A call has gone for Government to always appoint competent persons as Board Members into state and Federal parastatals. This call was made by the former Director/CEO of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Ash Okoro, in a speech he delivered at the 35th Meeting of the Chief Executives of Culture of the Federation (CEC), in the Redemption Hall of Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

Mr. Okoro who delivered the Keynote Address at the occasion on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Dr. Amanze Obi, called on Federal and State governments to always look at the pedigree of those to be appointed as Board Members of parastatals.

He said members should be seen to meet certain requirements, like the intellectual capacity, professional standing, and those who have the resources, as opposed to those who would milk the system.

This call, according to him, became necessary as persons who lack integrity and the wherewithal, end up either slowing down or thwarting the good intentions of management and/or the organisation.

Therefore, for the system to thrive, Mr. Okoro urged Board members to know their basic functions, and enjoined those who are in charge of the appointments to look out for only people that would help the organisation to achieve its set goals.

He used the occasion to commend the Board Chairman of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, Ambassador Professor Chinedu Asinu-Anosike, who had been working tirelessly to give the Council a new sense of direction, noting that the present Board has given the Omenimo Troupe a new lease of life.