UPU inaugurates Okugbe MFB committee

Prominent Urhobo indigenes have been asked to mobilise funds for a micro finance bank that will cater for the needs of the Ewheya (women) and Ighelle (youths) of Urhobo extraction.

President-General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Moses Taiga, who recently inaugurated a fundraising committee for the bank, named Abraham Ogbodo as Chairman, Francis Ewherido, Vice Chairman and Dr. Benson Uwheru as Secretary.

Speaking at the inauguration, Taiga said: “The beginning of a journey like this always looks tedious and uncertain, but I encourage you not to be deterred by the small beginning.

“My dream is that this seemingly small effort, like a mustard seed, will metamorphose into a big bank like Wema Bank someday, hopefully in my lifetime.”

The mandate of the committee is to raise initial N300m to enable the bank commence as a unit. The second phase of the project is to raise N1.5b to enable the bank get a statewide status so that it can cover all the nooks and crannies of Urhobo land.
To raise the initial N300m, the committee is targeting 300 Urhobo sons and daughters resident in Nigeria and abroad, who can invest a minimum of N1m in the bank.

Ogbodo, a former editor of The Guardian, disclosed that so far, 98 individuals and 10 Urhobo associations had indicated interest to invest in the bank.

Other members of the committee are Prof. Joe Abugu (SAN), Fred Ohwawha, Ted Okumakube, Johnson Agagbo, Eddy Odivwri, Dr. Bernice Dema, Obaro Osa, Abel Ojo, Friday Ebojor, Steve Ighomuaye, Ibunor Agama, Chief Kenneth Iwhewhe, Kenneth Young, Lucky Sargin and Rume Ophi.