UIPU: How Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum Led Executive Recorded Service Milestones

Posted on December 13, 2021

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA

When American Philosopher, Author and Poet, Michael Barber, posited that “Stewardship is leaving a system better than you found it”, he must have had in mind Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum, governor of United Isu Progressive Union, UIPU, a polished technocrat, who, alongside his proactive executives, redefined the leadership of the Union with a touch of class, excellence, integrity, honesty, humility, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and true brotherhood.

After his election and inauguration in 2019, Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum alongside his Executives, had a clear picture of what they wanted to get done, especially, as he was quite aware of the challenges, expectations and timeline for delivery on a number of ongoing projects, programmes and proposals at the UIPU’s Secretariat; Country Club.

Being very conscious of the public trust bestowed upon him, his name, pedigree and integrity, which is at stake, Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum (Ekwueme of Dim Na Isu) rolled his sleeves to work as he motivated members of his Executive through inclusive and exemplary leadership to devote their time, talent, mobilize resources and social contacts to take the Union to the next level.

The questions that beg for answers remain: Did United Isu Progressive Union under the leadership of Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum and his executives make any remarkable impact?

Can the Union under Ekwueme of Isu be adjuged to have succeeded? The answer is an affirmative ‘yes.’

Any honest, modest and dispassionate assessment of UIPU under the dynamic and proactive leadership of Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum (Ekwueme of Dim na Nume Isu, Ekwueme of Orlu, Ekwueme Gburugburu of Ụmụnakara) will no doubt, give the Isu born trained Civil Engineer and boardroom business strategist alongside his executives a standing ovation with sound round of applause.

Just as one does not need a mirror to take a closer look at one’s shinning watch, any sincere mind knows that United Isu Progressive Union, UIPU, under Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum and members of his Executives had performed creditably well as it is quite outstanding in numerical strength, rich membership enrollment, teamwork, infrastructural revolution and leadership direction.

Since its election on 30th December, 2018, and inauguration on 3rdnJanuary, 2019, UIPU under the proactive Executive of Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum has recorded the following milestones under review:

✓ Redemption of pledges from members and patrons running into millions of Naira, which could only be achieved by a tested , trusted and disciplined leadership under Chief Celestine Opurum.

✓ Completion, dedication and official unveiling of the multi-million Naira UIPU’s country club by the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Sen. Hope Uzodimma.

✓ Tilling and celling of the country club by Distinguished, Hon. Jones Onyereri.

✓ Ongoing state of the arts UIPU’s guest house by Rt. Hon.Ugonna Ozurigbo.

✓ Hosting of the UIPU official website

✓ Raising of country club parameter fencing.

✓ Installations of UIPU Gate.

✓ Installation of Electrical pipings.

✓ Tilling of front pillars.

✓ Screeding of country club house.

✓ Completion and fixing of 33 numbers of Windows.

✓ Installation of Reflective Bill Board.

Consolidation and creation of Ad-hoc and standing Committees as follows: Building| Project Committee under the chairmanship of High Chief Emma Azike. Harmonization And Peace Committee under High Chief Johnbosco Ozigbu, PHD.Committee on Diaspora & International Relations under Nze Apala Dom Njoku. Screening Committee under Engr. Humphery Anyiam -DGOV- UIPU. Elders Advisory Council led by Prince MacDonald Akano. Editorial Board Committee by Dr. Batos Nwadike. Membership Drive Committee by Prince Chris Akano. Legal Advisory Committee by Barr. Victor Opurum. Disciplinary Committee by Mr. Ezeala Akano. Culture and Tradition Committee by Dr. Smith Iyke Anyaehie. Security & Financial Matters by Amb. Emma Obasi.Committee on Political Matters by Chief Obinna Duruaku -BBC. Welfare Committee by Prince Melford Akano, and Inter Religious Committee by Pst. Obinali Ohaka.

With the above, the leadership of UIPU under Chief Engr.Celestine Opurum has proven its mettle in organising men, keeping records, mobilizing resources and directing the affairs of Isu Clan for a greater tomorrow as posterity shall never forget their imprints in such a hurry.

What more can one say about his sense of probity, transparency and accountability in leadership? Despite having come from a rich and popular family background, the Opurum Dynasty in Dim na Nume Isu, Nwangele LGA, Imo State, this silent achiever and trail blazer, Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum has continued to endear himself to his friends, business associates, traditional rulers, religious leaders as well as his political allies.

However, as a leader with human face, Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum alongside members of his Executives embarked on sanitization awareness during the COVID -19 as UIPU shared hand sanitizers and other COVID -19 kits across the 6 Wards in Nwangele LGA, Imo State

Did they stop at that? Never. In order to cushion the effect of the COVID -19 stay at home, which brought untold hardship and hunger in many homes; UIPU under the Humanitarian leadership of Ekwueme of Dim na Nume Isu, distributed food relief materials in Isu Clan worth millions of Naira.

Many thanks to the BOT Chairman of UIPU, Imo Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Hon. Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo, High Chief Emmanuel Azike, High Chief Michael Onuoha (Eririego of Igboland), Prince MacDonald, amongst other patrons and stakeholders of the union for their financial and material supports geared toward accelerated socio-economic development of this respected social club.

As UIPU under the goal getting and remarkable result-oriented based leadership of Engr. Celestine Opurum rounds off its tenure, it is on record that they run a very transparent, tolerable , accommodating, friendly and people centered government despite the normal challenges associated with holding public trust on behalf of the people.

Chief Celestine Opurum can hold his head up as the governor of UIPU under whose watch the Executive Governor of Imo State visited the Country Club for the first time, under whose watch Isu Clan produced Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, Hon. Chief Ugonna Ozurigbo, member representing Nkwerre/Isu/ Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency, Dr. Batos Nwadike, SA Political Matters to Imo State Governor, Dr. N.J. Nwokeforo, SA on Contacts And Advisory to the Governor.

Also, very important to note is that during the Rebuild Imo Administration under Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Nwangele sons from Isu Clan extraction were also appointed by then Governor of the State:

Chief Obinna Duruaku appointed as Head of Informal Sector, Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum appointed as a member of Imo State Rural and Electrification Agency (IPOREA), and member Imo State Estates and Layouts Review Committee. Professor ABC Duruaku appointed as a member of Imo State Tourism Board.

As he leaves the stage, the palpable fear among members of UIPU is whether this prestigious and elite club would get a better replacement after Ekwueme of Dim na Nume Isu?

Not just a replacement, but one with honesty, humility and integrity of Chief Engr. Celestine Opurum, and not one under whose leadership watch the Union, which has become the toast of Nwangele people shall be factionalized with the dangerous toga of a cabal group.