Rewire Port Harcourt - A Resounding Success

On Tuesday April 30th, 2013 individuals from all works of life gathered at the Aztec Arcum in Port Harcourt for a remarkable event ‘CONVERGE’ with the theme REWIRE PORT HARCOURT. Attendees got to the event eager, determined expect and they were not disappointed.

 

Rewire Port Harcourt built on the solid foundation laid by previous editions of Converge Conferences exceeded all expectations. Even the organisers of the event were overwhelmed by its success as Dabo Etela, founder of Converge, in his closing speech and vote of thanks remarked.

 

The event kicked of with welcome address by Mr. Apola Opuda, co-founder of Converge. “Rewire Port Harcourt was conceived to tackle the erosion of societal values and ethics with the core objectives to inspire and spur the people to take stock of the past and reposition themselves for a future driven by sound morals, ethics, leadership, personal responsibility and tenacious pursuit of social good while achieving their individual goals and aspirations.”

 

Ibim Seminitari, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Chairperson of Converge Advisory Board, in her opening remarks took the participants down memory lane of the Port Harcourt that was and now is.  She said the Port Harcourt she remembers as a youth was a city whose people were enlightened, civil, friendly, highly fashionable, trendy and enterprising. She remembers a time when young men were gentlemen and young women were ladies. It was a time when youths fought to outdo the competition with academic intelligence and poise. A great time indeed that clashes with the present when one's position and acceptance in society is dependent on the bulge of one's bank account regardless of the sources of the wealth; a time when young people are gripped by the urgency to acquire wealth without giving commensurate value. Thus the Port Harcourt she remembers and the Port Harcourt she could not recognise challenges the youth of today to REWIRE themselves to take back their city and their state for a better and prosperous future.

 

 

The Keynote Speaker, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Speaking on Building a Lasting Legacy, took participants through a historical survey of the leadership challenges of the Nigerian state. He lamented that although the nation has experienced a high rate of leadership turnover, the nation has little to show for it. He submitted that the strength of a nation does not depend on how many leaders she has had and how often they are replaced but the quality of the people and the systems and institutions they create and maintain. A legacy must therefore be consistent with the collective narrative, be based on sound moral and ethical foundations and be visible and measurable.

The Bishop encouraged Nigerian youths in Port Harcourt to share in his optimism for Nigeria, which is built on three pillars, namely, a sense of history of how other nations have thrived even in the face of challenges, a painstaking study of the  history of Nigeria and an absolute belief that God has a grand plan for the  country.
 

 

 

 

 

Barrister Nimi Walson-Jack spoke on an engaging topic: My Society, My Responsibility, in which he led participants to a destination of political insight, social responsibility, civic participation and duty. He touched on both civic and individual responsibility of maintaining a clean and healthy environment and personal hygiene, that the health of the larger society is a reflection of the habits of its citizens. He called on the participants to become politically conscious and active to ensure that their voices are heard and their positions acknowledged and respected. Warning the one's education, vision, business ideas and investments amount to nothing in a political system that is dysfunctional, he charged his audience to engender the change they desire in society by actively participating in politics.

 

 

 

 

Various participants took to the rostrum during the ‘Unconference’ session to make striking presentations on topics of their choice. Seye Jimo spoke on “These Walls” and gave a narrative on how she’s conquered tribalism and forged amazing relationships; Suzi Okpere spoke on the benefits of volunteering and what she’s been doing with her initiative Volunteers Engagement Network (VEN); Pius Oreva gave a pep talk which was a perfect blend of comical insights that left the audience cheering and inspired; Ashford Etela enjoined the audience and Nigerians at large to pipe down the pessimism against our country and exude a more Nationalistic outlook towards its affairs; Eromoseni Ekwale charged young people to ‘Take Their Place’ by making the most of the resources at their disposal than staying idle and brooding over what their peers have and they don’t. These are few from the lot that made presentations during the session.