CLEM OFUANI CLOCKS 60, UNVEILS AUTOBIOGRAPHY TITLED “FROM MY CORNER”

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The pioneer Commissioner for Economic Planning in Delta State and current Chairman, Delta Unity Group, Chief Clement Ofuani, has celebrated his 60th birth anniversary with the public presentation of a 636-page autobiography titled “FROM MY CORNER”.

Speaking on the well attended occasion, former Governor of the State, Chief James Ibori, who was the Special Guest of Honoured, said he got to know Chief Ofuani when he appeared before him as Special Assistant (SA) to make a presentation on behalf of his then boss, Olorogun David Edevbie, who was then the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning.

Chief Ibori stated that at the end of Clem’s presentation, he did not hesitate to nominate him for appointment as Commissioner for Economic Planning when the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning was split.

He revealed that Chief Ofuani performed exceedingly well as a member of his cabinet, pointing out that he was courageous to speak, articulate in his presentations, with facts and figures, and commended him and other members of his cabinet who made the Ibori legacy possible.

For his part, former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, who chaired the event, congratulated Chief Ofuani on his 60th birth anniversary and for chronicling the highlights of his life and times, even with lots of opportunities still ahead of him.

Senator Makarfi, a secondary school mate of the celebrator’s, encouraged those in attendance, and indeed members of the public, to buy and read the autobiography as it would expose them to the virtues that could shape their public life.

In his remarks, former Finance Commissioner, Olorogun David Edevbie, recalled that he first met Chief Ofuani when he needed to hire a Special Assistant and he happened to be the most qualified of all that applied for the job, even with mounting criticisms that he was not from Delta Central.

Olorogun Edevbie disclosed that though Chief Ofuani was then his SA, he was happy when he called to inform him, while outside the country, that he had been nominated for appointment as Commissioner by Governor James Ibori.

He disclosed that he also invited Chief Ofuani to work with him when he was the Principal Secretary to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, describing the celebrator as a man of courage with a strong moral rectitude, who still had a lot to offer to the state, the country and humanity.

Also, a former Secretary to the State Government, now Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Mr Chiedu Ebie, noted that Chief Ofuani had maintained an unblemished track record wherever he had served and needed to be celebrated for his uprightness, diligence and passion for result.

Earlier in his welcome address, the celebrator, Chief Clement Ofuani, said the writing of the Memoir, which started on April 30, 2018, was as a result of promptings from friends and associates to share his experience in the public service.

Chief Ofuani said he, however, realized that to be able to fully share his public service experience, he needed to reflect the story of his formation and the environment that made it possible for him to succeed.

He paid tribute to his former boss, Olorogun David Edevbie, who brought him to limelight with his appointment as Special Assistant, and former Governor James Ibori, who gave him the opportunity to make a presentation on behalf of his former boss, which made it possible for him to be nominated for appointment ss a Commissioner, from where other opportunities opened.

The highlights of the event were the unveiling of the autobiography by the Chief Presenter, Mr. Austin Avuru and the cutting of the birthday cake by Chief Ofuani, joined by family and friends.

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