PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK
YOU CAN ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WANT WITH COMMITMENT- Engr. Denis Nenyiaba
IKA WEEKLY – Our personality of the week is a young man who strongly believe that one can achieve whatever he sets his mind on, if he puts in the required commitment and dedication. This, he made known during an interview with Ika Weekly at his residence at Agbor on Saturday.
The personality, who is no other person than Engineer Dennis Ebundum Nenyiaba attributed his success to God Almighty and his commitment to excellence over the years. Engr. Neyiaba who disclosed that he had to work very hard to get to where he is today narrated how he and a some of his friends had to go Ika Grammar School and Institute of Continuing Education, both in Agbor to ‘steal lectures’ as he puts it, because his school then, Gbenoba Grammar School, Agbor was closed down by the government during his final year.
According to him “we had to devise means on how to post excellent results in our final examinations. So we were going to the library almost on daily basis to study until one of us suggested that we go to Ika Grammar School and ICE to receive lectures”
Engr. Nenyiaba said that he had to emphasise the above point so as to challenge our youths to put in extra effort in order to succeed in life. He recollected that at a point students of ICE became jealous of their academic prowess and had to stop them by threatening them not to come to their school to receive lectures again. He however said that they were not deterred but that instead they were enamoured by the action of those students by not relenting in their pursuit for academic excellence. He paid special appreciation to his elder brother, Mr. Charles Nenyiaba the Special Adviser to the Commissioner for Finance for contributing in no small measure to his success story today.
Engr. Nenyiaba who is the Managing Director of Deewood Construction Engineering, Ltd (DCEL) based in Agbor and Asaba said he came into this world on the 2nd of Novermber, 1963. He had his primary education at Agbor Model Primary School, and Secondary education at Gbenoba Grammar School both in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area. He disclosed that during his seconday school days, he represented his school in schools challenge, quiz and most prominently in Fine Arts where he won many awards, stating from when he was in form two (2) because he developed a sophisticated creative artistry. He revealed that he started representing the then Bendel State in Fine Arts by the time he got to form three (3).
Engr. Nenyiaba left secondary school with distinction in five subjects including English Language and Mathematics, making A1 in Fine Arts. In 1982, without wasting any year,he gained admission into the University of Nigeria Nsukka to study Civil Engineering, and graduated as the best student in 1987.
He stated that another area he can attribute his success to is in the kind of friends he made, noting that all his friends in his growing up years were academic inclined; they never had time for any other thing except their studies.
Engr. Nenyiaba commenced his working career with an Italian firm kwown as Reyan Construction Company and later moved to another construction firm called Direct Line Limited in Kano before joining Crimotrade I an talian based company in Kaduna. But his urge to set up his own engineering firm got the better part of him and he resigned as Chief Engineer after handling and supervising the construction of a giant silo complex in Gaya in Kaduna which was a multi-billion naira project.
According to him, he was the youngest and only black engineer in the team that executed the project, which was considered very significant to the people and government of Kaduna State because of its purpose which was to store farm products.
The first private contract he got was from an Italian Company called Yaco Engineering based in Kaduna which subleted a contract to him in wood works, while he was still working with Crimotade. In his words “that was a major breakthrough for me as an engineer who was planning to set up his own outfit”. After the completion of the job, he floated a Woodwork Construction Company. He later got engaged with Zenith International Bank Plc doing a lot of jobs for them before coming down to Delta State where he currently does some jobs for the state government.
Engr. Nenyiaba who says he believe so much in Ika, implored the people of Ika, particularly the political class to learn to work together as a team in order to promote the socio-economic and political well-being of the people of the area.
He stated that the strength in unity cannot be overlooked, and therefore urged them to cultivate the attitude of putting the interest of Ika nation far above personal or sectional interests. He emphasized that Ika as a nation would have gone far if the people had seen the need to unite. He regretted that the individualistic approach to issues that concern the entire Ika has contributed to the slow pace of development in the area; saying that the unnecessary dichotomy of Ika nation has actually impacted negatively on the psychic of the people and development of the area.
He called on Ika youths to be serious in whatever positive things they are doing, for those following the academic line, there is no limit to the amount of knowledge you can acquire. He disclosed that he is still studying to elevate his academic level, stating that he has just defended his MBA thesis that would lead to the award of that class of degree.
On development in Ika land, Engr. Nenyiaba pointed out that there is no single individual that can transform the socio-economic landscape of the area with his personal wealth. He therefore urged those in politics to work hard to attain relevance which they can use to assist the people. He commended the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa for his contributions to the development of Ika land. He also praised the immediate past Commissioner for Ailing Industries, Hon. Ben Obuh in making his own modest input in the upliftment of Ika nation.
Engr. Nenyiaba applauded the appointment of the Queen Mother, and Ojeba of Agbor Kingdom, Hon Queen Victoria Ikenchukwu, noting that she now stands as the representative of the people of Ika South, in the administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. He urged her to see herself as the eye of the people at Asaba. He equally congratulated Chief Hon. Lawrence Osiegbu, the honourable Commissioner for Environment for his appointment and advised him to be conscious of the fact that his position is for all Deltans, particularly the people of the area he comes from. He however noted that he was confident that, going by his previous performance as chairman, Rural Development Agency, he will creditably well.
Emphasizing the areas he has contributed to the socio-economic life of Ika nation, the young enterprising Engineer disclosed that he has been involved in a lot philanthropic activities, like giving assistance to people in need, helping with finance to indigent but very brilliant students amongst other gestures. But he was of the opinion that the Biblical injunction that says ” that when your right hand gives, you should not allow the left hand to know”. He stated that currently he has a lot of Ika indigenes under his employment, and noted that he feels particularly happy knowing that he is contributing, in his little way, to the economic survival and empowerment of his people.
Engr. Nenyiaba condemned the attitude of aloofness to the plight of other people by those who are fortunate to have made it in life. And called on the wealthy sons and daughters in Ika nation to learn to be their brother’s keepers in whatever way they can. He particularly singled out Mr. Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank for the good works he is doing in Ika land, through human empowerment and infrastructural development. He urged all Ika persons to see and regard Ika as one devoid of any physical or psychological division. Reiterating that there is an unbreakable strength in Unity, and the unity, according to him can start when we begin to assist ourselves in different ways, as the engineering expert congratulated the of Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Keagborekuzi 1, for the giant stride he has registered since his return from England some few years back, saying that he is doing wonderfully well, as he equally commended other traditional rulers in Ika land for their contributions to the socio-cultural and economic development of the area.
He called on the people of Agbor to round him so as to fully reposition the Agbor Kingdom in the mainstream of the Nigerian nation.
Engr. Nenyiaba advised that people should mind the kind of persons they mingle with noting that the kind of people one associates. With the kind of places one goes to, and the kind of things one hears and allow to infiltrate his thinking pattern will ultimately determine what he or she becomes. He therefore advised that people should stay away from those he labeled ‘dream killers’ who always discourage others from venturing and attempting things that could lead them to success.
He commended Ika Weekly for becoming the vehicle of communication for Ika nation, and called on all who appreciates progress to lend their support to the budding tabloid.
Engr. Nenyiaba who is married to Mrs. Felicia Nenyiaba (nee Agborbu) is blessed with children.
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