Africa: Augustine Obekpa takes over as new Conservator at Okomu National Park in Edo State, Nigeria

Nigeria’s National Park Service as appointed Augustine Obekpa, has been appointed as the new Conservator of Park, (CP) at Okomu National Park in Edo State, Nigeria.

The new Conservator, took over from CP Tesleem Adeniyi Kareem, at an officially ceremony held for the handing over the paraphernalia of office to CP Augustine Obekpa.

According to a statement from the Service, earlier in the week, the duo had instituted the same, in a rather colourful ceremony, in Birnin- Gwari, the administrative office of Kamuku National Park, Kaduna.

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The change of leadership in Okomu, was laced with a little bit of pomp and panoply, as the two CPs appended their insignias on a well- written, and comprehensive hand-Over note, under the watchful eyes of the Park’s Management team.

In their separate farewell and welcome remarks, CPs Kareem and Obekpa, respectively, thanked and welcomed officers and men of the Park, for the send forth and reception accorded them. CP Kareem, expressed due appreciation to staff for standing by him all through his two and a half years sojourn in the Park, and sued for better cooperation from staff to the incoming CP. He thanked all for the genuine support, and urged all to continue the fight against the perceived enemies of the Park.

CP Obekpa, believed that the needed support to galvanize aggressive protection of the Park will be key, as far as his administration is concerned, and therefore, enjoined all to cultivate team work mantra.

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At the Palace of HRH, the Iyase of Udo, where the new CP was officially introduced and presented to the royal father, the latter welcomed CP Obekpa to his domain, while bidding CP Kareem a Royal farewell. The Iyase promised to give the incoming CP the palace’s maximum support and cooperation, and making his domain habitable and convivial to all his operations. CP Obekpa expressed genuine pleasure for the royal reception and pledged to work hand- in- hand with the Palace.

At the administrative office of the Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC, where CP Obekpa was further taken to for official presentation, Dr. Graham Hefer, the MD of this multinational company, welcomed the new CP, while wishing the outgoing one well in his other endeavours. He emphasized the fervent need for continued collaboration and synergy with the Park, and pledged, as always, his wholehearted support for the Park.

In the area of technical and logistic supports, the MD faulted no word in continuing to do so, whenever the Park Management saw the needs to do so. He promised to continue to maintain an opened- door policy all through the incoming CP’s stay in Okomu.