By Peter Legacy | NOL24 TV (Media Cathedral)
ADONTE, DELTA STATE — The annual Ado Festival in Adonte Kingdom became a convergence point for political leaders, government officials, and community stakeholders over the weekend as Hon. Princess Vivian Dennis, Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Women Mobilisation, hosted top government functionaries and political leaders from Nsukwa Clan in her country home.
The colorful cultural celebration, which attracted dignitaries from across Delta State, provided an opportunity for community engagement, cultural preservation, and discussions on pressing developmental issues affecting the people of Adonte Kingdom.
Among the prominent personalities in attendance were the Delta State Commissioner for Technical Education, Hon. Smart Ijeoma Ufoh; Chief Nathaniel Igbadi, Special Adviser to the Governor of Delta State; Chief Barr. Afam Andy Ochie, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State; alongside several other political leaders, traditional stakeholders, and community figures.
Speaking during the event, Princess Vivian Dennis expressed profound appreciation to the visiting government officials and political leaders for honoring her invitation despite what she described as their demanding official schedules.
She noted that their presence at the annual festival demonstrated the administration’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with grassroots communities while fostering unity among the people of Nsukwa Clan and the wider Delta North region.
“The presence of these distinguished leaders at our annual Ado Festival is a clear indication that our government remains connected to the people. We are grateful that despite their numerous responsibilities, they found time to identify with us during this important cultural celebration,” she said.
Beyond the festivities, Princess Vivian seized the opportunity to draw attention to one of the community’s most pressing infrastructural challenges—the Adonte Road.
According to her, the road has deteriorated significantly and has become increasingly difficult for motorists and residents to navigate, particularly during the ongoing rainy season.
She appealed to the state government to expedite intervention efforts, stressing that the condition of the road continues to affect transportation, economic activities, and access to neighboring communities.
“The Adonte Road remains a major concern for our people. With the rains intensifying, many sections have become almost impassable. We are appealing to the government to give urgent attention to this critical infrastructure for the benefit of our people,” she stated.
Responding to the concerns, Commissioner for Technical Education, Hon. Smart Ijeoma Ufoh, reassured residents that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remains committed to fulfilling his electoral promises across all parts of Delta State.
Ufoh emphasized that the administration’s developmental agenda continues to prioritize road infrastructure and community development projects aimed at improving the quality of life of Deltans.
He further assured the people that the already-awarded Adonte Road project remains firmly within the government’s development plans and would be completed within the shortest possible time.
“The Governor is committed to delivering on his promises to the people of Delta State. The Adonte Road project has already received government attention, and efforts are ongoing to ensure that the project is completed. The administration remains focused on providing the infrastructure needed to drive growth and improve the welfare of our people,” Ufoh said.
Observers at the event noted that the gathering underscored the growing synergy between government officials and grassroots communities, with cultural festivals increasingly serving as platforms for discussing development priorities and strengthening community-government relations.
The Ado Festival, one of the notable cultural celebrations in Adonte Kingdom, continues to serve as a symbol of unity, heritage preservation, and communal development, bringing together sons and daughters of the kingdom from within and outside Delta State.
As the celebrations concluded, residents expressed optimism that the assurances given by government representatives would translate into swift action, particularly regarding the rehabilitation and completion of the Adonte Road project, which many consider vital to the economic and social development of the area.