By Francis Sadhere
The Ijaw Youth Council has concluded plans to hold its World Summit from 9th – 10th October 2014. The summit is to be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan as Special Guest of Honour at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun-Warri, Delta State.
The theme of the first Ijaw Youth Council World Summit (IYC Summit 2014) is “Partnering for Prosperity and Sustainable Development”.
IYC President, Comrade Udengs Eradiri, said in a statement that in the post amnesty era, one of the biggest challenges now facing the Niger-Delta Region just like other parts of the Country is lack of engagement for both skilled and unskilled youths despite the acquisition of various skills through the Presidential Amnesty programme and other medium of training.
According to him, the summit seeks to set a new agenda by redirecting the focus of the youths of the Niger Delta on agriculture, job creation, promoting small and medium scale enterprises (SME), empowering, educating and enlightening the young minds to take advantage of the opportunities available in the agro and allied sector to create better livelihood for themselves and the society.
He said that; “Over 1000 delegates, including youths, government officials, women groups, community and religious leaders, and various stakeholders from the Niger Delta are expected to attend the event, which would be a platform of engagement for government, communities and organisations. Resource persons in wealth creation would speak on promoting sustainable growth, development and integration of the Niger Delta.”
President Goodluck Jonathan would be joined in declaring the summit open by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame (Dr.) Mrs. Patience Jonathan who is the Mother of the Day with Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark as the Father of the Day.
All the Governors of the Niger Delta including the Host Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governors Seriake Dickson, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, would be in attendance.
The statement added that other dignitaries expected at the event include the “Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru, Minister for Youth Development, Alhaji Boni Haruma, Minister for Sports, Dr, Tamuno Danagogo, Minister for Petroleum Resources, Dr. (Mrs) Diezani Allison- Madueke, Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development.
Others are; Hajia Zainab Maina, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDG, Dr (Mrs) Precious Gbeneol, Director General, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, MD, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sir. Bassey Dan Abia, and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa.”
The Chief Executive Officers of multinational oil companies operating in the Niger-Delta Region are also expected to participate in the summit.
