The Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, CON, DSSRS, JP, Edward I, Perekule XI, has commissioned the newly built administrative office of the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Center (BIRC) constructed by the Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox administration. 

Chairman of Bonny LGA, Dame Claude-Wilcox used the occasion, which held on Monday, February 5, 2024 in Bonny, Rivers State, to announce that the new building would signal a departure from analogue to digitalization of the employment process in Bonny. 

Representative of the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, Se-Alabo Benjamin Ada-Allison (centre) flanked by the Chairman, Bonny LGA, Anengi Claude-Wilcox (right) and other dignitaries commissions the new BIRC administrative office.

The King, who was represented by the Chief and Head of Ada-Allison Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, Se-Alabo Benjamin Ada-Allison, unveiled the cenotaph and cut the ribbons to commission the building. He later was conducted round the building by the Bonny LGA Chairman. 

In her address, Dame Claude-Wilcox said the new building and the state-of-the-art facilities therein were primed to optimize the operations of the Center, stressing that the aim is to modernize the recruitment process, articulate a list of employed and unemployed residents and reduce corruption in the system. 

“We are not just building a new structure but a new system of operations in the BIRC. This new BIRC is designed to solve the manual and old ways of handling employment related activities.” 

Chairman, Bonny LGA, Anengi Claude-Wilcox giving her address during the event. 

“Our vision for BIRC is for it to be the most valuable and most modernized employment management system in Nigeria that has high integrity and earns strong trust from the citizens to the government.” 

“We are working out modalities to ensure that the new BIRC has a reliable and secure database of every Bonny resident who is working and those who are within working age bracket without jobs.” 

Photos of the new BIRC Building. 

“The Centre will leverage on simple but modern human resource management system, utilize real-time employment monitoring system, promptly respond to enquiries via reachable support phone number and email, host online remote applications, and ensure that there are digital job allocations so that only those in the BIRC database can get job postings.”  

“With the foregoing in place, we would be able to recuse ourselves from the embarrassing crowding of this premises, and stamp out sharp practices within the system that may have been working against the people.”

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the BIRC, Louis Banigo expressed the appreciation of the management to the commitment of the Bonny LGA Chairman for the construction of the building, noting that her dedication to local infrastructure enhancement has transformed the LGA. 

Chairman, Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC), Louis Banigo making his remarks during the event. 

“I, on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Center, express our profound gratitude and appreciation for the remarkable initiative and commitment you have demonstrated in overseeing the construction of the new office complex in our community.” 

“Your unwavering dedication to enhancing our local infrastructure has not only transformed the landscape but has also significantly contributed to the overall development of our local government area.” 

He expressed the optimism that the commissioning of the new structure will catalyze economic growth and community development, adding that its impact would be far-reaching and also create a conducive environment for the Center’s activities.

(Interior) Photos of the new BIRC Building.

“The new office complex is not just a physical structure but a symbol of progress, efficiency, and modernity. Its impact on our community will undoubtedly be far-reaching, creating a conducive environment for various activities and promoting collaboration among individuals and organizations.” 

“I am confident that this development will catalyze economic growth and community development.” 

The Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC), speaking through the Chief and Head of Attoni House, Se-Alabo Abel Attoni, praised the Bonny LGA Chairman, saying that the edifice has brought hope of better days to the people of Bonny, especially job seekers, urging the management of the BIRC to up its game in terms of judicious use of the facility. 

Also speaking, the President of the Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly, Amaopusenibo Furosia Wilcox, who earlier performed the traditional rites of welcome to the King’s representative, thanked the Bonny LGA boss for being considerate about the plight of job seekers in the area and working to emplace solution based measures to address the unemployment crises. 

President, Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly, Amaopusenibo Furosia Wilcox

In her goodwill message, Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Amaopuorubo Helen Pepple extolled the performance profile of Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox, pointing out that she has justified the clamour for increased political exposure for women, urging political stakeholders to accord more women the opportunity to occupy public offices. 

Woman Leader of Bonny Kingdom, Amaopuorubo Helen Pepple giving her goodwill message. 

On his part, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bonny LGA Chapter, Tamuno-Opubo Wilcox-Buruwi said the Bonny LGA Chairman has continued to make the party proud by exemplifying the ideals of the PDP which is to deliver democratic dividends to the people, calling on all and sundry to support her.

Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tamuno-Opubo Wilcox-Buruwi

Speaking, the Leader of the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF, Anthony Banigo commended the Bonny Monarch for “articulating a vision for a sustainably developing Bonny”, emphasizing the need for “a comprehensive human capacity development plan to ensure meaningful employment and income generation for all the Kingdom”. 

Leader, Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), Anthony Banigo

He also applauded the steadfast leadership of Dame Anengi Claude-Wilcox as the Chairman of Bonny LGA, as well as keying into the vision of the King, appealing to the people of Bonny to support her administration to ensure sustainable growth in the area and to continue providing the necessary infrastructure.

Highpoint of the event was the dance performance by Ogunu masquerade, Hart House Owu-Ogbo and Eremina-Ogbo Dance Troupe of Bonny Kingdom.