All is set for the year 2025 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture organised by the Maris Trust Council (MTC).
The annual Maris Lecture series was instituted to proffer solutions to identified challenges of the society and serves as a platform for immortalizing the name of Stella-Maris Chukwufunimnenya Egugbo, daughter of a renowned journalist, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo.
It holds every Wednesday before Easter Sunday and for this year’s edition, it shall hold on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at the Unity Hall, Government Hall, Government House, Asaba. Time for the lecture is 12 noon.
Maris Lecture has drawn a crop of renowned scholars, experts, and prominent dignitaries that will do justice to the theme for discussion, ‘Local Governance And Sustainable Development.’
The immediate past Managing Director of Champions Breweries, Sir Patrick Ejidoh, will deliver the Keynote Address at the lecture which will have the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as the Special Guest of Honour and his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, as the Guest of Honour.
Obi Oputa III, the Obi of Aboh Kingdom will be Chair the event while former member, House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Ibakpa, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) who doubles as the Commissioner for Public Information, Delta State, Mr Charles Aniagwu, Real Estate expert and Founder, Eagles Height Estate, Mrs Mabel Magbulu and the Chairman, Udu Local Government Council, Hon. Vincent Oyibody will be Discussants at the lecture which will have renowned public affairs analyst, Prof. Kemi Emina, the Odiega of Ebu, as the Moderator.
It is described as the most publicized, most attended public service lecture in this part of the country and this particular edition is eliciting a lot of positive responses from the public who believes that the topic for discussion “is long overdue for discussion” to put Nigeria in irreversible progressive trend.
About the Special Guest of Honour, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori:
Rt. Hon. (Chief) Sheriff F. O. Oborevwori, (JP) was born on the 19th of June, 1963 to the reputable family of Chief Samuel and Mrs Esther Oborevwori of Osubi town in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. He had his early education at Alegbo Primary School, Effurun. He also attended Aladja Grammar School, Aladja and later went to Oghareki Grammar School, Oghareki.
He attended Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma for a full time programme, where he graduated with B.Sc. Second Class (Hons) Upper Division in Political Science and subsequently, pursued his post-graduate degree programme at the Delta State University, Abraka, where he obtained a Master of Science degree in Political Science.
Hon. (Chief) Sheriff Oborevwori is a man who had always availed himself to serve others even in the face of daunting challenges. Consequently, his people had no hesitation when they elected him as Councilor in 1996, and he was subsequently appointed the Supervisory Councilor for Works in Okpe Local Government Council.
He was the Chairman of Osubi Community from 1996 to 2003. Following his developmental strides in Osubi Community as well as his other contributions to peace and security, he was given the Chieftaincy title of UKODO of Okpe Kingdom in 2003, by His Royal Majesty, the Orhorho 1, Orodje of Okpe Kingdom.
On May 25, 2022, Rt. Hon. Sheriiff Oborevwori, won the gubernatorial primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and on March 18, 2023, he emerged as the Governor-elect, Delta State with 360, 234 votes against his closest rival, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who scored 240,229. He was sworn-in as the Governor of Delta State on May 29, 2023 and since his assumption of office as the Governor of Delta State, the state is witnessing a lot of developmental activities as the Governor executes the M.O.R.E. Agenda of his administration.
He is happily married with children.
AWARDS:
Hon. (Chief) Sheriff F. O. Oborevwori (JP) has been recognized and awarded by many organizations for his service to humanity, social and traditional institutions, which include:
* Member Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).
* Chartered Management Consultant, Chartered Institute of Management Consultants, Canada.
* Certificate on Top Executive Leadership Programme, Manchester Business School, Manchester University.
* Certificate on Conflict Resolution in Democracy, Dubai.
* Certificate on Legislative Management and Leadership, International Law Institute (ILI) , Washington DC, USA.
* Certificate on Leading Inclusive Development from London School of Economics And Political Science.
* Merit Award from National Association of Okpe Students (NAOS).
*Merit Award from National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
* Certificate of Honour from Okpe Kingdom and other several Awards from different Organisations and Institutions.
POSITIONS HELD:
– Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Executive Governor of Delta State from 2012 to 2014.
– Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Youth Development from 2003-2006.
– Justice of Peace, 2007.
– Special Adviser to the Governor of Delta State on Land Security, August 2007 to September 2010.
– State Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, 2009 and 2010.
– Elected Member of the Delta State House of Assembly in 2015 to represent Okpe State Constituency.
– Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly – May 11, 2017 to 2023.
– Governor, Delta State – May 29, 2023 to date.
