Emmanuel Saloka, The Game Changer

Emmanuel Saloka, a retired banker, is the prime mover behind the establishment of Government Girls Secondary School, Alode.
Elder Saloka read banking and finance at the university and worked extensively as a banker before he retired into politics. He had served as special adviser to the Eleme Local Government chairman on Government and Legislative Affairs.
He is now fully engaged in agriculture and is a farmer. Married with children, Elder Emmanuel Saloka is an ordained Elder of the Members of Christ Ministry. He is very passionate about the development of Alode and indeed humanity generally.
As chairman of the Alode Community Development Committee (CDC), he was touched by the worsening incidence of girls both indigenous and non-indigenous, out of secondary school.
He felt that if the girls were not saved at this tender stage it would be too late to intervene in their lives subsequently. “We were interested in getting girls prepared for the future when they are still young. We felt it was the best time to catch them young when they are between the ages of eight and 20. If you fail with them at this age, you may never get it right again with them,” he said.
He decided to investigate why the girls were dropping out of school. The outcome of the investigation is what led to the establishment of GGSS, Alode. However, Saloka said the initiative was also in line with the pioneering role that Alode has been playing in civilization in Eleme. He recalled that the first school in Eleme established in 1912, was by Alode people, so also was the first model primary school in 1976 to meet up the UPE need. This girls’ only school he said, was in line with that spirit.
Saloka’s efforts have however, not gone unnoticed by his kinsfolk. Loveday Obari, a lawyer and community stakeholder had this to say of his efforts, “The effort of Emmanuel Saloka actually gave birth to the establishment of that school through the support of the immediate-past traditional ruler, Don Awala.
“I was aware then when moves were made towards fulfilling the criteria by the schools board to approve the school. I also assisted to do some write-ups on behalf of the community then. And on the day of inauguration, I was also there alongside the traditional ruler and stakeholders of the community. The whole process was funded by the community. It was Emmanuel Saloka that actually represented the community in all appearances and various offices that we needed to get approval.”
Mrs. Dorsei Osaroekee, a community leader, said of Saloka, “Anybody that brings anything about human development is good and should be encouraged. Every family in Alode now has a girl in that school.”
“I commend the chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) for his efforts to get that school established. I like the idea. It will attract government attention to the community,” said Mr. Jonah Okpabi Jr. of Saloka.