Orientation can simply be defined as someone or people knowing where they are, the direction they are facing or the way they tend to go. In all these, the Directorate of Orientation has become the voice of the Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa’ s led administration in actualizing the SMART agenda. The Directorate of Orientation led by Barr Eugene Uzum has showcased what I call “EFFECTIVE POLICY MARKETING OF THE SMART AGENDA”
The Directorate of Orientation is two (2) Years on board this wonderful administration which is in a bid making sure there’s prosperity for all Deltans. A meritorious 2 years of showcasing Governor Okowa’s legacies having positioned itself as the “Onu Ekuni Osa” (mouthpiece of the people) of the Government. The Directorate of Orientation has done whole lot since the very first day it was established on the 18th of April 2016. Deltans within and beyond now feel the impulse of the Government policy implementation through advocacy and awareness programmes on the radio & television, schools, markets, churches, motor parks e.t.c.
This wonderful drive of the policies and implementation of the SMART agenda is piloted by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Orientation, Barr Eugene Uzum, who operates an open door policy. He believes that, every opinion counts and this has helped feedback mechanism made-easy.
The Directorate of Orientation in its radio programmes, “Government and you” (English Version) and “Wetin Government Dey Do” (Pidgin English Version) has been able to educate and inform Deltans the plans of the Governor Okowa led administration, where it’s coming from, where it is, and where it is headed in terms of the policy making and implementation. With these, Deltans within and beyond including, those in the interior villages now feel Government impact.
Numerous advocacy programmes have been carried out since the creation of the Directorate, they are as follows;
* The Campaign against Cultism and Social Vices held in Warri and Ogwashi Uku Polytechnic
* Rumour Mongering Advocacy, both on radio and television (DBS, NTA, Trend FM, Hot FM)
* State Government Projects/ Infrastructure Monitoring
* Road Accident Campaigns
* Herdsmen Mayhem Awareness Campaign
* Examination Malpractice Campaigns in Secondary schools
* Flood Awareness Campaign
* Bush Burning Campaign
* Job creation awareness to Deltans on radio and television
* NYSC Orientation Camp Lectures at Isele Uku
* Cultism and the Nigerian Child held in secondary schools across the 3 senatorial district of Delta State
* Voters Education in tertiary institutions across to state (College of Education Agbor, DSPG Oghara, DSPG Ogwashi Uku, DSPG Ozoro e.t.c).
* Market to Market Sensitization on VOTER EDUCATION across the state
These two (2) years of the Directorate of Orientation under the leadership of Executive Assistant to the Governor, Barr Eugene Uzum has done extremely well in terms of laying a lasting legacy of Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. These are some of the legacies of this administration that will forever linger in the hearts and minds of Deltans. With this entire social advocacy by the Directorate, it therefore implies that they have involved the masses through the Government and You Programme which serves as a feedback mechanism to the Delta State Government.
The Directorate of Orientation was able to cover such a massive millage due to its synergistic and collaborative effort with all Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the State, Security Agencies which include the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Civil Defense Corp, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agencies etc), her sister Agency at the Federal level, the National Orientation Agency (Delta State Chapter), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Road Safety Corp, Religious Organisations (Christian and Muslim Community), Market Men/Women, Media Houses (both within and outside the state), Basic and Secondary Schools, Tertiary Institutions through the Authorities and Students Union Government, Non Governmental Organisations, Multinationals e.t.c., and still doing further partnership in helping to speed Government policies.
They have set unprecedented records in the history of Orientation in the state through proactive and innovative approach to issues. Even the man on the street and interior villages can testify to the various activities of the Directorate of Orientation.