Preparations for the formal launch of the Solomon and Mary Lar Leadership Institute have entered a new phase, with the Central Planning Committee, CPC, beginning nationwide consultations.
The CPC Chairman, Congressman Bimbo Daramola, on Tuesday led members of the committee on a consultation visit to His Excellency, Ambassador Dr. Godknows Igali, in furtherance of plans for the official launch scheduled for next month, November.
Ambassador Igali, a former Federal Permanent Secretary who served across several ministries and was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sweden, is from Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta. He succeeded the late Chief Edwin Clark as Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and has played key roles in promoting understanding among ethnic nationalities as a peace and development advocate.
According to Daramola, the meeting was deeply emotional as the elder statesman described the initiative to immortalize Chief Solomon and Prof. Mary Lar through a leadership institute as a necessity.
Ambassador Igali, who has profound recollections of Papa and Mama Lar, noted that there were not many persons who lived a life of commitment to Nigeria like Chief Solomon Lar, recalling how the late statesman confronted a dreaded former Head of State when he led the pro-democracy group of senior citizens known as G-34 to demand a return to democracy.
His Excellency said Nigeria needs a leadership that will effectively change the course of the nation if it must be great again, describing the Institute as a timely intervention.
He pledged his full support to make the launch a success, adding that he is a repository of history and believes in the vision behind the Institute.
Members of the CPC in attendance included former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Philip Salawu; former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; two-term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mrs. Dorgu; fifth-term member of the House of Representatives and daughter of Papa and Mama Lar, Hon. Beni Lar; and Senior Political Development Analyst, Hajiya Amina Okeke, among others.
Speaking after the meeting, Congressman Daramola, on behalf of the CPC, thanked Ambassador Igali for the warm reception and fruitful deliberations, saying the nationwide consultations would continue in the coming days.