Sir Chief Cyril Uchenye was in March 2024 elected the President General of Eluama Development Union, Worldwide. In this interview with the publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Independent Voice Newspapers and Television News, IVNTV NEWS, Esike Emenike Bright, Uchenye spoke on his readiness to chart a new path of development for his Community. He spoke on wide range of issues on community leadership. It is an interesting read. Excerpt.
Let’s start with congratulating you on your victory as the elected President General of Eluama Development Union (Worldwide).
How does it feel to be entrusted with such responsibility?
Thank you! Am very Grateful to God Almighty, and I feel very humbled by the magnitude of love and support I got during and after the election. I did not expect it. It has placed a great burden on my team and I to succeed and put smiles on the faces of every Eluama indigene. It is a huge responsibility, I must say
Looking back at the election, would you say the result is a test for your popularity and acceptability by your community?
Honestly, when I think about what happened during the election, it`s not a test of my popularity, rather a revelation that our people are now interested in who leads them. Who delivers good leadership and who meets and satisfies their expectations. It is a test of acceptability with regards to trust, accountability and capacity to deliver
In a couple of months’ time you will assume office. What will your community be expecting from you in terms of moving Eluama Development Union forward?
They should expect Nothing less of good leadership that is geared towards peace, unity, accountability, transparency and infrastructural development. God helping us!
Eluama as a rural community is in dire need of infrastructure and social amenities. What will be your approach to improve on what is on the ground in the community?
Having identified project specifics in my manifesto, my team and I will present the projects on priority basis to the good people of Eluama. We will propose fund raising methods and tackle the choice projects headlong. We shall start with the low hanging fruit infrastructural and social amenity based such as electricity. Having a central public convenience facility for ndi Eluama at Ahonta market, and a revamp approach for a face lift to Eluama Town Hall, etc. Other planned strategic milestone projects will follow subsequently.
You’re a member of the ISUIKWUATO Consultative Forum, ICF. What is the ICF all about?
Isuikwuato Consultative Forum (ICF). It is a platform that unites prominent sons and daughters of Isuikwuato. Purposefully – driven to uplift, empower and build a brighter future for generations to come in Isuikwuato. It is a gathering of good spirited people of Isuikwuato whom out of love and selfless sacrifice decided to pull resources together towards development of their community
Recently an agricultural revolution of a sort was introduced by the ICF. How will that impact on your community, Eluama?
Isuikwuato Agricultural Revolution Program (ISAREP) is indeed going to be impactful to our Community, Eluama. It is one out of the numerous programs established by ICF. It is borne out of the hunger that is in the country as a whole. The programme mainly to provide improved seedlings to our farmers for food production in short and long run. Meaning that Eluama will be so rich in food production in the nearest future, and hunger will be a thing of the past. May God bless ICF!
Government is the harbinger of development to any community. What synergy are you going to put in place to leverage the many but scarce government development policies both at the federal and state?
First, let me thank God and Governor Alex Otti who have favoured our sons in their respective positions in both State and Local Government. We have Mayor of Isuikwuato Local Government and Attorney General of Abia State. I will not also forget our sisters who are playing big role at Federal Government level. We believe that as they are there for us, the dividends of democracy are nearer to us. Also, we will leverage on their good offices to attract development to our community
We know that the major constraints for town unions is funding. How are you going to be raising the money to run the union?
Raising funds are really big constraints for town unions. However, major ways of raising funds are
- Dues & levies
- Crowdfunding
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Donations through Identification of members who has capacity and capabilities
- Encouraging members to come together as a group to embark on projects
- Proceeds from iri ji ceremony
Please can you let our readers’ into your life. Who is Sir, Chief Cyril Uchenye?
Chief Sir Cyril Uchenye is from Ekebe in Isuamawu Autonomous Community, Eluama. I live in Lagos. I am an Accountant, and an international logistics & Supply Chain management practitioner. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), COMPLETE FREIGHT LIMITED. A Catholic gentleman and a member of Knight of St. John International. I am blessed with a lovely wife and Children
