VISITOR cum Co-founder of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Delta State, Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, OFR, MFR, will on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 grace this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture as Mother of the Day.
Secretary, Maris Trust Council, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, made the disclosure on Wednesday in a statement he issued in Asaba, the state capital.
He noted that the development has triggered much excitement especially among enthusiastic followers of the annual public lecture.
Egugbo said, “It is a thing of joy to announce to the general public that a high profile personality with a true mother figure, Dr (Mrs) Cecilia Ibru, has accepted to be the Mother of the Day at this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
“Dr. Ibru is a trail-blazer in several human endeavours, and her acceptance to be the Mother of the Day at the lecture means a lot to us as the Special Guest is no less a personality as Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a seasoned politician who knows what it means to render selfless service to the people.
“With the topic, ‘Selfless Service: A Phenomenal Virtue,’ to be delivered by a grassroots political player, Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, and with former Nigerian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Godson Echegile, OFR, as Chairman of occasion, this year’s lecture is certainly parading an array of outstanding personalities from Delta State.
“Recall that during last year’s edition with the topic, ‘Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery Of Democratic Dividends” and with Chief (Sir) Monday Onyeme as guest speaker, discussants came from different parts of the country. However, for this year’s edition, we are sticking strictly to Deltans; and, an internationally acclaimed businessman and philanthropist, Hon. Eta Enahoro, is one of the discussants at the lecture which will again feature a renowned journalist, University don and former President of University of Ibadan Alumni Association Worldwide, Kemi Emina Ph.D as Moderator.
“We are grateful to Dr. Ibru for accepting to be the Mother of the Day. And, for the benefits of those who have not come across her, she started her working career in 1978 at the Ibru Organization, an Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) and also a Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR).
“Dr. Ibru is former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Oceanic Bank International; formerly Trustee of United Nations Development Fund for Women; former member, Governing Board of Delta State University; former Chairman, Public-Private Immunisation Foundation for the Nigerian National Immunisation Programme; Fellow Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Fellow Nigerian Institute of Management Nigeria (NIM); Fellow Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (IPM); Fellow Sociological Society of Nigeria and currently, Visitor cum Co-founder, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University.
“As the date draws nearer, we shall be unveiling more names of people who will play different roles at the lecture.
“We thank the public for their support and belief that Maris Annual Public Service Lecture will provide a forum to address the challenges of the society and set agenda for the people in that regard, and that we can collectively make the world a better place.”
