DELTA State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije has emerged as the Guest Lecturer for this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
Secretary, Maris Trust Council, MTC, organizers of the annual lecture series, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Asaba.
According to him, Chief Tilije emerged after a rigorous exercise which involved going through the profiles of those nominated to deliver this year’s lecture.
Egugbo who thanked members of the public for their interest in proffering solutions to the challenges of the society using the annual lecture as a platform, disclosed that at the close of nominations of names for the guest speaker position, seventeen names of prominent Nigerians from different fields of life were received.
He said, “gentlemen, today, we are happy to unveil a man of many parts, Chief Fidelis Okennmor Tilije as the guest speaker for this year’s edition of Maris Annual Public Service lecture.
“We thank God for the journey so far and we are grateful to the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for creating the enabling environment for this annual lecture to take place in Asaba.
“This lecture has also, proven that Deltans and Nigerians in general are interested in making the country a better place as they do not only come out to listen to the lectures, but participate actively during the question and answer cum suggestion segments.
“For this year’s edition, at the close of nomination of guest speakers on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, we received seventeen names of prominent Nigerians from the banking sector, politics, academics and other human endeavour; after a rigorous process, Chief Tilije emerged as the Guest Speaker and we are also, very happy to inform you that he has accepted to deliver the lecture.
“Chief Tilije is presently, the Commissioner for Finance, Delta State and as a politician, the results from the governorship election from Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State where he hails from, attests to the fact that he is a grassroots politician who is loved by the people.
“His political sagacity, his experience in government as member of the state executive council and his activities in the private sector were looked into before he was chosen as the Guest Lecturer.
“Chief Tilije who hails from Obiaruku in Ukwuani Loal Government Area of Delta State was born on April 23, to the family of Chief Moses Enuezuneka Tilije and Mrs Mary Tilije (nee Enuma, from Abbi, Ndokwa West Local Government Area), in 1958; he graduated from the University of Lagos in 1983 where he bagged his Bachelor of Science Degree in Banking and Finance and also, his Master of Science Degree; he lectured briefly at the Lagos State Polytechnic in 1985 and worked with the Security and Exchange Commission from 1987 to 1991.
“He was the Deputy Managing Director/Head, Energy Group, Standard Trust Bank Limited from 1997 to 1999; his banking career saw him at decision making positions at First City Merchant Bank Limited, Merchant Bank of Africa, Nigeria Limited, and Fortune International Bank where he was the Managing Director cum Chief Executive Officer.
Chief Tilije moved from the banking industry to the Oil and Gas Servicing sector and established Zeep Engineering and Energy Services Limited where he served as its Chairman/Chief Executive Officer until June, 2015.
“Our Guest Lecturer for this year, is a member, Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria; member, Chartered Institute of Nigerian Stockbrokers; and has won several awards including the West African Corporate Achiever for Africans who have excelled in different fields or contributed to the growth of the region in areas of Commerce, Banking and Industry.
“He is a known philanthropist and a good communicator; he is happily married and the marriage is blessed with children.
“This lecture is holding at the twilight of the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa nay that of President Mohamadu Buhari and at the dawn of a new administration in Delta State which will have Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as Governor of Delta State, so, Chief Tilije shall be speaking on the topic, “Provision of Infrastructure As Catalyst For Growth Of Democratic Governments.”
“Gentlemen of the press, my brothers in the Fourth Estate of the Realm, permit me to inform the world through you that we are also, adjusting the date from its tradition date of Wednesday before Easter Sunday, that is the Wednesday of the Holy Week – Wednesday, April 5, 2023 by one week as the lecture will now hold on Wednesday, April 12, 2023; we regret the inconveniences this adjustment may cause those who have already secured their accommodation and possibly, flight tickets, especially, those coming from outside the state.
“My brothers in the Fourth Estate of the Realm, the Maris Trust Council appreciates the roles you are playing, your commitment to a better society and great partners in the business of making the world a better place; recall that two years ago, the Deputy Governor-elect of Delta State, Chief (Sir) Monday Onyeme delivered the lecture and he spoke on the topic, “Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery of Democratic Governance” and last year, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Rt. Hon. Festus Ovie Agas spoke on the topic, “Selfless Service, A Phenomenal Virtue.
“We cannot also forget the fact that in 1999, immediately after the general elections and before the inauguration of a new government, Chief Williams Makinde spoke on the topic, “Managing Post-Election Challenges: Nigeria As A Case Study.”
Egugbo, thanked Governor Okowa for making the state conducive for the annual lecture to take place and also, noted that the governor has strong belief in enthroning an egalitarian society and has opened the doors for Deltans to excel in their chosen fields.
He called for the assistance of the general public, especially through prayers and contributions in different ways for the lecture which was instituted in memory of Stella-Maris Chukwufunimnenya Egugbo to be a success.
