It is usual for media men or women to write about people in political circles. But few ones out of the lots really stand out and apply their acquired intelligence and genuine virtues to drive the required change. We hear about change all the time. For Senator Rose Oko, she is not only living a distinguished life worthy of a true Cross riverian of note but a life full of renewed hope, greater opportunities for Nigerians home and abroad. She chairs the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Civil Society. On inauguration and to highlight how important the Committee is, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said “The Diaspora community have became a very important source for national development. Countries that have done well in harnessing its potentials have a lot to gain as a result. The Nigerian community out there is beckoning that we keep their hope of a better Nigeria alive and they want to be part of the process”. Saraki went further to say “Your committee has a pivotal role to play in making this dream a reality. Both as a liaison and a facilitator of engagement and opportunity. The Senate is hoping on you to help it develop measures and ideas on how best to engage and incorporate our diaspora community into our development plan”. Senator Rose Oko who was in the House of Representatives last year set the standard for effective representation and now at the red chamber has even developed a fresh zeal for greater and robust representation. She is noted for carefully thought out contributions at the floor of the chambers making her a distinctive voice of her constituency, Cross River North and of course Nigerians in Diaspora.
In fulfilment of her core function as the Chairman Senate Committee on Diaspora and Civil Societies, her sterling performance as a woman of sound repute naturally made her to single-handedly conceived, championed and organised the first ever and unprecedented National Assembly interactive session with the over 400 Civil Society Organisations on 2016 budget, is now known as Senator Rose Oko’s brainchild. The 6 hour interactive session lent credence to her role as facilitator of engagement. The session will remain the best ever no hold bare conference to align ideas with National Assembly, and where the Civil Societies lay their reservations free without hindrance and without placards. This has become necessary as the ineffective implementation of past budgets and abandonment of projects have led to wastages that have negatively affected the nation’s economy in the last 16 years.
Senator Oko has continued to lead from the front while also applying her acquired intelligence and drive to advance what is right. In the last decades, studies on the Diaspora have shown an interest in roles played by people in government. Nigerians have formed long-established communities in Diaspora with strong tie with people at home in Nigeria. Nigerians in UK have remained great assets in the NHS and have added tremendous value to the economy of Britain. The President of America, Barack Obama was quoted as saying if you remove 13percent of Nigerians in the health institutions in America the health sector of that country will collapse. This shows the intellectual capital of Nigerians and their potentials.
The framework and strategy of Senator Oko are tailored towards value creation and continuous engagement with the people and she’s ready and willing to keep working for the people and blossom together. Even the bible in Isaiah 35 verse 1 says ‘And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the Rose’
A great Lady of our time. She always kept to her promises
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