It was a sunny Valentine Friday, 14 February and the Vichy Gates Hotel in the elitist Government Reservation Area in Benin City was buzzed with excitement, because a development superstar extraordinaire, environmentalist and human rights activist, Comrade Leo Atakpu turned 60.
Family members, friends and colleagues had planned an unforgettable celebration, and the guest list was a Who’s Who of the town’s crème de la crème and from the civil society community in Edo State and beyond.
The ceremony kick started with a lecture titled “Tackling Multi-Dimensional Poverty in Nigeria: Need for Reforms”, delivered by Professor Patrick Ohikhena, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Wellspring University, Benin City.
The ceremony broke into a panel of discussion to deliberate on the issues raised by the erudite Professor in the lecture. Doing justice to the issues raised, the panelists comprising Dr. Felix Osaiga, Dr. Uyi Ojo, Dr. Oscar Ubhenin, Ms. Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, and Mrs. Blessing Eromon called for the overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, deemphasissation of personal security while strengthening the collective security of the people.
The panelists also called for wealth redistribution with the provision of social welfare packages, closing the gaps in social welfare administration; tackling of social destitution and inability of majority of the people to afford the basic necessities of life.
While calling for improvements in education to make it affordable to everyone, the panelists called for the reformation of the mind and strengthening of the existing public institutions to make them responsive to the fight against multidimensional poverty in the country.
Wife of the celebrant, Mrs. Oritsemueyiwa Atakpu, in a remark thanked her husband for being a loving husband and caring father to her and the kids respectively.
While describing her husband as an honest and accountable personal, Mrs. Atakpu noted that Leo is also accountable to her as the wife at every bend and prayed God to grant him more fruitful years.
Executive Director of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) Rev. David who is also Leo’s colleague at ANEEJ, described the celebrant as a dedicated colleague with eyes for details and eulogised him for his doddegness and hard work.
Responding to the encomiums poured on him by his family members, colleagues and members of the civil society community present; Leo who noted that his son Esemuede Anicetus Atakpu, initiated preparations to celebrate him on his 60th birthday, thanked Rev. Ugolor who he said had to collapse preparations for his own 55th birthday to enable him take the driver’s seat in preparations for his diamond birthday celebration.
The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of fun as Leo who was joined by his wife, showed off their best dance moves after the guests were lavishly entertained with sumptuous meals and assorted drinks.
High point of the celebration was the cutting of the 60th birthday celebration by Leo, flanked by his wife and assisted by family members, friends and colleagues from ANEEJ.