The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists has organized a lecture in honour of the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, on her conferment with the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
NAWOJ is an association whose main focus is on redefining the culture of journalism through bridging of the gender gap in the running of the nation.
The lecture, titled: “Service Above Self: The Sarah Ochekpe’s Dynamism,” was organized by NAWOJ on Thursday in Abuja as a testimony of honour well deserved by the recipient, having served her Fatherland meritoriously.
The lecture was delivered by the Managing Director of African Independent Television, Tosin Dokpesi, who was represented by Omolara Owoeye-Wise.
Delivering the lecture, Dokpesi described Ochekpe as an humble woman that has charitable character and always ready to offer valued and reasonable advice to her fellow friends.
She added that the Minister has contributed greatly to the Transformation Agenda in the water sector.
Declaring the event open, the NAWOJ President, Ifeyinwa Omowole, said that the 35 per cent affirmation given to women must be applauded as this has afforded opportunity to women like of Ochekpe to contribute to the national development through her Ministry’s giant strides in the transformation of the water sector.
“Ochekpe who is being honoured today deserves it because we in the media know those that are working in moving the country forward in their own little ways, not minding the security challenges we are facing as a nation,” Omowole explained.
She therefore promised to identify more deserving women who are doing something significant in moving the country forward.
She called on journalists to be more objective in their reports.
She said: “For every story we write, please ensure that we have one Nigeria at the back of our minds.”
In her response, Ochekpe commended NAWOJ for choosing her worthy for the honour. She said President Goodluck Jonathan must be commended for the appointment of women with high moral integrity in the drive of his Transformation Agenda.
In her words: “If you look closely at what Mr. President is doing, they are unprecedented in all the sectors because he wants to give a solid base to the economy of the country.”
Ochekpe thanked her family, the good people of Plateau State and the entire staff and management of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for their support for all she has achieved.
She added: “Without you people, I would not be worthy of the (CON) award given to me by Mr. President.”
Present at the colourful event were the Minister of Foreign Affairs (State), Prof. Viola Onwuliri; the Director General of the Security Exchange Commission, Aruma Oteh; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Water Resources, Baba Umar Faruk; the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr. Godknows Igali; the Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, represented by Dr. John Madugu; other eminent sons and daughters of Plateau State; and the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
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