The Head of Service of Rivers State, Dr. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has called for increased investment in children and stronger institutions to preserve values, character and principles for future generations.
Brown made the call while chairing the annual public lecture organised by the Willie and Glo Kio Lawson Foundation in Port Harcourt to mark the posthumous centenary of Gloria Alowiba Kio Lawson, mother of the Head of the Civil Service of Delta State, Dr. Minini Oseji.
She described the centenary lecture as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of building lasting legacies and preparing younger generations for leadership.
She urged individuals and institutions to prioritise the transfer of values, knowledge and opportunities to the next generation, stressing that meaningful legacies go beyond material possessions and positions.
Brown commended the foundation for its contributions to community development, particularly its support for academic excellence among pupils in Buguma, teacher development, youth empowerment and care for senior citizens.
In her welcome address, Oseji highlighted the foundation’s achievements since its establishment, noting that its interventions had focused on education, support for vulnerable groups and the preservation of her late mother’s legacy.
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She recalled that in 2018, the foundation presented gifts to elderly persons at an internally displaced persons camp during a flood emergency. In 2020, it also provided medical assistance and gifts to elderly women in Rivers and Delta states.
Oseji further disclosed that the foundation sponsored a film production in the Kalabari Kingdom in October 2022 and had consistently rewarded outstanding pupils from Primary Five to Junior Secondary School in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
As part of activities marking the centenary, the family planted 100 trees in Buguma to promote environmental sustainability and symbolise its commitment to preserving the late matriarch’s legacy.
She called on Nigerians and Africans to invest in developing individuals, families and institutions, noting that public lectures, tree planting, evangelism and the erection of monuments were among the ways to preserve the memories of loved ones and inspire future generations.
The guest speaker, Dr. Emi Membere Otaji, a former commissioner in Rivers State, described succession planning as a critical element of effective leadership, saying it determines the ability of institutions to survive and remain relevant beyond the tenure of their founders or leaders.
Otaji stressed that succession planning should extend beyond government institutions and organisations to families, where it could promote continuity, stability and the preservation of enduring values.
The lecture formed part of the Willie and Glo Kio Lawson Foundation’s efforts to honour Gloria Alowiba Kio Lawson through initiatives that promote education, community development and intergenerational responsibility.
