Former Delta State Governor and Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed support for the Ika Vision 2032 initiative of the Diocese of Ika, Anglican Communion, describing the seven-year programme as a strategic effort to strengthen the Church and promote the development of Ika Nation.
Okowa spoke on Saturday, September 12, 2026, after attending the formal launch of the Ika Vision 2032 Endowment Fund at the Vienna Arena, Boji-Boji Owa.
The former governor, in a statement issued on Sunday, emphasised the importance of investing in the younger generation, noting that the future of Ika people would be shaped largely by the values and direction given to its youths.
He said the responsibility of nurturing young people should be shared by the Church, traditional institutions, parents and the wider community.
“The Church, traditional institutions, parents, and the wider community all have a responsibility to shape their minds, strengthen their values, and channel their energy and potential towards positive and productive purposes,” Okowa said.
He commended the Bishop of the Diocese of Ika, Rt. Rev. Godfrey Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi, the diocesan leadership and other stakeholders for developing the long-term vision and committing resources towards its implementation.
Okowa expressed optimism that sustained collaboration and collective responsibility would help build an Ika Nation capable of providing better opportunities for present and future generations.
The endowment fund launch followed the presentation of the Ika Vision 2032 blueprint, tagged “A Church Revived; A People Transformed,” at the 26th Ogwa Ika in August.
The seven-year initiative, which runs through December 2032, is designed to promote a spiritually vibrant and mission-driven Church while contributing to the moral, educational and economic advancement of Ika Nation.
As part of the implementation strategy, the Diocese plans to raise about ₦3 billion over the seven-year period through the endowment fund.
Bishop Ekpenisi has said the vision is focused on building a Church that is spiritually strong and socially relevant, while supporting the emergence of an Ika Nation that is morally conscious, economically productive and educationally advanced.
Okowa, an indigene of Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area, has consistently advocated a people-centred approach to development, with emphasis on human capital and character formation alongside physical infrastructure.
His participation in the endowment launch underscored the importance of collaboration among religious institutions, traditional authorities, families and other stakeholders in shaping the future of the younger generation.
The Diocese of Ika has, under Bishop Ekpenisi, continued to expand its activities in church development, education and social initiatives.
The endowment fund is expected to provide a sustainable financial base for these programmes, with structured management, accountability and reporting mechanisms aimed at ensuring continuity beyond individual administrations.
