Welcome Address By NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha During Groundbreaking Ceremony of NUPENG Tower
A WELCOME ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF NUPENG, COMRADE (PRINCE) WILLIAMS AKPOREHA AT THE GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF NUPENG TOWER, AT JIBOWU,
YABA ON DECEMBER 12, 2019
Protocol,
On behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) and entire members of our great Union, NUPENG, I humbly welcome you all to this great epoch-making event of the ground-breaking ceremony of NUPENG Tower, in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos.
Let me first of all use this opportunity to express our profound appreciation and thanks to our distinguished Guests of Honour, Captains of Industry, Management and friends of the Union that had found time out of their tight schedule to honour us on this great occasion.
Today the 12th day of December 2019 marks an important milestone in the annals of NUPENG as we decided to lay very solid foundation for the erection of a befitting ultra-modern 8 storey Tower for our great Union.
On assumption of office as President of the Union, when the flag of the office was handed over to us, we pledged to keep it flying higher than we met it.
In addition to sustaining, organizing, and increasing the membership of the union we have also decided to embark on some infrastructural projects to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our dear Union. One of such projects is the ongoing building of a new secretariat for Kaduna Zone.
As you are aware, it is only in Kaduna Zone that we are still in rented apartment. And I am very pleased to inform you, my dear Comrades, that as we speak construction work of our beautiful Kaduna Zonal Secretariat is at very advanced stage and we shall soon commission and occupy the Secretariat to the glory of God and service to humanity.
Indeed, our great NUPENG have come a long way in our collective struggles for effective and efficient service delivery to our members and positive social change to our dear nation.
A major part of these struggles is this journey to compliment the efforts of our founding fathers who started operation at the National Secretariat immediately after the formation of NUPENG.
Our great, NUPENG was formally registered as a Trade Union on 15th August, 1978 with our inaugural National Delegates Conference, at Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Benin City, Edo State in 2nd November 1977
The search for a befitting National Secretariat commences right from that fateful day and it was initially situated at No. 50A, Kano Street, Ebute-Metta from where it was later moved to No. 2, Jeminatu Buraimoh close, Surulere, Lagos in March 1980.
In March 2000, almost two decades after, the Secretariat was finally moved to our present location at No. 9, Jibowu Street, Yaba, Lagos. It was an old building that was acquired and renovated.
Walking through the building, it is evidently clear that it is really old, older than the Union itself. The building has seen several weathers, survived so many storms and obviously weakened and too small to adequately cater for our administrative and operational needs.
You will also recall, that at our 40th anniversary celebration in Abuja last year, we all resolved that we must collectively build a new home for our dear Union. Here we are today, ready and set to give action to our words and commitment by walking the talk.
NUPENG TOWER a multibillion naira project, a mix structure of residential, recreational and office building of 8 floors with all the services including lift, adequate car park, water treatment facility, event/conference halls, offices for NUPENG staffs and officials, corporate bodies, flats and a penthouse.
The project is expected to be completed within a period of two (2) years almighty God willing.
This is indeed a very lofty and expensive project but very desirable and necessary if we are to continue to thrive as a reputable Trade Union Organization with efficient and effective service delivery. We have no doubt in our minds that we can collectively achieve it within the timeline if we put our minds to it.
Some people out there says it’s a tall dream but all of us here says is an achievable dream, YES, WE CAN!
It is on this note that we have tried to be very frugal with our resources since we assume office. The leadership is highly committed to this project and will commence the construction work from the savings we have made so far.
Although we know quite well that the amount, we have presently cannot complete the project nevertheless we have decided to start first before we call on our members, managements and friends of the Union to support us.
So, we shall be needing all your support and assistance to deliver the project within the stipulated time.
The National Executive Council shall meet to deliberate on this. Aside from personal contributions, we will still want each and every one of you to use your personal position and influence to get contributions from your respective management and friends to support this project in whatever form and nature.
We definitely cannot achieve this great milestone alone, we need and count on your support and assistance to make our dream a reality. We shall all come together by His special grace and mercy to witness the commissioning of the NUPENG Tower at God’s appointed time.
The NUPENG Tower when completed as you have seen from the Proto type will stand out in the landscape of Yaba environs, comfortably satisfying all our administrative and operational needs as well as rendering commercial services to other corporate organizations.
I have a strong believe that this is achievable because according to Bill Cosby’s quote “the past is a ghost, the future a dream and all we ever have is now! Because what is never started today is never finished tomorrow!
Once again, from the deepest part of our minds, we wish to profoundly express our appreciation to our distinguished Guests of Honour, Captains of Industry, Management and members that are here with us physically and those that send representatives to mark this great occasion with us today. We are blessed to have you as our friends and supporters.
On this note I want to specially also appreciate the Group Managing Director of NNPC Mallam Mele Kyari for his relentless support for this leadership and its quest to move NUPENG to greater heights. Our sincere gratitude and appreciation also go to our amiable host Governor, Mr. Governor Comrade Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for the greater boost and encouragement by granting in all waivers in developmental charges that runs into millions of Naira. Many thanks also to my Governor, Dr. (Senator) Ifeanyi Okowa a greater supporter to my administration and NUPENG next level dream. I appreciate you immensely sir.
To my fellow Comrades, I sincerely thank you all for the support and co-operation, as you can see that your Union Dues is being put to proper use. I further pledge to be very frugal with your dues to achieve greater exploits for our great Union but as you all know; we will need your further contributions and support to see us through.
I urge you to personally see this project as a legacy that will bring Joy, happiness and Pride to our Members and the labour movement in general as it will outlive all of us.
Once again, I thank you all for coming and may God grant us journey mercies to our various destinations.
Long live NUPENG!
Long live ULC!
Long live Lagos state!
Long live Delta state!
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria!
