By Yemisi Suleiman

Mr Oghenekome Okpobor, is the Chairman and Founder of the Kome Support Group a non governmental organisation, founded with the sole aim of training and empowering youths in diverse skills and crafts across different ethnic groups in Delta State.

Since its inception, Oghenekome Okpobor, an astute businessman and a social crusader who is passionate about human development, has approved and funded the group’s numerous activities including the provision of a brand new 500kva transformer to the Otor-Iyede community in Isoko North, Local government area of Delta State, which was in complete blackout due to irreparable decay in the previous years. Mr Okpobor speaks passionately about, the various development support schemes aimed at improving the economy and social wellbeing of rural dwellers, his dreams for the State, fashion and lifestyle.

What inspired the Kome Support Group?

Traditionally, I like to do my things off public radar especially when it comes to politics. However, this year, I decided to be more involved openly especially because it was part of the desires of my people that I play some leading role in the campaign to reelect His Excellency, Sen.(Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa.

Along the line, there became need to harmonize various interest groups that seemed very interested in my decision and vision to support the governor and the People’s Democratic Party. In other to form a more formidable squad, there was the need to bring everyone on board under a singular platform where we could appropriately articulate our support for the party. Then the name Kome Support Group was adopted.

What are some of your greatest achievements with the group?

As we campaigned from clan to clan around Isoko, we saw some raw needs of the people which if we pushed ourselves a bit, we just may be able to do something to their plight.
Firstly, was the issue of blackout of almost two years in the Otor-Iyede community. After due consultations with the BEDC, we discovered that the solution was to provide transformer for them.
So it was decided at the executive level of the group that we wade in. Almost immediately, funds were approved and we purchased and installed a brand new 500kva transformer. Seeing the people rejoice and smile again after months of darkness left a great deal of satisfaction in our hearts and were spurred to do more.
Again as we went on the campaign journey, we saw pure love from the people and decided to respond with the same measure of love. Since it was yuletide then, we distributed over five hundred bags of rice and one thousand gallons of vegetable oil to women and other indigent residents of the Otor-Iyede community just to help them celebrate in joy. The joy and smile also fired our inspiration to give back to the people.

Your organisation empowered people last Xmas season as support for Gov Okowa. What is your preference for the Governor?

What we did really was for the people to feel our impact first and then appealed to them to support our course of re-electing the Governor.
Our love for the governor is hinged on two factors: firstly, he outperformed our expectations in all sectors during his first term and the best we could do as a people was to support his reelection unequivocally. We need him to complete the good works he has started.
Secondly, we feel that it is only just and fair for the people of Delta north to complete their eight years term. If central and south had it, why deprive the north, after all the man is working round the clock to keep the state unified and equitably distribute projects across.

What areas of skill acquisition are the beneficiaries trained in?

They have a number of skills to choose from depending on their preference. From fashion designing, Our youths are trained in fashion designing, textile production, shoe bags, leather works, carpentry, Agents to Clearing Agency, events management and lots more.
However, in this phase of empowerment, the group is set to train and empower 500 youths from across the state. This in
support the dreams of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of having a more successful 2nd tenure, and we have decided to join the governor of Delta State in empowering the youths of the State with starter packs as soon as Their training is completed.

Will this be a yearly thing?

Of course, we intend to keep making impact round the year and this time around, touch on other segments of the society including youth development and empowerment.

How do you raise finance for your projects?

Currently, the group is self funded but we hope as we continue in our strive to better the lives of our people, more development partners and well meaning individuals will key into our fold.

When you are not busy how do you relax?

I like to read and watch football.

When it comes to fashion, what do you like to wear?

I like to be simple on native attire and when it’s not that, then any simple casual wear will do.

Which is your signature fragrance?

Either Amouge or Creed is fine for me

Favourite holiday destination in the world?

I’m a great fan of New York City in the United States. The ambience, the people and every other elements help make my stay interesting. So I usually do not miss out on any opportunity to be there.

What is your biggest dream for Kome Support Group?

The goal is to see it metamorphose into an impacting NGO were we will continue to empower as many people as we can. Trust me, we have great plans for it and you would see them unfold in no distant time.