Üpātá Kingdom: Seven Years Score Card Of Ny’údū Úpātá III

Achievements

OYAGIRI MONDAY
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September 16, 2017, was indeed a memorable day in the history of Úpātá Kingdom. It was a day people from all walks of life trooped to Edeoha, the administrative headquarters of the Úpātá people in celebration of the coronation of an illustrious son, HRM Ny’údū Felix Enene Otuwarikpo, fnipr as the Ñyê-ïshï Èlé Úpātá Lôwétü Lî Ny’údū Úpātá III of Úpātá Kingdom.

The journey to the spectacular event started on August 26, 2017 when the kingmakers confirmed Ny’údū Otuwarikpo as King over Úpātá people. Deservedly, on the day of his coronation, the ancient stool was elevated from Second Class to First Class by the former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS. From then, it has been one developmental stride to another.

On account of his exceeding humility and passion for the development of Úpātá Kingdom, the First African Church decorated him as a Worthy Son of South South, WSS. A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations; Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development among other professional bodies, Ny’údū Otuwarikpo got wider applause from the corporate world and professional groups.

Many holds the view that Ny’údū Otuwarikpo is a silent achiever whose name is synonymous with great achievements. In fact, he has his etched in the sand of times on account of his creditable performance. Critics have lost their voices because, criticizing him will only expose them to public ridicule; more so, that his giant strides are in the public domain. Obviously, the achievements recorded by the Monarch in just Seven Years, is monumental.

Truly, the Ny’údū Úpātá III is an enigmatic personality and an embodiment of royalty. This is because, from ancient days, kingship is exemplified with royalty, grace and intimidating awesomeness, laced with pride and splendor as passed on, except egoistical posturing.

Background checks revealed that Ny’údū Otuwarikpo left the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Corporate Office Abuja as Director/Manager, before ascending the throne of his forefathers. He held several strategic appointments such as Head of Media and Publicity and Head, Protocol/Special Services amongst many other positions at the ITF headquarters.

A versatile trainer and highly rated public relations professional, Ny’údū Otuwarikpo was a Process Consultant to many multilateral organisations and Civil Society groups. He holds a Bachelors degree in General Linguistics; Master of Arts and, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Law and Diplomacy, with specialisation in post-conflict reconstruction. His Majesty is also a writer and public affairs analyst, and had contributed immensely to national discourse. His belief in progressive transformation has translated to reality within seven years of his stewardship as the King of ancient Úpātá Kingdom.

Today, an average Úpātá person is proud of his/her ancestry because of the unimaginable revolutionary approach Ny’údū Otuwarikpo has brought to bear in the Kingdom, in terms of purposeful development. Barely four months after his installation, he mediated and reconciled the waring factions in Ulá Ikàtä Community, leading to the signing of a peace pact and the eventual return of the people to the once deserted and desecrated community.

Ny’údū Otuwarikpo’s “One Youth, One Skill” policy has produced 683 beneficiaries on the last count. The program was designed to equip eligible youths with livelihood skills. And, currently, 46 Úpātá students are on active scholarship in different tertiary institutions and, he also enrolled many in WASCE and JAMB examinations under the Úpātá Go-To-School initiative. The program aim to address the needs of indigent students. On the last count, 964 students of Úpātá extraction have benefited from the Palace bursary payment, as many others have enjoyed education grants.

To clean the tears of Úpātá daughters who have been strangulated by over bloated bride prize, His Majesty approved an acceptable Marriage Rites Bye-Law that drastically reduced costs of Marriage. The Kingdom also operates a unified Burial Rites Bye-Law and, His Majesty in collaboration with the Úpātá Traditional Council, abolished all impediments barring the girl-child from inheritance. Under him, there is a subsisting Ôlôkó Úpāta (Constitution).

In line with the Ekpeye Ethnic Nation’s Chieftaincy Bye-Law, Ny’údū Otuwarikpo successfully functioned as the Regent of Ekpeye land from August 2019 to March 2022. This was after the death of His Imperial Majesty, Eze (Flt.Lt.) Robinson O. Robinson, Eze Ekpeye Logbo II. His stint as Regent to the stool of Eze Ekpeye Logbo brought relative peace to Ekpeyeland. He was willing and determined to lead Ekpeye out of the doldrum. His determination led to the 2019 Ekpeye disarmament and demobilisation program. Consequently, he heralded a traditional amnesty that granted freedom to 334 repentant cultists and militants. And in turn, the Rivers State Government “binded them over,” given an official seal to the process.

An incurable optimist, Ny’údū Otuwarikpo’s signature project remains the ultra modern Ùdhò Ny’údū Úpāta (Palace), which was commissioned on Saturday, August 20th, 2022 at Edeoha Town. Beside been the first central palace in the Orashi region, the purpose of having a central palace is to institutionalize kingship and according the stool its valued prominence. All these are tips of the iceberg among his achievements as he strived to give bite to good governance and promoting best practices as a traditional ruler.

Ny’údū Otuwarikpo is one traditional ruler that does not believe in subterfuge aimed at deceiving the public or creating a false impression where there is none. His doctrine of good governance is all about talking less and doing more, while allowing the volume of achievements in virtually all areas speak for him. Today, the testimony of his achievements lies in the people of his Kingdom who benefitted immensely from his focused vision; impacting meaningfully on the society.

Within the period, he instituted and implemented the 1st and 2nd editions of Ny’údū Clifford Cheta Nwuche Memorial Lecture series, initiated and overseed the completion of a documentary entitled: “The Úpāta Story.” It is a story that presents the uniqueness of the people, the culture and the tradition. There’s a tour guide booklet titled “Upata: A Guided Tour.” The handbook is meant to assist first time visitors and investors to explore the uniqueness of the Kingdom.

Currently sustaining the peace across Úpātá communities which enabled the attraction of 19 new investments within the period, the Ny’údū Úpātá deployed his expertise as a conflict resolution expert to ward-off the invasion of Ozochi, Okoma 1 and Okporowo Communities by the military, on account of the death of some security personnel. He also facilitated the recruitment and employment of 376 Úpātá sons and daughters into the Armed Forces, Police and other security agencies, companies and public service. Similarly, he secured approval for the siting of a new Police Division at Edeoha, and work on the Station is at about 70% completion.

Also, the Nigerian Police Regional Clinic is in full operation at its permanent site in Edeoha Town. Preparation is ongoing for the resumption of seating of judicial staff of the Customary Court at Edeoha which, was also facilitated by the Ny’údū Úpātá III. Land for the building of the Nigerian Army Battalion barrack at Edeoha is already allocated and handed over to the Army Headquarters.

No wonder many acknowledged him as an enigma. A man highly placed by nature. He is sheer dogged, hardworking, pragmatic but, so humble and humane. Ny’údū Otuwarikpo has also expanded the frontiers of external relationship with Kingdoms within and outside Rivers State. The “man of the moment,” as many fondly call him, has ensured improved Corporate Social Responsibility in Úpātá by IOCs. One of his cardinal achievements include the facilitation of the incorporation of Úpātá Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT-SPDC).

Today, his Ihuaba people are enjoying 24/7 hours solar powered light via the Rural Electrification Agency, courtesy of him. The tally include the construction of 6-classroom blocks in the existing Community Secondary School, Ihuaba.

To instill in his Chiefs administrative skills needed to drive his developmental vision that is anchored on infrastructure and human capital development, 64 Chiefs, 5 Community Development Committee members, and 6 Youth Leaders were sent on leadership development training programmes.

The Úpātá Monarch has indeed built goodwill across the length and breath of Nigeria, just as he, in collaboration with critical stakeholders, non-governmental groups, corporate organizations and governments, is intent on developing the Kingdom. His sight is fixed and focused on developmental projects. Some of the planned projects include an ultra modern market. Land has been secured for this project and, management of two Commercial Banks, to be sitted at Edeoha, are in talks with the Úpātá Traditional Council. The Úpātá Housing Development scheme is another; the intention is to give Úpātá especially Edeoha, an urban look. The Ny’údū William Unugboji Cultural Carnival is also on the card. The aim is to use it to rebrand the Úpātá famed cultural values.

Indeed, Ny’údū Otuwarikpo has proved that for a traditional Kingdom to grow, selflessness must serve as hallmark. The turning point is to collectively drive formed vision, the other is to execute people-oriented projects without attaching strings.

• Oyagiri, is the Special Assistant on Media/Publicity to Ny’údū Úpātá III of Úpātá Kingdom, writes from Ùdhò Ny’údū Úpātá