…Gift Worlu says idiots are shaping opinion of society
An entrepreneurial thinker, management expert, university don now a local council chairman thinks that idiots are the ones shaping the opinion of the public through the powerful instrumentality of the social media. He has however put forward ‘financial literacy’ as key to rescuing the society and creating wealth.
Gift Worlu, who was a Management lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt, now chairman, Obio/Akpor LGA, says it is by partnering with relevant wealth creation institutions and agencies that he would help to create wealth and cause trans-generational transfers of wealth, all through financial literacy and massive awareness.
For now, Worlu told a delegation of members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) from the Obio/Akpor District & Society led by Chioma Ojukwu (the District’s chairman), people are busy transferring poverty from generation to generation.
Saying poverty transfer was becoming the tradition, Worlu said: “As a people, we have imbibed wrong concepts such as saying ‘Uwa bu ndoli, ndoli’ meaning life is about struggle and suffering. That is not how life was made. It was not for you to suffer and suffer and transfer such legacy or lifestyle to the next generation.
“Poverty or wealth is a result of choices we make. Warren Buffet and others will tell you that wealth can be created. Thus, we need to make our people to believe in wealth creation instead of in ancestral matters holding one back. We need to defeat beliefs that hold us back, belief that ancestors caused our failures or that one is paying for the sins of his ancestors. If such was correct, the whites who dominate global wealth would have been poor because their ancestors committed the most grievous and heinous crimes in humanity such as slave trade, atomic bomb (Hiroshima and Nagasaki), weapons of mass destruction, etc.”
He thanked the ICAN delegation for the positive things they said concerning the work he and his team were doing at the grassroots level in Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State. “It will not make us raise our shoulders one bit but to commit more to helping our people.
“We are desirous of collaborations to deliver more value and good governance to our people. I pledge to support your programme to succeed.”
Financial literacy as weapon and key:
He went on: “Your focus which is Financial Literacy is very key. This is because all problems of the society start with dearth of financial literacy. By this, we mean that if there is no knowledge, there would not be economic development or breakthrough for a person or a society. We advise citizens to acquire and apply knowledge first and then call upon God to support the work of your hands.”
The entrepreneurial thinker and expert said the challenge today is how to make money, grow wealth, and transfer wealth from one generation to another. “Let our people take their destinies in their hands.”
The don said ICAN Obio/Akpor District & Society is part of the enterprise or the ecosystem of the council area. “Obio/Akpor is not only for the natives. I have meetings with the business community in the local council area and my message to them is that revenue collection is not the start and end of their relationship with the council. We can relate in many other ways. We as a council can do a lot to support them and use the revenue to make all people of the local council better.”
Danger: Idiots shaping minds of Nigerians:
The council boss said it was sad that unfit minds now rule the social media space. “I advise the public not to allow idiots and ignorant people to lead them such as one character (name withheld) who is always on social media with videos. He is a son of this LGA claiming to be an ex-militant but he is merely a content creator, but sadly, our people tend to pay more heed to such persons than to things that enrich their minds and create wealth for them. People must bend to what adds value to their lives rather than to rotten garbage that would not add value.”
He said: “There is a reason people are poor. It is about actions taken by people and choices made. The choice before this LG Council is either to attack the reason for poverty, or to give out N100,000 to each ‘poor person’ in our midst and walk away. I think it is better to attack the cause of poverty.
“So, training or human capital development is the key. That is the choice we have made.”
Digital revenue platform: No more harassment of traders:
Obio/Akpor became synonymous with violent collection of revenue but the notoriety seems not welcome anymore. The chairman announced a major feat, saying the council has made investments in things that would develop the LGA. He named a major one; Digital Revenue System. “It is a digital platform to collect and manage revenue instead of sending teams to harass people. No more harassment.
Empowerment is a scam:
The chairman dismissed most empowerment schemes, saying they empower nobody. “Empowerment we hear about is dis-empowerment really. We are rather going to empower our people in the right way. We want ICAN to note that partnership has already started. You can come up with areas and strategies for takeoff. We will hold more discussion.”
Chioma Ojukwu unveils package:
The ICAN chairman, who was accompanied by a large team including Gabriel Success (Vice Chairman), Nengi Isagua (Secretary), Adaobi Akuagba (Ass. Secretary), Egile Igwe (Treasurer), and Paul Nnaji (Ex Officio), said they are professionals trained in financial management, integrity, and accountability, and as members of the foremost Institute established by the Act of the Parliament No. 15 of 1965.
She said the District that was inaugurated by ICAN National body on February 2, 2025, was created to bring ICAN closer to its members and the members of the public within Obio/Akpor & its environs (the grassroots).
The ICAN leader proposed partnership to collaborate with Obio/Akpor to foster quality accounting education in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the LGA and its environs, promote financial literacy among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to grow their businesses, inform the general public about the reforms of the Government for example the New Tax Reforms and promote general human capacity development, and socio-economic progress of the LGA, the State and the Nation at large.
“ICAN Obio/Akpor & District Society has organized highly impactful and well attended Quarterly Webinars/Luncheons, four (4) of them in total. The Webinars have recorded an average of 250 participants each Session. The first Tax Reforms Webinar in September 2025 had over 300 participants in attendance.
“We have also carried out financial literacy/public sensitization programme around Choba, Alakahia and Rumuosi areas for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on Nov. 10th 2025 to mark International Accounting Day Celebration.”
She reported giant strides at the last ICAN Annual Accountant’s Conference (AAC) at Abuja, coming back home with 6 trophies in many categories which she said projected the name Obio/Akpor LGA to an enviable height at the International Conference.
“Within this almost one year the District was created, we have carried out four (4) ‘Catch Them Young’ Programmes (CTY) in Secondary Schools in each of the quarters in 2025. We started with Olobo Premier College Choba on 19th March, 2025, Word of Faith Group of Schools at Woji Town on 25th June, 2025, Excellent Montessori in Mgbuoba on 17th of Sept. 2025 and Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls’ College (Elelenwo Girls) on 14th Nov. 2025 all in Obio/Akpor LGA and in each of them we shared writing materials and gave them career talks on accounting and educated them on financial literacy and accountability.
“For Tertiary Institutions in the State, in this quarter we are planning a Rivers State Inter-Tertiary Institutions Debate Competition for Wednesday, 4th February 2026 as part of our activities to mark our one year anniversary. This will involve a minimum of six tertiary institutions in the State.” She mentioned other activities including awards.
Partnership focus:
ICAN offered partnership with Obio/Akpor LGA in areas including capacity building/training to enhance efficiency, transparency, and financial prudence; internship & youth engagement to support the development of young accounting graduates and students within the local government; financial literacy campaigns on budgeting, record keeping for SMEs, market traders, tax reform awareness programme for the LGA and financial discipline among the general public; and professional advisory support on internal controls, budgeting, and financial planning to aid the smooth running of your administration. They made requests to enable them deliver on the promises.
Ends/
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Gift Worlu, chairman, Obio/Akpor LGA area, ready to champion wealth generation and generational transfer
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Chioma Ojukwu, pioneer chairman, ICAN Obio/Akpor District & Society
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ICAN delegation to Obio/Akpor LGA council with chairman of council
