The Olu of Warri Kingdom His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III charged the Transition Town Warri initiative on community revitalization by using the project to promoting Itsekiri /Iwere development agenda using local resources.
The revered traditional monarch who gave the charge when the team sought his blessings said the Transition town Warri team should engage with communities, listening to their challenges and supporting their efforts and using their local resources towards development while also preserving Itsekiri rich culture and history.
The Transition town Warri initiative began its training by first giving an overview on the concept and then explaining the its purpose, vision and the goals.
The current environmental, social, and economic challenges facing communities were outlined and then the seven key ingredients to enable participants to develop and Transition Town Warri were thought using visualization.
The trainers now group Ed the trainee into four groups with Chiefs and Secretaries appointed by the group themselves and these groups developed their specific goals of the initiative, that speaks on reducing carbon emissions, promoting local food systems, improving waste management , seashore erosion control and using waste to generate electricity .
The lead trainer ,Mr Don Hall from America in company of Yvonne Omagbemi, an Itsekiri trained Environmentalist as well as Mr Henry Erikowa, who lead the team to the palace of the Olu of Warri were able to inspire the trainees to develop their Transition Town Warri initiative that would take them to to four communities of, Ode Itsekiri , Ugborodo, Ugbo-Olaja and Ifie Communities all in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State Nigeria.
With the final launch of the Transition Town Warri initiative at Coastal and Marine Areas Development Initiative,CMADI, Ijala in Warri South Local Government as its hub, such an incredible initiative is consistent with Ogiame Atuwatse III’s goals and aspirations for the Iwere nation.
The influential Warri Monarch has shown a strong commitment to promoting the Itsekiri/Iwere development agenda and community revitalization as his reign is deeply rooted in the principles of development , righteousness and justice, with a steadfast commitment to the prosperity and well-being of the Itsekiri people .