By Theresa Igata

The Commissioner for Information, Delta State, Mr. Patrick Ukah has said that the private sector has significantly added value to the state as projects in the state are purely private sector-driven.

Ukah disclosed this at the Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria, ADVAN, awards for marketing excellence in Lagos while receiving an award on behalf of the State, as the Best Public Service; State Category.

Commending the various private sector stakeholders and organisers of the award which has placed the Delta State as the first recipient of the ADVAN Public Service award in the state Category, the commissioner added that the state realises the importance of the private sector in economic development. According to him, “we cannot do it alone which is why there has always been that collaboration in the state between the government and the private sector. All the money we have raised and projects in the state are purely from the private sector”.

On the award, he emphasised that the state does not have a culture of accepting awards but because of the credibility of ADVAN the governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa decided to receive it, even as the state was not aware of the nomination until they were called to pick up the award.

“This is the first time we are accepting an award since the assumption of office of the present administration and we are not sure we will accept another until we are 3 or 4 years old so that we can be properly judged”, he said

Photo:

President, Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), David Okeme; Airtel Nigeria CEO, Segun Ogunsanya; Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah and his wife, Perpetua, at the ADVAN awards for marketing excellence 2016, in Lagos.