Okpalanedu Constantine Udoka, a Political Scientist turned Techpreneur, is the Managing Director of Gadget Hub Limited, a powerful rising tech company with a strong focus on selling technology products and solutions.
He is the current President of the Orient Progressive Social Forum, a pan-eastern social forum for upwardly mobile young professionals in many sectors of the Nigeria economy. The following are extracts from a media interview with him when he hosted the Orient Progressive Social Forum’s bi-annual event, A Night with the President.
How long has Orient Progressive Social Forum been around?
The Orient Progressive Social Forum was founded in 2008 as a college of young professionals who gathered to socialise and strategise about their future prospects. It was later incorporated with the Corporate Affairs Commission as a non-profit organisation on October 24, 2010, with the goal of promoting and improving the economic and social culture of Nigeria’s Ibo-speaking region. So, the forum has been around for 14 years now.
What is your vision and mission?
Our goal is to be a catalyst for growth across the South-Eastern states and to build unity in Nigeria, and our mission is to use the potential of young professionals and entrepreneurs from the South-Eastern states to foster societal harmony and development. Beyond our initial vision and objective, we have evolved and expanded significantly into other aspects of life. Essentially, the club focusses on personal empowerment rather than skill improvement. On that day, a new scholarship plan will be announced, as well as a tech hub for secondary school pupils to learn fundamental IT skills.
Because of our membership composition, we have a large number of professionals in various fields; we try to assist students in rural areas in keeping up with current technological trends; for example, most exams are computer-based, and if you can’t use a computer well, you will always fail. These are part of our new vision, which also includes providing scholarships to undergraduates in financial need.
What is your membership structure, requirements, and rewards, and do you have any diaspora members?
Membership in the forum is available to all progressive Igbo-speaking Christian males from Nigeria’s South-East, whether they live in Nigeria or in the diaspora, who share similar goals. To become a member, you must be of high moral standing and integrity, have a visible and reliable source of income, and be at least 35 years old.
Does the Orient Progressive Social Forum have a national scope?
We were originally Nigerians before becoming Orientals.We are designed to extend our programming in a systematic manner; while we have not yet covered the entire South East, the club is steadily expanding its programmes and humanitarian outreach to some of its members’ localities.
Having said that, we are aiming to expand our presence into other parts of the country. For example, the Yoruba, Hausa, Ijaw, and Akwa Ibom people live in our various south-east communities. Our outreach programs assist everyone in the community.
The forum was founded to assist other Nigerians in urgent need. But for the time being, we’re focussing on stabilising our operations in the South-East before expanding into other parts of Nigeria.
Tell us about your next event, “A Night With the President.”
The investiture of some famous and talented individuals as either our grand patron, patrons, or members of the forum’s advisory board is a highlight of the occasion, among other activities planned for the day.
For example, our great patrons include His Royal Majesty Igwe Livinus Obinna Ezenwa (Igwe Nkataukwu Ohazurume Of Umuomaku), Chief Dr. Onuora Ezeokafor (Onowu), and Chief Dr. Sir Chika Alexander Okafor (OFR), Chairman of the Chicason Group.
The advisory board members include Prince Engr Sir Ejike Mgbemena, Chief Dr Sir Okwuchukwu Maduekwe, Chief Sir Osita Ezechukwu (Orikaeze 1 Of Nanka), Professor Paul Ananaba, SAN, and HRH Igwe Onyeka Ofordile-Akuewebe 1 and Dimeze IV elect Of Akama Oghe.
There will be a lecture series. Our keynote speaker is Vincent Nwani, Ph.D., the former head of research and strategy of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He will give a speech titled “From vision to legacy: Strategies for successful business succession and critical steps for a seamless leadership transition and maintaining the founders vision for future generations.”
What are your career milestones?
The milestones of my tenure are first the composition of the forum’s Advisory Board with renowned personalities and secondly, the inaugural impact program initiative wherein we provided substantial food support to the underprivileged in umuomaku town, Anambra State as a way to launch the Orient Community Impact Program, which comprises three vital components: the mentorship scheme project, ORTP-Operation Reach the Poor, and the Entrepreneur Development Scheme.
What are your lowest and highest moments as President?
My low moments as president are when the forum lacks funding to carry out her initiatives, and when a member is troubled or burdened.
