A WELCOME ADDRESS PRESENTED BY CHIEF (SIR) KENNETH OLISE, (PH.D, FCA, JP), CHAIRMAN, MARIS TRUST COUNCIL, AT THE YEAR 2025 EDITION OF MARIS ANNUAL PUBLIC SERVICE LECTURE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2025 AT THE UNITY HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ASABA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.
Protocols
It is with great joy that I welcome all of you to this august gathering, the 6th edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture. I am very happy with the array of personalities that have always attended this lecture from its inception in 2019 and I am grateful to you all for making it successful.
Instituted in loving memory of Stella-Maris Chukwufunimnenya Egugbo, it is gratifying to note that using this platform, societal challenges are tackled and the public enlightened with the sole objective of making the world a better place.
I am happy that the government and the people of Delta State are very supportive of this lecture and on behalf of the Maris Trust Council, I sincerely thank Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessors in office for their support, especially for providing this secured, cozy environment yearly for this lecture to take place.
To the Secretary of Maris Trust Council, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, I commend your doggedness in working assiduously to see that this lecture holds annually. This lecture series in a lot of ways, invokes a lot of memories in all of us, makes us to reflect on the essence of life and at times, ask the question, what is death? But in all, it is worth sustaining. Through the passing on of Stella-Maris, an obscure part of the state capital described seven years ago as “forest” where Maris Schools comprising Nursery, Primary and Secondary classes is located is also, witnessing attention from the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who is not only tackling the erosion challenges of the area but constructing access roads.
Today, we are happy to say that the siting of Maris Schools has led to the development of that part of the Delta State Capital Territory, brought quality education at very affordable rate (likely, the school with lowest school fees in this part of the country) in that area. We are also, very happy to say that the Catholic Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, Most Revd. Dr. Michael Odogwu Elue, has made Maris Schools a Mass Centre. As such, the school is presently, catering for the spiritual needs of people in its neighbourhood. Some of the Parishioners of the Mass Centre are here today to the glory of God.
So, contributions to the society using the Maris Trust Council is enormous and we wish to thank Governor Oborevwori for making our Secretary, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo his Senior Special Assistant, a pace set by the immediate past Governor of the State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who recognized his industriousness and made him his Special Assistant.
We thank you for your support and appeal to you not to relent in assisting the activities of the Maris Trust Council, Maris Schools, contributions of Maris to the development of the society and in particular, the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series, your little token could be the school fees, school uniform, or examination fees of an indigent student; it could also be what will enable us expand beyond what we are doing to make the society better of which we shall brief you when we meet again on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, that is by the grace of God, the date for the next Maris Lecture.
For your financial contributions, kindly pay into Maris Secondary School Account. Zenith Bank Account Number 1017189528. You can also reach Fidelis on +2348032933933 to know the needs of the school or that of the Trust Council and see how you can assist. May God bless you as you contribute to the growth of the society through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Keynote Speaker for this year’s lecture, Sir Patrick Ejidoh was carefully chosen because of the topic for discussion, “Local Governance and Sustainable Development.” It is also, worthy to state that the panel of discussants was also, constituted with the topic for discussion in mind, so, I will not dwell much on what they want to tell us but be rest assured that today, we will have a lot to learn and please, feel free to make your contributions because, as usual, Maris Annual Public Service Lecture is about you and I, it is a participatory lecture.
Thank you for listening and may God continue to bless you through Christ our Lord. Amen.
