From TCNEWS
Critical stakeholders have expressed divergent views on the annual January 28th Global Community Engagement Day, a day which seeks to encourage organizations, individuals, and businesses to better engage with their community.
Interacting with our correspondent in his palace, the traditional ruler of Uzi-Amizi autonomous community Olokoro clan in Umuahia South L.G.A, of Abia State, HRH Eze Cyril Ogbenna, harped on the need for organizations in the foreign countries and in diaspora to always think homewards and better the standard of living of those in the community.
HRH Eze Cyril Ogbenna.
He appreciated the works of UmuAmizi in Diaspora Association, UADA which include: free medical outreaches; financial empowerment to petty traders; efforts geared towards bringing a lasting peace to Amizi-Epe and Uzi-Amizi communities in old Amizi ancient kingdom; skills acquisition programs among other enablement programmes carried out in the community and encouraged others to emulate the UADA.
Interacting with our correspondent through WhatsApp, the Chairman of Harrison Goodness Foundation, HGF Chief Richard Harrison, decried that most organisations engage with the community to exploit and profit from them and all their talks only existed in their narratives and on paper but not in reality.
He passionately called on the press, Civil Societies among other groups to always pressurize the Organized Private Sector, OPS into working the talks, when it comes to Community Engagement.
Chief Richard Harrison.
Also interacting with our correspondent through WhatsApp, the President of Umuahia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, UCCIMA Chief Chidi Nkem Aruoma, passionately encouraged Abians living in diaspora and foreign countries to return home to invest.
He also called on the Abia State government to give tax holidays to new investors as a way of encouragement, even as he appreciated the governor for his efforts in the growth and development of Small and Medium Entlerprises, SMEs in the State.
Furthermore he encouraged the Organized Private Sector to genuinely key into Community Engagement in order to develop their communities.
Chief Chidi Nkem Aruoma.
The first Global Community Engagement Day was held on January 28th, 2018. Engage 2 Act, a nonprofit organization based in Australia, created the day. They came up with the date by asking their social media followers what pioneer of community engagement stands out to them.
The mission of Engage 2 Act is to create, nurture, and support a dynamic professional network for those interested in community engagement.
There is a belief that Communities become better when professionals and organizations engage with different groups of people in their community. Community engagement helps to build and strengthen relationships. This includes relationships with local residents, faith-based groups, cultural groups, voluntary groups, and even virtual groups.