was that they did not know where to vent their anger. Thank God that they did not release it at the venue of the election because maybe they would have fought us. I hope they come back and work with us to build up NAPPS,” adding that if they fail to do so their movement out will be insignificant and have no effect on the body in the state.

He commended Dr. Ochoko Akpeme over his successful tenure, saying that he ran the state chapter and the south-south wing of the association excellently well.

“He is a man of due process. Do you know that the man that contested with me is his uncle? Despite their ties as family members, he insisted that due process be followed and standards be adhered to,” he stressed.

To the members of the association, he promised to bring in good reforms.

His words: “I have learnt from two presidents in the state since I served as Secretary to the first and now Ex-Officio member to the present president. I will try to make sure that the case with APSON is taken out of court. Secondly, the new executive will get a secretariat for the association. Thirdly we will work with the government to make sure that our members do not suffer from unnecessary harassments by their officials. Also, we will prevent free entry into the business and make sure that only serious minded persons are allowed in.”

Continuing, he promised to organize training and retraining workshops for members.

He continued: “I also will make sure that members who aggrieved are united and see how some other bodies different from NAPPS that proprietors in the state identify with are fused into NAPPS.”

“It is the dawn of a new day in NAPPS and every member will be proud to say I am a member of NAPPS,” he averred.