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The Built Environment and Building Materials (BEBM) Exhibition, Lokoja, has bestowed the year 2017 “Patriotism Award” on the Chairman, Kogi Elders’ Forum (KEF), Dr Julius Elukpo, for his contribution to human capacity building and empowerment.
Presenting the award to Elukpo on Tuesday, the Secretary, BEBM Exhibitions Advisory Council, Chief Bola Fejuku, lauded the recipient’s honesty, efforts and commitment to the eradication of poverty through various intervention activities and advocacy.
Fejuku said the ward was part of Kogi 2017 Week of Excellence convened by the BEBM Exhibition with the theme: “Imbibing Good Virtue for Good Service”, aimed at encouraging community participation towards effective delivery and good ethics.
“We are hosting this elder statesman of great repute, who has continuously fought for the development and emancipation of Kogi people irrespective of tribe, religion or social standing.
“The Fact Finding and Assessment Committee did not only find you worthy for the 2017 Patriotism Award, but also hailed your contributions to human capacity building and empowerment, ” Fejuku said.
Responding to the award, Elukpo told journalists that the award was a form of encouragement to continue to fight injustice, discrimination, and acrimony against the people of Kogi’’.
“I am honest and straight forward person because I have antecedents. Where there is no honesty you cannot find me there; honesty is my policy and watchword.
“We have to see ourselves as brothers and sisters, stop discrimination, and lay a foundation that other states will come to emulate. We should carry the visitors among us along for the development of our state.
“What we are passing through in Kogi civil service is the environment which we found ourselves, but we must bring good virtues into play into the state and Nigeria at large.
“When Kogi was created we were very excited that it would be one of the best state in Nigeria for others to emulate, but unfortunately we have not been able to make it happen due to one reason or the other.
“Although we are still praying that it will still come into reality when we have the right people in the realm of the affairs,” Elukpo said
Elukpo, who is also a lawyer and a former Kogi Governorship Aspirant, urged the youth to learn, develop and grow under the elders in order for them to succeed, stressing that experience cannot be bought.
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