Lucky Ohworode Idike JR. is an alumnus of two of Nigeria’s most prestigious educational Institutions (King’s College Lagos & University of Lagos) and a Fellow of ICAN1, Nigeria’s foremost Professional Association. He is an economist and chartered accountant with extensive consulting experience. He has led and worked in various teams on a wide range of engagements in the public and private sector organisations (both for-profit and not-for-profit).
Lucky Idike is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He owns a B.Sc. Economics (2nd Class Upper) UNILAG. He is an Avid reader and seasoned public speaker.
A fashion-preneur, Lucky saw an opportunity to start a retail business with non-perishable items that was scalable and fast moving, so he started fashion retail. He claims to enjoy it and at some point began to consider local production of garments under a garment label. The inherent dislocations in the system discouraged him then and he moved on. He is one of the brains behind Fashion Finest Africa.
An indigene of Oil rich Delta State, Lucky Idike thinks it is high time to change the narrative of leadership aspiration in Delta State. He has, therefore, thrown his hat in the ring, to win the People’s Democratic Party nomination as the party’s governorship flag bearer for the 2023 elections.
Bearing in mind that Delta state is one state in the country with diversity in its multicultural and multiethnic, and political make-up, Lucky Ohworode Idike said he is set to surmount all hurdles.
According to Business AMLive, Delta state’s governance presents its own challenges, in terms of its leaders trying to satisfy the yearnings of its well educated and highly aware citizens. For some reasons, good reasons too, the state, which has been ruled by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since this democratic dispensation began in 1999, has found a way round a satisfying system that produces its governors on a ‘turn-by-turn’ basis.
Idike represents the group of people that you would normally call ‘professionals in politics’ who have decided to contest for elective office. He promises to breathe fresh air into the political space of Delta State and to bring a global perspective to governance in the state.
Some are already describing him as a dark horse in the race. But he is a dark horse that has also been described as very quickly becoming frontline because of what he represents and how he is approaching his ‘Delta About To Get Lucky’ sloganeering.
He is pursuing this dream to be a governorship aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Lucky Ohworode Idike is doing this with a clarion call on all Deltans, to begin to dream big of a better Delta.
The governorship aspirant, who is reputed to be a very dynamic and resilient young man, able and willing to face new challenges and possessing a high level of integrity and sound knowledge of the socio- economic, political and cultural environment in Nigeria, said, “Throughout history, there always come a time when a clarion call goes to a new generation to rise up and do what needs to be done.
Lucky Idike, in his Manifesto said, “after many years of leading, prayer and consultation, I have taken the decision torun for the Office of the Governor of Delta State. I believe withoutequivocation that the good Lord hasprepared me for this”.
He promised to bring a big, bold and radical vision of a ONE Delta. A vision for radical transformation that Deltans can see by standing on the shoulders of the Giants who have gone before them.
Idike, a visionary leader will muster a united, inclusive State with equitable development that sets the pace for Nigeria. A One Delta that provides Hope: Education, Infrastructure, Healthcare job opportunities, Empowerment, Capacity, Development, ProsperityCreation and Distribution, Equity, Fairness and Justice, Safety: Peace, Security and Harmony
Idike bears core Values that will characterize a new Deltan Government. He said, “I bring a capacity and willingness to serve and to learn. An ability to dream and execute. A sound knowledge of development economics, markets and a global network that I fully intend to leverage for the benefit of our state”.
“Our ambitions are tall, but our strategies will bring our lofty ambitions to fruit in Delta”.
Giving a background look, he said the earlier part of the preceding years was a time of political upheaval: coming straight from the tumultuous years of military rule. This period required the delicate melding of different ethnicities, confidence-building and “agreement reaching”. All these resulted in the forging of the most politically stable state in the federation.
A state where a rotational system of leadership has been meticulously developed, collectively agreed to and is today fiercely adhered to.
This initial period has now come full circle, and we are about to birth a new age: the Age of “Transformational Growth”.
“As we birth this new age in the most challenging period of human history, dealing with a global medico-economic crisis exacerbated by a military crisis in Europe and further compounded by Nigeria’s domestic challenges, it is clear that Delta State needs vibrant and visionary leadership for this new cycle. Young, visionary, clear thinking, result-oriented leaders who have love and empathy for the people and the capacity to innovate and do much with little”, he said.
He has assumed different leadership positions such as: Member, Lagos State Economic Summit Working Group under Ben Akabueze; Member, Federal Ministry of Education Taskforce (PPP Design and Implementation) under Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Consultant, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs supporting Director Community and Youth Development on the Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme under Dr Dere Awosika.
An emotionally intelligent man, he is driven by passion for public service and a Great relationship management skills Integrity and discipline.
While he believes that the development program for launching Delta state into the new Age of “Transformational Growth” will involve much more than has been highlighted here, he also strongly believes that taking Delta to Greater HEIGHTS will set the State on the very surest footing for the massive scope of development our state deserves.
Part of his Action Plan is to create SME Hubs in industrial parks to facilitate the growth and development of SMEs. The hubs will provide access to machinery, capacity building, raw materials and more. Hubs will help improve products to international standards and promote synergies and collaborations across disciplines. SME hubs will catalyze various industries: FinTech, Coding, Entertainment, Wood and Furniture, Agro-Allied (Rubber, Palm, Cassava processing), Garments and more.The Government will buy local as far as possible to support industrial growth.Look to revive moribund industries such as the Summit Furniture Factory where practicable.
He also has plans to upgrade The Pointer newspaper. Grow it into a successful international paper and Leverage the commercial sagacity of the Southeasterners to build the largest trading facility on this side of the Niger River.Idike says this market will complement the Asaba cargo airport and other government initiatives.
Part of his unique ACtion plans is to grant PAYE tax relief to companies who meet established criteria. He hopes to Partner with the Central Bank, Banks, DFIs and Not-for-Profits to provide funding options to SMEs.
His government will provide e-learning capacity development opportunities for Business owners on the Delta E-Learning platform.
All things being equal, he will provide an online marketing platform to enable Deltans to reach a global market with credibility.Develop Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLAs) programs for micro-SMEs using cooperative societies as the operating mechanism.
“The SME sector of the economy is the highest employer of labour, the engine room of any economy and key to unlocking the economic potential of Delta. The Okowa administration had done a tremendous job building the micro-economy by setting up thousands of entrepreneurs in different sectors through Project GEST, STEP, YAGEP and more”, he said.
Lucky Idike added, “Our goal will be to give them wings to fly, so they can do better and reach further. We will do this by growing the macro-economy and giving SMEs access to capacity development, equity investors, debt funding, new markets, cutting edge technology and raw materials”.
He has embarked on various grassroots projects for church, Clients and himself.
• LAGOS: Beth Tzadekah Shelter for Women, Kuramo Medical Mission, , Makoko Covid Palliative Distribution
• OSUN: DATA Foundation Ere Rural Community Transformation Initiative
• DELTA: Member, Governing Council Western Delta University, Oghara, Igun Covid Palliative Distribution, Igun Annual Christmas Food Bank, Igun Anglican Church Rebuilding Project
GRASSROOTS MOBILISER
• Audit, Financial Advisory and Strategy • Trading
In conclusion, the transformation of Delta state, leveraged on the foundational efforts of legendary governors – Chief James Ibori, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is an idea whose time has come.
The only thing more powerful than an idea whose time has come is the people who give power to the idea!
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper
