Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable - OLR

11/01/2026

Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable - OLR, Friday 9th January, officially kicked off 2026 with its annual Exco Retreat and later, a dinner in honour of its Secretary, Engr. Iniobong Afahakan who recently bagged a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife.

The annual Exco retreat of the organisation is always a platform for a review of the previous year and a forum for planning the new year.

At the dinner, members eulogized Dr Afahakan for his commitment to Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable (OLR) and noted that he undertook and successfully completed his doctoral programme on record time without ever failing in his responsibilities on the Roundtable.

18/11/2025

GODWIN EDET ISEMINANSA WINS THE 5TH IKPOTO OKON OSUNG UNDERGRADUATES ESSAY COMPETITION

A 200-level student of the department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Uyo, has emerged the winner of the 5th edition of Ikpoto Okon Osung Undergraduates Essay Competition.

Iseminansa who hails from Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area, scored 67.2% in both written and oral tests to clinch the ultimate prize.

Explaining the mode of assessment for the competition, the Convener, Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable (OLR), Omen Bassey said the competition is divided into two parts - written test (70%) and Oral test (30%).

According to him, the oral test is designed to ascertain that the winners wrote the essays by themselves while testing their sense of punctuality, dressing, comportment, articulation, and proficiency in speech making.

He noted that the essay topic for year 2025 was, “The Impact of the ARISE Agenda in Oro Nation," explaining that the competition was instituted by Ikpoto Okon Osung in 2020 as part of his efforts to promote academic excellence, particularly good writing among undergraduates of Oro extraction.

He thanked Ikpoto Okon Osung for entrusting Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable with the management of the competition, saying it has been done most professionally, transparently, and with utmost integrity.

The Convener congratulated the five finalists on the quality of their essays, noting that many of their peers lack the courage to engage in such intellectual competition.

He further announced that the winner would cart away ₦200,000; the First Runner-up: ₦150,000; the Second Runner-up: ₦100,000 while the 4th and fifth positions would earn ₦50,000 each.

In his remarks, the host and sponsor of the programme, Ikpoto Okon Osung, reaffirmed the vision that inspired the annual competition, describing it as a platform designed to encourage analytical thinking, social awareness, and academic excellence within Oro Nation.

“Great writing begins with curiosity and engagement with one’s environment.

“This initiative is my modest contribution to nurturing a culture of thoughtful leadership, depth, and responsible expression among our young people.” He noted.

The former National Vice President, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), emphasized that beyond the cash prizes, the objective of the competition was transformation.

“This is not just about winning. It is about fostering a culture of excellence, service, and leadership. As recruitment patterns evolve under Governor Umo Eno’s administration, knowledge, character, and acquired skills will increasingly determine opportunities. Your distinction will create your path.” He further noted.

Ikpoto Osung also announced plans to launch a mentorship forum for finalists of all past editions, describing it as a strategy to build “a committed community of future leaders.”

Also speaking, the Chief Assessor, Prof. Okon Eminue explained that the oral defence was essential to confirm originality and assess personal attributes.

“We are looking at discipline, confidence, comportment, clarity, dress sense, and worldview. We are not only identifying winners; we are also shaping future leaders.”

He added that winners of the competition automatically become ambassadors of the initiative, expected to exhibit sound leadership and competence beyond the competition stage.

The panel of Judges comprised Prof. Okon Eminue, Barr. Ita Okpoyo, Pastor Victor Abia, Dr. Godwin Essang, and Barr. Omen Bassey.

Final scores were calculated from the average of the independent assessments of individual panellists.

The first runner-up is Joseph Walter Odiong, a 200-level student of Computer Engineering, University of Uyo and a native of Otieke offi in Okobo Local Government Area while Sunday Johnson Enyenihi, a final year student of the Department of History and International Studies who hails from Oyubia in Urue Offong/Oruko Local Government Area emerged the second runner-up.

Favour Asukwo Ekpo, an indigene of Eyo Abasi in Oron Local Government Area, studying Political Science (Education) in the University of Uyo and Comrade Daniel Ita Abia of Oyoku Ibighi village and a student of Mass Communication, Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) took the 4th and 5th positions respectively.

John NTEKIM
Publicity Secretary
Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable
18.11.2025

09/09/2025

ORO NATION LEADERSHIP ROUNDTABLE (OLR) CONCLUDES HOLIDAYS MENTORING PROGRAMME

…Promotes Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship

…Showcases First Class Graduates

The 3rd Holidays Mentoring Programme organised by Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable (OLR) ended on Friday with an Education Fair.

The 5-day event, which drew participants from secondary school students, young school leavers, undergraduates and graduates featured intense training sessions on diverse subjects ranging from Spiritual Fervency, Emotional and Social Intelligence, Academic Excellence, Financial Prudence and Savings Culture, Peer Pressure, Public Speaking, Mental Health, Hygiene, Chastity, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship, etc.

Speaking at the Education Fair, the Convener, Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable (OLR), Omen Bassey said the Holidays Mentoring Programme was instituted in 2022 as a platform to help inculcate critical values in young people and a measure towards complementing the efforts of parents and teachers in moulding members of the next generation.

He described education as a catalyst for development, urging stakeholders to complement the efforts of the government in developing the sector, noting that the Education Fair was primarily designed to draw attention to private schools.

In his speech, Chairman of the occasion, Mr Efiong Esumo said for the education sector to produce desired outcomes, all hands must be on deck.

Mr Esumo, who is Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Seplat Energy emphasized the need to align the local school system with global standards in order to produce graduates who can solve 21st-century problems.

Delivering a keynote speech on the theme: "Re-thinking Education In a Fast Changing World", a Senior Education Consultant, Mmanti Umoh made a case for the proper use of Artificial intelligence and other technologies in teaching, saying the use of robots to perform critical tasks has come to stay.

She took the participants through a robust motivational session, charging them to always do their best, imbibe discipline, have understanding, display courage, take action on what they know, value and use their time wisely, engage their imagination, take advantage of opportunities and pursue their dreams without giving up.

Represented by Associate Professor Monday Dickson, the Member representing Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency, Rep. Martins Esin commended members of the Roundtable for their foresight, pledging to sustain his support for the organisation's programmes.

The Holidays Mentoring Programme also featured the dedication of one day for the promotion of skills acquisition and entrepreneurial mindset among participants, featuring seasoned businessmen, including a General Manager, Inter- Environments Limited, Port Harcourt, Dr Raphael Antai, CEO, Telvis Tech, Mr Anthony OkpoAbasi, CEO, Otuakak Global Investments Ltd, Deacon Otuakak Emenyi, an Environmental Economist, Mr Eugenio Antai and the CEO, 751 Studios, Oron, Mr Oyokunyi Francis.

Skills learned by participants included photography, videography, shoemaking, production of liquid soap and disinfectant, confectionery, barbing, etc.

The programme was also used to showcase two young First Class graduates from the area, Ms Edidiong Atainyang and Pharm. Abigail Obon who told the story of their academic journey while sharing useful tips with the participants.

Those who spoke in the course of the week were: the Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, Prof. Peter Esuh, former Dean of Students, University of Uyo, Prof. Efiong Johnson, Senior Pastors, City of Rest Bible Church, Pastor & Pastor. (Mrs) Nkereuwem Esikhene, Founder, Voice of Education, Mrs Queen Esther Anyanwu, Team Lead, Well Design Assurance, Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Port Harcourt, Engr (Dr) Etim Akan.

Others were Founder, LeadWorld Leadership Initiative, Pastor Godwin Kalu, MD, Finbarr Consults Ltd, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr, Chancellor, AkanDavid Executive Institute of Public Speaking, Pharm. Akan David, Director, Aimas R-Firm, Ima Akpan, Consultant Infectious Diseases, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Dr Asukwo Onukak, Consultant Psychiatrist, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, Dr (Mrs) Edak Okwong, expert in Public Finance, Dr Godwin Essang Esu, Personal Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mrs Queen Onuoha, Executive Director, TeenGirls Development Foundation, Ms Ndueso Young.

John NTEKIM
Publicity Secretary
Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable
09.09.2025
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05/09/2025

Today is the grand finale of the 3rd Holidays Mentoring Programme, and this is what some of our participants have to say.

05/09/2025

Our education sector deserves the constant attention of all stakeholders. It is our belief in Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable (OLR) that to have a functioning school system, everyone must take responsibility for the well-being and growth of our schools.

This was the philosophy which propelled us to organize the 1st Education Summit in the modern era of Oro Nation in 2021. Of course that Summit gave birth to the Holidays Mentoring Programme.

We are ending this year's grand finale of the Holidays Mentoring Programme with an Education Fair. It won't be an elaborate one but it will address some of the core issues in this important sector.

We are inviting a few key stakeholders in the education sector to interrogate the theme: RE-THINKING EDUCATION IN A FAST CHANGING WORLD. This theme underscores the need to review and even overhaul our school system in order to make it globally competitive.

Considering their current strategic position as arguably the commanders of enrollment in the education sector, stakeholders cannot afford to overlook privately owned academic institutions.

We must help them to train our kids well by helping to build their capabilities. This is why we are bringing Mmanti Umoh, a thoroughbred scholar, senior education consultant, a researcher in Inclusive AI -driven education and founder, PURSHE Schools to give the Keynote speech.

The event will be chaired by Mr. Efiong Esumo, a man who has consistently demonstrated his love for human capital development and knows how to fix the problems.

It is holding at Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron.
TIME: Noon

John NTEKIM
Publicity Secretary
Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable

04/09/2025

The grand finale of the 3rd Holidays Mentoring Programme is here. And it is tomorrow 5th September, 2025. It will be gender-based breakout sessions where important issues will be discussed frankly.

Experienced women, Mrs Queen Onuoha and Ms Ndueso Young will talk to the girls about hygiene, how to maintain chastity and effectively handle sexual molestation.

Our own Dr Asukwo Onukak and Dr Godwin Essang Esu will talk to the boys on health issues which are peculiar to men and the need to build their careers early as potential breadwinners.

Again, it is a bumper package.

04/09/2025

Highlight of Day 3 at the 3rd Holidays Mentoring Programme.

04/09/2025

04/09/2025

Day Three of the Holidays Mentoring Programme was nothing short of a blast. All our resource persons arrived early and did justice to their allotted topics.

As expected, Mr Efiong Esumo set the tone with a soul searching and thought provoking keynote speech on the theme - "Grow On Time". In a single speech, he took the participants on an intellectual journey across various important subject matters, including self-discipline, time management, goal setting, peer pressure, fear, social media distractions, how to develop a growth map and a vision board, etc.

Pharm. Akan David showed the stuff he's made of as a widely recognized public speaker by keeping the audience animated, dropping the microphone when their excitement climaxed. He didn't just teach speech making, he also offered lessons on grammar. His presentation touched areas such as proper microphone handling technique, eye contact, Self-confidence, the difference between speaking and talking as well as the need for adequate preparation before delivering a speech.

Dr. (Mrs) Edak Okwong, a Consultant Psychiatrist came all the way from Calabar to talk about mental health, mental disorders and sexual abuse.

She demonstrated how substance abuse can easily result in addiction, listing the consequences of drug abuse or addiction to include:
Loss of concentration, aggressiveness, loss of interest in normal life's activities, loss of productivity, depression, suicidal thoughts/suicide, excessive anxiety, mental disorders, disruption of the equilibrium of the "feel good" hormones, etc. She warned the youngsters against experimenting with illicit drugs, saying it can interfere with their mental development.

On sexual assault, she enlightened them on how to identify, avoid and protect themselves from predators, warning against surrendering to negative peer pressures. Dr. Okwong demonstrated an unusual love for young people and humanity by sitting through the entire session, offering inter-personal counseling to those who needed a private audience.

Ms Edidiong Atainyang took the audience through a journey on how she emerged a First Class graduate of English Education against all odds. She also offered practical tips on how to achieve academic excellence, assuring them of the possibility of their dreams if they decide to apply themselves to simple principles of success, some of which she passionately shared with them.

She showed she's a First Class scholar and a trained public speaker by retaining the attention of her audience until the last minute.

Day Three indeed raised the tempo of the programme and left the participants with lifetime lessons.

John NTEKIM
Publicity Secretary
Oro Nation Leadership Roundtable

03/09/2025

Mastering Financial Prudence and Saving culture on Time, by Prof. Johnson.