DESOPADEC Prioritizes Youth Development - says Ochonogor

The Managing Director/CEO, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor, has affirmed the significance of Youth development in the Commission’s mandate areas.

 The affirmation was contained in an address delivered Friday October 3, by the Executive Director Projects, EDP, DESOPADEC Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu who ably represented the MD/CEO DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor at the Youth summit in Governor's office Annex, Edjeba, Warri.

Chief Ochonogor said the future of any society rests squarely on the shoulders of its youth, particularly within the oil-producing Communities under the DESOPADEC mandate areas, noting that the Commission placed significant priorities in the development of the Youth in the mandate communities.

"We have invested enormous resources on Youth development programs such as DESOPADEC skills Acquisition DSA, annual payment of bursary to indigent students in higher institutions, amongst others," he said.

Speaking further, he said the Theme: Keying the Youth of oil producing areas of Delta State into the Renewed Hope and M.O.R.E agenda for sustainable development is very apt, aligning with the efforts of our amiable Governor, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s tireless synergy with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu in positioning the Youth and Nigeria to a greater height for development and equipping Youth with competencies for contemporary economic participation through intensified investment in modern market-driven vocational training attuned to sectors like oil servicing, agribusiness, ICT, renewable energy and construction.

"On the Renewed Hope for Youth, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration has demonstrated commitment to Youth empowerment through targeted initiatives in skills Acquisition, entrepreneurship development and fostering digital innovation ecosystem," he said.

In his address at the occasion, the Member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Ejiro Waive called on Youth in the oil producing areas to eschew any forms of violence in their areas especially in the Warri Federal Constituency, noting that peace is the only panacea to development.

Earlier, the convener of the second edition of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Youth summit, Comrade Owen Oghenero Edafe had said the summit was very significant in bringing the Youth of the oil producing communities together to change the narrative and position the Youth as true partners in development.

Calling on Youth in oil producing communities to align with the M.O.R.E agenda of His. Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State, Comrade Owen urged all Youth to rise above ethnic acrimony, drug abuse, violence, Youth restiveness and other anti-social tendencies and channel their energy to education, entrepreneurship development and skills acquisition.

Others who spoke at the occasion were Comrade Milton Ediri Sangboje, President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter; Comrade Isaac Garry, Ijaw Youth Council; Comrade Joel Emani, Isoko Development Union Youth Wing (World Wide); Comrade Uduogwu James Ojeke, Ndokwa Nekwu Union; Comrade Okotete Peter, Itsekiri Youth Council; Comrade Ughere Blessed, Urhobo Progress Union UPU, Youth Wing World Wide; Hon. Stella Okotete, Executive Director Business development, Nigeria import and export, Nexim Bank; Barr. Latimore Oghenesivwe, DG, Communication Bureau; Hon. Ejiro Tommy Jammany, Delta State Commissioner For environment; Chief Peter Oviejitebor Okagbare, Commissioner for Oil and Gas amongst others who all called for peace in Warri and environs.

By Ejememo Enoch Igho, Evelyn Obibi-Assay 

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