President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is among prominent Nigerians expected to grace the Public Presentation of the Biography of former Governor of old Rivers State, and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Melford Okilo.

The event, which will hold next week Tuesday, November 19, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, will also double as Fundraising for the Chief Melford Okilo Centre.

A member of the Steering Committee, Mr. Otio Okilo, said that the event will have President Goodluck Jonathan as Special Guest, and Vice President Arc. Namadi Sambo as Guest of Honour, while former President Shehu Shagari will be the Father-of-the-Day. Other prominent Nigerians expected at the twin event are former Governor of Anambra, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, as Chairman of the event, Minister of FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed, as the Chief Host with Governors of Bayelsa State, Rt. Hon Seriake Dickson, and Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, as the Co-Hosts.

The Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, is the Book Unveiler while the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, will be the Chief Launcher. The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, is the Mother of the Day, while Chief Marc Wabara, Dr Micheal Arumemi-Ikhide and Olatunde Ayeni are the Co-Launchers.

According to Otio Okilo, the high point of the programme would be the presentation of a book, OKILO, Biography of a Bridge Builder, written by Marshal Isana. That, he said, would be followed by fundraising for the construction of Chief Melford Okilo Centre, a place that will host the laudable programmes geared towards projecting the late politician’s vision for posterity.

Otio Okilo explained that the events organised by Chief Melford Okilo Foundation (MOF), earlier scheduled to hold in October, was shifted to ensure that adequate honour is given to the late elder statesman.

News Express reports that the Chief Melford Okilo Foundation was set up to promote the ideals and legacies of Chief Okilo, the first elected Executive Governor of old Rivers State, who died in 2008 at the age of 75. He was also a Senator and nationalist who built bridges of political friendship and associations with the North at pivotal moments in Nigeria’s history.

The Chief Melford Okilo Foundation is a non-government, non-profit organisation established and dedicated to the promotion of youth education with yearly scholarship schemes and grants, instilling values of volunteerism and civic engagement in the youths, promoting and celebrating excellence in leadership and entrepreneurship; and improving people’s health by giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty exacerbated by the degraded environment in Niger Delta.

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