WHEN A MANs WAYS PLEASES THE LORD, HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM. Here is the Citation for the next Governor of Rivers State Honorable DAKUKU Adol Peterside. Amongst his outstanding attributes, Dakuku Adol Peterside is God Fearing, Humble and Detribalized, and sure he came prepared. DAKUKU ADOL PETERSIDE INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND DAKUKU PETERSIDE - Leadership and Management Scholar, Scientist, Charismatic Leader, Evangelical Preacher and Passionate Public Servant - was born on 31st December, 1970 to Senibo Adolphus A. N. Peterside of Biriye Polo, Opobo. Before finally settling in Opobo in 1870, his progenitors had migrated from Bille in present day Degema Local Government Area and spent some time in Ayama, Bonny. Dakuku’s childhood was nurtured in five different cities, namely, Azumini and Aba (in present day Abia State), Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Bori (Ogoni) in Rivers State. This has molded out of him a cosmopolitan outlook and a rare capacity for sound human relations across social, economic and intellectual boundaries. EDUCATION Dakuku Peterside holds the doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) in Organizational Behaviour from the University of Port Harcourt. His doctoral dissertation was in Corporate Political Strategy. However, the foundation to this terminal educational qualification was laid at Okrika Grammar School (OGS) Okrika which he attended as a boarding student and graduated from in the 1986/87 session. It was in OGS that his leadership qualities and organizational skills first came to the fore. He was appointed a school prefect, and was subsequently elected by his fellow prefects as Secretary of the Prefects Council, the only position that was by election in OGS then. Furthermore, he led Bishop Tugwell House, his hostel in OGS; to her first inter house sports victory in several years - due to his exceptional organizational skills. In OGS, he played volleyball and football, and was active in the literary and debating society. Dakuku commenced his tertiary education at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt where he earned a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (B.MLS) in Haematology from the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences. Subsequently, he studied for and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDM), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same institution. As an undergraduate at the RSUST, Dakuku was active in student politics. He served as Department President, Editor of Kampuswatch and ultimately as National President of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS) in 1992. His tenure as the National President of National Union of Rivers State Students is arguably one of the most glorious and reformative years of the NURSS. He introduced a legislative arm (NURSS Senate) during his tenure, spearheaded the making of a new constitution, celebrated 25 years of the formation of NURSS and honoured the founding fathers of National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS). Under his tenure as NURSS President, bursary payable to Rivers State students was increased from Five Thousand Naira (N5,000.00) to Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000.00). Furthermore, the Rivers State Government under Chief Rufus Ada George introduced a special scholarship scheme for bright and indigent students. In the 1992, he had the honour to serve as a member of the Youth Committee of the Rivers State Silver Jubilee Anniversary with (now His Excellency, the Right Honourable) Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman. Dakuku’s thirst for knowledge has seen him traverse academic centers across the world in order to drink from their fountains. He has attended high level leadership and management courses in Galilee College, Israel, J. Mack Robinson College of Business (Georgia State University, Atlanta), Harvard Kennedy School (of Harvard University), Kellogg School of Management, University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), amongst others. Dakuku Peterside is well published. He co-edited the books; Niger Delta Environmental Roundtable: a Book of Readings, and African Women Can Lead. He has contributed scholarly articles in many journals and chapters in books. He is a member of Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and a fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMCN). PUBLIC LIFE / POLITICAL CAREER Caring for others, giving life to vision, helping people achieve their most desired positive goals, teamwork, and solving complex problems constitute a way of life for Dakuku Peterside. Recognizing that public service is a veritable platform for him to live this passion, he got involved in the political arena first in 1996 as Rivers State Assistant Secretary of the unregistered All Nigeria Congress (ANC) and subsequently as Rivers State Financial Secretary of Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) in 1997. In 1998 he spearheaded the formation and became leader of “RESTORATION YOUTHS” a group of visionary young men and women who worked for Dr. Peter Odili to emerge as Governor of Rivers State. When Dr. Peter Odili became Governor of Rivers State in 1999, he appointed Dakuku as Special Assistant on Student and Youth Affairs in August 1999. It was in this position that he honed the art and science of bridge building between youths and elders, between today and the future, and between leaders and the led. While serving as Special Assistant to Governor of Rivers State, he had other high profile assignments such as Board Member, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), a Federal Government Agency. It was at his demanding office as a Special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State that he was invited to serve as Chairman of Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Council in December 2002. At the LG he demonstrated visionary leadership, administrative excellence, and political astuteness. He earned the prestigious sobriquet of the BEST LG CHAIRMAN of his time in just six months. As Local Government Council Chairman, he completed a market complex, the LG Secretariat Complex, commenced the foundation of a legislative complex, and two outpost offices in Queens Town and Kalaibiama. Several years after he left the chairmanship of Opobo/Nkoro LG he is still being celebrated as a creative leader whose accomplishments have set the tone for grassroots governance and hope for rural dwellers. When he finished his term as Chairman of Opobo-Nkoro Local Government, he was appointed Senior Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Works in September 2003. Creditably, he brought novelty, ingenuity, and credibility to public works management. He kept contractors on their toes and gave Rivers people value for money in project execution. He left this office in September 2005 in order to pursue another passion of his: mentoring and grooming emerging leaders. He did this through a not-for-profit organization he founded, Development and Leadership Institute (DLI). Hundreds of young men and women who got trained as emerging leaders in DLI are making impact nationally and internationally. In just 12 months of his driving the DLI idea, the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations (WANGO) recognized DLI as a sector leader in Nigeria. By 2009 DLI was on the Board of all key international committees of WANGO. This is a direct result of the pioneering work of DLI’s founder. It was while he was grooming young people for transformational leadership and championing the transformation of DLI from a National NGO to an international Non-Profit Organization that the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi invited him in October 2007 to serve as Commissioner of Works in Rivers State. In that capacity, Dakuku reconstructed all known records and redefined public works management. Despair was changed to hope in the infrastructural landscape of Rivers State. During his tenure as Commissioner of Works, the scientist-manager-leader-politician, with the support of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, embarked on the construction of 1,000 km of roads in Rivers State, dualized major roads, and built at least 15 bridges, amongst other projects. Such volume of road construction is unprecedented in the history of Rivers State. The High Flyer would not stop at Commissioner of Works. In 2011, Dakuku Peterside was elected into the National Assembly of Nigeria, specifically the House of Representatives, to represent Rivers people of the Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency. His stewardship record in the House of Representatives bears testimony to his antecedents. He is Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). He was one of the first five federal legislators who re-introduced the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at the inception of the 7th National Assembly (Code named HB 54) as a private member bill. He is still in pushing for the passage of the PIB till date. As a federal legislator, Dakuku Peterside has engaged Nigerians on various platforms of communication while championing the public interest. He has written more than 30 articles in national newspapers, pointing the nation to key national issues and proffering solutions. At the constituency level, he convened the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Development Summit in 2012. That was a robust and novel constituency engagement strategy designed to showcase the vast economic and investment potentials in his constituency, as well as present a future and forward-looking development master plan for the area. The summit provided a unique platform for community and traditional rulers, academics, thinkers, businesses, NGOs, women, youths, the clergy and professionals to share ideas, shape the economic vision of the constituency, engage, and work together for the acceleration of the development of Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency. This model of engagement is unarguably the first of its kind in the country. It is on record that globally, we need transformation minded leaders of this stature to safely berth us in the next generation. In recognition of the importance of ideas to human progress, Dakuku has instituted an Oversea Post Graduate Scholarship Programme. Each year he sponsors 10 young persons to undertake post graduate studies in any institution in the United Kingdom. PERSONAL LIFE Dakuku Peterside possesses the dynamism of youth, strong leadership skills, and rich legislative and executive experience - critical qualities needed at this time to drive bipartisan thinking towards solving complex societal problems. His solid intellectual background at the policy formulation level and practical involvement in policy execution makes him a hands-on leader. Particularly remarkable among his leadership assets are his widely acknowledged virtues of integrity, cosmopolitan and detribalized outlook, and fear of God. His humility, compassionate nature, loyalty to friends and positive causes make him stand out in the crowd of politicians. No wonder, many people, especially young people, look up to him for direction in the path of righteousness. It is highly unlikely to find any politician of his age and experience that has such a broad based state and national support. Most importantly he has shown incredible capacity to unite people behind a good cause. He holds the traditional title of AMAOPUSENIBO (statesman) of Opobo Kingdom, conferred on him by King Jaja V, Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom and Opobo Council of Chiefs, in recognition of his positive contribution to the development and well being of the kingdom. Dakuku is married to Elima, a lawyer and they are blessed with three lovely children, Soba, Belema and Mieibi. He is a devout, practicing Christian.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 01:09:04 +0000
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